Disclaimer: Newsies belongs to Disney, not me.

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Hadder held tightly to Ian's hand. Bonnie walked a step behind, Fiona's small hand clutched in hers. "Stay with me, bairns," Hadder murmured.

The parish orphanage was a tall old brownstone building, five stories tall. Children of all shapes and sizes lined the rows of desks in the schoolroom, boys on the right and the girls on the left. A thin, wiry woman with a heavily lined stood at the front, reading aloud from a book of Shakespeare.

The matron led the Thompsons into the classroom. "Classes will be over shortly for the noon recess," she said. "You can look over the girls then."

Hadder stroked Bonnie's soft curls. The schoolmistress continued droning through Sonnet 116. The students under her gaze sat still, but Hadder herself felt like falling asleep under the teacher's drone.

The sonnet ended at long last and the schoolmistress rang the bell on her desk. The orphans stood up and filed out of the classroom. The first one to pass the door paused at the sight of the Thompsons. "Reverend," the boy gasped. Reverend Thompson nodded towards him. The other orphans bowed and curtsied as they passed by. Hadder watched the faces of the girls. Tall girls, short girls, freckle faced and smooth skinned, dark haired and blonde. Hadder sighed and stroked Bonnie's hair. Reverend Thompson turned to follow the orphans into the courtyard. Hadder walked slowly behind him, children in tow.

"Look around, Mrs. Thompson, and see which orphan you'd like to take," Reverend Thompson said.

Ian plucked at Hadder's sleeve. "Maither, can we go play?" he begged.

"Run and play," Hadder said. "Mind Fiona." The three children ran off.

"Like a seat?"

Hadder looked down into the thin face of an orphan girl. "If you don't mind," she said.

"I don't," the girl said. "I spend all day sitting."

"Thank you, darlin'," Hadder said. Her knees ached as she took a seat. "What's your name?"

"Jane," the girl said. "Jane Burns." She was a decidedly odd looking girl- thin and pale, but with very thick dark hair that hung in two long braids. The style looked too young for her.

"What happened to your parents, darlin'?" Hadder asked.

"A carriage accident," Jane said. Her eyes fixated on a point above Hadder's head. "Two years ago."

"I'm sorry," Hadder said.

Jane looked at her. "You don't have to be sorry," she said. Hadder looked down at her folded hands, resting on her swollen belly. "When is the child to be born?"

"The next month, Lord willing," Hadder said.

"Hoping for a girl or a boy?"

"Either, as long as it's healthy."

Jane ran the ends of her braids through her fingers. "I hope it's a girl," she said.

"And why is that, darlin'?" Hadder asked.

"I had a little sister," Jane said, and she clamped her lips shut.

Reverend Thompson strode over to his wife. "Mrs. Thompson, I've seen several suitable girls," he said. "Would you like to look over them?"

"I think I've chosen, Reverend," Hadder said. "This one. Jane Burns."

Jane looked up at the preacher and curtsied. "Afternoon, Reverend Thompson," she said.

"Mrs. Thompson, are you quite sure?" Reverend Thompson said.

"Quite," Hadder answered. She struggled to her feet. "I want Jane to come and stay with us."

Reverend Thompson looked grave. "Well, if you are sure, Mrs. Thompson. I'll draw up the papers with the matron," he said. He turned round and walked towards the front offices of the parish school.

"Thank you, Mrs. Thompson," Jane said.

Hadder leaned close. "I hope it's a little girl too," she said.

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