"Alright, no more snowball fights, boys," I called out the window. "You're already late."

I put another log on the fire, warming the room from the unusually cold February air.

"Sorry we'se late Miss Spencer," Comet, a curious seven year old newsie, explained. "The headlines weren't no good."

"Any good," I corrected, trying to hold back a smile. "And I am sorry to hear that, Comet."

"Miss Spencer?" A very shy newsie stepped forward.

I smiled down at him. He was younger than most of the others that I taught, but even at five years, he devoured any book that he could get his hands on. "Yes, Steamer?"

"Can we read this?" he handed me a tattered book.

"Great Expectations?" I flipped through the book absently, knowing full well who it belonged to. "Steamer, where did you find this?"

"On Specs' bed," he replied softly.

"Does he know that you have it?"

The small boy shook his head solemnly.

I smiled down at him. "I think that this might be a little too difficult for you, sweety. How about I trade you."

I handed him a nursery rhyme book off the top of a stack. Steamer smiled broadly and carried the book to one of the small desks in the parlor. The other boys followed in suit. I grabbed a copy for myself and sat in front of them, placing Specs' book on the coffee table.

"Comet, would you start for us?"

"And they all lived happily ev. ev."

"Sound it out, Steamer," I suggested.

"E.v.e.r. Ever?" He looked up at me hopefully. I nodded and he continued. "And they all lived happily ever after. The end."

"Very good, boys," I said, closing my book. "What did you think?"

"It's kid's stuff!" Comet exclaimed. The others nodded in agreement. "Where's all the blood and gore. Can't we read something else?"

I shook my head, grinning. The boys had been reading too many headlines, but who was I to deny their literary desires. "I suppose. How about this?"

I held up a book and the boys stared at it in awe.

"What is it?" Steamer asked quietly.

"A new book; filled with cowboys and Indians, and even a few outlaws." I glanced up at them, noticing movement in the doorway. Gabe, Specs and a few other newsies smiled back at me before I returned my attention to the boys. "How does that sound?"

The boys cheered, all of the speaking at once.

"Alright," I called over the incoherent babble. "We're done for the night. See you boys tomorrow."

As they started to file out of the room, the young boys noticed the older newsies.

"Hiya boys," Race called, patting a few of them on the head as they passed. "You go right back to the Lodging house, ya hear? Jack's got dinner waitin for ya."

The boys nodded and started out the door. Steamer lagged behind, walking up to Specs. "Did you hear, Specs? We get to read about cowboys."

Specs smiled widely, picking the young boy up. He removed his hat and placed it on Steamer's head. "I heard. That should be fun, huh?"

Steamer nodded, the hat flopping wildly.

"Steamer, come on!" Comet called from the snowy porch.

Specs quickly set the young boy down. Halfway out the door, he realized that he was still wearing Specs' hat. He handed it to Specs, who took the hat and tussled the boy's hair.

"Hurry up, Steamer!" Comet called again.

Steamer flashed us a smile before vanishing into the street with the others.

I went back into the parlor, straightening the books. The others followed, finding seats on the couches that lined the walls of the room.

"Cute kid," Race commented as he sat between Specs and Skittery.

Specs nodded. "Smart as a whip too."

"They all are," I replied, taking a seat on the surface of the large desk at the front of the room. "They seem to be doing well, considering."

"They're young." A frown pulled at Race's face as the words left his mouth.

"How is Jack?" I asked hoarsely.

"He doesn't talk much," Specs said quietly. "But he's been doing a good job of takin care of the boys."

There was a falter in his voice as he finished his sentence. I reached out and rested a hand on his shoulder. Scanning the group that sat around the room, my heart sank. In the months prior, the spirits of the newsies had been deflated. In early December, they lost Kloppman to pneumonia. While the younger newsies seemed to be coping well, I could tell that it was breaking the other's resolve. Jack had taken up the task of replacing Kloppman at the lodging house, truly finding his knack taking care of the boys.

"Well, shall we get started?" I quickly changed the subject, trying to lighten the mood. I pulled out my copy of Macbeth. "What did you think?"

I looked around at them as they discussed the play. This was my favorite part of the day. My time with the young newsies was very enjoyable, but the young men that sat around me now were my friends and confidants since my return to New York. They were my family now, just as Gabe had told me months earlier.

I smiled genuinely as the others continued their discussion, offering my opinion when the occasion called for it.

The grandfather clock in the foyer chimed then o'clock, and the boys began to file out.

"Thanks for this, Bel," Gabe said as I followed him to the door. "It means a lot to these boys."

"I'm glad to do it," I replied, watching the others walking down the street.

"I think that I am ready to stop being a newsie, Bel."

He said it so quietly that I was unsure if I had heard his correctly. I turned, wide eyed to face him. He nodded, confirming my suspicions.

This announcement wasn't unexpected. Many of the older newsies had scattered to the winds not long after Kloppman's funeral. Most of them went to work in the factories or headed out west in search of new adventures.

"Things are getting pretty busy around here. I could use and extra teacher," I offered.

He smiled. "Thanks, but Denton beat you to it. He's offered me a job working with David in his office."

I nodded and walked over to the small cabinet that sat near the door, pulling an envelope from the drawer.

As I handed it to him, he gave me a confused look. "What's this?"

"Something that should have been given to you years ago."

He quickly scanned the paper inside the envelope before handing it back to me. "I told you that I don't want the money, Belinda. I want to start over on my own."

"OK." I nodded and pulled him into a hug. "I'm here if you need me."

I could fell him nod. "I'll be fine."

He quickly said goodnight and slipped out into the cold night. I closed the door behind him before returning the envelope to the drawer. When I looked up, I noticed Specs leaning on the doorframe between the parlor and the foyer.

Taking his hand, I lead him back toward one of the couches. He sat down beside me, wrapping his arm around me silently. With his free hand, he set a box on my lap.

"What's this?" I asked, inspecting the box.

He shrugged. "Open it."

I did as he instructed, finding inside a simple diamond ring resting on a velvet pad.

"It's not as nice as I would have liked," he said, leaning on my shoulder.

"Is this what I think it is?"

"Dutchy and I made a deal when we became newsies. We start together and we leave together." My eyes widened in disbelief, but he went on. "Things have changed around here in the last few months. It's time for me to move on and make a new life for myself."

I nodded, still shocked slightly.

"I want you to be a part of that life," he continued. "Belinda, will you marry me?"

A broad smile curled my lips and my eyes began to water.

He chuckled at my reaction. "Is that a yes?"

I nodded and he lifted the ring from the box on my lap, sliding it onto my finger. He leaned forward and brushed a gentle kiss over my lips.

"Does the job offer still stand?" He asked as he pulled away.

I looked at him confused for a moment. "What?"

"The teaching position, is it still open?"

I cracked a smile, leaning against his chest. "I suppose."

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me lightly against his chest. "Good."