Chapter 12
Never and Absolution
A/N Hey, hey! Thanks you all for the reviews from the last chapter. The chapter title for Ch 11 comes from Titanic and it is the perfect title! An "absolution" by definition is forgiveness for somebody's sins, so there will be some religious content in this chapter. Oh and I've been forgetting this, I don't own Newsies. Onward!
The light from the sun shown into Spot's room from the cracked window, casting bright warm rays on Aoife's face. She turned her head to face Spot whose back was turned to her, so she gracefully draped an arm around him leaning over him, bending down close to his ear.
"Good morning love,' she whispered. Groggily he stirred and turned around to gaze up at her a smile playing on his lips.
'Good morning beautiful." He said pulling his head up to give her a gentle kiss. 'How'd ya sleep?" he asked as he leaned back down, his clasped hands resting under his head.
"Wonderful." She answered leading her head on his bare chest wrapping the thin sheets around her own. She took a deep breath in, taking in all the memories from the night before. She ached a bit, but then remembered how wonderful the feeling was- being there with the one she truly loved. But the other part of her was having doubts. She knew girls her age would not dream of being intimate before marriage, unless of course they were a prostitute- a profession Aoife had never hoped to get involved with. But that excitement of being with a man, the wonderful illusion of love that she had felt that night was drifting her thoughts away from her sin. But she knew what she had to do.
Liam rolled out of bed and took his clothes off the floor and put them on.
"I'm going to go check on Starlight." He said as he left the room, red suspenders carelessly dangling on his hips.
Aoife sat up on the springy bed bringing her knees to her chest. Today when Liam was selling, she would go to the chapel and confess to her sins, her guilt riding in her mind more than the pleasure she had felt. She unwrapped herself from the sheet she was tangled in to find her cloths and dress.
~*~Meanwhile in Nuala's room ~*~
Spot gently knocked on the door of Nuala's room before pushing it open and entering. He saw Nuala sleeping peacefully on her back in bed and Ryder was sitting in a chair by her side holding her hand, protecting her just as he had promised. Ryder looked up and stood as Spot came into the room.
"How is she doing?" Spot said standing next to Ryder taking his sisters hand from her.
"It's hard to tell. She's been sleeping quite eva since ya left last night."
"Do ya mind if we's have a moment?"
"Shure." Ryder gazed one last time at Nuala before exiting the room.
Spot took a seat in the chair by the bed and gently shook Nuala's shoulder.
"Star, wake up sweetie." He gently whispered to her. Her eyelids started to twitch and slowly they fluttered open. But quickly she started to quiver and she shook away from the hand on her. She slammed her eyes shut and cowered away, trying to sink lower into the bed.
"No, no. go away." She muttered ignoring the pain in her side as she tried to roll over.
"No, Nuala it's me. Its you'ar big brodder. Shh, I'm not gonna hurt ya."
Nuala slowly tuned to face Spot tears brewing in her eyes as she reached up and clamped her arms around his neck, embracing him in a hug. As she did so, the pain became unbearable and she let out a small painful cry. Noticing this, Spot gently lowered her back down onto the mattress, earning some more pain filled moans.
"Who coulda' done dis to ya?" Spot said more to himself, even though he knew the answer. He looked closely at her. The redness of her split swollen lip, the bruise on her eye that had now turned an ugly shade of purple contrasting against the paleness of her skin. The bandages wrapped around her ribs and stomach concealing more purple bruises, and not to mention the internal damage, the memories that plagued her mind and would be in her memories forever.
"It-it was-ohhh." Nuala mumbled.
"Shhh, it's gonna be okay." Spot said gently smoothing down her hair.
"It-h-he…"
"Shh, you'se don't haffta' talk about it now."
"S-Spot?"
Yeah."
"D-does it always hurt?"
Puzzled by her question, Lam looked down at his broken sister.
"When two people-you know- does it always hurt?"
Memories from the night before flooded his mind. He had never felt such a pleasure in his life, yes he was sore, but then he thought about how much he loved Aoife, and that made everything feel better.
"Naw. When it happens with da one ya love-it don't hurt." He told her.
Nuala's eyes started to droop and they became extremely heavy. Slowly she slipped into a blackness of unconsciousness. Spot took a deep breath in and he got up off the chair and left but not before giving his sister a kiss on her forehead. He walked out the door to see Ryder standing outside it, his hands infront of him nervously ringing his hat in anticipation.
"How is she?" he asked.
"You should'a seen her just now. She woke up an she was so scared. She was tryin' ta get away from me- she thought me- her own brodda would hurt er." Spot took a few shallow breaths as he liked his lips. "She was so frail, so weak. All she could do was moan in pain. An dere was nothing I could do." He said his last thought as he tilted his chin down.
"Hey, don't think like dat." Ryder said gaining Spot's attention. " You'se know Star bedda dan anyone. She's a fighter, she'll get through dis."
"Spot, let me watch er." Ryder asked "I promise I'll let cha know if anythin happens."
Spot pressed his palms to the sockets of hi eyes and took a deep breath in. "Fine." He gave in. "I swear ta God though, the second anythin' happens, ya tell me, got it?"
"Got it."
"Good. But I'se is gonna call a council meetin' lata tonight an I'se want ya ta be dere."
"I'se will." Ryder said before opening the door and stepping once again inside.
He walked in and sat in the chair by the bedside her, brushing a few loose strands of brown hair away from her bruised face. He looked around the room, suddenly unable to bring himself to so much as glance at her. He wasn't sure what was worse, the physical damage, or the expression on her face. Even in her sleep there was one expression that was always present. Terror. Pure terror. And he hated it. Even in sleep her brow was furred and her face contorted in, and Ryder wondered if she was dreaming about that night. That wasn't the Starlight he grew up with.
Downstairs, Aoife walked into the main room, now fully dressed, and went over to the group of Brooklyn newsies who were gathered around a small table.
"What's going on?" he asked as she arrived at the table.
Spot, Archer, Echo and two other newsies were gathered around the make shift table and all looked up as they heard Aoife's voice.
"We'se was just goin on about what we are gonna do bout da Queen's problem." Archer said inviting her into the circle.
"Well, what are you going to do?"
"We'se is gonna go back to Hattan and recruit Jack and his boys. Den we'se is goin ta go ova' ta Harlem and see if they's is still our allies." Spot answered.
"What's going to happen?"
"I'se don't know." Spot admitted. "But we'se gotta do something."
"Well, I'm going to go out, I'se need some fresh air." Aoife said walking towards the door.
"Wait a minute!" Spot said stopping her before she could leave. "Dere's no way in hell I'm letting ya out dere alone."
"Liam, I'll be fine. There's just something I have to do." She said before she exited the room.
"Echo. I'se want ya to follow er an make sure no harm comes ta er. Got it?"
"Right boss."
Echo had followed Aoife through the streets of New York until he saw her enter a church. When he saw where she was, he turned and began a brisk walk to Queens.
When he got to the Queens Lodging House, he was greeted with a swarm of newsies who all wondered what he was doing there, Blade in the midst of them.
"Well, well. If it ain't our liddle ally!" Back so soon? I thought ya said you'se was gonna be doin some more spyin foar me."
Echo lunged, his rough hands clutching over his leaders neck. "What the hell did ya do to her? You said you wasn't gonna hurt er!"
"You of all people would ave understood dat plans change. Yeah, out original plan wasn't gonna hurt his sista, but he wouldn't let go of his new goil, so we'se got the next best thing."
"I'll kill ya if ya eva hurt er again" He seethed, "I swear ta God, I'll murder ya!"
Someone ripped Echo off of Blade, and shoved him to the floor.
"I'se wouldn't forget my place. I'se would remeba who I'se was workin for. Any one of my boys could tell Spot you'se is a traitor, don't forget dat!" Blade yelled.
"Why'd ya do it, huh?"
"Well, you'se told us you'se didn't know anythin', and we needed information."
Echo shook with fury. "She nearly died because of you!" even though he had betrayed Brooklyn, he never thought anyone would get hut, especially Nuala.
"Nearly?" The other one joked darkly, "It seems we didn't do our job, doesn't it?" He yelled to his boys who were howling with laughter.
"Just wait until Spot hears it was you, you'll wish you'se was never born!" Echo turned to leave, but what Blade said stopped him.
"Yeah? And what d'ya think will happen when he ear' that you'se turned traitor on em', huh? Face it, you'se is just as guilty as we are."
Realizing he was right, Echo hung his head in shame.
Aoife entered the church, inhaling the smell of burning herbs and candle smoke. She dipped her fingers into the holy water and blessed herself before entering. She gazed up at the statures of the Virgin Mary, and young Jesus, of the stained glass windows that casted colorful shadows on her face as she walked past them. She looked around and tried her best to quietly walk down the aisle, careful not to disturb the other patrons of the church, who were kneeling in the pews. She moved to the second aisle and kneeled down folding her hands in front of her and bowing her head.
Dear Lord, please forgive me of my sin. Please help me to understand my mistake, and too see past it.
Before she knew it, tears had formed in her eyes and were trailing down her cheek
"Dear child." A voice said from beside her. She looked and saw the Deacon of the church dressed in his white robe, his golden cross gleaming in the soft glow of the candles. "What is bothering you?"
Aoife was torn. She did not want to tell the religious man what she had done, yet she would not dare lie while in the House of God.
"Father, may I request an absolution?"
"Of course."
"Forgive me Father for I have sinned." She said sitting on the bench facing the Deacon.
"What have you committed child?"
"Father, I have committed procreation with a boy who I am not married too. And I do not know that to do."
"My child, I must ask you one very important thing."
Here it comes. Aoife thought. The Father was now going to shun her. He probably thinks I am some common prostitute who had it coming towards her.
"Do you love this boy?"
Aoife was shocked. Out of all the things the Father could say, this was the most unexpected. She did not see it coming at all. But she only thought of one possible answer, the truth.
"Yes. Father. Yes I do love him. Very, very much."
"Then, my child, you must marry this boy. If he feels the same way about you, then he will comply. But for your moral sake May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you; and by His authority I absolve you from every bond of excommunication and interdict, so far as my power allows and your needs require. Thereupon, I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen." The Deacon blessed her with the sign of the cross, and stepped away. "Now, go my child, and find the boy you love."
"Thank you Father. Thank you very much." Aoife said as she exited the church, faster than when she arrived.
"Liam, Liam!" Aoife yelled as she burst into the warehouse. "Archer, where's Spot, I must talk to him."
"Are you'se alright?"
"Yes I'm fine; I just need to talk to Spot."
"Oh well, he's in da odda room."
"Thanks." Aoife said as she left him to find Liam.
She soon found him leaned over a make-shift desk letters of some sorts in hand.
She stopped short, and realized she was nervous, and she had every right to be. She was about to do something that she had no idea how he would respond too. For all she knew, he would turn the other way and say "no thank you". But she had to do what she had to do.
"Liam?" she asked getting his attention. She spun around on his chair and got up to greet her at the door.
"Yeah, Aoif, is everything okay?"
"That all depends on you really." She said very broadly. Confused he ushered her inside and closed the door to the small office.
"Aoife what are you talking about?"
"Liam, today when I left the warehouse, I went to the chapel and confessed my sins."
Still bearing a confused expression Aoife further explained to Liam where she was getting at.
"I went to absolution and confessed to the Father that I had sex with you as an unmarried girl. Now before you get angry I had too. My morals did not allow me to go by without doing it."
"Well what are you trying to say? Th-that you wanna get married?"
Aoife never answered. This is what she was afraid of; Liam would turn his shoulder and get her away from her, send her out into the streets.
"Because." Liam said slowly reaching into his pocket. "I was thinking of da same thing."
Aoife looked up and saw Liam was standing closer to her than he was before, and between his pointer finger and his thumb, was a tiny silver ring.
End chapter…
Hahah just kidding! Got you!
Aoife looked up. Did Liam just say what she thought he said?
"Aoife, will you'se marry me?" he asked
Tears forming in her eyes as she nodded her head fiercely. "Yes Liam, I'll marry you."
The two engaged in a warm embrace and a soft kiss as Liam slid his mother's claddah engagement ring on her finger.
But all was disturbed as they heard a scream from upstairs
~*~ upstairs at the same time~*~
Nightfall had fallen upon the city, and Ryder was still in the same spot he was when Spot left him, sitting on the chair next to Nuala's bed watching over her. He yawned, feeling the night dawn on them and stretched his sore back, standing from the chair. A low moan pulled his attention towards the bed.
"Nuala?" Another moan, this time louder. He knelt next to her. "Come on wake up. Talk to me, sweetheart." He pleaded taking her hand in his.
A tremor shot through her body as their hands made contact. He pulled back. "Hey, it's alright." He soothed her. "It's me, its Ryder, rememba'?"
She gasped, scrunching her eyes closed tighter. Ryder's heart sank when he realized what was happening. She was having nightmares. Real memories of what she had gone through that night.
"Hey, come on Sweetheart, you'se are gonna be okay. You'se is gonna pull through this."
"No, no, stop, no!" Nuala mumbled.
Nuala gasped and moaned as she gripped the thin sheets, her body tensing, as she whimpered softly. Then suddenly, she shrieked. Her body began to tremble, and small beads of sweat forming on her forehead, matting her hair down. She tossed over on the rickety bed. Ryder stood in panic, placing his hands on her shoulders as gently as he could, trying to wake her. She thrashed trying to get away from his grasp mumbling phrases such as "stop" and "don't" until finally, she let out a blood curling scream.
~*~ present~*~
Spot and Aoife burst into the room, some other newsies behind them, looking at Ryder leaning over Nuala, who was thrashing on the bed.
"What da hell's are ya doin to her?" Spot yelled as he grabbed Ryder's collar and hoisted him up shoving him to the side as he knelt beside her bead and tried to steadily hold her hand .
"I wasn't doing nothing Spot, honest. She just started thrashin' in her sleep an I was just tryin ta wake er. Honest!"
Aoife put a hand on his shoulder to try to calm him down, as Spot did the same to Nuala.
"Come on Star." He cooed. "Wake up sweetheart." But she kept moaning, thrashing and mumbling incoherently, until she once again screamed.
"What's wrong wid er?" Aoife heard one of the newsies behind her whisper.
Spot kept whispering to her to wake up, and eventually she did, her eyes wide with horror as she awoke from her nightmare. She was panting and beads of sweat began to form on her forehead. She gazed up at Spot before her bottom lip started to tremble and she burst into tears and sobs.
Spot leaned down and cradled her in his arms, rubbing small circles in his back as she cried into his shoulder.
"I-I cant do this anymore." She said between sobs. At this point Ryder had directed everybody else besides Aoife out of the room, and watched helplessly as Spot cradled Starlight. Once again unconsciousness had taken over her from exhaustion as she hung loosely in Spot arms. Gently he laid her down and got up, pacing back and forth.
"Blade is gonna get it." He finally said. "Brooklyn is gonna come down on em, and we'se is gonna come down hard! And den he'll know not ta mess with Brooklyn cause his ass is gonna be so far n the ground….how's could dey do that." His gaze moving to Nuala. "She's only 15, she's just a kid."
"Don't worry Liam." Aoife said wrapping her harms around his waist stopping him from wearing a hole in the floor with his pacing. "She is a tough girl and I know she will make it through this."
Liam turned to look at his new fiancé, and the corner of his mouth turned up into somewhat of a smile. They took each others hands and gazed in each other eyes.
"We will get through this." Aoife said.
There was a moment of silence before Ryder interrupted it noticing something different about Aoife.
"Hey Aoife, what's dat on you'ar finga?"
A/N In the words of "Corpse Bride" a wedding, a wedding, there's going to be a wedding! Yayy! Hey guys! Sorry this is not my best ending, but it's the best I could do right now. Sorry if this chapter was a bit scattered and disorganized, but I had a lot of ideas and I didn't really know how to put them all in, but I hope you enjoyed it none the less. Please remember to review (I love getting them!) and favorite/follow. Remember it's you're guise's support that I keep writing, so if you like the story let me know. Until next tie (whenever that may be) have a good one!