Chapter 21

A Promise Kept

A/N Hey faithful readers! I first wanted to say thank you for sticking with me and this story even through weeks of non uploads. You guys are the best! So even though I do have two shows today (and it's also closing) I don't have to be at the theater until 12:00 so I figure hey let me try to upload something, so here I am doing my best to write and upload for you guys! So I got a lot of reviews about Ryder and if he will be okay…well you got to read to find out! Enjoy!

The trudge to the warehouse was long and painful for Ryder. Thankfully they made it there without running into any trouble. They figured any newsies on the other side were at the fight, but still Archer and Hawk (the two newsies sent by Spot to bring Ryder back) were ready to fight and protect their friends if there was trouble.

As soon as they reached the lodging house, Nuala and the two newsies who were supporting Ryder dragged him upstairs and placed him on his bunk. Nuala had ordered Hawk to get any rags he could find and a basin of water and sent Archer along to come back with a needle, thread and a bottle of whiskey from her brother's stash. Nuala pulled up a chair close to the bed and began to try to take Ryder's shirt off. When she tried to get it over his head he cried out in pain and finally resulted to cutting open the shirt with a pocket knife one of the boys had brought her. Removing the shirt Nuala worked quickly to try to clean the wound. She dipped the rag into the water and began to clean the dried blood around the wound, being careful not to add too much pressure. Every now and then, Ryder would wince in pain, but he tried to keep a strong façade up for Nuala's sake. He did not want her to worry about him anymore than she already was. He had to be strong for her. But he could not control himself when Nuala poured some of the alcohol on the wound. It burned and stung unlike anything else and he could not contain his outcry. Clenching the bed sheets in his hands he panted and gasped for air and beads of sweat began to for on his forehead.

Nuala looked down at him with kind compassionate and worried eyes. Ryder was so strong. Next to her brother he was the strongest boy she knew. But seeing him like this made her heart want to break. She knew he was trying to be brave and strong, but all she wanted to do was tell him to let it out.

"Shhh, baby it's okay." She whispered to him softly. She picked up the needle and threaded it, ready to sew his freshly cleaned gash up. "Now this might hurt." She warned before she made the first stitch. Being the only girl in a house full of boys, she was sued to treating wounds and giving the boys stitches, but she had never cared for something this grand, and she was hoping she could do it. Ryder fisted up the sheets when the pain came and he curled his lips together instead of screaming out in pain. He did not want to scare Nuala into thinking she was doing a bad job. Thankfully, the gash was not that deep; it was only long, measuring from his left shoulder to his sternum. A few inched deeper and it would have got his heart.

Once the stitching was done, Nuala cut the thread and tied it before splashing the wound once more with the whiskey. Ryder grunted in pain and tightly closed his eyes, gasping in the air that his lungs ached for. Nuala leaned back in the chair looking at Ryder. If it weren't for him, she would be the one lying on the bed, a knife wound in her chest, and she couldn't contain her wondering any longer.

"Why did you so it?" she asked. The simple question came with a simple answer.

"I'se did it because I'se love you. And I promised I'se wouldn't let anything happen to you'se. I said I never would let you'se near em again and dis almost happened to you'se. When I'se saw em hold dat knife up to you'se, I'se thought you'se was gonna-" but he stopped short, not wanting to even think about what would have happened if he hadn't been there.

"You kept your promise."

Ryder gazed at her with confused eyes, so Nuala further explained.

"That night when I told you what Blade did to me, you made a promise that you would avenge me and you did."

"No, I'se didn't!" Ryder argued. He attempted to sit up but winced and was gently pushed back by Nuala. "I'se promised I'se would kill Blade, and I'se didn't –"

"But you put your life in front of mine. Dillon, you took a knife for me, and- well, I'll never be able to repay you, -"

"You'se won't have to. Just make me the happiest man, and let me court you'se, officially. When Spot comes back I'se want em ta give a blessin-or whateva's they'se do now's."

Tears were forming in Nuala's eyes. This was the moment she had prayed for, the day Ryder asked for her to be his girlfriend. Well, she didn't picture it exactly like this, but it was better this way, she thought.

Gently she leaned down and softly placed a kiss on his lips, which he gladly returned. The kiss was interrupted when there were shouts coming from outside and pounding on the door. Nuala and Ryder looked at each other, both thinking of the worst; the battle was lost and Queens was coming. Quickly getting up, Nuala raced to the stairs being careful not to be seen, there she saw Hawk and Archer both branded with a makeshift weapon.

"Stay ere Starlight." Hawk told her. "Arch and I'se is gonna see who'se it is."

Nodding her head, Nuala stepped back and waited for the newsies to get to the door. She held her breath and waited for them to open the door.

~*~Spot's POV~*~

My eyes slowly fluttered open, but only one opened fully, the other was swollen. I felt weird, almost like I was floating, when I looked up, I saw Jacky-boy was supporting me on my right my arm was slung over his shoulder and he was holding me upright. I looked over and saw Aoife was standing close to me, taking quick strides to keep up with Jack's. I rolled my head over and groaned. There was a terrible ache in my head, and an even worse one in my arm.

I knew we were at the warehouse, so I knew everybody was going to bombard me with questions and shit. Great. I thought. I didn't feel like thinking anymore so I let my head hand forward like before and before I knew it I was out like a light.

~*~ normal POV~*~

As soon as Nuala saw Jack and Aoife bring her brother in the warehouse, she felt a wave of relief consume her. Hawk and Archer helped Jack carry Spot (who was either sleeping or knocked out, or worse; Nuala couldn't tell) up to his room, but not before Jack laid a hand on the girl telling her Spot was fine and was going to be okay.

In Spot's room, Nuala quickly went to help Aoife clean and tend to Spot's arm. He had a nasty cut on it and it was furiously bleeding. The cleaned it and wrapped it well before Nuala went to tell Ryder that everything was fine and Spot was home.

Spot's eyes fluttered open once again, only this time he wasn't moving. He was lying on his bead a bandage wrapped around his arm. He stirred as he awoke and began to sat up not realizing Aoife was in the room looking out the window. As soon a she sensed movement she spun around and rand to Spot's bedside embracing hi in a hug. He winced and she quickly pulled back apologizing.

"So, how's Ryder." Spot asked.

Aoife inwardly smiles. Liam was a good leader asking about his second before himself.

"He'll be okay . from what Nuala told me, the gash Blade gave him wasn't deep enough to be fatal. He was lucky. Nuala stitched him up and he's resting now.

"What about my arm. No one's gonna ave ta take it off, right?"

Aoife laughed.

"No, no. you'll be fine, it will just leave a scar, but you should be okay in a few weeks, but you or Ryder won't be able to sell papes.

Aoife swore she saw Liam pout a bit and he sunk back into his matress.

"Apife-" he started. "I's-I'se owe you'se my life. I you hadn't used dat slingshot, I'se probably wouldn't be's here now's. so thanks."

"Liam." Aoife said leaning down placing a soft kiss on his lips. "I would you do anything for you'se."

She saw Liam smirk and pulled away confused.

"You'se is startin ta talk like a real newsie now's. I'se guess I'se is rubbin off on ya."

The two laughed at each other then went in for another kiss. But this one grew to be a passionate. Liam sat up and wrapped his arms around her waist. Aoife smiled in the kiss and tangled her hands in his hair. She pulled him down on top of her, reaching for the collar of his shirt.

"Will, you be okay?" she saked breaking away from the kiss. She did not want to cause any more pain, she was sure he was in enough already.

"Yeah, I'se will be fine. You'se could never hurt me."

Their eyes caught each other's and Liam leaned down to Aoife.

~*~ Aoife's POV~*~

His lips met mine as he reached down, sliding his hands romantically on my sides. His fingers worked to untuck the shirt that was tightly tucked into my pants. He struggled to pull the hem free urgently but the material was tucked in too tight. I chuckled, sitting up and reaching to untuck the shirt. He grabbed my hand, stopping me, as he turned me, placing a gentle kiss on my shoulder as his fingers expertly worked to unbutton the front and slid the material down from my shoulders. I reached behind myself and undid the tight knot that I had used to flatten my chest.

He placed a kiss on my newly exposed shoulder blade, reaching around to cup my breasts as he showered my neck and back with affection.

I turned towards him, unable to handle another moment, my chest heaving deeply as I climbed onto his lap. I kissed him hungrily as I tugged at the material of his shirt.

He wrapped his good arm around my back, tracing the skin softly as I worked, running my fingers through his hair once again. He helped me as I tugged at his tight white Henley shirt eager to run my hands across his toned skin. Slowly he began to take it off carefully, one arm at a time. Liam buried his face in my chest for a moment as I heaved against him in excitement, still helping him with his shirt. He kissed his way down my torso, sucking and biting softly as he went and I let out a shaky breath, placing a hand on his chest to steady myself.

At last, his shirt was off over his head, leaving him in just his pants as I pushed him down onto the rug, climbing on top of him and straddling his waist as I gazed down at him, admiring the beauty of his figure, the glimmer of wonder in his eyes. I leaned over him; my hair falling around us. I leaned down, pressing our forms together, our chests touching, our lips meeting, his hands finding my waist.

We stayed like that for a long time, showering each other in affection. Liam explored my body, kissing it, caressing it, and I his. We kissed and we held each other, and I felt our love grow stronger and stronger until neither of us could contain it anymore.

A/N bow chicka bow, wow. Haha. I had to include some romance in this chapter (mostly because it will affect the story later review what you think will happen!) and about Ryder… I was at first considering killing him off, but then I though "what kind of a person would I be if I would let that happen!" a bad once, that's what. I figured (everyone (epically Nuala) has already gone through too much, so instead of killing, I made them officially boyfriend/girlfriend. How do you think Spot will think about that? Review and let me know! Thank you guys for sticking with me and reading my story. I promise more will come. Oh and happy mother's day to any reader's that it applies too! Mamma, this one's for you! Review/follow/favorite! Bye!