Finish the Fight

Fifth & final story in the Rain or Shine Series

Finale to Sunny Days Saga

By Laces

September 1902

The white light streamed in through the tall stained glass windows at the front of the church. The heat of the sunlight prickled against the shoulders of the small congregation gathered on either sides of the narrow aisle. The wedding of Spades Fia and Blue O'Reilly was a small and intimate gathering. In a tiny cobblestone church in the folds of Brooklyn with only a handful of family and close friends the two young people took another step together, growing up from their teenage passion and childhood adoration.

"I do." Blue stated in a recognizable tone. The tall young man sounded confident and determined, everything that he had always been in all of his interactions. But today, in the presence of anyone who ever meant anything to him or his bride, was the first time that happiness crept into his cool demeanor. Wearing the first brand new shirt that he had owned in over five years, Blue's eyes popped with excitement. He seemed unable and unwilling to pry his eyes from the face of his smiling bride.

As the priest repeated the questions of eternity and love to the young woman, Spades smiled as she repeated them back to the love of her entire life. Her dark hair flowing unrestrained, for the first time since she had started the gang, framed her face perfectly. It was the first time anyone in the small church, aside from her family members, had ever seen her wear a dress. Though the white gown was simple and far from being anything extravagant, Spades was glowing.

"I don't think I've ever noticed her eyes are green." Laces leaned into the muscular arms of the man standing next to her. Jack chuckled softly to himself as he bent his head down a bit to whisper back to her.

"I think that might be because they are hazel."

Laces scrunched up her nose, obviously disagreeing with the statement but not daring to speak anymore. She could feel Cricket and South's eyes piercing through the back of her skull. Sitting directly behind them, Laces or as she was better known these days Audrey's guardians sat constantly watching and forever present. Thomas and Casey Longfellow, once legendary birds now members of elite high society sat directly behind Laces and Jack. The wedding guests of Spades Fia and Blue O'Reilly were an interesting mix of history makers, legends, and the foolish youth of the day.

"You may now kiss the bride!" The priest announced happily and not a moment too soon as Blue was on the verge of bursting from impatience. The crowd clapped enthusiastically, the younger men from Brooklyn following their newly crowned prince's example of whooping approval. Bottle Cap elbowed his leader graciously to get him to stop making such a commotion, but Slingshot was immune to jibs from his second in command. The happy couple practically flew out of the church with Angel and Pockets following close behind them before the rest of the church started pouring out of their pews. It took Spot Conlon using his mighty cane to smack the top of Slingshot's head before the hooting and hollering subdued.

"Ow, Spot! What'd you that for?" Slingshot demanded hotly balling up his fists.

"Because Mat-," Spot started but didn't get the rest of the name out.

"Slingshot." Bottle Cap inserted. His voice forcefully giving his oldest friend and once mentor a touch of warning to go with the death glare gracing his young face.

"Now look here," Spot pointed the tip of his cane at Bottle Cap. The second in command of Brooklyn didn't even flinch before Slingshot had slapped the object away.

"Quit your bellyaching Conlon and don't go hitting me on the head with that stupid cane, I might break it." Slingshot warned. Before Spot could respond though Slingshot had slipped his hand into Cammie's and the couple had ducked out of reach of the old leader's wrath. Spot growled at Bottle Cap instead but Cap had moved on and was now talking to David Jacobs. Jack laughed loudly as he patted Spot on the shoulder.

"It looks like Brooklyn. Stubborn, pig headed and impulsive. But when did Brooklyn get so young?" Jack asked.

"Don't tease him Jack, it's not becoming of a man your age." Caitlin Conlon chastised.

"And what age are you suggesting that is there Cat?" Jack demanded. The old Manhattan leader was ushering Laces out of the church, with one arm around her waist tightly. Laces had one arm around his torso and the other hand was clasping the hand that came around her waist.

"He's not going to escape from you right now, Audrey." Critter had appeared next to Laces in his usual unexpected way.

"I'm not letting go." Laces cried in a firm but desperate whisper.

"Really a lady of society…" Critter began in his parental tone of disapproval. Laces shook her head though, allowing strands of her delicately crafted bun to fall loose.

"No, no, no. Today I'm Laces and I'm with the glorious leader of the Manhattan newsies, Jack Kelly." Laces gave a tiny stamp of her boot-clad heel. Critter smiled at the statement of false truth, as the conversation between old friends was turning into a debate of past and present colliding.

"Yeah, well at least the kid in charge of Brooklyn has enough sense not to be gambling in front of a church," Spot waved his cane over to a hunched over Snipeshooter. Jack's face lost its jovial contentment of the previous moment as his brown eyes settled on the scene beyond. Without so much as a thought Jack started to take steps towards the group of gamblers, but Laces clutched to him like a infant to their mother and Cricket stepped in his direct path.

"Ah, Jack Kelly, I believe you were just saying to Spot something about how he wasn't the leader anymore," Cricket gave a mocking smile.

"Snipeshooter should know better, I'm just going to go remind him…" Jack started to protest.

"No one was there to remind you of anything when you were a reckless kid." Buttercup Tate laughed. Though not holding onto Spot for dear life as Laces was doing, Buttercup did appear happier than she had in months on the arm of Spot Conlon.

"Yeah well I was different…" Jack argued.

"As was I, let me just go remind Matthew Kai who is boss around these parts." Spot nodded, itching to clobber the young new leader.

"Slingshot!" Cap snapped. David and Cap stepped into the little circle of old friends and out of their conversation.

"Stop correcting me you half-wit, I am Spot Conlon. I can call him whatever I want." Spot poked Cap in the ribs with his cane.

"I'm going to take this damned thing away from you." Cap grasped his hands around the tip of the cane.

"You dare," Spot had inched closer, his face losing the carefree air of the west and in an instant mirroring the years of Brooklyn life that had created his image of fearlessly dangerous. No one interfered, though it is unknown if it was because they agreed with Spot or with Cap.

"It's not your Brooklyn anymore, you want us to look weak do you then?" Cap shot at his old leader. Spot squinted at him angrily but backed down from his stance, pulling his cane forcefully out of Cap's hands.

"You watch your tone with me, I can still beat you bloody." Spot warned Cap as the younger boy sauntered away again.

"They grow up so fast." Cricket laughed watching the confident stride that was bordering on cocky that Cap had adopted as he rejoined the Brooklyn newsboys.

"At least your kid has got Cap, I mean that Cap has a sturdy head on his shoulders. But my idiot over there, Sand doesn't scare a mouse. If I just walk over there, I don't even have to say anything! Snipes will see me and stop." Jack was arguing. As Jack made the argument though Slingshot and Cap had started heading towards the group of gamblers, cracking their knuckles in the menacing manner that Spot had taught them himself. Jack watched as the Brooklyn leadership broke up the gambling and Snipeshooter was whacked in the shoulder by Slingshot a few times. Spot laughed suddenly at the scene.

"They really are us." He commented.

"I was the one pulling you out of trouble, never once did you have to …" Jack glared at Spot.

"Yeah, yeah?" Spot smiled. "What about when Jacky boy's newsies were playing like they were going on strike? What about then…"

The argument escalated from there again as Critter bent down to whisper to Laces again.

"See sometimes, you need to let go." He warned. Before she could stop the older man, he had tugged at her waist pulling her away from Jack ever so slightly. A crack of space-opened in-between her torso and Jack's where a fall breeze brushed past making Laces shiver. Jack ran his hand up and down her shoulders responding to her reaction to the cold, little did he know that it was their separation that had caused her body to tremble.


Author's Note:

This story has been a long time coming, and it is the first of the Sunny Days Saga to ever be posted on . If you need a refresher, or to read them for the first time, find the rest of the stories at .com.
Otherwise, please be patient as my current plan involves posting sections up every week. Maybe if the writing is going extremely fast two a week. Let me know what you think! Thanks all Laces.

Also. This first section is dedicated to Ealasaid Una.