I know I said I'd make a sequel for this, but I have found that the world of Newsies no longer holds as much interest as it once did. It is still my first love, the first fandom I actually got involved in, and to say the least this has been a wonderful experience. I am sorry to say that this is my final chapter of this story, or possibly any Newsies story I might ever write. Thank you for all of your support. You helped me get my feet off the ground in the realm of writing, and I am eternally grateful.

And now, I present the final revision of chapter 18 of "The Lost Borough".

Just as it does in all stories, life went on. It went back to normal, for the most part, back to selling papers for measly prices and living off of the concrete jungle they called home. It went on, in short, back to the life they knew before any of this ever happened- with a few changes.

Daisy, Witch, Lucky, Cloud and Phantom stayed in Manhattan with the newsboys, and to say the least they never went back to the old life they'd known in the years they'd wandered around Ellis Island. Jack and Sarah stayed together after the strike, and David asked Cloud out to Medda's a few weeks later. The bookworm of the bunch didn't stay a newsie forever, though; she ended up getting a job at Tibby's as a waitress, and she was very content with plowing through her dime novels during her breaks with her boyfriend.

Lucky and Blink never officially got together (they were far too stubborn for that), but they had a grand time selling in Central park with Witch and Mush (who were a couple by then). Daisy, Les, Boots and Snipeshooter often tagged along, which was quite the adventure for all involved. Racetrack was once involved in an altercation with the group and a grouchy policeman, but Phantom made him promise to never try to bribe an officer with a cigar and a buck fifty again.

And then there was Mafia. She, unlike her friends, had returned to Brooklyn, with Spot, and she was, for the first time in a very long time, happy. It had taken her awhile to get used to being called the 'Queen of Brooklyn' by the rest of the Brooklynites, a title she felt she really didn't deserve, but Ink always joked (with some sincerity to it) that every king needed a queen, and Mafia was about as close as Spot was ever going to get. So, with that said, she took it in stride.

It was one of the last warm nights in Brooklyn, just a few months after the strike, marking the end of summer before the crisp nights of fall began to set in, and all the newsies in Brooklyn took full advantage of it. They were still sitting on the docks until well after selling time was over and done with, swimming and fighting and watching the sun go down over the horizon. Mafia had juts said goodbye to Phantom and Race, who were visiting after a day at Sheepsted, and had her feet dangling in the cool water below her. Spot was coming up the docks after a meeting with the Bronx Chief, and he sat down beside her. She nudged him in the arm.

"I thought youse said ya were gonna be back an hour ago," she said, feigning disappointment and annoyance. "I've had ta put up with three separate newsies threatening ta dunk me in da river, and four others almost pulling me in themselves. Now, I just got one question for ya."

Spot grinned and put on an expression of sarcastic deep thought. "And what was dat, may I ask?" he chuckled.

His girlfriend crossed her arms and glared at him. "Where was my handsome hero ta protect me?"

The King of Brooklyn laughed and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Aw, ya don't need protectin', Mia!" he laughed. "Youse as good a fighter as dem no good losers!" Mafia laughed with him and nestled her head on his shoulder, staring out over the bay with him. "You're talkin' about ya own boys, ya know," she reminded him. "You're gonna get dunked in da water if ya don't watch it!"

Her boyfriend glanced over at her, surprised. "Well, isn't dat what I has me beautiful, smart girlfriend for? Ta makes sure us males don't do anything rash or stupid?"

She chuckled. "Amongst other things."

"Like what?"

"Like standing on da edge of da Bridge pretending youse is a superhero who can fly, gettin' youseself in trouble ova something as little as stealin' an apple off da market cart, flirtin' with da dame across da street…" Mafia began to list, but Spot cut her off with mock astonishment. "And when do I do these?" he asked, pretending to be stunned by an arrow to the chest. "Ya wound me, Maf."

Mafia punched him in the arm. "Well, maybe I'll give you slack on the last one, but just last week I had to talk an officer out of nabbing you on a technicality. And Ink's brother Shark likes to pretend he can fly on a regular basis."

"Isn't da biords youse territory?"

"They're your newsies, Spot."

"Right."

A gentle breeze blew past them as the last rays of sun drifted out of sight. One by one all the newsies slowly made their exit from the river and filed back to the LH, but hours later, when the lights of New York sparkled out across the water and the stars shone brightly in the sky their rulers were still sitting right where they'd left them, hand in hand and just watching out over their beloved city. Spot was still awake, not wanting to wake her, but Mafia had fallen asleep in his arms and dozed peacefully on his shoulder.

In the presence of the river the Queen of Brooklyn had pushed back her shirt sleeves, showing off her tanned arms that complemented her pixie cut blonde hair and steely gray eyes. The lights reflecting off the water shone on her scar, the scar she was now proud to bear, illuminating the word Brooklynite in silver light.

That scar had not pained Maria Powell in a long, long time, and it would very burden her ever again. All was well.

Well, this is the last time you're ever going to be able to review for this, so rack em' up! I know we can reach 100, so if you have to review more than once I bid you do so now. Again, thanks for all your support, and I bid you all good night.

Yours,

Rellimmes