A/N: Its hard to believe that is been almost 2 years that I've updated this story…at least according to   Alright, this chapter is going to take place 2 months from the last chapter because I really don't feel like writing chapters for the months in-between where nothing really important happens.  But here's a short little synopsis of what happened in the 2 unwritten months.  Everyone has been super happy and all the relationships have been working out and have gotten even stronger…a bit of a fairy tale, I know,…but I'm the author and that's what has been happening.

2 MONTHS LATER…..

"Medda, I think that you should come look at this."  Caitlyn said.  Medda looked up from her work.

"What is it, Caitlyn?"

"Just come."  She started towards the bedroom she and Cecile shared.  She nodded towards Cecile, asleep, tossing and turning on her bed.  She was drenched in sweat.  Her face had lost all of its normal coloring.

"What's going on?"  Charlotte asked, coming out of her bedroom and peering into Caitlyn's and Cecile's room.  "Oh my god, what's wrong with her?"

"Charlotte,"  Medda said, using her authoritative voice.  "Go get a glass of water and hurry."  She walked towards the bed and sat down on the corner.  "Cecile."  She said gently, shaking Cecile's shoulder.  "Cecile, wake up."  Her eyelids fluttered and slowly opened.  "Are you alright?" 

Cecile smiled and slowly sat up.  "Yes, I'm fine.  I'm just really thirsty and during the night, I was really hot, which explains why I'm soaked in my own sweat." 

"Here drink this."  Medda handed her a glass of water and gently patted her face with a towel.  "Are you sure you're fine?"  Cecile nodded.  "Caitlyn, go and run a bath for Cecile.  Cecile, are you up for practicing today?"  Cecile nodded.  "Alright.  Let me know if you need anything." 

"Thanks. I'm just going to take a bath."  She walked into the bathroom and stood over the sink, splashing her face with cold water.  She undressed and sunk into the water, closing her eyes and relaxing every muscle of her body.  But her paradise was soon disrupted by a powerful and incessant cough. 

"Are you feeling better?"  Caitlyn asked.  Cecile nodded.  "I heard you coughing in there and I know that Medda has some good medications to stop colds and coughs." Cecile laughed, but stopped short for she had run out of breath.

"Oh no, I had just swallowed some water.  Silly me, I had fallen asleep with my mouth open.  Tell Medda, I'll be down to practice in 15 minutes." 

"Alright girls, that was great.  Take your lunch break and be back before 2:00." Medda said as Moth entered the performance room. 

"Girls, you have to come to the lodging house.  During the night, two little kids fell asleep on the steps of the lodging house.  I think their mother died, but they're the cutest things in the world. You have to come see." 

"The cutest things in the world…hmm, coming from Moth, that's pretty strong.  I guess we have to go see what all the fuss is about."  The showgirls headed towards the lodging house. 

When the girls entered the lodging house, they saw Mush, Jack, Crutchy and Blink sitting in a circle, trying to get the two little children to talk. The older one, the boy, appeared to be around 7 or 8.  He had long, shaggy brown hair, blue eyes and a few freckles dusted on his nose and cheeks.  He was scrawny, but with his fists clenched at his sides, he appeared to be another newsboy.  The younger girl was about 4.  She looked like a little angel, with her blue eyes and light blonde hair.

"They are cute."  Cecile said, attracting the attention of the younger girl. 

"Mommy?"  She asked, standing up and walking over to Cecile.

"No sweetheart, I'm not your mommy."  She said, taking the little girl's hands.  "But I would like to know where your mother is." 

"I already told 'em."  The little boy said roughly, fighting to hold back tears.  "My dad was a drunk and died in a fight and my mom died in a fire, helping us to escape.  Sorry about my sister, but you do resemble our mother.  You have the same hair as her." 

"And, what's your name sweetheart?"  Cecile asked the little girl.

"Daisy."  She replied.  "What's your name?"

"Cecile…You want to know something?"  Cecile asked.  Daisy shook her head eagerly. 

"I think you look like a little princess."  Cassidy smiled.

"That's what Mommy calls me, her little princess."  She said excitedly. 

"Really?  And what does Mommy call your brother?"  She asked. 

Cassidy giggled again.  "She doesn't have a special name for him, just his name."

"And what's his name?"

"Nicholas."  She said.

"I like that name.  Do you like that name?"  Cecile asked.  Daisy looked once at her brother, and nodded, giggling once again.

"Well Nicholas.." Cecile started.

"Nick.  Everyone calls me Nick."

"Alright, Nick.  What exactly are you going to do now?"  Jack asked.  The little boy shrugged.  "Prolly go to the orphanage…I dunno."  Crutchy shook his head.

"There ain't no way in hell I'm letting two lil kids go to the orphanage.  I've done dat and believe me it ain't pretty."  Jack said.

"So what are we goin to do?"  Nick asked.  Jack shrugged.

"What if you let them stay here?"  Caitlyn asked softly.  The other girls nodded.

"Yeah.  Nick could learn how to sell papers and Jack, you always say having a little kid around is good for business.  You could bring Daisy with you, after all who could say no to her?"  Charlotte added eagerly.

"That could work."  Jack said. 

"I could be a good newsie.  I promise." Nick said.

"I don't think Kloppman would have a problem with it.  After all, they would only take one bed and we could all chip in to help them pay for it." Blink said.

"I'll pay for them."  Cecile said.  Jack looked at her and shook his head.

"You don't have enough money to pay for them.  All of the newsies will help pay."  Jack said.

"Jack.  I said I would pay for them.  Don't worry, I have money stashed away."  Cecile said.  Jack stared at her for a long time. 

"Alright.  If you think you can." 

"Jack, I know I can."  Cecile said.  "Daisy, sweetheart, are you hungry?"  Daisy nodded and brought her hands to her stomach. "What do you want to eat?"

"I dunno."

"Do you want to go to this nice little restaurant that I know?"  Cecile asked.  Daisy nodded eagerly.  "Nick, are you hungry?" 

"Yes.  But I got no money."  He said. 

"Don't worry about it, I'll treat you."  Cecile said.

"We don't take charity from no one."  Nick said proudly, standing up and taking Daisy's hand. 

"Fine, then you can pay me back later, once you have the money.  Alright?  But now, you really need to eat something."  Cecile said as Nick nodded slowly. 

"Does everyone else want to go to Tibby's?"  Jack asked.  The decision was unanimous.  As the group headed out the door, Jack took Cecile's hand and pulled her towards the back of the group.  She smiled at him. 

"Yes, Mr. Kelly?"  She asked, a little coyish.

"Ms. Cunningham, I'd like to know where you're getting all of this money.  I know Medda don't pay that much." 

Cecile pulled her hand away. "Frankly, Mr. Kelly, I don't think its any of your business, but I'll tell you because I'm rather fond of you.  I had some money before I came to work for Medda and I haven't really used it yet and I think that this is a worthy cause." 

"How did you get that money, Cecile?"  Jack asked.

"A little bird gave it to me."  She answered, smiling at him.

"No really.  How come you never tell me anything about your past?"  Jack asked.

"How come you never tell me anything about your past either?"  Cecile retorted.

"It ain't like it any big secret.  My pop's in jail, me muddah's dead.  And here I am, trying to save up enough money to go to Santa Fe."  Jack said.

"Someday, Jack. Someday, you'll know. I promise." 

"But I want to know now."  He said, taking her hand and pulling her closer to him.  She smiled and kissed him. 

"Ewww…what are they doing?"  Daisy asked, looking at the couple and tugging on her brother's hand.  They broke their embrace (omg I feel like I'm writing a romance novel with the phrase: they broke their embrace..) 

"Come here Daisy. We have to have a girl talk."  Cecile took Daisy's hand and patted her head.  "You see, Jack,"  She pointed at Jack.  "and I like each other very much and that's a way that we express our feelings.  Someday, you'll understand." 

"But why does it have to be so gross?"  Daisy asked, resulting in multitudes of laughter from the other Newsies.

"I don't know….maybe its just Jack."  Cecile said, looking over her shoulder. 

"Hey.." Jack said, playfully hitting Cecile's shoulder.  She took the bandana he always wore around his neck, and pulled him close.  "I love you."  He whispered in her ear, just for her to hear.  She froze, and released her grip. 

"So, Daisy." She said, turning away from Jack.  "What are you going to have to eat? I hear the sandwiches are really good."

"Hey, Caitlyn..can I talk to you for a sec?"  Jack asked, pulling her aside at the counter. 

"Sure.  What do ya need?"  She said, sitting down.

"Alright, listen."  Jack reached up and scratched his neck.

"Yes….?" 

"Earlier I said, I love you to Cecile..." 

"Did you really?"  Caitlyn squealed.  "Was it your first time?"

Jack nodded.  "But da problem is…..da problem is dat she didn't say it back to me." 

"Oh.  I don't know, she was probably shocked when you said it to her and she didn't know  how to respond, if you want I can talk to her tonight and ask her,"

"What happened?" Caitlyn asked, applying lipstick to her already rouged lips.  "He told you he loved you and then you pulled away and started talked to Daisy?" 

"Daisy is adorable.  I want to keep her forever."  Cecile said.  "Can you zip me?"  Caitlyn walked behind Cecile.

"Don't change the subject."  She said, pulling up the zipper.  "Why didn't you tell him you loved him?  I know you do; I see it in your eyes every time you look at him."

"I don't know."  Cecile said, pulling on her black gloves.  "I love him, I know I do.  But I just couldn't say it.  It's like I can't commit to him because I know sooner or later, I'm going to have to go home.  I don't really belong in this world.  And I don't want to break his heart.  I don't want to love him, Caitlyn.  But please don't tell him this, please."   Caitlyn nodded.

"Caitlyn, you're on."  Charlotte said, knocking on the door to their dressing room. 

"Good luck."  Cecile said.  After Caitlyn had closed the door, she let out the cough she had been suppressing.  She grabbed a handkerchief and held it up to her mouth.  When she pulled it away, she saw there were specks of blood dotted on the white cloth.  "Please God, no, not now."  She pleaded silently. 

"Good luck Cecile."  Caitlyn said, passing her backstage.  She smiled and took her place behind the curtain with the male dancers that were appearing in her number.  She adjusted the black hat on her hair that was pulled back.  She felt at home in the dress she was wearing, a strapless silver dress that flared at the bottom, with black gloves and a gigantic, but fake, diamond necklace.  After all, this was pretty much the same outfit she would wear to go see the opera with her brother.  The curtain was raised and she took a deep breath.  But, it was as if she hadn't taken a breath at all.  She couldn't breath.  She could feel everyone's eyes on her.  "Calm down Cecile."  She told herself.  "Let it pass."  The music started and somehow she managed to start singing.

"The French are glad to die for love.  They delight in fighting duels.  But I prefer a man who lives, and gives expensive jewels."  She sang.  "A kiss on the hand may be quite continental but diamonds are a girl's best friend."  As the applause rang out at the end of her number, she felt her breath becoming shorter and shorter.  She gasped a couple of times, but no one heard her.  As the curtain was lowered, she could feel herself sinking to the ground. 

"What happened?"  She asked groggily, opening her eyes, discovering she was lying on the bed in her dressing room. 

"You fainted."  Caitlyn said. 

"Oh.  Its these silly costumes, sometimes when you dance, its hard to breathe in them." 

"Here, change into your dressing robe."  Caitlyn said, taking it off its hook.

"Can you please find my brother for me? Its imperative that I talk to him.  And please, please don't let Jack in."  Cecile said. "Thank you Caitlyn."

"Spot."  Caitlyn said, walking out into the lobby. "Cecile fainted on stage and she says she needs to talk to you." 

"She fainted?" Jack exclaimed.  "I need to see her."  Caitlyn shook her head. 

"She only wants to see Spot." 

"What?  Why?  I love her, shouldn't I be allowed to see her?"  Jack said. 

"Jack, please.  She told me specifically to not let you into her dressing room."  Caitlyn said.

"Does it have sometin to do with the 'I love you'?"  He asked, a little more softly.

"I don't think so.  I think there's something that her brother knows that she needs to discuss with him. Just let it go, Jack."  Caitlyn said, softly as Crutchy came up to them.

"What happened onstage Cecile?"  Spot asked, closing the door to her dressing room.

"I'm going home, Cedric."  She said, taking a sip of water.

"What?  Why?  Why would you go back to a grandfather who would make you marry someone as bad as Luke?"  Spot exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, Cedric.  I have to go back.  I don't belong here, here in this world." 

"No, you love it here.  You have me and Caitlyn and Blink and Jack. I thought you loved us." 

"I do, Cedric."  She sighed and looked at the window.  "I'm sick again, Cedric."  She said, tears forming in her eyes. 

"How do you know?"  He asked, sitting down on a chair and taking her hand.

"Cedric,"  She said, not really hearing him.  "The doctors said if the tuberculosis came back, the chances were very slim I'd survive again."

"You're not going to f-ing die, Cecile! You can't die!"  Spot screamed, taking a vase of flowers and throwing it to the floor.  "You can't!  And you can't f-ing leave either!"  He stormed out of the room. 

"What the hell was that?"  Jack asked, coming into the room. 

"Oh, Spot was just a little upset."  She said, getting up but sitting back down again.

"No, don't move.  You need to rest.  A little upset? This looks more than a little upset to me." Jack said, picking up the pieces of glass that were scattered on the lush carpet.

"Jack, I'm not sick. It was just those silly costumes with the corsets we have to wear."  She said.  He came over and kissed her. 

"You need to stay here tonight and get some rest."  Jack said as she began coughing.  "I'll tell Medda to send some medicine and some water for you."  He kissed her again. "I'll see you tomorrow."  He stopped at the doorway.  "I love you, Cecile."  He said, looking into her eyes but no response came.  He sighed and headed towards the other newsies.

"Oh, I'm sorry dear.  I didn't mean to wake you."  Medda said, coming into the room.

"No, no, its alright.  I was just resting my eyes." Cecile said.  "Thank you for bringing that for me." 

"Its nothing.  Are you feeling better?"  Medda asked.  Cecile nodded. 

"Its just these silly costumes and I think I'm just tired."  Cecile said.  "Medda, could you hand me a pen and some sheets of paper?  I have some things I need to write down."  Cecile waited until Medda left to begin her first letter.

            Dear Grandfather,

I have decided to return home.  Please meet me at the Horace Greeley statue in five days time to fetch me.  I will explain everything when I return home.

            Cecile

She sighed and reached for the other sheets of paper.  This was going to be a long and difficult letter to write.  Tears started to trickle down her face as she began:

            Dearest Jack,

            By the time you are reading this, I am with my family again and at my house.  There is much to tell you, remember how I said that you would someday know the story of my life…well Jack, this is your lucky day. 

            I was born in Boston to my parents, Joseph Pulitzer II and Anne Cunningham. I lived the privilege life as a happy girl born into the highest social standings.  However, when I was ten, my brother, Cedric, or as he is known, Spot, ran away.  My family was devastated.  My mother sat at the window for weeks afterwards, waiting for him to return.  One day, I found a letter stuffed away in his writing desk.  He wrote he had to get away from all of the stifling aspects of life here.  He wanted to be free - free to do what he wanted, dress how he wanted and talk with people that he wanted.  Another blow came to our family four years later, when my parents were hit by a runaway carriage.  My father died instantly and my mother a few hours later.  My two older brothers were attending university and my oldest brother was married, but he didn't want to raise a 14 year old girl.  So, I was sent to New York to live with my grandfather, Joseph Pulitzer.  I know that all the newsies feel hatred towards my grandfather, but he is actually very loving and kind.  He is just a shrewd businessman, that's all.  He gave me everything I ever dreamed of.  When I was fifteen, he sent me to England to live with my other grandparents, a duke and duchess.  I loved it, parties and balls every night.  Operas and plays and just the city itself.  When I returned, a few months shy of my eighteenth birthday, I was a debutante.  And of course my grandfather started thinking of marriage.  He arranged a marriage for me to Luke Remsin, the son of the mayor and one of the most powerful allies of my grandfather.  However, there is a darker side to Luke that one rarely sees.  He treats women horribly.  I have seen fun-loving women, spirited women enter into a relationship with him and come out broken and depressed.  So, I ran away and somehow, Cedric's newsies found me.  Do not hate Grandfather for arranging a marriage for me, he just wanted to make sure that I was adequately provided for after his death.  He didn't know the darker side of Luke.  However, part of the reason I am returning is that Luke is now on his honeymoon with a debutante from Virginia.

            There is a darker side to my life.  When I was eight, I had tuberculosis.  The doctors say it was a miracle I survived.  They also said if I ever had a relapse, chances were slim I would pull through again.  Well, Jack, it has come back.  That was the reason I had fainted onstage after my number.  In the past couple of days, I have coughing up my own blood.  I'm dying, Jack. I'm going to die.  And that's one of the reasons I'm returning home. 

            Jack, please don't hate me.  I love you more than I knew was possible.

           

                                                Cecile Pulitzer