Jack was nervous.

This was new for him. Jack was never nervous, not even when they'd first commenced the strike.

Yet here he was, shaking like a dried out November leaf.

He sighed deeply, looking up at his face through the grimy old mirror. She would say yes, wouldn't she? If she'd asked Jack, he would definitely say yes. He hoped she'd say yes.

But would she?

"C'mon, pal," he heard from the doorway. Turning, he saw Davey. "You don't have'ta be so nervous."

"I ain't nervous," Jack grumbled, but anyone could tell it was a lie.

Davey placed a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "She'll say yes."

Davey and his brother hadn't been as present as they were during the strike and the next while after, as they'd had to continue their schooling. Jack had mourned the loss of his friend, but if anyone around was able to get an education, he would be the last to disencourage them. It was a special occasion, though, and so Davey had made sure to get himself and his brother there on time. Jack was glad to see the two.

At that moment, the love of his life and the reason for all this anxiety burst through the door, holding something over her head as she walked. "Who wants turkey?"

Just like that, she was blocked from his sight. Newsie after newsie crowded her, asking her to let them hold it, claiming that her arms must've been so tired after that long walk. Yet Katherine was smarter, swatting away all their hands before they were able to grab pieces of raw meat. Yes, raw.

Jack sighed. He really had to teach those boys a bit of self control.

If you'd wanted to get technical, Thanksgiving had already passed. There was no reason they should've been celebrating it now. But now was the only time they'd been able to get their hands on a turkey, and, well, it was when he'd finally gathered the courage to pop the question.

Wasn't nervous? Oh, who was he kidding. He was a wreck.

"You can put it in tha kitchen," Dipper offered. "Me and Jojo will prepare it."

Katherine tensed. "Oh, I can-"

"No, no," she said adamantly, taking the turkey. "You go be wit Jack."

She then turned and sent him a wink. He hadn't known what to think of the girl when she'd first come over with Albert, and he certainly didn't know now.

It baffled him to think of how much life had changed since the strike. If he hadn't known better, he'd say the strike had triggered something somewhere, like a flood that couldn't be contained. Between all the new girls, the deaths, and all the information he'd learned, he'd never experienced so much at once in his life.

He missed Lane. He wasn't ashamed to admit it. She'd been so much like him, and she'd brought so much light to Finch, with her gone everything felt dull. No, that wasn't quite right. Everything felt so much more... daunting. She'd always seemed to have a solution to everything, as most of the things happening lately seemed to circle around her. The Unknowns, the Delancey brothers, Frisks, Trek, even her father. He was the reason she was currently absent, as far as he knew.

Amy had seemed so similar to Katherine, it hadn't been hard to welcome her into the lodge. She, too, had been pushed around by her father, and needed to get away. He'd noticed the two girls had begun spending more time with each other, and for that, he was glad. They could both use more friends. At least, those who were girls.

Domino had stumped him whenever he'd first met her. She'd seemed to command everyone's attention wherever she went, which took the attention off of him. It'd been like a constant game of tug-'a-war. But he believed they'd finally found a balance. This is, until she, too, took off with Lane.

Dipper was easier to swallow. She more or less faded into the background, which surprised him. There were girls even more adventurous than her that had trouble keeping up with Albert. But she'd fit right in. Jack had no problem with the girl, even if she was a puzzle to him.

And Evangeline... Evangeline was plain weird. He attempted to steer clear of her as much as he could. But he'd respected her father, and some of that respect extended to her as well. Placide had been a protector of the city, of the newsies. It hurt Jack to have watched him go back home every spring — he'd heard he was a fisherman back home — but he'd eagerly awaited his return every year. Only... he hadn't returned. In his place, his daughter came bearing falsehoods about Elmer.

If Jack hadn't known her father, she would've already been long gone.

That night, he was especially glad for Amy and Dipper. Together, the two of them had helped him prepare. Their advice had been far more valuable than any of the boys', seeing as Katherine was a member of the opposite sex. Although Crutchie's words had come close.

"Am I overreactin'?"

Crutchie smiled. "Not at all, Jack. She's tha love 'a yer life. I'd be nervous, too."

Jack sighed, sliding down the wall. "I feel sick."

"When're ya plannin' on doin' it?"

"Next week."

Crutchie nodded slowly. "Dat soon, huh?"

"Too soon?"

"No." Crutchie met his gaze. "Jus tha right time."

Jack ran a hand down his face. "What if she says no?"

"Den she does." When he groaned, Crutchie sighed. "Look, she might. But why would she? You clearly both love each oth-ah. If she said no, I'm positive it'd be fa a different reason."

Jack took in his words. "Alright. Dat, I can live wit."

"But she won't say no," Crutchie assured. "Don't even worry 'bout it."

"Okay." Jack turned his head, watching the boy as he was about to leave. "Hey, Crutchie."

He turned back. "Yeah?"

Jack offered a small smile. "Thank you."

Dinner was good. If he wasn't wrong, the turkey was slightly burnt, although that was possibly just his nerves talking. He kept sneaking glances at Katherine seated next to him, who remained oblivious.

He remembered how nice it was to eat with all the newsies. Mike and Ike were throwing food after each other. Finch and Henry were participating in some sort of contest. Mush and Tommy Boy kept stealing food off each other's plate. Albert had his arm around Dipper, and seemed to be whispering something into her ear with a grin on his face. Amy was seated between Romeo and Jojo, the latter appearing to be the cause of amusement for the pair, for they seemed to be laughing at the poor boy. And Race...

He couldn't bear to look at Race. He had such a dejected look on his face that it pained Jack to face him. He knew it was because of him, because of the fact that he was proposing. Race didn't think he was ready to take on Manhattan.

But he was. He was. Jack wished he realized that.

Eventually, the time came. He pushed his chair back, feeling everyone's eyes on him. He wanted to reach out to Katherine, but was afraid she would feel how he was shaking. He couldn't be nervous, but he was. "Kath, wanna come out wit me fa a bit?"

Ignoring the wolf whistles from the newsies, Katherine grinned and looped her arm through his. "Lead the way, Mr. Kelly."

He grinned back despite his nerves, maneuvering the two of them towards the ladder and up onto the roof. The night was cool, seeing as it was the end of November, yet it was still so beautiful. "You cold?"

She shook her head, even as she shivered. Not having thought of bringing a coat, he had nothing to offer her except his own warmth. So he did exactly that, unwinding their arms and squeezing her against his side. She sighed happily, leaning against him. Jack hoped with everything he had that she wasn't hearing the newsies crowding together just below the ladder, hoping to catch pieces of their conversation.

"We've come a long way."

He chuckled. "You can say dat again."

She smiled slightly. "I mean, since the strike..."

"Dere's been a lot 'a stuff dat's happened since tha strike dat's bett-ah left unsaid."

"Yeah..." She seemed to slump. "I know it doesn't help to say this, Jack, but I'm scared. I'm terrified. How do we know they won't come for you next?"

"We don't," he said. He'd given it plenty of thought himself. "We've got no way 'a knowin' what tha future holds. But... I guess dat's why it's tha best time ta do dis."

She turned towards him questioningly, only to see him sink down onto one knee. The cold metal of the roof was enough to set his teeth chattering, but he'd stay like that all day just to see that look of indescribable joy on his angel's face.

"Katherine," he began. "No words I know could possibly begin to explain how much I love ya. Yer my light, my oth-ah half, one 'a tha only people able ta talk sense into me. Through all 'a dis, you've been by my side, when I know most people would've been out tha door. You've supported me in my every decision, even if sometimes, you didn't agree. Katherine, you is my Santa Fe, not some place out in the desert. I know I'll always, always love you, Kath. So dat's why I've gotta ask: Angel, my Ace... will you marry me?"

His trembling fingers reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring, but she'd already cried, "Yes!" before he even had the chance to present it to her. Smiling, he had to gently grasp one of her flailing hands to be able to slip the ring onto her finger. She looked down at it, but he wasn't convinced she could even see it with the tears gleaming in her beautiful eyes. The moment he stood, he was pulled to her level, flush against her lips. His hands came up to caress her face as her own threaded lightly through his hair. He felt tears on his face, but he was enough of a man to admit that not all of them belonged to her.

She pulled away, still crying. "How did you get my father's blessing?"

He laughed at the absurdity of the truth, wiping his eyes. "Lane."

She blinked. "Lane? How?"

He gestured vaguely around. "I'd heard she'd done business wit yer faddah in tha past — actually, I think you was tha one who mentioned it — about us bein' togeth-ah, 'n... somethin' else. I've no clue what. So, what, like a week ago, I go up ta her 'n ask if she had any advice fa gettin' a man like yer faddah ta cooperate. She patted me on tha shoulder, said she'd get back ta me, 'n next thing I know she's back wit news dat I've gotten yer faddah's permission. Obviously, I didn't buy it, but I went ov-ah lat-ah dat day jus ta see good 'ol Joseph wit tha face of a man dat's seen some stuff. Sure enough, she got through him, 'n I was given his blessin'.

Katherine laughed. "Jack, that's incredible! He'll really let us be married?"

Jack grinned. "Sure sounds like it."

She threw her arms around him. "I love you, my cheeky, impossible newsie."

He laughed at the sound of the names she'd used to call him. "I love you, Angel."

And in that moment, Jack knew, whatever ended up happening to him... he would die happy.

"C'mon, say somethin'."

Race didn't meet either of their gazes, glaring bitterly at the ground, having had no intention of complying with their single request. For the first time in a long while, Racetrack Higgins wanted to be quiet.

He'd known the day was coming. Of course he'd known. But that didn't mean he was ready for it. It didn't mean he didn't dread the very thought of it. He did. And he had. Every day.

What had happened to him?

The answer to that was clear. His childhood. The Refuge. The pressure of taking on an entire borough. He wasn't fit for that. All he wanted to do was escape, and his use of humour was no longer an option. Not when they could see right through it.

Albert sighed heavily, bowing his head. Albert could see through him especially. Race hardly ever had the energy to fake it around him. They just knew each other that well. "Wese gonna be right he-ah. Ya don't gotta worry. It ain't gonna be all on you."

"Yes, it is," Race said, snapping at last. He clenched his jaw. "Dere's things a lead-ah has ta do on his own. Stuff Jack's gotta do on his own. And I've gotta live up ta dat. Ise s'posed ta know what ta do. Dis whole problem 'a everyone droppin' like flies? Dat's all on me."

"Jack ain't gonna leave before all dis is ov-ah," said Crutchie softly. "Ya know he wouldn't do dat to you."

"He might," Race whispered. "We don't know who's next."

"Den, again, we'll be right he-ah fa you," Albert said again. "Honestly, Race. Dis is jus goin' in circles. You've got nothin' ta worry about. Yer always gonna have people around more den willin' ta help out. You get ta pick yer second in command. And if I haven't heard wrong, you've gotten yer-self a little lover who's in tha same boat as you."

"We ain't togeth-ah."

Crutchie raised an eyebrow. "I feel like Ise missin' somethin' he-ah."

Albert gestured for Race to elaborate. Race rolled his eyes. "He's referrin' ta tha goil from Flushin'."

"Dat really narrows it down."

Albert nudged him. "Their current lead-ah."

If Crutchie had a drink, he would've done a spit-take. "Laces?"

"We ain't togeth-ah."

Albert scoffed playfully. "Uh-huh. I'll belive it when I see it. You bett-ah tell Jojo before he figures it out himself."

Race sighed deeply. "I keep forgettin' dey's family."

"Hard ta believe," agreed Crutchie, still reeling over the new information.

When Race said he and Laces weren't together, he'd meant it. They weren't. But... there had been something. He didn't know how it began, or when, or where. He just knew that sometime after he won that gambling match with her for Domino, something almost playful had emerged between them. He just knew that when she had kissed him after a long string of bantering between the two of them... he had kissed back.

And yet, he hated her guts.

Despite having freed him and Lane from the Refuge, she'd still sat back and watched as the Delanceys tormented him. She'd still been against Lane, one of his closest friends, since the beginning. And still, she was mourning the loss of Brock.

Not to mention where he lied. He was so stressed about taking Jack's place, all reason had fled. And he, too, had been so deeply grieved by the loss of Spot, his best friend second only to Albert, he hadn't questioned his actions. Had hardly thought about the fact that she could've been involved with the murders.

But there had been a kiss.

More than just one, actually.

They'd meant to keep it a secret.

"Thanks for tha chat," Race said, standing, "but I think Ise good. Addio."

It wasn't too late for that last part.

(2593 words)

They're getting married!!

~ nutcracker645