Ever since the argument a few days before, Spot had gone out of his way to spend time with Bitter. He walked with her in the evenings, ate with her, and sat around talking for hours. At night, they would quietly whisper together in Spot's bed where Bitter had taken up residence. Although, they didn't do anything except cuddle Bitter felt safer and happier with him.

Through all the conversations they had, Spot noticed a pattern in the subject. It was always cleverly steered from the topic of the past. Bitter would distract him with statements like, 'What's done is done' and 'Let's not dwell in the past'. While they were good points, he wanted to know more about her, and why she didn't want to tell people about it.

Finally, he decided. "Bitter, kin you'se come here fer a sec? I'se needs ta talk ta ya," he said, leading her into the 'conference room'.

"Shoah, Spot, what do ya need?" Bitter asked.

Spot sat her down in a chair and said, "Well, I'se knows you'se ain't too keen on talkin' 'bout it, but I'se wants ta know 'bout yer past."

Bitter jumped up, but was pushed back down by Spot. "Don't you'se remembah what happened da last time you'se did dat? Jest sit down an' tell me 'bout it."

"It isn't dat easy, Spot. It's not like I don't trust ya, I jest don't think der's anythin' ta tell, an' I wish ya would stop badgerin' me 'bout it," Bitter said.

"Like I'se said befoah, I'se ain't stupid. I'se knows yer hidin' somethin' an' I'se wish ya would tell me 'bout it. You'se don't have nothin' ta fear," Spot coaxed.

"Look, der's nothin' ta tell, but if ya keep pushin' dis, I don't know how we're goin' ta come out in da end," Bitter threatened, causing Spot to flinch inside.

'What's she hidin'? She doesn't know how wese'll come out 'n da end? I'se can't believe her, she'd leave me jest 'cause I'se was tryin' ta help. Well, if dats what she's got ta do, den dats what she's got ta do. Dis is what I'se has ta do,' Spot realized.

"If dats hows you'se feels 'bout it, ders nothin' I kin do. Now, tell me 'bout you from befoah you fell into our lives," Spot commanded.

After glaring for solid minutes, Bitter began, "Fine, whatevah. I don't know what ya want me ta say. I was left on a church door step as a child, took in by a great old couple den I went too far from home one day when I was 'bout seven an' couldn't find my way home so I lived on da streets. It wasn't a big deal I got tageddah wid da Shadows, yeah da gang, an' learned ta pickpocket. Me best friend was killed when I was 'bout twelve so I quit an' had ta run away, since gangs don't look too favorably on quitters. Aftah dat I wandered 'round Manhattan fer 'bout five years befoah Blink found me. "

Bitter got up to leave, but Spot pulled her back down. He asked, "Why was dat so hard ta tell me?"

"Why da hell are ya so interested. I wasn't plannin' on stayin' wid da newsies an' so I figured it wasn't too smart ta get attatched ta people. An' even so, bein' in a gang ain't somethin' ya really want ta bring up, specially when people knew ya from it," Bitter told him, still glaring.

"What do ya mean people knew ya from it?" Spot questioned.

"Jack. Jack knew me when I was little. When he was still Francis Sullivan and I was still Melody Steffanson. He hung 'round da church a little an' we became friends. When I joined da gang he was pretty upset at me an' den we got in a fight 'bout it an' I ain't nevah seen him since. I don't know how he feels 'bout me, nor do I care to. Look, Spot don't tell anyone dis all right? Swear?"

Spot nodded. "A course I wont tell no one. Look, ya shoulda told me before, doh. Ya can trust me. We all got thinks in our past dat we ain't proud of but dat don't me ya got ta ferget dem completley, specially when yer still hurtin' ovah dem."

"Spot I don't need a lecture. Now, if ya don't mind, I'se gunna go pack up me things and get an early start fer Manhattan," Bitter said coldly, standing up.

She could see a flash of pain go through Spot's face before it was covered. He said, "I was gunna take you back in a couple days anyway. You'se could wait 'round here 'til den. It'd be safah if you'se came back wid us."

Bitter said, averting her gaze from his eyes, "But I really want ta go now."

"Well, I'se can' let ya. None of me boys kin take ya back right now, and yer my responsibility. Jacky-boy would kill me if I'se let ya go widout a escort," Spot said.

Bitter grumbled, "It's nice to know someone cares about me."

"Bittah, stop dat. Dat ain't fair. I'se didn't do anythin'. If you'se gonna act like dis, maybe it's bettah if we don't talk fer awhile," Spot said.

"Fine wid me, I nevah enjoyed it before," Bitter retorted, but inside she was crumbling. She hated herself, she hated him, and she hated Brooklyn. It was time to leave.
After a few hours, when she was sure everyone in the room, especially Spot, was asleep, Bitter got down from her bed carefully. A day longer, was a day too long. She grabbed her stuff, which she had gathered earlier and crept out of the Lodging House.

Caps, one of the newsies that had met Harmony in Manhattan, had been ordered to secretly escort Bitter back. Spot knew that she was going to leave whether he let her or not, and he thought it best to just let her. So Caps was to be her shadow on her way back to Manhattan and then stay there for a day. None of this was told to Jack, so he would probably be surprised to find Harmony in the morning.

And he was.

When Jack was woken by Kloppmann the next morning, he looked over to see Harmony, in his bed. That was enough to make him fall out of bed.

Race, who woke up after Jack fell out of bed, said, "Looks like Jacky-boy is makin' a move on Conlon's goil. Didn't know you'se had it in ya."

"Race…" Jack said, a little threateningly.
"Geez, chill out. I'se jest jokin'. We'se all know yer safe. If I'se had a goil, Ise'd know I could leave her wid you in bed an' not worry."

Jack replied, "Thanks, Race, I think."

"Harmony!" Blink yelled from his bed. "Yer back!!" He wasted no time in running over to her and hugging her.

"At least someone's happy ta see me," Harmony said. After a couple more moments she said, "Okay Blink ya can let go a me down now…"

Blink complied immediately, with a sheepish smile, and stepped back a couple of steps with his head hanging.

"We's are all happy ta see you'se an' not dat yer unwelcome but why are you'se heah?" Jack asked trying to figure things out.

"I missed you guys!" Harmony explained.

"As sweet as dat is don't try an' pull dat wid me. Why are ya really heah?" Jack questioned unconvinced.

"I jest told ya! I missed ya all too much so I came back a couple days early. Why is it so hard ta believe dat I didn't like Brooklyn?"

"Well no one likes Brooklyn, dat ain't da point though. Da point is dat you'se left wid Spot an' I doubt he'd want you comin' back early," Jack explained. He then looked closer at Harmony and asked, "Does he even know yer heah?"

Harmony looked up at the ceiling. "Well, he might. I mean…I don't know…he's probably figured it out by now…"

"Did dat joik do somethin' ta ya Bitter?! Ise'll soak him! Dat bum is dead!" Blink exclaimed making violent motions towards his pillow.

"Oh you'se will, will ya?" came the familiar voice. Everyone whipped around to see Spot leaning against the door post with Caps standing behind him.

"Someone needs ta put a bell on dat boy!" Racetrack exclaimed.

Nervous laughter was heard around the room. Everyone looked back and forth from Blink and Spot not wanting to miss any of the action.

Blink trying to appear confident said, "Yeah I'se will if you'se did anythin' ta dat goil."

"Let's see you'se try," Spot invited.

"All right I'se will!" Blink accepted walking towards Spot having no idea what he was going to do when he reached him.

He didn't have much time to figure it out before Jack intervened saying, "You'se two knows ya can't fight in heah! Wese'll all get kicked out if you'se keep actin' stupid! Take it outside if you'se wants ta fight!"

"Dats fine wid me," Blink said roughly.

"Dis ain't gunna be a fight its gunna be a beatin'," Spot commented.

"I'se wont hurt ya too bad Spottie," Blink promised patronizingly.

"Yeah you'se keep bein' cute 'til I'se get you outside," Spot smirked.

"Well den lets go!"

Harmony, getting tired of their talk, got up from her place on Jack's bed, and said, "Look boys, both of you jest stop! Yer both bein' complete immature joiks." Everyone froze when she said this, after all Blink was trying to defend her and Spot, well no one tells Spot what to do and gets away with it.

Spot started to protest but Harmony cut him off. "No, jest listen ta me. All of you listen! Blink, Spot didn't do anythin' ta me I jest didn't want ta stay in Brooklyn anymore. So, ya might as well jest stop dis bull shit now 'cause we both know dat when ya get outside Spot will kill ya. An' Spot, why da hell are ya here anyways? I thought we weren't talkin' anymore! Jest go away and stop pickin' on people!"

Everyone stood in shock. You could have easily heard a pin drop in the room. Blink looked about ready to cry, and was most definitely not smiling. Spot recovered from his shock much easier than the rest and said, "Look, no one talks ta me like dat, even you'se. I'se is jest as sick of yer attitude as you'se is of mine. I'se sick a ya bein so damn moody all da time an' not talkin' ta anyone 'bout important things. An' I'se sick of you'se pushin' everyone away jest cause you'se had a hard childhood. Look 'round! Everyone one heah had bad childhoods but no one goes 'round bein' bittah all da time!"

"No one except you dat is!" Harmony countered. "And if you are so sick of me den why do ya keep followin' me?"

"You'se thinks I'se followin' you? Spot Conlon's don't need ta follow no one! I'se heah ta get Jack," Spot informed her.

"Oh, so dat's yer preference these days? Now I know why it didn't work out between us…" Harmony commented.

At this Blink's smile returned. There was titterings of laughter heard from the group but a glare from Spot silenced them all.

"I'se has had it wid you'se goil. I'se is glad yer gone, I'se don't hafta worry 'bout yer moodiness and annoying whinin' anymoah," Spot insulted her.

"That's just fine!" Harmony yelled running out of the door angrily.

Blink bolted after her. He was sure that he could cheer her up if he found her.

Spot almost looked like he was sorry as he watched Harmony leave then turned to Jack. "Come on Jacky-boy, we'se gotta head fer da meetin'. They's moved it up a little and we'se is gunna be late if we don't hurry."

Jack grabbed his hat and followed Spot out the door. He reappeared a few seconds later saying, "Hey you bummahs get ta woik you'se is already late!" He then left again.

Racetrack ran to the window to make sure Jack really left that time, then yelled, "Free day! Who'se fer a game a pokah?"

Everyone laughed. Some of the boys sat down to play with Race, while most of them crawled back into bed. There fun was ruined however when two minutes later Jack came back up saying, "Anyone in bed right now wont have a bed tommorah! You'se all get yer lazy asses outta bed and sell yer papes. An' you'se guys playin pokah better hurry too befoah I'se has ta go get Spot an' ask him ta help me keep me boys in line. An' Ise'll know if you'se all don't go ta woik…Spot ain't da only one wid boidees."

Everyone got up grumbling. They all headed to the washroom. Mush asked, "Da ya think dat Jack was jest jokin' 'bout his 'boidees'?" Caps entered the room saying, "Jack told me ta tell you'se dat he wasn't jokin', whatevah dat means."

Everyone looked frightened. "Jack's beginnin' ta scare me. We'se shouldn't let him hang 'round Spot so much," Racetrack commented.

Blink had finally caught up with Harmony in Central Park. She had tripped, giving Blink just the time he needed to catch up with her. Blink helped her to her feet asking, "Harmony why didn't ya wait fer me? What's wrong?"

"Oh nothin's wrong. I jest kinda want ta be alone now…" Harmony assured him.

Blink looking slightly taken aback said, "All right I'se guess I can understand dat. Ise'll see ya back at da Lodgin' House, okay?" Then he added, "Oh, an' Harmony I'se really did miss ya while you'se were gone. I'se dunno why ya came back but I'se is really glad dat you'se did," meaning every word he said.

Harmony nodded, but didn't say anything. Blink just looked at her and noticed that she was shaking a little. "All right I'se knows ya wants me ta go away, an' I'se will but foist you'se gotta tell me whats wrong! Maybe I'se can help. Come on Harmony I'se is yer friend and friends help each other!"

He was about to go one in his speech but Harmony threw herself into his arms sobbing hysterically. She realized she just couldn't keep it all inside any longer and Blink was as good of person as any. Probably the best person since she knew he really cared about her. Her entire story came out about her week in Brooklyn, the small part of the past she had related to Spot, her fight with him, and finally how horrible she felt about what had happened in the Lodging House.

Blink sat there with his arm around her shoulders, just listening. Every once in a while he would take her hand and give it a friendly squeeze, trying to give her all the comfort he could but not really knowing how.

Finally, Harmony was drained of all her feelings she had been repressing for so long. They just sat together in silence.

Blink suddenly looked at Harmony and said, "Look, I'se gotta tell ya somethin'. I'se been wantin' ta tell you'se fer awhile but every time I'se brought it up you would change da subject so I'se nevah got ta tell ya. I'se know ya knows but I'se jest gotta say it. I'se really likes ya and has evah since I'se saw ya dat foist time in da alley. An' I'se always kinda though dat we'se had a chance but I'se knows we'se don't now. You'se really does like Spot. I got no idea why you likes him, but ya do. An' so lets face it we'se don't an' nevah will have a chance togeddah. No don't look at me like dat, I'se fine wid it 'cause I'se yer friend an' wants ya ta be happy. So, come on we'se can spend da day jest relaxin' an' tonight you can find Spot an' talk wid him. Afta all you'se too are poifect fer each oddah. I don't know a no oddah person dat can call Spot names an' not be soaked immediately."

"Blink your so great! Do you really mean all of that?" Harmony asked.

"Shoah I'se do! Is dis da face a someone dat would lie?" Blink responded joking.

"I guess not. And I'm really sorry I hurt you. I wish I could like you…like that but I cant…"

"Hey don't worry 'bout it. But since ya did "break me heart" I thinks dat you'se should pay fer lunch!" Blink stated trying to look pathetic.

"Okay, that's the least I can do. You really are the sweetest person I have ever met."

During this time Spot and Jack were walking towards Central Park for the meeting. All the parties had agreed to Central Park because it was more neutral territory. Only the leaders of Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan would be present. Spot was attempting to cover up his feelings by joking around with Jack on the way there.

"So, Jacky-boy, I'se hoid from some boidees dat you'se slept wid me goil last night? Dat true?" Spot asked glaring at Jack.

"Yeah its true but it ain't da way it sounds! I'se jest woke up an' she was der!" Jack defended himself.

"Shoah Jacky-boy," Spot said, grinning. His grin gave away the fact that he knew Jack hadn't done anything. "I'se also hoid she kicked you'se outta bed, too," Spot informed.

Jack laughed. "I'se wasn't kicked, I'se jest sorta fell. Wait, does dat mean dat Harmony kicked da infamous Spot Conlon outta her bed?" Jack asked faking astonishment.

"No she didn't kick me outta her bed…she kicked me outta me own bed!" Spot exclaimed. Jack began laughing harder.

"Dat goil is unbelievable. So what did you'se do ta her to make her so mad?" Jack asked becoming serious all the sudden.

Spot ran his hand through his hair. "I asked her about her past. An' she didn't want ta tell me but I made her. I found out some interestin' stuff…" Spot said.

"Well, are ya gunna tell me dis interestin' stuff?" Jack asked.

"I'm not supposed ta, but I think ya desoive ta know. I know fer a fact now dat you'se probably knows her better dan I evah will," Spot told him.

Jack looked very confused. "What are you talkin' 'bout? I'se barely evah talks ta her unless its about what kinda day she's had or somethin' like dat."

"Yeah well, Francis Sullivan, it turns out dat you'se knew her back a few years ago. Does the name Melody Steffanson ring a bell fer ya?"

"Melody Steffanson? Christ, I haven't hoid dat name in forevah! Wait, are you sayin' dat Harmony is Melody Steffanson? You'se must be jokin' me!" Jack reminisced. "Maybe dat's why she looked so familiar befoah…"Jack concluded.

"No kiddin' Galileo. Yer intelligence is always so astoundin'," Spot sarcastically commented.

"You'se jest angry 'cause I knows yer goil bettah den you," Jack joked.

Suddenly Spot looked very angry. "What da hell!? Somethin' tells me dat neiddah a us knows her very well," Spot said angrily pointing at a couple under a tree in Central Park.

Jack turned around just in time to see Harmony fling herself into Blink's waiting arms. Jack was a little confused, to say the least. The confusion grew when they stayed like that for a couple minutes. Spot couldn't do anything but stand there with his mouth open. Red crept up his face from his neck and he was soon on his way over to "talk to" Blink.

Jack held him back. "Look Spot we ain't got time fer dis now. We'se cant be late fer meetin' Queens. Come on it ain't like we wont see dem tonight."

Spot complied and followed Jack to the designated meeting place. He had wiped all expression from his face but Jack knew he was thinking about Harmony. 'Maybe it would be better if we didn't see 'em tonight…I'se think dat Blink's luck jest ran out…' Jack thought to himself.