The Proposal

Jack woke up early on Jess's birthday. He hurried through his morning routine and then sat nervously on his bed.

"Mornin' Jack," Blink yawned. "Why're you up so early?"

"Jess," Jack replied simply.

"Oh yeah it's her birthday!" Blink said with a smile. "So, today's the day, huh?"

Jack nodded, unable to speak.

"Hey don't worry about it," Blink said sitting down next to him. "She's gonna say yes."

"I wish I was that sure," Jack sighed.

"Are you kiddin'? She adores you!"

"She deserves a lot better," Jack admitted. "Maybe I should sell the ring back…"

"Oh no you don't!" Race yelled as he joined the conversation. "You are asking Jess to marry you if we have to do it for you!"

"Hey stupid that would defeat the purpose," Mush replied smacking Race in the back of the head. "Jack, listen, does she love you?"

"Yeah," Jack replied slowly.

"Does she like bein' with you?"

"Yeah."

"Do you love her?"

"Yeah."

"Do you like bein' with her?"

"Yeah."

"Then what's the problem?" all the boys said together.

Jack chuckled. "Alright you guys win…ya bunch of nuts!"

"You're welcome!" Race smirked.

"Now, go get Jessie," Crutchy commanded. "We'll set up downstairs."

"Thanks guys," Jack grinned before heading to the window.

"Hey Jack ya know we's got a door, right?" Blink asked.

"Yeah," Jack grinned, "but what fun would that be?"

All the boys rolled their eyes and smiled as Jack leapt out the window. "Alright get the lead outta your pants!" Race called to the guys. "Let's move it! We's got a room to decorate!"

Meanwhile Jack had silently slid into Jess's room just as he had so many times before. He grinned when he thought that this may be one of the last times he ever had to. Walking over to the bed, he stared down into Jess's face. He had never really taken time to look at her before, and now that he was about to make the biggest decision of his life…well…he hoped it wouldn't be the last time he saw her.

Deciding that the day was simply too important to joke about, he gently shook her awake instead of his usual rowdy wake up. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled when she finally focused on Jack.

"Hey you," she muttered. "What're you doin' here this early?"

"Happy Birthday, Sweet Dream," he grinned.

"You remembered!" Jess sighed.

"Course I remembered!" Jack laughed. "Like I'd forget somethin' that important!"

Jess smiled and began to drag herself out of bed when Jack put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. "What're you doin'?" she laughed. "I got work."

Jack grinned wider. "No ya don't."

"Uh yeah I do," Jess argued. "We work every day, Kel."

"Not today," Jack argued. "A couple of the guys are pullin' double so you and I can spend the day together. Surprise!"

"Oh Jack they didn't have to do that for me!" Jess said. "I don't mind workin' on my birthday."

"Yeah, well, I do," Jack said firmly. "You and I are gonna spend the whole day together, then I got somethin' real special for ya tonight."

"Give me a hint?" Jess asked hopefully.

"No way," Jack said kissing her briefly. "I ain't spoilin' this one!"

Jess pouted and folded her arms. "No fair, Kel…now it's gonna bug me all day!"

"Too bad," Jack smirked. "Now, I'm gonna go find food and bring it back here."

"Breakfast in bed?!" Jess cried. "This is gettin' a bit crazy now."

"Get used to it," Jack beamed before leaving the room.

When Jess finally finished her breakfast, Jack smiled again. "Now, we're off for a walk in Central Park and then your surprise later on."

"Please give me a hint, Kel," Jess whined as she pulled herself out of bed.

"Not a chance," Jack said tapping her nose. "You're just gonna have to wait until tonight."

Jess continued to pout, but Jack wouldn't budge. "Fine be that way," Jess muttered as Jack left to room to let her get dressed.

They spent the remainder of a lazy day wandering through Central Park. "It's so nice to be able to do this and not worry about sellin'," Jess sighed as they strolled.

"Yeah I like watchin' everybody else do the work while I don't have to," Jack agreed sliding his hand into hers. "But to be honest with ya," Jack continued with a smile, "I like bein' with you more."

"Aw Kel you're goin' all sappy on me again!" Jess teased. "I thought you didn't like all that mushy stuff."

Jack shrugged. "I didn't until we started datin'," he admitted. "Now though, it don't seem so stupid."

Jess grinned and tucked herself closer to Jack's side as they continued to walk through Central Park. They walked for a while in silence before Jack found the courage to speak again.

"Are you happy, Jess?"

"What?" Jess laughed.

"Are you happy?" Jack repeated.

"You mean right now?" Jess clarified. "Yeah I'm happy."

"No I meant…I'm glad you're happy now, but I meant…are you happy with me?"

Jess looked up at him in surprise. Never before had Jack shown any signs of self-doubt in their relationship. However, the look in his eyes told her it was now completely genuine. "Aw Kel…" she sighed stopping to look him straight in the eyes. "I love you more than anythin' in the whole world! There ain't no place I'd rather be than right here with you. You are my world, Jack. Don't doubt that, ya hear?"

Jack smiled and kissed her forehead. "Same goes for you, Jessica…same goes for you."

They continued to stroll through the park for several hours, talking about anything and everything. Finally, as the sun began to set, Jack steered them back towards home for her surprise.

"Thanks Jack," Jess whispered as they left the park.

"For what?" Jack asked just as quietly.

"Thank you for the best birthday ever," she replied.

"Don't thank me yet," Jack laughed. "It ain't over yet, Princess."

"Do I finally get to see my surprise now?!" Jess cried eagerly.

Jack chuckled. "Yes Sweet Dream it's time for your surprise now."

Jess squealed in delight and began to run in the direction of the lodge house. Jack laughed and hurried to keep up with her, finally managing to catch her before she crossed the street to the house. He seized her around the waist and pulled her tight against him.

"Jack…" she whined. "Let me go!"

"Uh uh," Jack smirked. "I have to go first."

Jess huffed but allowed Jack to take the lead as they crossed the street. Upon reaching the door, Jack turned back to grin at her before shoving the door open and walking inside. Jess followed him, and no sooner had she crossed the threshold than…

"SURPRISE!" The cry reached her from every corner of the room as all the Newsies chorused at her.

Jess screamed in shock as pieces of ripped up newspaper began to fall from everywhere. The boys cheered, clapped, and laughed at her face as she slowly realized what was going on. In the center of the room stood Jack laughing but beaming at her.

"You planned all of this for me?" Jess asked the room at large.

"Of course we did Princess!" Race said as though it was obvious.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Kid Blink yelled before running over and planting a kiss on her cheek.

"Hey watch it you!" Jack said playfully shoving Blink away. "You like it?" he asked turning to face Jess.

"It's perfect!" Jess sighed smiling up at him.

"Well if it's perfect now, it's about to get even better!" Spot called stepping into the light pulling Kara with him.

Jess squealed with delight and hurried to embrace them both. "It's so good to see ya both!" she said.

"Good to see ya too, Jess," Spot replied with a smirk.

"Don't forget about me!" David called bringing Claire with him.

"This is gettin' better and better!" Jess laughed as she hugged them as well.

"Hey Jess," Allie smiled as she walked through the door. "Sorry I'm late; I just got back from the track."

Jess, however, barely got off a wave before Race hurried over to Allie and engaged her in conversation.

"I hope I'm not too late," Denton grinned as he entered the house.

"Daddy!" Jess cried and ran to embrace him.

Several of the Newsies made cooing noises at her, but she simply stuck her tongue out at them and continued to hug her father.

"Alright, alright already: calm down all o'ya!" Jack called over the noise.

Everyone slowly ended their conversations and turned to face Jack who had already pulled Jess to stand with him in the middle of the room.

"First of all, I think we should all wish a very happy 18th birthday to our own Princess: Jess!" Everyone clapped and cheered again while Jess blushed under all the attention. "Second, I want to thank all of ya for helpin' me put this together. There is no way I coulda done it alone. And finally…I got somethin' I wanna say to Jess."

Jack turned to face her and took her hands in his with a more serious expression than Jess had ever seen him wear. "Sweet Dream, you mean the world to me…I wouldn't trade one second with you for anythin'. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I love you so much. I'm the proudest man in New York because I get to call you mine, even though you coulda done ten times better than me."

"Well that ain't hard; she wouldn't have even had to leave the room for that one!" Spot teased before most of the Manhattan boys threw paper at him and told him to shut up.

"Anyway," Jack continued as though there had been no interruption. "I love you so much Jess, and I got something real important to ask." He took a deep breath. "I know we's only been together for a little while, and I know we's real young, but that don't change the way I feel about ya."

"Jack…" Jess breathed as Jack knelt down on one knee.

"Jessica Flynn: you're my Santa Fe and always will be. Would you do me the honor of marryin' me?" he asked as he opened the lid of the ring box to reveal the diamond inside.

Everyone in the room held their breath as Jess stared open-mouthed at Jack. "Oh my…Jack I…I don't know what to say!"

"Say yes!" the Newsies all chorused.

Jess laughed through the tears in her eyes as she turned to look at Jack again. "Oh Jack…of course I will!"

Jack beamed in relief and delight as he slipped the ring onto her proffered left ring finger. He stood up and kissed her to the cheers and applause of everyone else in the room.

"There ya go, Kelly!" Spot called.

"Alright Jack!" Race yelled in triumph.

"Nice going Jack!" David added.

Once the couple had broken apart, the girls swarmed Jess to get a look at the ring while the boys swarmed Jack for handshakes and congratulations.

"Oh it's perfect Jess!" Allie sighed.

"It's absolutely gorgeous!" Claire agreed.

"He did well," Kara observed.

"I know; I love it!" Jess beamed.

"You ok Kelly?" Blink teased.

"He is now," Mush laughed.

"Yeah it's all over now," Race agreed.

"Are you kiddin'?" Spot asked. "It's just beginnin' for him," he said. "Bein' married ain't a one day thing; it's kinda forever."

"I know," Jack smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way, really. I want her forever."

"Good thing cause you're stuck now," Spot muttered.

"Don't look at it that way," Denton soothed. "Being with a woman you love isn't being stuck at all; it's more being content with where you are and what you have in your life. If she's the right one, she completes your life."

"Then she is definitely the right one," Jack said firmly as he glanced at his now fiancé.

"Yeah don't let Kara hear ya talkin' like that," Blink advised with a glance at the girls.

"Don't I know it," Spot agreed. "She's scary when she gets mad."

"Spot Conlon scared of a woman, and Jack Kelly engaged; could this day get any weirder?" Race laughed.

"Don't bet on it!" the boys chorused at him before laughing at his expression.

Several hours later, the party had broken up and now Jack and Jess sat cuddling on the couch both staring at the ring on her left hand.

"I love it so much, Jack," Jess said. "And I don't just mean the ring itself; I love it because it shows the world I'm yours."

"That's why I like it too," Jack agreed. "Now it's official. No one touches you except me!"

Jess laughed and tucked herself closer to Jack's chest. "I never woulda thought this was possible growin' up," she admitted.

"Me neither," Jack laughed. "I don't deserve you."

"Course you do," Jess soothed. "You're the best man I know, Jack Kelly, and there ain't no one else I'd rather be with."

"Good thing," Jack teased. "And I promise I'll get your place all fixed up, and we'll have a proper house with a proper family. I refuse to be a repeat of my dad."

"You won't be," Jess assured. "I know you ain't gonna leave me."

"I'd be crazy if I did," Jack said. "I love you so much Jess."

"I love you too."

Jack grinned and pulled her in for a kiss that bore the promise of many more to come.

So sorry for the long wait everybody! Thanks for all the reviews/favorites/follows; they mean a lot to me. I hope this chapter didn't disappoint; I mean, it was a pretty big deal. So, are you happy to finally see Jack and Jess get engaged? Do you think other couples are going to follow them? Let me know, and I hope to be back soon with another chapter. See you all soon!