Wow... two month delay. Well, it's actually longer than that, but you know what I mean. Anyways, this is the last chapter. :) I hope you guys like.

Also, since it's summer, I might be starting a new story and updating Costelos (wow, what happened to that one?) so watch out for those!

Epilogue

Funny how things can change in one night. How new friendships could be made, how one simple experience can change one person, and how you could learn something new about a person. Christmas Day. December 25th. The day Christ was born and the day the lodgers at the Manhattan Lodging House became as confused as they could be. They didn't expect for all of those surprises to happen, who did? No one really knows exactly what's supposed to happen to you the next day, or maybe even the future. That's why everything seemed so new and thrilling the first time.

Darkness enveloped the streets, a clear shadowy sky glittered with bright stars and a full moon, gave the ending of that one night much more magic than it had before. The snow drifted slowly upon the rooftops and chimneys of houses cluttered about New York City, especially one particular building called the Manhattan Lodging House in which children, dare say, young adults slept peacefully with a smile on their faces. The following days were sure to follow, with them as they continued to sell their papes to their customers on the streets, wrapping their arms about themselves to keep their body warm throughout the winter, but that one day were sure to stay with them in their memory.

Although one thing was for sure, the atmosphere was different. There was something much more cheerful, happier, when the lodgers woke up the next day and the following days before that. It was noticeable and hard to miss.

Sage McBride, her emerald eyes now shining with happiness she had never seen, was usually seen with Jack and a younger version of herself, Hannah. The eight-year-old girl went by the name of Samantha, nicknamed Sam by the boys of Bronx. Although Jack had to go through a rough beating by a Bronx newsie, Michael, he was determined to plant a smile on his girl's face. And that he did.

Then there was Brownie, Jack's younger sister, the one who insisted on calling him a squirrel after banning her from seeing Itey ever again. Although she was mad at him for doing so, she couldn't help but look out for him when he came back beat up and bruised by Michael. Not knowing whether it was the Christmas spirit or not, Jack gave her permission. She would never forget that night, not because of her brother, but because Itey told her he loved her.

It was Michael that led Jack to Hannah and it was he that the boys brought back home to the Lodging House that night for a supposed interrogation before everything was sorted out. It was their very own Ershey, the one who fell in love with Mush not so long ago, that ended up looking after Michael, making sure he wasn't to escape. Thing is, it ended up that her heart moved on to belong to someone else.

Of course, she couldn't do anything about Mush, him having a girlfriend and all, Ears. She wasn't called that for nothing. Staying true to her name, Ears felt something up, especially when it had to do with Mush. She spent most of the day in her doubts, although still keeping with her daily routine except for the Christmas Pageant that she and Ershey had volunteered for. It wasn't until later that night that the mystery was solved.

Mush, along with Specs and Skittery, seemed as if they were the ones running around the most that night. Trying to keep everything under wraps until everyone was asleep, Specs jumped into a makeshift Santa Claus outfit, which he wore, when Mush went to fetch Stretch, his one and only. Skittery's job? Well, he was the happy go lucky elf.

Though before Skittery was to be dressed up as an elf that night, freezing to his toes at the rooftop, he was wearing a whole different set of clothes earlier. Wearing his best clothes ever, he seemed every bit of gentleman he really was. Duck was taken aback when he had given her her supposed present, but Skittery made sure she was to smile later on that night at Maria Teresa's with her date with Spot. One thing was for sure though, he had to admit he wasn't expecting for her to faint.

Then there was Striker, who didn't expect much of that night except for caroling until seeing Spot carrying an unconscious Duck back to the lodging house. Thing was, she didn't expect for him to ask her to join him for dinner. Especially at Maria Teresa's. You had to admit; a good dinner shouldn't go to waste. Of course, there was also the company.

Also, thanks to Blink's efforts on supposedly putting up mistletoe, which was actually made of lettuce, caused new events were to happen. That one mistletoe, although it sure wasn't real, still had the present Christmas magic held within it. If it weren't for that, Sapphy would still be annoyed by Race's actions. Only now, this time feeling a bit more different around him. Weird how lettuce can do that to you.

That night showed changed beyond anyone can imagine. Change among everyone, although they didn't think it was for the better. One girl, Snooza, went through one small change when she went back to the Lodging House, a smile on her face and for once having no concern for Pie Eater. She was rarely seen with him anymore, instead with somebody else. Somebody that she had spent time with as she watched the Christmas Pageant. Blink.

Finally, Emu found a different light on Swifty. Being her stalker for as long as she could remember, she couldn't do much but be annoyed and hate him most of the time. It wasn't until Christmas dinner, when he gave her her present, a very own portrait of her, drew by Swifty himself. It was that night she was to give him his chance.

So then there were those ten girls of the Lodging House, living all under one roof. They weren't to know what was to follow them after that night, whether it is good or bad. The inches of snow grew as the days went by along with their smiles. The continued their selling day after day, even though they seemed as if they were shivering in their shoes. But one thing was for sure. They couldn't wait for New Year's Eve.

Shout-outs

You guys are awesome: Kyriel, Sapphy, Sage, Striker, Emu, Kit Blink, Frenchygoil, Snooza and Justduck!