Disclaimer: Now that we're in New York I really can't claim most of the people being mentioned as mine. Basically Stacey is mine and Erik too, if I bring him in this chapter, if not, then he still is mine it just doing apply. Anyway, This Chapter is for my good friend Natalie, aka Chaos Raining who'd birthday was September 30th. Happy B-day Nat, and may the Spades be with you (For everyone else, it's an inside joke.)

Fresh Picked Georgia Peach
By Randomness

"What do yah mean Snyder isn't here?" Stacey yelled at the new warden of the Refuge. They had replaced Snyder with someone who wasn't quite as bad but he was working his way up to Snyder's evilness.
"As I said miss Peach," Mr. Smyth said. "Snyder was arrested and if you want to see him, you and your little friend can go see him in Jail."
"But I have to find him. He's my Grand-Father." Stacey screamed as she angrily paced the room.
"So you're an orphan?" Mr. Smyth said with an evil grin.
"Yeah...." Stacey said with hesitation.
"Maybe we'll be seeing you again soon then. Now if you excuse me, I have important business to attend to." Mr. Smyth said as he showed them out of the room.
"I doubt it" Stacey grumbled as she stormed out of the office with Sarah in tow.

"Your Grand Father is Snyder?"
"Yeah, so?" Stacey answered a little testily. She was now in a bad mood to have gotten so close just to have her family pulled away.
"I wouldn't mention that to the Newsies, especially Jack if I were you." Sarah said simply.
"Why?" Stacey asked looking up at Sarah who was at least a foot taller then her.
"Jack's greatest fear in the whole world was Snyder. Thousands of kids were backing Jack up, he had just faced down Pulitzer and he had won the Strike, but when Snyder showed up he was ready to run scared; Denton had to push him to get him to come back. A lot of people, especially orphans, breathed a lot easier when he was locked up." Sarah said passionately.
"My mother said he wasn't a great person and that she never liked him but he was my only family." Stacey said sadly, almost ready to cry.
"Hey, no matter what, your mother will be in your heart. She'll always be with you, always." Sarah said, putting her arm around Stacey's shoulder. "And If that isn't good enough, I'll make you my honorary little sister for life."
"Wow, Thanks!" Stacey said hugging Sarah.
"Well, what do you want to do now that we still have half a day left?" Sarah asked, taking Stacey's arm.
"Is there any place we could go swimming?" Stacey inquired. "I used to swim a lot when I was in Georgia but I can't find anywhere to swim here."
"I wouldn't advise swimming in anywhere you could find and afford in New York.......How about we go to Irving hall and see a show? We might run into Jack there."
"Irving Hall?" Stacey asked, deep in thought. "I know that name from somewhere, I just can't remember where."
"Let's go" Sarah said excitedly and they left the dreariness of the Refuge heading towards the brilliant colours of Irving Hall.

Unknown to them, someone else was heading to Irving hall too. Mr Kloppman was hurrying to see Medda to whom he wanted to give a Message. Kloppman walked in, only to be stopped by a guard. "Excuse me, I need to see Medda Larkson."
"Nobody sees Miss Medda unless they are on the list" The big muscled guard bellowed.
"I am an old friend of Miss Medda and she would see me if you just tell her Mr. Kloppman is here to see her." Kloppman said, sounding almost annoyed.
"Nobody sees Miss Medda." He answered.
"Are you some kind of Parrot?" He asked in a kind tone.
The guard looked confused. "Do I look like a Parrot?"
Kloppman chose not to answer that. "Can you just tell Miss Medda that I've lost some Ambrosia and if she has any information about it that she should come see me in the Lodging house." he, then, turned and left Irving Hall. He couldn't have stayed long anyway, he was needed at the lodging house.

"This is Irving Hall?" Stacey said looking around.
"Oh yeah, this is where the infamous Newsie Rally was held that absolutely no one except those who were there remember. Wait, that's not entirely true everyone who read the Newsie Banner found out about it." Sarah said thoughtfully as they walked Past Lenny, the guard. He let them in because Jack brought Sarah here a lot on dates.
"What's the Newsie Banner?" Stacey asked. Sarah had been telling her more about the Newsies then the actual Newsies had.
"It's the Newspaper that Jack, David and I, as well as Denton made in order to win the strike."
"And Denton is a reporter?"
"Yes, and he is one of the Nicest Men in New York too." Sarah said as they sat down.
Medda rushed out on stage. "I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen, I just found out something really important that I have to do right now so I'll be unable to perform tonight. However, you'll be hearing the performances of my new girls, Stella and Serene." Medda said in a rush before leaving as quickly as she came and running full speed out of Irving Hall.
"That's was weird, I've never heard Medda missing a performance...." Sarah whispered to Stacey as Serena started to sing.
"Oh, well. Let's just listen to these people..." Stacey answered as she turned her eyes back to the stage.

"Kloppman?" Medda said loudly as she ran into the Lodging House.
Kloppman looked at her. "I hope I didn't worry you....."
"Didn't Worry ME!?" Medda yelled "I was worried sick. You don't go using emergency code without any reason."
"I couldn't get to you myself so I left a message. Since you're here, I'll tell you what I went to see you for." Kloppman said kindly. "I've opened up the old Girls Bunk Room.....I thought you might like some of the stuff that was left there."
Medda stood there dumbfounded and dumbly followed Kloppman upstairs. She hadn't walked into that room since that fateful night.
"You're collection boxes are still there. All of them except Peach." Kloppman said, trying to end the Awkward silence. "She came and got hers when she broke out. Your's was 'Talent' Am I right?"
Medda took a moment to respond as she slowly reached out to touch the old door, as if spell bound. Finally his words penetrated and the spell was broken. "What?...oh, yeah. Mine was Talent...." she said, opening the door and walking in. "It's like I'm stepping into the past...." Medda breathed. "Almost like I'm 16 years old again."
"I know what you mean, Amber" Kloppman muttered, as he walked over to the heavily draped window and opened them to let sunlight in.
The Windows were painted too but they were painted to look like stained glass. That's how the Newsie who painted them got her name 'Stained-Glass' Like everything else in the room, these had Slogans on them too. The first window was decorated with leaves and flowers and it said, 'Miracles don't just happen, you gotta make em.' and it was signed 'Miracle'. She was the Newsie who collected Miracles and that was what was inscribed on her collection box. The second window was a beautiful Landscape of New York at Sunset, it looked almost funny because you could see the real, dreary New York through it. This one said 'Home is where your heart and Family is. This is ours.' and it was signed 'Mirage and Mirror' who were so identical that absolutely no one could tell them apart. They're collection boxes said 'Memories' and 'Tricks'. The Last Window was exactly what was actually outside the window when the painting was done. There was a building that didn't exist anymore but it was a perfect replica otherwise. The colours were also a lot brighter, she used reds, blues, greens, yellows etc, instead of the typical greys and browns that were the New York norm. 'You can't escape reality, but reality is only as dreary as you make it.' and it was signed by Jewel, the one who collected Smiles. If you took the time to look, you would notice that there were 20 slogans that splashed the walls, each one attributed to a girl Newsie. They had honestly made this room home before they were torn away.
"Ambrosia." Medda muttered as if by reflex to Kloppman's former comment. She walked slowly over to the slogan that was signed by her, Ambrosia. 'Never let go of your dreams, because one day the wind will pick up and if you're still hanging on, you'll Fly.'
"There's some clothes around but I figured you would really want the collection boxes before the new girl moves it." Kloppman said around the lump that had appeared in his throat.
"They should go back to their owners, or at least the families." Medda said looking at the boxes that had been flung across the room in the fight that occurred the last time this room had held life.
"I don't know where the other girls are. I lost track of most of them, I knew about you because Jack talked about you continually, but that's about it." Kloppman answered, looking around. He had cleaned up everything, even washed the clothes but he couldn't make himself touch the boxes yet. Those were sacred to the girls.
"I know Masquerade died in the Refuge." Medda said as a tear came to her eye.
Masquerade had been 8 when they were taken, as well as sick and she just couldn't take it in the Refuge. Her slogan had been 'Live life while yah can.' and her box said 'Masks' because she always put on a brave front even though the doctor said it was unlikely that she would live anyway.
"Yeah, I know. I paid for her funeral..." Kloppman said quietly.
"I think Lilac went back to the orphanage....Peach got married and left. Miracle went to Brooklyn and she died there..." Medda answered trying to keep a steady voice but she was failing terribly.
"Shh" Kloppman said kindly as he wrapped his arms around her and murmured soothingly. "I miss them too...."
They stood like that for a long moment. For the first time in years they mourned the ones they lost.

Jack just finished selling his papes when he started heading home with David and Les. "David, you're the walking mouth, do you think that it was unfair for me to object to Georgia being in the lodging house?"
David looked surprised at the question and then said. "It was unfair. A little anyway. She deserves to have a place out of the cold as much as anyone."
"That's what I thought" Jack said with a slight sigh. "You know, we'll be the laughing stalk of New York as soon as they find out. I shudder to think of what Spot'll do."
"Spot doesn't like girls?" David said innocently with a slight smirk.
"Not living in his lodging house." Jack answered seriously. "As long as I can remember Spot refused to let any girl in the lodging house. He was very stubborn about it."
"I'm sure it'll be fine. He trusts you so he'll probably agree with your decision." David said in a confident voice.
Just then a bottle broke that was on a ledge beside where they were walking.
Jack and David turned quickly and saw Spot standing there with 5 of his Newsies there, all holding there slingshots threateningly.
"Jack, the birdies have been chirping in my ear. They've been saying that Jack be nimble got himself a girl in his lodging house." Spot said stepping forward to face Jack away from the others.
"Yeah, her name's Georgia, nice girl. Kloppman adores her." Jack said quickly, stepping forward and spitting in his hand,
Spot seemed to consider a moment and then spit in his own hand and shook with Jack. "I don't want her to be a Newsie, stuff like that spreads."
David almost smirked at that. "Spot are you feeling threatened by girls? Are you afraid that some girl will come along and take over your Spot as leader of Brooklyn?"
Jack raised an eye brow at David but didn't interrupt. The Walking Mouth had been around too long for Jack to keep covering for him.
Spot turned bright red with anger and charged David. He punched him in the mouth.
David Kicked Spot in the chin as hard as he could while trying to avoid anymore punches. As soon as David was away from Spot the smirk returned. "Methinketh the lady doth protest too much."
"Who are you callin' a Lady?!" Spot yelled before tackling David to the ground.
Jack ran forward and pulled Spot off David. "Spot, I can't bring my girl's brother home like he's been through sixty rounds with a professional boxer."
One of his Newsies grabbed Spot by the arm to hold him back and gave him a quick glare. Something passed between them and Spot calmed down.
David had a rapidly swelling eye and a bloody lip. "It's been nice chatting with you Spot." He coughed out. As he climbed the fire escape to his apartment.
"Spot, he didn't mean anything by it. It was something in a book a his and nothin more." Jack said to Spot when his friend left.
"I know, the Mouth sometimes doesn't use the brains that are in his head." Spot answered.
"I was hoping you and Davy would get along...." Jack muttered.
"We get along fine. No worries Jack be nimble. I'm heading back to Brookline." Spot said disappearing, the newsie who was holding him back was essentially pulling him away too.
"That was incredibly weird..." Jack whispered at his friend's departing back.
David jumped back down from the fire escape. "My sister and Your friend Georgia aren't here anymore." David said quickly. "Sarah said that she would be doing Errands all morning and they might go to Medda's after that but they should have been back before now" David was clearly worried.
"Let's go check at Medda's!" Jack exclaimed as he started running in the direction of Irving hall.

About an hour before the confrontation between Jack and Spot, Medda's afternoon show had just finished and the Sarah offered to get diner there for herself and Stacey. They were sitting at their table eating their hot dogs when Medda ran in looking exhausted. She had tear streaks on her face and a pile of clothes and other things in her arms. She walked right by them without even looking their way and went straight to her dressing room.
"Oh my!" Sarah exclaimed. "We should go check on Medda, she looks like she had the worst news of her life."
"I thought you didn't like her all that much." Stacey said bluntly.
"It's not that I don't like her, because I do. I wouldn't have come here if I didn't. I just don't like it when Jack only pays attention to her. Which happens quite often. We should just make sure she's ok." Sarah got up and headed straight for the dressing room. She knocked on the door and walked in.
Stacey looked at her food with a grievous expression, ate a few more bites and then followed Sarah.
Medda was still crying when she got into the room.
"Medda, what's wrong?" Sarah asked as she gave Medda a big hug.
"I just had to face a few ghosts that's all" Medda answered as she slowly calmed down.
"It's alright" Sarah soothed as she rocked back and forth.
Stacey felt a little out of place, so she stood back and let Sarah do everything. She was basically trying not to be noticed.
They just sat there for a while and Medda eventually completely calmed down. Stacey never had that ability with people, she couldn't just let them calm down. She always tried to fix things and for that split second, she really envied Sarah.
"Thank you Sarah, you really are a nice person." Medda said as she pulled away from Sarah.
"Well, you're like family to Jack," Sarah said, much to Medda's amusement. "And that makes you like family to me." she finished with a smile.
Medda just smiled back.
Stacey was tired of being ignored and her short attention span wasn't helping either, so she cleared her throat to Remind everyone that she was there.
Sarah and Medda looked over. Sarah looked almost embarrassed for forgetting Stacey and Medda had just frozen and wide eyed.
"That was terribly rude of me. Medda, this is Jack's new boarder, Georgia Peach." Sarah said politely.
"......Georgia......Peach....?" Medda managed to choke out while not taking her eyes off Stacey for a moment.
"Yeah" She answered with as smile as she put out her hand to Shake Medda's.
Medda collapsed, and for the first time in her whole life, she fainted dead away.

Author's Note: I finished this quicker than I thought. I know that David probably wouldn't go up against Spot like that but I figure, he has a lot more self confidence since the strike so he might do that. Also, Medda was a Newsie, those of you that are in denial about that fact I'm just going to say it straight out. In this story she was a Newsie. I guess this story is for my good friend Melody. Stacey's looks were based on her a little. Hope you enjoyed it and it would be very nice if you reviewed.