A/N: Modern AU
"OK boys, it's Josie's first birthday, so we gotta make it a good one!"
"What're we gonna do?"
"Well, Jack and Kath are bringing her over later, so we've got time to decorate and get her at least one present," Specs announced.
The boys had already put their money together so they could buy their unofficial niece a birthday present.
Mush, Elmer, and Finch were in the kitchen trying to bake a cake for the one yr. old and Specs was giving the rest of the boys instructions. Race, Romeo, Crutchie, Swift (who'd shown up the night before to help), and Jojo were being sent to get a present, while Buttons, Specs, Albert, Henry, and Sniper were to decorate the foster home. The Jacobs brothers were coming later on, but when they showed up they were to help with the cake.
"OK, let's get going so we're not gone when Jack and Kath get here," Race shouted to his group. They quickly piled into the seventeen year old's old car. "What do we even buy a one yr. old?" Crutchie asked as Race started the car and drove off. "A toy or something, I don't know," Race shrugged. "We could go to the baby toy aisle and try to find something there," Swift added. The boys nodded.
When they finally reached the store, it took forever for Swift and Crutchie to get their group to the baby toys section. They kept stopping to look at the candy, the Easter decorations, the cards that make sounds, and basically anything they could find.
"Do you think she'd like this one?" Romeo asked, holding up a multi-colored dog. It appeared to sing the ABCs and numbers when you pushed the buttons on its belly. Race scrunched up his face in obvious dislike. "Nah, let's get the walker. Kath said she's pullin' herself up on things now," Race said, pulling a walker that had multiple toys on the front off the shelf.
"I think we should get the xylophone," Jojo grinned, pulling it off the shelf. "Jack would get so annoyed with that thing," Romeo added. "I know, that's why we should get it," Jojo said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
The brothers and sister laughed, but made Jojo put it back, not wanting to anger their oldest brother.
"I agree with Race, we should get the walker," Swift said. Race smiled at her and she smiled back. "Ok, the lovebirds are going to start making out so we should get goin'," Romeo said, rolling his eyes. Race and Swift sent a glare at the youngest brother, who shrugged.
They ended up going with the walker and after purchasing it, they were all back in the car. "Ok, Crutch, call Specs and tell 'im we're gonna be back soon," Race instructed. "Do you know if we got wrapping paper at the house?" Swift asked, searching the bag. "I don't think so," Race answered after a minute of thinking. "Well we'll need to stop and pick some up, we forgot to get it at the-."
POP!
The car went silent. A loud, obnoxious, noise sounded from below the car as Race continued down the rough, gravel, road. "What just happened?" Romeo asked worriedly. "I think we just popped a tire," Race sighed, gently driving the car to the side of the road.
Sniper passed the various decorations down to Specs, who gave them to Buttons. He, Albert, and Henry began blowing up balloons with the helium they'd found from the last party while Sniper and Specs hung the streamers and banner.
"Hey Sniper," a funny, high-pitched voice said. Sniper turned in confusion and saw Albert, balloon in hand. "We inhaled the helium," Albert explained in a high pitched voice, making Sniper laugh. "Let me try," Sniper said, taking the balloon. They continued to inhale the helium until Buttons got light-headed and nearly passed out.
The door opened and the Jacobs brothers walked in. "Sorry we're late," Davey apologized as Les bounced excitedly on his toes. "You're good. You two are going to help Mush, Finch, and Elmer in the kitchen with the cake," Specs said, patting Davey on the back as he walked past them. Davey nodded and tapped Les on the shoulder, silently telling him to follow him.
"Hey Specs?" Sniper asked, making the second oldest boy turn.
"Sniper, how the heck did you do that?"
"I don't know, it just happened!"
Sniper had somehow managed to get a non-blown up balloon over his hand, and his hand was currently stuck inside the balloon.
Shouts sounded from the kitchen, making the boys rush to see what had happened.
The cake batter was on the ground, upside down. "What happened?" Specs shouted over all the noise. "I was putting the cake in the oven and Elmer backed into me and made me spill it!" Finch explained, irritation thick in his voice. "It was an accident! I was trying to put the eggs up!" Elmer defended. "It's ok, just start another one. Jack and Kath are going to be here soon," Mush said.
Specs' cellphone began ringing, making him pull it out of his pocket in confusion. 'Race'. He groaned inwardly. Now what? He walked upstairs so he could talk in silence before answering.
"Hey Specs. Um, we popped a tire," Race said sheepishly.
Specs was silent, trying to process what Race had just said. "You-you what?"
"Ya heard me, Specs, I popped a tire. I need ya to come pick us up. Spot's gonna come get the car, but we need a way to get back to the house," Race explained. Specs sighed and rubbed his eyes underneath his glasses. "I'll be there in a minute. Where you guys?"
"We're on the road heading to the house. A rock musta popped it or something, the tire was getting old anyway," Race explained. Specs heard chattering in the background and Race soon said, "Romeo! Get off the roof of the car! Specs, I gotta go," and hung up before Specs could question what was going on.
He went back down the stairs to find Albert and Henry trying to pry the balloon off of Sniper's hand while the others cleaned up the batter.
He pulled Mush aside and whispered, "I gotta go pick up Race and the others. He popped a tire. You got this?" Mush nodded with a smirk. "We'll be fine." Specs nodded and left.
When he reached the spot where everyone was waiting, he saw Romeo on top of Jojo's shoulders while Swift tried to get him to come down, Crutchie was on his phone, and Race looked bored. There was a white, grocery sack near Crutchie's crutch that Specs guess had the toy in it.
He pulled the car next to a stop next to Race's and the group piled in after safely getting Romeo down from Jojo's shoulders. "Jack and Katherine are probably already there, so you'll need to go in the back way," Specs explained as the drove.
"What's the back way?" Swift asked in confusion. "We tied a ladder to the back of the house so we can climb up it and into one of the empty rooms," Race explained with a small laugh. Swift began to say something then changed her mind, shaking her head slowly with an amused smile on her face.
When they got back to the foster home, they saw Jack's car which meant they were somewhere in the house. "Ok, go up the back way and I'll check on cake," Specs said and the group nodded.
Race led his group to the back of the house, where the tall ladder rested. "Rome, you first, then Crutchie, Jojo, Swift, then me," Race instructed.
Romeo practically flew up the ladder, which probably meant this wasn't the first time he'd used it. Crutchie had a bit of trouble and got stuck halfway up. Much to his displeasure, Romeo had to come help him climb the rest of the way. Jojo climbed it with as much ease as Romeo, which made Race wonder how many times the two boys had used the ladder and for what… Swift was very, very, skeptical of the ladder and was shaking the entire way up. She made Race hold it for her as she climbed. Race climbed with ease as well, just not as much as Romeo and Jojo.
"Crutch, you go downstairs and check on everything. We'll figure out something to wrap it up with," Race instructed.
Crutchie headed out and down the stairs. "There ya are, Crutch! Where's the rest of the boys?" Jack asked, confused as Crutchie made his way down the stairs.
"Um," Crutchie started, wide-eyed. It was then that he realized he hadn't come up with a believable story.
He looked to Specs and Mush for help. "They're cleaning their rooms they'll be down in a minute," Mush covered quickly. Jack nodded, suspicion covering his face. "Alrighty then…"
After a few minutes, they all ran down the stairs, the large blob of a toy wrapped up in a few blankets. "What is that?" Katherine asked, wide-eyed.
Josie froze at the sight of the blob, terrified. "It's a present for Josie," Race said, setting it down gently. Josie's large brown eyes followed it very carefully.
"Aw, fellas, that was sweet of you but you didn't have to go through all that trouble," Jack said, eyeing the blob with suspicion.
"It wasn't trouble! She's our niece, we gotta spoil 'er don't we?" Sniper grinned. Jack and Katherine smiled lovingly at the boys, but Josie had not taken her eyes off the blob, as if it might attack her at any moment.
"I guess we coulda made it more friendly lookin'," Jojo said, watching the baby. "Here, Josie, it's ok, look it won't hurt you," Katherine said, inching towards the blob with the baby in her arms. Josie began whining as Katherine got closer and closer. Katherine knelt beside it and Josie was clinging to her mother for dear life.
"Josie, look! It's a toy!" Swift said, trying to show her the blob wasn't vicious as she knelt down and uncovered part of the toy. In the process, Swift had pressed one of the buttons that sings a children's song. This spiked Josie's curiosity and she turned towards the blob, confused.
Slowly and carefully, she sat on her mother's lap. Katherine uncovered a bit more of it and once Josie realized it wasn't dangerous, she smiled widely and began uncovering the toy. Once it was fully uncovered, it had the baby's full attention.
The multi-colored, singing, toy filled walker quickly became the baby's best friend. After a while, they managed to draw her away from it long enough to get her to try some cake. And by try it, she smashed it, screaming with delight. This gave the younger boys the idea to start a cake war, which resulted in a very messy kitchen and icing and cake covered Newsies.
"Thanks boys, for giving her a party and everything. Even though she probably won't remember it, it's nice to know that you guys care about her," Katherine grinned. "Course Kath! You guys are family after all!" Crutchie grinned.
Katherine, Jack, and Josie ended up spending the night due to the heavy rain outside. They ended the night with a movie, some games, and spending time with their niece.
A/N: Hey y'all! I thought since I'd given you guys two angsty ones in a row, I'd do a lighthearted one, especially since yesterday was Josie's birthday. Sorry I didn't post it yesterday I was super busy. Read and review please!