To everybody:

I am so sorry I haven't updated in forever! I've been working on and off on this but I had so much going on this last month, I haven't been keeping up like I should.

I've missed you all terribly...and the all the crazy good input you guys have...

Don't hate me, don't hate me...here's a new chapter.

Love you all,

Legs

Shout ins:

Sapphy: Yep. What's with Kristen, I wonder...heheh. Racetrack is busy tonight but I'll send him over to fix your VCR tomorrow. Lol. Actually, the song was sung by Kelly Clarkson (the American Idol). Thank you for the review...

Lil Rain Angel: Thank you as always...(stares enviously after the four- legged cantaloupe that Angel owns)

nicnac: I'm sorry for the cliffies! They just happen that way.

Racetrack: (on hands and knees) Won't you gimme a kitkat? Legs: Say 'please.' Racetrack: Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeaaassssssssssssseeeeeeee...

Thanks, nac. :)

MethosMacLeod: I think my cliffhangers are annoying everyone. And I've been taking so long with this last chapter. I'm sorry about that. I really haven't been around the computer at all this last week. Thanks. :)

feisty: I've come back to life once again! I've just been so swamped I haven't been able to get to this story. It's been in my mind, however. I like Jessica a lot. She's an awesome character. Oh...(hugs feisty) you're cool, too! I don't think people gravitate toward LaShonda. She's a little too shallow outwardly. I hope we see her character develop some more. I think there are some issues there. Thank you, darling. :)

Bella: You think Kristen's got a kid on the way, huh? Weeeeeeeeeelllllll, I'm afraid you'll just have to wait and see...(but if you're right, give yourself a pat on the back). I'm sorry. I can't tell you how this ends. The plot in my mind is pretty wild. I'm still wondering if it's gonna work. Racetrack: Heheh. (elbows Jack) Deah. Ya see dat, Jackie? I'se made Bella blush...(long pause for effect)...and YOU'SE DIDN'T! Ahahhahaehehehehaaaaa...

Jack: (raises fist menacingly) Watch yaself, ya cahd shahk.

Love you as always and thank you.

AngelicOne: Thank you! Yes, Britt plays the drums. I wish I played them! :D Here's another chapter...

Sureshot Higgins: Thank you, my darling! So glad Kristen and Bumlets approve. I'll think they'll enjoy this next chapter.

Skittery: (in reaction to the kiss from Trips) Uh...(wipes mouth on shirt) Uh...(stumbles back, stares hard at the ground then back up at girls) Uh...(desperately grabs Trips and kisses her back)...Uh, I'se gotta go now.

Shorty Carter: Thank you for the sweet review as usual. :) Oh, good! The brownie truck is here! :D Yum. I needed a serious chocolate fix.

Racetrack: (glares at Shorty) Oh, COHSE I won't play wid any wiahs! What do I look like..stupid? (Newsies snicker) Racetrack: (scowls) Don't ansah dat.

Jake: Hey, t'anks. (hugs Shorty back) (collective gasp from other newsies) Blink: (first to recover) Well, Jake! Mush: (slaps him on the back) Yoah on daroad ta becomin' a foist rate lady's man! Congratulations! Jake: Uh, t'anks...I t'ink. (shuffles feet)

snipah higgins: Yeah, I don't know. Something about Allesandra immediately appealed to me. I really like her character. Thank you, punkin. :)

Kate Lawrence: You poor baby! I've missed you so terribly much!!!!!!!!!!!! The newsies have, too. And Kate's back this chapter...oooh, exciting. I think.

Here are the newsies with a special presentation to welcome you back...

Jack: We boys wanted ya ta know dat we...appreciate you and ah glad yoah home... Mush: Home?

Snitch: She's home?

Skittery: It's a figur' a speech, bonehead. (hits Snitch)

Snitch: Ow.

Race: So we would like ta now sing a special song in 'onah of yoah retoin.

Snipeshooter: (steps forward and clears throat, putting his hands behind his back, begins in off key voice) Yoah still tha one I run to...

Racetrack: (hits him in the back of the head) Blink: Tha one dat I belong to...

Mush: Yoah still da one I love foah life...

Racetrack: Yoah still da one dat I love...

Jack: Da only one I dream of...

Spot: Yoah still da one I...

All: Kiss good night...

Newsies: WE LOVE YOU, KATE!

Racetrack: A'right, a'right. Show's ovah. Now wheah's me cigah?

Corky Higgins: You're so welcome. I'm glad you liked the little dedication to you. :) And thank you for the chocolate covered newsies...assorted...my word...

Skittery: (holds head) I'se gettin' dizzy. (stumbles tipsily about before grabbing Corky and bending her backwards for a kiss)

Vinnie! That was a very romantic date! Thank you...(kisses Vinnie) You are just too adorable. It should be illegal to be so wonderful.

Thank you, Corky...:)

Moonlight: Tanya and Race have everybody wondering. Race: Even you? Legs: No, I guess not me. Race: Make up yoah mind, ya bum! The ending in my mind could pretty much have me committed. I'm very interested to know what you guys think of it. Few chapters left and we'll be there, I hope. I want to finish this before college starts. Ick. Yeah, I know...k...here's more...

Ivy: Thank you as always! Yeah, I guess people who don't belong in an era aren't going to fit well there. Hmm...something to consider.

Mush: (blushing) Yeah, I love you, too.

Awww, isn't he sweet? (Hugs Mush) You're just too adorable.

CiCi: Thank you, babe. Hope you had a wonderful birthday. :)

Lady Elwen: Thanks. I loved the song, too.

Chicago: Thank you! Yeah, Race is three fourths genius, one-fourth newsie geek. Heheh...

Race: I ain't a geek, ya bum!

Phoenix: Race plays the violin...cute, huh? Thank you, precious...

ChubbyCheeks: Thank you...here's more...

shinigami nanoda: Thank you! And I'm so sad that "Inside Straight"'s over...(cries softly)

Race: Wimp. Legs: (blows nose) I am not! Race: Yeah, yeah...

ShortAtntionSpaz: Thank you for the review and the profile! AJ will be in the next chapter, I think. :D

Artemis-chan: Yeah, I'm getting worse at these cliff hangers. David and Katherine are kinda cool together and I adore Spot and Raven...they just rock...

Blink: Yes...mine. Allllllllll mine. (glares at other newsies) If any a' you'se guys so much as t'ink a' touchin' me Ahtemis, I'll soak yas... Legs: Blink, aren't you being a little...possessive? Blink: Yeah...why not? Legs: Who can argue with that logic?

Dreamer: Thank you. And yes, Race just gets more and more adorable, doesn't he? So glad you like your character in this. She's really growing on me. :D Anyway, have another chapter, m'dear...

Raven: Ravesie, darling, the cappuccinos...are you certain that's healthy? (Hugs Raven) Just don't get sick or something! I need you! (Panicked and desperate) No, no, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! COME BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!! k, thank you...I don't know...somehow you and Spot just totally fit, and as this progresses only more so...(did that make any sense?)

PsYcHoJo: Thank you...and you know, I've been thinking about how many fans Skittery has. I just may have to give him his own story.

Skittery: Took ya long enough ta decide dat. Legs: Well, I've been busy! Skittery: Yeah? Doin' what? Legs: Living, you idiot! You better be nice to me or I'll kill you off in the next chapter! Skittery: Ya wouldn't. Legs: Don't tempt me.

Vixen 13: Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm honored. I hope you like this next chapter. :D

racetracksgambler: Thank you. :D

Kennyon: Don't apologize! I've been horrible about reviewing, too! Thank you, sweet pie...:D

Moonlights Sundance: Thank you for the review and cool pen name. :)

Jessica Knight: Thank you for the reviewers, my sweet sad lama...(JK: did she just call me a lama?) Well, you know WHAT? THAT'S A PAPER LOBSTER AND YOU LOST!!!!!!!!!! lol...thanks. Have fun painting if you haven't finished, yet.

DISCLAIMER: Disney owns Newsies. :)

And on we proceed...

"What's so funny?" LaShonda asked, gulping down the last of her coke.
"Huh?"
"You're standing here laughing like an idiot. Just wanted in on the joke."
"Well, ya see..." suddenly Tanya realized how unfunny it all was. "It's not important."
"No, tell me!"
"Really, it..."
"Tanya, you have got to be the luckiest girl in New York. Your boyfriend actually held the door open for me!" Jessica exclaimed in shock. "I am so jealous. Where did you find him?"
"The mental ward," LaShonda muttered.

****

"Hey, Racetrack, ya need another drink or something?" Greg slapped the newsboy on the back.
"Nah, dat's a'right."
A laughing Allesandra ran past them, "Slave driver!" she called over her shoulder.
"Free-loader!" he yelled back.
"She yoah goil?
"Allie?" Greg looked surprised.
"Yeah."
"Good one," he grinned and nodded in approval of the joke.
"Why not?"
"Greg stared at Race for a second, his face suddenly very blank. "You know what?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't know why not."
The newsie nodded in Allesandra's direction, his brown eyes completely serious, "Dat's one pretty lady. If yoah not ca'ahful, somebody might take huh away from you, ya know?"
Greg seemed to consider this for a moment, "Uh, would you excuse me for a second?" he didn't wait for an answer but started off in Allesandra's direction with an expression somewhere between dazed and determined.
"So then I said, 'You've got to be kidding! I wanted THREE!'"
The group of teenagers surrounding Allie burst into shrieks of laughter at her punch line.
Greg tapped her lightly on the shoulder.
She turned around, her face glowing with energy. Her eyes met his, carelessly, "Yeah?"
He didn't wait, but bent down to kiss her.
A whoop went up from the other guests.
"Go Greg!"
"Oooh, Allie..."
"Alright, it's about TIME!"
"Greg and Allie sittin' in a tree!"
"Get a room, you two!"
Allesandra felt her body respond without permission from her brain. Her arms twined around his neck as he bent her farther back. Her head kept screaming to slow down as her heart picked up speed.

****
Kate Lawrence stared at the newspaper in her hands as if she had never seen one before. She wished again she had never heard of the Pulitzers. Even as she glanced at the headline, the name jumped out from every article, every paragraph.
She scowled and fought the urge to tear the page into a million tiny pieces.
"What's wrong wit you?" Ruin asked, looking up from her own stack.
"I hate these headlines!"
Ruin's face grew puzzled, "Dis is da best we've 'ad in a week!"
"I don't care...I hate them all!"
"Hate who all?"
Kate shook her head and stood up, "I...I gotta get outta here."
Ruin watched her go and somehow felt as if she was watching Kate Lawrence walk away for the last time.

****
Kristen watched the door anxiously. Oh, didn't five past six mean Bumlets was late? When his dark head finally appeared, his wife wasted no time throwing herself into his arms. "Are you alright?"
Bumlets looked surprised, "Why wouldn't I'se be?"
Kristen rubbed her belly, her face the picture of relief, "Well, I just...I heard Mrs. Peeling at the market say her husband lost two fingers at the mill. And...the Jacobs!" she looked earnestly into his face, her green eyes pools of worry, "Mayer Jacobs almost lost his arm!"
Her husband started to chuckle, but her sad face made him stop, "You a'right, Krissy?" His large hand found its place over her tiny one, perched on her stomach. "Yoah not sick, ah you?"
The redhead colored but before she could answer, a wretch seized her and she made a flying dash for the washroom.

****
Tanya shook her head as she watched.
"Nice show, 'huh?" Racetrack appeared at her elbow, looking rather smug and knowing.
The girl rolled her eyes, "Let me guess. You did this."
"Yeah, shoah."
"You missed your calling, Race."

****
Britt tried to look cheerful as she began un-piecing her drum kit, but the time on her watch STILL read 12:08 A.M.
Jessica's voice carried across the lawn, "Allesandra, I really hate to interrupt your make-out session but you need to get your sorry butt out here and help us pack up!"
"Oh, fine!" Allie let go of Greg, who took the opportunity to wipe the strawberry lip gloss from his face.
Heather was scribbling something on a napkin when she received a good kick from her friend. "OW! Jess! What was THAT for?"
"Get creative on your own time! If I'm not in by one, I'm hamburger and I WILL blame you."
"Fine. But I hope you realize the deadly consequences of interrupting artistic genius. Very, VERY deadly."
"Work first, threats after," Jessica shoved a guitar into its case. ****
"'Night, Shonda!"
"Yeah, good night."
"Do I HAVE to go home?" Jenny whined as she followed Race and Tanya out.
"Unfortunately."
"Awww, why?"
"Because."
"Because why?"
Race cut in, "Cos I'se is gotta surprise foah you when we'se get home."
"You do?" Tanya gave him a weird look.
"You DO?" Jenny bounced up and down.
"Yeah...shoah."

****

"I need a ticket."
"To where?"
"I don't know...where can I get a ticket to?"
"Now, see here..."
Kate scanned the ticket prices, "One passage to Dover, then."

****
It was almost eleven o'clock but Bumlets lay wide awake beside a slumbering Kristen. His thoughts were turning every which way. A baby...how would he provide for another person, even a little person? And then, his thoughts turned to the sweet girl sleeping next to him and his worried mouth broke into a smile, a baby that looked like Kristen...or a boy that looked like him. Still dreaming of it all, he fell asleep.

****
"You seen Kate?"
Ruin looked up at a foreign sight...a worried Spot.
"Yeah, she left."
"Left?"
"Yeah."

****

"I don't see any surprise," Jenny announced, upon entering the apartment.
Tanya turned to look at Racetrack, who looked like he was thinking harder than he ever had in his life. "You were bluffing, weren't you?"
His panicked eyes met hers and he smiled sheepishly, "Yeah."
"WHAT?" Jenny shrieked.
"I'm telling MOM!"
"What? Jenny, give me that phone! Don't...!"
Her sister's door slammed shut and they heard the turning of the lock.
"Oh, great."
"Jenny, no, don't!"
"Your retarded boyfriend lied to me! And now you're gonna get in trouble!"
"You're sick! Please, Jen-jen....open the door."
"No."
"NOW!"

****
Standing on her favorite chair, she started to dial...what was the area code? The chair moved and the eight-year-old grabbed the edge of her canopy to keep her balance...
"...then...883...094...she started to push the seven when the chair swung again and Jenny reached for the edge of the bed that wasn't there.

****
There was a scream from the bedroom and a loud thump and Tanya's face went very white, "Jenny! Jenny, what are you doing in there? Open this door!"
No answer.
Racetrack fought at the locked door knob.
"Jenny, Jenny, can you hear me?"
"Sssshhh, Tanya, don't worry, we'll get 'er outta deah."
"Jenny, are you okay?"
More silence.
"JENNY!" Tanya shrieked, the tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

****
Tanya had never seen big, lumbering Mike move faster and still it was relatively slow. "Can't you go any faster?"
"Sweetie, I'm tryin'. These aren't my tools. I don't know much about usin' 'em."
Racetrack doubted the man knew much about anything.
Mike grunted and the teenagers watched as the door came creakily off its hinges.
Not waiting a second longer, Tanya pushed past her neighbor and gave a small cry, "Jenny!"
The girl's tiny form was crumpled on the floor beside her chair.
"Jenny...Jenny, wake up..."
No response.
Her sister snatched the phone up greedily and dialed.
"9-1-1. What is your emergency?"

****
Raven hoofed aimlessly along the wharf, letting the wind catch at her rags and hair. It was a quiet night. Well...as quiet as Brooklyn ever got, anyway. A sudden splash cut the relative silence in half.

****
Spot gasped in shock at the sudden frigid water rushing over him. And then he surfaced, taking in a gulp of air. Just what he'd needed, a nice, cold swim to clear his head.

****
"Takin' a bath, Conlon?"
"Why, Raven? Do I'se need one?"
"Yeah."
Spot chuckled, shaking his head, "Nice night foah a swim, huh?"
Raven crossed her arms over his chest, "It's too cold."
"Wha...? Ya goin' scab on me? You afraid of a little cold wahtah?"
The newsgirl shook her head, "No, yoah majesty. Dat wahtah's a LOT cold."
"Aww, come on. You'se always gives in da end."
"I'm not a little goil any moah, Spot. And yoah gonna get sick again if you'se don't get out soon."
The newsie sighed, "A'right, I'se comin'."
He pulled his sopping wet form onto the dock and proceeded to shake his dripping blonde hair all over Raven. She squealed and stepped back.
Spot stood up straight, and tucking the girl's arm under his, pulled her away from the water and back towards the lodging house, "C'mon, goily. Let's go home."

****

A/n: I know, I know...review? (Pitiful face) Please?