Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the reviews for last chapter!

This one's actually out somewhat quick, no? Somewhat.

Anyways, sorry for the mix-up of names last chapter…and I think that there are less mistakes in this chapter, hopefully none.

By the way – I used lines from a song in this chapter. It'll probably be evident…but I couldn't resist, it just seemed so fitting. The song is called 'To Be a Princess' – I just substituted the word 'princess' with 'lady'. Sorry if it sounds stupid, I have just always wanted to use it. If anyone can name the movie – that'd be pretty impressive. Sad – that I'd use parts from this movie, but impressive, still.

Anyways…

I don't own the newsies.

--

The rest of the lesson proceeded as a normal one would. It's odd; when you see someone who you've not seen for so long, you imagine your reunion with them over and over…and it's always huge and dramatic…but this was just a hug and looking at each other and saying what happened; very real, very un-dramatic.

But I like it, still.

The only person whose reunion I had with that seems dream-like was, well, I'm sure you can guess, but Mush.

He looked up and caught my eyes. We both seemed frozen in that moment, in that gaze. I forgot everything and there was nothing but us.

I should probably say something. Like 'sorry'. But my mouth couldn't form words. I was just so stunned that he was standing right there in front of me.

Mush, of course, regained his composure first. He looked away and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Is…is that really you, Pip? Star?"

His voice was quiet and earnest. Tears sprang into my eyes. I willed them away and said, "Ya…"

Mush didn't move. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

I took a deep breath, trying to release some of the tension and butterflies inside me. "I…I…I was afraid of your reaction. I'm sorry…"

At that Mush came forward towards me. I couldn't move away. He put his hands gently, yet strongly, on my shoulders. The touch sent tingles down my spine. He looked at me through glistening dark eyes.

"You aint sorry for nothin', heah? I's sorry. I – I had no idea where you were…and I was so mean to ya…we ended on such a bad note. I didn't know what to do – where to look, how to feel, how to act…"

His hand moved up to my cheek and the pad of his thumb caressed my cheek.

"An' now you's heah."

My hands found feeling and started to move. One went to his chest and I slid the other around his neck. His other hand dropped to the small of my back and he gently pulled me in closer.

"I missed you…" he whispered.

He leaned down and put his forehead against mine. His eyes closed and so did mine.

We stood there like that, just holding each other.

"Pippa!"

I jerked my head towards Magnet and looked at him for a few seconds before snapping out of it. I grinned sheepishly at him. "Sorry, what?"

"J'ai dit…est-ce que tu es fatigue? Et évidemment, j'ai la reponse."

Oh ya, we were doing French. "Je suis désolé. Je ne suis pas tellement fatigue. C'est seulement que…j'ai beaucoup de choses que je dois penser de."

Mag smiled and shook his head. "You remember French? You always were bright."

"It wasn't too hard to learn, and sometimes I think in it or speak to myself in it. I don't know why…I like the way it sounds, I guess."

Mag smiled and we continued the lesson.

--

Mary came back a little while later. I said goodbye to Magnet, or Mr. Lotsky, telling him I'd see him later. We made our way to the living room. She told me that she was going to explain what I was to do for the rest of the day – and what most of my daily schedules would be.

We took our seats and she shifted through a few papers before beginning.

"So…let's see here…this afternoon, you will go to lunch in the city with Ms. Witherson, your etiquette teacher, at the restaurant Ruso, which is on Hudson Street, you can't miss it. You'll walk there with Jack – normally you'd take the carriage, but your father is using both at the moment and it won't do you any harm to walk. Your father's allowed it," she lowered her voice and looked at me with an eyebrow raised. "If you'd like, you can leave soon – so as to say hello to anyone you'd like."

A surge of excitement went through me – I'd get to surprise everyone! Everyone I could, at least. Even if this was one of my father's traps, or psychological traps, I wanted to see everyone.

"Thank you, Mary," I said, smiling at her.

Her smile widened as she continued. "You will be expected home at three o'clock – lunch should be over at around two. The only reason you're expected back so early is that you must attend dance lessons – there is a ball next weekend at the Cartwright's next Friday, in four days. And you are probably a little out of practice."

She smiled before continuing.

"The dashing Mr. Ellesbury will be teaching you dance. Dinner will be served at six o'clock. Tonight we are expecting several guests, and your father will be here, I believe, as well as Mr. Temogen. The other guests…the Wildon's, they're a family, I think…if I remember correctly they have two children – one boy just about your age and another a few years older…"

Oh boy…

"And a mother and a father, I think…I forget their names, but I'll figure it out and tell you when you get back from lunch."

"Oh, Mary, there really is no need. I'll just find out tonight."

She laughed. "Child, have you forgotten? As a proper lady, you must greet them properly. It is impolite to ask what their name is."

I grinned. "Oh."

She shook her head, still smiling. "You'll figure everything out, dear, not to worry."

"Thanks for all your help," I said. "Can I leave now?"

She nodded. "Of course, I'll get you out of here as soon as possible. You must change into street clothes, however – and not the clothes you came in! I'll take you upstairs and show you what your new street clothes will be."

I groaned.

"Groaning is very un-ladylike, miss."

I scowled at her. "So, Mary, what is ladylike?"

"I shall tell you on our way upstairs," we both stood. "Collette?" She called.

A girl emerged immediately from around the corner.

"Would you notify Jack to be ready in fifteen or twenty minutes?"

Collette nodded and disappeared.

I looked pointedly at Mary. "Twenty minutes? Just to change?"

She smiled and ushered me out of the room. "I have a lot to teach you."

We started for the stairs.

"Ms. Witherson is very strict."

We began our ascension.

"Now remember, no nagging, bragging, sweating, fretting, slipping, tripping, slurping, burping, twittering or frittering allowed. Stay present, stay pleasant, stay proud."

I sighed. "That's too much always be aware of."

Mary didn't respond; she was much too caught up in the moment. "To be a lady is to know which spoon to use. To be a lady is to own a thousand pairs of shoes, to maintain a regal gait, leave the parsley on your plate."

We reached the landing of the fourth floor.

"And be charming but detached…and yet amused. To be a lady is to never be confused.

"Do a plié and never fall, don't ever stray from protocol. All through the day there's just one way you must behave. Do keep a grip and never crack, stiff upper lip and arch the back, bend from above, and always wear your gloves and wave.

"Shoulders back, and, tummy in, and, pinky out, and, lift the chin, and, slowly turn the head from side to side.

"Breathe gently, step lightly, smile brightly, nod politely, never show a thing you feel inside…Glide!"

And she glided into my bedroom. I shook my head. She should be the one in my place.

"To be a lady is to always look your best. To be lady is to never get to rest. Sit for a portrait, never squirm. Sleep on a mattress extra firm. Speak and be clever, never at a loss for words. Curtsy to every count and lord, learn how to play the harpsichord! Sing lullabies and always harmonize in thirds!"

"Thirds?"

"You'll learn, dear."

I sighed with relief. Her little tirade was over. "So, do you have some long built up desire to be this great lady you speak of? Or, idolize?"

She blushed. "I'm sorry, miss, it's just…well, yes, I do."

"How could you ever want to do all that? I mean 'never get to rest'…'never fall'…'leave the parsley on your plate'? That's so much to do and remember!"

By now, she'd lost all fervor and excitement from before. She almost looked…sad. "That's a story for another time, miss."

The sadness in her voice made me feel ashamed…I'd mocked what she liked best. As she turned to my closet, I wrung my hands awkwardly. "Mary, I'm sorry. Its good advice, and I'll try my best to remember it."

"Oh, miss, I can see already that you are not the kind of person who'd enjoy or even just survive acting like this all your life. You'll have to do your best to act that way around your father's people – but around me, and most of the other servants, you can act any way you'd like."

She turned to smile at me, and I felt a great surge of affection for her. I smiled back and she turned to the closet again.

"Now…would you like to wear yellow? Or green? Or light blue? These are some good day colors…"

She fished around in the closet.

"You choose, Mary, I really don't mind."

"Alright, miss, I think the green. It's a beautiful dress, and you have beautiful green eyes…let's try it, shall we? At some point this week, we must go to a few shops to fit you for some outfits…a dress for this Friday…some day dresses…evening gowns…"

My affection for her grew even more. Even though what we were doing was not in my definition of fun, it was going to be fun for her. And whatever this story of hers is, it defiantly has something to do with being a lady…and if she's going to have so much fun turning me into one…that should help her a bit. And it will make it more fun for me.

--

Ten minutes later I found myself walking out of the house, donned in a forest green dress with a wide cream colored sash around the middle and a cream colored hat to match. My hair was tied up into an elaborate bun in the back from which a few tendrils escaped, curling loosely down my back and around my shoulders.

With me was Jack – who was very excited.

"It's been so long since I've been able to be outside, it feels like," he said animatedly as we started down the steps.

"Same with me," I said, grinning as rays of sunshine touched my skin and warmed my body.

We made our way towards the sounds of the city. I turned and looked back at the house – it was so beautiful. It was odd to look at it and know exactly what was and had been going on inside of it.

"Listen," I said. "Sorry about last night. I'm not really sure why I got so tired all of a sudden…I hope we can continue the tour sometime soon?"

Jack grinned. "Of course. And no worries. It was your first night. Everything takes some getting used to."

I smiled at him.

"So," he said. "Where are we headed?"

I smiled. "The harbor first. Then Central Park…Bottle Alley…several places."

"Who's at the harbor?"

"Long story…I'll tell you on the way."

--