Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies, Disney obviously does(tear Lucky Rats!), and I don't actually own this story, my talented friend, Kristina, does(she, too, is a lucky rat!) and I am merely doing her a favor! But, I actually DO own Tig and Annabelle, others as well, but you have to wait for the sequel! So, for these reasons, don't sue me!
Summary: Marie 'Target' McCoy is a loveable tomboy who lives and sells with the Manhatten Newsies. She starts to date SpotConlon, but what happens when her heart starts to belong to another newsie that she's known for years? NOT A MARY SUE!!! Skit/Target, Mush/Tig, Jack/OC
Rating: PG-13
"You're sure you can handle the kids?" questioned Tig, as she tied her bonnet.
"We'll be fine!" explained Mush, kissing her farewell. Jack did the same to Rory and Skittery to Marie. The girls made their way to and out the door.
"You'se goils just have fun! We'se got everything unda control," said Skit as the three walked out the door. A large crash came from within the kitchen. Bella and Evy shouted playfully as they darted out of the kitchen, covered with flour and unwanted food.
"Ahhhh!" they both shouted and ran through the lobby.
"No, no, no! Don't do dat!" shouted Jack as Evelyn ran to a side table, knocking over a lamp. More playful screams sounded from their mouths. Crashes continued from in another room where they had run. The fellas spent hours upon hours chasing the small girls around the Lodging House.
"How can yer mudda deal wit you'se everyday?" asked Mush as he chased his daughter around the lobby. Bella and Evy ran into Kloppman's room.
"Jack!'" Skit yelled as he tripped over a chair in the kitchen. Munchkin slid on her knees under the kitchen table and ran through the kitchen doorway. Jack was also crawling on his knees trying to capture Evy. "Go dat way!" Skittery pointed to another door for a short cut. They heard another crash from the bedroom.
"Damn it," Jack mumbled to himself, getting up off the floor. Instead, Jack ventured into the disaster that used to be the lobby. The three stood in the doorway in bewilderment, looking around in wonder. "Where'd dey go?" asked Jack, pushing his hair out of his eyes. They stood, looking around, out of breath.
"Munchkin's name does her justice," said Mush.
"She gets it from her mudda," replied Skittery. There came a sudden crash from upstairs. The three looked at the ceiling above them, their eyes wide. They looked back at each other at the same time.
"Heah we go again!" said Jack. The boys rushed up the stairs, two and three at a time.
"Today was great! We should take off more often!" exclaimed Tig, stepping through the front door of the Lodging House. The girls gasped at the condition the lobby was in.
"Wow!" Target sighed, taking off her hat.
"Shawn!" screamed Tig.
"Dimitrie!" accompanied Target. The girls headed past the broken lamp and capsized chairs. "Munchkin," Target thought to herself. They climbed to the second floor, which was just as bad as the first.
"Oh boy," Rory whispered, taking her cigarette out of her mouth. The three looked at the destroyed room. Target giggled; Lily looked at her angrily.
"You think this is funny?!" she shouted. Target was still giggling out of control.
"No, but dat is," Target laughed and pointed to an untidy bunk bed. Bella and Evelyn were peacefully napping on their father's chests, who were also sleeping. The five lay, covered in shaving cream, which Bella had gotten a hold of earlier. They slept soundly as the three amigos laughed at the sight.
Mush got it the worst; it was smeared across his face and smothered in his curly hair. Skittery was covered in flower and syrup, as was Munchkin.
Downstairs
"Holy shit!" shouted Blink, walking thought the front door. The Newsies stood, frozen in their tracks.
"What da hell happened heah?" asked Racetrack with wide eyes as he walked through the lobby. Silence filled the room as Race looked at the stairs.
"Shawn!"
"Dimitrie!"
Upstairs
The girls were still giggling when the Newsies rushed upstairs. The guys looked at the three girls, overwhelmed with laugher, not noticing the figures on the bunks.
"What happened down dare?" asked Specs, pointing to the stairs. The three just laughed and pointed to the bunks. Automatically the Newsies were also laughing with the girls. Skittery stirred in his sleep, slowly opening his eyes. He lifted his head slightly to see what all the commotion was about. Evelyn was still sleeping, Skittery's protective arm across her back. He looked around to Mush, then to Jack, who was still sleeping. Skittery chuckled loudly, which caused his chest to shake and his daughter to awaken.
"Ha, ha, ha," he laughed to his daughter, who laughed back and smacked her hands on his chest. He wiped the syrup off of Evelyn's forehead as she giggled, waking the others. They all chuckled loudly. Jack sat up in bed, leaning on his elbows for support. Rory walked over and sat on the bed next to him.
"You'se should see yer face," she said, pointing to him. She leaned in to kiss him, but instead wiped his face with a cloth. She stood up and started to walk away, when Jack grabbed the tails of her shirt and pulled her back toward him. She stumbled back down beside Jack on the bunk.
"Why do you'se tease me?" he asked and kissed her passionately.
Target strolled over to Skittery and Munchkin. The tiny girl still lay on her father's chest as he stroked her brown hair. Marie picked her up off of Skit. She was still laughing as her mother wiped the remaining syrup off of Evy's tiny face and kissed her nose.
"Hey, save some a dat for me!" Dimitrie said sarcastically.
"You'se know what's gonna need savin'? You'se after you'se three get done cleanin' dis place," she replied, kissing him.
"So...," Tig sighed as she bounced Annabelle on her knee.
"So...," Mush repeated, looking into her eyes. On one hand, Tig was happy to see him, but on the other, she was pissed at the mess. Nevertheless, she kissed his lips and Bella on the head.
"You're lucky I love you so much," she whispered to Mush.
Friday, July 4, 1902
"Happy Boithday ta you'se," sang the Newsies. Lily was turning twenty and they were once again in the park. "Happy Boithday ta you'se! Happy Boithday dear Tig! Happy Boithday ta you'se!" The sun was high and the sky was painted a light blue as the Newsies clapped and cheered while Lily blew out the candles on her cake. Mush held her closely around her waist and kissed her neck.. Jack and Rory were already at it.
The group handed Tig a small, poorly wrapped package. The sun was hot as it beat down on the back of their necks. Bella wore a small Newsie hat, given to her by Dave, as well as Munchkin, who was given one by Specs. Smoke from their cigarettes blew in the wind; Target was back to her old habit.
"Smokey, smokey!" pointed Evy to her mother. Target took the cigarette out of her mouth and shook her head side to side. Marie ruffled her brown hair and gave an innocent smirk.
"Think again, you'se little prankster," she said to her child, sitting in Specs' lap. Evelyn looked upward at the approaching Racetrack.
"Race smoke?" she asked with outstretched arms for his cigar. He looked down.
"Sure kid," he uttered as smoke spilled from his mouth. He took the cigar out from between his lips and jokingly began to hand it to Evy.
"Race, you'se dumbass, cheese it!" chuckled Specs, kissing little Evy.
"Yeah you'se dumbass, cheese it!" ordered Target protectively, stopping his hand from getting any closer to her daughter.
"It ain't dat bad," he continued, pushing his limits with Marie.
"I'se said, cheese it!" she laughed, smacking the back of his head.
"Non a dat," a voice exclaimed. From behind Marie, a tired Skittery strolled up to her. "Sorry I'm late," he apologized with a kiss. He nodded to David who was approaching them. "Yer pop had me woik ova time," he explained, picking Evy up off of Specs' lap. Skittery worked with David's father as a mechanic fixing cars and changing the oil. He came home everyday, soiled with car grease. But, it never stopped him from wrapping filthy arms around Target in love and spinning her around the room. "You're his kid," he began, speaking to Dave. "Why don't you'se woik extra?" he asked.
"Cause I don't have a cute little kid like you and Mush," Dave explained, also ruffling Munchkin's hair.
"Dave, up!" shouted Bella from her place at the table. He picked her up.
"You wanna fly?" he asked, throwing Bella into the air.
"Weeee!" she giggled as she sped around through the sky. Tig had a concerned expression on her face.
"Hey Davie, be careful; she just ate," Lily explained, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, where's me goil?" shouted Mush, looking around for his daughter.
"Daddy!" she squeaked with outstretched arms.
"Hey Baby-Face, havin' fun?" asked the curly haired Mush.
"Yeah." She bit her bottom lip. Her father rubbed her arm, lifting her sleeve to reveal a large purple, green bruise in the middle of her upper arm.
"What da hell is dat?" he asked, wide eyed.
"Munchkin," Bella explained.
"No surprise dare," he said, balancing her on his hip.
"Oh good God!" shouted Tig, running over to her daughter at the sight of the bruise. "What happened?" she continued as Target can up beside her.
"One woid," Mush began. The girls were staring at Bella's arm. "Munchkin," he said, as Tig kissed her daughter's arm.
"Evelyn Lily!" shouted Target over the crowd of Newsies.
"I'll get her," said Skit, removing his arm from Target's waist. He zigzagged his way past the Newsboys. His daughter was playing with a grasshopper she had found; she was trying to crush it's head with a rock. Munchkin sat by herself in the sun, her father sneaking up to her quickly and quietly. "MUNCHKIN!" he playfully shouted and lifted her into the air.
"PAPA!" she squealed with laughter as Skittery spun her around, high above his head. The faster they spun the louder their laughter grew. "Faster!" she demanded. Instead, he slowed down and tried to regain his balance. Evy looked confused. "Up, Pop, up!" she continued.
"No, no, no," he said, softly placing her back down in the grass. He crossed his legs Indian style and placed Munchkin on his lap. He looked into his daughter's eyes.
"What?" she asked innocently. He sat up straight and squinted his eyes.
"Did you'se hit little Bella?" he questioned. She lowered her eyes in shame. "Well?" he paused, "did you'se?" asked Skit. She lifted her head and looked at her father.
"Yes," she confessed. A few clouds covered the sun. Her nose began to turn red, as it always did when she was guilty of something or embarrassed.
"Why?" he asked as Mush and Bella walked up. Munchkin's nose got hotter; she pulled her Newsie hat over her face to hide from Bella and her uncle. "Huh?"
"Called me pooh-pooh head," Evy explained.
"Pooh-pooh head?" Skit and Mush asked at the same time, looking at eachother.
"Pooh-pooh head," repeated Evy, pointing to Bella. Mush looked at his daughter.
"How come you'se called Munchkin a pooh-pooh head?" he questioned. Bella took off her father's hat.
"Mama and Target say it," Bella explained.
"I'se should've known!" spoke Skittery from the ground.
"So?" asked Tig, kissing Mush on the cheek.
"You'se gotta watch what you'se say 'round des goils," said Mush. "It's gettin' yer daughta inta trouble," he explained, rubbing Bella's arm. Annabelle and Munchkin stuck their tonges out at eachother.
"Hey!" scolded Skittery, grabbing his daughter's tongue with his thumb and index finger. "Be nice!" he commanded, still holding her tongue. He spun his head around to face Bella. "You'se too!"
Later That Day
"Hey Target?" asked Lily, not looking up from her place at the table.
"Yeah," she answered, not in question, while the rest of the Newsies got up from their bench at the table.
"I was thinking...about the weddings...you know?" she paused to look at her stomach. Target looked up, waiting for Tig to finish her sentence. "We should have them soon, don't you think?"
"Shouldn't you'se be talkin' ta Mush 'bout dis?" Target questioned. Tig rubbed her stomach.
"Well...that's the thing. I was thinking we could have them at the same time. If that's okay with you and Jones." The two got up from the table.
"I'se don't know...maybe we should wait a while," answered Target. Bella and Evy ran and clung to the bottom of their mother's legs.
"Cause um...I only have seven months," Lily explained, pointing to her gut.
"Oh damn!" Target said aloud with a tilt of her head.
"Damn, damn!" screamed Bella.
"Damn, you'se too!" repeated Evy, letting go of her mother. The two girls ran across the grass, pointing and shouting at eachother. Suddenly, their fathers came out of nowhere, plucked them up off the ground, and tossed them into the warm air. Target stood stunned, mouth wide open.
"Well?" Tig asked.
All Target could say was, "Oh damn!" with a smile. Shortcake and Jack strolled hand-in-hand toward the stunned Target.
"You'se know what yer kid just said?" asked Jack, placing an arm around Rory's waist. The girls said nothing. Jack's eyes darted from Tig to Marie, back to Tig several times, until Lily turned to the couple. Target didn't move. "What's wrong wit her?" he asked, pointing a thumb at the motionless Target. Marie gave a slight shack of her head.
"Huh? Oh damn," she repeated, looking at Lily's stomach. Her head shot to Jack, who looked like he was gnawing on Rory's neck. A look of disgust spread across Target's face.
"Can't you'se two do dat when I'se ain't around? Or find a room, or something?!" she asked, tightening her brow. Jack stopped and stuck his tongue out at Marie; she did the same.
"Okay children, I'se think we'se is more mature den dis! Can we start actin' like it?" asked Race, strolling toward them, Bella holding his one hand, Evy holding the other.
"I'se dunno, Race, can we?" asked Target, hands on her hips. There was a soft chuckle from the group, then nothing.
"I'm lost, would you'se mind fillin' in da blanks?" Shortcake questioned. Target and Lily linked their arms through Shortcake's.
"Come with us," they both said.
Race and Jack stood in wonder. Bella and Munchkin pulled on Race's arms.
"Do you'se...?" began Jack, when Race interrupted.
"Hey kid, don't look at me, I'se don't undastand women!" he raised his hands in the air like it was a hold up, causing the little girls to dangle from his arms. "Leave me out of dis!" he finished and walked away, swinging Bella and Evy back and forth.
"So are you'se gonna tell me or what?" asked Rory, looking at her friends. Tig laughed to herself.
"Two words," she began, an endless smile appearing on her face, "seven months," she said, there was nothing holding back her smile now. Rory, too, began to grin.
"Oh damn!" she uttered, turning to Target, then back to Lily. "Oh damn!" she repeated joyfully.
"Me thoughts exactly!" said Target.
"Does Mush know?" Rory questioned, taking her hat off.
"No," Lily explained, lowering her eyes. Target and Shortcake looked at eachother, then back at Lily. "I'se don't really know what ta do!" she continued. Rory had an expression of annoyance on her face.
"I'se have an idea!" she began.
"Why don't ya tell him?" Target interrupted sarcastically. Lily slapped Target upside the head.
"No kidding, Einstein. Do you really think I haven't thought of that?!" exclaimed Tig. Marie rubbed the back of her head; she was really getting annoyed with people inflicting pain to her scull.
"Listen, Kid," Marie began, still massaging the back of her head, "if you'se keep dat up, so help me...!" she threatened.
"Anyway!" interrupted Rory before anything serious happened. She turned from Target, to Lils. "You'se two are as bad as yer little goils!" she explained.
"Thanks," they replied.
"Apologize."
"Sorry."
"So, demon kid number two. Dat's a big step. Congratulations!" complimented Target. She tried to cool her temper.
"They're not demon! However, the first one has been acting like one lately!" Tig said, spotting Bella and her uncle Race. Her daughter had just smacked his cigar out of his mouth. Rory and Target agreed with their friend, seeing this happen as well.
"Ya gotta love 'em, though," implied Target.
Mush, Jack and Skit decided to frighten their girls from behind.
"Now des guys...," began Rory, "they're a whole different story!" she explained, exhausted from laughing. Tig looked to her shoulder, to Mush, who was resting his head on her. He gave a smile, a sigh, and his arm around her waist. She looked at him in wonder.
"What's on your mind Tiger?" she asked.
"Tiger?" Mush questioned. "You'se ain't called me dat since before Bella was born," he clarified, not looking at Tig, but at his daughter in the distance. "She's gonna be a great Newsie when she grows up!" Mush spoke softly into Lily's ear. "She'll have a good teacher, right Marie?" he interrupted her embrace with Skittery.
"Huh?" she asked, pulling away from their soft kiss. "Oh...oh yeah. Anythin' you'se say, Mush," she replied, and continued with Dimitrie what she had started.
"Wish we'se could have more little Newsie babies runnin' 'round, don't you'se?" Mush questioned Tig.
"Be careful what you wish for," Tig said, placing Mush's hand to her stomach. His eyes widened.
"Oh damn!" he whispered, looking to her flat stomach. "You're not."
"I am," she interrupted, smiling sweetly at him. He released her from his grip. The smile disappeared from his face. Mush took a few slow steps back away from Lily.
"Are you okay?" she asked. But in the middle of her sentence, Mush screamed.
"WHAA-HOOO!" He jump joyfully into the air and all around the park.
"Well, dat went pretty good!" exclaimed Rory, watching Mush's reaction. "Would you'se act like dat if I was preggy?" she asked Jack.
"Of course," he said, kissing her.
"No, Jack, I'm serious," Shortcake declared, sternly looking into his eyes.
"I'se never knew you'se wanted kids," Jack began, "you'se should've told me sooner!" he said, wiggling his eyebrows up and down.
Geez! What a chapter!!!!! I must say, those two girls are a handful! And another one on the way! Poor Tig! The mean things that Kris and I do to these people! Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter because the next one will be the last! tear I'll miss you guys...okay, so it won't be so long until I start to post the sequel to this story (whoo-hoo!), but it still will be tearful because we won't see the two girls as little anymore, but as teenagers...dun dun dun! Make sure that you R/R! Thanks!
JustDuck: That idea about Snipe is a good one, I should remember that one! And let me say a big thanks to you because you seem to be the only one who reviews or reads this story anymore. So, THANK YOU!!!! Hopefully there will be more reviews and readers for the sequel, but thank you for still reading this!