Late May 1896

It was late at night as the Manhattan leader sat up on the rooftop of the Lodge. Drinking in the night sky and the city air. Down below he could see drunks and other no goods walkabout the streets. A warm spring breeze blew in the night air as he sighed deeply. The sound of someone climbing up the metal ladder to the roof made a sound before a voice said, "Finally got Tommy ta sleep."

"The stress finally gettin' ta ya Jumps?" Wolf asked with a smug smile.

"Not by a long shot Wolfy," Jumps replied with a small laugh as he rested his arms on the railing and took in the night air with a deep sigh. "I's worried bout Feisty though," Jumps admitted quietly. "Mush said that anudda guy was lookin' at 'er funny."

"I know," Wolf replied with a small sigh. "Seems like it's happenin' more an' more now." Wolf slammed his hands on the railing out of anger. He knew this was going to happen, but he didn't think it would be this soon. "That goil just turned twelve last week," he grunted through his teeth. "She's already been through hell with 'er father hurtin' 'er an' all. Feister she - she's practically a baby still. I's know she can take care of herself but, there's gonna be lots of people who want ta hurt 'er."

"Wolf, we's both knew from the moment ya said she could stay that...this was gonna happen," Jumps replied in a calming tone. "Feisty's a grownin' goil, that's just life. An' there's nothin' we's can do ta stop it. Fore ya know it, she's gonna be crushin' on boys, she's gonna be moody one day an' fine the next."

"She already is moody one day an' fine the next," Wolf replied with a small laugh. "I's think we's hafta worry bout tellin' the boys bout...ya know...."

Jumps just shrugged as he said, "They's at that age...Or, most of 'em at least." but truth be told he was dreading the day he'd have to give "the talk". "

"We's also hafta tell Feisty bout..." Wolf trailed off before stuttering a bit. If telling the boys about it was going to be hard, then telling Feister would be even harder. As leader of Lower Manhattan it was Wolf's job to make sure the boys had at least some knowledge about things for the future. And giving the talk was one of them. He got it from Knockout when he and Jumps were their age, and now it was time to pass it on, while hoping someone doesn't get sick. "Dunno how we's gonna be able ta do that."

"We's can always ask Medda," Jumps replied in a matter of fact tone.

"She's outta town visiting 'er cousin in Queens an' won't be back till next week," Wolf reminded.

"What'd bout Sam?" Jumps asked. "You'se could always ask 'er ta talk with Feisty."

"That should go down well," Wolf replied in a sarcastic tone. "Do ya think they's gonna start actin' differently round Feisty?" he asked in concern. "Or do ya think Feisty will be the one ta act different?"

"Dunno," Jumps shrugged. "Only time will tell, I's guess."

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"So, what did you want to talk about?" Samantha asked as she sat down next to Wolf on a park bench. Her long dark brown hair was styled in a half up due, with a blue ribbon tied in the back. Her soft blue eyes always gave off a warm feeling, skin was fair, but had a light tan from being in the sun all the time. Her smile was gentle. She was wearing a white shirt and a navy blue skirt, which brought out her eyes even more. "There isn't any trouble, is there?" she quickly added. "Because if there is you don't need to worry about me, I can take care of myself. You just focus on the newsies and whatever is happening this time."

"It's nothin' like that Sammy," Wolf replied before Samantha could go on any further. "And even if there was somethin' goin' on, you know I's would worry bout ya no matter what. Yer my goil an' no one can change that." he wrapped his arm around her as reassurance.

Samantha only shook her head as she leaned back a bit. "If it's not that, then what is it?" she asked.

"Well...." Wolf trailed off. Throughout the whole day he had been making a speech on how to ask this. But now that the moment has arrived, everything he was going to say flew right out of his brain. "Ya know how Feisty turned twelve a few weeks back?" he quickly asked, deciding to be straight forward and get it over with

"She's a growing girl," Samantha said with a warm smile.

"Exactly," Wolf exclaimed loudly, making Samantha jump up a bit. "And I's know the boys always treat her like she's one of 'em an' all. Feisty may be one of the boys, but she's still a goil. An' there's some things bout bein' a goil she needs ta learn. An'...do ya see what I's tryin' ta get at here?" he asked shyly.

Samantha giggled before saying, "You want me to give her the talk, don't you?" Wolf nodded. "I thought you were gonna wait until she was at least thirteen."

Wolf looked down as he rested his elbows on his legs as he said, "Anudda guy was lookin' at 'er funny," he replied quietly. "It's happenin' more an' more everyday. I saw Oscar an' Morris look at 'er, fore they's whispered somethin' then looked at 'er again. Feisty may dress as a boy an' tuck away 'er hair, but...the fact that she's a goil is startin' ta show. If ya know what I mean."

"I'll talk to her," Samantha said as she gently placed her hand onto of Wolf's.

"Really?" Wolf asked hopefully as he looked up.

"My parents are gone all day, I can take her back to my place and talk to her," Samantha replied.

Wolf just smiled as he pressed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Thanks Sammy," he said while squeezing her hand. "I's dunno what I's would do without ya. Yer the best."

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Later that day Wolf asked if Feister could help Samantha with some things since he and Jumps were busy with something else. It wasn't an easy task to convince the little news girl at first. For a twelve year old, she sure was smart enough to ask plenty of questions. Then again, Feister did live with a bunch of boys and has learned to ask before doing something. But eventually Feister relented and went with Samantha. Once the girls were gone and the rest of the boys were sitting down quietly in their bunks or at the table in the corner. Well, not all the boys. Romeo was downstairs with Kloppman since he was too young for this particular chat.

"Ok boys," Wolf said as he clapped his hands together. "You know how people have been givin' Feisty weird looks?" he asked. There were murmurs of of "yes" and "yeahs" along with a few head nods.

"Pretty sure I's saw Oscar lookin' at 'er funny," Finch popped up while playing with the band of his slingshot.

"Anyone looks at Feisty the wrong way an' I'll soak 'im real good," Mush added while clenching his fists. He didn't like that people were starting to act differently around Feister, nothing has changed since she first came, she's still the scrawny little girl with braids who runs her mouth faster than a racehorse.

"Ok, first off, yer not doin' any soakin' ya hear!" Wolf stated in a firm tone. "I's know you'se care bout Feisty, we's all do, but there's no way you'se gettin' a freeride ta the Refuge, got it?" he asked sounding serious. After that settled down, it was back to business. "Alright boys, ya see Feisty....she's a goil, an' goils are well..."

"Complicated?" Jojo asked out of nowhere.

"Scary?" Sniper said.

"Pretty?" Albert added. "Really pretty!"

"We's already know that goils are complicated and scary," Mush stated. "Not ta mention loud, an' annoyin', an'-"

"Ok now you'se just tawkin' bout Feisty," Kid Blink cut off as he slugged Mush in the arm. "You'se also forgot pretty lover boy. Feisty's also really pretty, wouldn't ya say?" he asked with an ever-growing smirk on his face. Which made the other boys "oohh" and started to tease Mush for being in love with little Feisty.

"I's don't have a crush on Feisty!" Mush exclaimed for what was probably the billionth time in his life. Him and Feister are just friends. Nothing more, nothing less. That's it. Why does everyone think that him and Feister are in love when they're so obviously not!

"Not yet anyways!" Race yelled from across the room. "Sides, if ya didn't have the sweets for that goil then why are ya blushin'-"

"Oh, you wanna go Higgins?" Mush cut off as he stood up quick while raising his fists. "Let's go." needless to say it took about fifteen minutes to calm all the boys down before getting to the real reason why they were all there.

"Anyone else got anythin' ta say?" Wolf asked looking around the room. When no one answered, he took a deep breath. "Ok boys, ever hear the story bout the birds an' the bees?" Wolf asked shyly.

"Birds fly high an' make nests, an' lay eggs, while bees like flowers an' make honey!" little, innocent Crutchie replied with a wide smile. The other boys nodded in agreement, causing Wolf and Jumps to look at each other awkwardly. If giving the talk wasn't already hard enough, it also had to be with innocently, sweet sunshine Crutchie. This would surely scar the poor boy for life.

"Who here knows how a baby is made?" Jumps asked, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible. None of the boys made a sound. "Who here wants ta know how-" before he could finish all the boys raised their hands. "Just remember, you'se asked for it," Jumps replied in a warning tone, and with that being said, the two leaders went onto explain the wonders of life.

Let's just say by the end of the talk...the boys were...shall we say...traumatized.

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Author's note

I should not be laughing at the ending but I am. Okay, in all seriousness there was some sweet fluff with Wolf and Samantha, brotherly protectiveness, Jumps giving out the tough love as usual, and any Mush moments. Oh and of course, our favorite middle man dropping the truth bombs (Kid Blink really deserves a clap on the back for everything he goes through with Meister). In my opinion, that's a good day. But you guys already knew that about me. Hope you enjoyed thanks for reading and I'll see you soon!