Author's Note )( Hey, you've all been splendifically wonderful. I really don't deserve such wonderful reviewers as yourselves!! Thanks for all the compliments and such, I love reading them and my ego thanks you for the inflation. So ya know: this story is going to be WEIRD. It's gonna take some twists soon that are just ODD. I'm warning you. It's not gonna end all that happily, either. **Shrug** Sorry!! Just a side note: Don't get too confused when Blink and Otter are talking. It gets explained in a moment. Yes, he DID say he'd go with her. I think I didn't explain it very well. But it makes sense a few lines later. And this chappy contains new ideas… Mushy? Maturing? WHAAAAA? LOLOL. I've recently gone on a kick of having Mush mature and turn out better than everyone who thought they were above him before.

Don't ask.

Shoutouts!

Pegasus )( Sorry, that's the best part of being an author—I get to leave off wherever the heck I want to! LOL. I love ending chappies with weird, obscure lines (if this were a reference book, I'd tell you to refer to Untouchables, in which I choose to incorporate end lines like that, oh, every chapter). Thanks for the review doll!

Keza: Queen of Procrastination )( Ahh! I'm not a demon!! LOL watch where you wave those chopsticks! **Mondie pulls in Kung-Fu Mush, who karate chops the chopsticks from your hand** I love Pie too. He's one of my favey-davey obscure characters. So… uh … at least I incorporate him in my stories? Heh. I was gonna tell you that I only kill off the characters I love, but then I realized that I killed off Snipes and Jake, who I despise. So there goes that theory. Plus Mushy Darling never dies. So there goes that theory even MORE. Thank you for all the compliments! :D My mind is boggled! LOL. How DARE you read and not review! J/j, I don't really mind. I'm glad you like the story though!!!!! I love writing this one, it's my favey-davey of all my stories. Like last night, I was completely stuck after the line "unfurling happiness" (which is the end of paragraph 2 LOL) and then I just stared at the screen and within half an hour had the rest of the chappy written. **Mondie looks at shoutout and realizes it's quite long** Ah, must continue before my Internet disconnects itself!!! But thank you so much!

Blinks-Tiger )( Ah, let 'im go, Tig. Let 'im go. Hahaha! **Mondie huggles Blinky-182** He's such a fun character to write… not as fun as, say, Mush, but still. Thanks for the review!!

Ali )( A genius? MOI? **blush** Why… **Mondie blinks** thank you? I've updated this FAIRLY soon, for me, considering I have NO time EVER. And I updated Untouchables when I said I would! Whoo whoo! I have a list of what order I need to update things in, and I *believe* Untouchables is next again. Then Spotty Whore… then No Day But Today. I think. I'm glad you love this story, I do too. It's my favey-davey of my stories. I love the plot… well, it's kinda odd next to my other plots (it's gonna get twisted REAL soon) but ah well. Thank you for all the compliments dear!

kimimay85 )( "He's in love/deep caring for someone" AHAHAHA! You and your crazy lack of love… it makes me giggle. Hey, did we ever find out why Regor said that one day "I thought you don't believe in love" out of the blue? Hmmm. Weird. Anyhow. I got my senior pics back. I'm not sure if I'll bring them to work or not tonight, I don't want them to get nastified like everything that IS work. But you'll definitely see them tomorrow morning when we go to *ugh* school. :D :D :D I hope you get online and read stuff soon, I miss your endearing comments ("I hate Lucy", etc.).

Maniac Conlon )( I went to Philly once… I was like 3 years old. The only thing I remember was walking past a store that had about a bazillion TVs set up in the display window, and it was really cool. **Mondie shrugs** I don't know, I have the oddest memory in the world. I just don't recall the normal stuff, I picture the obscure items. I know! How *can* Blinky leave Mushy? It's so sad. I made it a bit like Boy Meets World, in my mind at least… ya know how Cory and Shawn are always so funny cuz they're so comfortable around each other and just the way they act like they COULD be a couple, even though you know they're not? That's how I made Blinky and Mushy in this chappy… I'm not sure if people are gonna get this or not. Hmm. I often get online before school, but I rarely have time to read chappies… I'm impressed Timby! Haha! Thanks for the review chica.

bittersweet )( Really? My FOD's gone? Well, shucks. Ha! I'm thinking about making another one. Ya know, later. When my life isn't COMPLETELY SUCKY. Hahaha! Thanks for still checking up on me hun, you're the greatest! :D

The Omniscient Bookseller )( Or, as I now call you, the Ominous Omniscient Bookseller. Yay for Broadway The Lion King! :D :D :D :D :D :D Max Casella deserves an award for being one of the cooliest people on the planet. I will give it to him. **Mondie presents award to Max Casella, who gives her an odd look, issues a restraining order, and throws the award in a dumpster** Ah well, it was worth a shot. ;D Thanks for the review Omni! I heart you!

misprint )( Yay for Spotchkey! I heart his name. I'm not sure where it came from, I was just sick of using normal nouns and stuff for names and then it just … came to me. It was odd. Anyhow. Didja NOT get the idea that I HATE SNIPES?? LOLOLOL! Of course I killed 'im off… though Pie and Specs were hard for me. :( Sorry Pie and Specs. But Race has too much comedic presence, he's not getting killed off … yet … Hey, watch up for when Blinky talks to Otter in this chappy… I added in a … spelling … of a certain city just for you… cuz you've now put it in two (I believe) reviews for me and it makes me laugh all the time… Ah, Mis, you're the best, ya know that?!?!?!?!

rumor )( You get to come up with how Mush ruined his rep all on your own. **Mondie cackles** Let's just say it involves a certain goil named Mondie… ::ahem:: Anyhow. Yay for you picking up on me killing off Snipes and Jake just cuz I hate them! Party for Rumor! Whoo whoo! LOLOL. But no, I didn't go into descriptions of the latest batch of newsies' deaths… it takes a lot outta ya to write those dang things! Haha. Dangit, last shoutout and my Internet just disconnected itself. It always does that… grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Anyhow. Yeah, poor Blinky and Mushy… **Mondie cries** Gah, this story is gonna start making ME sad soon.

Growth Chapter 12

            Mush couldn't stop himself from gaping at Seraphim. She had blossomed since he'd last seen her, and she seemed… he swallowed nervously. Upper-class?

            She extended her arm, and he quickly took it in his own. He forgot all about Racetrack, Spotchkey and Trundle, and set off walking with Seraphim. He thought his heart might burst with unfurling happiness.

            "So… where'dja go when ya left?" he asked eagerly, wetting his lips as he took in her immense beauty, which hadn't faded with her absence.

            Her smile had become tamed since she'd left, and fewer of her teeth showed. She nodded primly, as if his question was worth her acknowledgment. "I went to school, Mush."

            "School…" He looked impressed, and none of it was for her benefit. "Was it nice?" He felt clumsy and awkward next to her goddess stature.

            "It was," she answered, and he noticed that everything about her movements was different—the way she carried herself, how she had a new habit of tossing her head so that her hair shone in the sunlight, how she seemed three feet taller than she actually was. He was completely in awe. "And you're still a newsie?" she asked, looking at his ragged clothing and pretending – unconvincingly – to approve.

            Mush saw the way she looked down on him, and hurried to prove his worth to her. "Ah, I'se gettin' a new job soon," he invented, nodding optimistically. "Ya know, da newsies love me an' Kid, as deir leadahs, but, Ah mean, how long kin some'in really be a newsie?" He laughed a hollow, sour laugh.

            She looked at him for a moment, then giggled a high-pitched laugh which was even more fake than his. "Wonderful," she said, and removed her arm from his.

            "No, really, I am!" Mush insisted, clutching onto her elbow. He couldn't lose her again!

            "This is where I'm staying," she said, motioning to the building they stood in front of. Mush looked up and couldn't keep a whistle from escaping at the sheer beauty of it. It was one of the richest hotels in all of New York City. "I'll keep my eye out for you, Mush. And let me know when you get that 'new job' of yours." She primly looked him up and down again, and offered an almost apologetic smile. "Maybe then we can get together again." In a reminiscent moment, she stepped towards him and ran one gloved hand over the side of his face. He swallowed. "You always treated me the best out of all the men I've ever known…" she murmured, sighing a bit.

            Mush stepped away from her, determined not to let her see how much her aloofness hurt him. "See ya 'round, Sera," he said, and walked quickly away, his head bowed.

            He'd show her! He would get a new job. And he wouldn't give up until she begged to be with him.

            Seraphim waited until he was out of sight down the sidewalk, then bowed her own head as she turned from the hotel. At a less-than-brisk clip, she headed sorrowfully away, towards her real tenement. She fought tears the whole way until reaching the roach-infested room she rented. Mush really had treated her the best out of all the men she'd ever known.

            Kid Blink stood with Otter in his arms. She was crying. "Why won' ya come wit' me, Blink?" she asked, sounding as if her heart had been ripped out.

            "Because, Otteh," he answered, sounding even more sad. "I'se can't do dat ta Mush. 'E'd neveh leave bein' da leadah a' da newsies ta jus' me wit'out warnin'. We's a team, him an' me. I'se jus' can't leave 'im."

            She stomped her foot in frustration, her face still burrowed in his strong chest. "It ain' faih," she wailed. "I'se neveh gonna find me no one dat I loves like I loves you. So I'se gonna end up an old maid!"

            "Ah, Otteh, you know as well as I do dat dere's t'ousands a' guys who woulda snatched ya up in a minute if you wasn' me goil," Blink told her consolingly, but without feeling, because the very idea of another man with her made him want to vomit.

            She looked up at him, horror on her face. "So you wan' me ta find a new boy?" she squeaked.

            "Oh, no, dahling," he answered, hugging her so tightly he thought she might break. "Neveh. Neveh, eveh."

            "Den come wit' me!" she said, staring at him. "You'se said you would. How kin you go back on yer woid wit' me?"

            Kid Blink sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, well, I t'ought abou' it, an' I know dat Mush'd neveh do dis ta me. So how kin I do it ta him?"

            "Blink!" she shouted, glaring at him. "You can't be a newsie fereveh! An' neiddah can Mush. Please, talk to 'im. Tell 'im 'bout what I wan' you ta do. Da train leaves ta-morra at se'en. If you'se gonna come wit' me, den come at six-t'oity. If you ain't… den don' even show up ta see me off."

            "Otteh…" he said wheedlingly, but she interrupted.

            "Six-t'oity," she repeated, and leaned in and kissed him softly. He stared at her, with nothing but heartbreak in his eyes, as she pulled back away. "Dere's Mush. I gotta go pack."

            Kid Blink watched Otter walk away, knowing heavily that it was the last time he'd get to do so. Then he turned to see Mush nearly running, he was walking so fast, with a determined grimace covering his face. Sighing, Kid Blink turned to follow him.

            "And now…" The announcer's tone drawled off, drawing out the suspense of the anticipating crowd. "The lovely, two-of-a-kind sisters who share the same brilliant heart—the Misses Martha and Rose Ringson!"

            The theatre, which seemed small and dingy in midday light, sparkled now in the evening. Rowdy calls from the gallery were issued, upsetting the ruffles of the rich, who sat up importantly to show they were better. A beautiful blonde woman strutted onto the stage from the left, and was joined in the center by a shorter, yet just as beautiful and just as blonde, girl of twelve. Their bodies were enveloped in suffocating, tight purple dresses, and their curls were piled identically on their heads. As the band struck up the introduction for the song, Martha shared a secret smile with her "little sister". She had to admit the kid was good.

            As the duo began to sing, they simultaneously gave suggestive facial expressions and wiggled their hips. This was nearly too much for the mostly-male audience, whose yells gave way to whistles and sharp, piercing catcalls. Rose kept her smile plastered smoothly across her stage-makeup'd face, though dreading the fastly-approaching break in the song. Martha had only choreographed and added it last week. And as the older woman moved to the back of the stage, Rose sighed and built up her strength as she herself strutted to the front. Her hands plastered to her hips, she swung them from side to side, guaranteeing many a fifty-year old man's dreams being filled with twelve-year old vulgarity that night. She pursed her lips, then released—purse, release—purse, release—as Martha had taught her, and earned a congratulatory yell from the audience. Then, as the singing picked up again, Martha brought forth a chair. Pretending to be careless, Rose straddled it, yet she, unbeknownst to the audience, checked hastily to make sure that everything about her that should remain private was covered. She'd already made the mistake two nights ago of giving the audience more of a show than she'd meant to, and how embarrassed she'd been when she found out! She wouldn't even go out for the company bow at the finish of that show. The audience sighed in disappointment when the two ended the song looking the two perfect, sisterly, innocent choirgirls, and ran off stage.

            Wishing she could shake off all the stares from the men, bathe off the demeaning shouts, Rose nearly ran to her dressing room. She turned the knob and felt a huge sigh of relief come over her at the familiarity of it. There were already vases of flowers from her older—and disgusting—admirers.

            "Rose Ringson." The voice, oddly familiar, made her jump. She looked over, and saw a handsome black man sitting in a chair, nervously twisting a bowler hat in his hands.

            "Who're you?" she asked, putting a hand against her desperately beating heart.

            "Don't remember me?" he chuckled. "You used to call me Chocolate, sweetheart. Or, should I say… Lucy."

            "I'se gotta tell ya somet'in, Kid," Mush said, when he found his counterpart marching at his side. "I saw Seraphim."

            Kid Blink nearly forgot to breathe, he was so in shock. "Sera? Wheah?"

            "Down when I was goin' wit' Race ta da tracks," Mush answered. "She's… she's changed, Kid. Uppeh-class." Blink nodded understandably. Mush continued, "An' she's so beautiful… but she says if I wants ta get 'er back, I'se gotta get a new job. A job dat pays. Ya know, so we's kin live off it."

            Kid Blink stared at him. "So you's sayin' dat you'se givin' up da newsie business, jus' like dat? A goil walks back in yer life, an' yer willin' ta give up all da bruddah-hood dat we share. You'se ready ta jus' up an' leave me! Ya know what, Mush? Otteh asked me ta go live wit' 'er in Philadelphia, but ya know what I'se tol' her? I tol' her I couldn' leave Noo Yawk Siddy! I'se tol' her dat I couldn' leave you, because you'd neveh leave me alone heah!"

            Mush looked a bit confused. "But I ain' leavin', Kid. I ain' goin' nowheres. I'se jus' gettin' an actual job, dat's all."

            "Will you be in da lodgin' house anymores?"

            "No, I guess not."

            "When'll yer hours be?"

            "I s'pose righ' aroun' what newsie hours are."

            "Den when da hell is I gonna see ya, Mush?" Kid Blink burst out. "Ya know what? I'se goin' ta Philly. Wit' Otteh. An' I'se gonna get meself a real job, an' den I'se gonna marry 'er, an' maybe I'll neveh come back ta see you again!"

            Mush shrugged. "Well, I'll be heah in 'Hattan, so wheneveh ya miss me, ya know wheah ta find me. Sen' me yer address when ya get dere, okay? We's kin write lettehs."

            Kid Blink could only stare at him, feeling more than a little foolish. "Don' you care abou' me at all, Mush? We's bruddahs. We'se bruddahs…"

            Mush smiled. "A' coise I'se care abou' you, Kid. Dat's why I know dat da on'y way you'se eveh gonna be happy is if ya move ta a new place wit' Otteh an' staht yer fam'ly." He pulled Blink into a hug, grinning. "Ya need yer freedom, Blink. From yerself."

            Kid Blink hugged him back, then smiled bashfully. "C'mon, I'se gonna help you fin' yerself a real job. Den we'se kin go back ta da lodgin' house an' pack up ours stuff."

            "Tageddah?"

            "Tageddah."

            "Bruddahs?"

            "Always."

            "An' foreveh," Mush agreed happily. He was silent a moment. "Ya know, I am gonna miss ya bunches, Pirate."

            The use of his first newsie name made Blink smile. "I know you are, Parrot."