Title: Many Happy Returns.

Summary: David is used to birthdays being something special to be celebrated in small but meaningful ways. Things don't work quite like that with Jack and the newsies, though.

Warnings: None.

Notes: None.

OoOoO

"I'm sorry for making you come all the way here," David apologized yet again as they climbed the stairs to the Jacob's small tenement. "But this is kind of important," He added.

"S'okay, Davey," Jack said one more time with an easy shrug.

They were silent as they kept climbing, using the fire escape just like they always did rather than entering and using the building's staircase.

They finished selling for the day a bit early today, and after a quick stop at Tibby's to meet with the other newsies for a while David asked Jack to walk home with him instead of heading back to the lodging house with the others, saying there was something he needed to show him.

Jack spent pretty much all the time it took them to get there trying to get David to tell him what that 'something' was, but he didn't give in.

"I'll just- go get it then," David said awkwardly before entering through the open window of the bedroom, leaving a smirking Jack to wait on the fire escape.

Jack was leaning against the rusty railing when David returned less than a minute later, holding a small parcel in his hands. Whatever it was, it was neatly wrapped in old papes but had thin a coat of blue paint covering them and there was a white ribbon tied into a bow on top.

"Happy Birthday," David said with a smile, holding out the gift.

"Davey, it ain't my birthday," Jack told him after a moment, a tentative smile curling his lips.

"Yes, it is."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "You sayin' I don't know when my birthday is?"

"Of course not. What I'm saying is that today it's your birthday, and we both know it."

"We do?"

"Yes," David said firmly, thrusting the gift in Jack's direction.

Jack flicked his eyes to the package in David's hands but made no move to take it. "That's funny, 'cause I don't remember saying none of that."

"You didn't," David accepted. "But that doesn't mean I'm wrong."

"That makes no sense."

"Yes, it does." David's arm was still stretched as he looked at him expectantly.

Jack crossed his arms over his chest and watched him with narrowed eyes. "Who told you?"

He smiled a little. "That's a secret."

"Was it Medda or Crutchy?"

"What?"

"Was it Medda or Crutchy who told you?"

"I- can't you just take it already? My arm is getting a little tired."

Jack didn't reply or reach for the gift, keeping his eyes fixed on David's face and clearly expecting an answer.

"You're impossible, you know that, right?" David sighed, lowering his hand. "Look, you can't get mad at them, okay? This is my fault."

"I ain't mad."

David studied Jack's face for a long moment. He didn't look mad exactly, but he certainly didn't look happy either. He hoped Jack was telling the truth.

"It was Crutchy," He finally admitted. "He didn't want to tell me, okay? He- we were talking about Les' birthday and then he made a passing comment about how he knew the birthday date of all the boys in the lodging house and I asked what date was yours and he said you didn't like people knowing about it but I kept insisting for weeks until he, uh, told me."

David fidgeted a little with the small parcel, not quite meeting Jack's eyes. "He even made me swear I wouldn't tell anyone else before he told me. Not even my family. That's why we're out here and there isn't a cake in the oven."

"What do you care?"

"What?"

"'Bout today being my birthday or not."

David blinked once, then twice. "You're my best friend. Of course I want to be able to wish you a happy birthday."

"You shouldn'ta buy me nothing," Jack muttered after a moment, looking anywhere but at him.

"Maybe," David said with a shrug. "But I wanted to."

The expression on Jack's face when he looked back at him was one of confusion and skepticism, but he didn't say anything more.

"Are you going to take it now?" David asked, holding the gift again, a tentative smile forming on his face.

Jack took the parcel after another long moment of hesitation, his hands clumsy and his narrowed eyes never leaving David's face. It was as if he expected him to take the gift back at any second.

"I, uh. I should head back to the lodge."

"Alright."

They held each other's gaze for a moment before Jack turned to leave. He took a couple of steps before stopping.

"Um, thanks," Jack murmured over his shoulder before dashing away.

"You're welcome," David said to the empty air, looking after him with a smile on his face.

Well. That went well.

OoOoO

a/n: Thank you for reading, and I hope you're enjoying this little one-shots.