yes, i know, this is long overdue, but only one more chapter and this ff will be finished. ^^

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POV: Emu, Ears, Stretch

Day: December 25, 1900

Time: 10:17 PM

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.Emu.

It's not like I wasn't hungry at all, who wouldn't be? I just went caroling out in the cold with the others right after having a one-hour break from selling. Of course I'd be damn tired. The fact that Swifty was following me around like a lapdog didn't help my situation either.

I just wanted to be alone. I wanted to stay in my bunk bed and sleep the night away.

"I'm not getting up," I mumbled to myself as I collapsed on my bed and threw the blankets over the head.

"C'mon, Emu, quit being a grouch and get downstairs."

Is it just me or am I hearing things?

I peeked from beneath the blankets and found Race sitting on the bunk bed across from me, a smirk on his face and a roll of bread in his hand.

"You think you're going to get me into going downstairs with bribing me with that?"

"What? This?" said Race, looking at his hand. "Nah, that's for me."

Typical.

"What do you want?" I groaned, burying my head into the pillow. I didn't need any of this. I was ready to drift off into sleep and just…

"Go downstairs and grab a bite to eat," said Race, demonstrating as he took a bite of the bread.

"Let me guess… 'cause it's Christmas, right?"

"And playing cards for the whole day with me, no interruptions."

Now things are looking up. I like to play cards. He likes to play cards. It works.

"What's in it for you?"

Race shrugged. "Can't really say."

"Something's up," I muttered, admitting defeated as I got out of bed.

"That's my girl," he said, finishing off his bread and wiping his fingers on the bottom of his pants as he followed me downstairs.

Geez. If anyone was to say that this place was full of Christmas spirit, they were sure right. Everybody looked like they had a good time, laughing, eating, smiling, and cuddling with their special someone. I suddenly had the sinking feeling that I wanted to go upstairs. I like Christmas and all, but this just wasn't my day.

"Nuh-uh," muttered Race, the minute that I had turned around to go back to the bunkroom. "You're staying here."

"But…"

"Remember our deal?" asked Race, raising his eyebrow.

Oh yeah.

"Okay, fine…"

I took a seat next to Race, who seated himself between Sapphy and I. I was ready to get myself some of that food that Race was offering me with, but was suddenly interrupted by Jack.

"I have an announcement to make!" shouted Jack as he waved his hands in the air. "Hey, listen! Snooza, look over here – and Race, will you stop filling yourself with food before it disappears?"

"Sorry!" mumbled Race.

"So, what's so important that you had to tell us, huh?" asked Blink, nodding at Jack,

"For one thing. This ain't going to be easy. It'll clear up the whole situation that happened with Michael today."

"What is it, already?" shouted Sapphy. "We want to know!"

A chorus of "yeah" and "tell us" roared throughout the lobby, but was quickly silenced by Jack.

"Alright, alright. Now… this is something I want all of you to know, especially Sage."

Sage? This is getting a little fishy…

"As all of you may know, I fought Michael here today… but not because for no absolute reason at all. But because of Sam."

Sam?

"Who's Sam?" asked Duck, furrowing her brow in confusion.

"A Queens newsie, just like Michael. A young kid, to be more specific. A girl. Eight years old."

"A girl?"

"Sam. Short for Samantha."

These things still AREN'T making any sense in my head if you're asking me…

"But what does this have to do with me?" asked Sage, looking at Jack.

"Samantha's real name is Hannah," said Michael, joining in the conversation. "Hannah Mc—."

"McBride," interrupted Sage, her eyes widening with the information. "My sister… you found my sister?"

Jack nodded and smiled.

"She was staying with an upper class family," stated Michael. "But I found her on the streets one night, crying her heart out. She wouldn't tell me anything after that, well, except her name."

"You really… did you really…" Sage smiled, as she grasped Jack in a huge hug. "Thank you."

"Yeah, I had to fight Michael over here so that I could see Sam, but he just wouldn't let me."

"Hey, you didn't look to trusting when you ran towards me with a rope in your hands."

"I got to do what I got to do," smirked Jack.

"That's Cowboy for you," said Snooza, winking at Jack.

Unbelievable, I tell you. How often was that supposed to happen? I was ready to go over to Sagey and give her a hug when I suddenly felt a grip on her arm.

"Race, I swear, I'm not --."

I turned around and guess who I saw? My one and only stalker. Swifty.

"Emu, can you come with me for just a quick second?" asked Swifty, pulling me away from the group.

"Swifty, I…"

"It won't take long."

I went with him. Well, what else was I supposed to do? Maybe it'll just get rid of him following me around.

He led me upstairs towards the hallway that lead to the two bunkrooms.

"Stay here," muttered Swifty, leaving me in the middle of the hallway. "Don't go anywhere."

Hmm… should I even run for it?

But before I could make a choice, he was back. They don't call him Swifty for nothing. In his hand was a small, used, dusty notebook. More like a sketchpad if you ask me. He flipped the notebook open, turning the pages until he found what he was looking for.

"I know there isn't enough light up here, but I just really wanted you to see it…" he said, handing me the notebook.

Oh geez.

I looked up at him then down back at the notebook

"Are you sure you weren't seeing things when you drew this?" I asked, my eyes fixed upon the drawing that he had made. I swear, I don't even think it looks like me. It looks… just, not me!

"I draw what I see."

For once in my life, I gave him a smile. A sincere smile. Maybe Swifty wasn't that bad after all. After you get under the stalker part.

.Ears.

"Look, Ears, I know you know that there's something going on."

About time we talked about this.

"Good then," I said, crossing my arms. "What's going on?"

"I can't talk about it now."

"Geez, Mush, you'd think that --."

"How about this," said Mush, cutting me off. "There's going to be something going on later on tonight. It's supposed to be a secret, but… you can see what's going on. I'll tell you when, but you're going to have to stay hidden, alright?"

Tonight? Secret? Hidden?

"Mush, what is going on?"

"You'll see," he said, kissing the top of my forehead. "Come on, let's go celebrate."

Only thing I have to say is – it had better be a good secret. They don't call me Ears for nothing, y'know.

.Stretch.

"Stretch… c'mon, Stretch, wake up!"

Is it morning already? Geez, it's still night out! I'm going back to sleep…

"Stretchy… hey, don't hide from me! C'mon, there's something I've got to show you."

"Leave me alone, Mush," I muttered, rubbing my eyes as he strained to see who it was. "I don't have to sell papes just yet…"

"You're not going to have to! This has nothing to do with papes in any way, shape, or form. So, c'mon, get up!"

I suddenly felt the cold seep within my body as my blanket was taken away from me. I hugged my pillow even closer to me, not wanting to get up. It was nighttime for crying out loud. People sleep at night!

"Stretch…"

"Fine, fine, I'm up," I said, sitting up slowly. "But I want my blanket back!"

Mush smiled and tossed my blanket back at me. Good. Warmth.

"Now, what do you want?"

"Follow me," said Mush, walking through the rows of bunk beds and towards the door that lead up to the rooftop.

"Uh, Mush… I like you and all, but not in that way, y'know… I mean, you got Ears and…"

"Stretch!" snapped Mush. "This has nothing to do with me and you."

"Oh."

That works for me then.

"Right, so quit being a slow poke and follow me."

"Are we going up to the rooftop?" I whispered, holding on to my blanket as I followed Mush through the dark.

"Yup."

"But it's going to be snowing!"

"That's going to be the least of your problems," said Mush as he opened the door to the rooftop.

Yup. It was snowing.

"But Mush, it's so…"

Oh my goodness gracious. Is this… Is this… Oh my goodness.

"Surprised?" asked Mush, pushing me forward.

"What do YOU think?" I said, my eyes wide in amazement.

In the very middle of the rooftop, sitting right in front of me was a small little carriage. It wasn't exactly like the ones you saw on the street, but it was a carriage, only much smaller… and red. But that wasn't what caught my attention. Sitting in the middle of the carriage… was, and take note I was half awake, Santa Claus?

"Santa Claus?"

Another figure emerged from the side of the carriage, making me jump.

"Don't worry, it's just Skitts," muttered Mush.

"Who? That shadow or Santa Claus?"

"Hey Stretch," said the shadow. I squinted through the snow and saw that it was Skitts. Now, for Santy Claus over there…

"What's going on here?"

"Just play along," whispered Mush, nudging me from the back.

"Hey Stretch," said Skittery once again. Is it just me or is he wearing a green pointy hat? "This is Santa Claus."

I raised my eyebrow. "Uh-huh?"

"And he has something to tell you…"

Skittery walked over to me, and lead me towards Santa Claus. When I got close enough to see who it was, I couldn't help but laugh.

It was… Oh geez…

"Specs? Is that you? Santa Claus?"

"Now that just ruined the whole moment," mumbled Specs, with the full beard and red coat. Looking pretty chubby if I must say. Pillows. It has to be pillows.

"Oh my gosh! I can't help it, but what possessed you to do this?!"

"Ahem."

"Yeah, Skitts?"

"Santa Claus…"

I burst out laughing once again. Oh geez.

"Stretch!"

"Sorry…" I breathed, biting my lip to keep from laughing once again. "Continue."

"Santa Claus… would like to tell you something."

With that, Specs took a step back, leaving me with the one and only Santa Claus.

"Stretch…"

"Yeah?" I said, smirking.

"Anything can happen on Christmas…" he continued.

Wait, that's true. Or… for the Manhattan newsies anyway.

"And…"

"And…?"

"Love will spread on Christmas day."

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you guys are awesome! quick SOs to Kyriel, Frenchy, Sapphy, Snooza, Duck, and Emu! *muah*