A/N: Long time, no chapter, huh? Wait... Updated: 6-14-06. Okay, so really long time no chapter. But it's all good, cuz I love you all and I'm updating! Yay! So, read and review and stuff!
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Curly was walking through Manhattan. She carried a basket of lettuce and other vegetables. She had just gotten back from an errand in Queens.
It was night in late September. A small breeze blew through the air, blowing around the first fallen leaves of the season. Curly tightened her shawl around her shoulders.
"Can I wawk ya home?" Someone whispered in her ear, sending chills down her spine. She turned around and smiled up at the grinning man behind her.
"'A' course." She nodded and began walking towards the Girl's Lodging House.
Jack Kelly walked beside her, his hands in his pockets. "So, how ya been Curls?"
"Since lass nigh'?" Curly asked him back, raising an eyebrow cockily.
Jack smirked. "Yeah, since lass nigh'."
Curly shrugged. "I can get bettah." She looked up into Jack's chocolate brown eyes and laughed.
He rolled his eyes and shook his head, chuckling.
She sighed and looked down at the ground. "I love ya, Jack." She said. She could feel him boring holes into her. She fidgeted uncomfortably and looked back up at him to see that he was no longer looking at her. "Jack?"
Jack cleared his throat. Then he looked back down at her. "I love ya too, Curls."
Curly's face lit up and she dropped the vegetables, wrapping her arms around Jack Kelly's neck.
Jack grinned and kissed her.
The moon was bright in the starless, cloudless night. The heads of lettuce rolled around on the dusty ground. And Curly and Jack were happy in each other's arms.
---
"T'anks, Fidg." Curly said, wiping her face off on a towel.
Fidget shot Curly a worried look. "Wha's wrong witcha, Curls?" She asked softly, biting her bottom lip.
Curly's face fell. She knew she could trust Fidget with her secret, but she didn't want to tell anyone right now, especially not Jack.
Fidget took one of her friends hands and squeezed it.
Curly looked up. She sighed and nodded. "I'm pregnant." She confessed, a tear rolling down her cheek.
Fidget's mouth fell open and she immediately wrapped her arms around Curly's body. She held her friend in her arms as she shook and cried...
---
"Race, can I tawk ta ya?" Lucks asked from her position on the floor. She had protested her way into staying in Brooklyn while all the others left. Now it was just the three leaders, the two witnesses, and Lucks. Fidget had also stayed for a moment to run after Curly as she rushed into the bathroom.
Racetrack turned around from talking to Jack about the races. A cigar hung limply out of the side of his mouth and he nodded. "Wha's'mattah, Lucks?" He asked, walking over to her and holding out his hand.
Lucks took it and allowed him to help her up. She wiped off her pants and frowned. "It's about da othah day... at da lodgin' house-"
Race put a hand to her mouth and pulled her into the hallway. "Dis is about Snake ain't it?"
Lucks nodded, afraid. She swallowed. "Why can' we tell 'em, Race?" She whispered.
Race stared at her and contemplated whether or not to tell her. Lucks caught it and glared. "But if ya can' tell me, I undahstand. It's fine, Racetrack, I don' need ta know." She turned on her heal and began to walk back into the front room of the barracks.
Race sensed he did something wrong right away. Lucks never called him 'Racetrack' while she was glaring, unless she was angry. He grabbed her hand to stop her from walking out of the room.
Lucks wheeled around. "Ya gonna tell me now?" She asked, placing a hand on her hip. She pulled her other hand out of Race's.
"Ya real manipulative, ya know dat?" Race grumbled.
Lucks grinned. "Yeah, I know. Now tell me." She bit her bottom lip. "Why can' we tell 'em?" She asked.
Race sighed and looked Lucks up and down. Then he stared at the ground below her dirty, bare feet. "He's my uncle..."
"WHA?" Lucks exclaimed. Race covered her mouth again and pulled her farther away from the others. "Shh!" He exclaimed.
"What?" Lucks whispered, eyes wide open. "Snake is ya uncle?" She swallowed hard.
Race shook his head. "No, Sal. Well, he's not my actual uncle, but he's my uncle."
"Who?" Lucks raised an eyebrow, confused.
"Sal. The othah voice we hoid, remembah?"
Lucks nodded.
Race stared at her, waiting for any other reactions.
"Ya uncle's a murderah?" She whispered.
---
Flashbox stood in the cold room, her arms wrapped around herself. She was still wearing her nightgown with a robe over the top of it. She was chewing nervously on her thumb nail. Jack and Spot were next to her, not saying a word.
Fidget walked into the room, holding a sobbing Curly. Flash looked up and hurried over to her two girls. "What happened?" She asked immediately. Fidget pulled her further away from the boys.
"Is she sick? Curls? Do ya t'ink ya have da flu or somethin'?" Flash questioned, worried.
Curly shook her head and sniffled.
"Den what's'mattah?" But before either one of the girls answered, Lucks came into the room, followed by Racetrack. Both of them had sullen looks on their face. Lucks looked up and hurried over to the girls.
"Wha' happened?" She asked, grabbing Fidget's hand and giving it a squeeze. Then she walked over and hugged Curly, taking her sobbing body off of Fidget's.
"She's pregnant." Fidget said softly, almost choking.
Lucks' hand flew to her mouth as Curly's sobs grew louder. Flash's eyes widened. And Fidget looked at the ground nervously.
Flashbox took Curly in her arms this time. She shushed her and rocked her back and forth like a mother would to her infant. She was on the brim of bursting into tears, but she didn't. She was happy, but also very afraid for her friend. All of them were.
Lucks covered her face and stood right where she was. Race walked over and put an arm around her waist, pulling her into him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shirt, shaking it continuously.
"Wha's'mattah?" Race asked, kissing the top of her head.
Lucks looked up at him. She stood on her tip-toes to whisper in his ear.
"What?" He asked, confused.
Lucks rolled her eyes and mouthed 'Curly's pregnant.' Again, he raised an eyebrow. "Are ya deaf?" She hissed. "Curly's pregnant."
"Curly's pregnant?" He exclaimed. Lucks glared and punched his arm. Then she turned to the room...
Flash was giving Race a cold look. Fidget was staring at the ground. Curly was sobbing harder. Spot's look was also cold, but not in Race's direction. Instead it was in Curly's... and Jack looked confused.
"Wha'?" He asked, walking over to Curly. "Curls?"
Curly turned, wiped her tears and nodded.
"How long are ya?" Race asked. Lucks shot him another look.
Curly walked over and put a hand on Lucks' arm. "Two months." She whispered, looking over at Jack. And then at Spot who was glaring at Jack.
"Well, congratulations." Racetrack grinned, pulling Curly into a hug.
This caused her to laugh for the first time in since the night before. She hugged him back. Lucks rolled her eyes, but smiled. Fidget let a little smile slip onto her thin lips. And Flash started to cry, out of happiness this time.
Spot continued to glare at Jack, and then Curly, and then the floor. His face stayed cold, his deep blue eyes boring holes into the ground.
Jack's expression was cold as well, but for a different reason. Suddenly he felt very sick and everything from that night came rushing back to him. Well... not everything, but most of it.
--- (cue flashback) ---
The little corner of Medda's was cigar smoke and the foul stench of alcohol. It was Kid Blink's birthday, and since it was, Medda had extra drinks ordered for her boys (and girls).
Jack Kelly sat at the table, taking another swig of the vile drink. He couldn't even taste it anymore.
Flashbox, absolutely repulsed, sat next to Fidget and Giggles on a nearby table.
The King of Brooklyn, who normally participated in the weekly event, had business in his kingdom and had to leave early.
Curly was sitting at the poker table, her feet up, giggling insanely with Cat. Blink had his arm wrapped around Cat's neck as he kissed it, causing her to giggle more.
Specs and Dutchy sat next to Blink, smacking each other upside the head, much to the amusement of Skittery. Jack sat next to Skittery, attempting to hold a conversation with Racetrack, who was very annoyed that his poker game hadn't turned out as he planned... and because Lucks wouldn't allow him to drink. Lucks was now between Race and Curly, half-asleep on Race's shoulder.
"All righty, boys, time ta head home," came the voice of a familiar stage hand, Toby. "Don' let da bulls catch ya with the stench on ya breath. We don' wanna be bailin' ya out 'a' jail. Come on, guys."
Jack stood up and steadied himself on the table. "All righ', boyzzzz." He slurred, recieving a glare from Flashbox.
Race stood up, taking over. "Let's go, come on, time to go."
Mush, who was also sober, stood up and yawned, helping Giggles off the table. "Race? Can you handle dese guys?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
Race rubbed his forehead and sighed.
"I'll help 'im." Lucks yawned, rubbing her eyes. She gave Mush a reassuring smile and he nodded, walking Giggles out of the building.
"Come on boys, move it!" Lucks exclaimed as the boys were getting up.
"Oh look guys, it's Lucks. We're gonna need sumone ta tuck us in..." Dutchy grinned, waggling his eyebrows.
"Yeah, an' ya bettah shut-up befoah I dislocate ya face," Lucks smirked.
"Harsh words, Lucksies, harsh." Specs pouted.
Lucks rolled her eyes and pushed the two of them out the door. They leaned on each other for support. Race pushed Skittery along with them and sighed.
Lucks smiled and patted his arm. Then she turned around to find Cat and Blink, making out. "Race?" She asked.
He turned around and shrugged. "It's Blink's boithday. I figyah 'e deserves somet'in' othah den t'rowin' up."
Lucks nodded and shrugged and they left the couple alone. Then walked out of Medda's, hands in their pockets. Lucks rested her head on Race's shoulder.
Then someone came up behind her and spun her around into a kiss. She pulled away, shrieking. She looked up to see a completely drunk Jack Kelly with a goofy grin on his face. She glared.
"Ya look great, Lucks. I mean, great. Real, real cute, ya know?" He grinned.
"Yeah, I know, Jacky-boy." She rolled her eyes.
Race sat back, watching the whole thing with amusement.
"No, like real, real cute..." He slurred.
"Yeah, don' I always, Jack?" She raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"Don' t'ink so highly 'a' yaself, Lucksies." Curly walked up, running a hand through her long hair.
Lucks rolled her eyes.
"Come on, you guys." Race interrupted. He grabbed Jack's arm and pushed his leader in front of him. Lucks did the same for Curly.
"Race, I'm tired..." Lucks yawned.
"Okay, go home, I'll handle dese guys." Race kissed her forehead.
Lucks nodded. "Make shoah Curls gets home." She gave Race a kiss goodnight and headed off towards the Girl's Lodging House.
Up ahead, Curly was leaning on Jack for support. She looked back and noticed that Lucks and Race were no longer looking, and she pushed Jack into an alley way.
"Wha'ddya doin', Curlzzzz?" He asked, grinning.
Curly kissed him. "Remembah dat one nigh', Jacky-boy?" She asked, unbuttoning his shirt.
"Befoah we said 'I wuv ya'?" Jack asked, smirking.
"Yeah, dat." Curly pulled off his shirt and kissed him again.
And the rest was history...
--- (end of flashback) ---
"Jack? Ya okay?" Flash asked, placing a hand on his arm. He shook out of her reach.
"Yeah, fine." He cleared his throat and stared at Curly who stared back at him. He sighed and stared at the floor.
"Well, dere hasn' been any moidahs yet. Maybe you should all leave." Spot said, glaring at Jack.
"Yeah, let's go ya guys," Race nodded and grabbed Lucks' hand.
"No." Jack said, turning around. He glared at Spot.
"Wha's'mattah, Jacky-boy? Huh? Somet'in' come up dat you can' fahget? Somet'in' wit my goil?" Spot hissed.
"I ain't yoah goil, Spot Conlon." Curly growled, glaring at him.
"Stay outta dis, Curls." Spot snapped.
"What gives ya righ' to tell her what she can and can' do?" Jack growled.
"Ya know who ya messin' wit, Jack?" Spot asked, taking a step forward.
"Yeah, Spot Conlon, da wondahful King 'a' Brooklyn, right?" Jack also took a step foreward. "Look at me, I'm tremblin'."
"Good, cuz I nevah wanna see you around heah again, Kelly." Spot took another step closer to Jack.
"Watcha gonna do about it, Conlon?" Jack took another step.
Spot reached his hand back and punched Jack square in the jaw. Jack stumbled backwards, but stood his ground and punched Spot, causing his nose to bleed.
Spot wiped his nose on his hand and growled, punching Jack in the face again. Jack stumbled backwards again, lip bleeding, but stood up and punched Spot in the stomach. Spot recoiled and Jack raised his arm to hurt him again, but Race grabbed his arm.
"Jack, come on, let's go."
"No, Racetrack, let go 'a' me." Jack hissed.
"No." Race stood his ground.
Jack looked back, glaring at the shorter Italian.
"Get outta heah, Jacky-boy. I nevah wanna see ya ugly mug in my parts again." Spot seethed.
Jack shook his arm out of Race's reach, but Race grabbed it again, holding his leader back.
"Get outta heah!" Spot yelled, taking a step foreward.
"Dis ain't ovah, Conlon." Jack spat, shaking out of Race's reach and storming out of the Brooklyn barracks.
Spot wiped his nose on his hand again and spit blood out of his mouth. Lucks winced and walked over, taking Racetrack's hand.
"We should go." She whispered. Race nodded and the two of them followed Jack.
Flashbox nodded at Fidget and the quiet girl left. All that was left was Flashbox, Curly, and Spot now.
"Curls? Can I tawk ta ya?" Spot asked.
Flash kept a firm grasp on Curly's shoulder.
"Alone?" He glared at the girl's leader.
Flash shot a stern look at Curly, who nodded. She sighed and let go of Curly's shoulder, turning to leave. When she reached the doorway of the room, she turned to glare at Spot before leaving completely.
"Whaddya want, Conlon?" Curly asked, crossing her arms.
"Was it dat nigh' when I had ta leave early?" Was the first thing he said.
Curly glowered at him. "You are unbelievable, Spot, ya know dat?" She exclaimed.
"Was it?" He hissed, spitting more blood out of his mouth.
Curly glared. "Yeah, it was."
Spot stared at her, partly shocked, partly loathing her. "Well den, why doncha run off wit Kelly. I'm shoah you two an' ya child'll be very happy wit each othah." He said, wiping his nose again.
Curly's mouth fell open. "What?" She asked.
"I said get outta heah, Curly. I nevah wanna see you again." He snapped.
She began to cry. "Spot, baby, ya can' do dis ta me. I love ya." She sobbed, walking up to him. She touched his arm.
He turned away from her.
"Spot?" She whispered.
"I said get outta heah, Curly." He said, his voice sounded sad. "I ain't gonna say it again."
"Spot?" She cried. "Please."
He cleared his throat and turned at her, his blue eyes blazing with mixed emotions. "Burns, Marbles!" He called. Within seconds, two large men appeared in the room with papers in their hands.
"Yeah Spot?" The shorter one, Burns, asked.
"Make shoah Curly leaves Brooklyn safely." Spot said, still staring at the crying Curly.
"Yes, sir." The taller one, Marbles, nodded.
Curly bit her bottom lip. "I love ya, Spot." She whispered, leaning foreward and kissing Spot. And then she left. She stopped at the doorway and turned to look at him, but he was looking away, wiping the blood off his face and hands.
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End Note: So, whad'ya think huh? I love Drama, lol... it's so much fun! Well, I'm off to play poker with Racetrack and possibly write another chapter for you guys... so, toodles! Don't forget to review! .:.- Lucks ;D -.:.
