Panda Bear-I'm glad you liked it. It was sweet, wasn't it? If you keep reading, this chapter explains who likes who. I can't promise not to break Spot's heart, but I can promise that I'll keep it as unbroken as I can. I think the plot of the story will find Spot someone special though, so don't worry.

Disclaimer-I still don't own Newsies. (Tear.) But I will find a way somehow! One day I will own Newsies! But until then, I don't own anything you recognize. I do own Laura and Carey. Now stop reading this and read the story!

Crutchy woke up a few days later with a huge smile on his face. It was a beautiful day outside, he had found his cousin, and he was finally taking Carey to see a flicker that night. Blink had talked to Laura and they had decided to come along with Crutchy and Carey. Crutchy was fine with that arrangement, as he would get to spend time with a very pretty girl and still see his cousin, who would have someone to help her be understood. He rolled out of bed, grabbed his crutch, and hobbled to the washrooms. On the way, he past Specs and Blink, who were having some kind of disagreement.
"Since when did you become me mudder?" Specs asked. Blink shoved Specs' face out of his face.
"Ah, stop yer bawlin," Crutchy told them on the way past.
"Pfft, who ast you?" several newies called after him.
Crutchy just smiled and walked away.

"One time when we was little, we made a whole show for our parents. Laura played her violin and did a whole ballet," Crutchy told Carey as they walked the streets on the way to the flicker.
Carey giggled. "Did you dance ballet with her?"
"No," Crutchy blushed. "Ise don't do ballet. Ise did sing though."
"Your family sounds wonderful."
"They were. My fadder was a baker and my mudder did laundry and sewing for others."
"What about Laura's mother and father?"
"They were just as nice. They joked dat Laura and Ise were twins cause we look like each other and spent so much time together. Wat about youse?"
"I never met them. I was found on the steps of the orphanage as a babe. Nobody knows anything about them."
"Ise sorry." Crutchy grabbed Carey's hand and smiled at her. She smiled back and Crutchy's heart jumped.
"Carey, if Ise asked youse ta…asked youse ta…" He stuttered to a stop.
"Asked me to what?" She looked at him, waiting patiently for him to continue.
"Would youse be my goirl?" Crutchy asked softly, turning a bright red.
"What?"
"Would youse be my goirl?" he repeated, a little bit louder.
"Your girl?"
"Say yes! Please say yes!" Blink hollered in the distance. "Ise can't stand his bawlin bout ya every night!"
Crutchy turned an even brighter shade of red as Carey laughed and Laura smiled.
"Remind me ta soak him later," Crutchy muttered.
"I think you're cute when you blush," Carey told him.
"Really?"
"Truly. I would be honoured to be your girl." She kissed his cheek and he blushed even more. Carey laughed again as she took his hand and they kept walking.

"Ise glad dat's over." Laura looked at Blink quizzically.
"Ise glad Crutchy asked Carey," he explained. "He wouldn't shut up bout her all day." Laura smiled and nodded her head in agreement. Carey had been the same way. She kept asking Laura if she thought Crutchy would ask Carey to be his girl. Laura was secretly hoping Blink would ask her to be his girl. She was afraid that he wouldn't ask because she was deaf and didn't speak.
Blink, for his part, was wondering if he should ask Laura to be his girl. He had asked Carey about Laura's past with Spot Conlon, but all he got from her was that Laura and Spot were close and that they may have been together when they were young. The thought didn't comfort Blink, knowing that the King of Brooklyn had a past with the girl he liked and most likely would soak any bum that dared hurt her. Blink was also unsure about being with a girl that couldn't hear. But for all that, he was almost sure that he loved Laura and would do anything to be with her.
Blink shook himself out of his thoughts in time to catch Laura clapping her hands in amusement. He looked ahead to see Carey and Crutchy chasing some pigeons on the road.
"Youse ever chased pigeons?" Blink asked. Laura shook her head. "Come on." He grabbed her hand and together they ran after their friends, laughing the whole time.

Spot watched in secret as Blink and Laura chased the birds with Crutchy and Carey. He was glad she had found Benjy and she seemed happy to be with Blink. But secretly, Spot was sad that his best friend cared for another boy and worried that she would be hurt. Spot recalled the time they were ten and he had kissed Laura. She had told him later he was like a brother, but he couldn't help hoping that would change. Spot had asked her to be his girl and she had said yes, but not long after she said it felt odd to be his girl because of the fact that they were so close.
Spot heaved a sigh and shook his head. He made a mental note to have a talk with Kid Blink and remind him that Laura Mae was his friend and sister and that if Spot saw her cry, Blink's head would be busted.

"Youse two go without us," Blink whispered to Crutchy as they walked back from the theater. "Ise want ta ask Laura somethin."
Crutchy lifted his eyebrows at Blink and smiled. Blink threw his hat at him but smiled back.
"It ain't nothin like dat. Ise just want youse and Carey ta spent time together," Blink tried to explain.
"Ise don't believe dat," Crutchy said.
"Don't believe what?" Carey asked as she and Laura came over.
"Dat Blink wants us ta walk together so's we can spend time together."
"Is that so?"
"Maybe he wants to get rid of the lovebirds," Laura joked. Carey laughed and playfully swatted her friend.
"Wat'd she say?" Blink and Crutchy asked together.
"Laura thinks Blink wants to get rid of the lovebirds."
The two boys laughed. "Ise can't say no ta spending time wit one of my favorite goirls," Crutchy said as he grabbed Carey's hand. They walked away, leaving a curious Laura and nervous Blink alone.
Once their friends had left, Laura looked at Blink curiously.
"Ise wanted ta ask ya somethin bout youse and Spot."
Laura quickly shook her head and made a few signs.
"Spot…youse…no? Youse ain't Spot's goirl?" Blink guessed. Laura nodded. "Den would youse…" Blink trailed off, unsure if he was ready to finish the question. Laura cocked her head, staring at him. "Would youse…if youse wanted…and youse ain't…Spot…goirl?" Laura cocked her head even more, looking confused. Blink sighed and started again.
"Would youse want ta-"
"Move it along!" The sudden sound of another person startled Blink out of the moment. He sighed in frustration and told Laura they had to move. They started walking back, their hands brushing against each other. Blink grabbed it and squeezed, hoping she wouldn't pull away. To his surprise and happiness, she squeezed back. They walked along in silence for a time before Blink suddenly stopped and pulled Laura towards him. She stared at him, her lips slightly parted and her eyes looking into his. He forgot everything as he started to lean in.
"Kid Blink," a voice sneered. "So is dis your goirl?"
Blink groaned in frustration as Oscar and Morris Delancy materialized.
"Wat do youse bummers want?" he asked sharply.
"Ise didn't know youse had a goirl," Morris said, eyeing Laura.
"Yeah, well Ise don't. Thanks ta youse." Blink muttered the last part quietly to himself. "We were just leaving ta meet someone, if youse'll excuse us." The brothers blocked the path as Blink tried to drag Laura away.
"Who's da goirl?"
"Nobody important. She ain't worth da time. Now Ise really need ta bring her home." Once again, Blink tried to leave and once again, he found his path blocked.
"Hey, Ise think Ise remember her," Oscar said, a glimmer of recognition in his eyes. "Dat's da goirl dat busted my nose!"
Laura had been following the conversation with her eyes. When Oscar looked at her with lust in his eyes and said he recognized her, she shook her arm free of Blink's hand. As Oscar tried to back her up against the wall, she pulled her arm back, punched him square on the nose again, and took off running.
"Hey!" Oscar cried in surprise.
"Dumb goirl!" Morris yelled after her.
"Laura!" Blink called. He turned back to the Delancys. "You goons leave dat goirl alone or Ise'm gonna soak ya worse den dat!" He took off after Laura, hoping he would catch her in time. By the time he reached the Lodging House, he still hadn't spotted her.
"Dat goirl is one fast bummer," he panted, walking up the stairs. Crutchy was alone in the room, sitting on his bunk smiling.
"Hey Blink," the crippled boy chirped. "How was da walk?" Seeing the look on his friend's face, Crutchy frowned. "Wat happened?"
"Ise almost kissed her."
Crutchy shot to his feet. "Wat?!"
Blink started pacing and told the whole story. "And now Ise can't find her and if Ise don't, Spot Conlon's gonna bust my head."
"Why?"
"Ise talked ta Carey bout Laura. Carey said Spot 'n Laura are close. Ise just figured dat if she went ta him and cried, he'd soak da scab dat hoirt her."
"Why-"
"Ise don't know!" Blink yelled. Crutchy sat back down, looking surprised and hurt. "Sorry," Blink said in a quieter voice. "Just…Ise told da Delancys dat she ain't worth da time so's dey'd leave her alone. Ise think she may take dat the wrong way and think Ise don't care bout her."
"Do youse?"
Blink flopped backwards onto the nearest bunk and sighed.
"Oh."
"Oh wat?" Blink sat back up.
"Youse care bout her more den a little."
"Ise almost kissed her. Ise think-"
"Youse love her?'
Blink groaned and fell backwards again.

Spot watched the sleeping figure on his bed. He gently leaned down and kissed her forehead. Her eyes fluttered and she sighed in her sleep, but didn't waken. His heart was glad that Blink hadn't kissed Laura, but still sad that his friend was upset because of it.
Laura finally stirred, blinking her eyes to clear them.
"I'm here," he signed to her. She looked relived and snuggled closer to him. Closing her eyes again, she fell back asleep, tired from spending the evening running and crying.
"Ise'll always be here," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "Ise promise."

Awwwe, isn't that cute? Now where have we heard that before?

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