Spot shifted on his mattress and winced in pain as his aching ribs moved. Then he sucked in a sharp breath and let out an expletive as Pixie flung an arm around him in her sleep. Grabbing her arm by the hand, he slung it off of him and slowly sat up, every muscle and bone in his body protesting.

He hadn't had a good night at the docks fighting. But he had made good money as had the rest of his boys. Only the little boys were selling newspapers and Spot was taking almost all of their money as well. Action was in charge of the money, and dealing with the gambling end of it. He had a way with figures, and could tell when someone was trying to cheat them.

Spot stood up gradually, using a nearby chair for help, one arm banded around his ribs. He was pretty sure one was broken and that pissed him off because it took him out of the fighting circuit for awhile. Limping to the window he rummaged around on his desktop and found a cigarette and lit it. Looking down at Pixie, he snorted and disgust flitted across his face before he looked out the window.

His brilliant attempt to piss Riot off and keep her out of Brooklyn and therefore out of harms way by taking another girl had not been one of his better ideas. Now he was sure he was losing her to the Irishman, Declan.

Scrubbing a hand with torn knuckles over his battered face, he sighed deeply, cigarette smoke leaking out of his mouth and nose. She hadn't been by to see him in the past two months and he missed her terribly. Plus she was due to pop in the next month and he was worried about her. Not all women survived childbirth and he wanted to be there when she went into labor just in case. Maybe he needed to have a man to man chat with Declan Moody. He was the bastard who had got him into this mess in the first place.

If that wily Irishman hadn't suggested that there was easy money in running guns to Ireland, Spot would never have dipped his toes into that nasty water. Spot wondered how favorably Riot would look on Declan if he let that little tidbit slip. Either way, he needed to see her, to reassure himself that she was okay. He had a man watching her but goddamnit he just wanted to see her.

Pixie murmured in her sleep and Spot froze, not wanting her to wake up. She had become more insistent about her role in his life and Spot didn't want to deal with her. She was just being used and he didn't feel like dealing with the fallout when that bomb was dropped. Spot snorted and scratched his head. Although, if she didn't know that by now, then she was dumber than he thought.

Exhaling a cloud of smoke, Spot gazed up at the moon and wearily closed his eyes. He just wanted this whole thing to be over. They almost had all the money, they were almost there. But the boys were all so battered it was practically suicide sending them into the ring. Opening his eyes he clenched his jaw in anger. He had no choice. They would all keep on fighting. Right up until the end.

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I stared at the woman Declan had brought into the apartment. She was shorter than me if that was even possible, with a dark green shawl wrapped around her head and shoulders, falling down her back. She was middle aged, with streaks of gray in rich brown hair. Calm green eyes that almost matched her shawl assessed me as I sat in a chair next to her in the kitchen, my hands resting on my even bigger belly.

Honestly the little Conlon had doubled in size. I felt immense and I hated it. I was resolved to never sleep with anyone ever again in my entire life. I was gobsmacked right now however, with what this woman had just told me.

"Did you say TWINS? You think I'm going to have TWINS? One new mouth to feed is bad enough but two?" My mouth gaped open. Deirdre O'Malley put a work roughened hand on top of my own.

"Honestly ye should have thought of that before ye had the hand in making them, but now is not the time to dwell. Now it's time to make sure ye are strong enough to bring them into this world. Ye are a might thin, lass. Ye need to eat more." I hiccuped a shocked laugh and gestured towards my swollen abdomen.

"I'm HUGE, what are you TALKING about?" Deirdre gave me a patient smile.

"Yer belly is huge, but not the rest of ye. Ye need bed rest and plenty of fattening foods. Drink lots of milk for the bairns as well. Now come, lay out on the bed, I want to see if I can feel how they are lying in ye."

I struggled to my feet and waddled to the bedroom where Declan had to help me into the bed. Honestly it was like I ballooned overnight, I couldn't believe it. I wanted to tell Spot, but there was no way in Hell I was walking to Brooklyn, not like this. I hadn't left Rooster Alley in three weeks.

Lying down, I let Deirdre pull up the blouse I was wearing and she began pressing on my belly. I felt the baby, babies? kick back in response and Deirdre smiled at that.

"Very strong babies ye have. But ye need to put meat on yer bones or else this birth will be very difficult." I nodded weakly and put my arm over my face. I was still stuck at twins.

I heard Deirdre and Declan talking in low tones to each other but I tuned them out. I had to tell Spot that he was having twins. It just felt like something he needed to know. I knew he had someone watching me. I never saw them, but I knew they were there. I assumed it was Ghost, because that was his best spy. I wished that there was a way to get him to come out of hiding and deliver a message.

I heard the door shut and then Declan returned with a glass of milk and some bread and cheese. I wasn't hungry, but I didn't feel like picking a fight so I ate the food and drank the milk. Then Declan sat in a chair by the bed while I lay propped up by some pillows, my hands stroking my belly. The babies were moving around and it was odd sensation.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Declan shot to his feet, grabbing the shotgun that lay on the floor by his feet. He had made a hole in the door so he could look out and see who was on the other side. Cautiously making his way to the door, I saw him look and then stiffen all over. Then he opened the door and Spot swaggered in.

I could see him from where I lay on the bed and I struggled to get up. Declan hurried forward and pressed me back. His dark blue eyes were icy as he assessed the younger man. Spot had a black eye and he was walking as if moving hurt him. His knuckles were torn up and he was using his cane as more than just an adornment.

"What are ye doing here Conlon? I thought you made it pretty clear you cast Lily aside for another girl." Spot gave Declan a mirthless smile and moved closer to the bed, keeping one eye on the shotgun Declan still held.

"Riot's mine. She'll always be mine. You got that?" He pointed a swollen hand at Declan and I exclaimed over it, dragging him close to the bed and holding it tenderly in my hands.

"What have you done to yourself you stupid idiot?" Spot smiled and this time it reached his eyes, lighting them with an inner warmth. He reached out with his other hand and ran a hand down my face then let it rest on my swollen belly. His expression turned serious.

"Are you going to just let him come in here like this? After everything he's done to ye? After everything I've done for you?" Declan's eyes were fiery with anger. I was nervous as I saw his finger twitch on the trigger of the gun. He must have seen my glance for he aimed the shotgun down at the floor and looked slightly ashamed.

"Declan," I said calmly, "You've done more for me than I could ever have hoped for. But Spot is the father and he does have rights." I saw Declan nodding as I spoke but I could tell he didn't like it. He proved that by punching a hole in the cheap wall next to the doorway before storming out of the room muttering that he'd be outside.

"He oversteps his boundaries thinking you could be his." That snapped something in me, and I heaved myself into a half sitting position, shoving Spot's hand off of my belly.

"You listen to me Spot Conlon. That man has done nothing but look out for me and provide for me while you've been living it up with your whore in Brooklyn. So don't talk like you still own me." Spot's blue eyes pierced my own and I felt all the air leave my chest in a sudden whoosh.

"Don't I Riot? Don't I still own you?" He was suddenly standing by the bed, his hand cupping my cheek. Moving a strand of my hair, he bent down and kissed me. I fought him at first but he deftly avoided my hands and kept on kissing me until I finally accepted it and softened towards him.

When he broke the kiss we were both breathless and disconcerted. Spot pulled a chair close to the side of the bed and sat, taking one of my hands in his own. Then he looked down at the ground as if trying to find the right words to say.

"Riot I screwed up. Bringing Pixie around was the only way I knew would get you out of Brooklyn and away from Paternelli. I figured once you were gone he would never know you even existed and you'd be safe. I guess I was wrong on both counts, and I'm sorry."

I just stared at him. First off I had never heard him apologize to anyone. Ever. Secondly I couldn't believe that he had hatched such a stupid scheme. Rising up on an elbow I skewered him with a glare.

"You didn't think that maybe taking me aside and explaining what was going on and asking me to go stay in Manhattan until it was over wouldn't have worked?" My voice was deadly calm. Spot rubbed his hands on his trousers as if they were sweating.

"But Riot, I know you, you would have argued. You would have wanted to stay and fight. That's one of the things I love about you, you're a fighter. But these guys mean business and I couldn't risk it...I couldn't risk you. Especially with the baby."

"Babies."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me," I said enjoying, perhaps a little too satisfyingly the shellshocked look on Spot's lean, bruised face. Leaning forward, he put his hands gently on my stomach and rubbed, his face full of wonder.

"Two. Well son of a bitch. I don't know if I can handle two little Conlon's running around. You know they're going to be little troublemakers." I grinned.

"Just like their dad."

"Hah!" Spot laughed and looked at me fondly. I grimaced and Spot shot to his feet, concern etched across his face.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing, I've just had this weird back ache all day and it's getting worse." Spot stood unmoving for a few moments, then he shook himself like someone dumped cold water over him.

"Uhm Riot, I don't mean to alarm you but I don't think that's just a backache." I looked up at him confused then winced as another pain came. Then it hit me and panic rushed through me like a flood.

"Ohmygod Spot! I'm not ready for this, Jesus Christ I don't think I can do this!" Spot grabbed my hands and looked at me steadily, his eyes boring into my own.

"Riot I will be here the entire time. You can do this, I know you can. I only need to leave for a few minutes to tell Declan to get the midwife. Hold on, I'll be right back." I nodded dumbly and fell back against the pillows as Spot literally flew out the door of the apartment.

Wincing, I heaved myself onto my side to try to relieve some of the pain but that didn't seem to help. Flopping back onto my back, I stared up at the ceiling and blew out a long, steadying breath. Women had been giving birth like this for hundreds of years. I was just concerned because they were coming early and my strength wasn't still up to par.

Another pain racked me, this one worse than the rest of them had been, and I grasped the bed sheets and groaned. There was nothing I could do. These babies were coming whether I wanted them to or not.

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SHOUT OUTS

Mononoke Lynn - I'm very happy you're still following Riot's adventures! Yes getting approached by a man with a knife is definitely not a good welcoming gesture. Thanks for the review :)

missfervent - I do so love love triangles, as is obvious. I think I will probably have one in my next Spot story, which I'm thinking won't feature Riot. We'll see. I love coffee so it's okay! I'm glad you get excited! I wouldn't say I'm an amazing writer but I do okay. I love Declan too, even though I'm evil for what I'm putting him through. Bad me...yes the man with a knife is very bad man and he will be back! Thank you for the review :)

LvSingWrite - Sorry I hope this wasn't too long in between updates. Tempest wasn't in this chapter but she will be back. I'm glad you liked what I did with her. I always get nervous writing other people's characters. Declan does need to get the hint, but he's in love so he keeps hoping. It's what keeps him going right now. He's really a good man. Thanks for the review :)