It was interesting to walk down the streets of Brooklyn with Spot. Everyone seemed to know who he was and everyone seemed to respect him. When she walked down the streets by herself, Evelyn would get stares from men who recognized her but generally she was ignored. Spot, on the other hand, was greeted by nearly every person they passed and paused for quick conversations with half of them. Not just boys either, older men, too. Some of them looked quite dangerous and seedy as well. Evelyn was starting to wonder just how much the newsies really did and how much of it was legal. Perhaps they weren't as innocent as they seemed when she saw them on the streets. She made a silent vow to ask Spot about it the next time she caught him alone.

It didn't take long for them to reach their destination. Once Spot led her to a street she was familiar with, it took only ten minutes. She had been there a million times before and would be there a million times again. Evelyn paused in front of the house, suddenly nervous; she was late. She should have been here three days ago with her latest payment, but things had been hectic and there hadn't really been time. She knew Millie wouldn't react well to her showing up late, especially with Spot. Thinking of that reminded her that he was with her and didn't know how her sister could be. She glanced at him and gave him a quick warning; "Just don't overreact or anything."

His eyebrow cocked critically and a skeptical look crossed his face. For a moment, he simply stared at her, trying to decide if she was serious. "Is there a reason I would overreact?" he asked finally.

She shrugged nervously. "My sister is…" she paused, wondering how best to explain her elder sister. "She can say things." Or throw things. Having grown up with her, Evelyn was used to it, but she knew Spot wouldn't be and likely wouldn't take it well.

"You're sister?" Spot asked his brow knit in confusion. When Evelyn looked away and didn't say anything, Spot asked with a frown, "What kind of things?"

Evelyn began chewing her nails nervously. She didn't want to explain her whole life to Spot; she just wanted him to meet Joshua so he could understand how serious this thing with Chester was. "She's just…had a hard life. Ignore her. Okay?" Spot just stared at her, disappointment evident in his eyes. Evelyn wondered momentarily if it was a mistake to bring Spot here. No, she thought, he needs to meet Joshua. "Spot, please?" she asked, putting on the puppy face she used when she wanted something from her clients.

He shook his head and rolled his eyes at her antics. "Fine."

A wide smile spread across her face as relief flew through her; that was one less thing to worry about. After taking a deep, calming breath she turned back and knocked on the door.

It took only a moment for the door to open revealing a young woman several years older than Evelyn. It was apparent to anyone who cared to look that they were sisters. They shared the same recklessly messy dirty blonde hair and the same dark grey eyes. The only difference was that the older woman's eyes were narrowed and shone with anger and distrust as her glance bounced between the young man and young woman standing at her door. Evelyn wouldn't be surprised if her sister had been watching and listening through the window.

"Hey, Millie," Evelyn said, a cautious smile playing on her face. She momentarily hoped her sister hadn't been drinking. That would make this a potentially disastrous situation.

Millie's glare landed on Spot who was standing behind Evelyn, her eyes running critically over him. "Get inside," she said after a tense moment.

Evelyn quickly walked through the door and glanced around, not at all shocked to see the deplorable conditions of the place. Dishes weren't done; stale, fly ridden food was strewn about the floor. Even though she was used to it, it made her sick. She wondered what Spot would make of it. She turned to her sister and asked, "Where is he?"

"Do you have it?" Millie asked, ignoring Evelyn's question.

Having had the same exact conversation a million times before, Evelyn was ready. She handed her sister a small bag filled with coins. "This is all I have."

Millie took it eagerly, spilling the coins into her hand. She counted it and Evelyn prayed she wouldn't complain that it was less than she usually brought. Thankfully, Millie just pocketed the money and glanced once again at Spot. "Who is this? Another one of Chester's guys?" she asked as she reached for a bottle of liquor.

"No," Evelyn said flashing Spot a nervous glance. He didn't seem like the kind of guy who would approve of a woman drinking. His face gave nothing away and Evelyn pushed along with introductions. "Millie, this is Spot Conlon, a friend. Spot, this is Millie, my sister."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am." Spot said politely.

It had been evident since they walked through the door that Spot didn't approve of Millie one bit making Evelyn nervous. She was about to smile thankfully at Spot when her arm was grabbed and twisted by her sister. "What do you think you're doing?" she spat angrily. "Chester isn't going to take kindly to you flitting around with some boy." With their faces so close together, Evelyn could smell that her sister had indeed been drinking.

Evelyn grimaced and pulled her arm away, putting it in front of Spot who had taken an aggressive step forward. "I'm not working for Chester anymore," she said through pursed lips, knowing that it would further anger her sister. She'd been hoping she could hide that fact from her sister until a time when she was sober but there was no way of knowing when that would be.

"What?" Millie yelled, taking a violent step closer to them. "The only reason he let me go was if you took my place."

She could feel the bristling angry heat radiating off of Spot and said a silent prayer that he would remain calm. This was nothing compared to what she had dealt with growing up. "Its fine," she said softly to Millie. "We're gunna take care of it."

Evelyn never saw the slap coming. It shouldn't have surprised her but it did. Some part of her thought her sister would keep her anger in check in front of Spot. The force of the slap knocked her back against him causing him to wrap his arms around her to catch her. He didn't let go, holding tightly and possessively, as he began to yell. "What the hell? Who're you to treat your own sister like that?"

It was the wrong thing to say and Evelyn braced herself as Millie exploded with rage. "Excuse me? Who the hell are you? Coming into my house and yelling at me?"

It came as a surprise to Evelyn that her sister hadn't thrown something at Spot. She took it as a sign that her sister wasn't too drunk yet. Turning, Evelyn placed her hand on Spot's arm to keep him from responding. "Spot, don't." He glanced down at her and saw the emotions shining in her eyes. The cold anger didn't dissipate from his eyes but he didn't say anything. She turned back to her older sister, pulling out of Spot's arms as she did. "Trust me, Millie. I won't let you down." She'd seen her sister mad enough times to know yelling and getting angry would only make things worse.

"I've heard that before," Millie scoffed. She scowled at them both but the fact that she didn't scream again was a good sign.

"Is he here? Where is he?" Evelyn asked with a sigh. Millie nodded her head in the direction of another room and walked away with disgust in the opposite direction.

Evelyn ignored her, taking Spot's hand in hers and led him from the room. "What the hell, Evelyn?" Spot said as soon as Millie was out of earshot. "That's your sister? That's why it's so important to fix this? So you can give her lazy ass money?" His disappointment and anger was dripping from his words. She knew that if she turned and looked at him, his face would shine with the same righteous anger on his face when Chester had visited.

She waited until he came into view before answering. "No, he is." Evelyn pointed to the baby lying silently on a chair. She walked over and picked him up and he instantly started cooing. A wide smile spread on her face as Spot walked over to her, "Spot Conlon, I want you to meet the most important person in my life. This is Joshua Svedlack, my nephew."

Spot leaned over to get a better look at Joshua and smiled softly, "You're nephew?" The relief was evident in his voice and Evelyn knew that he had thought that Joshua had been her child.

"Yes, isn't he the most handsome baby you've ever seen?" Evelyn cooed as she showered the baby with kisses. She hadn't seen him in over a week and it had driven her crazy. Even though he was only her nephew, Evelyn thought of him as her son. He meant more to her than anyone had in her entire life.

Spot chuckled at her reaction to her nephew. "Yea, he is."

Evelyn didn't hear him. She was too focused on Joshua. After several minutes of kissing and hugging her nephew, she turned to Spot with a sigh. "See Spot? This is why everything needs to work out." Her eyes plead desperately for him to grasp the magnitude of what she was sharing with him.

He didn't say anything for a moment. He just stared at Joshua. Evelyn bit her lip nervously as she awaited his reaction. Had she misjudged Spot? Finally, he looked up at Evelyn, "I understand."

That was all she needed to hear. Evelyn smiled thankfully and went back to playing with the only family she had who mattered.

After twenty minutes, they left. She was never allowed to stay longer than that, no matter how hard she begged. As they walked out the door, Evelyn had to fight to hold familiar tears in her eyes. Spot had seen her crying more than enough times for this lifetime.

Evelyn knew there would be questions. The minute they were off Millie's street, Spot stopped them. She turned towards him curious and Spot took her face in his hands. Evelyn trembled nervously, uncertain what he was doing. After a moment of inspecting her face he spoke, "You're going to have a swollen lip."

Her hand flew to the side of her face that Millie had slapped. She hadn't even been fazed by the slap. Living with Millie her entire life and working with Chester, she was used to being pushed around. "It happens," she said with a rueful smile.

"It shouldn't," Spot said simply. She looked down, embarrassed. When she glanced at him again, she became aware that Spot hadn't moved his hands and continued to stare at her. She didn't think she wanted him to stop. His hands were rough and ink stained but she didn't mind. She was reminded of the night that she had left, when Spot had helped her up and held her longer than necessary.

Spot suddenly dropped his hands and turned to start walking again, leaving Evelyn confused. Not wanting to be left behind, she quickly walked up next to him as Spot said, "Your nephew? Millie's son?"

Evelyn nodded. "Yes. Unfortunately; he couldn't have a worse mom. But a bad mom is better than no mom I suppose," she said remembering her own childhood. Her mother had died weeks after she was born.

"His dad?" he asked curiously.

"Who knows," she answered with a shrug. Spot glanced at her, waiting for further explanation. "Millie used to work for Chester. Not one of his top earners but she made enough to be considered relatively important, I guess. Joshua's the product of that life."

There was silence for several minutes as they both thought about Joshua. Spot spoke again. "So you took her place when she got pregnant?"

"Basically." She didn't mention that Chester had forced her to take her sister's place. It was either that or he would have found a way to end Millie's pregnancy. There were some things Spot didn't need to know.

"Why do you give her money?" he finally asked.

Evelyn had been waiting for that question. Some days she asked her self the same thing. Even if she didn't bring her money, Millie would scrounge some up somehow. Maybe she would go back to Chester, maybe she would turn to stealing, or maybe she would even get a legitimate job. Bringing her money every week only enabled her to continue living the way she was. Evelyn turned to Spot, a helpless look evident on her face.

Spot's eyes softened as he pulled her to him in a hug. "I understand," he said simply. "We all have baggage."

Evelyn nodded against his chest, thankful that she had finally found someone who understood. Maybe, she thought to herself, she needed Spot more than she was willing to admit.

A/N: Sorry about the delay. I finally got a job, six months after moving here. I've been busy with that but I'm going to try to update my stories on a regular basis.