A/N:

Hello all! I've been on a bit of an unofficial hiatus with all of my stories (yay high school) but I'm back now! Here is another chapter of Always Yours for your reading pleasure. I hope you enjoy it!

September 1907

As Katherine slowly walked up to the front door of her family's apartment, she groaned inwardly. She could already hear shouting coming from inside, no doubt the twins arguing again. They had been getting into arguments more and more lately, for no apparent reason. Katherine tried to assure herself that it was probably just a phase, but it was hard to do that on days like today.

Entering the apartment, Katherine winced as Benjy's loud shouts met her ears. Normally it was Josie screaming, her having the louder and more abrasive personality of the two, but not today. That meant that whatever was going on was likely serious. Well, as serious as an argument between two 3-year-olds could be.

Katherine stepped into the kitchen with her shoes still on, slightly wary. She didn't see anyone, but she could hear crying coming from the twin's bedroom. She made her way over to it and poked her head in the door.

Jack was sitting on the floor, an inconsolable Benjy sobbing in his arms. Josie was sitting on her bed with a face like thunder, her arms crossed over her chest protectively.

Katherine tried her best to paint a cheery expression on her face. "Hello, everyone. What's going on here?"

"Mama!" Benjy quickly got to his feet and ran over to her, grabbing her skirts and holding on tight. Josie still didn't move.

"Hello, Benjy. You don't look very happy. Will you tell me what's wrong?" Katherine's voice was soothing even though she felt more exasperated than anything else.

"Josie..." Benjy burst into tears once more, snotting all over Katherine's skirt. She sighed heavily. That won't come out in a hurry.

"Ginger knocked over Josie's blocks, so Josie started throwing them at 'er. An' when Benjy tried ta stop her, she threw one at him. It hit his ear," Jack explained, slowly getting up and brushing off his pants. "They was like this when I got home a little while ago. Your Ma was havin' a hard time keepin' them from goin' after each other."

Katherine nodded in understanding, then she leaned down and kissed Benjy on the top of his head. "Why don't you and Daddy go find Ginger and make sure she's alright? I'll have a word with Josie."

Benjy was reluctant to let go of Katherine, but he eventually took Jack's hand and allowed himself to be led into the Parlor, where Ginger was hiding under the couch.

Katherine turned to Josie. "Now, young lady. Let's talk about why you decided to throw things when something didn't go your way."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

By the time Katherine had finished giving Josie a rather stern talking-to ("We do not use violence in this house, Josephine Kelly") Benjy was asleep in Jack's arms, with Ginger on his lap.

Katherine sat down next to Jack leaning her head against his shoulder tiredly. "I asked Josie if she wanted anything to eat, but she said no. I think she's too upset. She's probably sleeping now."

"Same with Benjy," Jack said. "But that'll probably be different by the mornin'."

"I don't understand it, Jack. They've gotten along so well until now. But lately, it seems that they're always at each other's throats."

"They'se just figurin' themselves out, Kath. 'S a phase," Jack reassured her.

"That's what my mother said," Katherine admitted.

"Well, there ya go. She's brought up seven herself, I'm willin' to bet she knows what she's talkin' about."

"Yes." Katherine nodded. The pair lapsed into silence, the only sound for a while that of Benjy's steady breathing.

Katherine's eyes were beginning to droop shut when Jack spoke up. "You ever think we should move?"

"What?" Katherine blinked as she tried to process what Jack had said in her half-asleep state. "Move? Why?"

Jack shrugged. "Might keep the twins from fightin' if they ain't in such cramped quarters. An' with the new baby comin', it'll only get more crowded."

"That's true," Katherine agreed. "I admit, I hadn't thought about where the baby will sleep. It would be nice to have another bedroom."

"An' we can afford it," Jack pointed out. "What with both of our salaries, we could even move farther uptown." He chuckled. "What would my Ma say if she could see me now? A successful cartoonist with a fancy apartment an' a beautiful wife an' kids."

Katherine planted a soft kiss on Jack's cheek. "She'd be so proud of you."

"Thanks, Kath." Jack smiled at her. "So, whaddaya say? Should I start lookin' at apartments?"

"That is just fine with me."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

"So, how's this one measure up?" Jack called to Katherine. He was currently in the dining room of an apartment they were looking at, checking the windows to make sure they locked. Katherine was investigating the bathroom.

"It's nice, but the bathroom's much smaller than the one at home," Katherine called back. "There's only room for a shower, not a tub. That might make bathing the children a little difficult."

"Yeah, guess so." Jack agreed. He pulled the list of available apartments he had drawn up a few days earlier out of his pocket, squinting as he tried to decipher his own messy handwriting. "There's one more just a couple blocks from here. We could stop in there if ya think we have time."

"We have time," Katherine said, walking over to where Jack was standing and linking arms with him. "It's only 3 o'clock."

"Then let's go!" Jack grinned as he led Katherine out of the front door.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

"It's been a pleasure, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly. An absolute pleasure." Jack and Katherine's new landlord smiled welcomingly at them as he handed them their key. "You said you'll be moving in next Saturday, correct?"

"If that's alright with you," Jack said, and the landlord nodded an affirmative. "Then yeah. We'll be here."

"Excellent." The man shook each of their hands one more time, before hurrying off with a pleased smile on his face.

Katherine looked over at Jack and giggled. "He was a bit much. Thank goodness we'll only have to see him every so often."

"Yeah. Think Benjy an' Josie might eat him alive." Jack held up the shiny new key. "Shall we, Mrs. Kelly?"

"We shall." Katherine nodded enthusiastically, and Jack unlocked the door. It swung open easily, and they entered their new apartment.

After several trips to see five different places, Jack and Katherine finally settled on a spacious set of rooms near Columbia University. The rent was a little steep but not too expensive, and the building was well-maintained. They had an indoor bathroom, a dining room, a parlor, and three bedrooms. Josie and Benjy would each have their own room, for the time being, then one of them would share with the new baby.

"It's perfect, Jack." Katherine grinned happily at him as she walked around the empty rooms. "I can't wait to move in."

"Me neither," Jack replied. "I'm gonna miss the old place some, it was our first apartment together, but I think this'll be just as nice."

"Mmm." Katherine hummed in agreement. Then she suddenly gasped. "Caroline!"

Jack frowned. In the years they'd been married he had heard Katherine say some odd things, but this about took the cake. "What?"

"I've been trying to think of baby names since we used both of our choices up last time," Katherine explained. "And I just thought of one. Caroline!"

Jack considered this. "I like it. Sweet an' simple, but not too overdone."

"Is that a yes, then?" Katherine asked. At Jack's nod, she smiled. "Perfect. Now, all we have to do is pick a boy's name."

Jack scrunched up his nose in thought. "Uh... how about William? I dunno, I just always liked that name."

"I do too," Katherine said. "Although Bill might think we've gone and named our child after him."

"Then we'se just gonna have to pray it's a girl, I guess." Jack smiled. "Bill certainly don't need a bigger head than the one he's got already."

"Careful, I might tell him you said that," Katherine teased.

"Oh, you better not. Unless ya never want me to speak to you again."

"Well, we can't have that. I suppose I could consider not telling Bill. If." Katherine stopped and raised her eyebrow at Jack.

"If what?"

"If you kiss me."

"Done."

A/N: The next chapter of this is already written, so here's what we'll do. If I get 5 reviews by tomorrow afternoon, I'll post the next chapter then. If not, I'll post it on Sunday. What happens next is up to you guys!