Dear Anastasia (my sweet little sister),

How are you? I'm okay. I saw Race hold you back. Don't be mad at him though, I'm not. I'm actually glad he did what he did. What's the two of us in here going to do for the strike?

I'm still holding onto Santa Fe. I know by now you've let go of it. It's never really been your dream. Just mine and Jack's. But I'm not mad about that either- you deserve a happy ending, and I'll always love you- no matter what.

Love,
Your brother, Crutchie

Anastasia smiled softly, wiping her tears from her face.

"I love you too Crutch." She whispered.

"I'm taking it you saw Crutchie?" Race questioned softly, joining Anastasia up on the fire escape.

Anastasia nodded, resting her head on Race's shoulder. [peak romance] (dvdbbdbd)

"I'm worried for him." Anastasia frowned. "Really- really worried."

"He didn't want to leave?" Race questioned, leaning his head on top of Anastasia's.

"He said he didn't want anyone carrying him." Anastasia huffed. "Stupid pride."

"I don't think it's pride." Race commented. "More- more like he's proving something."

"He doesn't have anything to prove to anyone! Everyone knows that the crutch of his just proves how much stronger he is than us." Anastasia said, exasperation clear in her tone.

"But does he know that?" Anastasia stayed quiet. Race grabbed her hand and squeezed tightly. "I think he's trying to prove to himself that he's strong."

"Oh Crutchie..." Anastasia whispered, squeezing her interlocked hand just as tightly as Race. "I wish he would've done it a different way."

"He doesn't have to go through h*ll to prove he's worthy to be one of us." Race agreed.

"He's been worthy since day one." Anastasia laughed brokenly.

They stayed silent for a moment.

"I missed this." Anastasia mumbled, scooting closer to Race. "Manhattan, our family... you."

"I missed you too." Race wrapped his right arm around Anastasia, bringing them even closer. "I'm sorry it took so long to realize it."

"At the end of the day, we're still going to be Anastasia and Race." Anastasia grinned, sitting up straight so she could face Race. "No matter what."

"True," Race laughed. "We're meeting at Jacobi's later, might wanna bring some of your boys."

"Alright, alright." Anastasia grinned.

"We should probably head back to selling now." Race rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Yeah, I'll see you guys after selling." Anastasia nodded.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"Manhattan?! Again?" Hyper huffed. "At this point, we might as well move there!"

Anastasia rolled her eyes at the immature teen's response. "Moving on Hype. This time, Poet, you mind watching over the little ones?"

"Sure thing Slip." Poet nodded.

"And Rowan, you'll come with me, Books, and Hyper." Anastasia continued in which the brown haired-boy just groaned.

"Ugh... social interaction." Rowan grumbled, making Books crack a wide grin. [I LOVE HIM] [ROWAN OWNS MY WHOLE HEART] (and Rowan's heart belongs to Books) [yes] [when they kiss im the one crying and cheering in the distance] (JNSDJNDD) (and I'll either be laughing crazily or patting your back while handing you a tissue)

"Don't worry, you'll be with me Ro." Books smiled, elbowing his best friend.

Rowan tried for a smile but it came out as a wince.

"So, we're all set?" Anastasia questioned.

Everyone in the lodging house made noises of agreement.

"Alright! Let's get to selling then, be home before dark. Don't want any cops after ya's."

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"Why do old people talk?" Finch questioned.

"To prove they's still alive." Race deadpanned.

"Good morning gentlemen!" Katherine spoke in a sing-song voice.

"Would you get a look at these glum mugs." Anastasia smirked, stepping out of a corner followed by Hyper, Books, and Rowan.

"ANASTASIA!"

"STASIA!"

The Manhattan newsies collectively screamed.

"Hiding from us now Stais?" Albert joked, elbowing Race.

"Sorry- it was a dark corner, I couldn't resist." Anastasia grinned. [grand duchess of dramatic entrances] (JJSNEJEJD) (YOU DIDN'T GET THE REFERENCE) (D I S A P P O I N T M E N T)

"And you say we have shenanigans." Hyper huffed.

"ANASTASIA!" Romeo immediately screamed, running up and giving the older girl a tight hug.

"Romeo? That you bud?" Anastasia smiled, ruffling the eleven-year-olds hair.

Romeo nodded quickly.

"I haven't seen you in so long kid." Anastasia kneeled down and hugged Romeo just as tightly.

"I missed you Stasia." Romeo whispered.

"I missed you too kid." Anastasia ruffled Romeo's hair.

"Are you Slip?" Katherine stepped forward, a slightly wary look on her face.

"That I am." Anastasia dramatically took of her hat, letting her dark brown braids tumble down.

Katherine's eyes widened, mouth open. [THEY SHOULD TOTALLY BE BEST FRIENDS AND/OR GIRLFRIENDS IF RACE DECIDES TO BAIL] (rACE IS NOT BAILING YOU UNCULTURED SWINE) (but they will be good friends) (iM nOt gOnNa sAY bEsT fRiEnds bEcaUse aNaStaSia iS liKe mE anD cAlLs eVeryOne hEr beSt fReiNd) [pROJECTING I SEE] (HDHFH) (OOPS)

"Sorry again." Anastasia laughed. "The street is not exactly the safest place for a working girl."

Katherine nodded quickly. "Yes- yes, I'll have to interview you later um-"

"You guys are too excited." Skittery grumbled. "Crutchie is in the refuge! We're failing."

"Wait- can these really be the same boys who made the front page of the New York Sun?" Kathrine grinned.

"Front page?!" Albert shot up.

"What?!" Bumlets screeched.

"Holy sh*t!" Hyper yelled. [H Y P E R] (jdnds)

"What'd she say?" Books's eyes widened.

"Let me look at it!" Race snatched the newspaper. "Would ya look it that's me!"

"Where's me?! Where's me?!" Romeo jumped up and down, trying to get a look.

"Wait til' my old man gets a load of this!" Buttons cheered. "I won't be last in line for the tub tonight!"

"You got us in the pape?" Anastasia's eyes widened.

"You got yourselves in the pape." Kathrine smiled.

"'Newsies Stop The Woild!' Now there's a headline even Elmer could sell!" Mush elbowed his friend as Blink snickered behind the two.

"So... what else ya got?" Specs questioned.

"Mine's the only story that ran. Pulitzer declared a blackout on strike news, so even I'm shut down now." Kathrine made lots of hand motions. "I heard they arrested Crutchie, did they get Jack too?"

"The Delanceys have been spreadin' the story that he took it on the lam the first sign of the cops." Albert frowned.

"Jack don't run from no fight!" Davey huffed.

"Yeah!" Les shoved Albert.

"Take it down short stop. I'm just tryna report the news." Albert gently pushed Les back.

"For jumpin' Jack's sake!" Race got up, "Will you stow the seriosity long enough to just drink," Race punched Albert's shoulder. "In!" Punch. "The!" Punch. "Moment!" Punch. "I'M FAMOUS!" Race squeaked, voice cracking as he wrapped an arm around Anastasia, pulling her close.

"Yeh? What of it?" Henry crossed his arms.

"Well are ya stupid or what?" Race narrowed his eyes, playing with his cigar. "When ya famous, the woild is ya erster."

"Ya what?" Henry raised an eyebrow.

"Ya erster."

"What're you saying?" Books scrunched his eyebrows.

"Ya erster." Race repeated.

"Nah, I got no idea." Albert huffed, seeing the look JoJo was giving him.

"Hey! Ya know! Ya fancy clam widda poyle inside!" Race threw his arms up.

"Oh come on!" Blink yelled.

"Oyster?!" Albert's eyes were practically bulging out of his head.

"Alright! Alright! How much does being famous, pay?"

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~ (author laziness™)

"Still sure that's us on the front page?" Rowan joked.

"Definitely." Books grinned.

"Maybe we really are famous." Hyper wrapped his arms around his two best friends.

"Or not." Books shrugged, elbowing Hyper and 'accidentally' knocking him over.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"That was somethin' huh." Anastasia elbowed Race.

Race nodded, "Hey, you weren't late this time." He grinned.

"That's because I didn't drag Conlon with me." Anastasia laughed.

"Fair enough." Race joked. "How's the council?" 

"We haven't killed anyone yet, so..." Anastasia trailed off. "We are going to have a meeting tomorrow though."

"Lemme guess, Manhattan won't be there." Race raised an eyebrow.

"Unfortunately not." Anastasia shook her head. "Choker and Arrow are losing their minds. One moment they want to strike, next minute they don't."

"Good luck to you." Race chuckled before going serious. "Convince them Stais. They won't listen to 'Hattan."

"Don't worry! I got this!" Anastasia winked.

"Famous last words." Race crossed his arms, a fond smirk on his face.

WHOA!

THIS CHAPTER IS EXACTLY 1400 WORDS!

my gods these chapters are getting short.

The next one's pretty short too but tbh you guys are catching up to me lol. I just finished chapter 25 and I'm writing both 26 and 27 at the same time. I did have Beta react to the depressing parts of 27 tho- bE pReParEd! I mAy oR mAy nOt hAve tEarEd uP wRitiNg iT...

But, anyway!

I am so excited for the sequel you guys have no idea. I've started writing chapter one already! It's gonna be pretty cool, but it will have a healthy amount of original characters and characters that you've met here but will be elaborated upon.

I hope you guys like the book so far! The end is approaching! Can you believe how far we've come? That original book was trash ngl lol! I'll admit, I have had my moments where I've taken long periods of time off (mainly when I finished the og book on New Years to around February where I did six days of Valentine's and started the rewrite and around the end of the school year to a couple weeks ago)

But anyway,
i'M tAlkiNg a lOt.

hang on i just forgot my outro-
o h  w a i t
I FORGOT I JUST DO THE ENDING NOW

OKAY OKAY

This is Izzy,
Over and out!