Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday to everyone! I hope you have a wonderful break! This was your present and I do hope you enjoy it! notice: I will not be updating because I am on break and I really do need it! I promise though I will update after my break which isn't long! I hope everyone also has a happy new year!

Spot Conlon never thought of what to do for a girl like Athena. He couldn't swoon her like the other newsgirls, he couldn't take her on romantic evenings, be mysterious towards her, or any other crap that newsboys have done for their girls. She was indeed different. Spot watched as Athena chased after Mouse, who was running off with her flute. He laughed to himself as she catcher up with him and pluck the instrument from his hands. She laughed as he fought her off and tackled her legs sending her falling down on the dock yards. Rebel pulled Mouse off Athena and sent him along, Athena picked herself up and walked away from Rebel, her fingers twisted the flute in her hand. Spot leaped down from his crate and sauntered off after her.

"Hey! Athena! Wait!"

Athena halted at the voice and turned around, stunned to find Spot Conlon jogging after her.

"Hey! Where you going?" Spot questioned as he shoved his hands in his pockets, showing Athena a peace between them. She jutted her thumb towards the House.

"To the Lodging House. Any normal person would walk away from five thousand boys shirtless, running ramped around the dock." Spot laughed whole heartedly while Athena gave him an amused curious look.

"You'd be surprise! Most girls would kill to be in your position. Watching me and me boys run shirtless around the docks. Showing off our 'gorgeous' muscles, as the would say." Spot still was chuckling as he explained this to Athena, who smirked comedically. Spot watched as her eyes dazzled in amusement from Spot's somewhat sexist comment.
The two talked mindlessly as they made their way back to the House, both enjoyed their company.

"And then she actually ripped the door open. I swear the girl was half crazy." The two laughed at Spot's story of some crazy bitch trying to nab at him.

"She actually ripped down the door?!" Athena stared in disbelief at Conlon's story. She laughed at the though of some broad, with lust hunger in her eyes and muscle veins bulging out as she ripped the door open of Spot's room and throw herself on him. Spot watched as her eyes lit up as her laughed. It gave him an actual sense of joy seeing her like that and, as weird as it sounds, Spot's heart actually warmed up a bit. He continued his story for about another block when Athena spoke up.

"We just passed the house about 5 blocks back." She jerked her thumb over her shoulder for emphases. Spot merely laughed.

"Well it won't matter. Ain't like every bodies going sick wondering where we are." The two laughed and turned around, like two allies.

It was a hot Thursday afternoon when Spot and the others had finished selling and stepped into the semi cool Lodging House. Athena was teaching Mouse a handshake her friends use to use. Athena looked up and saw the boys, tired and sweaty from working out in the boiling sun. It hadn't rain in about four days and sun had took over New York City, though it wasn't a surprise to people, New York was one of the hottest places to be in the summer. Spot and Rebel were the last of the boys to enter the Lodging house.

"So how was selling." Athena asked mockingly to the two boys who had plopped tiredly on the couch, their limbs sprawled out and limp. Rebel lolled his head back and elicited a tired groan.

"I think it actually got hotter by 200 degrees." Spot simply nodded his head at the comment. Athena tisked at them.

"If it was 200 degrees out we'd be dead by now..." She looked around at all the boys either in chairs or heading upstairs. "Never mind I see you guys already have." Spot chuckled lazily and rolled his eyes towards her. She wasn't sweaty or tired because she had absolutely refused to send the little ones out in that weather though she didn't care about the older ones because their well...older. He remember the argument this morning. It was a comical sight to see, Spot Conlon being beat by a girl who was a hell bent child. The fight made that twinkle in Athena's eye and her cheeks flushed from anger as she fought, giving her a lovely glow that made Spot's stomach churn in a weird hormone way. He had actually give in to her argument when he had walked outside himself and immediately regretted so. The fight still played in his mind and it made Spot smile, something many people would be shocked at.

"Well I guess now were all living dead to you Boyce." He commented at her, growling in a mocking way. She smiled and plopped between the two boys, crushing their legs. They both elicited a moan of pain as he bottom pummeled their tired legs.

"Athena get off!" Rebel gasped at her, trying to push her off. Athena just threw her arms back lazily and lolled her head back.

"Athena seriously get off!" Spot barked, aiding his friend as the two tried to move the great rock that was Athena. She just laughed. "Come on boys I though you were stronger than this." Spot and Rebel glanced at each other before the finally were able to push off Athena, making her cry in surprise as her hands planted themselves to the floor. The two leaned over and high fived.

Athena composed herself once more and huffed at the two boys. Her frown made her brow knit together as she glared at the two grinning bobcats, though it soon turned to a smile as she sat between the two boys when they moved their legs. The three of them sat there, like the young teenagers they were, without a care to their name.

Lily sighed and headed through the door. She couldn't help but feel nervous as she headed up the creaky steps. As she pushed the door open she could immediately smell the sickly sweet smoke of opium. Oliver was sitting in a wooden chair, the token beer in his ink stained hands, Roan Jakeob was leaning against the headboard of the king size bed he possessed in his room. He was smoking a cigarette and the smoke poured from his nose. He looked at Lily with deep, black eyes. Lily sat down on a chair and lit up. They sat in silence. Lily couldn't help but feel a warm, peaceful sensation surround her heart. This was the closest to family she had ever come. Lily thought to himself. Lily looked to Roan. "We're losing her," she mumbled, almost imperceptibly.

"I know," Roan breathed back. "I know."

Lily twiddled her thumbs as the three sat there in the dead silence. After some time had passed Stag had entered the smoked room. His own cigar smoke mixed in with the smell of opium.
"Roan. We can't keep pretending like Athena is going to come back. The spy said it, we're losing her as it is. How long before we lose her completely to Spot and his knights." Lily spoke up with a stride of confidants and concern for her friend. Roan sat up from the bed and walked towards the window, a whit cigarette hung between his thin lips. Smoke oozed from his lips and nose as he thought to himself.

"Your right Lily. Your right. We are losing her and its obvious she ain't comin' back. So there is only one thing to do..." Lily cocked her head in confusion, her blonde hair making her look innocent and naive as a child.

"We leave her." Stag and Lily's mouths dropped at the harshness in Roan's voice. It was a surprise to all in the room at the comment that had uttered from Roan's lips. Him, of all people, cared about Athena the most and hearing this would have made anyone thing Roan was high but it did. The words came out plain as day and harsh as the sun's rays.

"W-what?" Stag stuttered as he tried to comprehend the words that hit his ears. Roan turned around.

"We leave her. Lily right. We're losing Athena as it is, bringing her back is pointless, she could be fucking brainwashed by now. She ain't no use to us anymore so we might as well." Roan turned back towards the window, showing that the conversation was over. Lily didn't hesitate and pulled Stag out of the room and into the attic where their headquarters was. Lily closed the door and locked it, turning towards Stag she spoke in hushed tones.

"Roan crazy! No way would anyone leave ATHENA BOYCE in the hands of that goddamn mother fucker! We have to do something!"

"What are we suppose to do? No way would Roan believe that she's still the same. And no way would he kidnap her back. What does she got that we don't?" Lily opened her mouth but shut it, placing a finger to her chin and tapping on it in thought. Stag rolled his eyes, heading for the doorway when Lily snapped her fingers.

"I got it!" She grabbed Stag's shoulders.

"Athena been with Conlon for days now right?" Stag nodded his head. "Well, if the spy thinks we lost her, she might have gained his trust and must know some of his attack strategies." Stag got somewhat of what Lily was saying.

"And so..."

"And so, if we bring Athena back here, maybe she will tell us about them and we can show Roan we didn't lose her! Maybe that's why she's there!" The two shared a triumphant look when Lily spoke. They soon laid down a map of the Brooklyn castle and started to make plans. Little did they know, someone very sleazy was listening behind the door, smiling wide.

Hope you guys like a cliff hanger! If you liked this chapter click THA review button please! For Christmas can I at least get five reviews or more please!