(Author's Note: So, before I get started here, I guess I have so explaining to do on the subject of Katherine's family. It is not historically accurate with the real Pulitzer family, but I'm the author, and that was my choice.

Katherine's mother died of pnemonia when Katherine was about 12, and was raised by her father, with the help of his sister, Lucille, who had two daughters of her own. At the time this story takes place, Katherine's cousins, Margaret and Phoebe, are 20 and 17 respectively. They're probably her closest friends from before the strike.

Sorry for that short interlude! Here you go!

Standard disclaimers apply, I own nothing but my own imagination.)

Jack was very uncomfortable, and very nervous. He was meeting Katherine's Aunt Lucille, who had practically raised her after her mother died, and cousins, Phoebe and Margaret, and he was... nervous. Well, maybe nervous wasn't the right word at all. He was... anxious. He so desperately wanted them to like him-it was bad enough having to suffer through the disapproving stares of Mr. Pulitzer-but Katherine seemed like she honestly couldn't care less.

"A dreadful woman, really," Katherine had told him that morning, "always trying to get me to give up writing and have tea parties or something like that, but Phoebe and Margaret are wonderful, and they're looking forward to finally meeting you." He tried to stay calm, for her sake, but when you're meeting the family of the girl you recently got engaged to, well, staying calm isn't always the easiest thing to do.

Jack sat stiffly on the couch beside Katherine. Phoebe, the younger cousin, and the one Katherine was obviously closest to, sat on the other side of her, and Margaret and Aunt Lucille sat in uncomfortable looking chairs. Jack could see what Katherine meant about Aunt Lucille being "dreadful." Her mouth was perpetually turned down, frowning slightly, and her eyes were harsh and glaring, giving him the impression that she already didn't like him.

He tried to do everything right. He answered all Aunt Lucille's questions, and tried to keep up a conversation. He'd even got Davey to help him find some suitable clothes to wear, but despite all of that, he was getting increasingly restless. All Jack wanted to do was hold Katherine's hand, or put his arm around her. He had never in his life been unable to have physical contact with someone, especially Katherine, but in all honesty, he was too terrified of Aunt Lucille to do anything of the sort. He merely cursed his tactile nature silently, and sat as still as he could manage. He nearly jumped halfway across the room when Katherine casually rested her hand on his knee, but after that second of panic, he relaxed a little bit. A look from Katherine told him she knew why he was so tense, and he smiled at her gratefully.

Nearly an hour later, it was over, and Jack breathed properly for the first time since he entered the house.

"Phoebe and Margaret are going down to the park, so I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Katherine said as they left the house, her cousins looking on anxiously.

"Yeah, see you later Ace." Jack shoved his hands in his pockets and turned to leave, but Katherine put her hands on his shoulders and pressed her lips firmly against his. He was surprised, but he wasn't going to complain. When she took a step back, Katherine adjusted his vest and said matter-of-factly,

"There, now I feel better, don't you?" She smirked, obviously pleased with herself, turned around, and linked arms with her cousins, clearly enjoying the embarrassed looks on both their faces. Jack watched them walk away and chuckled to himself. It didn't matter so much anymore whether or not Aunt Lucille like him; Katherine sure seemed to, and that was all he cared about.

(And, just because I like you guys, I'm updating AGAIN today. It might not be directly after this, but shortly. Please review. I could really use some inspiration right now, so ANY comments you have would be so helpful. I will always take prompts or ideas as well, both for this story, or for others!

Much love,
PrettyLittleMonster Xxx)