A/N: Modern AU

Christmas. I bet when you think of the holiday, you think children running to the tree in the morning, ripping presents open, spending time with family members, delicious food, and forgetting any quarrels you've got. Well, I can't exactly say that what was happening for the Newsies.

"JINGLE BELLS! JINGLE BELLS! JINGLE ALL THE WAY! OH WHAT FUN IT-!"

"Romeo, I swear if you don't stop singing that song I'll-!"

"Race," Jack said in a warning tone.

Romeo paused before belting, "WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS! WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS! WE-!"

Romeo ducked just in time to avoid a flying pillow from Race. "Alright, alright," he muttered, holding his hands up in surrender.

Christmastime for the Newsies was a busy one. They were anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus, while also getting ready for their annual Christmas party. Even Spot and Smalls were coming this year! Joe was also coming and he seemed rather happy about it when Jack approached him about it.

"Alright, boys! Here's the assignments!" Jack called, standing on top of the table, "Race, Romeo, Buttons and Crutch, you'se in charge of getting' the tree. Finch, Henry, Elmer, and Albert, you'se in charge of getting the food. No pranks in the food. Specs, Mush, Jojo, and Sniper, you'se in charge of decorations."

"What about me?" a voice asked, causing the group to turn. Swift stood in the doorway, brushing snow out of her hair but smiling widely. "Swift!" the boys shouted, running and hugging their sister. "Wow, I guess you missed me," she laughed, hugging them. "You'se just in time, Swift. You can help Finch, Henry, Albert, and Elmer. I gotta go help Ace with something, but I'll be back later," Jack said.

Jack gave a quick wave before pulling on his coat and running off.

The groups split off to their assignments.

"Race, you sure you know where you're goin'?" Romeo asked. The four of them were in Race's new car he'd gotten, trying to find somewhere to get a tree. As of right now, they were in the middle of nowhere. "Rome, 'course I know where I'se goin'," Race lied. Crutchie rolled his eyes, turning to stare out the window.

"What about that place? It seems good," Buttons offered, pointing at a sign labeled, 'Wilson's Tree Farm'. Race glanced at Crutchie, who shrugged. "Ah, why not. What've we got to lose?" Race asked, pulling into it. After parking, the four climbed out of the small car and went inside.

"How can I help you?" a friendly voice asked. The brothers turned and saw an elderly man making his way towards them. He had white, curly, hair and was kind hunched over. He wore a red and green cardigan over his grey-long-sleeve shirt and his tan pants had grass stains on them. His blue eyes shone happily when he reached the boys.

"I'm Nick. Nick Wilson," he smiled. "Nice to meet ya! I'm Crutchie, and these are my brothers, Race, Romeo, and Buttons," Crutchie introduced. Nick smiled at the boys and said, "Can I help you with anything?"

"I think we've got it. Thanks anyways," Crutchie said. Nick nodded and said, "Once you find the tree you'd like, bring it up here and I'll ring it up for you." The boys murmured 'Thank you's and left. After arguing over several trees for about an hour, they finally agreed on a tall, plump one. It was taller than any of the boys and probably even Specs, who was the tallest in the Lodging House.

One way or another, they were able to get it up to the counter, paid for, and tied to the top of Race's car. Just one problem.

"Crutch, I can't see!" Race said. "Whaddya mean you can see? Crutchie exclaimed. "The stupid tree's blocking my view!" Race argued.

It was true. The tree was so long it covered Race's side of the front window. They spent the next thirty minutes arguing about what to do. In the end, Crutchie was guiding Race on where to turn and cars to avoid.

"WATCH OUT! THERE'S A CAR!" Crutchie would shout, making Race either slow down or speed up to avoid the car. "Turn here!" Crutchie would announce and Race (very sloppily) made the turn. It was a miracle they weren't pulled over. They made it safely back to the Lodge, but with Romeo and Buttons clinging to the seats for dear life.

"Specs, where're the decorations?" Sniper asked. Specs turned from looking for the tape and said, "Uh, d'ya look in the closet upstairs?" Sniper nodded. "What about the attic? Jack hides a lot of stuff up there," Specs asked. Sniper shook his head and ran to the stairs.

"Take Jojo with you! The door locks from the outside when it's closed!" Specs called after Sniper. Jojo, having heard Specs, ran after Sniper.

"Mush, ya know where the tape is by any chance?" Specs asked, digging through the kitchen drawers. Mush walked in from the main room. "Haven't seen it since Kath's birthday. D'ya check that drawer that Jack thinks he can hide stuff in?" Mush asked. Specs thought for a moment before shaking his head. They found the tape in said drawer then waited for twenty minutes for Sniper and Jojo to come back. When they didn't, Specs and Mush went upstairs to find them banging on the attic door from inside the attic.

Specs let them out before shouting, "I told you it locks from the outside!" "We forgot, ok?" Sniper argued, brushing dust out of his blond hair.

Specs and Mush glanced at each other before rolling their eyes. Decorating went, well, interesting. They argued against half of the decorations and ended up only setting up the dusty nativity set. Just as they finished, Albert, Elmer, Finch, Henry, and Swift walked in, each of them carrying armloads of grocery bags.

"I'm never shopping with these lunatics again," Swift groaned. The boys gave her a mock innocent look. "Why not, Swift?" Finch asked. Swift glared at him and said, "Because you set a lobster loose in the store, Henry and Albert got in trouble three times for climbing up the shelfs, and Elmer kept trying put a Mentos in pop bottles!"

Said boys doubled over in laughter. "You have to admit, Swift, the lobster was pretty funny," Finch laughed. Swift cracked a smile and said, "Alright, it was kinda funny."

The boys and Swift turned as they heard shouting outside the door. They ran to see what it was, and gawked at the tree Race, Buttons, Crutchie, and Romeo had picked. It was huge! "How're we going to get that inside?!" Specs asked.

With great difficulty, the boys and Swift were able to get the large tree inside. Crutchie was guiding them since he couldn't lift the tree due to his crutch.

"Did you guys find the ornaments?" Crutchie asked Mush. Mush nodded and said, "They're in those boxes by the kitchen.

Crutchie, Romeo, and Buttons got the boxes, bringing them to the tree where the group immediately began decorating.

"Hey guys, sorry we're late, we had to help our mom and Sarah with something," Davey said, walking in. Les ran in ahead of him and his jaw dropped at the tree, before running over and helping decorate it, Swift, Davey, Crutchie, and Specs got to work on making the food. They'd argued about it for a moment before deciding that those four were less likely to burn down the kitchen than the others.

Spot and Smalls showed up a bit later. "Hey guys," Smalls smiled. The tiny girl was wearing her normal navy shirt and jeans, but had taken her cap off. Spot was wearing his normal red shirt and jeans, looking around at the Lodge now brightly decorated with Christmas lights.

"Hey, Smalls! Spot," the boys greeted.

Katherine, Jack, and Joe showed up five minutes later. Katherine had her hands on her five month baby bump, smiling as she looked around at the decorations. Jack was carrying a suspiciously large box that he set down near the tree.

The party went amazingly. Everyone got along with everyone (except for the occasional food throwing). Then it was time for that huge box Jack brought to be opened. Since it was Christmas Eve, the boys couldn't open their presents yet, but were eager to open Jack and Katherine's box.

"Alright. Ace, would you like to do the honors?" Jack asked. Katherine smile and lifted the top of the box off.

Pink balloons flew out of the box. On three of the balloons, were the words, 'It's a girl!' It took the group a second but once they realized what it meant, they erupted in screams and cheers. Several hugs were passed around and several congratulations followed. Joe was smiling the biggest anyone had seen.

"We wanted to tell you guys so badly," Katherine confessed once they'd calmed down.

"What's her name going to be?" Smalls asked.

"Ah, now that one, you'll have to wait until she's born," Jack said and the group groaned playfully.

The party lasted until midnight, when it was actually Christmas. The boys tore into their gifts, thanking each other for them and having a good time together. One by one, they each fell asleep in the most random of spots, knowing this to be one of the best Christmases yet.

A/N: I'm so sorry for not updating last week! It was horrible hectic and I was trying to get into the swing of something and it was kind of stressful, but I'm back now. I hope you guys enjoyed this! It was so much fun to write. BABY KELLY'S A GIRL! I know Is aid I was going to wait until she's born to reveal the gender, but I wanted to give you guys at least something about her. Anyway, I hope y'all had a great Christmas! TTFN!