(Author's note - hi guys! Here's the first chapter, and it will be featuring Firecracker/Dutchy, Jack/Erin, Relic/Ryker, and Shooter/Blink. Enjoy, and thank you to all who've reviewed so far! We read them all and smile, it's like candy but better. :-) )

Chapter 1: One Way or Another

by Relic

"A war? Really?" Firecracker, a gregarious girl with brilliant red curls and wide brown eyes, looked around the table at her friends and boyfriend, frowning. "We don't even know if those guys from Midtown did it."

"Yeah, seems like we're getting ahead of ourselves," Dutchy said, always one to back his girlfriend, as he slung an arm around her waist and idly rubbed her back.

With over a year together, Firecracker and Dutchy were by far the longest-lasting couple of the four couples currently sitting in a booth in Tibby's diner together. Kind and caring, the two made love look easy, and it was no real surprise that they were not going to be divided on this issue.

Jack shook his head emphatically, well aware of the twosome's united front and looking for something to help his case. "We need to clear those bums out, run 'em out of town; you didn't see what they did to Joe. They beat him to death, you want to let that slide? Want to be next? I got all kinds of sources telling me that they did it, and they've been celebrating about it. Figured they'd use him as a warning to the rest of us to stay off their turf."

"But Jack, are you sure this is the way to go? It's not a war if nobody can win it, and all I hear from what you're saying is that a bunch of people are going to get hurt," Relic offered, looking to her boyfriend for support and thumbing through her brown hair uncomfortably. Though usually outgoing and friendly, Relic was noticeably quieter and seemed to take cues from her boyfriend of a few months when they were together, so she hoped just this once he'd return the favor.

Unfortunately for her, Ryker, the boyfriend in question, was no Dutchy. In fact, he simply looked annoyed at being dragged into the conversation and consequently away from playing with the buttons on Relic's shirt. "So what, we break a few heads. As long as the people getting hurt are from their territory and not ours, I don't see the problem. Don't see why you girls get a vote, anyway; not like this involves you much. Most you'll do is play nurses and use your feminine wiles when we need it. And you'll all look great in those little nurses outfits."

"Cute, Ryker. Wiles, too, I'm impressed – did you learn a new word and feel like sharing?" Firecracker shot, earning her a grateful look from Relic and a rather dirty one from Ryker, which didn't suit his otherwise handsome face.

"I heard you learned something new in our broom closet the other day, do you feel like sharing? I don't know if there's enough room here for you to knee-" A sharp elbow from Relic finally cut him off, and he simply patted his girlfriend's leg and sat back, shooting Fire a smug smile as she glared at him with absolute fury.

Oh, if Fire ever found out who told him, there would be hell to pay! She quickly turned her head to look over at Dutchy for some sort of reassurance, but was met only by his usual calm demeanor.

"Don't listen to him," he whispered, his lips hovering closer to her temple. "Just don't listen." Slowly, Fire's eyes rolled. What kind of response was that? Any other man would've been over that table in a matter of seconds! But, no, not her Dutchy. He was far too logical for that.

"They get a vote because they're gonna to be involved, just being connected with us. I don't want my girl getting jumped by a bunch of angry guys because of where I live and sell my papes," Blink put in, attempting to smooth over the tension and casting a concerned look at Shooter, who sat quietly next to him. As far as he was concerned, he'd just gotten her; he wasn't about to lose her over a fight he still wasn't sure had anything to do with him.

Shooter's hazel eyes glanced around the room for a few moments, looking a bit awkward as the attention of all her companions seemed to focus in on her. The newest to the group, she was shy and often felt a bit out of place with such a large and casual group, but she was adapting. It helped that Blink had noticed the pretty brunette immediately upon her arrival and had been wooing her since, pushing her to get out more and subsequently meeting more fellow newsies.

Finally she managed, with a slightly apologetic smile at Blink, "Maybe it's not such a bad idea, you know, just to push back a little. Show them they can't do that. I don't know about running them out of town, but just, I don't want to have to bury any of you guys next time one of you gets too close to their turf."

"Exactly. We didn't start this – they did. We can't just sit back and do nothing. They brought the fight to our door, we're just answering," Jack said, looking a bit relieved that the others were slowly starting to come around.

"Nobody's girl is going to get hurt. None of our boys are gonna get hurt, not if I have anything to say about it. We'll show 'em who's boss and send them packing to somewhere else so that we're safe again. That's what we all want, right?"

"Jack's already talked to most of the other guys, and they're in it. Joe was a nice kid, someone should pay," Erin, Jack's girlfriend and the last at the table to speak, offered up. Typically bubbly and sweet, with short black hair and bright green eyes, she looked uncharacteristically intense and serious at the moment. "Honest, something like this was probably overdue. We all know the selling spots around here are getting tight; just not room for all of us with the city growing like it is. If they go, we'll all be better off."

"I just don't know if this is the way. Feels wrong," Dutchy said, running his free hand through his blonde hair and sighing, a sure sign that he was near defeat.

Jack jumped on it. "Come on, guys. Have I ever led you wrong? We got respond hard and fast, before something worse happens. It'll be better for all of us."

The four couples all sat back in the booth, clearly divided. Finally, looking a bit torn, Blink cast a glance at each of his friends. "If this is what you think is best, Jack… we're in."

Patting him on the back enthusiastically, Jack smiled, and the tension seemed to lift from the table. "That's my boys." Pause. "And you girls, too, of course. You'll see, this thing will be over before you know it."

"It better be," Relic said, before rising to her feet and nudging Ryker. "We better go, I've got to sell the rest of my afternoon papers and turn in early. Are you coming to Brooklyn with me tomorrow?"

Ryker made a face. "Why would I do that? That's a hell of a walk."

"Well, it's going to be near dark by the time I start walking back and I just thought it would be nice if…" she trailed off upon his look of boredom.

"Yeah… I got stuff to do. You'll be fine." He waved his hand dismissively and gave her a pat on the behind for good measure. That was reassuring, right?

"Congratulations Ryker, you win for the worst boyfriend ever. Now you just need to go get drunk and come home swinging, then you'll really be a catch," Fire shot, apparently still a bit miffed over the previous exchange. It helped that she just hated Ryker, as a general rule.

Jack cut off Ryker's response before the two could go at it again, instead nodding to Relic. "Seems like you're going to Brooklyn a lot; you're pretty good friends with Spot now, right?"

"Come on, Jack, you know as well as I do that nobody can say they're good friends with Spot Conlon. Hard enough to tell which days he's even going to tolerate you. We're friendly though, I think, why? … Oh." The light seemed to come on all at once with Relic and she immediately shook her head. "No way, Jack, I'm not asking him to get involved with this. I'm not risking pissing him off – what are you trying to do to me? You do your own dirty work."

"Relax, relax. I just want you to tell him what's going on, if you see him while you're there, and if it comes up," Jack said, earning a snort from Erin, though she immediately covered her face when he glanced over at her. After all, everyone at the table knew him well enough to not be buying this 'casual' sales pitch he was currently trying to toss. "Just mention it to him, if you get a chance, that's all I'm asking. Just so he's in the know."

"If I see him, and if it comes up, I might. But no promises; you know he doesn't do favors and he hates being asked." Looking unhappy, she headed for the door, Ryker tossing Fire a saucy wink before getting up and following her out.

"If someone from our side has to get hurt, I know my vote," Fire spat, before loosening up a bit and smiling at Shooter and Blink. "Big one month mark this Friday, right?"

"Sure is," Blink said, kissing Shooter on the cheek as she blushed. "We got a whole night planned."

"Not that he'll tell me what the plans are," Shooter laughed, feeling a bit more relaxed with less people around.

"It's a surprise," Blink stated simply, winking at her. He loved her laugh, and always brightened a bit more than usual upon hearing it. "And I only ever have good surprises."

"Yeah, yeah, wait until you have to sleep near him. I wouldn't exactly call his snoring a 'good' surprise," Jack chuckled, leaning back quickly to avoid a good-natured swing of Blink's cap. "We gotta head out, too; Erin wants to catch that new flicker up town, good thing selling was decent today."

Waving and laughing as they left, Erin waited until they got out of the diner before she turned to look at Jack, that same serious expression on her face. "What you said back there – you believe it, right? This is going to be okay?"

"I'm going to make sure it's okay," Jack assured her, pulling her to him and kissing her for a long moment. "I promise, alright? Nothing else is going to happen to my boys, and you know I'd never let anything happen to you."

"It's just – someone's dead, Jack. This isn't a game, I'm afraid this could really get ugly," she confided, but generally seemed appeased by his answer. After all, why shouldn't she? Jack had truly never lead her wrong in all the time they'd been together. Of course, there was a first time for everything...

"It might get ugly, but only for them," he said, and when she shot him a questioning look, he simply smiled his trademark grin. "Cheer up, Erin. I got a plan."

Meanwhile, they were not the only ones who were waiting to speak once the diner door shut. "I don't know about this. They beat a kid to death for no reason; what're they gonna do to us?" Dutchy asked, despite his three companions looking as lost as he did.

"We'll just wait and, see what Jack comes up with. If they're willing to go that far, maybe it is time to take 'em out," Blink reasoned. "Not like they're the most popular guys, anyway. If it gets tense, we'll bring in friends. This'll probably be over quick as it started, and we can get back to normal."

"Hope so. I could use some normal," Dutchy agreed.

Unfortunately for Dutchy, he missed the exasperated look that flashed upon Fire's face at his comment. She was so sick of 'normal'… She put on a smile, though, and nodded. "I'm sure you're right, Blink. It'll be over before we know it. It'll be okay."

It was Shooter, though, who delivered the final, quiet question that left them with a sick feeling in their stomachs and uncertainty swelling in their chests. "What if it's not?"