UPDATED VERSION

Note: Sorry for the late update but my exams were on! Hope they were good enough -_-;

Everybody froze and looked incredulously at Sparrow whose head was poking out of the main door to the Butcher shop, her braid swung to and fro while she smiled goofily.

Syd shook his head. "Uh, yeah no. You're not welcome here," he said narrowing his gaze her.

"Oh, I'm only here to buy some nice lean meat," Sparrow said innocently.

"Don't mind him," said Cat opening the door. "He's just sulking about the fight yesterday."

"I'm not sulking!" Syd sulked and shoved his hands in his pockets.

Cat sighed and ushered Sparrow in and has a sudden flash back of last night's incident with the window and the ghostly figure. Good God! What if she spotted me spying on her house?! Cat thought as she closed the door shut. "Come in. So erm...how are you-"she started but was rudely shoved aside by Joe as he grabbed Sparrows hand and bent low and kissed it.

'My lady Sparrow! It's an honour to finally meet you! I was looking so forward to this...magical encounter..." he gushed waggling his eyebrows.

"Oh, the pleasure is all mine. And, you are?" she smiled bemused, prying her hands away gently.

"It's Joe! Ma'am. Joe..." he said as he raised his free arm high and bowed even deeper. "Murray," he finished pulling out a rose from up his sleeve.

Sparrow clapped her hands delightedly while everyone else rolled their eyes.

"So, which meat was it?" Syd cut in before Joe could carry on with his foolish flirting.

"Beef, 3kgs. And a whole chicken," Sparrow replied rummaging through a big fabric bag for her purse, then realised Syd hadn't moved and smiled acidly up at him, "please."

Syd snorted and disappeared behind the curtains to the cutting room.

"Did you give him the balm I gave you?" Sparrow whispered to Cat.

"I tried, but he's being stubborn," Cat sighed.

"Syd's a stubborn fellow, he is," added Joe suddenly appearing by Sparrow's side and casually putting his arm around her. "Unlike me of course. I'm as lenient as a... er...lenient thing."

They all turned to Joe, but he was oblivious to their looks. Syd re-emerged and dumped the meat on the counter. "That was quick," Sparrow said surprised and suspicious. Her eyes widened and she gasped in realization, "You didn't actually give me a whole live chicken, did you?"

"No, but that is an idea," he replied ignoring Cat's glare. "I just couldn't wait for you to leave."

"Syd-" Cat began but Sparrow butted in, "neither can I !" she smiled through gritted teeth, slamming the money on the counter and grabbing the meat. She turned to leave but stopped and turned back once more. "You should use that balm. It will reduce the inflammation and the pain."

"No thanks," Syd replied. "I'll survive fine without it, I can assure you" Sparrow look pointedly at Syds bruises and bandaged wrist.

"Fine!" she huffed turning for the door. "I've never met such a sore loser!"

"Ooooh. Buurn mate," Joe chuckled, but then quietened when he saw Syd's

The door slammed shut and Cat turned to glare at Syd, again. "She is so right you know," Cat said crossly.

"What?! Are you cussing me? Cat she- no. You know what? Fine!" he snarled. Cat flinched.

"Syd-" Nick tried to say but Syd cut him off. "No, go ahead! If you agree so much with that, that arrogant bootlicking prat! Then fine. Maybe you should be with her, than be here."

"Syd!" Nick, yelled jumping up to his feet.

"She's not arrogant, Syd! You are!" Cat yelled back, shaking in anger. "You're being unbelievable!" and she slammed the balm onto the counter making the coins bounce to the floor and stomped out of the shop.

There was an uncomfortable moment of silence as Nick and Joe stood frozen, unable to understand what had happened and how. Syd sighed and bent to pick up the coins, wincing at the pain. Joe bent to help Syd, but Syd brushed him off. "I'm fine! I can do it myself" he mumbled.

"What happened Syd?" Nick asked. "I've never seen you like this! Well not with Cat, anyway." And he looked back at the door. "Why'd yell at her? She never did anything wrong-"

"Yes she did!" Syd suddenly yelled, jumping to his feet. "She sided with her!"

"Well of course she did!" Nick shook his head, unable to understand. "She had the right reason to."

"No!" Syd yelled again and sighed frustrated-ly. His shoulders slumped as leaned against the wall. "She sided with her. She was suppose to side with me! She always has," he trailed off and looked own. "She always has."

"I don't understand," Nick began.

"She can beat me down and take away my title," Syd said without looking up. "But she can't take my Cat. She...can't."

After a while Joe said "Well you sure picked the wrong time to argue with her." Syd looked up and looked at him inquiringly. "It's the big grand opening for the Theatre Royal this evening, remember? And Cat's in it."

Syd groaned and clutched at his hair in frustration. "It's her big night dammit! And I ruined her mood."

"Well, you got 'til evenin to make up for it," Nick said slumping back down onto his sack. "You'd better think fast."

"Stupid Syd," Cat grumbled under her breath as she tore up the road in anger and confusion. "Ruined my bloody day. Why does he have so stubborn? Is it his pride?" Suddenly, up head she spotted a familiar long black braid, swinging side to side like a tail. Sparrow! She thought and ran after her.

"Sparrow wait!" she cried out, almost tripping at a chipped bit of the road. Sparrow turned and spotted Cat and caught before she fell. "Whoah! Steady on there little Cat!" Sparrow smiled straightening her.

"I'm sorry about Syd. I mean-" Cat started but Sparrow held up her hand. "Say no more. I understand. Kind of. I hurt his pride, right?"

"Erm, well, I guess." Cat said as they began to walk again. "I mean, Syd doesn't always react this way when losing to a fight. If he ever looses."

"Well, it's the same with all my other male competitors," Sparrow explained. "They don't take losing to a girl very well. Which is why I have my identity hidden most of the time."

"The Master of Shadows?"

Sparrow smiled and nodded.

"Huh. Interesting", Cat said tilting her head. "Men will always be a bloody mystery to me."

"Same here."

"Hah! I'm sure you have more experience. What with pretending to be one and all."

Sparrow laughed. "Yes you're right! I thought that too. However, what I know is that, being a man gives you more freedom. Though between you and me, sometimes I get a little lost in the feeling. I find myself in the men's room, a little too often."

They laughed. "You're such a laugh Sparrow," Cat said giggled. "I bet the ladies like that. You're probably charming too aren't you?"

"No, but for you m'lady. I could be," Sparrow replied in a low husky voice and winked at Cat.

Cat laughed again. "Now that's not something I hear often."

"Really? Are you sure? Because, I don't know about you, but there are plenty of eyes that follow you. Even as we walk."

"I'm sure it's you they're watching"

Sparrow snorted. "Hah! All the men want is to get some."

Cat chuckled, "Aww come on Sparrow. Be a mate. I'm sure most of them don't get some at all."

"Well if they tried anything funny. They'll be getting something else instead!" Sparrow said waving her fist, and they laughed.