(Ok I just realized that this story is gonna be REALLY long, I mean it's llllloooonnnnggggg!!!!!! Why does that matter you say? Well to be honest I don't know, but it does. Doing two plots at once will do that to a story especially if you're like me and can't keep your mind on one subject for more than five second, unless that subject is boys, heehee I like boys. Hey wait a minute! Newsies are boys, hee hee I like newsies. Ok now I'm all silly happy now and I really need to stop writing this thinggy.)

Pips was in a really crappy mood. The guys were having their usual chipper walk to buy their papers and she was trailing behind them, completely forgotten. Mush, Race and Blink were all together for the first time in over a month and were reminding everyone else how much they enjoyed silence, which lasted for about two seconds. They turned into a mob of rowdy boys and Pips swore they were going to break into song on more than one occasion (teehee).

Pips managed to buy her papers without hurting anyone, barely. This was the first time she didn't have Marble with her and she had never realized how vulgar and obnoxious boys were. When they were out on the street she started to go towards the track but she suddenly remembered Kid Blink and turned around to go the opposite direction.

She only got three steps before Race called, "Ain't 'cha comin' wit us Pips?" She stopped but didn't turn around, "Aw come on. Please come?"

She started walking again and he shouted, "At least don't go alone, it ain't safe."

Pips spun around and screeched at him, "Racetrack Higgins don't you dare try telling what to do. I can take care of myself just fine without street trash like you."

She stalked off hating herself for saying it. Thinking of the hurt look on his face made her feel even crappier, but she was too mad to apologize. No matter what she wasn't going to do it fn front of Kid. So she went on hoping she could make it better later on.

* * *

Pips was walking along the edge of Central Park. She wasn't really trying to sell anything, she was just watching the traffic go by. The crowd was overbearing and she tried ignoring them but she almost tripped over a little boy sitting on the curb. He sprang up and would have bolted into an oncoming carriage if she hadn't reached out and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and dragged him back. She wasn't in any mood for things like this so she just snapped at him, "Watch it! Are you trying to kill yourself?"

He just looked up at her wide eyed so she made an annoyed noise and kept going. She eventually gave up on the streets and went into the park. A few turns brought her to a shady path and she stopped, finally alone. Pips curled up into a ball and started crying. There wasn't anything to distract her anymore an she finally had to deal with the fact that she had lost a child. As much as she hadn't wanted it she couldn't stand the fact that her baby was gone. She felt sick, like something was missing inside her, and there was. That little boy out on the street had reminded her of what she had lost and she needed to mourn before it ate away her insides.

Her tears were slowing down when she heard a noise. She looked up and there was the boy. H was watching her with the same wide eyed look he had had on the street.

Pips slowly got to her feet, "What do you want?"He just stared.

"Do you need something?" No response, "I don't need this. Look, I'm leaving now. Don't follow me ok?"

She wen on down the path towards a more populated area where she could get rid of her papers. She was almost finished when she thought she heard a familiar voice hawking headlines, but when she turned all she saw was strangers and the now familiar stare of a little boy.

She made an exasperated noise and stalked over to him, "What is it? Are you lost? Hungry? Lonely? What!? Here take this and get yourself something to eat."

She handed him a half cent and stared to leave. He was still staring as he brought the coin up to his mouth to eat.

"Jesus Christ!" Pips snatched his hand back down, "Come with me." She didn't wait for a response, she just lifted him off the ground and carried him to a fruit vendor down the path. She was amazed by how small and light he was. Pips was easily able to balance him on one hip as she took out another penny and bought a handful of small withered apples. She handed him one then set him down to put the rest in his pockets.

"There, you're all set, good luck." She straightened up an turned to leave bu got a strange feeling in her stomach. She suddenly got a surge of protectiveness and felt responsible for the little life behind her.

Pips turned back around and looked down on him, "Do you have a name?" He nodded, "What is it?"

He beaconed her closer with a chubby little finger and whispered to her, "Dorry."

"Your name's Dorry?" He nodded again, "How old are you Dorry?"

He spread out a hand and held up one finger, "Six?" Another nod.

"Do you have any parents?" He slowly shook his head and she sighed, "Do you want to come with me? I have a place with warm beds and food where you can stay."

He smiled and bobbed his head quickly up and down. Pips picked him up again and started back towards the lodging house.

* * *

Pips was in the small kitchen in the back of the lodging house heating some food for Dorry. He was sitting at the long dining table in the next room eating some bread and butter while he waited. For the first time ever Pips was grateful that the cook at her old home had forced her to learn to prepare food. She managed to heat up some 'god only knows how old' stew and a few slices of ham without setting anything on fire.

She was about to open the door when she heard childish giggling and an older boy laughing. It was silent for a minute then there was another fit of giggling. Pips quietly opened the door and leaned against the frame, smiling despite herself. Kid Blink was sitting backwards in a chair across from Dorry. They were staring intently at each other. Blink slowly walked his hand across the table towards a spoon on the other side. His finger darted out and tapped the end, making it flip over. He grinned as the little boy shrieked with laughter again. Pips couldn't help chuckling a little bit.

Blink shot out of his chair and looked at her warily, "What are you doin' heah?"

"Feeding him," She put the food on the table in front of the boy, who tore into it greedily, "I found him in Central Park. What are you doing here?"

"You knows, finished eoily, got bored, came back, nuthin' big." His body gave away the lie when a fit of coughing forced him to grab the table to keep from falling. When it was over he glared at Pips like it was her fault he was still sick. She just smiled sweetly and he stormed out of the room. It was a better effect than she would have gotten from any comment.

* * *

In the bunkroom Blink was playing with Dorry while Pips tried to sleep. She was getting very fond of Dorry but she could think of better people for him to be getting to know. At least she could use this to make fun of him with later on.

Blink flopped back onto the floor with his eyes closed and his tongue hanging out of his mouth, "I's dead now, ya kilt me."

"Nuh-uh, you're not dead."

"Yes I am."

"Oh." Dorry looked down on the other boy for a minute frowning then walked off. He went to Pips and tugged on her skirts, "Where's Lizbit?"

"Who?"

"Lizbit! She ain't here."

"Who's Lizbit?"

"My....umm."

"Sister?"

He nodded happily, "Yea, Lizbit."

"Oh crap! Was she in the park?"

"Uh-huh."

"Ugh, let's go find her then." Pips got up and grabbed her hat.

"Hey, wheah ya goin'?"

"It has nothing to do with you." Pips' snub was ruined when Dorry ran up to Blink and started pulling him to his feet.

"Come, come. You can meet Lizbit, she's nice." He got up reluctantly and returned Pips' dirty look as he was dragged out the door with her close behind.

* * *

Dorry was skipping through the park, leading Blink by the hand with Pips still following behind, laughing to herself. If she had ever struggled with insult material she never would again. This would be good for years. He kept trying to turn around to make some remark that would save face, but the little boy wouldn't let him slow down enough to do it.

They finally stopped at a fork on an abandoned pathway. Dorry stopped and looked around then went back to Pips and held up his arms so she would pick him up.

She lifted him up and he whispered, "It's scary and she ain't here."

"Don't worry, I'm sure she's looking for you right now."

"No, she said if I get lost go to the big fountain in the middle."

"Why didn't you?"

"I lost it."

"Well then we'll find it."

Blink didn't hear the whispered conversation so he asked, "Wheah too now?"

"Keep your pants on, PLEASE, there's a fountain in the middle of the park where,"

He interrupted her, "Yea I know it, let's git goin'. Don't git lost back dere."

Pips grumbled curses as he confidently led them on and she was forced to follow blindly. She didn't want to openly swear at him because of the little boy but that just made him so much more irritating. She decided to forget about him and think of something else.

Her thoughts went from home, to Midtown, to Dorry, to Racetrack. She sighed and put Dorry down, she didn't know how to apologize. They had never fought before about anything and now it was about the stupidest thing in the world, literally.

She looked up to glare him and jumped backwards with a shout, "Oh My God!." His butt was directly in front of her face.

He turned where he was standing on the ledge of a fountain and asked, "What?"

She covered her eyes and stepped farther back. The new view wasn't any better than the old one, "would you please give me some warning when you're about to shove your fat ass in my face?"

"Wha's a mattah? Don'cha like it?"

He wiggled his hips at her and she hissed, "Listen to me you goddamned little,"

"Lizbit!" Dorry ran off down the circular path into a girl's arms. There was a strong family resemblance between them even though they looked nothing alike. While he was small and pudgy with black hair and deep blue eyes she was a slim girl of about eleven with blond hair and pale eyes.

Dorry dragged her over to them by the hand, "This is Lizbit."

"It's Elizabeth. Thank you for returning my brother, but we have to go now."

"Now wait a minute, if you twos don't got a place ta stay ya can come back to the lodgin' house. We'll watch out for you an' ya bruddah, sweetheart."

"Oh, no I, um," Blink smiled charmingly as she got all flustered, "Don' worry 'bout it, I couldn't nevah leave a poitty goil like yous out heah on ya own anyway. Come back wit me?"

She blushed and looked away then to Pips' disgust she smiled up at him and agreed, "Okay."

"Good choice." He winked and started leading them back. Pips grabbed Dorry up in her arms and followed.

Elizabeth caught up to Blink and grabbed his hand whilst (^_^) smiling adoringly up at him, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

Blink jumped and shot Pips a panicked look but she was laughing too hard to see it."

* * *

Pips was sitting on the front steps waiting for Race and watching Dorry play with Tumbler on the sidewalk. She had had a sudden anxiety attack and wanted to make up right away but she didn't want to go look for him out of fear of missing him on the street and having to wait longer. Her stomach was thing it's self into knots about it because she knew it was her fault. She wasn't used to taking the blame for anything, but with Racetrack she wasn't going to pretend it was something he had done.

Despite her careful watching she was still surprised when he sat down next to her, "Where did you come from?"

"Me muddah, so dey tell me. I wanna talk to ya 'bout dis mornin'."

"Oh my God I'm so sorry, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that, I am such a bitch. I hate myself so much for being so horrible to you when you were only trying to look out for me. Please forgive me and don't be mad."

"Wow an' all I was gonna say was don't worry 'bout it, ya had a bad mornin'."

She stared at him for a minute then screeched, "Ugh! Boys are such stupid jerks." She stomped up the steps and stormed into the building, slamming the door behind her.

Racetrack stared ahead blankly for a minute then turned to the little boys, "Did eitha a yous understand dat?" The two boys slowly shook their heads, "Neitha did I."

(Here I am pretending to write a perfectly serious fanfic and yet the reviews I'm getting are all about my brain damaged comments at the beginning and ends. Don't misunderstand me, I love my brain damage and I'm glad you all do too, I'm just saying if you think it's so funny why hasn't anyone gone to my website yet? The whole thing is like this, trust me. Since I'm already indulging in shameless self promotion I have to add, Sign My Guestbook. Thank you loyal friends, fans, and fellow mental charges for all your support.)