"Hey, is Katherine going to be Prom Queen?"

Specs sidled over to Jack who was casually standing by the food table, too nervous to do anything else. He looked at the room which was filled with lights, balloons and dancing newsies.

"I dunno. Why?"

Specs scratched his head. "Oh, no reason." He ran off to go find Race, and maybe a girl to dance with.

Jack looked after him, wondering why Specs, of all people, would ask him that. He casually took a sip from the drink he was holding, and then froze. He leaned down to peer underneath the table, and then quickly grabbed the boy by the arms, hauling him up.

"Colin! What're you doin' here?!"

Colin giggled. "I followed you."

Jack looked around for someone to hand the kid off to. "Crutchie!"

Crutchie limped over dejectedly. He already knew what was coming. "Yeah, Jack?"

"Could yous take Colin 'ome?"

"Does I 'ave to?"

"Yeah. Colin, be good and stay with Crutchie until you get 'ome. Alright?"

"No!" Colin wiggled free and scampered across the dance floor to hide somewhere else.

Jack sighed. As did Crutchie. Jack gave him an odd look.

"What'sa matter? You usually like these kinda things."

"It's not that, Jack, it's….it's Rose."

Jack looked away. He had only heard parts of the story about what had happened at the Refuge. Crutchie didn't like to talk about it, even to him. All Jack knew was that Crutchie had met someone named Rose, someone very special to him. And she had died.

"Hey, kid…" Jack put an arm over Crutchie's shoulder, turning him so that they both could look out over the sea of assembled people. Romeo and Maybelle twirled across the floor, completely happy.

"You can't make it better by mopin' about it, right? Come on, cheer up. She wouldn't like it if you was wastin' a perfectly good night like this by thinkin' about her."

"You thinks so?"

"Yeah. Now go on out there, and try to find Colin."

Crutchie nodded, pulling away from Jack's grasp. "You thinks Katherine could teach me 'ow to dance?"

Jack grinned. That was Crutchie, always wanting to do the impossible. But with him, nothing was impossible.

"Yeah. I'm sure she will when she gets here."

Crutchie disappeared into the multitude of newsies, calling out for Colin.

"I'm here!" Jack turned to see Katherine appear at his side. "Did I miss anything?"

"Colin's here," Jack said a bit ruefully.

"Well, that's no surprise. Did you all vote for Prom Queen and King?"

The newsies quieted down as Darcy stood up on the stage holding a small piece of paper.

"Quiet everyone, quiet! Thank you. It is with great pleasure that I announce the Prom Queen and King!"

Some cheering, some clapping. "Get on with it!" Finch shouted.

Darcy smiled, and unrolled the paper. "The Prom King is….Specs!"

The place exploded with cheering as Specs ran up to the stage and was crowned with a flimsy paper crown.

Darcy peered at the next piece of paper, frowning. "Apparently, you all voted for Specs as Prom Queen, too."

Everyone cheered and clapped again. Jack looked at his girlfriend with a befuddled expression.

"So that's why he asked me if you was goin' to be Prom Queen," and Katherine laughed.

"I would expect nothing else." Katherine led Jack out onto the dance floor, and the night lasted on in a wave of happiness.