A/N – Here it is....*big shuddering sigh* the last chapter. I know it's
so quick, but I got into a wicked writing mood, and well here it is. For
all those interested, I will be writing a sort of sequel with Spot as the
main character and then a story with Kid Blink and Pistol. (I've already
started both of these stories) Also I have to squeeze a Newsie Camp story
in there somewhere, Heh. Busy, busy, busy! – A/N
Spot: Misery you better warn them...*threatening look*
Warn them about what? *total innocence*
Spot: You KNOW what I mean. *takes out slingshot and aims it at Misery's butt* I'll bean ya, I ain't afraid.
*grabs butt* ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! There is total CHEESEY SAPPYNESS ahead. You have been warned.
Spot: *puts away slingshot and smirks while flexing an arm* Heh, I still got it.
Yeah you got it alright...*grumbles* Okay on with the story.
I was jolted awake by my newborn son's screaming and I groggily fell off of my bed and landed in a twisted pile of limbs and nightgown onto the floor. Picking myself up as gently as possible, and trying not to holler out swears as loud as Joshua was crying, I made my way to his cradle and hefted him onto my shoulder.
He grabbed a hank of my hair, yanked on it, and screamed directly into my ear. I think this is when I started to cry and didn't even hear the knocking on the door. When I heard laughter, some of it distinctly male sounding, I whirled around, surprise and tears showing on my face as I hiccupped.
Marty stood in the doorway, holding her stomach with one arm and supporting herself with the doorjamb using the other. She laughed in deep whoops but it couldn't disguise the voice of the person standing next to her.
There in all his newsie glory stood Racetrack Higgins, a beaming smile on his face and an unlit cigar dangling out of the side of his mouth. Franticly looking around, I realized it was morning, and that I was standing in front of Race wearing only a nightgown. Untangling myself from my son's grip I thrust him at Marty and flung my quilt around my shoulders. Race raised a dark eyebrow and winked at me.
"Why so modest? It ain't like we don't know each other." I scowled and shooed him out while I dressed, shutting the door in his face. Why was he here? How did he find me? My mind was humming as fast as my heart was slapping against my chest. I fumbled with the buttons on the bodice of my dress and slung an apron around my skirt. Mrs. McShea didn't tolerate girls dressing like boys in her inn. So I had had to spend some of Spot's money and an advance in my pay on some dresses and skirts.
Flinging open the door, I found Race bending over Marty admiring my son. That very image sent my heart straight into my throat where I almost choked on it. Race must have heard me for he glanced up at me and a serious expression showed on his once round now lean face.
"Misery we need to talk," he began. Marty gave me a quizzical look then cocked her head in understanding.
"Misery would be the newsie name?" I nodded, and she set Joshua into my arms where he gurgled up at me and drooled. I kissed his nose and adjusted the folds of his blanket around him.
"I'll tell Mama that you have company. I think she'll understand," Marty said before sidling away. Race took my elbow and together we walked out of the inn and into the yard. You could smell the ocean, that's how close we were. But the yard of the inn was full of trees and had a low stone wall lazily sloping around its boundaries. We perched on the wall and let the sun sink into our bones. Birds were chirping and bees were humming.
Race snorted and looked around wide-eyed. I knew he must be in a totally different world right now and I smiled, remembering my same exact reaction all those months ago when I had first arrived. I felt him take my hand into his and I looked away suddenly ashamed.
"What's the matter?" His voice was soft and when I dared to look at him, his eyes were too. I flushed with shame and hung my head. Shifting Joshua around, I didn't speak. Race finally sighed and put a finger underneath my chin.
"When you left, I thought it was because of me, not because you were pregnant. Misery, I know I'm young and that this may not be the right timing or thing to say, but I...I love you and no matter what happens to you I'll be there to help you through it. You shouldn't have run away from me."
"I know Race but I was so scared and I just...thought it was the right thing to do. I didn't think you'd want to help me raise a bastard." My bitter chuckle seemed to pain him for he shook his head at me.
"Misery I think you are one of the most beautiful, caring, amusing, kind people out there. Anything that has to do with you I want a part of. And if you have a child, then I want to help you with your child." I must have been looking at him like he had two heads. Men did not say this sort of thing. Men didn't come and just sweep you off your feet like this and say all the perfect, wonderful things he was saying.
"Do you mean it?" I whispered hesitantly. Race threw back his head and laughed, causing Joshua to jerk in my arms slightly. I drank in the sight of him laughing, the sun shining on his black hair, his goofy grin, his worn and patched checkered vest and cabby hat. Everything that made him Racetrack suddenly fascinated me. And I knew then that I felt the same way he did about me.
"Of course I mean it Mis," he said to me with a grin before his expression faded to one of seriousness.
"I don't ever want you to leave me again," he said firmly. I opened my mouth to say something, but he shook his head shortly and captured my hand in his own and looked at me earnestly.
"Promise me that you'll stay with me and not run away again? Come home Misery. We all miss you, and we want you to come home, and nobody wants that more than I do." I felt something inside me that I hadn't felt in a long time. It had only been with the newsies that I had felt wanted, and a part of a family. God, how I missed that feeling. And God how I had missed Racetrack.
Beaming at him, I nodded my head and he grabbed me in a tight embrace before remembering Joshua and hastily let me go. Joshua however, had fallen asleep and was drowsily smacking his lips. Racetrack leaned over and kissed me on the lips.
"Does this mean you're my girl again?" I nodded once more, not able to trust myself to squeak out my words. His smile was like a ray of sunlight and it brought out my own smile. He gently took Joshua from me and cradled him awkwardly in his arms. Joshua squirmed slightly but soon sleep re-took him and he lay silently.
"If you're my girl then he's my boy." Race gave me a steady, intent look.
"And I promise you both that I'll look after you like you deserve." I sniffed and blinked my suddenly burning eyes.
"God, what did I do to deserve you Race?" He smiled, showing off his slightly crooked side-teeth and winked a dark eye at me.
"You were you Misery. That's what you did to deserve me." I snorted and put my head on his shoulder. We sat like that for what seemed an eternity. It wasn't until dusk and Mrs. McShea hollering for me to come inside and get off my lazy ass that we joined the real world again.
Later that night when I had put Joshua down in a basket next to Mrs. McShea while she rocked in her chair and mended undergarments, Race and I took a walk down to the ocean. It was dark, but the moon was full and it illuminated the path that cut through the small copse of trees in the backyard and led to the beach beyond. You could see where sand started to mix with the dirt and grass on the well-trodden path just before you heard waves crashing against the shore.
Race whistled lowly under his breath and took the cigar out of his mouth long enough to gape at the moonlit ocean. Since we were away from any large cities, the sky was scattered with stars. I pointed out to Race what Marty had shown me on my first night there.
"That's the Big Dipper, there's Orion's Belt," I nattered on hardly taking a breath until Race slid an arm around my shoulders and we just stood in silence. In the eerie glow of the moonlight I could see his face and he looked totally relaxed.
"I had to fight Spot to make him tell me where you were," he suddenly said. I did a double-take and looked at him wide-eyed.
"You mean actually fight him?" Race grinned and his teeth flashed white. I led him over to a jumble of rocks while he told me the story. I let out a breath, relieved. Race was no coward but he wasn't a strong fist fighter either. Spot hadn't gotten his reputation or standing by being peaceful.
"Are ya looking forward to going home?" I tilted my head and looked out at the sea. I had grown accustomed to the slower pace of life out here and the nature. But a part of me missed the day to day struggle of not knowing if your next day was going to be as safe as the last. I was still a kid, and with my own kid or not, I would never willingly want to give up any sort of excitement. It just wasn't in my soul.
"Yah know? I am looking forward to it. There are so many people I miss and..."
"Like Spot," Race interrupted me grimly. I smiled gently and put my arm around his neck. He was sitting a little below me on a rock that put his head about shoulder high. I squeezed his head playfully and he laughed.
"Yeah I miss Spot. But he's a dear friend to me and no more Race. I hope you can learn to understand that and believe me." Race didn't say anything for a long time and I began to grow somewhat tense.
"I understand, Misery. It's the same thing with Meesh and me." I nodded and lifted a hand up.
"Exactly, I'm so glad Racetrack." He leaned against me and we sat for awhile longer before heading back to the house. After a chat with Mrs. McShea, Racetrack helped me pack up my things before retiring to an empty room. It was early, but as newsies we were used to going to bed early. Besides, tomorrow I had a whole new journey to make. I was going home.
"Are you sure he said they'd be here?"
"Quit shoving!"
"Bumlets get OFF of my foot before I belt ya!"
"Damnit Jack where ARE they?!"
"He said they'd be here in three day's time, and if she doesn't come he'll be here, so quit your belly achin' Blink."
"Pistol..."
"Yoah Mothah..."
"WILL ALL OF YOU SHUT UP?"
"LOOK! THERE'S RACETRACK!" Many pairs of eyes swung around to where Mush stood on a bench at the train station, pointing. Racetrack stood, hands in his pockets, looking glum. Jack nudged Skittery and cackled.
"Lookit that, he looks more pissed than you normally do." Skittery gave a trademarked sneer and slunk away. Pokey jabbed at Jack and hissed at him to shut up, for no one had spied Misery.
"Where is she? She didn't come? How could she NOT come?" Pistol was beside herself, stomping back and forth as Racetrack trotted over, his head hanging down. Blink put his hand out and made as if to touch Pistol, but she bared her teeth and charged at Racetrack. Right before she reached him, Pistol looked beyond his shoulder and saw a form huddled down out of sight behind another bench. Changing direction, she ran full-throttle towards the figure.
"MISERY!" Race lifted his head finally and the rest of the group let out a collective sigh at his smiling face before gathering around him, slapping his back in congratulations. Bourbon, Pokey, Pistol, and Meesh all ran to Misery and hugged her. An indignant squawk came from a bundle in her arms and all but one of the girls backed away in shock.
"This is Joshua. Joshua, this is Auntie Pokey, Auntie Bourbon, Auntie Meesh, and Auntie Pistol." Joshua opened one eye enough to show that he had my hazel eyes and then closed it again, apparently uninterested. All the girls except Pistol looked at me knowingly.
"So THAT'S why," Meesh said, flinging a strand of her black hair out of her face. I nodded and they all admired Joshua before the boys came over. They were shocked too and clearly more uncomfortable around my baby. But then Race took him into his arms and started cracking jokes about how he was the first to start a new generation of street rats and they had all better catch up. The rest of the boys laughed and relaxed.
When we reached the lodging house, Kloppman put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a sad, fatherly look before smiling gently at Joshua and then turning away barking out something about 'even more brats to take care of'. I grinned, having missed his tough and gruff endearments.
Besides Mockery, there were two new girls, one was ten, and the other eleven. They were introduced to me as Shakes and Becca. I nodded at them and they gave me long, dubious looks before Bourbon cuffed their heads and led me to not my old bunk, with Ladybug but a made-up single bed.
"You're a vet now," she explained gesturing towards the rest of the room.
"Nell works at Medda's and Flinch joined a convent." Bourbon snorted at this, but a fond smile crossed her lean face.
"That's the safest place for the girl, poor bitch." Her tone of voice was gentle and belied her harsh words. Ladybug was there, bouncing around my ankles demanding to see my baby, along with Rags who had hit a growth spurt and looked like he was wearing short pants. A lot had apparently happened in the almost year I had been gone.
After everyone had settled down, and I had put Joshua into yet another basket/cradle that lay right beside my bed, we all lounged around the boy's bunk room playing cards, laughing, and re-telling stories that I hadn't been around for. There was a sudden thundering of feet on the floor and a group of newsies burst in headed by Spot Conlon. He spread his arms wide, his golden-topped cane flashing in the gaslight as he cocked his head arrogantly.
"Nevah feah, Brooklyn is heah. And now, we can celebrate!" Kloppman had wisely decided to 'take the night off'. I bit my lip before Meesh placed a hand on my shoulder and told me that for tonight, she would mind Joshua for me.
"I know you have a lot of catching up to do, and I'm really tired. Too many late nights at Medda's and chasing around after unruly Brooklyn boys." I thanked her whole-heartedly and she waved it off with a smile, side-stepping a keg that Riddle hefted into the room, helped by another broad-shouldered Brooklyn boy and Mush.
Somewhere in the midst of confusion, chaos and general mayhem that followed, and around the middle of a song that Mush and Kid Blink were drunkenly singing while Pistol stood behind them, mocking them with hand gestures and grotesque faces, Spot found me and pulled me out a window onto the fire escape.
"I'm glad you're home, kid." I snorted at him calling me 'kid' and accepted a cigarette he held out to me. I asked him if he'd seen Joshua yet, and he shook his head no. I could sort of tell that he wasn't ready for that, so I let it be. We smoked companionably before he squared his shoulders and looked me directly in the eyes.
"For the last time, I have to ask yah. I won't hold your answer against yah, I just have to know. Will you go home to Brooklyn with me?" I held his gaze and put a hand onto his shoulder.
"Spot, I love yah but not like that. My place is here, with Racetrack and my son." Spot nodded and smiled but it wasn't a real smile, it had no peace about it. All the same he chastely kissed my cheek before stepping back inside the lodging house where I could hear him holler for a pint of beer.
I leaned against the metal railings and listened with a small smile on my face, to Pistol and Blink arguing loudly, Davey trying to teach Jack how to talk properly, Mush trying to keep singing, Bourbon and Riddle exchanging jokes, Rags antagonizing the older newsies, Racetrack chasing Snipeshooter for stealing a cigar and I sighed happily.
"You comin' inside sweet face?" Race stood at the window holding a hand out to me. I took it but not before I looked at him and kissed him swiftly. He looked at me with a crooked grin.
"What was that for?"
"It's just good to be home, Racetrack. It's damn good to be home." And home is where I was, and I was there to stay. No longer haunted by my brother's holding me under their tyrannical thumbs or by one horrible night that had changed me forever. I was just home, and nothing was going to take me away from it again.
THE END
A/N – I just want to thank all of you guys who took the time to read this story, start to finish. It really means a lot to me all the feedback that I got. I hope you continue to read my other stories and that you like them just as much as hopefully you liked this one. *sobs* I can't believe it's over...Ah well... On to the next one! –A/N
SHOUT OUTS
My dog ate my penname -- *twitches back* I do the twitchy thing a lot too. Sheesh Spot, whatta ho you are.
Spot: *angelic look* Can I help it that I like butts and people grabbin' mine? *rubs head and grins roguishly at Spitball* Go ahead; you know you want to...
Pokey7 – Eep thank you. I'm glad to see the story came together myself I was afraid that it was just going to be a mishmash of stuff happening. But it seemed to flow alright. Thank you once again for the character and for sticking with the story!
NadaZimri – Haha...I read review responses not directed at me too, especially in Sapphy's stories. Her's are entertainin'. Anywho. Yes I have plans for a Spot/OC fic with some of my old character's thrown in, and a Kid Blink/Pistol fic. Plus I'm doin' that POTC one. So if you still want to read my stuff you can always try those on for size. I've already started both the Spot and Kid Blink one so it's only a matter of time...*evil cackle*
JustDuck – Hahaha thank you! Yeah Joshua has a long name but if you notice Misery gave him Race's real name which is why his name is so long for such a little guy. Yeah I think even poor women had other women present during labor, especially midwives. It's not like they could afford doctors.
Hehehe no Mush, Blink or Pistol along on Race's trip. Dude! IF YOU GIVE MUSH A COOKIE! That could be an awesome fic...
*Spot gives Duck the Kleenex with a leer and wiggles his eyebrows up and down*
Oh Lord...*hugs Duck* I've given up on his lecherous ass...
Spot: Hey I resemble that remark...
See?
Kays14 – Muahaha...I hope this chapter answered all your questions because well, the story's over now!
Pyro – Yeah, it's over. But I have lots more to write!
Jaws – You sound like you have some pretty crappy days like me. But it gets better. Ouch, you know what's funny? I didn't get my license the first time either. My instructor felt so bad for me that he gave me all the right paperwork and told me to wait 60 days go get it. Love ya back *hugs* you have a great day too!
Chelsea – Raceypants indeed!! *hugs Pistol and her weirdness*
JamieBell – Yes, yes the little idiot...Ouch that had had to hurt...*winces*
Racetaps – Yay for happy endings with Race! Drinks all around! :D
Spot: Misery you better warn them...*threatening look*
Warn them about what? *total innocence*
Spot: You KNOW what I mean. *takes out slingshot and aims it at Misery's butt* I'll bean ya, I ain't afraid.
*grabs butt* ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! There is total CHEESEY SAPPYNESS ahead. You have been warned.
Spot: *puts away slingshot and smirks while flexing an arm* Heh, I still got it.
Yeah you got it alright...*grumbles* Okay on with the story.
I was jolted awake by my newborn son's screaming and I groggily fell off of my bed and landed in a twisted pile of limbs and nightgown onto the floor. Picking myself up as gently as possible, and trying not to holler out swears as loud as Joshua was crying, I made my way to his cradle and hefted him onto my shoulder.
He grabbed a hank of my hair, yanked on it, and screamed directly into my ear. I think this is when I started to cry and didn't even hear the knocking on the door. When I heard laughter, some of it distinctly male sounding, I whirled around, surprise and tears showing on my face as I hiccupped.
Marty stood in the doorway, holding her stomach with one arm and supporting herself with the doorjamb using the other. She laughed in deep whoops but it couldn't disguise the voice of the person standing next to her.
There in all his newsie glory stood Racetrack Higgins, a beaming smile on his face and an unlit cigar dangling out of the side of his mouth. Franticly looking around, I realized it was morning, and that I was standing in front of Race wearing only a nightgown. Untangling myself from my son's grip I thrust him at Marty and flung my quilt around my shoulders. Race raised a dark eyebrow and winked at me.
"Why so modest? It ain't like we don't know each other." I scowled and shooed him out while I dressed, shutting the door in his face. Why was he here? How did he find me? My mind was humming as fast as my heart was slapping against my chest. I fumbled with the buttons on the bodice of my dress and slung an apron around my skirt. Mrs. McShea didn't tolerate girls dressing like boys in her inn. So I had had to spend some of Spot's money and an advance in my pay on some dresses and skirts.
Flinging open the door, I found Race bending over Marty admiring my son. That very image sent my heart straight into my throat where I almost choked on it. Race must have heard me for he glanced up at me and a serious expression showed on his once round now lean face.
"Misery we need to talk," he began. Marty gave me a quizzical look then cocked her head in understanding.
"Misery would be the newsie name?" I nodded, and she set Joshua into my arms where he gurgled up at me and drooled. I kissed his nose and adjusted the folds of his blanket around him.
"I'll tell Mama that you have company. I think she'll understand," Marty said before sidling away. Race took my elbow and together we walked out of the inn and into the yard. You could smell the ocean, that's how close we were. But the yard of the inn was full of trees and had a low stone wall lazily sloping around its boundaries. We perched on the wall and let the sun sink into our bones. Birds were chirping and bees were humming.
Race snorted and looked around wide-eyed. I knew he must be in a totally different world right now and I smiled, remembering my same exact reaction all those months ago when I had first arrived. I felt him take my hand into his and I looked away suddenly ashamed.
"What's the matter?" His voice was soft and when I dared to look at him, his eyes were too. I flushed with shame and hung my head. Shifting Joshua around, I didn't speak. Race finally sighed and put a finger underneath my chin.
"When you left, I thought it was because of me, not because you were pregnant. Misery, I know I'm young and that this may not be the right timing or thing to say, but I...I love you and no matter what happens to you I'll be there to help you through it. You shouldn't have run away from me."
"I know Race but I was so scared and I just...thought it was the right thing to do. I didn't think you'd want to help me raise a bastard." My bitter chuckle seemed to pain him for he shook his head at me.
"Misery I think you are one of the most beautiful, caring, amusing, kind people out there. Anything that has to do with you I want a part of. And if you have a child, then I want to help you with your child." I must have been looking at him like he had two heads. Men did not say this sort of thing. Men didn't come and just sweep you off your feet like this and say all the perfect, wonderful things he was saying.
"Do you mean it?" I whispered hesitantly. Race threw back his head and laughed, causing Joshua to jerk in my arms slightly. I drank in the sight of him laughing, the sun shining on his black hair, his goofy grin, his worn and patched checkered vest and cabby hat. Everything that made him Racetrack suddenly fascinated me. And I knew then that I felt the same way he did about me.
"Of course I mean it Mis," he said to me with a grin before his expression faded to one of seriousness.
"I don't ever want you to leave me again," he said firmly. I opened my mouth to say something, but he shook his head shortly and captured my hand in his own and looked at me earnestly.
"Promise me that you'll stay with me and not run away again? Come home Misery. We all miss you, and we want you to come home, and nobody wants that more than I do." I felt something inside me that I hadn't felt in a long time. It had only been with the newsies that I had felt wanted, and a part of a family. God, how I missed that feeling. And God how I had missed Racetrack.
Beaming at him, I nodded my head and he grabbed me in a tight embrace before remembering Joshua and hastily let me go. Joshua however, had fallen asleep and was drowsily smacking his lips. Racetrack leaned over and kissed me on the lips.
"Does this mean you're my girl again?" I nodded once more, not able to trust myself to squeak out my words. His smile was like a ray of sunlight and it brought out my own smile. He gently took Joshua from me and cradled him awkwardly in his arms. Joshua squirmed slightly but soon sleep re-took him and he lay silently.
"If you're my girl then he's my boy." Race gave me a steady, intent look.
"And I promise you both that I'll look after you like you deserve." I sniffed and blinked my suddenly burning eyes.
"God, what did I do to deserve you Race?" He smiled, showing off his slightly crooked side-teeth and winked a dark eye at me.
"You were you Misery. That's what you did to deserve me." I snorted and put my head on his shoulder. We sat like that for what seemed an eternity. It wasn't until dusk and Mrs. McShea hollering for me to come inside and get off my lazy ass that we joined the real world again.
Later that night when I had put Joshua down in a basket next to Mrs. McShea while she rocked in her chair and mended undergarments, Race and I took a walk down to the ocean. It was dark, but the moon was full and it illuminated the path that cut through the small copse of trees in the backyard and led to the beach beyond. You could see where sand started to mix with the dirt and grass on the well-trodden path just before you heard waves crashing against the shore.
Race whistled lowly under his breath and took the cigar out of his mouth long enough to gape at the moonlit ocean. Since we were away from any large cities, the sky was scattered with stars. I pointed out to Race what Marty had shown me on my first night there.
"That's the Big Dipper, there's Orion's Belt," I nattered on hardly taking a breath until Race slid an arm around my shoulders and we just stood in silence. In the eerie glow of the moonlight I could see his face and he looked totally relaxed.
"I had to fight Spot to make him tell me where you were," he suddenly said. I did a double-take and looked at him wide-eyed.
"You mean actually fight him?" Race grinned and his teeth flashed white. I led him over to a jumble of rocks while he told me the story. I let out a breath, relieved. Race was no coward but he wasn't a strong fist fighter either. Spot hadn't gotten his reputation or standing by being peaceful.
"Are ya looking forward to going home?" I tilted my head and looked out at the sea. I had grown accustomed to the slower pace of life out here and the nature. But a part of me missed the day to day struggle of not knowing if your next day was going to be as safe as the last. I was still a kid, and with my own kid or not, I would never willingly want to give up any sort of excitement. It just wasn't in my soul.
"Yah know? I am looking forward to it. There are so many people I miss and..."
"Like Spot," Race interrupted me grimly. I smiled gently and put my arm around his neck. He was sitting a little below me on a rock that put his head about shoulder high. I squeezed his head playfully and he laughed.
"Yeah I miss Spot. But he's a dear friend to me and no more Race. I hope you can learn to understand that and believe me." Race didn't say anything for a long time and I began to grow somewhat tense.
"I understand, Misery. It's the same thing with Meesh and me." I nodded and lifted a hand up.
"Exactly, I'm so glad Racetrack." He leaned against me and we sat for awhile longer before heading back to the house. After a chat with Mrs. McShea, Racetrack helped me pack up my things before retiring to an empty room. It was early, but as newsies we were used to going to bed early. Besides, tomorrow I had a whole new journey to make. I was going home.
"Are you sure he said they'd be here?"
"Quit shoving!"
"Bumlets get OFF of my foot before I belt ya!"
"Damnit Jack where ARE they?!"
"He said they'd be here in three day's time, and if she doesn't come he'll be here, so quit your belly achin' Blink."
"Pistol..."
"Yoah Mothah..."
"WILL ALL OF YOU SHUT UP?"
"LOOK! THERE'S RACETRACK!" Many pairs of eyes swung around to where Mush stood on a bench at the train station, pointing. Racetrack stood, hands in his pockets, looking glum. Jack nudged Skittery and cackled.
"Lookit that, he looks more pissed than you normally do." Skittery gave a trademarked sneer and slunk away. Pokey jabbed at Jack and hissed at him to shut up, for no one had spied Misery.
"Where is she? She didn't come? How could she NOT come?" Pistol was beside herself, stomping back and forth as Racetrack trotted over, his head hanging down. Blink put his hand out and made as if to touch Pistol, but she bared her teeth and charged at Racetrack. Right before she reached him, Pistol looked beyond his shoulder and saw a form huddled down out of sight behind another bench. Changing direction, she ran full-throttle towards the figure.
"MISERY!" Race lifted his head finally and the rest of the group let out a collective sigh at his smiling face before gathering around him, slapping his back in congratulations. Bourbon, Pokey, Pistol, and Meesh all ran to Misery and hugged her. An indignant squawk came from a bundle in her arms and all but one of the girls backed away in shock.
"This is Joshua. Joshua, this is Auntie Pokey, Auntie Bourbon, Auntie Meesh, and Auntie Pistol." Joshua opened one eye enough to show that he had my hazel eyes and then closed it again, apparently uninterested. All the girls except Pistol looked at me knowingly.
"So THAT'S why," Meesh said, flinging a strand of her black hair out of her face. I nodded and they all admired Joshua before the boys came over. They were shocked too and clearly more uncomfortable around my baby. But then Race took him into his arms and started cracking jokes about how he was the first to start a new generation of street rats and they had all better catch up. The rest of the boys laughed and relaxed.
When we reached the lodging house, Kloppman put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a sad, fatherly look before smiling gently at Joshua and then turning away barking out something about 'even more brats to take care of'. I grinned, having missed his tough and gruff endearments.
Besides Mockery, there were two new girls, one was ten, and the other eleven. They were introduced to me as Shakes and Becca. I nodded at them and they gave me long, dubious looks before Bourbon cuffed their heads and led me to not my old bunk, with Ladybug but a made-up single bed.
"You're a vet now," she explained gesturing towards the rest of the room.
"Nell works at Medda's and Flinch joined a convent." Bourbon snorted at this, but a fond smile crossed her lean face.
"That's the safest place for the girl, poor bitch." Her tone of voice was gentle and belied her harsh words. Ladybug was there, bouncing around my ankles demanding to see my baby, along with Rags who had hit a growth spurt and looked like he was wearing short pants. A lot had apparently happened in the almost year I had been gone.
After everyone had settled down, and I had put Joshua into yet another basket/cradle that lay right beside my bed, we all lounged around the boy's bunk room playing cards, laughing, and re-telling stories that I hadn't been around for. There was a sudden thundering of feet on the floor and a group of newsies burst in headed by Spot Conlon. He spread his arms wide, his golden-topped cane flashing in the gaslight as he cocked his head arrogantly.
"Nevah feah, Brooklyn is heah. And now, we can celebrate!" Kloppman had wisely decided to 'take the night off'. I bit my lip before Meesh placed a hand on my shoulder and told me that for tonight, she would mind Joshua for me.
"I know you have a lot of catching up to do, and I'm really tired. Too many late nights at Medda's and chasing around after unruly Brooklyn boys." I thanked her whole-heartedly and she waved it off with a smile, side-stepping a keg that Riddle hefted into the room, helped by another broad-shouldered Brooklyn boy and Mush.
Somewhere in the midst of confusion, chaos and general mayhem that followed, and around the middle of a song that Mush and Kid Blink were drunkenly singing while Pistol stood behind them, mocking them with hand gestures and grotesque faces, Spot found me and pulled me out a window onto the fire escape.
"I'm glad you're home, kid." I snorted at him calling me 'kid' and accepted a cigarette he held out to me. I asked him if he'd seen Joshua yet, and he shook his head no. I could sort of tell that he wasn't ready for that, so I let it be. We smoked companionably before he squared his shoulders and looked me directly in the eyes.
"For the last time, I have to ask yah. I won't hold your answer against yah, I just have to know. Will you go home to Brooklyn with me?" I held his gaze and put a hand onto his shoulder.
"Spot, I love yah but not like that. My place is here, with Racetrack and my son." Spot nodded and smiled but it wasn't a real smile, it had no peace about it. All the same he chastely kissed my cheek before stepping back inside the lodging house where I could hear him holler for a pint of beer.
I leaned against the metal railings and listened with a small smile on my face, to Pistol and Blink arguing loudly, Davey trying to teach Jack how to talk properly, Mush trying to keep singing, Bourbon and Riddle exchanging jokes, Rags antagonizing the older newsies, Racetrack chasing Snipeshooter for stealing a cigar and I sighed happily.
"You comin' inside sweet face?" Race stood at the window holding a hand out to me. I took it but not before I looked at him and kissed him swiftly. He looked at me with a crooked grin.
"What was that for?"
"It's just good to be home, Racetrack. It's damn good to be home." And home is where I was, and I was there to stay. No longer haunted by my brother's holding me under their tyrannical thumbs or by one horrible night that had changed me forever. I was just home, and nothing was going to take me away from it again.
THE END
A/N – I just want to thank all of you guys who took the time to read this story, start to finish. It really means a lot to me all the feedback that I got. I hope you continue to read my other stories and that you like them just as much as hopefully you liked this one. *sobs* I can't believe it's over...Ah well... On to the next one! –A/N
SHOUT OUTS
My dog ate my penname -- *twitches back* I do the twitchy thing a lot too. Sheesh Spot, whatta ho you are.
Spot: *angelic look* Can I help it that I like butts and people grabbin' mine? *rubs head and grins roguishly at Spitball* Go ahead; you know you want to...
Pokey7 – Eep thank you. I'm glad to see the story came together myself I was afraid that it was just going to be a mishmash of stuff happening. But it seemed to flow alright. Thank you once again for the character and for sticking with the story!
NadaZimri – Haha...I read review responses not directed at me too, especially in Sapphy's stories. Her's are entertainin'. Anywho. Yes I have plans for a Spot/OC fic with some of my old character's thrown in, and a Kid Blink/Pistol fic. Plus I'm doin' that POTC one. So if you still want to read my stuff you can always try those on for size. I've already started both the Spot and Kid Blink one so it's only a matter of time...*evil cackle*
JustDuck – Hahaha thank you! Yeah Joshua has a long name but if you notice Misery gave him Race's real name which is why his name is so long for such a little guy. Yeah I think even poor women had other women present during labor, especially midwives. It's not like they could afford doctors.
Hehehe no Mush, Blink or Pistol along on Race's trip. Dude! IF YOU GIVE MUSH A COOKIE! That could be an awesome fic...
*Spot gives Duck the Kleenex with a leer and wiggles his eyebrows up and down*
Oh Lord...*hugs Duck* I've given up on his lecherous ass...
Spot: Hey I resemble that remark...
See?
Kays14 – Muahaha...I hope this chapter answered all your questions because well, the story's over now!
Pyro – Yeah, it's over. But I have lots more to write!
Jaws – You sound like you have some pretty crappy days like me. But it gets better. Ouch, you know what's funny? I didn't get my license the first time either. My instructor felt so bad for me that he gave me all the right paperwork and told me to wait 60 days go get it. Love ya back *hugs* you have a great day too!
Chelsea – Raceypants indeed!! *hugs Pistol and her weirdness*
JamieBell – Yes, yes the little idiot...Ouch that had had to hurt...*winces*
Racetaps – Yay for happy endings with Race! Drinks all around! :D