G'day everyone!

Review Responses:

Dylan Quagmir: Thank you so much! The goal of the assignment was to use imagery and really paint the scene and characters, so I'm glad I managed that well!

Huffelpufdraws: Guess who's in this next one-shot? Guess guess guess! MWAHAHA SAD JATHERINE BREAKUPS BECAUSE NO ONE CAN BE HAPPY! Thank you though, I'm glad you enjoyed.

Emz: (Chapter 7) Albert has considered, but Finch tragically said no. It was dramatic.

Story time!

So a few months ago, I planned out like 40 Newsies one-shots based on Taylor Swift songs. Being a busy person, I actually finished a grand total of one. Heh. Is anyone surprised?

So here it is while I wait for New Year's celebrations to start. Enjoy!

The Moment I Knew

She should have been there. She should have burst through that door, arms open, ready to scoop up her boy, to hug him so tight she crushed him. He wouldn't have cared if it hurt, just to hear her whisper "I'm right here, baby."

He would've been so happy.

But no. The stars never aligned for Henry.

Not when it came to his mother.

Despite it being mid-October, Specs had strung Christmas lights on every available portion of the Duane Street rooftop. They provided perfect lighting against the fading sun, and helped point lost latecomers to the correct building. At five p.m., the lights were largely decorative, since most of the newsies had already arrived, spreading themselves around the venue. Race, Smalls, Crutchie, and a few other usual suspects were gathered near Jack in one corner. In another, Albert was hanging with Romeo, Specs, and the twins. Mush and Blink had been visible earlier on, but had since disappeared somewhere together. Even Spot Conlon was there, as Race's date. Everybody had someone beside them. Everyone was having a perfect night.

Except for Henry.

He sat on the wall lining the roof, eyes fixed on the wooden door that led downstairs. Had his preference been taken into account he would have been inside waiting, but all three of his best friends had banned him from the kitchen, not wanting to ruin any surprises. So now he waited, checking his watch every minute, heels tapping against the wall as his legs swung back and forth.

Come on. Any time now.

As if signaled by his hope, the doorknob turned. Henry sprung to his feet. "Finally!" Though he couldn't yet see the person entering, he sprinted to greet them. "I knew you'd come this time, I knew it!"

"Uh… thanks?"

Hearing Davey's voice, Henry skidded to a stop. It truly was only David Jacobs- with Sarah, Les, and Tommy Boy- standing in front of him.

"Shit." He stepped out of the way, gritting his teeth to keep his lips in a smile. "I mean, hi, but I thought you were someone else."

"Figured," Davey let the others pass through, joining Henry beside the door. "So how are you? Feel any older yet?"

"No, not really," Henry watched the staircase empty. Unsurprisingly, she wasn't hiding anywhere behind the small group.

Davey closed the door. "I'm sure it'll hit you eventually."

"Mhm." He checked his watch again. The party had started an hour ago. Where the hell was she?

Please be on your way. Don't do this to me again.

"Henry's a grumpy old man already, aging means nothin' to him," said Jack, coming to greet Davey, his entourage close behind.

"Y'know, when I turned sixteen…" Davey's story faded out as listeners surrounded, escorting him toward the middle of the roof.

Henry couldn't be bothered to follow. Anyhow, he preferred his own company. Combing through his memories, he tried to reason away her lateness. This wasn't anything new.

Although...

A year ago, he'd been sure she had changed. For months it had seemed true; she'd slipped up a few times, sure, but not so much it took her back to square one. She had made every appointment, gotten a job, an apartment, everything. Social services hardly had to remind her to be involved in his life anymore, and by now she should have been talking about getting back custody. He figured she had been waiting for the perfect night to surprise him, and that this night was going to be it.

So maybe his expectations were too high. But that didn't give her a reason to abandon him again. Particularly today.

Unless she was giving up.

No. He was psyching himself out. Two weeks ago he'd met her for lunch and extended an invitation; she'd accepted right away, took out her planner and made note of the date and time, right in front of him.

You said you'd be here.

Henry eyed the door again, willing it to open. It didn't. He looked around the roof, as if she'd magically appear, floating down from the sky. She didn't. His friends were all too busy laughing together to care about him, standing there alone in a suit borrowed from Elmer, tugging on his red tie. Henry had got all dressed up, and for who? Nobody was impressed.

Why can't you just show up?

Davey was waving his hands, miming something to the others; in slow motion compared to the speed of Henry's heart, thumping ten miles a minute. He barely noticed Specs break away from the group and head his way until the older boy was right there, putting an arm around Henry's shoulders. "What're you doin', wastin' time over here?"

Seconds later, he was in the thick of the crowd, Specs' arm against his neck preventing him from looking back at the door. Which, Henry knew, was exactly the goal.

Two more hours passed. The later it grew, the more Henry wanted to be alone. But newsies being newsies, they forced a long, drawn-out affair of opening presents, and then Elmer suggested a game of hide-and-seek while they waited for the recently-baked cake to cool. At least with everyone scattered throughout the apartment, attention wasn't on Henry long enough for anyone to notice his happiness was a facade.

He was relieved when the game ended, and Buttons realized they had to get home in ten minutes or suffer the consequences. Everyone's priorities quickly shifted away from dessert and toward helping a friend in need. Most people who didn't live at Duane Street headed out with little more than a wish of happy returns to Henry.

Herding the final guest out the door, he let out a long-held breath, then turned, and saw the state of his kitchen. Whatever Jojo and Elmer had done to the cake had made a complete mess, and tired as he was, Henry knew he wouldn't get proper rest without helping to clean all of it. The moment he picked up a sponge, however, Specs was there, telling him that the others would handle it and he should relax.

"I been relaxing all night!" Henry snapped, grabbing for the black trash bag in his friend's hand. "Let me at least have control over clean-up, since I ain't done anything else for my entire goddamn party!" He pulled hard on the bag and it ripped, spilling paper plates and pieces of wrapping paper all over the floor.

Looking at the mess, Specs put his hands on his hips. "Well, now you do get ta clean it up, happy? An' no cake until you're done."

The posture, the phrasing, the stern expression. This was what a parent was supposed to be. This. Specs.

No. Not Specs. Henry didn't want Specs.

Dropping his piece of the trash bag, he spun on his heel, marching quickly down the hall and into the bathroom, not bothering to shut the door as he slammed his hands on the edges of the square countertop.

Don't cry don't cry don't cry.

"Henry?"

He looked up, into the mirror, meeting the pitying eyes of Specs.

"You've been on edge for hours. What's going on?"

"She said she'd be here," said Henry, hopelessly. "She said she would, and she's not." Getting the truth out made his stomach plummet, the lump in his throat pushing against that stupid red tie. Frantically, he yanked at it, trying to get it off, but only succeeded in choking himself.

"Here," Specs offered, placing a hand on the younger boy's shoulder as he made to move forward. "Let me-"

"I got it." Henry dug his fingers into the knot at the top of the tie, loosening it. "I'm fine." With the ability to breathe regained, that felt true.

"I'm sorry she did this again. You gave 'er a bunch a' time ta get her schedule together too."

Henry stared into the sink basin, already wanting to cry again.

"This is what she always does," said Elmer, appearing beside Specs. "Every time."

"She'll make up for it," protested Henry.

"How?" This came from Albert, in the hall. "By plannin' anotha' thing she won't show up for?"

"Who asked you?"

"Al's right, Hen," Jojo joined the bottleneck in the bathroom doorway. "I know ya love your mom, we all know that, but you've given her plenty a' chances and she's just takin' 'em all for granted."

Specs nodded. "You been hurt enough."

"It's time to let her go," added Elmer.

Henry's head shot up, he released his grip on the counter and shoved Elmer, making him stumble backwards. Then he rounded on Specs. "I'll say when I been hurt enough. And I'll decide when I wanna let her go when I want to, not 'cause youse say I should." He elbowed the others out of his way and headed back to the kitchen, drying his cheeks with his suit sleeve.

There, on the floor, Henry shoved refuse into another trash bag, not breaking eye contact with his work as the others entered the living room, still whispering about him. Blocking them out, he let his mind wander back a few months.

Kloppmann had proposed adoption a while ago, and Henry had flat-out refused. No way. With his mom so close to getting him back, he wasn't going to jeopardize any of her progress. Kloppmann had understood, but the other boys had been pissed. They had never said so outright, but Henry wasn't stupid.

Despite being eighteen, Specs had finalized his own adoption earlier in the year. When asked by Kloppmann during the summer, Albert had agreed to the same, and soon after, so did Elmer. All three boys had been on Henry's back ever since, taking every instance his mother messed up as a reason he should desert her and join them permanently at Duane Street.

Now look who didn't show, as usual.

Kloppmann was always made out to be a better parent; the fellas a better family; even Jojo had agreed when Henry told them about the offer.

Why don't you just say yes? Look at how lucky you are.

Now Henry did. The other three were on the couch together, laughing at one of Albert's stupid jokes. As annoying as it was, he knew their pushiness was out of love. He knew they all loved and cared for him, and would still support him whether he was legally their brother or not. He never said so, but they did mean loads to him.

I can't do that to the person who means everything to me.

"Hey," Albert called, bringing Henry out of his stupor, "you gonna drop the jerkface act an' come over here?"

Elmer scooted, making space on the couch. "We're waiting on you."

Begrudgingly, Henry gave in. Stood and claimed the seat, quickly obeying when Specs said, "Close your eyes."

Once he could only see darkness, the others rose. The sound of the fridge opening, followed by a scuffle and various shouts of "Careful!" and "Don't drop it!" were the only context Henry was allotted until Specs gave the order for him to open his eyes.

The living room had been plunged into complete darkness, save for the coffee table, on which a single-layer, chocolate-brown cake with lacy white icing sat, topped with sixteen pink candles. And there was Jojo, kneeling on the floor on the other side, beaming at Henry. Albert and Elmer were back on the couch, bookending him, while Specs stood behind the cushy armchair Kloppmann was sitting in.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Henry, happy birthday to you!" They all sang; Albert even refrained from changing the words to include "monkey" and "zoo" as he normally did. Specs and Elmer were both grinning like the tension from ten minutes earlier had never existed. Even Kloppmann smiled approvingly.

You should've been here. I would've been so happy.

Jojo was first to speak when the singing faded out. "Make a wish."

Again, Henry shut his eyes. I wish I didn't miss you all the time. I wish you didn't hurt me so much. I wish I knew you cared.

He blew out the candles in one go, and Elmer exclaimed, "It's sure to come true now! What'd you wish for?"

Henry hesitated, looking at his closest friends, at the few people he knew would always be there, no matter what. And at that moment, he decided.

"For a family."

Later, when everyone else had gone to sleep and Henry was just drifting off, he was jolted back to consciousness by his phone ringing.

"Happy birthday, mijo!" she said immediately, after he picked up. "How was your party?"

"Fine."

"I had to cover a shift, forgot what day it was completely. I'm sorry I didn't make it, baby."

"I'm sorry too." He let the sentence hang for a minute, wondering whether to tell her the news, and then: "I still love you, Ma."

"I love you too, always."

He knew, then and there, that he'd made the right choice.

Oh. Were you... expecting happiness?

Well. Um.

Bye.

No but really, I give you full permission to scream in agony in a review. Or just tell me what you liked or didn't like. See ya!