Warning: This story contains adult language, graphic violence, attempted rape, attempted suicide, and sexually explicit themes. Reader's discretion is advised. Rating - R.

Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of the Newsies characters. Apollonia, Giselle, Checkers, and other miscellaneous characters are all mine.

Chapter 31: Manhattan Bliss

Morning arose. The break of dawn erupted. All was quiet and serene on the southwestern front as the rays of sunshine had awakened the commencement of a new day. Coming down the dirt road, a bevy of men on horseback approached the forsaken property. What they were coming to encounter was not a pretty sight.

The Santa Fe authorities went to the Martínez house to gather the blood- spattered corpses that were lying around. A man on a horse with his son riding alongside him on a donkey passed by the Martínez house and found a dead body lying in the wagon that was parked next to the barn. The wagon contained the remains of Banner. They contacted the local sheriff and deputies and told them what they saw.

Banner tried to escape the attack when his men were being butchered all at once, but Tristan spotted the escapee and shot him as he saw Banner reach for his gun. Banner fell back into the wagon as soon as the bullet ricocheted through his heart. He died instantly.

Due to the bloody confrontation, Tristan and his posse raided the dead bodies of their money as well as the stolen money from the New York City bank that they robbed that was kept in a chest that they had hidden in the barn. They split the money seven ways between the bandits, Tristan, and Jack. They made an unspoken pact not to mention the events of the previous night to anyone not involved. Some bones deserved to stay buried.

At Belvedere, things were quiet. Jack held Apollonia close to him, with a clutch so strong that even the devil himself could not break. Apollonia was being coddled by Jack the entire time as they relaxed together in their bedroom. Jack had already been treated for his injuries early on, which were healing quite nicely. Apollonia rested her head on Jack's shoulder as she was waiting for her morning sickness to pass. The doctor told her that she was coming along quite nicely with her pregnancy and that her malaise would soon pass within the upcoming months. Jack had his arms around her as she laid there quietly, recollecting on their recent adventure in the southwest. Finally, a disturbing remainder of his troubled past had, at last, been put to rest, literally. Tristan and Jack along with the other renegades made a pact to keep the entire incident to themselves. Secrets were a common occurrence among those of the rebellious nature.

As Jack looked down on the face of his loving wife-to-be, Rosario entered the room with a bowl of soup and tortillas for her lunch. Apollonia slowly lifted herself with the aid Jack and began consuming her supper. He rubbed her stomach as she enjoyed his large, smooth hands massaging her currently flat midriff.

"Damn!"

"What's da matter?"

"I just remembered that I had a few books on pregnancy and childbirth in my store and I can't even read up on what I need to do in order to stay healthy."

"Well, the doctor already told ya that ya need ta stay off your feet and eat healthy foods. And lighten up on da spicy stuff! I know that people from New Orleans love spicy foods and all, but you're eating for two now. I don't want my baby to come out craving chili peppers!" He laughingly retorted.

Apollonia just ran a manicured hand through her dark hair and smiled. "Well, I suppose you want our children to be raised on typical Irish meals, like hearty lamb and barley soup, or hot corned beef and potato hash?"

Jack gently grabbed her face with both hands. "I don't care what our children eat, as long as they feed on our love." He then bent down and kissed her softly.

"I love you, Jack. I never want to leave you."

"I know you don't, because once you go Jack, you nevah go back."

Apollonia laughed as he embraced her tightly, leaning her back on the plush pillows of their large bed. "There's something else I wanna ask ya?"

"What is it, love?"

Jack just gave her his trademark smile.

~

Giselle walked out of her bathroom after freshening up. She had a lot of things to do at the bookstore and she wanted to purchase a gift in advance for Apollonia's wedding. Several knocks were then heard at her door as she quickly put on her peignoir. She politely walked up to the door and opened it.

"Apollonia! Mon Dieu! How are you, ma petite?" She said loudly as she pulled her into a strong bear hug and kissed her on both cheeks. She then took notice of Jack and gave him the same response.

"When did you two get back!? Is everything alright in Santa Fe? How are you, chere? How is your little bundle of joy?"

Giselle popped out every question without a moment to breathe as she pulled Apollonia over to the sofa with Jack following suit. Apollonia informed her that they just came in the day before and of their plans to wed in Manhattan before everyone.

"That is so magnifique!"

"There is something else that we haven't told you?"

Giselle looked at her with a questioning. "We are planning ta get married right here in Manhattan. At first we were gonna get married in Santa Fe, but since we met here, we thought that it would be better if we tied da knot in front of you, David, and everybody at da church." Giselle's eyes damn near burst out of her head at Jack's information.

"Mon Dieu, Apollonia! Why did you not tell me?"

"We wanted it to be a surprise, Giselle." She said as she looked over at Jack. He was looking back at her with adoring eyes.

Giselle couldn't believe it, a surprise visit from her dearest friend. She had to get her head around all of it.

"Giselle, what is keeping you? Who are you ...."

All eyes were on David, who stood in the entrance to the living room butt naked and turning as red as a beet as he saw who he walked in on. Jack, Apollonia, and Giselle were stunned at the sight of a totally nude David Jacobs. Jack couldn't help but laugh to himself and covering his face, while Apollonia turned her head, holding in her laughter. Giselle sat there both shocked and horrified.

"Jack! Apollonia! What a surprise! Uh, excuse me!"

He said as he bent forward covering his unmentionables, right before sprinting back into Giselle's bedroom to acquire some clothing. Giselle quickly followed him to do the same. Jack and Apollonia just sat in the living room smiling and snickering at the rather interesting welcome they had just received - Giselle having sexual relations with David and not having any hang-ups about it. David had been courteous to her from their first meeting and throughout the entire course of their relationship that she decided to give into her natural hormonal desires and let him taste something no other man had tasted before - herself. This was certainly new.

"Welcome home, baby."

~

Racetrack came back from Sheepshead counting his winnings as he was muttering to himself how he would spend his jackpot. He giggled to himself about how Blink and Mush's reactions would be when they see that he recovered his losses from the previous week.

"Man, oh, man. With dis winning streak, I can shut those two boneheads up once and for all!"

Heading up to the World's distribution office, Racetrack passed easily through the minor crowd of newsies who were leaving the window from purchasing the evening edition of the newspaper and those just hanging around waiting for their friends to finish up selling whatever papers they had left.

"Okay, you tightwads!" Ya ready ta head on outta heah yet?"

"In a minute, Race. We're just gonna count da rest of da unsold papes and bring them in the back."

"Alright. Make it quick, fellas." Racetrack demanded as Blink and Mush rolled their eyes at their demanding friend. Race pulled out a cigar and lit it up as a couple of newsies ran up to him.

"Say, Racetrack. Can ya spot us two-bits?"

"Naw, kiddies. What do I look like a bank?"

"Yeah. The First National Bank of Sheepshead Races." Said a smart-aleck newsie, grinning widely.

"Okay, okay." He said as he dug into his pocket and flipped a quarter to them.

"Thanks, Race. We owe ya one."

"Yeah, yeah. Get outta heah, ya young whippersnappers!" Race said as they scurried away happily. As he puffed his cigar, he became impatient waiting on his buddies. He steadily paced back and forth watching men and young teenage boys pushing wheelbarrows filled with the discards of the news of the day.

"Hey, Race, can ya spot me two-bits?"

"Now, I already told ya dat I ain't a damn.....JACK!" Racetrack walked briskly up to him and gave him a most expressive hug.

"Howya been, Cowboy? God, I didn't think dat we'd been seeing dat handsome mug all of a sudden? Where's Apollonia? I hope ya didn't leave our little cupcake ovah in Santa Fe, didja?"

"Nah, Race. She's at home in our brownstone, resting."

"We've gotta see her. We miss both of youse. And I heard about da upcoming wedding news. Congratulations!"

"JACK! HE'S BACK!" Mush shouted when he saw him. Both he and Blink walked over and hugged and spit-shook like they did back in the day. "It's great ta see ya, Jack! Where's our favorite goil?"

"She's at home." Race said.

"Why didn't she come?" Blink inquired.

"Cause she's resting from being in the family way." Racetrack, Blink, and Mush all looked at Jack shell-shocked.

All three guys hollered at the news. Blink patted him on the back while Mush stood there with his mouth hanging open, both astounded and elated all at once. "That's great, Jack. I really happy for ya! You're gonna be a great father!"

"Thanks, Mush. I just can't wait 'til I get her to da alter ta say da 'I dos.'"

"I must say dat dis is somethin' else. Cowboy tying da knot and makin' babies! Not in dat order, though." Blink joked.

"Hey, why don't we all go ta Tibby's and catch up on what's going on in Santa Fe." The gang all went in the direction of their beloved restaurant to get informed about Jack and Apollonia's exploits in the southwest. They left Rosario in charge of the house while Tristan tended to Jack and Apollonia's horses on the ranch while they were gone. They informed them that they were going to be gone for at least a month and to wire them via Western Union in case anything happened. Tristan, being the respectable cowboy that he was, happily complied. Tristan had already given the couple their presents, a dog and a pony for their baby. Jack said that he had always wanted a dog.

Upon entering Tibby's, the crew casually made their way to an unoccupied table and made themselves comfortable. Specs paused at the sight of seeing his good friend in the restaurant while in the middle of taking an order. As soon as he was finished, he jogged over to Jack and hugged him. They touched based with one another as Bumlets looked over and saw Jack. He, too, interrupted his duties to say "Hi" to his friend. Once he got settled, everyone just conversed and ordered like old times. "It's good to be back." He thought to himself.

~

Scribbling down a few notes in his book, the warden was heavy into his task of running the refuge. He had a grip on the boys with the influx of new arrivals in the past few weeks. While jotting down addition information on a new inductee, he was interrupted by the presence of a former juvenile detainee.

"Can I help you, sir?"

"Yeah. I'm here ta see about a certain young boy. He is known ta everyone as Checkers, but you might know him better as Joseph Meade."

"Oh, indeed, sir. He was brought here a few months ago. What is it that you want with the young ward?"

Jack placed a stack of money on the counter. "I want him released in my custody immediately."

The warden looked stunned at Jack, not knowing if he should comply and take the money or have Jack arrested for bribery. Picking up the dough, he quickly brushed the bills between his fingers, estimating how much Jack had offered him. It appeared to be around $100. Looking at Jack, he quickly placed the money in his vest pocket and headed upstairs.

"Wait here." He said as Jack leaned against the counter, waited patiently for his young friend to be released. Within ten minutes, Jack was met with the smiling face of a brown-haired boy with his belongings in a sack. Before exiting, Jack turned his attention back to the warden.

"I hope dat his name will be stricken from da records."

"Taking it off right now as we speak." He said as he pulled out a large book filled with the names of the wards that have come and gone in the passing years. Jack watched as he ran a straight line through the young newsie's name. Jack gave a nod to the guardian and walked out of the door.

"Wow! Jack it's great ta see ya. When didja get back?"

"Last week. How've ya been? How did they treat ya?"

"Okay, I guess. It wasn't as bad as I thought, though. How didja find me?"

"Some little boidies told me."

Jack was informed by the younger newsies that they noticed that Checkers had disappeared. No one had seen him for days until one of them was selling papers near the refuge and caught sight of him in the window looking down into the street.

Word spread quickly about Checkers being in the refuge, but they had no idea how to get him out. One of the older newsies suggested that they break in and sneak him out, but that was thought to be too risky. Short Stop, Short Stack, and Lacey saw Jack talking to the other newsies at the Horace Greeley statue and told him about Checkers when no one else was around. Jack then devised the plan to have Checkers released.

Checkers was glad to finally be in the company of his friends at the Lodging House. Kloppman was equally ecstatic to see him, as well as Jack. Kloppman had Jack come into his office and fill him in on his life in Santa Fe and catch up on old times. He told him about his ranch, his friend Tristan, the upcoming wedding, and Apollonia's pregnancy. He made sure to invite Kloppman to the ceremony. After all, Kloppman was a grandfather of sorts to Jack and the rest of the Manhattan newsies. After about an hour or so, Jack remembered that he needed to be back at the brownstone or else Apollonia was going to rip him a new one. Even as a fiancée, she already had that wife thing down, he thought to himself, grinning.

~

A slew of people inhabited the inside of Paddy's Tavern for another night of fun-filled activities and exhilaration. Among the attendees were Race, Blink and Mush with their dates, and Crutchy along with Jack, Apollonia, Giselle, and David. Even Jack's buddies from the Fenway Warehouse, Bryan, Patrick, and Russ, were in attendance.

Jack was very happy to see Crutchy after all this time. Race, Blink, and Mush had informed him on what happened to Crutchy a while ago. The traumatic experience that he endured held not even a clip of a memory in his psyche. He didn't remember a thing. Neither Snyder nor his henchmen had sustained a place in his mind. It was as if the horrible episode never had happened. All he could recall was waking up in a hospital room and not knowing how he got there. His friends thought that his amnesia was probably God's way of deleting his hellish nightmare from his memory. The gang decided to put the unpleasant incident behind them.

In the meantime, Jack conversed with everyone while drinking his gin while Apollonia gulped down her non-alcoholic beverage. She drank it quickly in a matter of seconds.

"Take it easy, baby! I know dat you are drinking for two but we got all night. Relax." Jack told her as he rubbed her back. She just smiled at him and kissed him.

"Okay, boys, let's get dis show on da road. We got Blink up here against lean, mean, arm-wrestling machine Bryan. Who's bettin'?" Several nearby customers accosted Racetrack with bets as to who would win. Most bets were placed on Bryan due to him being brawnier than Blink and having won arm- wrestling competitions in the past. Even Racetrack made a wager on Bryan.

Apollonia and Jack were very happy to be back after several months of being away. They planned to spend, at least, a few weeks at home, which would give them time to catch up on business with the bookstore and keep stress on Apollonia's body from traveling to a bare minimum. Everyone was asking her questions about her pregnancy. They wanted to know what it was like, how did she feel, and if she wanted a boy or a girl. Both she and Jack gave their input on everything they had asked. They did not care what gender they had as long as the baby was healthy. And they had not gotten around to names as of yet, but had plenty of time.

She cordially sat beside him as the celebration soared all around them. Jack was extremely glad to be back home. He did not forget the mortal altercation that occurred only a few weeks ago, but he did not want to remember it or bring it up. For now, he just wanted to enjoy himself. He had forever to fill them in on the Snyder incident. He held Apollonia close, his muscular arm embracing her as she smiled at him in a way only a woman who loves a man could.

Their favorite band was still at the tavern playing several Gaelic tunes that were still popular among the visiting crowd. As several people got on the floor and spun around dancing as if there were no tomorrow, Apollonia wanted so much to do the same, but carrying the precious cargo in her womb kept her seated. She didn't care, however. She was in the company of her beloved Jack, the man soon to be her husband.

They watched as Giselle and David commanded the floor with their dynamic steps. David's dancing abilities had greatly improved since the last time he danced with a woman. Jack remembered when he still possessed two left feet. Now, he was skipping from corner to corner with his sweetheart in tow.

"Don't they remind you of us when we first danced together, Jack?"

"They sure do. And I'm glad dat David is totally dressed for the occasion!" Jack joked, recalling the embarrassing situation that he and Apollonia encountered. Never did they think that they would see David naked as the day he was born. Apollonia was glad that Giselle had let down her barrier to the male populace and surprised that she went as far as she did with David. It was a decision that she thought long and hard about, but she was not ashamed. She cared for David.

At the end of the dance, David made everyone quiet down as he wanted to make a statement. Raising a beer glass with Giselle at his side, he made a toast.

"I just want to say that I am happy for the two of you. You both have had a lot to deal with in your lives, and you both came through with barely a scratch. I can honestly say that I found a good friend and brother in Jack Kelly and a good friend and sister in Apollonia. May your dreams continue to come true for both you and your lady."

"Sláinte!" Jack exclaimed as everyone repeated the cheer. Apollonia then turned to Jack.

"What does Sláinte mean?"

"It's an Irish toast. It means 'To your health.' My mother once said it when I was really young."

"Your mother was something else."

"So are you, sweetheart."

They enjoyed the revelry of the night at their favorite hangout with all of their close friends gathered around to partake in the double celebration of the impending wedding and forthcoming birth of their child. Apollonia sat in Jack's lap, kissing his pink lips and smooth neck as he contentedly returned the gesture. Blink noticed the couple's romantic assignation.

"You guys are already ready ta make another one? Ya haven't even had da first one yet, sweetie!" Blink teased.

"Aw, leave them alone, Blink! Dat's gonna be you in a few years. Dat is if ya don't get ya foot stuck in ya mouth before da girl's tongue!"

Everyone laughed at Race's wiseass remark. It felt good to be back, Jack thought to himself.

~

The couple laid in bed resting. They made love for the first time as husband and wife. Kissing and caressing one another, Jack and Apollonia made out as they would when they were still in the courting phase of their relationship. The fire of their romantic affiliation still burned within both their hearts, and they vowed to themselves and each other that they will never let that fire extinguish. Jack looked down at his new bride who, all at once, was lovely to look at, delightful to hold, and heaven to kiss. The sweat from his brow and wet hair stuck to his handsome face as he fixed his eyes on her. He gently whisked his thumb across her damp lips, drenched from his loving moisture. Eyes closed, she rested and savored the beauty of the bliss he had just given her. They made mad, passionate love to each other and planned to do so time and time again during the night of their honeymoon.

They continued to relax in the goose-down bed in the Honeymoon suite at the Hotel Astor. They recanted their vows as they kissed and embraced each other throughout the night. Jack continued to reminisce on the earlier section of the day when they wed. As he stood before the alter, he could not help but be nervous. David looked at him and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Calm down, Jack. Everything is going to be alright. Trust me."

He remembered when the organ player began playing the first few notes of "Here Comes the Bride." All eyes were on Apollonia as she strolled down the carpet of the church, donned in white silk and displaying the breathtaking beauty of a bride. Jack could not believe his eyes as the figure in white was steadily approaching him. Holding a bouquet of white roses in her hand, Apollonia looked forward as she moved toward Jack. His hazel eyes met her dark chocolate gaze.

"Thank you, Spot. I owe you one." Jack said to himself as the love of both their lives came slowly towards him.

Race, Blink, and Mush, all with their dates, and the rest of the former Manhattan crew took in the entire splendor of the ceremony. Blink's and Mush's dates held their hands at the sight of Apollonia as she came down the aisle. Mayer and Esther looked on blissfully along with Les. They wondered if they were going to attend another wedding; one involving David and Giselle in the future perhaps. After all, they were currently watching the nuptials of their other "son."

Much to Jack's surprise, Denton was in attendance of the service, thanks to the news from Manhattan's "Walkin' Mouth.". He looked on at the couple, with a tear in his eye. He was happy to see Jack and even happier that he had finally decided to settle down, and with such a splendid choice in women. Medda stood next to Denton, just as happy for the two of them as everyone else. Once Apollonia reached the alter, Jack looked at her with unbolted adoration.

As the priest intoned the blessing of this union, Jack's anxiety swiftly diminished. He stood there waiting for the cleric to ask him the long- awaited questions, "Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" and "Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" A resounding "yes" would escape the lips of both lovers. The newly married Jack and Apollonia were wed before friends and family as waves of applause engulfed the air of the Manhattan cathedral. Although Jack was still legally Francis Sullivan, he was still known throughout New York as Jack Kelly. He gathered that they would even be referred to as "The Kellys." Apollonia Lourdes Beltremieux Conlon Sullivan was now the legal spouse of Francis "Jack Kelly" Sullivan.

He looked down into the face of his other half and wondered to himself all of the reasons why he loved her. Then it dawned on him. It was everything about her. It was the way she looked, the way she walked, the way she touched him, the way she made love to him, the way she talked, and the way she said nothing. It was the perfect combination of everything about her. They were a match made in heaven, he thought. He couldn't remember who he trusted before she came along. He swore that she taught him how to love. He just hoped that he would be just as good a husband to her as Spot was before him.

She, too, knew that his lips, his kiss, his smile, his body, and love were a part of her. She did love him and she could not deny it. He kissed her tears away when she was sad. He picked her up when she was down. He made her see his love when she was blind to it. And it was all because he loved her.

She fluttered her eyes open to see Jack looking right at her. "Jack, mon amour." Was all she said as she pulled him down towards her to kiss him, and before they began making love once more, Jack looked deep into her eyes. "Ya know I used ta say that I was beat when I was born. But now, I know better. The first night we made love was when I was born. I love you, Apollonia, mon amour."

The touch of his bare chest felt wonderful against her abundant breasts as he leaned forward to claim her lips one more, so warm and inviting all at once. The two figures lay entwined on a turf of satin sheets, married, expecting, and loving each other. This was their empire. And it was an empire of dreams.

The End