Disclaimer: yadda yadda yadda

A/N: I'm back from the dead! I finally decided to work on this and I finished it in 2 days!

Chapter 5: What else can we do?

"Spot, what do you mean?" Soccer questioned his leader. "We can't jus' dump her at 'Hattan, she barely knows anybody dere, an' besides she's only jus' now gettin' adjusted to da newsies heah."

"Den, what do ya want me ta do, Soccah?" Spot demanded. " I don't want ta see her get hoit jus' as much as you. 'Hattan sounds like da best idea."

"Spot, I t'ink dat if we change her appeahance a little bit an' always have newsies and some of da boids around dat she'll be safe."

"Are you'se shoah, or is it jus' your desire to not be separated from her?" Spot asked softly, not wanting his friend to get hurt by a decision he made on a whim.

"Spot, 'Hattan would be too dangerous, an' as long as there are always a few newsies and boids around, I figure she'll be safe."

"I pray dat she is."

"So do I, Spot." Soccer said, as he turned to go sell his papes, "So do I."

3 hrs. later

"Hey, Anne, how was your day so far?" Soccer queried, hoping that she had not been dwelling on her predicament.

"It's been fun. I was teaching Manders how to cook." Anne stated with a playful grin on her face. "It was... well, interesting." Anne giggled.

"I see." Soccer grinned, noting the twinkle in Anne's eyes. "I'm guessin' it wasn't as successful as was hoped."

"No." Anne stated laughing " How was your day?"

"Uh... ok, I finished sellin' m papes early. " Soccer said, hoping that she would not ask about how they were going to keep her safe form the gangsters.

"So... what exactly is the plan?" she asked cautiously.

'Don't ask me that!' Soccer thought in despair, as he inwardly cringed. "Well," He stalled, trying to think of the best way to put it. "We are goin' ta keep you'se heah, an' try ta change your appeahance, an' always have one or two newsies around wit' a couple of Spot's boids, ta make shoah you'se safe."

"Ok." Anne answered quietly, trying to look brave in front of Soccer.

Soccer turned to her, "Look, I promised you that I would always be there for you, and I promise you again as long as I have a say in what goes on, you will be safe because I," He paused, searching her eyes, "because I love you, and I know dat God had dis happen for a reason, and I t'ink I know what dat reason is." he finished hurriedly, hoping she wouldn't be repulsed. But what she said shocked him and made him want to jump for joy.

"I love you too, and I think I know what reason you're talking about." Anne declared, with tears running down her face as she hugged him tightly and buried her head in his chest, never wanting to let him go.

Just then Lindi and Manders walked in, "I'm tellin' you'se, I will nevah cook ta save my life!"

Soccer and Anne broke apart a bit embarrassed, "Manders, I t'ink we jus' interrupted somet'in'. What do you say we find some wheah else ta talk?" Lindi daid with a snicker, as Anne blushed.

"Yep, let's leave da love boids alone, an' talk 'bout how much I detest makin' biscuits." Manders said, as she and Lindi linked arms and skipped out of the room, leaving Soccer and Anne in an awkward silence.

"So... you wanna eat lunch now?" Soccer asked awkwardly.

Anne smiled, "Yeah." as Soccer put his arm around her waist, and escorted her to the kitchen of the Lodging House.

The Next Day

"Ok, goils, how are we goin' ta make Anne, heah look a little less recognizable ta dose gangsters?" Soccer asked.

"Well, we could her hair some," Lindi said, pointing to Anne's mid-back length hair, " an' have her weah newsie clothes, instead of her dresses."

"Dat's a great idea, Lindi!" Manders exclaimed, " What do you t'ink, Anne?"

"Well, how short are you cutting my hair?"

"Uh, well, prolly to your shouldahs, so dat if you'se needs ta leave da Lodgin' House you can tuck it up in your hat, an' den you should look like one of da guy newsies."

"Ok. But I don't have newsie clothes, the only things I own are dresses.

" I'm shoah dat Soccah has some spare clothes he can beah ta part with, right, Soccah?"

"Uh, yeah, I do." Soccer answered, noting Anne's very pink face.

"Oh, uh, I guess that will do then, huh?" Anne stammered, embarrassed.

"Well, Soccah, you go get dose clothes, while we do somet'in' with her hair."

"Ok." Soccer said slowly, as he left the room.

"Nurse, I need scissors." Lindi demanded, taking the job a bit too seriously.

"Scissors" Manders said, handing the cutting instrument over.

With that Lindi began snipping and soon Anne's hair was shoulder length. " Manders, make shoah Soccah doesn't see her until she puts on his clothes."

"K!" Manders exclaimed, just as someone knocked on the door. "Just a second." as she ran to the door and took the clothes from Soccer, and closed the door.

"Hey!"

"Hey, nothing, you're not allowed in til she's done." Manders shouted as she handed Anne the clothes.

Once Anne began to change clothes, she noticed that the clothes smelled just like Soccer. Which made her feel safe and yet very embarrassed when she walked out.

"Soccah, you'se can come in now." Manders called out. "Anne you look great!"

When Soccer walked in he was shocked by what he saw. She wasn' t the same girl he had left here ten minutes ago, she looked so much more mature, and beautiful that his jaw dropped.

"Well, Soccah, stop droolin' and give me your hat so we can see if dis will do the job."

"He slowly took his hat off and handed it to Lindi, which she proceeded to tuck Anne's hair up in it. Anne never stopped looking at Soccer, and neither did he. When Lindi was finished she handed Anne a mirror. " I t'ink dat will do. What do you'se guys t'ink?"

"Dat's great." Manders exclaimed.

"I don't even recognize myself."

"Well, Soccah, what so you t'ink?"

"It's, uh... poifect!" he managed, amazed with Anne's transformation, causing Manders and Lindi to laugh and Anne to blush.

"You really think so?" Anne queried

"Uh, huh." Soccer answered, as Manders and Lindi quietly left the room. "I really do." He said, as he walked awkwardly over to her and hugged her.