A/N; Ahhh, I know. The last two chapters had a few mistakes. I swore I ran a spell check but I guess I didn't. *blah* I'm so sorry. I wrote both of those in about an hour, and I was so psyched to get them up, I guess I only thought I checked it. Sorry, I apologize. I hope it didn't both you guys too bad. Anyways, I know a lot of time is being skipped.... like from chapter 9 to 10 a month went by. And in this chapter a few months passes by. I'm doing this to kinna get things rollin'. I'm sorry, I know, it's bugging me LOADS. But, I dunno what to add in these time gaps. If you have suggests, comments, criticism, ect. email me or IM me. I would REALLY appreciate it. Well, anyways. Enough blabbing, go on.... read!


You'se Can't Be...
The next morning Race got up and got ready as quickly as possible so he'd be able to go talk to Marit like be promised. He got up ten minutes earlier to try to give himself a head start, but still seemed to be behind. He rushed over to her bed and softly shook her. She stirred and moaned. He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. Her eyes slowly fluttered open.
"You'se wanted to talk?" he said buttoning his vest and grinning at her.
"Yea... Race... I dunno how to say this....." Marit said quietly.
"Ok, is everythin' alright, baby?" he asked, scooting closer to her so he could hear her better.
"Yea..... I'm.... I'm pregnant, Race." Marit said looking up at the boy.
"What?" Race said, startled.
"I'm pregnant.." she said slowly.
"No....." Race said standing up and shaking his head, "You'se can be.."
"I am.... the doctor told me last night. I'se a little over a month pregnant." Marit said slowly.
"No. Oh my God, no." Race said sitting back down and putting his head in his hands.
"I'se sorry...." Marit said as she looked away.
"Oh, no. No, no. Don't be sorry. God, please don't be sorry. It's ok. Just don't tell anyone til I'se get dis all figured out, ok?" Race said as he leaned forward taking her hand and kissed her.
"Ok." she said.
"Now, get some rest, alright?" Race said as he stood up, still holding her hand. He let go and walked out of the room.
Oh shit. Race calm down. You're ok. Don't worry. You'll figure out how to get through this. It's not just like you can barely make a living for yourself! Numerous thoughts rushed through Race's mind.

"Hundred papes..." Race said handing Mr. Weisel the money and walking off.
"Hundred? Why so many? You'se normally only get fifty." Jack said as he walked up behind Race.
Race jerked his head around to look at Jack, "I'se.... I'se.... just wanted to sell more papes.. y'know.... every newsie wants more papes.. right?" Race said stumbling over every word.
"Yea, of coise Race." Jack said patting his on the shoulder, "I'll catcha lata... alright? Good luck sellin'."
Race sighed as he walked off.


A few months passed, without Race or Marit telling anyone their secret... until a few people started to notice.
"Marit, sweetheart, you'se gainin' weight..." Doll said as she looked at the small girl who'd walked into the washroom. It was true, Marit's once way too big for her nightshirt was now slowly starting to fit her better.
"I'se dunno..... I'se guess 'cause I haven't been woikin' out lately...." Marit said shrugging and walking into the stall.
Doll looked over at Sweets and Sprite who shrugged their shoulders in response.
Sprite had been there for about two months, and was fitting in great. It was like she wasn't new at all. Her and Marit had struck up quite a friendship, and Sprite had struck up quite a liking for Mush. And she let everyone know about it... at least all the girls.
"Sheesh, he's like an angel on earth!" She exclaimed once everyone had reached the distributation center.
"'undred papes..." Marit said, taking her papes when Maurice handed them over. She waited for the rest of the girls to get their papes before they headed off to sell.
"Oh, looky, looky Sprite... heah comes ya lova boy now..." Marit said nudging Sprite in the side and wiggling her eyebrows at her. Sprite laughed, and then noticed Mush was headed right towards her.
"Heya girls, Marit, Sprite, Doll, Sweets. How are you lovely ladies dis morning?" Mush said taking off his hat, but still kept his eye on Sprite.
"We'se fine, thank you Mushy." Marit said, nudging Sprite lightly again.
"Well, dat's wonderful. Say, Sprite, I'se was wonderin' if you'd like ta go out wit me dis evenin'. Y'know, go out on da town for da night maybe... dat is if you wanna.." Mush said, looking up and down quite often.
"Shoah! I'd love ta!" Sprite exclaimed.
"Great! I'se talk to you'se later about what we'se gonna do... alright?" Mush said excitedly.
"Alright," Sprite said softly, blushing. Mush leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.
"Bye." he said, then turned to the other girls and smiled, "Have a wonderful day ladies."
As Mush got away from hearing distance, all the girls looked at Sprite and squealed.
"Ahh! Girly, you'se just gots a date!" Marit said excitedly for Sprite.
"I know! Why don't we make it a.... whatever date! All four of us girls with all four of our guys?" Sprite exclaimed.
"That sounds peachy keen and all but me and Race ain't talkin' too much lately..." Marit said.
"Yea, and Spot's gots some bullshit ta do ova in Midtown. He says it's 'important business'" Doll said rolling her eyes.
"Yea, and Jack's goin' wit Spot....." Sweets said wrinkling her nose.
"Oh," Sprite mumbled.
"Listen. Why wouldja want us there! Time ALONE... just you'se and Mushy!" Marit said wiggling her eyebrows again.
"Yea, but I'se nervous. What am I'se gonna wear? What do I'se say? What if he wants ta kiss me?!" Sprite exclaimed almost dropping her papes.
"Well, you'se leave it to me what you'se gonna wear; you'se say what is good, nuttin' kinna stupid, y'know? And if he wants ta kiss you'se... YOU'SE LAY ONE ON HIM!" Marit said throwing her arms out.
The girls laughed, and started chatting as they walked slowly out onto the street.
Race walked up behind them and grabbed Marit's shoulder. She turned around quickly to see who it was.
"C'mon.. you'se sellin' wit me today. We'se gotta talk..." Race said, with a demanding tone of voice.
"Ok," Marit said. She looked at the girls with a questioning looked and waved them goodbye, and ran off to catch up with Race.
"They're noticin'......." Race said slowly, not even looking over at Marit.
"I know.." Marit said looking away. The tension between the two made her very uncomfortable.
"We'se gotta figure somethin' out..." Race said, as if there was something they could do to undo it.
"What do you'se mean figure something out?! There's nothing to FIGURE OUT!" Marit yelled, stopping in her tracks and glaring at him. He stopped and turned around to look at the small girl. She stood there in shock at what he had just said.
"God Marit!" Race yelled, grabbing her arm and dragging her into the empty alleyway.
"Listen! There is something we'se can do..." Race said as he inched close to her face, "We'se gotta go to Midtown or Bronx or something.... you'se can have tha baby there. Say we'se goin' there for a while ta visit someone... fuck if I know. And then you'se can give it up for adoption." Race said as if he'd been thinking about this for ages.
"WHAT?! Are you fuckin' nuts?! I'm not giving up me baby!" Marit yelled trying to get away from him, but he wouldn't allow it. He pinned her against the brick wall.
"For Christ's sake Marit!!! How are we suppose to raise a baby!! We're newsies! We'se barely makin' a living for ourselves! Let alone a baby!!!" Race yelled, looking her straight in the eyes.
"You'se want to give up the baby?! That's crazy! I won't do it! I'll lie and say it's Andrew's! At least he wouldn't want ta give it up! I'se know he'd do that for me!" Marit yelled.
"Listen! Why keep it? We're not even together!! You don't love me! I don't want a baby comin' into a broken up family! I've lived through that! It's not fun! We're not married, we're not madly in love, we're not... anything! We're broke! How would we feed the baby?? How?!" Race screamed, shaking Marit slightly.
"I dunno," she sobbed, "But I do love you.... you're the one that don't love me."
Race face fell and glared at her. He let go of her and backed up a few paces, "You love me?"
"I have... but then you'se got mad at me over that whole Jack thing. And you'se never been the same. I was drunk Race! I could care LESS for Jack..." Marit said looking at the Italian boy, "You're the one I love..."
"So, now it's my fault that we're not together?" Race said, his anger slowly coming back.
"NO! I never said that Race! Just please.. answer me this one question..." Marit said walking over to the boy and looking into his dark eyes, "Do you love me?"
He hesitated.
"I dunno... I'se love you and all, but I dunno. I'll talk to you tonight....." Race said walking away, leaving Marit standing there. She sighed and heavily and wiped away her tears.

Marit lay sobbing in Race's bed later that night. She'd flopped down in his bed for two reasons. One she thought of after she'd gotten snuggled down. The first reason was, she was just to lazy to climb up to her bunk above his, and the second reason was, he was bound to have to talk to her, or at least acknowledge her presence if she was lying in his bed. She laid there in silence, perking up when she thought she heard someone coming towards the door. She wasn't sure if she was hoping that someone would walk in or if everyone would just leave her alone. One way or another, she knew she felt alone.
"Why me?" She whispered to herself, "Why? Everything's messed up. I shouldn't have come looking for Taylor." She sighed heavily and rolled over onto her side, facing the wall, slowly drifting into an uneasy sleep.

Race walked into the bunk room, removing his vest. He looked over at Marit lying in his bed asleep.
"God help me," he mumbled under his breath as he made his way over to her. He sat down on the side of the bed and watched her for a minute. He watched her stomach rise and fall rhythmically as she slept. He sighed and put his head in his hands.
You're too young to be a dad, Anthony! his mind yelled at him. This wasn't what was bothering him. The fact his hear was screaming keep it was what was confusing. He glanced over at Marit sleeping and decided what he wanted to do.
He leaned forward and slightly shook her, "Marit, Mar... wake up." He whispered in her ear.
"Mmm?" She mumbled as she rolled over to see Race sitting there.
He smiled at her and whispered, "So, what are we gonna name the baby?"
She sat up and looked at him puzzled, "I thought you didn't wanna keep it."
"I do now... I thought about it. And..." he paused, trying to gather all his words, "I love you. And even with all this crap going on between us... maybe this baby will be an adventure for us. Maybe even bring us closer together."
"Really?" Marit said, excitement building up in her. She tried to calm herself down incase he changed his mind on her.
"Really. So, what are we gonna name him?" Race said rubbing her tummy and leaning forward and kissing her on the lips. "How about........"
"Wait.. what if its a girl?" Marit said raising her eyebrow.
"Fine, we'll pick out names for a boy and a girl... deal?" Race said.
"Fine..." Marit said, agreeing with Race's "deal".
Race smiled at her. He leaned forward and kissed her on the lips, slowly deepening the kiss.
God it feels good to be with her again.. he thought to himself.