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Spot handed Jack a sack and he lazily threw it into the carriage.

"We'll be back in a few days," Spot reassured as he turned to me.

I leaned against the railing of the stairs as we stood outside. I looked away from Spot as he leaned down to kiss me. "It only takes one shot in the head to kill a person," I told him.

Spot sighed through his nose and turned my face towards him. "And it only takes one goil ta die for," he said.

"That makes no sense," I told him.

"But does it?"

I furrowed my eyebrows and stared at him. He leaned down and I could feel the pressure of his lips against mine, a feeling that stayed with me forever.

He slowly pulled away and kissed my forehead. "Stay outta trouble," he whispered.

"Like that'll happen," I said.

"Let's go Spot! We's gotta go pick up da udder leaders," Jack called from the carriage.

Spot glanced back at him quickly and gave me a small smile. "Bye," he said, turning around and hopping up onto the carriage.

"Bye," I whispered to the wind.

They began to ride away, and I watched until they were no longer there. I sighed to myself and pushed off the railing, descending the stairs.

Blade was in charge of Brooklyn while Spot was away, and I was informed that David was watching over Manhattan – along with Race.

I found myself walking towards the docks, which were nearly empty. There were a few people here and there, but not too many. Spot looked after these docks, so it nearly knotted my heart to look up at the perch and find it empty.

"Hey Anomie," Swinger greeted me.

"Hey," I said, giving him the best smile I could summon.

"What brings you heah?" he asked, throwing his slingshot in the air and catching it.

"Just taking a walk," I told him.

He shrugged and shoved his hand into his pocket, and brought out a couple of pebbles. He settled one into the band of the slingshot and brought it back. He quickly released it and it zoomed through the air, only missing the beer bottle by three inches.

"Damn," he cursed. "I ain't evah gonna make it on Spot's slingshot crew if I don't get my aim right."

"Slingshot crew?" I asked confusedly.

"Yeah, Spot's got a group of newsies who are da best with da slingshot," Swinger explained.

I raised my eyebrows amusedly. "Wow," I said.

He shot another pebble at the beer bottle, and it flew right by it. "You see? I'm horrible!"

"Hmmm," I said, stepping closer.

I stood behind him and stared at the beer bottle. "Get into stance," I ordered.

He did as he was told and brought out another pebble.

"Okay, lower your elbow slightly," I said, pushing his elbow down, "and keep both eyes open."

He let out a deep sigh and opened his eyes. "Now, pick your target and keep a steady eye on it. Don't line the pebble up with the bottle completely, only slightly."

"It won't make it," Swinger said.

"Now, release…"

He released the band and the pebble flew into the air, smacking right into the beer bottle.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed. "I did it."

"Congratulations," I said.

"Thanks," he said. "How did you know how ta do dat?"

"Spot's not the only one who is handy with a slingshot," I said.

Swinger grinned and shook his head. "I'm glad Spot has a smart goil," he said.

"Too bad he can't relate," I shrugged, causing Swinger to laugh.

"Maybe you should be leadah of Brooklyn," he said.

"Nah," I said. "Spot does a better job than I would. He's a good leader."

"Yeah," Swinger nodded. "He is good. He looks out for us, ya know?"

I smiled, actually proud of Spot.

"You know, yer da longest relationship Spots evah been in," he said. "I mean, he's been with goils before, but it only lasted a week or so. And we newsies didn't like any of 'em. Yer da foist dat we actually evah approved of, 'cause you ain't prissy and try ta keep Spot away from us. Unlike dem udder goils, you help us with our problems."

"I'm used to it," I said.

Swinger lowered his head. "I still can't believe what happened at dat school," he said. "If we would've known about it eoilier we would've done somethin."

"No," I said. "It was my destiny to get rid of that school once and for all."

"People feared you, ya know," Swinger said. "Everyone was afraid dat Eve Cartah was goin to show up one day and kill us all."

I laughed and leaned against a post. "I'm not that skilled," I admitted.

"But everyone really was worried. We all knew you weren't dead."

"And now what do you think of me?" I asked.

"Well, now yer a hero."

"I'm not a hero," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. "I just did everyone a favor."

"Hey, yer a hero to us," Swinger said. "Any of us newsies coulda been taken off da streets and put into dat school."

"I've seen a lot of people come and go, and not one of them got to leave."

"But you said you've seen 'em go…"

I looked up at Swinger, my eyes soft.

"Oh," he said. "You mean dey died."

"It made some people go mad," I explained. "I saw children yank their hair out from madness, and I saw others put scars on themselves. It was terrible."

There was a moment of silence as the two of us stood awkwardly. "Well, I have to go check on Danny," I said, standing up straight.

"Okay, thanks again for da help," Swinger said.

"No problem," I said as I walked away from the docks.

I got back to the manor in time for lunch.

"Anomie!" Daniel exclaimed as I walked through the door.

"Hey," I said as he ran up to me and hugged me tightly.

"Did Spot leave?" he asked, looking up at me.

"Yeah," I said regretfully.

"Will he be back soon?"

"I hope so," I said as I let Daniel to the dining room. "But for now you need to eat lunch."

The ten-year-old climbed into one of the chairs as the maids entered the room. "Lunch is served," one said.

"Good, now take a seat," I told the maids.

They did as they were told, already used to me ordering them to eat every meal with us. There were too many maids and butlers to fit into the dining room, so the others ate wherever they pleased.

"Aren't you going to eat, Miss?" Sylvia asked me.

"No thank you," I said. "I have too many things to worry about at the moment."

"Mr. Conlon will be fine, Miss," she said.

"I know he will," I sighed. "I just can't help but to worry. Jack did say he suspected a scam, so who knows what could happen to them?"

"Spots immortal," Daniel said, looking up at me from his lunch. "Nothing can damage him."

"I wish that were true," I said, running my fingers through Daniel's hair.

"It is true," he said. "Just like you he can survive through anything."

"Danny that's nonsense," I said. "I can't survive everything."

"Yes you can," Daniel argued back. "You survived the school. All my heroes survive."

I smiled down at him and kissed his head. "Eat your lunch," I said.

A knock came from the door. I walked into the foyer and answered it. "Can I help you?" I asked the boy as I leaned against the doorway, crossing my arms.

"Yeah, does Spot Conlon live heah?" he asked.

"Who's asking?" I asked.

"Da names Sharp," the boy said. "I'm second in command in Queens."

"Well, to answer your question, Sharp, no, he doesn't live here. Didn't he go to New Jersey with your leader?"

"Uh, someone told me he didn't go," Sharp said. "And dey sent me heah."

"Well of course he went, I watched him leave this morning," I said. "And Spot doesn't live here. He lives at the Lodging House."

"My apologies," Sharp said.

"Wait, what did you need him for anyways?" I asked.

"Well, he wanted some information dat I finally got for him," he said.

"What information?"

"Top secret, can't say."

"Alright," I shrugged. "I don't know how you got misinformed about him being here, but whoever told you is wrong."

"A man told me," Sharp said.

"What man?" I asked.

"I don't know his foist name, but his last name is Neeley."

Author note: I hope you enjoyed, and don't forget to review please.