This will be cringey. You have been warned.

Also this got really freaking long but I'm super proud of it.

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe! (I've always wanted to say that lol)

-:-:-:-

You just stood, blinking for a moment after reliving the few good times from the Refuge. Yeah, it was a horrible place, scarring both physically and mentally, but you had met Jack there. Maybe... maybe it was worth remembering the pain if it meant not forgetting Jack.

Medda's booming, yet compassionate voice broke through your revelations.

"Oh, honey... I had no idea. If I had known you and Jack were in lo- were family from the refuge, I would have set you up... that is to say, set up a meeting, long ago!

"It's okay, Ms. Medda. I'll see him again soon, right? Doesn't he come here for your shows?"

Medda's saddened face turned to a smug grin. Oh no. Was she planning something?

"You're right. Of course, I'll need a song to sing. How's it coming along?" She asked looking around for the lyrics you had written thus far.

You glanced at the sheets of paper on the floor, about to break the bad news of your inadequacy to Medda when a bright splotch of color caught your eye. You had been so distraught earlier that you had been completely oblivious to your surroundings.

What had caught your eye was a painting.

There were deep purples and rich reds and brilliant light blues in the piece. The strokes told a story, as they wove together into bold red mountains and soft white clouds. They told a story of regret and heartbreak. Of passion and...

Oh my gosh.

You knew what the painting was depicting. You knew who had painted it.

And you knew exactly what to write for your song.

"I's not too far along yet, Ms. Medda, But my name ain't (Y/n) (L/n) if this ain't the best song you's evah gonna sing. "

"I believe you, Honey. One hundred percent." Medda smiled and left you to it as you grabbed a pencil and began pouring out your heart onto the page.

-:-:-:-

You proudly handed over the finished song to Medda, brimming with excitement and happiness.

She smiled and began reading the lyrics. As she read, he smile became softer and her eyes misty, as though her mind were someplace far away.

After a moment of silence, Medda finally looked back up at you. She sighed.

"Honey, this is your best song yet, but I simply can't sing it."

"What? Why??"

"Well, these aren't my words, they're yours. I just wouldn't feel right singing this." She said, leafing through your notes and lyrics.

You deflated in an instant.

"So I's just supposed ta... toss it?" You murmured, almost to yourself. You had poured your heart and soul into this song, and though it wasn't the best, it was you. Your feelings, your flaws, translated into a melody.

"Of course not, Honey. I said I can't sing this song. It's far too personal. You need to sing this to fully do it justice." Medda smiled, handing you the sheet music.

"Ms. Medda I don't got a great voice like you. It don't even do that shaky thing at the end of the notes!" Medda just laughed.

"That's called a vibrato, (Y/n). And so what? Your voice is pure and clear, like an angel straight from heaven. Just give it a shot, for me." She said, taking your hand in hers.

You were stunned into silence. You only sang on rare occasions. You sang when you were in pain and needed to find comfort in something. You had sung the day Jack left.

But could you sing when you were happy? Medda seemed to be a mind reader today, because she smiled sadly and shook her head at you.

"Child, you can put any emotion into the notes. It can be joy or sass, or even pain. It's your song to sing. Sing how you feel, that's how you paint the silence."

You smiled a bit.

"Paint the silence, huh?" Medda nodded and smiled, knowing full well that she had won.

"Araight Ms. Medda. You win this round, but don't be expectin' this to happen eveh again. I's gonna be a one hit wondeh." You chuckled, nerves now woven into your voice.

"Deep breaths, Honey. I'll help you warm up."

"Thanks Ms. Medda."

"Any time, (Y/n)."

-:-:-:-

"Can't I just... sing behind a curtain? Have a light behind me and just have my silhouette on the curtain. I can do that. Please?" You begged, adjusting the highly uncomfortable costume Medda had insisted you wear for your 'big debut' as she called it.

"And hide your pretty face from the crowd? Now why on Earth would I do that?" Medda queried, hand on her hip and a smile on her face.

"But this ain't me, Ms. Medda. I's not fancy and sparkly and... pink. I's just... plain old me." She looked at you, a pensive expression on her face. After a moment, she sighed and nodded, gesturing for you to go change out of the oh so itchy dress.

"Oh, thank you, Ms. Medda. I don'ts know how you does it, survivin' in that dress all day." You breathed in relief, trotting back to the dressing room and hastily changing back into your old, faded blue dress you had received from the nuns after your release from the Refuge. They didn't think it was proper for a young woman to be wearing pants, as you had been. It was one of the only articles of clothing that still fit you, so you wore it more often than you would have liked.

Still, it wasn't like you minded the dress; it made you feel pretty, despite the obvious wear. It was far more comfortable than that pink, frilly monstrosity (not that you would ever call it that in front of Medda).

You looked at yourself once more in the mirror. Meh, wasn't any worse than usual.

Taking one final breath, you made your way cautiously back to Medda.

"Are you sure you want to hide behind a curtain, Honey?" Medda asked, strongly implying that she wanted you to be visible whilst singing.

"I's sure, Ms. Medda. I wouldn't neveh be able to do it otherwise. I's already scared enough as it is." You said quietly.

"You really knows how to force me outta my comfort zone..." you mumbled as Medda meticulously positioned you so that your profile on the curtain would be as pretty as possible. Medda chose to ignore that comment.

"Ok. I think you're ready. Break a leg, Honey, and sing your heart out." Medda smiled at you one more time before sliding back offstage.

Your breathing became very shallow and your heart rate skyrocketed. Was it normal to feel like you were about to throw up?

The lights in the house dimmed, silencing the audience.

"Please give a warm welcome to the star of tonight's show, Miss (Y/n) (L/n)!" The announcer called. The light behind you was turned on and you saw your shadow on the curtain.

Wow. That's it. You're going to die.

The piano began the tune.

No time to think, just...

Sing.

And sing you did.

Battered and beat
Can't get back on my feet.
I can't climb up this mountain alone.

My life was not easy,
I know it sounds cheesy,
But with you I had found where I'm home.

Beautiful,
Your soul holds beauty and light.
You gave me a smile and you reached out your hand
And you helped me to once again stand.

You gave me hope
So that rather than mope,
I would rise up to fight for my dreams.

In a world unforgiving,
I can boldly keep living
Just as long as your emerald eyes gleam.

You're here in my heart and you will never, ever depart and to me you will always be

Beautiful.
Your eyes are shining like stars.
You never saw,
That the things I did all
Told the story of how I love you.

I love you.
I love you.
And I hated just watching you go.

I love you
I love you
And I wanted you finally to know.

Your eyes had closed halfway through your song, and when you finished, you felt trails of tears streaked down your cheeks.

You touched the salty liquid, then looked up when you heard the sound of thunderous applause.

Freaking Medda had opened the freaking curtain.

There you stood, in all your orphaned glory, disheveled and poor and a complete emotional wreck. And yet they cheered. They cheered for your song.

They cheered for you.

You covered your mouth with your hand and began crying all over again.

The applause only seemed to grow louder.

Unable to hold it together any more, you gave a tiny curtsy, then booked it off the stage.

Medda owed you big time for this. You didn't look where you were running, which was a horrible idea really, because next think you knew, you had collided with a solid object. You stumbled back a few paces.

"Dang..." you muttered as you rubbed your forehead. You looked up to see what you had run in to.

It was a pole.

You had run into a freaking pole.

"Of course. Of course I'd injure myself by taking a pole head on! I'm so stupid. So freaking stupid..." you vented to yourself, running a hand through your hair. You heard laughter from behind you. A very, very familiar laugh, though it seemed tinged with melancholy.

"Wow, you sure knows how to make first impressions, Kitten. An' hey, I thought you said you don't know nothin' bout love. That song sure sounded like you knows plenty bout love."

"Jack..." you started, completely forgetting about the new bruise on your forehead.

"Hows it you know my name? Did Ms. Medda- Hey, do I knows you from somewhere? You seem familiar..." He cut himself off halfway through the sentence.

You froze. Did he not know it was you? Even after the song?

Bruh. Not ok.

You were already an emotional wreck and that just tipped you over the edge.

"JACK KELLY, YOU STUPID BOY, HOW COULD YOU NOT RECOGNIZE ME?!" You cried, punching Jack on the jaw. Gently though, you weren't cruel.

Also you didn't want to slice your hand open on the sharp blade of a jawline he had.

"What's you-" he said taking a step back after your weak attack, his voice catching once he saw your face.

You were both silent for what seemed like forever, you with an angry, red, tear covered face and him with a look of absolute shock and awe.

"Beautiful."

As soon as he said the word, your anger fell away and you yanked him towards you into the tightest hug you had ever given.

"I missed you, Jack." You said, burying your face in his chest.

"I tolds you we'd see each otha again." You murmured into his shirt. He let out a breathy laugh and carefully placed his arms around you.

"Is you really here?" He whispered.

"Do I looks like I'm here?" You laughed, pulling away to really look at him for the first time in over a year, keeping your arms around his waist. He kept his arms on your shoulders, making you a little happier than you'd care to admit. You looked up at his face and... wow.

He had gotten even more fine. Is that even legal?!

You could feel your cheeks heating up, so you changed the subject real quick.

"Didja like the song?"

Shoot.

You internally cursed yourself. Why would you ask him about the song that you LITERALLY WROTE ABOUT HIM?!

"How could I not? It was just as pretty as you, Beautiful. But..." he trailed off. He took a deep breath and pulled away from you, as though he didn't want to touch you.

"But what, Jack?" You snapped, a little harsher than you intended.

"But I gotta ask..." he trailed off. This boi...

"Ask. What. Jack."

"Wh...who's the lucky guy you wrote that song about?"

You froze and looked at him.

He looked back at you.

You looked back at him.

What was it with guys being so dense?

"Didja really just ask me that, Kelly?" You deadpanned.

"I mean... yeah, I's just... I wanted to..." he halted, backing away from you.

"What, Kelly? Spits it out." You said, advancing, not letting him get away.

"I wanna know who it's about!" He burst out, surprising you both.

He quickly recovered and, slightly calmer, said "Was it one of da guys back at the Refuge? A new guy you mets in da theater? Oh, please don't tell me it's a newsie..." Jack halted his backwards retreat on 'newsies'. You, however, continued forward until you were right in front of him.

"Well... in a way it was sorta all of those." You smiled. Defeat overtook Jack's features.

"Ah..."

"Yeah, we mets in da Refuge when he was 15 and I was 16." He nodded slowly, his head drooping. You smiled. You were very much enjoying this.

"Then, when he gots out of there, he became a newsie. The best around. He's even the leada of one of them groups." You continued, making it as obvious as you could. C'mon, Jack. You aren't stupid. Put two and two together.

His head snapped up. Your heart leaped without warning. Did he get it?

"For the love of all things holy, please tell me it ain't Spot Conlon." He begged, grabbing your shoulders.

You were silent in shock for a moment, then you burst out laughing.

"Jack yous really ain't the brightest bulb, is you?" You said through your laughter.

"What? What's so funny?"

You tried to explain, but when you looked at his confused face, it just cracked you up all over again.

"What?!"

You held a finger up to tell him to hold on while you calmed yourself down.

You took a couple deep breaths before you faced him once again.

"I'll gives you one more hint." You giggled, leaning still closer until you were only inches apart.

"And what would dat be?" He sounded worried, and even a little scared.

"This."

And then you kissed him. It was short, but very, very sweet, as kisses that are years in the making usually are.

The look on Jack's face when you pulled away is one that you would always cherish; it was the dorkiest face you'd ever seen. He sported a dopey grin and a disbelieving sparkle in his eyes.

"I's guessing it ain't Spot then." He said chuckling a bit.

You cracked up once again. Partially at Jack's response, but more at the fact that you had actually just kissed Jack Kelly and your nerves were all frayed. Holy crap, where had that confidence come from?!

"I can't believe I just kissed you!" You gasped in between your chortles. Jack started chuckling right along with you.

"You's sayin' that wasn't planned or nothin?" He laughed. You shook your head. You were laughing so hard there were tears in your eyes. For once, tears that weren't caused by sorrow or pain.

"I's gonna be honest, this ain't even close to how I thoughts this was gonna go." You sighed, finally containing most of your giggles. You looked back up at Jack.

"You was right you know." You started.

"Bout what? You gots to be more specific; I's right about most stuff." He said, smirking, leaning in just like he used to.

Gosh, how you'd missed his flirting... wait, what? Hol up... Since when did you become this lovesick sissy girl?

C'mon, man! Get it together (Y/n)!

Wait, what did he say? Being right! That's right. Right.

"Yo- rights... sweet rightheart." You stumbled.

"I don'ts know what the heck you just said, Beautiful." Jack said, trying to hold back his laughter. He leaned in even more, making you even more flustered.

"I-"

"Yes, Beautiful?" He asked, glancing down at your lips.

"I would love to be your sweetheart." You whispered.

"That can be arranged." He smirked, closing the rest of the distance between the two of you.

While the first kiss was more like a flutter of butterfly wings, this one was like fireworks.

Wow, ok, hmmm. Maybe you should have sucked it up and kissed him years ago; this was even better than you'd imagined it would be.

You smiled into the kiss and ran your fingers through his hair, knocking his cap off.

He didn't seem to mind.

"(Y/n), Honey, that was amazing! I told- oh. Oh, I'm so sorry... I'll come back later."

Whoops, sorry Ms. Medda. You and Jack pulled away and looked over a Medda's retreating figure, a beaming smile on her face. Why did she look so smug?

Suddenly it clicked.

Oh dear goodness, lady.

"Ms. Medda, you sneaky woman! You owes me, big time!" You yelled after her as she hurried away, giggling like a little schoolgirl.

"(Y/n) huh? After all this time, I finally learn your name and it wasn't even through you. I'm hurt." Jack said, hand on his chest in mock pain. You rolled your eyes.

"Dat's my name, don't wear it out, love." You mocked in a lower voice, recalling his words to you from back in the Refuge.

He laughed and pulled you closer, arms around your waist.

"Whetha yous called (Y/n) or Beautiful or whatevah, I'm pretty sure I loves you, Sweetheart."

"Hmm... I didn't expects to have a mini heart attack hearin' you say dat, Jack."

"And I didn't expects to get kissed by my favorite girl today, but ain't you glad it happened?" He teased. You smiled, but it faded into a more solemn frown as a thought popped into your head.

"Hey, I saw your painting over there. I's was just wondering... I thoughts you woulda booked it to Santa Fe after you gots outta the Refuge. Why didn't you go? Get as far away from Snyder and the Refuge as possible?"

It was Jack's turn to stare at you in disbelief.

"How could I go to our little slice of heaven withouts the person who woulda made it heaven? Besides, I had to figure out a way to bust you outta there. A promise is a promise." He said, stroking your cheek the same way he did the day he escaped the Refuge. You placed your hand overtop if his. This boy...

"I don't know what to say..." You murmured, touched.

"You don't gots to say anything. We's together now. And I ain't never leaving you behind again, understand? You's stuck wit me." He smirked, stroking your cheek with his thumb. Ah there's, the cocky little Jack you know and love.

"Besides, I think that song you wrotes said it all." He said, pulling you into a very slow, very meaningful kiss.

Your song said how you felt, this kiss said how he felt.

I love you, too. With all my heart.