A/N: here it is...the last chapter!! I hope you all enjoyed this story and any last reviews would be great.

Thanks so much to all my reviewers throughout the story and to Racerchick for once again reviewing!! it kept me writing this knowing people enjoyed it. And thanks to everyone that added it to their favorites!

It had been a week and I slowly fell into the newsie lifestyle. I wasn't nearly as good as the others but I didn't mind, I still wasn't sure if I would stay a newsie. Every afternoon I looked for some other job but none seemed to work out right. Sighing I dragged my body along the streets, headed to get some lunch with Spot and the others.

As I walked by an alley I paused and glanced down its shadowy walls. Something felt off, as I silently inspected the alley I found nothing. Frowning I turned and started to walk away when I heard a noise. It sounded like someone fell into a pile of something.

I took a few steps back and looked into the alley, this time I saw a figure hunched on the ground. I cautiously stepped through the alley, unsure if this person needed my help or was trouble. At least it was still light out and I felt more at ease with the sun shinning at the opening of the alley.

As I stood above the figure on the ground I stopped and tried to see who it was. "Ya alright?" I asked hoping I would at least get a response.

The head turned and I saw a bruised face in front of me, "Autumn?" was the very soft response I got. I moved closer kneeling to get at the persons height.

As I stared at the figure I froze, "Spring?" she turned her head slightly so that the light fell on it better. It was Spring, "What happened?"

Spring tried to pull her body up against the wall, but fell back into a sitting position.

"I tried to get out, I was done in there but I wasn't quick enough to get out of Manhattan. Brady and his boys found me, I had come to find you, I'm sorry if I led them here"

"Spring it doesn't matter, we'll get ya some help, come on the lodgin' house aint far" I went to help her up when she held out a hand.

"I'm sorry Autumn, I can't make it..." she paused trying to catch her breath. My eyes watered as I watched her slowly fight for breath.

"Come on Spring I'll help ya there" she shook her head and I saw some blood trickling out of her mouth. I stared at her broken form frozen, I knew there wasn't much time but I couldn't make myself run for help. She held on to my arm with strength I was still surprised she had left. That move made me hopeful that she would be okay. But as time slowly moved, her hand lost its strength and fell to the ground.

I chocked on my tears and silently felt for a pulse but found none. I couldn't help but let the tears fall, she was my one friend, the only one who understood our work and why we had to do it. After a minute of kneeling with Spring, I stood up my tears dried and I had anger flowing through my blood.

Brady had no right to own us, or to do this to Spring. I walked out of the alley turning towards Manhattan. I heard my name being called behind me, most likely it was my brother but I pretended not to hear him. My fists formed balls against my side as I continued the journey towards my old work.

It took awhile but I finally arrived where I wanted to be, I stood staring at the building in front of me not sure what to do now. Taking one more look around I stepped inside hoping Brady had come back here, and was alone.

I pushed the front door open slowly, making sure it was silent. I was so fired up I could hear my heart pounding in my head. It was a mixture of fear and anger that kept me moving forward. As I neared his room I took in a deep breath and pushed the door open with enough strength I thought it was going to break.

I looked around the room and some how I became furious. "Spot?! What are ya doin' here" he was casually leaning against Brady's desk.

"Autumn, I'm sorry bout ya friend, but I couldn't let ya do this, ya askin for death or the Refuge." I stared at him in silence. "Brady aint gonna bother ya anymore…let's go back to Brooklyn"

He walked towards me and pulled me out of the room and soon out of the house. I stopped on the streets and turned to Spot. "What do ya mean he won't bother me?"

"I took a few short cuts to get here before ya, and I found Brady along the way. He won't dare comin' after ya in Brooklyn or hattan anymore"

I sighed and gave him a small smile it was enough of a thanks for him as he nodded at me. We both knew thanks was hard for us to say but we understood each other.

The walk back was longer than it should have been, my mind was racing with too many thoughts and I kept feeling Spot glancing over to make sure I was fine. Sighing I stepped over the bridge entering my new life, this time I wouldn't leave my only friends and family I had, I would become a newsie….and hopefully enjoy it.

Spot smirked as we turned towards the docks he knew I changed my mind. He put his arm over my shoulder as we walked towards his little throne.

I found myself in Manhattan, but I wasn't scared of it anymore I had the power of newsies behind me if Brady came looking for me. Jack and Spot made sure of that. But today I was visiting an old friend, sighing I knelt at the stone in front of me. I shook my head still not believing this had happened.

"Heya Spring, at least ya safe now. Bein' a newsie aint bad, and well I know ya would have loved to flirt with all the boys" I laughed imagining her living in the lodging house with a bunch of boys, no one would be safe from her. I glanced around the small cemetery and stood up lightly brushing off my pants.

"See ya round Spring, and keep outta trouble" I turned away from the grave and felt closure for once in my life. It had been a few weeks since I found Spring and I fell into the newsie life better than I had expected. I smirked as I thought about the changes in my life, I was once lost and confused but now I feel whole and for once I've found my place.

I headed back towards Brooklyn to sell the afternoon edition and maybe catch up with Spot at the docks. The wind blew through my hair and I smiled taking another quick glance at Manhattan, and turned towards home.

THE END

A/N: I didn't really mean to have Spring die…I'm still kinda sad I did but apparently this story just wrote itself to the end so I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and the story overall!!