A/N: Thanks for the REview! I love you sooo much for it! I'm so sorry for how long this is taking! major times a bazillion writers block.

Catherine woke up the next morning with her feet up and her head resting on someones shoulder. As she opened her eyes she realized it was Kid who she was leaning against. For a few moments she wondered how she had wound up in such an odd place and then remembered what had happend yesterday. After their talk yesterday Kid had takin her around New York and showed all the sights of the city. They had returned late and hadn't even the chance to get back into bed. They had talked late sitting on the couch until eventually Catherine had fallen asleep. Too tired to move her Kid had remained there watching her sleeping form until he too had fallen asleep. As Catherine adnusted to her surroundings she realized a herd of boys were rumbling down the stairs. The sound of feet stopped as they saw the two figures on the couch. Catherine shut her eyes quickly. There was a long pause and then a howl of laughter.

"BAH HA HA! Ow ow Kid!" cried one boy. Catherine felt Kid wake with a start. She continued to feign sleep. He gently got up off the couch and placed Catherines head on the side of the sofa. She could hear him shutting the other boys up and felt bad for his upcoming day of harrasment. Catherine was smiling now, still with her eyes closed.

"Alright, alright... wake up, c'mon, stop pretending..." the sound of Rachel's voice entered the room Catherine opened her eyes and yawned.

"What are you doin here? Shouldn't you be out dere selling papers?"

"Nah... not really in da mood for it today." Catherine raised the all to familiar eyebrow. Rachel sighed.

"To tell ya da truth, Spot asked me to stay here. He said you would want company, but I can see through him. I dunno if ya know, but dere has been some trouble with the near by bouroughs. It's gettin worse every day. Hes gonna sell me papes fora me. I normally don't listen to a woid he says... but I figure ya could use some company."Catherine smile at her.

"Thanks, dats real nice of ya." Rachel smiled and sat down next to Catherine.

"So... I'se hear dat you spent all of your day yesterday with kid. Hes a good guy." Catherine raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah. Hes... a real nice guy. But.. uh.. I dont think that we'se is liking eadch other like dat." She smiled realizing the pain she was experiencing by admitting this to herslef. She couldn't quite place it, but inside she was upset about knowing that there was no furture for her and kid-blink. Rachel grinned at her.

"Sure dere aint" replied Rachel with a sarcastic grin. They spent the day chatting and explaining about their lives. A quick bond was formed between the two girls, both, it seemed, no very little about what their future held. Sarah popped in around noon with some bread and cheese and the girls had a "pcinic" on the floor of the boarding house.

"I gotta tell ya Rach... I'm concerned." Sarah was explaining as she cut another slice of cheese. "My parents are up to something. I think that they want David to go back to school. Dad's not getting any luck with his job, but they think that the only place for him is education. Les is getting bigger, I think they want him to take over as the bread winna and then when David gets a good job Les'll go to school." Rachel frowned

"What have yer parents said to you 'bout it?" She asked with a concerned grimace on her lips.

"Well, they stop talking as soon as I come in. I feel like a should be a part of the decision, ya know being as old as I am. Besides, I know David better than them." She sighed and put down the bread she was holding. The girls continuted talking for a while. It was ubvieleavble how long they had been talking. Already Boys were beginning to return from the paper selling. Les arrived with a few of the younger boys and came to sit down near Sarah.

"Uhh... Sarah, I saw Ma when I was out sellin and she wants ya to come on home now. " Sarah shrugged at him and got up.

"Tell Jack I'll be by later." She left the room. Les took her seat.

"Something fishy is goin' on." He said as only a 10 year old boy could.

"Watta ya mean?" Rachel asked with a puzzled expression.

"I dunno, Ma and Dad keep on talkin in secrets, and while us is out sellin papes they've had PEOPLE ova." Rachel laughed.

"Ah, I'm sure its nothing Les!" She ruffled his hair up. He smiled up at her as Kid-Blink, Race and Jack entered the room.

"Clear off the sofa goilies... Skittery got caught... c'mon. Rach, go get some wata woud ya?" Race asked as he turned around. He rused to Mush who was easily supporting an obviously woosy Skittery. He didn't look too bad, an eye, certain to go purple and a puffed up lip. A few brusies would come up the next morning, but no scratches and he had obviously come of better. Catherine rushed to his side and helped him sit on the sofa. She grabbed one of the hankercheifs from inside her blouse and turned as Rachel entered with a bucket of cold water. Catherine dipped the piece of cloth into the water and then dapped it on his still bloody lip. The white cloth immediatly turned pink. Rachel joined her and together they mopped Skittery up well.

"I suggest that you get him to bed now. Let him have a goodnight sleep. It does wonders." Catherine watched as Mush and Racetrack hoisted Skittery up the stairs. By now the sun had set beneath the Manhatten skyline. Jack smiled as he looked at the gathered newsies. They were his family, and soon Sarah would be their real mother. He sat down on the sofa that Skittery had previously sat on. He was going to ask her the next evening at the theatre. He was fingering the ring he had been saving up for in his pocket. He shut his eyese and began to dose. Catherine watched him and then turned to lodging house door as she heard pounding footsteps on the pavement outside. Sarah arrived her hair a mess, her eyes bloodshot. Tears were streaming down her face as she entered. Catherine sprang up from her seat and rushed to her. She quickly ushered her into the hallway away from the rest of the boys.

Peering at Sarah through the darkness she could easiliy see she was in distress.

"Sarah, what's going on? What happened... is anyone hurt?" She peered her head around the hallway door and motioned for Rachel. Rachel rose hurridly and enterred into the hallway.

"Oh dear God... Sarah, what's the matter... Is it the burroughs? Where's David?" Sarah put her hand up and then covered her face with her hands.

"Please... please. My parents... they... they've..." she burst into tears as she spoke the last few words and Rachel and Catherine looked at each other, both not knowing what she was saying. "I'm... getting married." She wailed. "And... and... not to Jack." She collapsed into Rachel's arms as she sobbed. Muffled words like "I can't" and "I won't" and the occasional "I love him" could be heard in between the racking sobs. Catherine could hardly believe that no one had heard her yet. Slowly Rachel brought Sarah outside and held her as she cried. After about five minutes she pulled herself together. "I've... I've got to tell Jack. Can... can you tell him to come out here please?" Rachel nodded and she Catherine retreated back to the lodging house. Jack rose when Rachel told him about Sarah outside.

The girls waited in silence as they heard Sarahs muffled voice.

"Boys... boy's I tink ya should go upstairs... fora little maybe." Catherine voiced looking at Rachel for support.

"Yeah, boys, c'mon... upstairs."

A/N: Oh dear, whats gonna happen? I'm sooooooooooooo sorry how much time this has taken. I was in a musical but that ended on the 23 and then i got swamped with work. but here it is. updating soon don't worry!
Review please darling peple!
margie