A/N: Hey guys!! Wow, it's been a while...sorry!! Well, this is a story I wrote back in '07 and never thought I'd post it but then i posted The New Girl...so you guys might like this :-) I hope you do, as I do with all my others :-) Btw, Do or Die readers, I promise, I'll post as soon as I can. I've had massive writers' block; I know it's not an excuse but I felt I owe some sort of explanation...and other story readers, same thing! Promise! I'll try!! Plus I've got new stories for you guys! :-D Uhm, I think that's it...Here's the summery, cause it doesn't fit in in the summery box...thing...

Summery: Katerina Reeves moved from London to Manhattan after an issue back home. Kat, or Royal as her Aunt (Medda) calls her, is the kind of girl who doesn't like being told what to do. She's not afraid to stick up for herself but that's what gets her into trouble. Her reputation in London was not a dainty one. What happens when her past catches up with her and her brothers end up coming to help as Royal deals with her feelings for a certain Newsie? Will she swallow her pride and allow the help? Or ignore the help and dig herself deeper? {Summeries, as most of you know, are not my forte.}

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CHAPTER ONE

"Medda!" I shouted through the theater door, setting my bags beside me. Inhaling deeply, I grinned at the sight.

"Royal!" a woman yelled back, running me over with a hug. "Dear, I haven't seen you since you were a little girl! My how you've grown." I smiled and she brushed my hair out of my eyes. "Oh darling, you've been traveling so long, come, come. Sit!" She pulled me into the theater and we sat at a table on the stage. They were probably mid-show. "Tell me all about everything."

"To be honest there isn't much to say," I giggled, tucking my hair behind my ears. "I've just been at boarding school." She nodded, smiling, as I started into the dramas of being a teenage girl boarding at her school. We sat, for what seemed like hours, catching up. We always wrote and I'm sure she wrote to my mother as well, after all they were sisters, but nothing was like talking to her in person. "I'm so happy to be here, I've heard so much about the city."

"Let's just hope they haven't heard about you," she sent me a mischievous grin and I fake gasped, holding a hand over my heart but she shook her head, laughing. She always saw past my 'acting', if you could even call it that.

"What can I do?" I shrugged, a smile playing my lips as I hugged her again. "Aunt Medda, I've missed you so, why must it always be so long?"

"It wont be as dull as it has, I'll say that," she said, patting her lap. "Come tell your Auntie Medda how you-."

"Medda," I laughed, trying, and failing, to sound appalled. "I stuck up for myself; you make it sound as if I robbed a bank."

"It's good to have you here, my love," she chuckled, lightly pinching my cheek and standing before yelling: "Tony!" A few seconds later, an old-ish looking man stuck his head out of what looked like a sound/light booth.

"Yes, ma'am," he called back, sounding somewhat distracted.

"This is my niece, Katerina," Medda smiled, gesturing towards me. I mock curtsied and he smiled, tipping his head, as if he had on a hat.

"Nice to finally meet ya, miss," was all he said before he ducked back into the booth. I raised an eyebrow slightly but Medda looked at her watch, furrowing her eyebrows in frustration.

"Oh, fiddlesticks," she muttered and I suppressed a laugh. "Darling, I need you to run an errand for me. Could you possibly run down to Tibby's and give Bailey this?" She handed me a small stack of papers, pointing at the top line. "We had to change the day, and I'm positive the Newsies don't know. It would be a disaster if they don't soon." I looked down and smiled. I had often read about the shows she performed for the newsies and their recent-ish strike. She spoke so proudly of them when she wrote to me; I was quite excited to be finally meeting the boys who supported her so equally to her adoration of them.

"Of course, Medda, I'd love to."

"You're a gem," she told me, kissing my cheek. "Now be careful, people can be quite rough around here."

"I'm sure I'll be fine," I assured her. "Which way is this Taba's place?"

"Tibby's, dear, Tibby's," she laughed. "Down in the square. It's just down the street." I nodded, walking out the door and followed her directions until I felt someone tugging on the sleeve to my dress. Naturally, I spun around but was met by a small boy.

"Buy me last pape, miss?" he asked in a weak tone before sneezing quite profusely but my eyebrow rose as a smirk pushed the corner of my mouth up.

"My, my, aren't you convincing," I laughed softly. "Here you go." I gave him fifty cents and he grinned from ear to ear.

"Gee, thanks, miss," he bounced happily.

"It's no trouble, but I advise, next time, try to stay in character," I whispered, ruffling his hair. "Stay out of trouble, okay?" He nodded and I watched him scurry off before I started walking again and finally made it to the square where I saw a completely befuddled man. He was tall with white hair and a black bowling hat that matched his equally dull suit and in his hurry to get, well, where ever he was going, he practically knocked me over. "Watch where you're going, sir!"

"Excuse me young lady, do you have any idea who you're talking to?" he demanded, still glancing around but his height was pretty intimidating. However, I simply rolled my eyes and walked past him. What was so scary about a shifty-eyed, old man? As I looked around, I found Tibby's right across from where I was standing. When the door sounded my entrance, the boys in the diner all looked back at me but I swallowed my nerves, ignoring them before I walked to the counter.

"How may I help ya, miss?" the old man behind the counter asked in a sweet gentle voice. He was too adorable! His demeanor made me forget completely my surroundings and I soon found myself smiling at him

"Uh, Ms. Larkson asked me to give this to you," I told him, handing over the flyers. He looked at the pile, putting his eyeglasses on the tip of his nose before nodding.

"Kelly!" he barked suddenly, making me jump at the volume. He was so small! How could such a small person hold such large sound? "There's been some change." He wove the paper until someone took it; my eyes followed it to see a boy with a red scarf. Men wore scarves?

"Well boys," the boy started, reading the flyer. "Medda feels like singin' tonight." Cheers erupted throughout the room and I turned to leave but I was met by a set of piercing blue eyes. A smirk formed on the owner's lips as he stepped aside, mock bowing. Rolling my own eyes, I walked past him but was stopped just outside.

"We don't except charity," another boy informed me.

"That's lovely," I answered slowly, raising an eyebrow, but recognized the little boy he was holding on to. "Hey there, little guy, what's new?"

"Stupid Davey wont let me keep the stupid money," he grumbled. My eyebrows furrowed but his thumb jabbed to the older boy and I heaved a labourous sigh. I looked at the older boy.

"Stupid," I repeated in a 'duh' tone. The younger boy cracked a smile and I grinned, glad he wasn't frowning anymore, however the brother was glaring at me. I raised my eyebrow again. I'd made his brother happy, why was he mad at me? "What?"

"You can't just give away money like that," he stated in an annoying tone.

"Well I already did, and I don't want it back, you touched it," I told him childishly but his eyes narrowed. "He looked like he could use a dose of candy." I snatched the money and gave it back to the boy, bending eyelevel with him. "Spend it on whatever you like and don't let him try to stop you." I ruffled his hair playfully. "Okay?" He nodded, eagerly before running off and I turned back to the 'Davey' character. He still didn't look happy. "If you have such a problem with it, you shouldn't let him sell newspapers."

"Davey, lighten up, he's a kid," a voice urged from behind me. I turned slightly and saw the 'Kelly' boy from before. Davey threw up his hands in frustration and, what looked like, defeat as he stormed past us, into the diner. Kelly folded his arms before nodding towards me. "You new to the city?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. Is there a problem?" I asked, tilting my head slightly but he smiled, shaking his own.

"No, ma'am, welcome to Manhattan."

"Thank you," I nodded politely before walking away, back to the theater. The bustling of the square was enough for me after my long journey; I stifled a yawn as I reentered the theater. I saw Tony having some trouble with a canvas that was to hang behind the stage as a backdrop and felt my fingers flex. "Do you need help?"

"No, miss," he struggled, trying to keep hold but dropping the piles and let out a frustrated sigh. "Yes, if you would be so kind."

"Of course," I smiled. "Let me change first." Walking into my room, I pulled off my troublesome dress and slipped into a pair of new pants my father bought me as well as an old shirt but threw a button up shirt on over it. As I walked back out, tying my hair back with a purple ribbon, I saw Tony setting up a ladder. "Let me."

"Oh, no Miss Reeves-."

"Call me Kat and at your age you shouldn't be climbing such great heights, honestly, I don't mind."

"But if you were to fall-."

"I won't," I assured him. He sighed, stepping aside and I climbed up the ladder, tying up the backdrop with ease.

"Royal, what are you doing, you insane girl," I heard Medda laugh, making my almost fall at the sudden sound.

"Med, why do you insist on calling me that?" I groaned, carefully turning to face her.

"Pay attention to what you're doing!" she shrieked, pointing at me but I smiled. "It is the name your parents gave you on your fourth birthday? You act as if you are royality. The better question is why do people not call you it."

"Because my name is Kat," I reminded her but she just rolled her eyes and disappeared into the living part of the theater.

"Be careful, Royal," she called back before a door slammed. After finished with the backdrop, I climbed down the shaking ladder and we went into the booth. He introduced me to the light board, Betsy, and I laughed. He'd named a piece of technology. He was adorable. Shaking his head, he started pressing buttons and I heard a pop.

"I'm checking them for the show," he grinned at my surprised look, pushing another button.

"Course you are," I grumbled, sitting back as he continued but one wasn't working, so I offered to check it out.

"Don't get electrocuted," he muttered, looking over Betsy. I walked backstage and over to the cannon object. Carefully sticking my hand down it, I pulled on what felt like a rag but it was stuck. Eventually I tugged really hard and it ripped, sending me stumbling back with a charcoal piece of fabric. I looked down the nose of the cannon, to see if there was anymore that I could get out, but suddenly heard a loud snap and fell back onto stage, coughing up a storm.