A/N: I love my reviewers! You all rock my world, and I really really appreciate it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies, Disney does. I have included a song in this chapter, even though I rarely do that, it usually bugs me, but the song was perfect. The song is, "And So It Goes," by Billy Joel.

In every heart there is a room
A sanctuary safe and strong
To heal the wounds from lovers past
Until a new one comes along

When Melody finally shook herself awake the next morning she was surprised to find her room piled full of flowers and little gifts. She stared around, puzzled before yelling for Kes. Kes hurried into the room and Melody muttered, "What is all this?"

"Stuff from the Manhattan Newsies," Kes's face broke into a smile when she saw a small smile on Melody's face, "They felt really bad about what happened."

Melody stood up quietly and examined all of the stuff, "How did they do it?"

"Kloppman."

Melody's smile widened and she followed Kes out of her room and she was surprised to find a few of the Manhattan Newsies still lingering in the apartment. Kes cleared her throat to get their attention and when they looked up they all smiled, came over, and hugged Melody.

When they had all hugged her multiple times, she was again in tears. "Thanks guys, you really didn't have to do this," she mumbled through her tears.

"Yes, we did," Blink said smiling, "You're our friend, and we care about you."

Melody smiled weakly and said, "Can we make you guys lunch?"

I spoke to you in cautious tones
You answered me with no pretense
And still I feel I said too much
My silence is my self defense

Late that night Melody was sitting on the roof of her apartment building with a thin blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She sighed and looked over the slowly dimming lights of Brooklyn. She could barely see the top of the Brooklyn Lodging House through the clothes lines strung between and atop the buildings. She tensed when a hand touched her shoulder.

"Hey Mel," Blink sat down next to her and she relaxed again.

"Oh, hey Blink," she smiled, "You scared me."

"Sorry," he smiled softly before saying, "What happened?" She shot him a questioning look and he said, "With Spot."

Melody's glance snapped back to the top of the Lodging House. "I slept with him," she whispered, "and than I found out he was cheating on me. But he was just a bet."

"I know," Blink said quietly, "Ace told me earlier."

"The worst part," she paused, "is that I fell in love with him."

"Oh, Mel," Blink wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to him. She buried her head into his shoulder and started crying again. Melody yanked away from Blink when she heard the screams coming from downstairs.

"What is that?" she asked.

"Come on," Blink stood and pulled her to her feet. He led her down stairs, and when they reached the main hall they were pulled into the flood of people heading towards the door.

"What's going on?" Blink asked Mush as he ran by.

"The buildings on fire," Mush said quickly. The words rang through melody's ears and she turned to run back to her apartment. Blink grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the door.

And every time I've held a rose
It seems I only felt the thorns
And so it goes, and so it goes
And so will you soon I suppose

"Blink, I have to make sure Kes and Ace are ok!" Melody yelled.

"They'll be fine!" he said, "Come on, we have to get out."

She let him pull her out of the building and into the streets where they turned and watched the flames consume the building. Tears started to slip down Melody's cheeks as she tried to find Kes. Her heart lifted when she saw the red head girl standing with Race.

"Kes!" Melody yelled. She shoved her way to Kes who embraced her in a hug.

"Where's Ace?" Kes asked.

"I thought she was with you," Melody said.

"Fuck," Kes muttered looking up at the burning building.

"No," Melody whispered.

"Race we have to find Ace," Kes said.

The three started searching the crowd of people. Melody was the first to reach Jack. "Jack, have you seen Ace?"

"The last time I saw her," Jack paused and a look of horror crossed his face, "She was heading to bed."

"No," Melody whispered again. She started running toward the building, but Blink grabbed her arm, "Where are you going?"

"It's Ace," Melody mumbled, "She's inside, I have to help her."

Blink held her back, "Mel, there's nothing we can do."

"Shut up!" Melody yelled, "I have to help her!" The tears ran freely down her cheeks.

"Mel, there's nothing we can do," Blink repeated.

Melody fought his grasp trying to run and help Ace, but she eventually collapsed into Blink's arms in tears.

But if my silence made you leave
Then that would be my worst mistake
So I will share this room with you
And you can have this heart to break

By morning the flames had died down. The frame of the building still stood but it was charred and unsafe. A few hours earlier, Ace's body was found and it was confirmed that she was dead. Kes had wandered off with Race while the rest of the newsies buisied themselves with their papers.

Melody and Kes were going to be staying at the Lodging House till they could find a new apartment. Melody didn't sell her papes, she didn't eat or even sleep. She sat alone in the small room she shared with Kes and she stared out the window. Kes had tried to talk to melody, but Melody only responded with a few small 'hmmms' and grunts of agreement.

It was that which had brought Kes to the Brooklyn Lodging House a week after the fire. When she knocked on Sot's bedroom door there was a pause before he pulled open the door. When he saw who it was, he braced himself for a fight before saying, "What?"

"I need your help," Kes mumbled.

"With what?"

"Melody."

"What happened?" he demanded, "Is she ok? If Jack laid one finger on her I swear I'm gonna-," Kes cut him off.

"Ace is dead."

Spot looked down, "I heard."

"Melody doesn't eat anymore. She doesn't sleep, "Kes paused, "she needs you Spot.

Spot stared at her confused, "Why hasn't she come to me herself?"

"Because she's scared," Kes whispered.

"Of me?"

"Of falling in love with you again."

Spot closed his eyes for a second before whispering, "I-I'm sorry. I can't help you."

"Why not!" Kes shouted.

"Melody's not the only one who got hurt," he whispered. He looked into her eyes and she was scared by what she saw. She saw pain and love.

"Fine," she said stiffly. She turned and left. Spot closed his door and sighed, running a hand through his hair. Melody was all he could think about, he wanted more than ever to hold her again, but he knew that would never happen.

And this is why my eyes are closed
It's just as well for all I've seen
And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows

Ace's funeral took place only two days after Kes's meeting with Spot. She never told Melody what she had done. Most of the Newsies came, including the Brooklyn Newsies. Melody stood next to Kes close to the coffin. She could feel Spot's eyes on her, but she refused to look up. He stood a mere three feet away from her on the other side of the coffin.

The service was small, Kloppman gave a speech and said prayers, none of them could afford a priest, but they all figured Ace would have wanted Kloppman over a priest. After the service a few of the Newsies stayed behind, but most left to sell the afternoon edition.

Melody let Kes go away with Race while she sat on a small bench by the cluster of graves that Ace's sat in. She choked back a few sobs before allowing herself to freely cry. She didn't jump when she felt the familiar arms wrap themselves around her body. She relaxed into his grasp, and took in his scent. When she had calmed down she pulled out of his arms, muttered a quick, 'sorry' before getting up and walking towards the gates to the cemetery.

"Mel, wait," Spot ran to catch up with her. He grabbed her elbow and spun her around, and he was met with her eyes drilling into him. When she didn't say anything he said, "I'm sorry -," she opened her mouth to interrupt him, but he didn't let her, "If you need anything, anything, I'm here."

She gave him a quick look over before taking her elbow out of his grasp and saying, "Thank you." She turned and walked out, leaving him to stand amongst the graveyard.

So I would choose to be with you
That's if the choice were mine to make
But you can make decisions too
And you can have this heart to break

Over the next week, Melody fought with herself. She wanted so much to go back and be with Spot, but she was scared. She didn't want to be hurt again, and she knew that he didn't want to get hurt again either.

Spot was surprised to be awoken late one night to a soft tapping on his door. He grumbled and walked over, but when he opened the door he was surprised to find a nervous Melody standing, soaked to the core with tears slipping down her cheeks.

"Are you ok?" he asked, pulling her close to him and wrapping his arms around her.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed, "I just had no where else to go. She's dead, Spot. She's gone."

"It's ok," he whispered and let her burry her head into his chest, he didn't care if she was getting him wet. He only cared about her.

And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows.