For the next few days Peter stayed unusually quiet, Katherine knew it was because of what Pulitzer had said. She had tried to explain to Peter that Jack had gone to jail for steeling food and clothing to try and save the boys. She wasn't sure if Peter was listening to her any more, he probably thought she was lying to him. Despite Peters gloomy mood it had been a great week, Jack had reunited with all the Newsies! It had been pretty hectic at some points, most of the Newsies still didn't know Jack had been forced to leave and some boys had reacted pretty violently. Race for example, had actually tackled Jack in a whirlwind of curses and fists. Thank goodness David had been there to save him, Race (after and hour of lecturing Jack) settled down and let Katherine explain what had really happened. Lucky for them all the boys had taken the time (in one form or the other) to listen to Katherine. Most had just been angry with Jack only the few (Race, Elmer, and Romeo) had acted on their anger. Katherine hadn't been this happy in nine years! She also hadn't talked with her father sense there little "chat" and she was in no hurry to ever see that man again, she didn't particularly want to shut him out of her life but if it was the best thing for her family then she was gonna do it. It had been one week sense Jack had gotten back and Katherine was hoping things were getting back to normal (or as normal as they could be) Jack and Katherine sat on her couch along with David and Clara. Race, Les, Romeo, Crutchie and Elmer sat in various stages around her living room floor, it was almost noon so Peter should have been getting back from school at any minute.

"Too bad Finch can't be here. He woulda loved hearin' that joke." Race said to no one in particular, he had just cracked a joke that no one but Elmer and Romeo got.

"Unlike some of us, he actually has a family to support." David said pointedly at Race. Race put his hands in the air.

"Hey! I support myself!" He said defensively.

"Then why aren't you at work?" David asked.

"Cause' Jacks back! Besides it ain't like I got no money, one day's work ain't gonna kill me. Hey, ain't Les supposed to be workin' too?" Race asked looking at Les. Les sighed and looked up from the piece of paper he was scribbling something onto.

"Yes, but unlike you I requested this day off, so I'm not getting fired." He said then returned to what ever he was writing.

"Speaking of Finch, how is he doing?" Katherine asked David.

"Great, last I checked. I herd he got himself three little kids and a nice place." David said scratching his chin. Romeo whistled in admiration.

"Wow, he's been busy ain't he?" He said. Every body laughed agreeing.

"You've been busy too huh Romeo?" Jack asked "herd you got your self a girlfriend and every thing." Romeo nodded his eyes going a little misty.

"Oh she's a beauty! She's like a flower!" He said his eyes looking far away. Every body laughed at his expression. "And she likes me too!" Romeo said which made every one laugh again.

"Hey, don't Mush got a kid too?" Crutchie asked from his spot next to Race.

"Almost." David corrected "That's why he isn't here, his wife's due in like a day, plus he lives in Maryland."

"Oh, good for him!" Katherine said beaming.

"And then we've got love sick Les over here." David said nudging Les with his shoe. Les clutched the letter to his chest suddenly before David could swipe it away.

"Do tell!" Jack said raising his eyebrows. David chuckled as Les sent a warning glare at him.

"Little ole' Les has been writing a girl from Pennsylvania!" David said.

"Shhh!" Les said and shot him a glare.

"Lucy Weatherford. He's been writing her sense they met on the docks a few weeks ago." David said ignoring Les's protests.

"I knew I never should of told you!" Les told David and hunched over his letter to continue writing. The room rippled with chuckles. Katherine snuggled closer to Jack feeling very happy, a week ago she would have never guessed she'd be here laughing with all these boys.

"Eh Race! Didn't you say you had a girl?" Crutchie asked Race.

"You mean Rachel? Nah, that was just a one time thing." Race said with a wave of his hand.

"What about you Critchie? Any secrete girlfriends we should know about?" Race asked him.

"Nah, I'm to busy for a girlfriend." Crutchie said.

"Lies!" Interjected Elmer.

"Crutchie don't need a girl, and if he ever did all he'd half ta do was walk out side and smile at one!" Jack said and leaned down to push the cap over his eyes.

"That's true!"

"I second that!" Said Katherine.

"How did we even get on this subject?" Clara asked putting her head on Davids shoulder as Crutchie fixed his hat.

"I blame Romeo!" Elmer said.

"It was David!"

"Race!"

The room erupted into an argument Katherine couldn't follow to save her life. Jack just laughed and kissed the top of her head softly. Just then the front door creeped open and the afternoon light flooded into the front room.

"Hey Peter!" Clara said as the boy closed the door behind him. Despite Peters bad mood his face lit up at the sight of some of his favorite people in the world.

"Hi guys!" He said, Katherine noticed he had a piece of paper clutched in his right hand.

"Hey what ya do to ya face? Run into a pole?" Race asked him playfully. "A pointy one from the looks of it."

"Run into a pole?" Katherine asked sitting up. Peters hand went to his cheek and he turned away from Katherine.

"I'm fine, what are you guys doing here?" He asked.

"Jus' hanging out kid! Wanna join?" David asked.

"Yea!"

"What did you do to your face Peter?" Katherine asked worriedly, as she looked closer she could see a red welt on his left cheek and a cut on top of it. "Did you get into another fight?" She asked gloomily. He shrugged and handed her the paper in his hands. Katherine glared at him as she unfolded it knowing very well what it was about to say.

Dears Miss Pulitzer,
Your son Peter, has gotten into a fight, the reason for the fight is unknown. We would like to inform you that your son, Peter, will not be invited back to school for the whole of next week. We thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely, Teachers and staff.

"Not again Peter!" Katherine cried and stood up.

"What?" Jack asked sitting up.

"You got in another fight? That's the third this month!" She said glaring at him.

"You got in a fight? Did you win?" Race asked hopefully.

"Yes." Peter said smugly. Katherine sent a death glare at Race who sunk lower to the floor.

"Did you start or end the fight?" Romeo asked.

"Both." Peter said. The room was filled with a serious of "ohhhhs" Katherine glared at them all.

"Like father like son." Katherine muttered, she shook her head. "Kitchen. Peter. Now." She said pointing to the door. He sighed and slowly walked to the kitchen door Katherine at his heels. She shut the door behind them and rounded on her son. "Really Peter? Again? Why do you keep doing this?" She asked showing him the letter. He didn't answer he just clenched his jaw and looked away. "Is it because someone made fun of your drawings? If it is then you better get over it reel quick because you can't keep doing this!" Peter shook his head.

"You wouldn't understand." He said quietly.

"Then tell me so I can." She said kneeling down. She hated being angry at him but he couldn't keep getting into fights, it wasn't right. He didn't answer. She grabbed his face and turned it so she could see the extent of his injury, she clicked her tongue and ordered him to sit on the table, he obeyed. She dug around in a cub bored until she found what she was looking for. She carried over a paper towel and a bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide.

"Mom no that stuff burns!" He said as he noticed what she was carrying.

"Should have thought of that before you got into a fight huh?" She said with false sympathy. She was very generous with the Peroxide.

"Outch! Mom! Do you have to rub so hard?" He asked as she pressed the towel to his cheek.

"Oh suck it up I haven't even started yet!"

"Ow! It's not even bad!"

"I know but I don't care! I'm doing this anyway!" She said and wiped off what little blood was on his cheek. He kept his mouth closed as she continued until she was satisfied with her work. She stood back and he pressed a hand to his cheek, she then noticed his cracked knuckles. "Ugh Peter!" She said and grabbed his hand. It was smudged with dirt and dried blood. "What did you do? Roll in the dirt before you decided to hit the other guy? Your filthy!" She said and stared to wipe a dirt spot off his other cheek.

"No!" He said defensively. She rolled her eyes and applied the Peroxide to his cracked knuckles. "Why do you do this every time?" Peter wined.

"To teach you a lesson! Apparently it's not working. Maybe I should start taking away your pencils would that persuade you?" She said.

"No, no don't take my pencils away." He said panicked.

"Then stop fighting! How many times have I told you fighting is not the answer? If you get violent then nobody is going to listen to you, tell me Peter, is it the same person every time?" She asked. Peter shrugged.

"More or less." He says. Katherine isn't sure what he means by that but she decides not to press.

"Then their expecting you to fight back, they want you to fight back. So next time, excuse me, if there is a next time -which I hope there's not- don't react." She said grabbing his shoulders.

"Your always telling me to stand up and fight for what I believe, how can I do that when I'm sitting down?" He asks. Katherine steps back surprised, what was she supposed to say to that?

"Your not getting my point." She said quietly. Peter runs a hand through his hair exasperated.

"I get it. You want me to be strong and independent, but you don't want me to fight for what's right."

"When I mean fight. I don't mean fight." Even her own words sound strange in her ears, Peter blinks confused up at her. She sighs. "Take the Newsies strike for example." She says "or better yet! Go ask the very men who were part of if! David! Race! Your father! Go ask Jack he knows better than anyone." She says. Peters face darkens.

"I'm not asking him anything!" Peter says his voice was dark and bitter. "He doesn't deserve it!" His words cut her deeply.

"Peter! How could you say that?" She asks in disbelief. Peter grinds his teeth in anger and refuses to look at her.

"I don't want to talk to you any more, and I especially don't want to talk to him!" Peter said darkly as he slipped off the table.

"Peter!" She said hurt filling her chest. He ignored her and rushed into his room slamming the door behind him. She sunk into a chair feeling broken and empty. Her own father had turned her son against his own father, her life was a mess.

AUTHORS NOTE: So I've been sick and I've had time to write! That's the reason for the quick updates so don't get used to it! Comment a let me know what you think! How do you think Jack will react when Katherine tells him what Peter said? Let me know! I own nothing! Thx