Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original Newsies characters, but if I did....... You get the point.

Ok, sorry, it took me a couple of weeks to update. I hope this format works better than last time. Also, this might be my last update for a little while. I'm leaving in a few days for a seven week camp in Maine (I feel a "Newsies Go to Camp" fic coming on!!!). I'm trying to work it out with my good friend, Racesgurl, to have her post my chapters when I'm gone. This might take a while, though, because camp mail is insanely slow and I have a lot of training this summer 'cause I'm a CIT. Anyway, thank you all for being so patient with me. I love you all. Have a great summer!!! Enjoy!!!

~ * ~ * ~

"Ya mean she's talkin' to ya now?" and amazed Race asked later that night as the newsies were getting ready for bed. Blink had told all the boys about Patch's sudden break from her shyness. Needless to say, they were all shocked.

Blink nodded as he unbuttoned his shirt, still a little dumbstruck himself, "Yep, I'se really couldn't believe it. An' ya know what, Jack? You was right: she ain't too bad at fightin'."

"Well, it's about damn time she opened up ta us," Skittery sat up on his bed, half scowling, "I mean we'se did take 'er in an' all."

"Skits, why you'se gotta be so negative all da time?" Jack said from across the room, "We'se should be happy she's talkin', not angry." Jack turned away smirking. "So, Blink, ya said she was a pretty good fightah?"

"Well, for her foist day she was. I honestly don't think she was punchin' as hard as she could, but we'se got time."

Jack's face became serious all of a sudden, "I'se wouldn't be too sure about dat, Blink.........."


~ * ~ * ~

"Morning, Kloppman!!!"

"Well, good mornin', Miss Chris. An' how are you'se taday?"

Patch smiled at Kloppman's cheerfulness. Probably the only morning person in the entire Lodging House, she laughed. "I'm doing great. It's a gorgeous day, isn't it?"

"Just be-a-utiful! As cold as ever, but the fresh snow makes up for that," Kloppman's smile faded ever so slightly at the sounds of pounding feet on the stairs, "Miss Chris, da boiys--"

"It's alright, Kloppman," Patch said as she continued checking through the books. Just then the newsies came bounding down the stairs laughing and joking around. They all stopped, however, at the unusual sight before them: Patch was standing behind the counter smiling at them. The boys were at a loss for words (for once). Patch just laughed, "Morning, boys, you better hurry to the Distribution Office or you'll be late!" The newsies just stood staring at Patch for a moment. Patch cleared her throat, "Uh, boys? You going or not?" she questioned wryly.

With that the boys looked at each other and ran out to the street each calling a "good morning" to Patch as they went by. Blink stopped before going out the door, "Remember: five o'clock on da roof an' don' be afraid ta punch a lil' harder taday."

"Well, I wouldn't want to hurt you now, would I?" Patch smiled and pushed him out the door. I can see things are going to be quite different now. Hopefully for the better, she thought.

~ * ~ * ~

Patch plunked herself down in front of the old piano. Ok, she thought, Let's try this yet again. She began to play. She started with a few scales to warm up (never want to go for the high notes without warming up) and then a few easy songs in the alto range. Not so bad so far. Maybe.......Slowly she began to play "I Dreamed a Dream". Again, everything was fine until she reached the higher notes. Patch had heard professional singers belt out the high notes in the song without switching to head voice, but something kept her from just letting loose and trying it. Oh well, maybe next time. She finished the song and was about to leave when another thought struck her. There are certain songs that are guaranteed to lighten my mood.

Patch sat back down played one of her old camp favorites (A/N: Gee, can you tell where my mind is now?), "Patterns":

The wood fires in the Wiggie,
The loon upon the lake,
The view of Sunset Mountain,
A summer pattern make,
Still moments is the fire circle,
The things that we believe,
The friends that we have made here,
A summer pattern weave...........

Here Patch had to stop because tears were running down her face. Will I ever get home? I might never see camp again or my family and friends.......She glanced out the window. The sun was lower than before. "Dang it!!! It's probably almost five!! Blink'll be here soon." Patch wiped her eyes on her sleeve and dashed out of the room.


~ * ~ * ~

"Ouch! Dat actually hoit!"

"Well, you did say to punch harder, am I right?"

Blink laughed, "Yeah, I guess I'se did. Dat was pretty good, how 'bout we'se call it a day?"

"Sure, we should be getting to Brooklyn soon anyway," Patch started down the ladder, but paused when she saw Blink wasn't moving, "You coming?" she called back to him.

"Oh..uh, yeah. I'll be down in a sec," Blink plopped down of the roof ledge and looked out over the city. It was a cold night, but the sky was clear and all the stars were visible. He sighed. It had been several months, but still.........Maybe Jack was right. Maybe it is time ta move on.

"Blink?!"

"Yeah, I'se coming, Patch," Blink laughed to himself. Boy, dat goil really has changed.

The walk to Brooklyn started off quiet as usual. Not out of shyness, however, it was just that both Blink and Patch were immersed in their own thoughts. At the Brooklyn Bridge the two met up with Race, Mush, and Skittery.

"Hey, look who it is, fellahs: Blink and 'is Patch!" Race hollered.

"Very funny, Race," Patch smiled. Hey, this is kinda nice. The boys aren't too scary.

"Oh my gosh! She speaks! Why da change of heart, Patch?" Skittery questioned.

"I guess I just got tired of being quiet all the time. Now are we going to this meeting or not?"

Mush smiled, glad that Patch had finally opened up, "Let's go! Jack said der was some new in-forma-tion dat we'd find interestin'."

And with that the group resumed their trek to the Brooklyn Lodging House.


~ * ~ * ~


"Everyone shut yer traps an' listen!!!!" an agitated Spot yelled from the wooden crate which he was using as a makeshift podium.

"Wadda we'se supposed ta do, Spot? How did Miller manage ta git so many new newsies?"

"Lemme think!" Spot snapped back. He had receive a report from one of his little boidies earlier that day that Miller had just accumulated a large amount of new newsies out of nowhere. Enough newsies to out-number both Brooklyn and Manhattan.

"Do ya think they'se from Boston, Spot?" Jack asked.

"Nah, we'se on good toims wit dem last time I'se checked. Chicago maybe?"

"It just don' make no sense! I mean--"

"Hey guys, what's all da yellin' about?" Blink asked from the doorway.

All eyes turned to the newcomers. Jack was the first to speak, "It appears dat Miller's got some new recruits on his side."

"An' how many would be some?" Race asked hesitantly.

Jack sighed, "Enough so dat we'se gonna need a few moah boroughs on our side."

"Well, don' we'se have Queens an' Harlem an'----"

"Der's been some rearrangin' in the loyalties of da boroughs, Race," Spot interrupted, "We'se got Harlem foah suah, but Queens is sitting wit Staten now. Da othah boroughs are undecided."

Patch glanced around at the newsies assembled before her. Each face she passed held a look of anxiety and worry. "Has Miller made any move yet?" she asked Jack

"Only intruden' on our territory."

Patch could feel her own anxieties begin to grow, "What are we going to do?"

Slowly Jack turned to face her, "We'se just gonna have ta wait an' see........"

~ * ~ * ~

A/N: Ooh, suspense! Well, kinda. Also, I did change some of the words for the song "Patterns". I'm not sure who wrote it. All I know is that my camp has sung that song for a very long time. And if you recognize that song we might go to the same camp (Hey, it could happen!). Anyway, everyone have a great summer!!!

Patch:)