Killala, County Mayo Ireland. December of 1888.

"Jack, you're not serious!" Jack started awake, then realized it was his da Aunt Nora was speaking to. He burrowed under the covers between Morgan on his left and Reilly on his right. Morgan was sucking his thumb again. Jack yanked it out. The sleeping boy gave a little squeak of protest, but didn't wake up. Jack tried to listen to what his da was saying.

"I'm taking Jack to America with me," he said, his voice rough and raspy.

"Sha, you'll wake the babies," Nora said automatically. "Ye can't take little Jack. This is his home. We're his family." She turned to her husband. "Tierney, tell the man he can't take him. Talk some sense into him."

Tierney Conlan set down the piece of ash wood he was whittling and sighed. "Ye can't stop him, Nory dear," he said softly, his blue eyes gentle. "Ye have to let him take his own son."

Nora sighed and bit her lower lip, unconsciously looking a great deal like her young daughter. "But he's my sister's baby." She closed her eyes. "My wee sister's baby."

Jack gently placed a big, work-worn hand over his sister-in-law's. "He's my child too," he said, quiet now.

Nora dashed a tear from her eye and wrapped her fingers around Jack's. "Very well, then," she admitted. Jack squeezed her hand and stood to leave. "But ye have to take good care of our boy."

Big Jack Sullivan's eyes turned stony. "He's not your boy, Nora. He's mine and my Kelly's." he said darkly. Then he strode out of the cottage, slamming the door. Morgan woke up and bolted upright. "Mumma?" he called. Jack tried to look asleep as Aunt Nora walked over. "What was that, Mumma?" Morgan quavered.

She lifted her tiny son in her arms, letting her ash-blonde hair mix with his. "'Twas just Uncle Jack, a stór," she soothed him. Nora sat down in the rocking chair and began crooning a lullaby in his ear. Jack tried to stifle the tears rising in his throat as he remembered his mumma's soft, light voice singing to him.

The water is wide, I cannot get o'er.

And neither have I wings to fly.

Give me a boat that will carry two

And both shall row, my love and I.

Morgan had fallen back into a young child's deep sleep. His mumma kissed his soft hair, then tucked him back into bed. Nora bent over the trundle bed, smiling at the three little ones tucked carefully under the covers, and stroked Reilly's curls back from her elfin face.

Then she looked at Jack. Sadly she pressed a kiss on his forehead, brushed her fingertips through his hair, and left the room. Jack hugged his blanket tight. He wanted his own mumma so bad it made his tummy ache. Maybe if he went to America he would forget. But he didn't want to forget. Jack fell asleep with thoughts jumbled.

Killala, County Mayo Ireland. March of 1889.

Jack clung to Aunt Nora, gripping her skirts with white knuckles. He had changed his mind; he wanted to stay in Killala. She could feel his terror and bent down to his eye level.

"You'll be all right, Jack," she whispered. "Go with God." She kissed the top of his head and let go. Morgan hid behind his mumma. He didn't like saying goodbye.

Wee Reilly tugged on her cousin's sleeve, her odd eyes solemn. "G'bye, Jacky boy," she said. Suddenly she stood on tiptoe and pressed a soft little kiss on his cheek. "I love ye, Jack. Be 'specially careful in 'Merica, and don't be gettin' lost."

Jack nodded, unable to speak. Da took his small, cold hand and they turned away to walk down the hill. Jack struggled not to cry. Da opened the gate to the churchyard and paused before two Celtic crosses.

"Say goodbye, Jack." Jack ran his small fingers over the raised letters of the larger cross

KELLY AINE SULLIVAN

1865-1888

BELOVED WIFE OF JACK SULLIVAN

MOTHER OF FRANCIS SULLIVAN

The smaller cross had fewer words.

ANNIE ELIZABETH SULLIVAN

1888

LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME

Da placed a few white flowers on the two still new graves. Jack burst into tears, and his father had to carry him most of the way to the bay.

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Author's Note: Aw…so sad! hugs chibi Jack But chibi Spot is still cuter! hugs chibi Spot And guess what! Chibi Racetrack, Chibi Kid Blink, and Chibi Crutchy will be appearing in the next chapter! Be ready!

And, I suppose I should put in a pronunciation guide/translation for the Irish words:

Da: an Irish form of Dad or Daddy

A stór: another way of spelling "asthore;" it means "my treasure."

Girsha: girl

Dia duit: God be with you; hello or goodbye

Brablin: baby, small child

Glunter: stupid, idiot, etc.

Also, this story was originally published under the Newsie Name of Smudge Caraway.