Lady walks onstage and stands in the spotlight: I'm SOOO sorry about being this late in a update but you know how some people hit writers block? Well I hit a writer's apartment building and had to get my way out of there. So please please PLEASE forgive me for this and now the shout outs...

Iguana2: he he yeah. That's what I was going for

Dreamer Conlon: hanks so much I'm going to try and pick up the writing more now but it's hard...

Vamp: wow was it really so long ago that I updated this that we were still tight? Damn I wish we still were... hope you're reading this...

Sweets: he he yeah I never did either probably why I didn't do so well on it...

Cerridwen4: hey thanks babe well I couldn't very well have Iety be another shit disturber he's a good guy remember?

Her bounciness: oh you may have to wait for the chapter you want just for a bit longer...

...: nope but I'm working on it honest I am...

silent one: thanks I'm trying to finish it really just life tends to get in the way...

Sweets Conlon aka Blinks Bitch: EWWWWW burn the preppie ha ha kidding I still love you and yeah I've been fading on and off myself ...

Smiley Cad: I don't think she can hear you but I'll see if I can talk to her okay?;)

Can I just say YAY chapter 17 and the .,.,.,., combination is a change of scene.

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They sat on chairs, the floor, even windowsills, but none closer to Sweets' bed than Iety. At this point the girls were dressed haphazardly in dresses for the simple reason that most of Manhattan's newsies were crammed into the tiny sick room where Sweets lay still, sleeping soundly though bandaged up quite heavily. As she lay there Jack had taken it upon himself to go inform Spot of the whereabouts of his sister. As Jack was away and there was no space in the sick room, Saiorse sat at the kitchen table shaking uncontrollably as Andrew poured her a cup of tea.

"Andrew, dear lord, what am I going to do? Her brother will be here soon and it won't be the best of times, especially since he's against her being here." She panicked as he set the cup down in front of her.

"Maybe, but she did come here so he can't be totally unreasonable now can he? You must have been able to convince him that this was what was right for her." He sipped his own tea calmly.

In fact he had been calm the entire time this had happened, the type of calm that annoys the hell out of someone when they're in a panic. It had been like this all through the night and into the morning and Spot really was due at any second and when she needed it most he was doing little to calm her. She had had enough.

"Andrew do you mind telling me how exactly you could remain so bloody CALM when my entire world is about to come crashing down around me because of two people?" She breathed heavily, having relieved part of her stress and panic. Andrew stared pointedly at Saiorse. He swiftly ran a hand through his hair, which only endeared him more to her with his hair now even messier

"I honestly don't know how I'm staying so calm. I just know that I have to. If I'm not calm then who will be? You?" He paused for a moment thinking over his words, "Look, my world is crashing down too. Part of me wants to be able to lash out and let some of this emotion out too, but I can't. I have to stay calm. One of us has to be strong."

She knew he was right, but that didn't matter; he had provoked her temper again. "STRONG? You want strong? I've been strong for almost SIX MONTHS!! I've run a school on my own during the time when I rightfully should be finishing my education myself. This school's put pressure on me and I've been STRONG ENOUGH to run it with out any problems and-" She was cut off by the slam of a cane mere inches from her head. Turning, she saw she had to face the moment she had been dreading.

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It did not look like it would be a good day for Spot Conlon. In fact he couldn't really say that it was a new day; he had far too much to drink the night before and laid his head down at about three o'clock in the morning, the same time that Cowboy came knocking, telling him there was an emergency regarding Sweets. He doubted if he had ever been up and dressed that fast in his lifetime. But had the day ended with that it might not have been so bad. He now began the good five-hour walk to Manhattan, due to the fact that no other transport was available. It was now eight thirty in the morning and he had already seen his sister, made sure she was safe and noticed through his sleepy haze that Itey skittered across the room from his seat by the bed as soon as he walked in. Even then he had been stressed, tired, and the alcohol was starting to wear off, but he wouldn't have minded if that was all. He broke when all that had happened was combined with the yelling that was coming from down the stairs. He had had enough and he, with most of the others in tow, headed into the kitchen and with one slam, not thinking of where he hit with the cane, the noise stopped.

"No problems? Really? So what would you call my fifteen-year-old sister lying beaten and bruised in a bed upstairs?" It was only then that he realised how close he had come to hitting her in the face, hard. He had actually caused a dent in the wall. But there was no way the pain that could have been made by the cane came close to the pain in his head right now

"Because since it's my sister laying up in the bed hurt, I'd say you'd have one big problem to deal with."

He saw the fear in her eyes and in some sick and twisted way it fed him. His head hut less and he almost silently dared her to challenge his comment. Everyone sat there having long abandoned Sweets in her bed with Iety beside her yet again. They watched, waiting for her to challenge him, or to at least say anything. She did that. It was her claim to fame. She didn't crumble. She stood up to him, or she tried at least. They weren't disappointed. It may have taken longer than normal, but she came back at Spot full force.

"HOW DARE YOU!!! You barge in to a private conversation, interrupt a conversation that is between two people and then proceed to damage my school and my home!" By some act of god she stood her ground even under the collective stares and shocked faces. They had been hoping for it, but none expected it. None enjoyed it more than Spot. It fed him, his head no longer throbbed and, in fact, the day seemed to get better with every syllable she uttered.

"Dare I? Dare I!!! Easily? My sister is laying sick upstairs and, seeing as it was you that had her under your care, I hold you one hundred percent responsible for the fact that she's hurt and should she not recover fully it'll be on your head."

"If anything pushed her to sneak around to find some care from a male it would have to have been you and your arrogant tough love act that you have been portraying since god knows when. She needed some one to love her, not some one to attack her!" God what was she doing? She could see the anger starting to boil within him

At this there was a collective groan that came from everyone watching. They knew you could only push Spot so far until, like a rubber band, he snapped. He had been pushed too far after being accused of not loving his sister.

"Attack? You want to see an attack?" Spot swung his cane back and let fly, embedding it into the wall so close to Saiorse's head that the golden top had grazed the side of her head before coming to a rest two inches past the surface of the wall.

"I missed on purpose, but push me any more and I'll forget that you're a woman and as for an act how's this? The girls you call students and a few of their friends had found out that you were losing the school because you had no male to stand beside you. So what did they do? They pleaded with me; they begged me to pretend to be in love with you until the end of year came, then the school be damned. They were graduating and they couldn't give a shit. As for me I'm personally glad I haven't got to deal with you again." He ripped the cane from the wall, taking a part of the plaster from it as well, and left as the others parted to give him room

"Jack I'll send two guys to come and get Sweets later today. I don't trust the owner of this place."

He once more took the flight of stairs up to see his sister and Saiorse scanned the crowd, seeing all her students with their heads hung and most of the boys as well. So what had been said was true, he felt nothing but hate towards her while she suffered an inner battle to tell her self that she was being irrational about her feelings for him. She found the reason her father would use when she got home to ridicule her dreams of freedom. But here after being hurt she would not crumble in front of her students. She stood tall for the simple reason that if she were to move whatsoever her legs would give way. A thumping was heard coming down the stairs as Spot left the sick room and headed for the door, only to be stopped by someone she least expected, Andrew. She turned around and sure enough his space at the table was empty and he stood in Spot's way, a dangerous place to be when he was this angry. There were muttered words exchanged and flashes of silver were shown then Spot turned around and walked back into the kitchen with Andrew at his heels. Spot stood over to the side as Andrew ushered the others into the kitchen. They seemed to be pulled over towards and behind Spot, save for Jack who stood beside him.
Andrew stepped over beside Saiorse and intertwined his hands with hers, sending a reassurance she couldn't explain through her.

"Now I am fully aware that the young lady upstairs is your sister, but not you nor any man has the right to talk to Saiorse intimidate her like you did –"

"And why the hell not?"

"Because," Andrew continued, calm as ever. "I will allow no one to treat my fiancée like you just have."

Whatever reassurance had been in her body had left her, and with it her control over her legs. She collapsed from the shock that had just coursed through her. Soon she was picked up by Andrew and set down in her seat, still dazed by the revelation that had been made. She wasn't the only one; she turned to the rest of those gathered in the room and saw her shock reflected in their faces. It was Alex that spoke out first...

"If you're her fiancée then how come we haven't seen you around before?"

"Because, my dear girl, I've been on business and was back in Ireland till not more than three weeks ago when I arrived here in New York."

Meow jumped in with her thoughts as well, "Well if that's the case how come she aint got no ring? Aint that the custom?"

"Because I was never truly able to buy one that was as beautiful enough for her, but now I can." Within moments Andrew was on his knee in front of Saiorse with a small black velvet box in his hand. It was opened and she let out a small gasp. The ring was breathtaking. Andrew slipped it on her finger and gave her a kiss. She however, through the noise that was made, kept her head hung. Why wasn't she happy? She had known Andrew since childhood. He was there to defend her; he loved her and she loved him. Didn't she?

It was in this moment of quiet reflection that Jack spoke his mind with a cooler head than the others. "Andrew, why'd you put the ring on her finger? I thought a woman was supposed to accept the proposal first."

"Well, it's already an agreement that it's what we want."

"Is it? She's been awfully quiet since you said you were getting married. You've done all the talking for her." Ye wrapped an arm around Bright Eyes and watched his words sink in.

"Saiorse, love, tell them that you're just as happy with the marriage." No answer. She was lost in her own thoughts. "Saiorse?" This one took her from her thoughts.

"Pardon? What did you say?"

He was getting frustrated they way she was acting people would think she didn't want to get married "Tell them how you feel about the proposal." He laughed.

"Oh, well, this is what any girl could want. It's-."

"But," Jack started "do YOU want it?"

"Oh well..." She was taking too long, she could see it on their faces. Jack even smirked, or so she thought. "Of course I do. Now I'll be keeping the school won't I?" Spot's words echoed in her mind "'They pleaded with me, they begged me to pretend to be in love with you'" She spoke again, "And at least this man doesn't have to pretend to love me." At this she stared purposefully at Spot; she'd be damned if he was going to win. He was.

Spot was the first to walk up to Andrew and extend his hand, but rather than congratulate him, he said what some had expected, "God help you." He dropped his hand and walked out.