Alright huns, you know the drill. I don't own the Newsies, I don't own any of the characters. I don't own Josh Groban or this song, and I'm not even sure if I own the plot. Lol. Enjoy! ~Kay McRae

Oh and Thank you for Reading and Reviewing!

and Thank you Sarah for editing this, and helping me here and there.

~Kay McRae (~Singah)

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Chapter Three: So strong and so blessed

"Jack?" Firefly followed him down the hall and watched him go into another room. She poked her head in the doorway, and saw him standing with his back to her. Taking a deep breath Firefly walked in and placed her hand on his shoulder, "Jack we need ta talk."

Jack cleared his throat, "Talk about what?" he turned his head so he could see her face.

"You know what Fire, I was an idiot. I admit it. Alright. Kissing Sarah was a stupid thing ta do." Jack moved so they were standing face to face. "But you know what else? You have been avoiding me fer de past month. We aren't together any more. An' neither of us have ta explain anything ta each other any more."

"But-"

Jack cut her off. "Dat means you don't have ta explain ta me what you were doin back dere."

"Jack it wasn't what it looked like." Fire gestured towards the door with her hand.

"Wait, your right. We ain't together. And why I'm in here explaining dis ta you is beyond me." *What am I doing here? Why did I follow him?* She stood there for a second, racking her brain, trying to think of a reason for being there. "You know, I- I don't even know why I wanted to follow you. Jack." She paused, looking at his face. "Jack I want to be friends again. But you hurt me."

"I hurt you?! Fire, what was that back there? Ain't that de exact same thing I did ta you? If you want ta be friends, fine we'll be friends, but don't go leavin' me da dust wonderin' what yer gonna do next! I can't just sit around waitin' fer you ta make up yer mind!" Fire shook her head and continued as if she hadn't even heard Jack. "And that thing back there with Race," she shook her head bewildered, "I don't know what that was." She ran her fingers through her hair, and sighed. "I just. gah! I don't know what I'm doin." Groaning in frustration, Firefly turned on her heel and walked out of the room. She walked back towards the bunkroom where she had left Race.

Running her fingers through her hair, Firefly let out a sigh and walked into the bunkroom, "Race," receiving no answer she tried again. "Race?" looking around the room she spotted him by his bed. Firefly stood behind him, her blue eyes wide. "What are you doin?" She watched as Race stuffed his clothes in a bag., then his comb, followed by his deck of cards. "I'm packin." He answered sharply with out looking at her.

Fire shook her head, she could see he was packing. "Why?" was all she managed to choke out, her brain was spinning. *Life is getting way too confusing.*

"I'm packin because I'm goin away." Race replied crossly. He need to get away, he needed time to think, so that he could sort out his feelings and hopefully their situation, or the one he 'created'.

"Your leaving?" the words hit her like a blow to her stomach. "Why?" Her eyes were searching around the room frantically, what she was really doing was racking her brain for a reason that would make her best friend leave her.

Race sighed, finally turning around to face her, "Fire." It was his turn to search, but he was searching for the words to say, to explain why he was doing what he was about to do. "Firefly, we've been friends fer a long time right?" she nodded, holding her breath.

"An' we got close. Right? I mean we're almost, if not de best of friends." He took off his hat and rubbed his fore-head as she nodded again. "Through de five years dat I've known ya, I came ta think of you as a little sistah. An' a friend, and den a best friend." He paused thinking again. "Well I also, I also came ta. love ya in a brotherly way and den a best friend way." He smiled thinking of how he'd been kissing her neck a while ago. *Yeah dat wasn't brotherly.* "I'se known you fer a long time Fire. And some where along da way I fell in love wid you." Race put his arms around her waist and continued, while holding her. "An' I tought maybe I had a chance now dat Jack was gone, and you din't like 'im any more, but den you ran after him, an- " he searched her eyes of a moment. "an' now every one is either confused 'er confusin, an I need ta get away from here." He hugged her then let go, and picked up his bag and headed toward the door, that led to the stairs, that led to the door, that led to the outside.

*Oh no, you can not leave me, why are you doing this Race. I need you here to help me.*

Firefly reached out and grabbed his shoulder just before he reached the door. "No, Race wait. You can't go. You're my best friend. How am I supposed to do. anything with out you?!" *Can't you think of anything better to say?* She shook her head. "Your right. I am very confused right now. But I need you here to help me sort things out, like you always do."

Race scanned her face, her blue eyes were shinning with tears ready to fall, she looked like a lost child, and he just wanted to hold her. Race lifted his hand and trailed it down her check, But he couldn't, hold her. "Fire, dere's some things you have ta sort out youse self." He replied softly. And then he turned back towards the door. And walked out of the lodging house and into the streets of New York.

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Broken, once connected

We were so strong and so blessed

In a simple way

So don't let me go with out love

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