Okay all, this is the last chapter! It takes place one year later, I know I am skipping ahead, but this is also sort of the prologue to the sequel. So read, enjoy, and review!!

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1 YEAR LATER

The smell of bread filled our small, basement apartment. As far as I was concerned, this was the perfect place for us to live. We had the privacy of our own apartment, but the Brooklyn newsies still lived upstairs. I stretched out on the bed, a book balanced in one hand, the other rested on my stomach, and yawned. I had worked until closing the past two nights, weekends are always the busiest, so I was always grateful to have Sundays off to just relax.

I set the book down and walked over the small kitchen in the corner to check on my baking bread. So far so good, I thought to myself, excited that Spot will have warm, homemade bread to come home to after a long morning of selling papers. Content, I walked back over to the bed, which backed up to the wall adjoining the kitchen, and picked up my book again, getting lost in the adventure I held in my hands, and the adventure that was to come.

The smell of smoke snapped me out of my trance. I cursed loudly and threw myself off the bed, landing on the floor with a thud, and scrambled over to the stove, which was now spewing out gray clouds. I swore again and pulled the pan of bread out off the oven without thinking and quickly pulled my hand back in pain, sending the black loaf rolling across the floor. I stomped over to the sink to get a wet towel and began to frantically swat at the flames, cursing them and that ruined loaf of bread.

"Someone's been cookin'," I heard Spot comment after I had successfully smashed those flames. I turned around to see him drop a paper sack on the table, his crystal-blue eyes sparkling in amusement. I coughed and swatted the smoke away from my face.

"Glad ta seeya find dis funny," I said, pushing the strands of hair that came loose from my ponytail away from my face, wincing in pain. I cursed the bread again and held my hand close. Spot approached me, the amusement in his eyes replaced with concern.

"Didja boin yourself again?" I nodded and he told me to go sit down. He joined me a few seconds later with a pat of butter on a knife. He gingerly spread it on my burn and wrapped my palm in a dish cloth.

"Your becomin' pretty good at 'butterin me up,'" I joked giggling slightly. This wasn't the first time he had to treat one of my burns caused by my attempted cooking and baking. He smirked and got up to open the door to let out the remainder of the smoke.

"You wanna do da honors?" He asked gesturing to the blackened rock that still lay of the floor. I happily agreed and kicked it out the door into the alley, forever wiping it out of my memory.

Feeling better, I wrapped my arms around Spot's neck and kissed him passionately. "Youse is home early, I didn't even hear ya come in."

"O course ya didn't, prolly couldn't hear me ova your own cursin,'" he teased. "We could hear ya upstairs." I blushed deeply knowing they all probably heard my obscene fit of frustration. He just laughed and kissed me on the nose. " 'Sides, is it so wrong for me ta wanna spend more time wid my girl on our foist anniversary?"

"Youse remembered!" I gasped, pulling him into a tight embrace.

"O'course I remembered, ya didn't tink I would go and forget da most important day of my life, dija?" He kissed me sweetly and pulled away, squeezing my hands. "I got somethin' fer ya." I chastised him, reminding him we agreed not to get each other gifts, but he shushed me and went over to the paper sack. He pulled out a small loaf of bread from the bakery, along with some cheese and sliced meat. I sighed and let out a giggle at my anniversary gift. He does know me rather well.

"I'm sucha terrible wife."

"Naw, youse is a great wife…just a terrible cook, dats all," Spot assured me with a playful wink. I socked him in the arm and took the bread from him to slice it. He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my thin waist, resting his head on my shoulder.

"I saw Sarah t'day," I informed him, breaking the silence.

"Oh yeah?" He responded, not sounding at all interested.

"Guess what!"

"What?''

"I tink she is about ta pop!" I said happily, genuinely excited about becoming an aunt and godmother again. Little Timothy celebrated his first birthday just a few months ago, I couldn't believe he was so big already! It was one of the most amazing experiences in the world, to watch a child grow up before your very eyes. I smiled to myself, imagining watching our own children grow up. I chatted excitedly about the Jack and Sarah's upcoming baby, who was due any day now, while compiling our sandwiches, but I had the feeling that I was mainly talking to just myself because I barely got anything else but a nod from him the whole time. I sighed. I wish he would get more excited. He carried our plates to the table and I soon joined him with two cups of coffee.

I settled myself down to eat, but the overwhelming urge to throw up stopped me from picking up my sandwich. I gently placed a hand on my stomach, it's now or never.

"Spot?" I asked, receiving his attention. He looked down at my untouched food and back up at me with apprehension.

"Is everyting alright?" He acquired, squinting his eyes. I took a deep breath.

"When do ya want children?" He looked startled and I could tell he was unprepared for this question.

"Hadn't really taught bout it, I dunno, wheneva modder nature decides to send one our way, I spose," He answered, taking another bite out of him sandwich.

"Funny ya should mention her, dear, 'cause we had ourselves a little chat da odder day." He froze, giving me a strange look but remaining silent. I smiled and stared down at my hand resting on my flat stomach. "She told me one would be arriving in about nine months." I snapped my eyes up to see that he had frozen, mid chew, and was staring at my stomach.

"Baby?" He choked out. I nodded, trying desperately to read him. He was shocked, as if one of the newsies had suddenly just come up and kissed him. No, that would be a bad description because he didn't look like he was about to kill someone, he just looked shocked. He slowly moved his eyes up to meet my nervous ones.

"Spot!" I started nervously, rising from my seat. "Aren't you happy?"

Suddenly he sprang up from his chair and caught me in a gently embrace. "I'm da happiest man alive," he whispered, picking me up and spinning me around. I giggled.

"Spot! I love ya, but you have gotta put me down, I'm getting sick."

He stopped immediately and placed me on the floor, cupping my face in his hands. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Are ya okay?" I just laughed and nodded, leaning forward to kiss him. He kissed back and placed a calloused hand tenderly on my belly. I placed my own hand on top of his and smiled broadly.

"Happy foist anniversary, daddy," I said, stressing the last word. He caressed my face and kissed me again.

"Happy anniversary, mama," he said back, his eyes full of life. He smirked. "I taught we agreed not ta give each odder gifts," he said in a soft, teasing voice. I laced my fingers through his and smiled up at him, my eyes shining.

"It's not from me," I said matter-of-factly. "It's from motha-nature, remember?"

He looked at me lovingly and pulled me into his embrace whispering words of endearment while my head rested on his chest. I could hear the steady beat of his heart, and a flow of love swept over me. My heart was here, with him, and that's where it would stay for all eternity. I knew that as long as he was with me, I would have a place in this world, a place to call home.

Well, that's it! What did you guys think about my story!? Please let me know! Sequel coming up next!! I will publish one more chapter, but that's just to thank all my lovely reviewers and reply to all your reviews. I love you guys, thanks for reading and please continue!! 3 Meg