Author's Note –

Please (re) Read Chapter 1, even if you read it when it was super old and still called "Where Past & Present Meet." I've made some changes really recently (hopefully for the better) and some things are explained in the first chapter and the author's note.

This was originally part of Ch. 1 but I've split it to give this a little more focus and added elements and make CH. 1 less ridiculously long.

Ch. 2 Remember

"She's great," Aidan said softly as she looked up at the evening sky, hands in her vest pockets. Back in Santa Fe, it would be near pitch black, save for the stars that lit up the sky. Yet here in the city, the soft glowing lights of the streets and the tall buildings, with their crisscrossing clotheslines, covered much of her view.

"Huh?" Jack asked, looking at her.

"Sarah's great. I'm glad you found her." She did not turn to face him.

Jack stopped walking and looked down at the ground. His chest felt heavy. "Aidan, I'm sorry, I know we promised-"

Aidan finally turned to face him and shook her head. "No, it's ok I understand." Jack looked at her and she took his hand. "Really, I do. Things change. I mean, it's been four years, Jack. I couldn't expect you to wait for me." She offered a smile, but she could not hide the sadness behind it. "An' besides, she's better for ya anyhow. You need someone to keep you grounded, someone who can take care of you…. Her gaze rose to the cowboy hat he wore, her fingers running along the brim. Then she looked down and pulled at the red bandana wrapped around his neck. "Besides, I knew that you didn't forget. That's what matters the most." Jack couldn't find his voice as he wiped a tear from her eyes. He leaned down and kissed her forehead as more tears fell. She knew that she should be more upset, more jealous; Jack used to look at her the way he looked at Sarah. But, that was a long time ago. And Aidan really couldn't blame either of them. Not to mention, Jack and Sarah were really cute together. She sniffled. "So you were really tryin' ta head out to Santa Fe, huh?"

"Yeah - almost did." Jack suddenly felt incredibly guilty, not just about Sarah, but how he intentionally chose not to follow Aidan out west, as he had promised, as he had dreamed of for so very long. "I'm sorry Aidan. I shoulda gone wid you when you left that day. I shouldn't 'ave let you go."

"No, you couldn't. Your mother was sick, Jack. You were all she had left. You had to stay – you couldn't abandon her on my account. Your place was here." It's still here, she thought painfully. "It's enough that you tried."

"I did. I really did try Aidan. You won't believe da things I did… but I just… in the end… I still couldn't go" He suddenly wrapped her in a tight embrace, his face in her sun-bleached hair. "And I'm so, so very sorry." Jack Kelly always kept his word, but the most important promise he ever made, he just couldn't keep in the end.

Aidan pressed her lips tightly together as she squeezed him just as tightly. She had told herself she wouldn't cry, but now as Jack held her in an embrace she didn't think she would ever be in again, here she was sobbing, tears falling one after the other. "I-I wrote so many letters, Jack. I had so many things I wanted to tell you. But I couldn't. I didn't know where to send them. Jack, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I left." And she wished more than ever that she never boarded that train. She would have faced every demon in hell if it meant she could stay with Jack.

"No, no, no, don't you be sorry. Don't you start that ya hear?" Jack shook his head. He pulled away a little and gently cupped Aidan's face. She could see the wet streaks on his face glistening in the low lamp light. "You ain't gotta be sorry 'bout nuttin' ya hear? Dere wasn't nothin' but nightmares here for ya."

Aidan shook her head. "No, no you were here."

"And you're here now, so it's ok." He sniffled and then smiled. "And look atcha' you're a real cowgirl, now." He pressed his forehead to hers. "I love ya, Aidan. Never stopped an' never will. And God only knows I wanted to be with you since you left. But, so many things changed." He took a deep breath. "And…I just… I grew up here and now… well New York is my home. And the newsies, dey're my family."

"And Sarah…"

He closed his eyes. "And Sarah…" Her beautiful smile faded in view.

Aidan lifted her eyes and touched his wet cheek. "I know. And if you hadn't stayed… what would have happened to the newsies? They need you here Jack. More than I do, it seems. I've grown up too, after all. I'm just glad that you're happy."

"Are you?"

"I am now."

"I promise I'll come visit, Aidan."

"Oh you will! You better!" She punched him in the shoulder. "I've got a million things to show you."

"You mean show off?"

"That too."

Jack gently wiped the last of her tears from her face with his hands, then wiped his own face with his sleeves. "Come on." The two walked hand in hand, as they reminisced and eventually their arms were wrapped around each other's waist, just like the old days, secretly promising not to let go this time. They traveled down the paths of their childhood days, remembering their games and their adventures, everything always leading them to trouble. But, they would always find ways of escaping. No matter what happened to them, for better or for worse, they had each other to help pass each day with.

Jack was older by a year and often tried to act as the leader, but Aidan made it clear early on that they would do things together. Upon Jack's arrival in New York as a toddler, when he was still Francis Sullivan, years before he would become Jack Kelly the newsie, and Jack Kelly the strike leader, he had seen glimpses of his neighbors with a daughter his age. When they were six, he and Aidan finally met when he was nearly run over by a carriage. She grabbed his arm and pulled him out of harm's way. A hard life on the streets robbed the two of much of their childhood. From then on they would meet every chance they had and explore New York as much as they dared. They were tough at first, never making their troubled lives show outside their rough exterior. But, one event led to another and secrets were bared, bringing them closer. Over the years, they found that they no longer cared for each other just a friend or just a brother or sister. And together they discovered what being in love meant, exploring its physical and emotional elements.

That fateful day when Aidan left, they promised to love each other forever and find a way to each other. But, their hearts were heavy for they wondered if despite all their promises, they may very well never see each other again. But they would always hope. During dinner, Jack told the Jacobs that it was Aidan's stories of the West that enticed him to go to Santa Fe, but it was Aidan herself that was reason enough for him to do everything he could to find her. And now he still couldn't believe that they were walking side by side on the same streets they had run amuck in.

Aidan felt more whole now that she was with Jack again. She knew the moment she stepped foot on the train bound for Santa Fe that she and Jack would never be the same. But, she would always hold him in her heart like no other. Knowing he was well and happy was enough for her. Though she would always dream of a life together, Aidan was content to leave that life in her dreams. It was enough for her to know that she would always be Jack's closest friend and first love. And no matter who came after her, no one else would know him like she would. And like she had told him, all that mattered was that he had never forgotten and that he held her in his heart the same way.

And Jack never did forget. He thought of her every day. He felt guilty though, those times when he wished he had gone with her, stowed away on the train somewhere, when he sat by his ailing mother, her frail hand in his. Aside from Aidan, his mother was the only other person he loved. And he really was all she had left, what with his loser of a father doing nothing but racking up debt and drinking booze, using his own son as an outlet for his own shortcomings. So he couldn't leave her, not like that, even when she said it was ok, because she knew what Aidan meant to her little boy. But Jack's place was by his mother's side, to the very end when she took her last gasping breath.

When his mother finally succumbed to consumption, he hoped she had found her peace. And when his father was finally arrested, Jack wasted no time in making his way to Santa Fe, doing whatever he could to earn money and survive on the streets of New York. And when he was caught and brought to the Refuge, he was immediately determined to get out. He would not be like his no-good father, and he would not let Snyder break him. Santa Fe was waiting. And it seemed, after the strike, Santa Fe would continue to wait; he still had things to do here. And maybe this was all the family he had left. Yet here was Aidan, beaming up at him, bright as the moon above. He put his arms around her shoulder and drew her closer as they walked.

When Aidan looked forward again, she suddenly stopped. Her breath hitched and she steered them down an alley away from the street.

Jack almost hit himself for his stupidity. He had nearly forgotten him. They were so busy remembering their adventures he almost forgot about all their real life nightmares. "Geez, Aidan, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"I know. It's ok." Aidan did not look up at Jack and quickened her pace as if she could outrun her memories.

"You still scared?"

"Wouldn't you be?"

"That was a long time ago. We don't even know if he's still alive."

"He is, Jack. A man like that doesn't die so easily."

"He's probably not even dere anymore. Ain't gonna go back to dat place." But his voice fell flat. It didn't matter if the man lived there or not, that street held far too many memories. The young man sighed, "Yeah, I guess I'm still scared." Jack knew that to say he was afraid of something was rare, perhaps a monumental event, but it was the truth, though he would only ever tell Aidan that. Jack stopped them and he looked at her. "Hey. Hey look at me. Aidan, I promise I won't let anything happen to youse. If da creep is alive, I won't let 'im near ya ok? I promise."

"He'd kill you. He almost did back then."

"I'd like to see him try. I admit, da guy still scares me a little. But, if he ever comes close, I swear I'd kill da bastard first." Aidan quickly embraced Jack and he held her tightly. And for a moment the same image flashed in both their minds, but they were much younger then. "Come on, it's late, let's get some shut eye. Tomorrow's anudder day! Gotta wake up bright an' early an' carry da banner!"

"Right."

"Da guys are gonna love youse. Geez, David's already in love!"

"Yeah sure, Jack." She rolled her eyes.

"Aw, come on, Aidan, you know you saw it too. He's a good boy, Davey. Don't be so rough on 'im."

"Who's gonna be rough on who?" She arched an eyebrow.

Jack chuckled. "Come on, I'll race ya!"

"Don't be such a dolt, Kelly! I don't even know where we're going!"

"Aw come on, you scared youse gonna lose, Lyons?"

"I ain't scared of you, Kelly!"

"So come on! Show me what ya got!"

Aidan shook her head and started chasing Jack. The two of them never really went anywhere except in a few circles. Eventually, they made their way to the Newsboys Lodging House, but by then they were tired. They thought about sleeping in one of their old hideaways, but they had grown too big for them now and the dark clouds threatened rain.

They quietly ascended the stairs and made their way to the dorm. Most of the beds were up for grabs each night for those newsies who didn't have enough push or pull. It was supposed to be first-come, first-served, not that it stopped people from being tossed off the beds, even if they were there first. But no one ever dared to try and take Jack's bed.

It was too dark to see if there were any empty beds and neither felt like lighting a candle. So, Jack and Aidan climbed into his bunk. Though the beds were small, they allowed for enough room for Jack and Aidan to sleep side by side as they had done for much of their lives. They had slept in much smaller, less comfortable spaces in their youth. Neither could care less what the others might think the next morning. Neither worried about whatever rumors that may spread. They would make it very clear that their paths met only as close friends now and nothing more. Jack was very much in love with Sarah and he had every intention of marrying her someday. How he would pull that off was still in the works, but he'd figure it out. He always did. Jack pressed his lips against Aidan's forehead and whispered a goodnight as she pressed herself closer against him. They were soon fast asleep, both still reminiscing of their days together.

Just wanted to make this its own little moment between the two to really catch up and remember (hurhur). If Aidan wasn't already mary sue for you, get ready for it to smack you in the face!

Ok so I'm getting ready to change the title again… Maybe "When the Past Catches Up"? I think it might be more relevant to the overall story….?