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…
"I swear to the Lord most High; I will kill somebody if they don't pick that child of mine up and settle her down!" Tig yelled up the stairs to the rowdy group that was located in the bunkroom. She was downstairs in the lobby finishing the final touches to Target's wedding dress while Annabelle lay screaming in her crib.
"I'se got her! But she's extremely upset!" Kid Blink yelled back down to her.
Tig sighed and rolled her eyes before putting the dress down and making her way up the stairs. Meeting Blink at the top, she took Annabelle and headed into the bunkroom. There, the newsies were playing cards. Tig walked over to Target and handed Annabelle over, an angry look on her face.
"We had a deal, Target."
"I'se know, but I'se not feelin' too well."
"Looks like you're feeling fine enough to play cards. Get used to this, it's your future." She turned on her heels and went back to the dress.
Mush walked into the lobby to find that Tig was still hunched over Target's dress, her nimble fingers working as quickly as they could. The wedding was tomorrow and they were out of time for anymore last minute details. Not like the wedding was going to be elaborate by any means, but it wasn't easy to get so many newsies together in one area.
Tig looked up when she heard his footsteps approaching. Giving a tired smile, she said, "Good to know you're not hurt."
Mush smiled back. "Not like you'se would've noticed at dis point anyway."
Tig laughed, the first time he had heard that sound in a long time. "I'm sure I would have remembered about you sometime tomorrow when you didn't show up."
Mush bent down and gave her a sweet kiss. "Nice ta know it would've hit ya within da next day." He sat down next to her, enjoying the small amount of time they had to themselves. "You'se almost done? We should be gettin' ta bed soon."
Tig nodded. "Just a few more pokes and prodding and it should be done."
Mush put his arm around her shoulders and observed as she worked. When Tig was completely finished, she cut the thread, knotted it off, and stood up with the dress.
"What do you think?" she asked him.
"It's poifect. She'll love it."
Tig kissed him. "Thank you. She better."
Mush laughed and grabbed her basket of supplies before leading Tig up the stairs to their room. "Now hang dat dress up and go ta bed!"
"We have a child that needs to be fed before she's laid down for the night."
"Fine. I'll get Bella and you'se get ready for bed meanwhile."
"Yes sir!"
The morning of the wedding was bright, the sun reflecting off of the light dusting of snow that had happened the day before. The newsies rose at their normal time to sell the morning papers, earning half a day's wage instead of a full day. Tig got up with them to feed Annabelle before lying back down for a little longer.
When late morning came, Mush left the sewing factory to come home and help around the Lodging House. Tig sent him, Skittery, and Jack, who had taken the rest of the day off of work, over to the vaudeville theatre with enough food to feed all of Brooklyn. She then went upstairs to get herself and Annabelle ready before helping Target into her dress.
Katherine came to pick up the ladies in her carriage so as not to get Target's dress dirty. When they made their way inside the theatre doors, they were greeted by Tig's former coworkers Rosie, Vivienne, and Lydia. Katherine and Target shared a mutual smile with the others while Tig looked both happy and confused to see them.
"Hey ladies! What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Lily, always ta da point aren't ya?" joked Rosie. "We haven't gotten ta see da baby since she was born and somebody mentioned dat dare's a weddin' today."
Lydia came up and snatched a content Annabelle out of Tig's arms. The baby smiled at the faces Lydia made at her.
"Oh, and Target and Katherine came ta us 'bout a month ago sayin' you'se needed a weddin' dress," added Vivienne.
"What? I'm not the one getting married today, Target is!"
"Dat'll break Mush's heart if you'se don't show up at da end of da aisle," said Target.
Tig turned to face her two best friends, their smirks telling her everything that she needed to know. "I can't believe this."
"I'se already had you'se stressed enough about doin' my dress, I'se couldn't stress ya out even more by tellin' ya ahead of time dat we're havin' a joint weddin'!"
Tig didn't know whether to smack them or hug them, so she swatted both their arms and brought them in for a group hug. "I love you both. But I can't get married, at least not today."
"What are you talking about?" Katherine questioned.
"Yeah, what are you'se talkin' 'bout? We've been workin' our fingers ta da bone on dis dress!" spoke Rosie.
"I don't look nearly nice enough for a bride. My hair—"
"Just leave that up to us. Lydia is going to watch Bella while we help you get ready," Katherine interrupted, shoving Tig towards one of the dressing room areas usually reserved for the actresses.
Tig and Target stood on either ends of the stage in their own respective wings while their fiancées made their way from the back of the theatre to the stage, shaking hands with the guests and going to their respective sides of the judge. The piano player employed at the theatre began the bridal music, and the girls made their way out of the wings to their respective fiancée.
Target had opted for a plain dress and instead of a veil she wore her trusted newsie cap on top of her brown hair. Tig's dress was a little more elaborate, Rosie and the girls putting in little details here and there, her veil the length of her dress.
Skittery had a goofy grin on his handsome face because he was not used to seeing Target anywhere near a dress. Mush's face another story all together. He knew that Tig was beautiful, but in that moment she radiated beauty.
Tig took Mush's hand and smile largely at him. "Breathe, Tiger."
He let out a breath before chuckling. "You'se look amazin', Lils."
"You don't look so bad yourself, handsome."
Skittery and Target grinned at each other before he said, "Maybe you'se should go shoppin' wit Tig from now on."
Target slugged him on his arm before the judge cleared his throat to start the ceremony.
"We've gathered here today in front of friends and family to join these two couples together in holy matrimony. If anyone here believes that either of these couples should not be wed, please speak now or forever hold your peace."
The Brooklyn newsies looked in the direction of Spot, and both couples sent glaring looks out to crowd as a warning, but not a single soul moved in their seats.
"Marriage is a sacred covenant which should not be entered in to lightly. We will now exchange vows." He turned to Mush and Tig first. "Shawn, do you take Lily to be your lawfully wedded wife; to have, to hold; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; until death do you part?"
"I'se do."
"And do you Lily take Shawn to be your lawfully wedded husband; to have, to hold; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; until death do you part?"
Tig smiled. "I do."
The judge turned to Skittery and Target. "Dimitri, do you take Marie to be your lawfully wedded wife; to have, to hold; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; until death do you part?"
"Yep."
The judge raised his eyebrow.
"I'se mean, I'se do."
"And do you Marie take Dimitri to be your lawfully wedded husband; to have, to hold; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; until death do you part?"
"You'se can bet your ass I'se do!" She reached up and grabbed Skittery, giving him a passionate kiss. The attendants whooped and laughed at the drama that was the latter couple. Mush and Tig just smiled and shook their heads at them.
The judge turned to the more sensible couple and said, "You may kiss your bride."
Mush gave Tig a grin before planting a long kiss on his new wife.
"Why didn't you'se tell me dat I'se could kiss my bride?!" exclaimed Skittery, breaking apart from Target.
"Because your bride jumped the gun before I could."
Skittery shrugged before going in for another kiss.
"I now announce, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Meyers and Mr. and Mrs. Dimitri Jones."
The newsies and their significant others, friends from all walks of life, cheered loudly for both couples and somewhere in the noise Mush and Tig could hear Annabelle crying. They turned to each other and laughed.
As everyone sat around eating and laughing, chatting and dancing, the newlyweds went around greeting their guests. There were newsies from Brooklyn and even some from the smaller areas around Manhattan in attendance, and so it took quite some time to get to everyone. Once they were finished, they say down for a few minutes to eat what was left of the food before getting up on stage to dance.
"Dis little one has been so good all afternoon," said Lydia coming up to Tig with the baby.
Tig scooped up her daughter, eager to feel Annabelle's weight in her arms once again. She kissed the little one on her cheeks, enjoying the sound of the baby's giggle. "Thank you so much for watching over her, Lydia."
"It was my pleasure."
Mush nudged Tig in her side so that she would look in his direction. Getting a confused look, he guided her direction to Spot. They had been standing there talking to him before Lydia had come over with the baby. Now Tig could see what Mush had been trying to point out. Spot was staring at Lydia unabashedly, obviously attracted to the young seamstress. Tig smirked at her husband before turning back to her friend.
"Oh, um, Lydia? Have you met Spot yet?" she introduced.
"I'se don't believe we have." Lydia stuck out her hand. "Very nice ta meet you'se, Spot."
Spot took the girl's hand and planted a soft kiss on it. "Da pleasure is all mine."
Lydia giggled as Spot smirked up at her.
Tig rolled her eyes. "Spot is the head of the Brooklyn newsboys group. Lydia and I know each other because we worked at the same sewing factory."
Lydia gasped and put her hand up to her dainty mouth. "Oh, you'se don't mean…"
"It's okay, Lydia. Spot and I had our differences but he's been pretty good these past few months, and has really taken to being a sort of uncle to Bella."
"Yeah, I'se wasn't so sure I'se wanted da whole wife and kids thing 'til Bella came along. She's pretty interestin'."
Lydia smiled at him. "Well it's good ta know dat you've redeemed yourself since I'se last hoid 'bout you'se."
Spot smiled at her and the two continued to be bashful around one another.
Tig cleared her throat. "Spot, don't you think that it looks as if everyone is enjoying themselves dancing?"
Spot nodded up at the group. "Yeah, looks like dey're havin' a good time."
Tig looked over at Mush in frustration. He in turn tried to hide his laughter. "Well maybe Lydia would like to go dance," she encouraged.
"Oh! Do you'se wanna dance?" Spot asked, putting out his hand for Lydia to take.
"Oh, dat's okay."
But by then he had grabbed her hand, practically dragging her to the stage to join the others.
"Honestly," Tig mumbled. Mush laughed harder and wrapped and arm around her.
"Congratulations. You're both beautiful couples and I wish you all the best," Medda said as the last of the wedding group left.
"Thanks, Medda. We couldn't have done it without you'se," replied Mush, giving the actress a hug.
"Anytime dear. Be sure to come back and visit! I need to see that beautiful baby again!"
The couples walked down the street, Mush holding Annabelle in his arms as she slept. They had her wrapped up in the blanket that Katherine had made before she was born to her shield from the early November air. Tig and Target both had content smiles on their faces, not believing their luck in finding such great men to spend the rest of their lives with.
"Were you'se completely mad wit me for plannin' dis behind your back?" Mush asked Tig.
She looked up at him. "No, not completely."
"Good, I'm glad. I'se was worried."
"It was very sweet of you. But why now? Why not wait?"
Mush gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. "Because it seemed right. Target is da one who came ta me. And I'se already had da ring so I'se figured if I'se could get da goils ta sew your dress in a month we were good ta go. It seems like it worked out great ta me."
"It did. I'm impressed, Mr. Meyers."
"Anything for you'se, Mrs. Meyers."
Tig giggled at the sound. That was something she had been waiting to hear for what seemed like an eternity. The end result coming out of Mush's mouth was better than she could have imagined.
Tig placed Annabelle in her crib. The baby's sleeping patterns were becoming a little more predictable. Now with a clean bottom and a full stomach, the couple was guaranteed at least two hours alone. The bride changed out of her lovely dress and into her nightgown. Mush stripped down to his long underwear, his normal attire for bed. The two climbed in together, Annabelle's crib pushed over to wall discreetly.
Mush kissed Tig and then turned on his side, finding a comfortable position to sleep. Tig was thoroughly confused and couldn't help but to start laughing.
Mush turned back over to face his new wife. "What?"
"Shawn Meyers! We just got married today!"
"I'm aware. Pretty sure I'se said 'I'se do'."
"Then why are you trying to sleep?!"
Mush thought about where she was going with the conversation, and the meaning finally dawned on him. "Oh shit. I'se sorry, Lils. I'se guess I've just gotten used ta sayin' good night and goin' ta sleep!"
Tig laughed some more. "I'm sorry, too, Tiger. But I think we're okay for tonight," she said with a wink.
"Yeah?" he answered, moving in for a sensual kiss. He laid Tig down before she gently pushed him away. "What's wrong?"
"I just want you to know that I've thanked God every day since we met that he sent you my way. I also can't help but think of how ironic it is since my original thoughts of you were that you were incredibly annoying." They both chuckled. "I believe in soul mates, Mush, and I believe that you're mine. I was made for you."
Mush grinned down at her. "Ditto."
Tig frowned. "I say all those nice things, and all you can say is 'ditto'?"
"Well yeah. You'se put all da things I was thinkin' in ta woids so why try to say da same thing and make it sound not nearly as good?"
Tig smiled and shook her head. "I would say I don't know what to do with you, but I actually have a pretty good idea."
"Oh yeah?"
She nodded with a smirk and kissed him.
