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So we didn't get to nine reviews...I just really wanted to update!

Sprace4Life: Here is the update you were waiting for! And they aren't your children they are MY children!

CrippledChild: Aw, thanks! Albert is a good big brother, isn't he?

Guest: OMGosh! Thank you so much! And thank you for reviewing!

news: I know, this is heart wrenching to write! And thank you soooo much for reviewing!

Here is chapter 6 for y'all. Also, this is more of a Jack and Race (and Buttons and Romeo)... So we aren't going to see Albert and Jojo. But we are going to see two other Newsies in this chapter! ( ╹▽╹ )

Enjoy!(•‿•)

Romeo and Buttons bounded up to the hospital doors. Jack pulled them open as the two bounded inside.

Buttons jumped up at the front desk and said, "We're here to see my brother!"

The lady at the front desk, whose name-tag read Hannah, smiled and said, "Oh, good! What's his name?"

"Race!" Romeo exclaimed, standing on his tip-toes to perch his chin on the counter.

"Race?" Hannah stared at Jack, confused.

"A nickname," Jack clarified, "His name's Anthony Kelly, formerly Anthony Higgins."

"Race's name is Anthony?" Buttons asked, confused. He and Romeo had never heard Race's real name before. Jack nodded.

"And are you his guardian?" Hannah asked, slightly impatient.

"Um, er, well no," Jack stuttered.

"I'm afraid I can't let you see him unless you have a referral from his current guardian," Hannah stated matter-of-factly.

"Oh, Hannah, honey, I asked for them to come," a voice from behind them said, "Anthony, no Race, asked to see his brothers," they turned to see a kind-faced women coming towards them. She held out her hand for Jack to shake, "I'm Medda Larkin, Race's foster mom. Are you Jack?"

"Yeah, I'm Jack," Jack said, shaking her hand, "This is Buttons, and this is-"

"Nicolas?" Medda asked, looking at Romeo.

"Um, how do you know Romeo's birth name?" Jack asked

"I knew Nicolas's parents before they moved, when I learned that they had abandoned their baby boy, I tried to foster him, but found out that he was already being fostered by a man named Mr. Wiesel."

"Oh," Jack said, "We gave him the nickname Romeo, because, well, he's a flirt and a half."

Medda chuckled, "Well, you have a little brother who really wants to see you, so..."

"Oh, yeah, uh, let's go."

Jack was sitting next to his unconscious brother. It had been two days since his boys were sent away, and he cried himself to sleep both nights. He was crying right now, watching Race's chest rise and fall to the sound of steady breathing. There were machines all around him beeping, buzzing, and making a racket.

But Race's health state wasn't why he was crying.

It was because he just got a call. From the foster system. He had lost custody over his baby brother.

This would be the last time he saw him for awhile. Unless Race's new foster parent or parents would let him come and visit, but the likelihood of that was very low.

The machines were beginning to annoy Race. All that beeping was driving him insane. And Race shared a room with Albert, so he was used to things being annoying. But these machines were a special kind of annoying.

Race drummed his fingers against his leg. That was when he realized both of his legs were in casts. Both of them. That sucked. His left arm was in a cast, too. And his chest hurt. And his right arm was covered in bandages. Everything hurt so much.

He looked around the room, wishing his brothers were here. He could use Romeo's happy little laugh, or Button's hyperactivity. He would even settle for a chess game with Specs. He missed the comforting tap-tap of Crutchie's crutch. He missed Jojo making a silly face at him, just because he wanted to. He missed Jack's corny jokes and loving embrace.

And he missed Albert. Race was looking forward to his partner-in-crime's birthday. He had gotten Albert the best birthday present ever.

Race's thoughts were interrupted by the door creaking open.

"Hello?" Race turned to see Jack's head peeking around the door.

"Jack!" He exclaimed.

"Race!" Romeo came bursting through the door, followed closely by Buttons.

"Romeo! Buttons!" The two boys stopped at the edge of Race's bed, "How are you guys?"

"Good! Hey, Race, guess what?" Buttons asked, eagerly.

"Uhhhhh... Chicken Butt!" Race replied, with a smile.

"No!" Buttons laughed, "I learned a new word at Mr. Pulitzer's house!"

Jack looked confused, "What new word?"

Race's eyes grew wide when he heard the word leave Button's mouth. Buttons was seven. He should not be using language that colorful. Jack pulled Buttons into the hallway and they had a conversation on what words we should use and what words we shouldn't.

"Race?" Romeo asked while Buttons and Jack were in the hallway, "What's wrong with the word fu-"

"It is a very bad word. Don't ever say it. Okay?" Race interrupted.

"Okay."

It was their fourth day staying with the Pulitzers. Buttons had gotten lost in their house, again. This place was huge. There were three floors, five bathrooms, and at least eleven bedrooms(Buttons hadn't found them all). Buttons and Romeo were each given their own room. Of course, Romeo slept with Buttons every night. They had always shared a bed, because their brother's presence was comforting, and helped them sleep.

Katherine was nice. She played with them when she wasn't working(she was a reporter, which Romeo thought was awesome), and she read them a story each night before they went to bed. She also would go and find them whenever they got lost in the house.

Mr. Pulitzer, however, was different. They never saw him, because he was always in his office, working. He would come out at breakfast and dinner, and occasionally lunch. He was really nice then, but he did have a strict set of rules. No talking with food in you mouth. No eating until everybody had gotten food. No this. No that. Blah blah blah.

But Buttons didn't care about Mr. Pulitzer's rules right now, he just really needed to find the bathroom. It was an emergency. If he didn't make it to the bathroom quick, it was going to be bad. REALLY bad.

Somehow, Buttons had found his way into the kitchen. That's were Katherine and Mr. Pulitzer were, making lunch.

"Katherine, yes, I know how to use a knife," Mr. Pulitzer said, "I'll be fine."

"I'm just saying, Dad, you should really keep you fingers back," Katherine argued.

"Um, Katherine?" Buttons piped up.

Katherine turned and said, "Yeah, Buttons?"

"Where's the bathroom?"

"Oh! Over here," Katherine said guiding Buttons to one of the many bathrooms. They had just left the kitchen when Mr. Pulitzer let out a loud word that starts with 'f' and rhymes with duck.

Katherine gasped and shouted, "DAD!"

"Sorry, Katherine, I cut myself."

When Jack and Buttons came back in the room, Race asked, "Jack, how long have been in the hospital?"

"About a month."

"A month?"

"Yeah."

"I missed Albert's birthday?"

Jack paused, "Yeah."

Race studied the details on his cast, and blinked tears out of his eyes. He had missed his brother's birthday. They were practically twins, Race being older by only two weeks. Albert had been there for Race's birthday, but Race wasn't there for his.

"Race," Jack said, "There is no need to beat yourself up over it, none of us were there for it."

Race looked up and said "Okay," he breathed in and grabbed a permanent marker off of his bedside table, "You guys wanna sign my casts?"

"YEAH!" Buttons and Romeo shouted in unison. Jack chuckled as Race handed him the marker.

"I am going to write my name in the biggest letters on the bottom of your feet."

"Jack, no." Jack did it anyways. His name took up the entire bottom of Race's foot. Race glared at him. Buttons wrote his name of Race's left calf, in his neatest handwriting. Romeo was writing his name on Race's arm when Jack's phone rang. Jack stepped out into the hallway to answer it, leaving Romeo, Buttons, and Race to talk.

"So, have you guys been good for Jack?"

"Yeah!" Romeo said, "Jack has a girlfriend!"

Jack popped his head back into the room, "No. I don't." He popped his head back into the hallway.

Race stared at them for a minute, "Please explain."

"Mr. Pulitzer has a daughter, named Katherine! And Jack loves her! And she loves him, too!" Race piped up. Race chuckled. His big brother, had gotten a girl to love him? Impossible.

Jack walked back in with a smile spread over his face, "I have great news guys."

"Spill the tea," Race blurted out. Albert and Race always asked each other for the 'tea'.

"I have custody over Crutchie and Specs again!"

"What? Jack, that's great!"

"And get this!" Jack paused for dramatic effect, "We are in the final stages of gaining custody over you, Jojo, and Albert!"

"Really?"

"Yes!" Jack was crying. Race felt tears coming to his eyes. The whole family was going to be reunited again.

"Excuse me?" a doctor walked through the door, "I hate to be that person, but Anthony needs to rest, and visiting hours are over."

"Aw, darn," Jack said, "Buttons, Romeo, come on, let's go."

"Bye, Race," Buttons said.

"Bye guys, Jack, can you come back tomorrow?"

"Of course," Jack paused, "With Crutchie and Specs."

Crutchie was sitting on the couch, backpack leaning against his good leg, and his crutch in his lap. Specs was next to him, cleaning his glasses for what seemed to be the bajillionith time. Crutchie was practically shaking with excitement.

The doorbell rang.

Specs jumped up and opened the door to a familiar face smiling.

"Jack!"

There ya go guys.

Chapter six.

Buttons said his first swear word.

See ya next time,

Pegz.( ꈍᴗꈍ)