Omg how long it's been for this one! I'm so excited to be posting the last chapter of this story! It's so long but I like it. :) I hope this was worth the wait, guys!

bexlynne: I'm so glad you liked this! Spot's backstory was so heart breaking to write! It's so sad! But I'm glad you liked it. And yeah, Race is just a little hot head but we all love him anyway. Tiny Race is everything. Thank you so much!

inactiveuser2017: Thank you so much! I can't describe how much that means to me!

queenlmno: I'm sorry. I just torture little Rave for some reason. Hopefully things will get better someday. Thank you so much for the review!

Fanz4life: First things first, love all of your recent ideas! I have them all saved on my phone and I will hopefully be writing them soon! Thank you so much! And I did listen to that sing you suggested! It's so good! Thank you very much! Love ya, honey!

selizabethharrisburg: I don't know how I write these things! They're so sad! (Yeah... I should use that excuse too...) but that part with Race and Spot speaking Italian gives me life! I love it and it's so sad and awful! I'm so glad you liked it though... besides your heartbreaking, of course. But I loved that chapter. I hope this one is almost as good. :) Thank you so much!

Capn Tightpants: First off, love the name. It's beautiful. Secondly, I know! I love tiny newsies! Thank you so much! That means the world!

LylaMackenzie: Thank you so much! I love all the Italian. I wish I could speak the language. And you're right. Writing this way is hard, especially since autocorrect is awful. But it's okay. It's all worth it!

Alright friends, I hope you enjoy this last chapter!

Jack Kelly is my best friend. I don't say it ta his face much, but I love 'im like he's my own brotha'. And he makes a point a' tellin' me that we's family. But I ain't too good at sayin' things like that. He knows I ain't. All the boys do. But I should say it ta him. Because every time I think about that day, I rememba' that I owe him my life. And he don't even care. He just took me in like anotha' one a' his boys.

I rememba' it all too well. Sometimes... okay all the time I really wish I couldn't. But I could. Like I could rememba' so many otha' terrible things happenin' from when I was just a little kid. The screams... the blood... the pain. Sometimes I woke up and it still hurt. And Jack would be there tellin' me I's was okay... but I ain't. It hurt. It still does. Things like that don't just go away.

People like Johnny don't never get fergotten.

I was real little when it happened. Four... I think. Maybe even younga'. Who knows? All I know now is that my birthday is the day that Jack brought me back ta the lodge. I never could remember when the damn day actually was. But I knew I's had ta be eight by the time Jack found me. Johnny always told me that, anyways. He told me I was eight so I just went with it.

Somehow, I rememba' everythin' that happened the night it all started. Years n' years ago in an old, run down apartment. I was sittin' on my mamma's lap on a couch that looked like it was 'bout ready ta collapse. My pa was in the kitchen, readin' a pape.

My mamma was smilin' at me. She was pointin' to a picture. An animal. A whole group of them. "Cavalli." Horses. She was teachin' me. There were a lot a' animals in that stupid little book. But the way her eyes lit up when she was lookin' at that little horse would always be one a' my favorite memories. Jack says my eyes light up too. When I'm at the races. She always used ta tell me we had the same eyes. I didn't believe her 'till my brotha' pointed it out all those years lata'. I neva' thought no one could have those pretty blue eyes like hers.

It was normal. Least, I thought so. My pa didn't talk ta me much. But my mamma loved me. She always hugged me. God, I miss her hugs. They was the best. Now all I got is Jack's hug. They's the closest I can get.

"Cavalli!" I said that word and she laughed. I was so excited. They was her favorite. And I loved makin' her smile. But that would always be the last one I's got ta see...

They kicked the door in. They's broke the damn thing down! The book fell ta the ground. No one noticed. I could feel my mamma hold onta me tighta' and stand up with me in her arms.

Those men were scary. I was a little kid. That was the first time I eva' saw a gun. The big guys had 'em. Even if I wasn't pint size, they was big. Bigga' than my mamma. And then my papà rushed in and I could see they was bigga' than him too. Stronga' too. A lot stronga'.

We stayed behind my pa. My mamma pushed my head into her shoulder. I could hear her heartbeatin' so fast and so hard. But I didn't do nothin'. I couldn't. I was just a kid.

"Dice, Dice, Dice..." Dice. My fatha's nickname. He was a gambla'. Just like me. It's somethin' I can't neva' ferget.

The guy that called him that... he was a guy that would become like the Spida' was ta Jack. And the Spida' was worse than hell fer Jack. "Johnny, what the hell 're ya doin' here?"

I didn't know English. To me it was jist gibberish. None a' it made any sense. But that was first time I's heard that name. Johnny. He had black hair and the greyest eyes I has eva' seen. I can still see them when I try to sleep at night. I hate them. They's always was angry with me. Even when I didn't do nothin' wrong.

"Times up, Dice. Pay up or things will start ta get very tough fer you."

Mamma understood a little bit. At least she understood when the guys behind Johnny started ta close in on her. She started ta step away but they just followed her and smirked at her and I just held onta her tight. I shoved my head into her shoulder. I was shakin'. These men... they sounded scary.

"Per favore... my famiglia... my wife... just leave them alone!" My pa was beggin'. I didn't know him much. Neva' did. Mamma was the one to teach me everythin' and play with me when I's was little. He was just... around. But from that day forward, he would only be one thing in my head. The bastard that played a part in ruinin' my life.

"Grab the woman. She comes with us." I rememba' bein' thrown ta the ground. I rememba' her screamin'. My head hit the ground real hard 'fore someone grabbed my hair and pulled me up. It hurt so bad! I tried ta run ta my mamma but they's held me back and tightened a fist in my hair.

"Mamma!" Some men grabbed her.

... I couldn't stop 'em... They's was touchin' her and grabbin' at her and she was... screamin'. Beggin' 'em ta stop. But they wouldn't.

But one a' 'em just stood there. Starin' at me. I didn' notice. I was too busy tryin' ta get ta my ma.

"Well, well, well... what do we have here?" And then he kicked me. Real hard. It was hard ta breathe afta' that. And they picked me up so's he could see me. It was the guy with the grey eyes. Johnny. He held me tight ta his chest and smiled at me.

I was little. All I knew was that he was bad. And I was scared.

With anotha' glance back at me modda', he held me tighta'. "I'll make ya a deal, Dice..." His breath smelt real bad. Like that stuff my papà would drink afta' a bad day. The stuff that made him angry and yell at Mamma. "You can keep your wench if ya give us this little one instead."

I didn't know what he was sayin'. But it didn't look good. I didn't like the way he looked at me and kept me there like that. I kept tryin' ta get away but he just squeezed me to him. "Lasciami andare!" I didn't know what else I could say.

The guy jist laughed. "Non combattermi, piccola!"

My ma was tryin' ta get ta me. And my papà was thinkin' real hard. I didn't even undastand... I was just a kid. In the Lodge, we call four yea's old a baby. They ain't ready ta be out by 'emselves yet. They's still need someone ta hold their hands and carry 'em up the stairs.

"No!" My ma was screamin', beggin' my papà ta say somethin' or do somethin'. And then Johnny started hummin' in my ear. He started bouncin' like mamma used to. He probably wanted me ta stop fightin' him. An' I did. I didn't know no betta'. Someone was tryin' ta calm me down an' I let 'em. "No! lui è solo un ragazzo!" My head fell onta his shoulda' and I closed my eyes. I was still a baby. I didn't undastand.

The still held onta her. But I was dazed. Didn' know what was goin' on no more. Just that someone was hummin' and rockin' me back n' forth. Then I just started hearin' my mamma screamin' some more and I opened my eyes. That was when I saw him. My papà. He was starin' back at me. But it didn' look like he was sorry.

"Take the boy. Just leave her alone."

And that was it.

My mamma ran fer me but that was the last I eva' saw of her. Someone had a bag. They put me in it. And before I knew it, they was tyin' me in. "Mamma!" I tried ta sit up, but I couldn't. It was too small. I tried ta grab at somethin' but there was nothin' there. I felt like I was suffocatin'.

I don' like small places. They make me feel... trapped. Like I can't breathe. Sometimes Jack's gotta wake me up an' tell me ta breathe. Cause I ain't. Not when I's asleep an' don't know it ain't real.

I cried. No one cared. I was screamin' but no one heard me. I knew I was ova' someone's shoulda'. But I didn't stop screamin'. What did they expect me ta do? Be okay with bein' away from my folks? They's hit the bag and shook it every time I tried ta claw my way out.

I was neva' supposed ta live an actual life. From that day on, I was just their pet. Johnny liked ta call me that. His little pet. First night I spent there, I spent it hangin' from that stupid shack ceilin'. They tied the bag up tight and hung it from the ceilin' like a punchin' bag. They pushed me around a little bit. It was scary. They weren't gonna catch me if I fell. But they kept doin' it. And then someone started talkin' ta me.

Johnny.

"Benvenuto nella tua nuova casa, pet." Then the door slammed and I was alone. I was all alone in the dark and in the cold.

I was only four years old.

That shack was my home. It wasn't much. I hated the thing. It wus small n' cold and there was some tools in there. Sometimes they's would hit me with 'em. There was a toilet in the corner but that was 'bout it. Not much. What I rememba' the most is the hook on the ceilin'. They's loved that hook. I hated it.

Johnny was the only one that could undastand me. But he sure as hell loved to let me know that I wasn't allowed ta talk. Not even a little. Fer months they kept me in that room. Wouldn't let me go outside fer nothin'. They's brought me food when they thought I needed it and they only washed my clothes every otha' week. I jist hoped that someday they'd just let me out.

Every night they's would get the ropes. It was different almost every night. Sometimes I couldn't move and sometimes I could wiggle around. Sometimes they hung me from the ceilin' and sometimes the tied me ta the floor. But they's didn' want me tryin' ta leave.

I didn' know what they wanted from me till a few months in.

"Get ova' here, boy!" I flinched when Johnny screamed at me like that. I wasn't even cut free. I think that night they just tied my hands around something so's I couldn't bring 'em in fronna me. Alls I could do was slide down and sit until they came and untied me. But when they freed me that day, I had no idea they's would be lettin' me outside fer the first time since they took me.

I didn' even hafta' run ova' ta Johnny. One a' his guys grabbed my ear and walked me there hisself. I think I screamed. Maybe that's why Johnny slapped me. "Sta 'zitto!" he scolded. Then he grabbed my hands and pulled me to him. I didn' like ta be so close ta him. He always smelled real bad. But he didn't care. Just held me still. I didn't move. I was too scared. Too little.

"Aiuto." I was confused. I didn't know what he meant. He just said the word and then stopped. He wasn't askin' me fer help. I didn't know what ta do. Apparently, he was jist waitin' fer me ta process. "Help."

I stood there. I didn' know what he wanted! All this guy did was yell at me. For the past few months I wasn't allowed ta speak or look at 'im wrong. Else he'd smack me 'round. They didn't let me eat much eitha'. I think they's gave me their scraps. On a good night, they's would give me a whole slice a' bread. So I didn' say nothin'. He didn't like that.

I rememba' cryin' out when he backhanded me across the cheek. "Dillo! Help!" I flinched when he yelled at me. And the man behind me grabbed my hair so's I couldn't turn away.

"H... help..." I repeated. Aiuto... help.

Johnny smiled at me. Grinned that stupid grin that I can still see when I try ta sleep at night.

If I didn't have Jack, I would neva' get through a night. Sometimes, I can't move. I feel like Johnny's there, starin' at me, waitin' so's he can take me back and... I start hittin' on the ceilin'. Jack's there 'fore I know it, tellin' me I's okay. Crutchie ain't neva' far behind him, neither.

But back then, I didn' have m'brothers. I was all alone and Johnny did what he wanted cause ain't no one there was dumb 'nough ta try an' stop him.

I waited for more. It came. "Per favore. Please."

"Pl... please?" Per favore... please.

It's how I learned English. Or... at least... some English. Jack and Spot taught me how ta speak English lata'.

Spot. He's one a' me best friends too. Taught me a lot 'bout things. Sees somethin' in me I guess. He ain't so nice ta no one else. I's glad he took a likin' ta me. Got me outta lots a' messy situations before. Gets me off the streets when me n' Jack fight. Much as I love Jack... brotha's fight...

Johnny kept on goin'. Sayin' things an' tellin' me ta say 'em back. I made sure ta say 'em all right the first time. I was scared that if I didn', he would hit me 'gain. I was four. Maybe five by then. But it took me a long time to know that he wus teachin' me how ta beg in English.

Aiuto... help...

Per favore... please...

Affamato... hungry...

Freddo... cold...

The list went on, but not fer long. I wasn't exactly no genius. Couldn't even barely hold a sentence. But next thing I's know, 'm outside. The sun was bright. Could barely see cause my eyes couldn't take it at first. But I didn't care none. Cause at least I was outside. At least I was outta that Godawful room. At least they let me out.

But they didn' exactly let me go.

Johnny didn' tell me much. Just ta make some money. I didn't know what ta do. He told me that when they asked if I had parents ta shake my head. And then when they talked about... about the Refuge, ta run... but not too far. I could neva' go real far. They was watchin' me. They sat in stores and restaurants so's they could watch me.

I tried ta get away. They's let me outside. The second they's let go'a my arm... I took off runnin'.

Johnny was waitin' for me down the block.

I did what they told me. I tugged on women's coats and begged on my knees at men's feet. All I could do was hope they wouldn't kick me. I used the only English words I knew. I cried in Italian. I did anything I could fer a few extra coins.

I was damn good at what I did. Got so much change I coulda bought Jack ten tickets ta Santa Fe. Folks could hardly resist a five year ol' kid who could barely speak English. What they didn' know was what I was really sayin'. They didn' know I was beggin' 'em fer help. They's didn' know I just wanted out a' there. But they gave me their loose pennies. And when the sun started goin' down, one a' Johnny's boys would pick me up and take those pennies right outta my pockets. I cried. I screamed. Told 'em ta let me go. And then they's would tell Johnny my every move that day. What I did, what I said, who I's talked to. An' if Johnny didn't like it...

It was bad.

I couldn't move the mornin' afta'. Could hardly speak neitha'. But Johnny didn't care none. He's would jist untie me and make me do it all again. Everyday. All day. That was it. And it only got worse.

The months went on and Johnny got meana'. I don' know how. But he did. That shack... my home... he didn' shove me there all the time no more. No.. he... uhm... he let me inta their house.

Johnny was... evil. He was worse than anyone I eva' met. The things he would make people do in that house... let's just say once you's see 'em, ya can't forget 'em. And I can't forget 'em. I can't forget the screams or the cries or the pain. But when I had nightmares back then about those things, the only thing I would get was the guy who put 'em in my head comin' ta "teach me a lesson."

His lessons hurt. And they only got harda'. He told me I couldn't scream or talk. Not when he was there ta hear it. And definitely not when anyone else could. I couldn't wake the neighbors with noise.

The name Johnny makes me feel sick. I can't hear the name without almost breakin' down inta tears or gaggin' on whateva' food I's had. I hate that name. He didn't just beat me. He said things. He did things. He was a monsta'. I saw murders happen right in fronta me. I saw woman forced into bed and I wasn't allowed outta the room. I saw so many things and it was all because of Johnny.

I neva' knew why they's started lettin' me in the house, neitha'. They's just liked ta see me scared, I guess. Liked ta let me know who was in charge. Then, at the end of the night, when I was already fallin' asleep on the ground... they's would grab my arm and tie me up in my little house all ova' again

I hated that stupid shack.

I grew up there. Four years, I think. That's what Johnny tol' me. I think I was six when I saw 'im again.

My papà.

I rememba' wakin' up once. My hands was tied in fronna me and my ankles were tied to the floor. An' there he was. Sittin' there and starin' at me. Like he wus tryin'a rememba' who I was. I hardly recanized him. I wus so little when I was taken, the only face I could always rememba' wus me modda's. But then he said it. "Anthony?"

I blinked. I don' think a single emotion crossed my face. I just stared at 'im. And he played with my hair.

Jack plays with my hair a lot too. But when he does it, it normally calms me down.

He just kept tryin' ta get me ta talk ta him. But even though I's was so little, I could rememba' him givin' me away. I could rememba' him barely thinkin' bout it. And I didn' wanna see him.

"Time ta get up, boy." That was a voice I knew. I shivered at it. I hated his voice. And they was kickin' me an' beatin' me before I knew it. An' my pa was tryin' ta get 'em ta stop. They didn't. And then they took the ropes off and shoved me ta Jobnny. "Time fer work, kid."

My fatha' came round afta' that. Didn' know what he wus doin'. Probably tryin' ta pay off anotha' debt. But he got less an' less interested in me and more and more interested in money. So's he didn' stay when they hit me or touched me the wrong way when they's got drunk. Just looked the otha' way, mostly. Papà neva' stayed when I wus hurt.

I needed outta there. Not much changed from then on. If I's didn't get enough money, I didn't eat. When I tried ta ask fer help, I got beat. When I tried ta run, it was a mess of a nightmare that had become my life. And even when I was so little, I couldn't see an end to it. Not until... I met them.

The newsies.

I was eight. Johnny had his men take me somewhere different. I's had seen 'em round town my whole life. But I neva' talked ta 'em. Not till they took me ova' ta a place called "Newsies Square." I was there fer a few months 'fore they's started ta notice me.

It was when that boy with the limp started talkin' ta me that I knew I was in trouble. They was watchin' me. And they didn't let me talk ta otha' kids.

The kid started talkin' ta me and all I can rememba' was how he sounded so happy. I didn't know what he was sayin'. Johnny neva' bothered ta teach me more English than I needed. I could pick out a few words, here and there. But I couldn't fully understand it. He didn' even seem ta notice. The only thing I could get from the talk was, "I'm Crutchie! I'm a newsie!"

I didn' respond. I looked 'round n' I saw one a' Johnny's men glarin' at me from inside some cushy restaurant. So's I bit my lip and found my next target quick. But the kid grabbed my arm and held me still. He was younga' than me, I could tell. But I was smalla' than him. He could hold onta me, easy. That was when I's tried ta rememba' when wus the last time I ate somethin'.

"Hey! Where're ya goin'?" I was terrified. But... this kid... I wanted ta talk ta him. He seemed nice. An'... he smiled at me. He made me feel... important for a second. "I can take ta back ta the boys! You can meet 'em! Jack will teach ya ta sell an' everythin'." Then he launched hisself into a rant. Told me all the boys' names. And I realized I liked hearin' him talk. Stupid kid...

Smart kid. The only one to notice I needed some kind of help.

But it couldn't last foreva'. Eventually, I snuck away. I had ta watch the kid look fer me. I ain't seen that before. Neva'. No one eva' noticed when I left. But he did. He started callin' out. "Hey kid! Where'd ya go?!" I felt a tear fall down my cheek.

"Mi dispiace..."

Lata' was hell. Johnny found out about the one-sided conversation I had with a boy 'round my age. Not ta mention the complete lack of cash I had. I tried ta tell 'em it wasn't my fault. That I's tried! But Johnny didn't wanna listen. Johnny neva' listened. He just hit. He hit and kicked and took my shirt and threw me against the wall.

It was freezin'. And Johnny knew that. But he didn't care.

"You pathetic little thing..."

He grabbed me by the hair. Right where they hit a bottle ova' my head. They's tied me up tight. My hands was ova' my head and my feet could hardly touch the ground. It hurt. And Johnny knew it. "Per favore, Johnny... fa male... per favore..." I musta been sobbin' by then. I was in pain.

"See you later, pet." That sentence made me shiver. The accent only made it worse. I hated it when he said things like that. Because it meant he was comin' back 'fore the end of the night.

I cried. I begged. But Johnny just wrapped a cloth around my head, in my mouth. I couldn't call fer help. I was so... trapped.

That was a night that would be engraved in my mind for the rest of my life. I's had been with Johnny and his crew fer four years. The worst four years of my life. Four years of neva' doin' nothin' right, even when I tried my hardest. Four years alone with no one ta count on but me.

But that was the night I met him. Jack Kelly. My best friend. My brotha'.

I let myself hang from the ceiling of my shack. It was hopeless. I was neva' gettin' out. My pop sold me away and I could neva' get out. So I let my eyes close. There was no use in fightin' it anymore. But, lucky for me, I couldn't keep from makin' the noises. God, it hurt so bad.

I didn't hear the door open. I musta passed out at some point. But I felt someone touchin' my chest. And my eyes opened up real quick. Johnny hated waitin'.

But Johnny wasn't there... it was another boy. He had a newsboy cap on his head and real nice green eyes. He was a newsie. He had ta be. And I started panickin'.

I kicked and struggled best I could, but I hadn't eaten in so long that my body didn' do what I wanted no more. I was stuck. And when he took that stupid gag outta my mouth all's I could do was warn him. "Uscire da qui ora, o ti prenderanno anche voi!" They's would get him. I knew they would. They was evil! And this boy didn't deserve this. No one did.

He grabbed my face. Both a' his hands was on my cheeks. But it wasn't like when Johnny did it. Johnny did it when he was angry and I couldn't look at him. This boy... he wasn't like that. He had a smile on his face. He was there ta help. But he couldn't be... I had ta warn him! "Sh! Kid, calm down!" I didn't know what he was sayin'. I wanted to but I didn't. I just kept fightin'. He had ta get outta there before Johnny came back. If Johnny found him then- "Hey! I'm gonna help ya! I'm gettin' ya outta here!"

I froze. There was a word I understood. One I's dreamed of hearin' since day one. "O... out?" I winced at the sound a' my own voice. It hurt ta talk. I been screamin' too much. But I didn't care.

"Yeah, kid... I'm gettin' ya out." It was the greatest sentence I'd eva' heard and I could only undastand one word. Out.

The boy ran across the room ta the table. Johnny liked ta use the things on it a lot. He liked hearin' me scream. Told me all the time. But he made sure ta not do anythin' permanent. I was his best money maka'.

The boy grabbed a knife. Then he ran back up ta me and sliced through the ropes. I tried ta stand, but my legs was shakin' too much. I expected ta hit the ground. No one eva' cared enough ta catch me. But... I neva' did hit the floor. 'Stead... someone let me rest on their chest. N' a feelin' I didn't know started takin' ova'. I was cryin' again.

I don't do that much no more. Cryin'. But... back then? It was all I could do.

"Th-thank... you..." I don't even know how I could form words at that point. I hoped those were the right ones. I's had heard 'em a few times. They sounded right ta me.

The kid tried ta ask me question. How I got there, why I was so hurt. I couldn't understand him. So I didn't answer. I just grabbed onta his shirt. I... I didn't want him ta leave. Fer some reason, I felt somethin' around this boy. Safe. A word I's've neva' used in my life till that night.

"C'mon, kid." I gasped when he picked me up. But I soon found, I liked the embrace. And all I could do was cry. Then he said something else. But only a few words made sense. "Home... food and wata'... gonna be okay." And those were the only words I needed ta hear. The rest of his sentence be damned.

From the very beginning, I knew Jack Kelly was fearless. Even with the stupid smirk he had on all the time. Don't let him tell ya I got it from him. I don't act nothin' like Jack. But anyways, he was ready ta just take me away. Like it could eva' be that simple.

"What's this?" I didn't know I could eva' be so scared. But I was little. And I hated that voice. "What the hell do ya think you're doin'?"

"Johnny...?" I wanted ta get away. I wanted ta get the otha' kid away. Johnny wus already mad at me. I didn' wan' it ta get worse. "J-Johnny... mmh... I didn't mean ta-" It wus hard ta think a' the words. I didn' even know if those were the right ones.

"What did I tell ya about talkin', Higgins?!" I think I flinched. Maybe cried some more when he lifted up his fist. I already hurt. I was so scared a' him hittin' me again.

"Per favore! Per favore! Non farlo! Non di nuovo!" I just wanted out. I wanted away from him. But when I fought, it just hurt worse.

Johnny started walkin' up ta us. I tried ta jump away 'fore I realized the kid was holdin' onta me tighta'. So I hid my face in his chest and tried to make it all go away. Johnny started talkin'. I covered my ears. I didn' wanna hear it. I hate his voice.

I could feel the boy talkin', but I's didn' wanna take my hands away from my ears. I could even feel his heart beatin' with my head 'gaist his chest. Fer some reason I didn' wan' him ta let go. I ain' neva' thought I could feel okay with someone holdin' me like that. But I didn' wan' him ta let go. N' he didn'.

"Don't matta'. He belongs ta me and my crew. Our best money maka'. Tells a hell of a story." That's what I heard when I felt brave 'nough ta let up 'n my ears. I didn' like it. I didn' know what he wus sayin', but I knew it wasn't good. Not when the boy looked down at me like he did.

"Not anymore." I stared at him. I wus so scared. I didn't wanna get beat again. I didn't want Johnny ta tie me up again. I didn't wanna be freezin' an' starvin' an' alone no more. It wus hard. This kid... he wus my only chance.

Afta' that, he started talkin' bout someone. Someone that would come afta' Johnny and his pals. Spot Conlon. I didn' know what he wus sayin', but by the look on Johnny's face afta'... it wasn't good.

"Ya know why they's named him Spot?" I held onta the boy tighta' with my hands. Felt like ice. It was so cold... "He don't eva' miss."

Next thing I know, we's bookin' it outta there. Fast. An' before I could think, I was away from Johnny. Away. How could itta been that simple?

It was cold out, I 'memba' that jist perfect. I's was half naked an' I tried ta snuggle closa' ta my savior but it didn' do much. It wus still cold. My head was heavy. It hurt so damn bad. I had one hell of a headache that night. N' my little body didn't wanna take the cold along with all the otha' pain it was carryin' too. Alls I could do was lay down on his shoulda' and hope he didn' mind.

Then he started talkin'. "Ya got a name, kid?"

I froze. I bet my eyes went wide too. What could I say? I rememba' tryin' ta figure out what the words meant.

Name... name... nome?

"I'm Jack. Jack Kelly." He was smilin' at me. I ain't neva' had no one talkin' so nice ta me. Least I could do was try an' talk back ta him.

"J-Jack?" Outta all a' those words... I wanned ta know what that one was. Fer some reason... I liked it. It made me feel... safe. N' the boy nodded.

"Me name," he said, that smile neva' leavin' his face. "Jack."

Nome... Jack. That's what he wus called. Jack.

"J... Ja-ck..." I sounded it out. I liked that word. N' when the boy... Jack, smiled at me, it felt right.

"That's right, kid." I didn' know what 'e said, but alls I could do wus grin back. Now I had somethin' ta call him. Now I knew who he wus. Jack. The boy who saved me. It wus only fair ta tell him my name too. So's I pointed ta myself.

"N-name," I tried out in English, "Tony."

"Tony. Tony Higgins." I liked the way he smiled at me. An'... his green eyes made me feel betta'.

They still do. Afta' all these years, Jack Kelly still knows how ta calm me down and bring me back ta earth.

Afta' that, I don't 'memba much a' what happened. I musta tried ta talk ta him, but we couldn't undastand each otha' too well. I wanted ta know where we wus goin', but askin' wus hard. I didn' know the right words. It's a good thing we wus goin' where we wus goin' though... 'cause I needed ta get somewhere warma' real bad.

When we got where we wus goin' all I can rememba' seein' wus a lot a' eyes turnin' fer us. Jack didn' seem ta care. But I wanted ta hide. "The hell is this, Kelly?" someone growled out. I flinched. But nothin' else wus said 'fore Jack was carryin' me outta the room.

I guess we went up ta the bunk room. An' Jack tried ta out me down. I didn' know where we were or why he tried ta do that. All I knew wus that I felt safe n' he wus about ta take the safe away. I didn't like it. "No! Please!"

If there was one thing I knew how ta do in English, it wus beg.

My head started poundin' some more afta' that. Jack wus talkin', but I couldn't listen too well right then. An' the otha' kid... Spot. Spot Conlon. He wus talkin' too. But I gave up tryin' ta translate. Everythin' hurt too bad. I just started noddin' off, completely zonin' out. That's really when I noticed my whole body hurt. I couldn't even move by myself. So's it wus a good thing I had Jack holdin' onta me.

He started walkin' again. I grabbed onta his shirt ta make sure he wouldn't try an' make me walk by myself. I don' think I was holdin' I'm very tight, but it wus all I's could manage. N' he sat down, knowin' betta' than ta let me sit on my own, puttin' me on his lap. N' the secon' I tried ta look up, I looked back down. I ain' neva' gonna tell Spot Conlon that he wus scary the first time I saw 'im. But... ta a little kid who ain't hardly been around boys 'is age... damn he was big. Maybe not fer Jack. But I wasn't Jack.

"Do ya want a shirt, kid?"

I looked up at him the second I knew he wus talkin' ta me. But my face was blank. Er... as blank as it could be. I was still pretty scared a' anything I didn't know. The world outside that shack wus different. It was scary. "Sh... shir...?" I tried ta repeat what he said. I didn' know what he was talkin' bout. The word sounded somewhat familia'.

I gasped when he grabbed onta my hand. But I didn' pull away. After all, wheneva' I pulled away from Johnny the beatin' only got worse. But he didn't hit me fer bein' wrong. He took my hand ta his chest and let me grab onta his shirt. "Sh-ir-t." He was soundin' it out fer me. But... I didn' know if he actually wanted me ta say it back. So's I started ta make some kinda sound. If his hand went up I would stop. But... it didn't. So's I looked up at him and slowly started ballin' up the fabric in my tiny hand.

"Sh... shir-t..."

The scary boy smiled at me. Afta' that... he wasn't so scary no more. "Not bad, kid." He ruffled my hair and I laughed. He wasn't mad at me. I could talk and I wasn't punished fer that. It had been a long time since I's could do that. "I'll go getcha one."

Jack wus still holdin' me. I was happy he did. An' I's looked down ta see what the other boy wus talkin' bout. I didn't have a shirt. He musta been gettin' me one, but I could only undastand the one word. That's when I saw them.

There was so many. An' they were big. I think I wus still bleeding in some places. N' it all hurt real bad. But one stood out ta me the most. It hurt when I touched it. God, it was so much bigga' than my hand. It spread 'cross my whole shoulda'. That wus one Johnny had left. No doubt about it. "Ero cattivo... b-bad..." I didn' look up at Jack. But he was quiet... like he wanted me ta keep goin'. Like he wanted ta undastand. So I did. "Non abbastanza... n-not... e... e..." What was the woid? "Enough."

When I did look up at Jack, he seemed surprised. I didn' undastand that. I's had been taught my whole life that if I didn' bring back money, I wasn't worth nothin'. But I didn' have time ta try an' ask Jack what wus wrong before the otha' boy came back. They's both helped me slide inta a shirt. Too big fer me then, I think. But it wus warm. So I didn't care.

"This was my first one..." I stopped admirin' the shirt when the boy started talkin'. N' I saw a hat in his hand. One that looked like his and Jack's. "I figure ya need it more than I do..." Didn' undastand a word. But I kept starin' at that cap until he was reachin' up ta put it on my head. I almost tried ta duck outta the touch. But I stopped myself. They hadn't tried ta hurt me yet. So's I leaned back inta Jack and stared at the other boy. Spot. "You's a newsie now, kid. Ya need ta look like one."

My whole face lit up at that word. I knew that word. "Newsie?" Jack knocked the cap ova' my eyes. Back then it was a ways a sayin' welcome ta the family. Now it's his way a' sayin' "I love you...". I love it when he does that, even if I do complain about it.

"That's right, pal," he said. An' I laughed while I took off the hat an' looked at it, recallin' how many times i's had seen these kinda hats.

"Proprio come... Crutch... Crutchie? Specs?... mmh... Al... Albert?" I tried ta rememba' all their names. I hoped I got 'em right. I's has seen 'em. I just wished I coulda talked to 'em sooner. But Jack looked shocked.

"Those... those are my friends... ya know 'em?" I wish.

"Uhm... sees 'em. Them... them h-happy. A volte... them try ta... talk ta me..." I tried to explain. Wus he mad at me? "I... not allowed... La gente avrebbe trovato Johnny... couldn't do it..." I didn' want Jack ta get mad. I wanted him ta undastand. I wished I could undastand him. But alls I could do wus look down at my hands an' wait fer the slap ta come.

"Well you ain't there anymore." Spot ruffled my hair and I looked up at him ta find... a smile. It fell fer a second, afta' he pulled away an' saw... an' saw the blood. But he didn't look angry. "Do ya undastand? You ain't gettin' taken back there. You's a newsie now."

I squinted my eyes at the boy. He couldn't be serious. He really wasn't gonna hit me? There was a word fer that right? "P... per... pertect?"

Jack held me tighta' when I said that. "Yeah kid... no ones gonna hurt ya no more." That's all I memba' 'fore everythin' started gettin' blurry. I wus so tired. So's I let my head fall back on Jack. N' I fell asleep.

I wish I coulda stayed awake.

"No... no... per favore... Johnny... non intendo... lasciami..." I could see him in there. He was right in fronna me. I just wanted him ta go away. I think he had a knife that time. Who knows? I ain't gone a week without havin' a dream like that. Not in years.

But someone put a hand ova' my mouth. An' it wasn't Johnny. I vaguely rememba' someone talkin' ta me in a language I could undastand. But I was asleep 'fore I could know who it wus.

The next mornin', Jack took me back ta the place I would get ta call home for the next ten years or so. I's tried ta walk myself but it wasn't long before I wus up on Jack's back. I didn' mind at the time. I wus little. Who would care?

Then somethin' happened. We passed by those racetracks. An' I saw it. "Cavalli!" I pointed at it. God, she was beautiful. I had ta show Jack. He had ta see her. Jack smiled at me when he saw what I was so excited about. An' he let me watch the race. The horse I showed 'im was the first ta cross the finish line. I didn't see the way Jack looked at me. But he had ta be pretty shocked.

"Tony... ya want a newsie name?" Guess I wus pretty excited, cause I just nodded my head real fast without a care in the world. "I's'll call ya Racetrack. Race fer short." At first I had no idea what that meant. But then he pointed to the tracks. And I looked ova' there an' smiled.

"R... Racer... Race... track?" I looked back at him ta see if I's said it right. He jist smiled at me.

"That's right. Its you's new name. A newsie name. Racetrack Higgins." I grinned.

"Race..." I like the way that sounded. No more flinchin' at the sound a' my own name. I wasn't with Johnny no more. I was someone different. With different people.

Brothas.

Alls I could do wus run up ta Jack and hug him as tight as I could.

'Ventually, he got me home. I wus up on his back. I liked it up there. Made me feel bigga' than I wus. But I wanted down when we's walked in an' everyone started starin' at me. There wasn't a sound. Just so many eyes I could hardly think. Someone ran up ta hug Jack but afta' that, the shoutin' started and I hid my face in Jack's shoulda', beggin' him ta make it stop. I didn' last too long. An' when I looked up who eva' was shoutin' was lookin' at me.

"Who's this?" I held on tighta'. But Jack didn' seem scared none.

"It's Racetrack. He's our newest newsie now!" Jack announced. But someone ran up an' shook his head, standin' next ta the otha' boy who hugged Jack. That wus when I noticed he looked real familia'.

Crutchie.

"Hey! That's the kid who steals all ours customers." That one had red hair. I could see it a mile away. It wus so bright.

I musta been shakin' at that point. All I know is people started askin' more questions. I didn't like 'em. I didn't know what they meant. So's I just held onta Jack and tried ta hide.

But then Jack put me down. An' I did my best ta hold onta him fer protection, but the biggest boy there, the leada', bent down ta me. Only thing keepin' me still were Jack's arms 'round me. "Well Racer, welcome ta 'Hattan." I flinched when he spit in his hand and held it out ta me. But Jack didn't step out in fronna me. "It's okay, pal. I ain't gonna hurt ya." Still, I was scared. "It's okay, kid... é sicuro." My eyes widened.

Sicuro... safe.

I let my grip up a little on Jack. "Sicuro?"

The older boy nodded. "Yeah, kid, safe. It's safe."

I looked down at the hand again. It hadn' moved. An' the otha' boy didn't look like he wanted ta hurt me. So I spit in my hand an' shook the one in fronna me.

The smiles and cheers were enough ta tell me I wus home.

But it wasn't even a few days 'fore some idiots tried ta make sure I knew my place 'round there.

"Well, well, what have we here?" It wus my first day sellin'. Sparks said I was strong enough ta go out by then. So's I was. But no one warned me 'bout them. "Where'd ya pick up this one, Kelly? The sewers?" I still didn' speak their language so well. But by the way they's looked at me, it couldn't a' been nice. And Jack grabbed ahold a' me, tryin' ta put himself between us.

"Leave him alone, Delancey. 'E ain't done nothin' to ya." Jack put some coins down on the table. "Eighty papes."

It didn't stop there though. Cause once Jack made me a bag for my papes, they wus on our tail.

They's started it!

Once they started pushin' Jack around, I couldn't stop myself. I pounded on 'em. Lucky and unlucky fer me, Sparks was on the next block. I only sold a few papes before Sparks wus carryin' me back ta the Lodge.

I sat up on my bunk fer the rest of the day. Jack tried ta talk ta me... I think. So did otha' kids. But I growled at them every time they's tried ta talk ta me. I was just angry. An' they couldn't undastand that when they talked ta me... I just wanted ta know what they was sayin'. An' I didn' know how else ta react when someone tried ta hurt Jack. After all... he saved my life.

Then, someone else came up

"What's he up here for?" I looked away from the door. Great. Anotha' person who I can't undastand. Jack said somethin' back. But I didn't care. I stopped listenin'.

"Bastardi stupidi..." I growled out, referring to the bastard who put me in such a bad mood.

"Shhh Amico ... qualcuno potrebbe capire quello che dici." My eyes shot up. I had ta try and keep a smile down. Spot Conlon wus talkin' ta me in Italian. More than that. He came and sat down with me. An' I didn't stop him. "Giornata faticosa?"

I nodded an' bit my cheek. I didn't wanna cry no more. "Non riesco a capire loro... sto cercando... non funziona..." I tried ta not get too comfortable when he put an arm around my shouldas. But I liked it.

I think Spot started translatin' for me. Because suddenly, Jack sighed and sat on the bed, looking softa' than he did before. N' he started talkin' before Spot translated fer him. Jack was sayin' he was sorry. That he wus tryin'. But I knew that wasn't it. I knew what wus comin'. Maybe I was just mad cause I was pretendin' I wasn't scared outta my mind.

"Mi dispiace... non so come essere buono... mi dispiace che ero cattivo..."

When Spot translated that... Jack looked like his heart just broke. N' before I knew it, I wus sobbin' against his chest. Spot was rufflin' my hair. I felt safe.

I was home.

Thank you guys so much for reading! I hope this last chapter was worth the wait! It honestly is so sad but I enjoyed writing it!

Guys! The next thing I post will hopefully be a new AU I've been working on. Another chapter fic. I know. I need to stop. But I really hope you guys stop by and read it! It doesn't have a title yet, but be on the look out. Thank you so much!

All requests have been heard and will be heard! If you have any, just drop them in a review or feel free to PM me! I would love to hear your guys' ideas and headcanons! Even if there's just a line or scene you wanna see, go ahead and send it over! Thank you so much!

As always, thanks for reading! Make sure to tell me what you liked, what you didn't, what you'd change or what you'd improve by leaving me a review! Love ya, fansies! Thanks for seeing this one through till the end!