sorry for the delay, i've been ULTRA busy. seriously. there's so many things popping up that i haven't had time to think of what to do next. but anyways, here's the next chap. ^^

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POV: Sage, Duck, Brownie

Day: December 25, 1900

Time: 9:35 PM

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.Sage.

"Oh, my goodness, Jack, what happened to you?"

Do you see? Do you see why I hate Christmas so much?

"Sagey…" muttered Jack, pulling himself up from his bunk.

My family. My father. Now this.

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me," continued Jack.

But I couldn't help myself. I held him in a tight embrace the moment Brownie and Itey left the room. I never really cared that much about Christmas, but now, it was just a reminder of something that I never wanted to repeat or see.

I buried my face in his chest, inhaling his scent. For a quick second, the scolding that I was about to lay on him just melted away. I never thought that he meant so much to me. Sure, I was overjoyed when we were together, but I guess you'll never know how much you love something until its gone.

I'm just glad he isn't. I'm glad he's still here.

"It's alright, Sage…" cooed Jack, running his fingers through my hair.

That was amazing for me, since my thick curly red hair is usually tangled beyond disbelief. But Jack just kept on holding me.

"When Sapphy told me that you were in a fight…" I said, looking up at him, still in an embrace.

He slowly leaned back against the wall, shifting around to get in a comfortable position. "It was just a newsie that was looking for some trouble. He stole some of my papes so…"

"You're lying."

I know him well enough to know that.

"Are you accusin' me of lying, Chloe McBride?" said Jack sarcastically.

"You're talking to Sage here, Jacky boy," I said, smirking, suddenly feeling a bit happier. "I know everything."

"Really?"

"Then do you know what I'm thinking right now?"

"Er, my eye hurts?"

"That maybe Christmas isn't too bad," said Jack, shrugging and giving me a half smile.

"Too bad?! You were in a fight today for cryin' out loud! Are you saying that getting in fights are a good thing?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying, Sage. There's more to it than that."

"That… that newsie downstairs… he was the one that supposedly stole your papes right?" I asked, letting go of the embrace, and sitting up to face him. "Jack, what's going on? Why are the boys holding him down there? Why'd you bring him here?"

"You don't have to worry about that right now," said Jack, taking my hand. "But I'd really like you to feel calm and content right now…"

Calm and content?! How the hell am I supposed to do that?

"But Jack!"

"Sage…" interrupted Jack, his eyes looking on mine. "I never knew what kind of person you were until I met you. I didn't know about your habits until then. I didn't know how cute you looked when you twirled your hair around your finger, just to make it even curlier when you know that you don't like it. You mean so much to me, Sagey."

Wow.

"You mean a lot to me too, Jack… but… I just can't help but worry about you sometimes…"

"And I worry too! I worry about how you're feeling and what you're thinking. Promise me you'll at least be optimistic tonight…"

That was hard. That was something I couldn't do. I mean, after all that happened during the past days… it was hard to be optimistic.

"I'll try…"

"Thanks," said Jack, giving me a smile. "Now, help me clean up so I can give you your present."

.Duck.

Skittery… Christmas gift… pretty string… surprise… all dressed up… Maria Teresa's… upper class… Spot…

Oh my goodness.

I fainted, didn't I? That's why I'm in the bunkroom… and I'm looking up at the ceiling… and I'm covered in blankets and… alright, somebody's holding my hand!

"You're awake," muttered whoever was sitting next to me.

I shifted under the covers and slowly sat up, suddenly feeling a pair of hands helping me as I leaned on the wall. I didn't fall too hard on the floor, did I? 'Cause if I did, then that would really…

"Duck?"

"Skittery!"

That's Skittery, isn't it? Skittery sitting at the edge of my bed, wearing his fancy clothes, and looking after me. Skittery… the Skittery that I know, right?

"Yeah," said Skittery, chuckling. "That's me."

Right.

"How'd I…"

"Spot, Striker, and some of the others brought you back here after you fainted at Maria Teresa's."

"But how about the…"

"Striker, erm, persuaded Spot to go with her back to Maria Teresa's since you fainted."

"I really messed up…"

"My Christmas gift for you, I know."

"Would you stop cutting me off?" I joked, playfully hitting him on the shoulder. "It ain't like I'm disabled or anything!"

"Sorry," smiled Skittery. "Just wanted to get the explanations over with."

Ah, speaking of explanations…

"Did you really go through all that trouble for my Christmas gift? I mean, I usually just get a hair tie or a handkerchief…"

"Or a string…"

Oh my goodness. The string. He really thought it out didn't he?

"The string! Geez, Skitts, I was going to have a heart attack!"

"I knew you would… that's why I made up the string part," teased Skittery. "I mean, the meaning of it still lasts, but it was so fun seeing you blow up like a balloon five seconds after I left."

"Skittery!"

"What? It was oh, so, entertaining."

Just expect Skittery to do something like that to me. Really.

"But you know," I said, seriously. "You didn't have to do that whole dinner thing with Spot. It's been such a long time since I've…"

"Liked him?"

"Yeah…"

Ack. Why am I suddenly feeling so bad?

"Besides, you had to waste all your money on that--."

"It was fine, really."

"Duck, it's okay," said Skittery sternly. "I wanted to do it."

Ouch. Why am I suddenly feeling so sad? Why am I suddenly feeling like he handed me over to Spot? Why am I suddenly feeling that I wish I went with him to that dinner?

"Really?" I croaked, not sure if I wanted to hear his answer.

"Anything for my best friend."

Best friend. The string. So that's what I am. But no… I won't let that stop me. It's Christmas. People are supposed to be happy during Christmas and I want to give myself the best gift I could ever get.

"Best friend?"

Skittery nodded hesitantly. Is that a yes or a no?

"You know I've always been there for you, Duck."

"I know that…"

"And I'm always here to talk to you when you need me…"

"Yeah, that's true, Skitts, but…"

"But I…"

Blank. There's nothing clicking in my head right now and I have no idea to say what I feel. Goodness, I don't even know why I bothered to do this. I was just sitting here talking to Skittery, which I always do, but this time I'm talking to Skittery. Who would've thought it made such a big difference?

The way he's just looking at me, a kind of confused but loving look just made me wanted to prove my point even more.

"What are you getting at, Duck? Are you saying that…"

I sighed, moved closer to him, and gave him a kiss. Not a kiss on the cheek. But a kiss.

"That's what I'm saying," I said as I pulled away from him.

Shocked. That's what he looked like for sure. Please, oh, please, don't let anything bad happen…

"Do you really feel that way?" asked Skittery slowly, choosing his words.

I nodded. Geez, since forever!

"Well, maybe we can be more than best friends," smiled Skittery.

Maybe.

Maybe's good.

.Brownie.

I still can't believe it.

After all the shouting and glaring that we went through, who would've thought that Jack was going to change his mind about me seeing Itey just like that? What's gotten into him lately? I don't know if it's just me, but he's been acting a little… different. Ah, but who knows, it's Jack. Who knows what's going on in his head.

I'll just sit here with Itey and enjoy my Christmas.

"How long are they going to take? We've been waiting for fifteen minutes already!" whined David, looking out at the window towards the streets.

Y'know, sometimes, he can really get his tighties in a bunch if nothing goes his way. But you just got to love David for his smarts. Without him, the boys wouldn't have won the strike. You can't deny that.

"Don't worry, Davey," assured Itey. "They'll come. Besides, It's snowing. They're not going to stay outside for long. Just enough so that they can get money after caroling."

"I wanted to go caroling!" piped Les. Aw, that kid's such a cutie.

"How about tomorrow then, Les?" I asked. "Me and you?"

"Sure!"

"Ha, I got myself a caroling partner!"

"Caroling partner?" asked Itey. "What is that?"

"Well, it ain't you!" I joked, playfully slapping his cheek then giving him a quick kiss.

"Yeah! It's me!"

"Les!" squealed someone from the door, who apparently seemed to be Ershey, waving from him at the door.

"Heya Ershey! Hey, Ears! Uh… hi…" muttered Les to Michael.

"Oh, sorry, tha--."

"My name's Michael," he smiled, playfully ruffling Les' hair.

"Like saint Michael?"

"I guess you can say that."

"Actually," said Ershey. "It's Joseph."

"You did a great job for a stand-in, Michael," smiled Ears. "It was really lucky that you were there."

Michael rolled his eyes. "I just stood there."

"All the same," shrugged Ears. "I thought it was great."

"Yeah, great that I dragged you there, right?" teased Ershey.

"Hold on, is that the Queens-newsie-that-Jack-beat-up-and-brought-back-Michael?" I asked. Why is he here? Again?

"Long story," said Ershey, rolling her eyes.

"Where's Mush? Do y'all know where he is?" asked Ears, sitting down on the couch.

"Caroling," muttered David. "With the rest of the newsies."

"Aww… is Davey all grumpy on Christmas Eve?" I teased.

Haha, I couldn't really help myself.

"Don't be a grouch, now," followed Ershey.

David rolled his eyes. "It's just that when I pay a visit none of you are--."

"WE'RE HERE!!!"

The door burst open, revealing a hyperactive Sapphy followed by the rest of the gang.

"See? I told you!" said Itey. "They're here!"

"They're here!" shouted Les.

"Yes, we are…" mumbled Emu as she headed towards the bunkroom. "I'll be upstairs if you need me!"

"No, Emu, get back down here!" shouted Kloppman from the main office. "We're having dinner in about--."

"I ain't hungry!"

"I'm up for it!" said Race, smiling at Kloppman.

"Right then, won't take any longer."

Remember when it was only just Itey and me sitting here in the lobby talking to each other? It was much more peaceful then.

Something was going on with Ears and Mush. Apparently, they were both gone, probably up at the rooftop. I also thought that it was kind of weird, that for once in her life, Ershey wasn't paying any attention to Mush. But to that Queens newsie, Michael. The fact is, he's taking notice of her too. Then there was Sapphy bouncing about the room, mostly talking to David and Les. Lastly, was Stretch, sitting calmly next to Itey and me as we waited for the rest of the newsies for dinner.

"Alright, everyone can get what they want!" shouted Kloppman from the kitchen.

Thank goodness. Food. I've been so hungry.

I smiled and held Itey's hand, feeling content. I saw the rest of the newsies walk in, completing the group.

There was laughter in the air and the feeling of love spread throughout everybody's heart. For once, I didn't care what Kloppman served, I was just happy that we were all here together.

~*~

short SOs this time. thanks to: deanie, azn-kimmi, sagey, sapphy, justduck, frenchygoil and kit blink for reviewing my ff! ^^