After the newsies revolution Katherine found herself much busier with work than before. The New York Sun had her promoted straight away, lest their competitors should be successful in headhunting their star reporter. Of course, she'd still received offers from them, even her father had tried again to get her to write for The World. Whether that was out of respect for her writing, or for greater control over what she might publish in the event that she disagreed with the way he wanted to run his business, was another matter.

However, Katherine liked her place at The Sun. If she entertained the idea of transferring to The World every now and then on the condition that Jack would be treated with respect as their new Illustrator while still being able to look after his newsies… well, she couldn't comment, though her sources told her that Jack was settling in rather nicely.

Katherine was writing up real news now, taking each hard report in her stride. She was blunt about the truth, but empathetic all the while. Her relationship with her father had even improved after the strike was over. Pullitzer saw his own stubborn determination in all she had done, and couldn't help being both proud and annoyed.

Everything truly was turning out quite nicely, it was almost too perfect. Suffice it to say that when Jack turned up to walk her home from work, and couldn't seem to pull himself out of his thoughts or relax his face from its grim expression, she wasn't entirely surprised. When Jack began chewing his nails Katherine rolled her eyes and sighed, "Spit it out Jack."

"What? No I'se jist… I'm forming a plan. I'll get my ideas togetha and then-"

"I thought I already told you; you don't need to have all the answers, just the brains to recognise a good idea when you hear it. What's the scoop Mr Kelly?"

When Katherine was set on a task you could see it. The exact moment she decided to take on a new story, a new mission. Her face could be serious as anything but you could see the switch by the way her eyes lit up with mirth and mischief.

Jack laughed, holding his hands up in surrender, "We's, ah- we's got ourselves a sister."

Katherine was quick to link arms with Jack and dig out every detail she could about the girl her boys called 'Mouse'. How the girl was skin and bones and wouldn't say a word, but they knew she was good and smart because she had looked after Crutchie in the refuge, even helping with his letters to Jack. The poor girl still needed to wash herself of the blood and dirt that was cracked and dry on her skin. If it were any other kid then Jack would've helped them get washed up by now - but Jack knew that frail as she was, she'd need help getting cleaned up. He wasn't about to put any of his family, Lucy included, in that awkward situation. And besides, they still didn't know how she was supposed to start earning enough money for lodging and food.

Jack was coming up blank against each new problem Lucy presented. It wasn't until they arrived outside the Lodge that Jack noticed Katherine had changed their path from her home to his. His face was that of amused admiration as he play acted the gentleman and held the door for the woman he loved. They didn't need to discuss anything further, Jack trusted that Katherine knew what to do.

As soon as Katherine stepped foot in the Lodge she was greeted by a raucous cheer, but Mush was the first to greet her.

"What's on the menu today, Ace? That stew you'se brought last week was just about the best thing I ever ate!"

"Back again Miss Katherine? Ah knew you wouldn' be able to stay away - not from this handsome face." Piped up Romeo, wiggling his eyebrows for all his worth before Jack swatted the back of his head.

It didn't take long before most of the newsies were gathered around. "Alright boys, who would care to explain why it's taken a whole two days for word to reach me that my favourite family's grown? Here I thought you were good at delivering news..." Katherine fixed them all with a pointed look, before she couldn't keep her smile away any longer and pulled the closest of the boys in for a hug. "Gentlemen, care to lead the way?"

When they found Lucy she was beginning to doze off on Crutchie's shoulder. When the card game had ended she looked so upset and lost, Jojo just had to stay and tell her about every card game he knew. Lucy was so enthralled in Jojo's wisdom that she didn't even flinch when he came to sit close just opposite her. Then there was Race, sat on the other side of Crutchie in easy conversation.

While the two of them may not have been participating in Lucy and Jojo's one-sided ramble, they did still note the way her posture ever so slowly relaxed. She was no longer digger her nails into her palm, but slightly fidgeting with her sleeves as she listened in rapt awe to everything Jojo knew about cards, all the strategies she could play with. Once Lucy started stifling yawns Jojo opened the conversation back up to the group so that she wouldn't feel watched and would fall asleep. It was plain to see she needed what rest she could get.

Lucy's eyes felt heavy. She was about to fall asleep when this beautiful woman walked, softly smiling, into her line of sight.

"Hello Mouse, my name is Katherine. It's nice to meet you."

She could hear the smile in the beautiful woman's voice. It was melodic and light, and it made Lucy want to float along with it. In the exhausted fog clouding her mind she saw the twirl of dresses drifting across the ballroom floor in the lilt of Katherine's voice.

"If you keep scratching away like that you'll turn red! Do you think I could run a bath for you instead?"

Lucy heard the woman's smile, and saw her mother laugh and wave at her as her father swooped her up and flew with her across the room in a dance of their own. Lucy let out a small smile of her own, and nodded, still watching her memories play out behind her eyelids.