Disclaimer: I own nothing with the exception of original characters. Disney owns the movie Newsies, and now Broadway owns rights as well. I wish I was rich enough to buy at least a portion of it…

Tig rocked back and forth on her tired, aching feet to try to settle Annabelle down for the night so that she wouldn't keep the boys up. So far her luck was mute. The baby, just barely over a month old, was not having it. She didn't have a dirty bottom, she had been fed several times during the evening, and was dressed warmly due to the chilly air that defined the fall weather for Manhattan. Tig didn't know what else to do except rock her daughter in the hopes that eventually Annabelle would tire herself out with all the crying she had managed in the past hour.

Mush walked into their room and was greeted with a somber look from Tig. "I'se can see dat you'se need a break. How 'bout you'se give her ta me and you'se can get some sleep."

Tig sighed. "Though I appreciate you offering, you need to get up early tomorrow and I don't. I'll be fine. I just need to learn how to hypnotize our daughter so that she enjoys being put down in her crib for at least an hour."

Mush chuckled and gently took Annabelle from Tig's arms. Tig's body language read relief just by the slumping of her shoulders. She sat down on the bed and watched as Mush continued the rocking motion that she had started.

"I feel as if we should start looking for our own place. Nothing too extravagant but I feel terrible about keeping the boys and Target up at night."

Mush gave her a puzzled look. "Who said dat dey stay up all night?"

"No one. But I know that they are. Have you really looked at them lately? They all look exhausted."

"Well none of dem has said anythin' ta me so don't worry 'bout it, at least not for now. We just gotta get Bella adjusted ta da outside world. She's still young. Katherine said dat it'll take some time."

Tig sighed and laid her head down. "I know she's still young. Let's just say my exhaustion is becoming a problem. I can't get anything done around here."

"Tig, it's not your place ta do things 'round heah. Kloppman appreciates it but it's not your job ta do so. Just try ta get as much rest as possible when ya can." Mush looked up from staring at the baby to find that Tig had fallen asleep in the short amount of time that he had spoken. He smiled down at her and balanced the baby in his left arm as he covered Tig with their blanket.

Adjusting Annabelle, Mush walked around the room while he hummed, rubbing her back all the while. Slowly the baby's eyes began to shut and she suckled on her thumb. Mush grinned and said, "Dat's your problem. You're used ta hearin' your mom's heart and my singin'. You'se just don't know what ta do without it!"

A small knock came at the door and Mush looked to see who it was. Target was in the doorway, a grin on her face. Mush put his finger to his lips, motioning for her to be quiet. She in turn gave him thumbs up before entering the room.

"Tig's finally sleepin'. Can I'se help ya wit somethin'?" he whispered.

"Oh. No, no dat's okay. I'll just talk ta her tomorrow den."

As she turned to walk away, Mush grabbed her arm to stop her. "Are ya sure? You'se look like you'se could use someone ta talk to."

She gave him a gentle smile in return. "I'se appreciate it, Mushy Boy. It can wait 'til tomorrow. I'se promise."

Mush shrugged. "Okay. Well get a good night sleep, Target."

She nodded towards the baby. "We'll try," she winked.

He looked down at his sleeping child. "Sorry. We're tryin', really!"

Target shook her head. "I'se just messin' wit ya, Mush. We understand, really. Night."

"You'se really need ta learn how ta sleep, Bella," he whispered to the little one, who in turn snuggled closer to his chest.

Tig kissed Mush good-bye for the morning as he headed out the door with the rest of the newsboys. "I love you. Go sell the papes!"

Mush chuckled and kissed Annabelle good-bye. "I'll do my best. Love you'se both."

Target lingered behind, Skittery squeezing her hand before leaving with the boys. Tig turned around after they left to find her friend still standing there.

"Oh! Target, what are you still doing here? Are you feeling okay?" she asked, concern washing over her.

"I'se was hopin' dat I'se could talk ta you'se before I'se head out for da day. I'se tried ta talk last night but you'se were finally sleepin'," answered Target sheepishly.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep but Mush had given me a break and my body just took over," Tig laughed. "Come on, let's sit down and talk before I have to go meet up with Katherine."

The two walked into the kitchen and sat down, Tig settling Annabelle into her arms comfortably. "So what did you need to talk about?"

Target stared at Tig before sighing heavily and saying, "Well, I'se have a bit of a problem."

"Oh?"

"Well ya see Skittery and I'se have been together for a couple of months now and I'se love him a lot. He's a good guy, and you'se don't come across dem very often."

Tig giggled. "Funny how far you've come from the first time you two met!"

Target gave a lopsided smile at the thought of their first encounter. "Yeah, you'se could say dat. When I'se tell you'se what I'se have ta say, I'se need you'se to keep an open mind, 'kay?"

Tig furrowed her brows but nodded. "Of course."

Target sighed once again. "Skittery asked me ta marry him."

Tig took a moment to process the information before replying. "Isn't that a little soon?"

Target slowly nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah, you'se could say dat."

"So…what did you say?"

"I'se said yes."

Tig smiled at her friend across the table. "Well then I guess congratulations are in order."

"Thanks," Target answered. "But dat's not all."

"Really?" Tig replied slowly.

Target nodded. "He asked me ta marry him 'cause I'm preggars."

"WHAT?!"

"I'm pregnant."

"Yeah, that part I got! When did this happen?!"

Annabelle fussed in her mother's arms and Tig put her over her shoulder to pat her back in an attempt to quiet the baby down.

"Back in July. My guess is 'round da fourth."

"A celebration of my engagement?" Tig joked, sarcasm evident in her voice.

Target wanted to laugh but Tig's tone kept her from doing so. "I'se don't understand why you're bein' so uptight 'bout dis."

"Because I know what it's like to do things out of proper order. It's harder being a mother than what you think."

"I'm pretty sure I've got an idea since I'se live in da same house at you'se!"

Tig sighed and paused before speaking again. "Are you sure this is what you want, Target?"

The newsgirl shrugged her tiny shoulders. "I'se was scared when I'se foist found out, but Skit's been good 'bout it all. And we love each odda. It was bound ta happen; it just happened a little sooner den we expected."

"Well, who am I to judge, right? I'm happy for you, Target, deep down. I'm here if you need anything. Because trust me, there will be plenty of questions!"

"Thanks, Tig. You're a great person."

"Anything for you."

Target drummed her fingers on the wooden table, not knowing what to say next.

"I feel as if there's something else you're not telling me," Tig suggested.

"I…well, Skit and I'se were talkin' and we'd love ta get hitched before da baby comes."

"Before? And how are you planning on doing that?"

"We wanna get married in da next month, hopefully before I'se start showin'."

Tig used her free hand to cover her face. "Target…"

"I'se know it's short notice, but I'se was hopin' you'se would be able ta sew my dress. I'se got da fabric already. I'se don't want anythin' fancy, just enough ta look presentable in front of da judge."

"You know I would, but that's not enough time! Maybe if I didn't have a new baby around, constantly wanting to be held, but I don't and that's a lot!"

Target hung her head. "I'se understand." She got up from her chair and made her way towards the front door. "Thanks for listenin', Tig."

"Target—"

"I'll see ya, later, 'kay?"

Tig sighed. "Yeah, I'll see you later."

"I feel terrible about how I reacted, but what else did she expect?!" exclaimed Tig. She was sitting on the couch at Jack and Katherine Kelly's apartment, recalling the story to the latter.

"Target doesn't completely understand what it's like to be a mother, what it takes to be a mother. She has an idea but she's not around during the day. Just give her time to breathe and then try to talk to her again."

"You're right. I just…I'm the one who had been in a relationship for some time before I even took that step. And if it wasn't Mush it never would have happened until marriage. Now I'm the one with a child out of wedlock, and even though Mush and I are engaged, we're not in a spot to have a wedding yet. Here comes my friend who has barely courted the man who will become her husband in less than a month and the father of her child in six!"

"Lily, calm yourself," Katherine ordered. "No one thinks low of you so don't you dare start!"

Tig looked at her daughter being bounced on Katherine's knee ever so gently. "I love Annabelle more than I could ever express, but that doesn't stop me from thinking how much easier life would be if Mush and I had done things in the correct order."

Katherine gave a gentle smile. "I know. But even when it happens in the correct order it's still hard. Trust me!" She looked towards Will who was busy pushing his toy train around on the floor.

"I guess you're right."

"If you don't mind me asking, I thought you wanted to be a seamstress out of your home?"

"That was the idea that I had. But I also need to figure out how to put Bella down without her constantly screaming. And I could never ask Target for money…"

Katherine nodded. "Well if you change your mind, I'm sure Will and I would love to have Bella around for some company for a few hours."

Tig smiled. "I'll think about it. Thanks for everything, Katherine. You're the only one that can keep me sane it seems!"

Katherine laughed. "Hardly. We're all a little bit crazy, don't you think?"

"Yeah, it seems so," giggled Tig.

"Dey're gettin' married in da next month 'cause she's preggars?" questioned Mush. Tig had just relayed her day to him when he got home for the evening.

"That's what I just told you."

Mush sighed, looking down at Annabelle cooing in his arms. He sat down next to Tig on their bed before putting an arm around her and kissing her temple. "I'se can't help but think dat maybe you're jealous of her."

"Jealous?"

"Yeah, jealous. I'se didn't propose 'til a few months ago and we aren't plannin' on a weddin' 'til next year. Why wouldn't you'se be jealous dat she's seemingly doin' things right?"

Tig looked up at Mush's brown eyes. They were giving her a pity look, something she couldn't deal with seeing so she turned her head to face the wall in front of her. "You could be right. But even if I am, do you think I should make her dress? What do I ask for? Nothing? Full price?"

"How 'bout you'se talk to Target? See if she's already got an idea in mind."

Tig nodded her head. "Okay, that seems rational. I'll do that. Do you think you could keep Bella a little while longer so I can talk to Target?"

Mush smiled at her. "Of course. I'se need bondin' time wit her, too."

Tig walked out of the room and over to the bunkroom to where Target and Skittery were located. She cleared her throat and said, "Target, can we talk for a moment?"

Target exchanged looks with Skittery before getting up and walking into the hallway where Tig was. "Is everythin' okay?"

"Yes, I just wanted to discuss your wedding dress."

"Oh. What 'bout it?"

"I'll do it. But I need some form of payment. I don't want to ask much of you, anything you can contribute would be great. Even if it's not in money form."

"Skit and I'se discussed it and I'se can give ya five dollars for it. It's not much but it's all I'se got. I'se can help out more 'round da house if dat helps; meals, cleanin', whateva you'se need."

Tig looked at Target. "I'll agree on the five dollars and cleaning, but I'll have to ask that you stay away from the meals. I love you dearly but your cooking skills are lacking."

"Hey!"

Tig laughed. "Instead, I'll ask that you help watch Bella for me while I sew the dress for you."

Target put out her hand. "You'se got it, Tig."

The two shook on it before Target pulled Tig in for a bear hug.

"You're da best friend a gal could eva ask for," she whispered.

Tig swallowed hard. "Anything for you."

A/N: So…brat Tig? Or is it understandable how she reacted to Target's big news? Guess we'll have to see how this one goes! Thanks for your well wishes during the storm. Luckily we weren't hit hard by Sandy, but many others were. Please continue to keep them in your thoughts! And as always, please continue to read/review!