A/N: Hey can anyone who reads this review please? I really want to know what ppl think of my stories!

"Aye lass, me name is James Kelly and me dear wife was your sainted mother. Here's your birth certificate if ya don't believe me. You were just a wee babe when we divorced and I left to come back to Ireland and your brother, Jack, was only 2 years old. Do you both go by your stepfather's last name?"

"We did until Jack got sent to the Refuge and broke out and he decided to make up new names for us. Our stepfather decided Jack was Francis and I was Christiana, so Jack remembered Mummy calling him Jack and me Elizabeth, and somehow he remembered the last name Kelly, so he changed them to that. Not long after that I was sent to live with our stepfather's sister."

"Do ya thing that maybe I could come and visit you where you live and get ta know ya?" he asked after a few silent moments.

"Um…yea, sure, I guess so. I sell papers, but I live at 135 Drury Lane. I really have to go, I'm meeting some friends for lunch," Ella said standing up.

"I'll stop by and see you tomorrow," James said.

"Can you give me a week or 2 to get used to the fact that you're my father and not the slime ball that's rotting in Tomb's prison?"

"Of course. I'll come by 2 weeks from Friday." Ella turned and walked down the street, shivering.

****

Dear Jack,

I'm so sorry I left like I did, but I needed to go some place where I could find who I really am. I found out something interesting today; Edward Sullivan isn't our real father. Our father is James Kelly. He left mum when you were 2. He says he wants to get to know me, but I just don't know. I need you, Cowboy. This on top of everything else is just too much emotional stress. Please write and tell me what you think I should do.

Your Angel

****

"Ella, are you ok?" a voice said behind her. Ella dropped the envelope she was holding and whirled around to face Hoops.

"I'm fine," she replied icily, although she knew worry lines were etched all over her smooth face.

"No you aren't. Something happened today. Tell me," he ordered soothingly. His clear blue eyes pleaded with her silently. She felt tears stinging her eyes. He reached out and puller her into a tight hug. She tried to pull away.

"Shouldn't you be with Princess, you know your girlfriend?" she asked bitingly as she tried to escape his tight hold.

"Forget Princess. You're my friend and you need me. Now tell me what's wrong."

The warmth in his voice and the strength of his arms made her break down. Through small sobs she told him all of what happened that day.

"From what you've said it sounds like your father is offering you a chance to get away from selling papers and have a good life. Do you know how many newsies have a chance to get out? 1 in 1,000,000."

"I know. I just want to see what Hack thinks is best. No matter how mad he makes me, he's still my brother and this is his decision too."

"If that's how you feel I'll send your letter express mail right now," Hoops said nodding towards the envelope on the table.

"Thanks Hoops," Ella said, wiping her eyes with her handkerchief. Hoops nodded in acknowledgement of her thanks, picked up the envelope and headed out the door and down the stairs.

****

2 weeks later Ella was sitting on her bed talking with Spaz, Volley, and Gale, when Hoops came and knocked on the door.

"Ella, you have a visitor," he said before turning to go. Ella exchanged worried looks with her friends and slowly made her way down the stairs.

A man was standing with his back to the stairs; a flat black felt cowboy hat on his head.