Hey! So I have a bunch of Newsie one-shot ideas...but its all really angst and sad and I don't want to post all of it at once...I would have feels overload...

Did anyone watch the Livechat? I think they answered my question! Anyone else?

Thanks for reading! Review and Read On!

- Emily

Maia didn't go to sell papes the next day, nor the day after that, nor the day after that. She just sat there, huddled in the alleyway, starving and drowning in tears. She had never felt this broken. Her parents didn't want her, her brother didn't seem to care- after all, he hadn't found her-, and her 'friends' didn't care for her either. She was all alone in the world. In fact, the highlight of the past few days was when the Delanceys beat her up and took the little money she had.

Why, Maia? Why couldn't you have listened and kept your mouth shut?" She scolded herself. Of course she blamed herself, not her father. If she would have ben the daughter he had wanted she wouldn't be sitting here starving, freezing, and shredded clothes to match her bruised and cut skin. She hugged her knees tighter and rested her chin on them. Suddenly, a voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"M-Maia?" Maia jumped and looked at the newcomer. It was Katherine.

"What do you want!" She snapped. Katherine looked offended for a minute, but quickly shook it off.

"Maia, what happened? Are you alright?"

"Am I alright? Do you have eyes?"

"Maia, what happened? Why aren't you selling papers? The boys are really worried about you!" Maia laughed.

"Yeah, sure they are. They don't miss me, never did and never will." Katherine gasped.

"Why would you think that?" A tear slid down Maia's face.

"Jack. He told me that, more less." Katherine shook her head.

"No, I'll be back." Maia jumped to her feet.

"No! Don't! Don't tell them you saw me!"

"Why not?" Maia opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Katherine quickly walked out onto the street.

Great! Maia thought. Panicked, she started to run. Just as she stepped out onto the street, however, and pair of hands grabbed her arms and jerked her back.

"Hey!" She yelled. She looked up, it was Jack and Race.

"Calm down, Flame. It's just us." Race said. He helped her up and hugged her.

"We were so worried, Maia. I- I thought you had died." Maia was dumbfounded.

"Y-You don't hate me?" She whispered. Race pulled back and looked her in the eye.

"Why would we hate you?" Maia looked down.

"Come on. Lets take you back to the lodge. We can all talk there." Jack said. Maia nodded, not looking him in the eye. She started to walk, but stumbled.

"Ok, your not walking. What happened?" Jack asked, picking her up like a baby.

"I- I don't-"

"Maia, please?" Race asked. She took a deep breath.

"M-My father. He found out about the newsie thing and beat me and kicked me out of the house. Then a few days ago the Delanceys beat me up and stole my money." She closed her eyes and shook slightly. She heard the boys gasp and could picture the looks on their faces.

"Maia, your ok. Your going to live with us at the Lodging House, ok?" Race said. She nodded, crying slightly. They finally arrived and everyone swarmed them.

"Back off! Let's get her inside, ok?" They walked inside and went up to the bedroom. Jack set her on the bottom buck and Race sat next to her.

"Maia! We were so worried! You scared us!" Specs pushed to the front of the ground and sat on the other side of her.

"What happened?" Crutchie asked. Maia shifted uncomfortably, and looked at Race. He nodded.

"My-my dad kicked me out of the house and beat me. I've been in an alleyway for the past few days and the Delanceys found me and beat me, stealing my money as well." She said, clutching Races hand. Specs patted her thigh.

"Why didn't you come to us? We could have helped you!" Crutchie asked. Jack cleared his throat.

"That may have been my fault. Maia, I'm sorry. I should have never said those things to ya at Tibby's. I'm sorry." Maia smiled.

"I'm sorry, to. I guess my temper got the better of me." Jack spit on his hand and held it out. She spit in hers and they shook.

"Wait, so are you staying here?" Specs asked. She nodded.

"Did I hear we have a new kid?" A man came in with a big smile on his face.

"Yes, sir! Kloppman, this is Maia, but we call her Flame. Maia, or Flame, this is Kloppman. He runs this joint." He smiled at her.

"A girl, huh? We'll have to make some arrangements, but it will all work. Happy to have ya." He smiles and hugged her.

"Thanks for lettin' me stay."

"No problem, kid. Now, where to put ya."

"The bunk above mine is empty." Race said.

"Perfect! You can have that one. Now, all of you, lights out. Flame, there will be some clothes on your bed tomorrow, ok? You can have those."

"Thanks, Kloppman." He nodded and everyone climbed into bed. The lights flickered off and for the first time in days, she knew everything would be alright.

Thanks for reading! Review please!

- Emily