"Lis! Come on, get up!"

Lissa was awakened by Jack, who shook her shoulder insistantly and called to her in a whisper. She rolled onto her back and cracked one eye open.

"'Ave ya gone completely out of your mind?" she murmured sleepily. "It's still dark outside!"

"I know, but ya an' I ain't gonna sell papes taday," he told her.

Now she was more awake. "Why not?"

"'Cause I'm takin' ya someplace special, dat's why," he replied.

"Where?" she asked, not satisfied with his answer.

"I can't say yet," he said, stubbornly.

"You're crazy, Jack, ya know dat, right?"

"C'mon, trust me, 'kay? You'll like it." Then he added, "I hope," under his breath.

"What was dat?"

"Neva mind," he said, quickly. "Jus' get up an' get ready."

"Do I hafta dress up?" she asked.

He paused. "Ya can if ya wanna, but not much, all right?"

Then he left her there, puzzled. She sighed, though, and slipped from beneath her sheets. Deciding she wouldn't mind a few frills after having worn pants nearly every day, all month, Lissa pulled out her favorite outfit---a white blouse and a pale blue skirt. She knew it would be warm that day, though it was early fall and so she put her hair up, rather than braiding it down her back. When she met Jack downstairs in the main room, he grinned.

"Gorgeous," he complimented. "As always," he added.

"I guess dat's enough for me ta forgive ya for wakin' me up so early," she teased.

"Don't be mad, Lis, please," he said, very seriously. Her teasing smile vanished.

"I'm not, don't worry," she reassured him. "What's goin' on wid ya, Jack?"

Kloppman came out of his office, saving Jack from having to answer her question. "So when do ya think you'll be back?" he asked Jack.

"Ya know where he's takin' me?" Lissa asked him and he nodded, but would not disclose the secret.

"Prob'ly 'round five or six, I guess," Jack answered, then took Lissa's hand. "C'mon, we don't wanna miss the train."

"Train?! What train? Where are we goin' on the train, Jack? Jack!"

Kloppman only grinned as he listened to Lissa's voice fading away and then he set about his morning chores.

**************

"Why are we ridin' the train? How'd ya get the money for tickets?"

"Ya ask too many questions," Jack informed Lissa. "An' all I'm gonna tell ya is dat Blink loaned me the ticket money."

"Wha---"

Jack stopped on the sidewalk and turned Lissa to him, putting his hands on her shoulders and leaning in close. "Would ya jus' let me surprise ya?" he asked. "I neva really getta do dat an' I've got a whole day planned out, so will ya jus' trust me dat you'll like it? Please?"

Lissa sighed and then smiled. "All right," she agreed. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Jack said, resuming his pace, but keeping his arm around her waist. "If ya didn't pester me, ya wouldn't be the same person."

"Hey!" she objected, elbowing his side.

Jack only laughed.

**************

Once they were on the train, Jack finally told her part of the secret. "We're goin' ta the country for the day," he said. "Ev'rytime we go somewhere, it's always in Manhattan so I thought we'd go someplace different taday."

Lissa looked stunned for a moment, then she smiled. "I think dis is the nicest thing ya've ever done for me," she said.

"Yet," Jack added quietly, but then kissed her before she could ask what he had meant by that.

**************

Mostly they walked that day, both around the tiny town and in the countryside. They ate at an inn about five miles outside of town and then walked around the surrounding area. It was close to two in the afternoon when Jack spotted the perfect shade tree and he took Lissa's hand, leading her over to it. Once he was seated beside her, she noticed he was suddenly nervous and jumpy.

"Jack?" she questioned.

"What?!" he asked, startled as he looked over at her.

"What's wrong wid ya?" she asked. "All the sudden you're actin'...weird."

"I---uh...well, see, I sorta had another reason for takin' ya 'ere taday," he said.

"What's dat?"

"I've been thinkin' a lot 'bout how long I can be a newsie an' what I'm gonna do afta an' all," he said. "I don't really 'ave many ideas. I mean, I on'y went ta school for a little while an' I don't think dere's much I can really do, but I know I'll find somethin'."

Lissa's eyes slowly widened as she began to sense where this conversation was leading. "Don't Jack," she said shortly, before he could say anything more.

"Huh?" He was visibly startled.

To her embarrassment, Lissa felt tears prick at the backs of her eyes and she looked away, blinking rapidly. "Don't mess it all up," she said, her voice quavering. "We've had such a nice day an' I really don't wanna 'ave it ruined by talk 'bout leavin' the newsies an' ya workin' in some factory an' us gettin' married. I know dat's where dis is goin' an' I really don't wanna hear it. Please, Jack!"

Realization dawned slowly, but it finally came and he laughed slightly. Confused, she looked over at him, her eyes still teary. "What's so funny?"

"Dat ain't really what I was gonna say, Lis," he told her.

"Oh," she said, her voice small as her cheeks flushed brightly. "What then?"

"Well...it ain't exactly dat, but sorta," he admitted. "I don't really wanna leave the newsies yet either an' I'm pretty fine where we are, but I don't want ya ta think dat I want ya an' I ta jus' stay like we are forever."

"So what are ya sayin'?" she asked, still slightly puzzled.

As he spoke, his hand went to his vest pocket and Lissa watched him, intrigued.

"When my ma died, a long time ago, she gave me somethin' of my grandmother's. See, my ma neva got married---ya know why---but 'er mother was an' when my grandma died---I neva knew 'er---she gave my ma dis ta save for HER daughter. Since I was the only kid she ever had, she jus' gave it ta me."

He held out his hand and in his palm rested a thin gold band with an oval opal held in carefully by four golden prongs. Lissa couldn't move for several seconds.

"It's beautiful," she finally breathed.

Jack held his hand closer to her. "I want ya ta 'ave it," he said, simply.

Lissa slowly reached out and took the ring from his hand, holding it between her thumb and first finger, watching the colors sparkle in the white opal.

"But I ain't jus' givin' it ta ya," he went on, "dere's a catch."

Lissa drew her gaze up from the ring and to him. "What kind of catch?" she asked, seeing him grin widely.

"Ya gotta marry me someday," he said.

Lissa looked a little stunned. "It's really an engagement ring?" she asked.

Jack nodded. "Sure, we'd be engaged, but we don't hafta get married 'till we want ta. It could be a year from now or fifty years from now."

Lissa smiled a little. "Ya sure ya'd still want ta marry me when I'm sixty- eight wid gray hair?"

Jack, however, didn't smile back. "I'd marry ya in a second whether you're the way ya are now or an eighty year-old with white hair," he said, very seriously and Lissa's eyes filled with tears again, though this time she didn't even think about being embarrassed.

"Oh Jack, I love you," she said, barely able to speak the words through tears.

He took the ring back from her and took her left hand at the same time. "So's dat a yes?"

Lissa nodded, swallowing hard and watching as he slipped the ring over her finger. It was a little snug, but when Jack looked concerned, Lissa interjected quickly by mentioning that this way, it was sure to not fall off and get lost. Realizing she was right, as usual, Jack grinned and kissed her. Maybe everyone else had always considered the fact that they would always be together, but for Jack, the sight of that ring on Lissa's finger was the one singular thing that told him Lissa was his to love for the rest of his life.

**************

Jack and Lissa stayed a bit longer under that tree, just talking of what the future held for them, though they really had no firm plans nor ideas. They hurried to catch the train and then waited anxiously to get back to the city and share their news with everyone. Lissa could hardly take her eyes off of the ring on her finger and Jack teased her about it, an act which earned him another elbow in the ribs.

Not finding any of their friends at any of the usual posts, they headed towards Tibby's a little confused, but deciding to spend the rest of the evening together and announce their engagement that night at the Lodging House. When they reached Tibby's however, they found a celebration already in progress.

"Hey what is dis?" Jack asked as he and Lissa entered upon the loud party.

Snoddy was standing closest and answered. "Katharine's book jus' got accepted by a publisher!" he yelled to them over the noise.

Katharine spotted them at that moment and managed to force her way through the crowd. "Lissa! Jack! Guess what?" she asked them loudly, her face flushed and her smile a mile wide.

"Your book's gonna be published," Lissa said, as seriously as possible.

Katharine's jaw dropped. "How---but you---how---" Then she saw Snoddy, looking guilty. "That's not nice! I wanted to tell them!" she said, laughing as he ducked away, acting scared as he left to go to the other side of the room.

Lissa broke into a smile and hugged Katharine first, followed by Jack. "Congratulations, Katharine, it's terrific! So dey're really gonna publish it?" she asked and Katharine nodded.

"They were so impressed that they put it ahead of everything else. It should be out much sooner than I originally thought. Perhaps in two months," she told them.

"Dat's great!"

"Isn't it?"

Blink came over then and slipped his arm around Katharine's waist, kissing her cheek. "Hey, I knew ya'd disappeared somewhere, but I didn't know why," he said to her. Then, "How was the country?" he asked Jack and Lissa, meaningfully.

But Lissa shook her head, clearly telling him not to say anymore. She didn't want Katharine to have to share her glory. There would be plenty of time for the newsies and Katharine to find out about their engagement. After all, the wedding might not be until years from then. For now, they'd just celebrate having a real and true author in their midst.

Jack and Lissa obtained glasses of the champagne Tibby had supplied for the party. The owner of the restaurant had become a friend to the newsies and often gave them discounts on their food, sometimes even giving them their meals for free when Denton wasn't around.

The party continued for another hour, Lissa keeping her left hand tucked away in her pocket as much as possible. No one noticed, and Blink kept his mouth shut, but when she reached to set her empty glass on one of the tables, the opal caught a piece of the light right in front of Racetrack and he seized Lissa's hand before she could react.

"Hey, what is dis, Lissa?" he asked. She was surprised he hadn't asked loudly enough for the entire restaurant to hear.

"What does it look like, Race?" she asked in reply. "An' give me back my arm 'fore ya break it off!" She yanked her hand from his grasp, rubbing her slightly wrenched shoulder as she glared at him somewhat.

Race stood from his chair to look her in the eye. "It looks like an engagement ring," he said slowly.

"Well...it is," Lissa admitted, "but don't say anything," she added quickly. "Jus' let Katharine 'ave tonight an' Jack an' I'll wait 'till tomorrow ta tell ev'rybody, okay?"

Race hesitated, then nodded, looking somewhat dejected. "So when are ya gettin' married?" he asked, lowering his voice. "Soon?"

"Prob'ly not," Lissa said. "It's jus' sorta a long term engagement."

He looked relieved, and hugged her quickly. "I'm kinda glad," he said. "Even though I've been expectin' it, I don't want ya an' Jack ta leave jus' yet."

"Don't worry," she said reassuringly, patting his arm before starting to move away, trying to pick her way through the crowd to where Jack sat at a table with several of the newsies.

"What was that all about?"

Race looked away from Lissa's retreating figure to Katharine, who had voiced the question. His mind, though, was still on the fact that Jack and Lissa were one step closer to leaving the newsies and so he replied without thinking, "I was jus' talkin' ta Lissa 'bout 'er engagement ring."

As soon as the words left his mouth he realized what he had said and widened his eyes, preparing to hush her before she said anything. She didn't give him the chance.

"Lissa's engagement ring!" she exclaimed.

The noise and celebration in the restaurant was immediately stilled and Lissa, who was still making her way across the room, halted and flushed deeply, turning slowly on her heel to send Race an exasperated glance. She also stuck her hands in her pockets once again.

Confused glances were sent in the direction of Lissa, Jack and Katharine, causing Jack to suddenly seem very interested in the tabletop.

"What?" David finally asked, voicing the single, simple thought that was going through everyone's mind.

"Engagement ring, Lissa?" Katharine asked and Lissa turned an even deeper red.

"What engagement ring?" Lissa asked, sounding completely unconvincing with her fib. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Real good, Race," she muttered, then glanced at Jack for help.

He didn't need to come to her assistance, for Katharine stepped quickly to her and caught Lissa's left hand, seeing the small ring that decorated the fourth finger. The glitter of it was visible to most everyone around the room, but Lissa didn't have time to notice the shocked looks of the newsies before Katharine threw her arms around her in a crushing hug.

"Oh, that's wonderful! So that's why you and Jack weren't around today!" she said. "Why didn't you say something when you first came in?"

"I---well, it was your party an'---" Lissa faltered.

Then with a sudden thought, Katharine whirled around to face Blink. "You knew about this!" she exclaimed, accusingly.

He held up his hands in defense. "Hey! I was told not ta tell anybody!" he protested, grinning, for he knew she was only teasing.

"Since when did I become 'anybody'?" she countered, folding her arms over her chest and raising an eyebrow at him.

Blink only shrugged. Then he grinned again and stepped over to kiss Lissa's cheek. "Congratulations, Lissa," he said.

"Did you really know?" she asked him and he nodded.

"He's the on'y one," Jack said as he came up beside her. "I sorta asked, ya know, since ya don't 'ave any other family or anything." He seemed slightly embarrassed by this, but Lissa nearly melted and let him put an arm around her shoulders, hugging her tightly.

"So when are you going to be married?" Katharine asked, seeming to have forgotten that she had been teasing Blink a moment before.

Lissa shrugged, then smiled. "Maybe a few months or a few years," she answered. She saw that many of the others had the same reaction to that news that Race had had and that once she had spoken, they came willingly to congratulate her and Jack. Against Lissa's protests, Katharine very graciously shared her party with them and the newsies celebrated well into the evening.

**************

"You're fine Jack! For heaven's sake, this isn't a debutante ball!"

Lissa's exasperated tone could be heard all over the second floor of the Lodging House as she and Jack stood in the bunkroom, arguing somewhat. It was mid-morning and they had come back to the Lodging House on their way to see the Hatchers. Lissa hadn't heard from Muriel and Arthur in several weeks and wanted to share the news of her engagement with them. They had only met Jack briefly once, as he had swung by on his way home from selling to pick her up. He had mostly waited on the sidewalk, and only called out a 'hello' to the Hatchers. Now, though, he was worrying over whether he and Lissa were dressed well enough. He knew very well how wealthy the Hatchers and their neighbors were and he didn't want to seem too much a streetrat.

"Do I look dressed up?" Lissa asked and Jack took a second look at her dark green skirt and white shirt.

"A little," he answered, causing her to roll her eyes.

"C'mon, Jack, I do not. Look, dey're really nice people!" she protested. "Dey'll love ya."

"But Lis---"

She cut him off. "Jack, forget about it," she said. "I wanted ta stop by dere 'fore we meet ev'rybody at Tibby's. The Hatchers don't know we're comin', 'cause I wanna surprise 'em. Still, we don't 'ave a lot of time."

Finally he agreed, but she noticed that he paused to dust off his hat before hanging it down his back once again. Hiding her smile, she took his hand and they set off.

**************

Lissa straightened her skirt unnecessarily before she knocked on the Hatcher's front door.

"You're sure we're fine?" Jack asked again, this time in a whisper as they waited for someone to answer.

"Yes!" Lissa replied, her voice quiet too, though firm. "Would ya stop worryin'? You're makin' ME nervous!"

"Sorry," he said, just as the door swung inward.

A nurse, in her starched white uniform answered, puzzling Lissa. The nurse looked surprised to see them, then her eyes narrowed slightly. "Can I help you?" she asked, clearly put out by having to talk to them.

"Are Mr. or Mrs. Hatcher 'ere?" Lissa asked, worried by the nurse's presence. Was one of the Hatchers ill? She could only hope that it wasn't something serious.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hatcher isn't taking any visitors until after her husband's funeral," the nurse replied shortly, then started to close the door.

Lissa stood, stunned for a second and it was Jack's hand, squeezing her's tightly, that brought her back to her senses. "No, wait!" she cried, but the door slammed shut in their faces.

Lissa half-turned towards Jack, her eyes enormous and her mouth still dropped open in shock. She tried to form words, but couldn't. When had Mr. Hatcher died? And how? Mrs. Hatcher must be so distraught. Her mind was racing so, that she hardly felt the tears as they began to slip down her cheeks. When he saw the tears, Jack pulled her close and tried to think of something to say---something that would be comforting, but he couldn't think of a thing.

"C'mon, Lis, we can go somewhere an' talk if ya want," he said gently, starting to lead her down the stairs. They had only just turned when the door opened again.

They looked back to see Mrs. Hatcher in the door, her face pale and her eyes rimmed with red. Lissa broke away from Jack and ran back up the stairs to hug the older woman.

"I'm sorry," Mrs. Hatcher said to her, still embracing her. "The nurse didn't know who you were."

"What happened?" Lissa asked, pulling away, her voice strained.

Mrs. Hatcher's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them away. "It was a stroke last week. He hung on for a few days, but..." she trailed off and gave Lissa a shaky smile. "I was able to say goodbye and that made all the difference," she finished. Then she saw Jack standing behind Lissa, having climbed up behind her unnoticed. "Hello Jack," she said.

"Hello Mrs. Hatcher," he replied.

"It's been so long since I've seen you," Mrs. Hatcher said to Lissa. "Please, won't you both come in? I'd love to talk to someone."

They followed her in and a maid closed the door behind them. They went into the parlor and Mrs. Hatcher offered them seats, Jack in a chair and Lissa on the sofa. Then she took her own seat next to Lissa.

"Why did you come to see me?" she asked. "Was it only to catch up on things?"

"Sorta," Lissa answered, "an' I wanted ta tell ya---I wanted ta tell ya dat Jack an' I are engaged."

Mrs. Hatcher smiled again, this time more, as she looked from Lissa to Jack and back again. "I think that's wonderful," she said. "I wondered when it would happen. When will the wedding be?"

Lissa shrugged and Jack answered. "It's not really any certain time, jus' whenever we want ta," he said. "I guess neither of us is really ready ta grow up so much yet."

"Then don't," Mrs. Hatcher said, agreeing. "You two have so much time left." She laughed a little and Lissa smiled sadly.

"What will ya do, Mrs. Hatcher?" she asked. "Are ya gonna to stay 'ere?"

Mrs. Hatcher was quick to shake her head. "No, I couldn't. Arthur bought this house before we married and I can't stay in a place that has so many memories. No, I'm moving to the house of a friend of mine, whose husband passed on about two years ago. She lives in Newport and I think we will each be a great comfort to each other."

"Are ya leavin' 'fore ya've sold the house?" Jack asked, knowing that Lissa would hate to see Mrs. Hatcher leave very soon.

The older woman hesitated, then sighed. "I may as well tell you now," she said.

"Tell us what?" Lissa asked, worried again.

Mrs. Hatcher took Lissa's hand in both of her's. "I am going to follow through on Arthur's wishes earlier than he thought I ever would. He wanted you to have everything."

Jack and Lissa were both stunned into silence. "Wha---what do ya mean...everything?" Lissa choked out.

"I am going to take some of our money with me, but I don't need much, considering I'll be living in someone else's home. Minus what I'll be taking with me---the inheritance and house and stocks, ecetera, all together come to about a million dollars," she said. "According to what Arthur wanted and specified in his will and according to what I want, all that is yours, Elisabeth."

Lissa and Jack had heard of people with that kind of money, but had never expected it to happen to either of them. The day before they had sat under a tree out in the country talking of maybe having a nice apartment if they ever even had enough money for that. And now someone had handed Lissa a million dollars.

Mrs. Hatcher saw that neither of them could speak and so she went on. "We never had children, as you know, and no other relatives. You, Elisabeth, are the closest thing we've ever had to a family and we wanted you---and Jack---" she added, smiling over at him, "to have everything of ours. I'll be moving soon. I have to go through the house and take things out that have any kind of sentimental value. I'll take those with me, but the house, and the furnishings....all that's yours, if you want it."

Finally Lissa recovered. "I don't know what ta say," she gasped.

"Say that you'll take it."

Lissa nodded, slowly. "I will, but I don't---I'm not sure what I'll do wid it!"

Mrs. Hatcher laughed, then looked around. "Will you and Jack be comfortable living in a house like this, in a neighborhood like this?"

Neither Lissa nor Jack had thought of that yet, but they both shook their heads, not knowing what the other was doing. "I can't live 'ere an' socialize wid the people dat live 'round 'ere," Lissa said. She looked over at Jack and could instantly tell he agreed with her, "but if ya---"

"So sell the house," Mrs. Hatcher said. "With the money you could live anywhere."

"Ya really wouldn't mind if we didn't live 'ere?" Lissa asked.

Mrs. Hatcher shook her head. "Once I leave for Newport, I'll return to the city, but never to this house. It would be too painful."

"Do ya need help cleanin' your stuff out?" Jack questioned.

She looked thoughtful, then hopeful. "Do you think you could help me? Mostly I would need to clean the attic. I haven't been up there in years, but there are things I could never leave behind."

"Of course we'll help ya," Lissa said, hugging Mrs. Hatcher again. "Jack an' I can help ya wid the attic, then some of our friends can probably join us an' help ya pack your stuff ta take wid ya ta Newport."

Mrs. Hatcher nodded, then released Lissa. "I'd like to leave as soon after the funeral as possible. It's tomorrow afternoon, and I'd prefer to leave within the week. It's too upsetting to stay here. I'll have my lawyers take care of all the arrangements to sell the house so you won't have to worry about that."

"We could start with the attic now," Lissa suggested.

"As soon as I make some arrangements, I'd like that," Mrs. Hatcher said, standing. "You can both wait here and I'll be back within a few minutes."

They agreed and she left. Once the parlor door was closed, Lissa fell back against the sofa's throw pillows. She looked at Jack, her eyes still wide with amazement. "I-I don't know how ta make it real, Jack!" she said to him. "It's jus' so---I neva expected---"

"I know, neither did I," Jack said, moving to sit beside her on the sofa. "Ya know, though, now we don't hafta worry 'bout what we'll do when we leave the newsies, whenever dat'll be."

"The newsies..." Lissa murmured, looking suddenly thoughtful. "You know, Jack, I've lived in dat Lodgin' House for years now an' I'd say it could stand a few very good repairs." She smiled broadly as she said this and Jack grinned.

"It's your money, Miss Weston," he teased. "Spend it however ya like!"

**************

Mrs. Hatcher returned to the parlor a few minutes later and led Jack and Lissa up to the attic. It was dusty, but had adequate lighting. She assigned them each a section to work on, where they could sort out the personal items from the rest of it. Lissa was working in one corner, uncovering and opening boxes when she came to something covered by a yellowed sheet. She folded the sheet down, then paused, her eyes taking in what she had found. She knelt down in front of it and reached out. It was a dark mahogany cradle, a little higher than her knees, but with a taller piece in back that let a curtain-like piece of very thin silk fall over the entire bed, veiling it. Lissa's fingers skimmed over the intricate carvings on the wood, the carvings that made it more beautiful and surprisingly, not the least bit ornate.

Soon enough, Mrs. Hatcher and Jack became aware of the fact that Lissa had paused and they walked over to see what she had found. When they saw it, Jack seemed as awed as Lissa, but Mrs. Hatcher's eyes misted over again.

"My mother gave that to me when Arthur and I were married," she said. "It was my cradle as a baby, and she gave it to me in hopes that it would be used for her grandchildren. There never were any, though."

"It's beautiful," Lissa breathed, still fingering the carved edges.

"It's yours if you'd like," Mrs. Hatcher said.

"But it's a family crad---"

"You're as close to family as I have, Elisabeth," Mrs. Hatcher interruppted. "It's sad enough to see that cradle having gone unused for so many years. It was meant to rock babies in and that's what it should be used for. Please, take it when the two of you marry. That way it will be used again."

Lissa blinked quickly to rid her eyes of their tears and then looked back at Jack. It was with that one look that she realized that they were once again thinking the same things. Everything was happening so quickly and it was hard to keep up. The day before they had only planned to marry someday, but now Lissa was the recipient of a fortune, so many of their future problems had been solved and here something entirely new was being thrown at them. Since that one day on the roof, after Jack had recovered from his bout with pneumonia, they had never spoken of children or a family. They really hadn't even thought of it since then and now, with the beautiful antique cradle in front of them, a family seemed much more real and much closer to home.

**************

Lissa and Jack missed lunch, but arrived at Tibby's as everyone was eating supper.

"Hey, hey! Missed ya at lunch," Race called. "Where've ya been?"

Lissa flopped wearily into a chair, her mind as exhaused as her body. Jack took a seat near to her and they each ordered dinner before answering.

"Watchin' Lis become a millionaire," Jack said, very calmly, as if it was a most ordinary thing to say.

"So ya sold more'n normal?" Blink asked Lissa. "Good for you, I couldn't even get good UNTRUE headlines from dat pape taday."

Lissa shook her head, but her mouth was full and she waited until she had swallowed to answer. "No, we didn't sell taday," she said.

Now they had everyone thoroughly confused. "What ARE ya talkin' 'bout?" Mush asked.

"We went ta see the Hatchers, on'y Mr. Hatcher died yesterday," Jack answered.

"Oh no," Katharine whispered. "I'm so sorry, Lissa!"

Lissa nodded, looking down for a minute, before looking back up at everyone. "It's okay...Mrs. Hatcher seems ta be acceptin' it well an' all. See....what Jack meant...is dat Mrs. Hatcher's goin' ta live wid a friend in Newport an' she an' Mr. Hatcher sorta...well, dey left ev'rything ta me," she finally said, spilling her news all at once.

"An'...what exactly is 'ev'rything'?" Snoddy asked, the only one of the shocked newsies who could still speak.

"Exactly dat," Lissa said. "Mrs. Hatcher's takin' enough for 'erself, but the house an' the rest of the money dat she isn't takin'...dey gave all dat ta me."

So for the second time in two days, Tibby's fell absolutely silent.

**************

The next day was the funeral, which Lissa and Jack attended. The day following that, they brought with them to the Hatchers' house, Blink, Katharine, Race, Crutchy, Skittery, and Boots. The others had preferred to sell, but the former group had agreed to help Mrs. Hatcher pack her belongings and anything she didn't want sold with the house.

They worked all day, only pausing to eat a delicious lunch that the two remaining servants cooked. All the other maids and butlers and cooks had already found employment somewhere else and the two still in New York were going with Mrs. Hatcher on the train that evening.

"I didn't know ya'd be leavin' so soon!" Lissa cried, when she heard that Mrs. Hatcher's train pulled out of the station at seven-thirty.

"I'm sorry, Elisabeth," Mrs. Hatcher apologized as they all sat around the dining room table. "I just cannot stay here another minute without Arthur. I'll come and visit and I'll most certainly come for your wedding---whenever it is." She laughed a little at this and Lissa had to smile.

"I'll miss ya," she said.

**************

That sentence was repeated as she and Jack saw Mrs. Hatcher off at the train station that night. Everyone else had gone back to Tibby's for dinner, but Jack and Lissa had eaten with Mrs. Hatcher and were going to go back to the house after the train left and finish cleaning what had been left over.

By the time Jack and Lissa reached the house, Lissa's tears were gone and Jack said nothing, only gave her a hug, before they set to finishing the job they had started earlier. It took longer than expected and it was close to eleven when they finished.

"We could jus' stay 'ere tonight," Lissa suggested, as they put away the last of the boxes and covered the last of the furniture with sheets. "Ya can call Kloppman from the telephone in the hall."

"Sure," he said, and left to do that.

He returned a few minutes later, grinning and shaking his head.

"What is it?" she asked.

"He said dat he's glad I at least called dis time," Jack repeated and Lissa blushed as he laughed.

"Ya know," she said, "while the house is bein' sold, we've still got ta find a place for all the things Mrs. Hatcher wanted me ta 'ave."

Jack looked surprised. "I hadn't even thought 'bout dat, but it looks like ya 'ave. What've ya come up wid?"

"I'd like ta go ahead an' buy an apartment. We don't hafta move inta it yet, but it'd be a place ta put all dis stuff," she said, hesitantly. "Do ya think dat's a good idea?"

Jack nodded without even a pause. "I do," he said. "Where were ya thinkin' of livin'?"

At this she shrugged. "Dere's a lot of choices dat weren't dere 'fore."

"Ya don't hafta decide now," he reminded her and she agreed.

**************

They retired to Lissa's old room and talked of places to look for apartments as they lounged on the bed, Lissa's head on Jack's chest.

"Forget dis," Lissa said after a long while. "It's too overwhelmin'."

"All right," Jack agreed. "It IS pretty weird ta talk 'bout all dese fancy places we could buy an apartment. I thought I felt the highest afta the strike, when we all came outta the distribution alley. I thought dat was the best I'd ever feel. I felt...well..." He couldn't seem to find the right words to describe his feelings then.

"On top of the world?" Lissa suggested quietly.

Jack laughed a little, then looked puzzled. "Yeah, how'd ya know?" he asked, glancing at her, but only being able to see the back of her head. Her face was turned away from him. He wondered if she was doing it on purpose.

"I saw ya then, Jack," she replied. "I watched ya the whole time. I could tell what ya were feelin'."

"The whole..." he trailed off. "I didn't know ya were dere."

"I sorta stood back," she explained, softly. "I guess I knew I didn't really belong dere wid the rest of ya."

Jack didn't know what to say to that. "So ya saw...when I left..."

"I saw ya get in the carriage an' when I realized dat ya didn't plan on comin' back, I---it's the worst feelin' I've ever had." Her voice cracked slightly, but she cleared her throat and went on. "Then ya came back an' I was so happy, but---" she broke off, biting her lower lip.

"But I kissed Sarah," he finished, quietly.

"Yeah," she whispered. "It wasn't your fault an' I couldn't hate 'er, it wasn't 'er fault either. I wasn't even angry, jus'...sad, I guess."

Jack shook his head, amazed. "I neva knew ya were dere, Lis," he said again.

"I know ya didn't an' even if ya had, ya wouldn't 'ave known what I was feelin'," she consoled, moving so that she could look up at him. "I jus' wondered if dere was somethin' wrong wid me, 'cause ev'ryone else was so happy an' all I could do was stand off ta the side an' watch, feelin' sadder than I ever had. When ya an' Sarah an' Dave followed the carriage outta the gates, I was right dere on the side, almost hopin' ya'd see me an' say somethin' or smile or anything."

"I looked on the side, though, an' I didn't see ya," he argued.

"Jus' as ya got ta where I was, ya leaned over ta kiss Sarah's forehead an' ya missed me, I guess," she said, her voice having grown smaller with each sentence. As much as she knew things had changed in her favor, the pain of that day still cut her. She hadn't let herself think of it since then and thinking of it now brought back every hurt she had felt that afternoon.

Jack felt guilty, though he knew it wasn't his fault, as Lissa had said it wasn't. He reached out and ran his finger over her cheek and up into her hair, twirling a strand of it aimlessly. "I'm sorry, Lis," he said at last. "I'm sorry ya ever had ta feel like dat."

"Jus' promise me dat I'll neva hafta again," she said. "Please Jack."

"I promise," he said, without even a second of hesitation. "I love ya Lissa, an' on'y you."

She sighed quietly, relieved and content, then closed her eyes as he kissed her.

**************

A few months later, a freezing wind rattled the windows of Katharine's apartment and Blink looked back at her, shrugging his coat over his shoulders.

"Ya might be snowed in by mornin'," he warned her.

"Well, I suppose I could find enough around here to keep me busy," she said, glancing around her apartment, where things had been tossed where they didn't belong.

"Doesn't sound like much fun," he said with a grin.

"Well...no," she admitted, "it's not."

"So why don't ya come back wid me an' stay at the Lodgin' House?" Blink suggested.

It took Katharine exactly five seconds to put on her coat. "I was wondering when you were going to ask that," she said, smiling.

"Well, Kloppman's always got a nice fire goin' in the fireplace in the main room, but I wouldn't mind you as back-up ta keep me warm."

He grinned as he watched her trying to look disapproving.

"You're wicked," she finally said.

"Does dat meant you're turnin' me down?"

"No, it only means that I don't mind it," she answered, winking.

He reached for her to kiss her, but she ducked out of his reach and ran out of the apartment. He cursed good-naturedly as he paused to lock her door. Then he ran down the steps of the building to find her already walking down the sidewalk towards the Lodging House, looking over her shoulder every few seconds to grin at him. This stopped, however, when a snowball struck her back. She whirled around, wide-eyed, to see him laughing as he hastily scooped up another handful of snow.

"Now you've asked for it James Talley!" she shouted, her voice barely carrying to him over the howl of the wind.

A snowball fight propelled them down the sidewalk, involving many tumbles and falls on the slick ice. One of Katharine's tumbles, in particular, sent her partially into an ally. She started to scramble immediately to her feet, but a sudden noise halted her while she was still on her knees---a wail that sounded suspiciously like a baby's cry. While she was listening for the sound again, Blink entered the alley to see what was taking her so long.

"What's---"

"Shh!" she interruppted him. "Listen!"

He looked at her as if she was crazy, but listened. A moment later the noise sounded again.

"Did you hear it?" Katharine asked Blink, frantically.

"Yeah," he said, nodding, "it was comin' from those boxes."

He ran to where he had pointed and Katharine stumbled behind him. As they got closer, the noise level increased. Tossing aside boxes, Blink unearthed the source---a newborn baby, probably no more than three days old---who was wrapped loosely in layers of rags.

"Oh my God!" Katharine gasped, while Blink stood above her kneeling figure, looking down in shock.

Katharine suddenly snapped back into reality and scooped the baby up, feeling its cold skin even through her gloves.

"Who'd leave a baby outside in weather like dis?" Blink asked, angrily.

:"Someone who obviously didn't want it," Katharine answered, her voice strained. "We can't leave it here."

"C'mon, Kloppman'll know what ta do," Blink said, helping Katharine to her feet.

Then he waited while Katharine wrapped the baby in her scarf. It wasn't much cover for the squalling infant.

"'Ere," Blink said, pulling off his coat and handing it to her. She took it and tucked it snugly around the baby. Then they hurried the rest of the way to the Lodging House.

**************

"Kloppman!" Blink called as they entered the warm Lodging House where, true to Blink's word, a fire blazed in the main room fireplace. "Hey Kloppman! We need some help out 'ere!"

Alerted, not only by Blink's yells, but the cries of a baby as well, Kloppman hurried into the room a moment later.

"What on---" he stopped short as he saw Katharine holding the infant rather awkwardly in her arms.

"It was in an alley a few blocks down," Katharine explained. "We couldn't leave it there."

"'Course not," Kloppman agreed. "Bring it over by the fire."

The three adults all knelt in front of the hearth and Katharine layed the baby down on the floor. Kloppman removed Blink's coat and Katharine's scarf from it and then felt how cold it was.

"'Ere Katharine," he said, "rub it's arms an' legs ta get its blood flowin' again."

Having given these instructions, he disappeared into the kitchen. Katharine finished unwrapping the rags from the baby and began to do as Kloppman had instructed.

"It's a girl," she said to Blink.

"Well congratulations!" said a voice from the doorway.

Blink turned to see who had entered, but Katharine didn't pause in her efforts to warm the orphan. The little girl's cries had quieted somewhat and now she only whimpered, staring up at Katharine with tearfilled blue eyes. As Blink now saw, most of the newsies were returning, the one who had spoken being Jack, though everyone was gathered around now, watching curiously.

"So are ya gonna pass out cigars, Daddy?" Race asked, clapping Blink on the shoulder.

"Funny," Blink responded, drily.

"Seriously," Lissa said, keeling down opposite Katharine. "Where'd she come from?"

"Lissa!" Skittery exclaimed, "didn't anybody ever explain dat ta ya?" he asked, but she pointedly ignored him.

"We hear 'er cryin' in an alley on our way back," Blink told them all. "Somebody'd jus' left 'er dere."

"How could anybody do dat?" Lissa asked, clearly upset as she smoothed the baby's black hair. "She's adorable."

"I haven't the slightest idea," Katharine began heatedly. "I've been trying to figure that out since we found her. It doesn't make any sense! How could someone leave her there in this weather? In any weather! How could someone want to let their own child die?"

When she finished ranting, she also stopped rubbing the baby's feet and sat back, abruptly. Slowly her anger was fading, now that she had released it by speaking, and now she dropped her head into her hands to collect her scattered emotions.

The silence of the room was heavy and troubled, all thoughts of teasing gone, until the baby began to cry once again. Katharine made no moves to pick her up and so Lissa did, carefully cradling the infant into the crook of her left arm.

"Shh," she whispered. "C'mon, we'll get ya all warmed up soon, I promise."

As she continued to rock the infant slightly, it quieted and merely looked up at her with enormously curious eyes.

"How'd ya do dat?" Race asked. The others were equally impressed.

"Natural talent, Race," Lissa said, sarcastically.

"So what are we gonna do wid 'er?" Specs asked.

Everyone looked around at each other, then Lissa looked back down at the baby.

"We COULD keep 'er 'ere, but who'd take care of 'er when we're all gone durin' the day?"

There were several shrugs.

"I'll keep her with me."

All gazes jerked towards Katharine as she uttered this single sentence.

"Kat, are ya sure---" Blink began.

"Yes," she interruppted. "I'll keep her until we think of something else."

There was a moment of stunned silence, then Lissa held the baby out to Katharine.

"Merry Christmas," she said, simply.

**************

The baby girl was a gift to everyone---the best kind of Christmas present. In that single evening, they all became enchanted with the unfortunate, but adorable orphan.

Once the state of the baby's temporary welfare had been taken care of, Kloppman suggested taking her upstairs and bathing her in one of the sinks. Most of the newsies stayed downstairs by the fire to play their cards and talk, but Katharine, Lissa, Blink and Jack all followed Kloppman upstairs, Katharine still holding her charge. Kloppman started running water to heat it and Blink and Jack were sent to find a bar of mild soap and the smallest shirt possible. The less rolling of sleeves they would have to do, the better.

Jack and Blink returned about the time Katharine was lowering the baby into the water. She wasn't, however, very accomplished at holding onto the slippery infant and Lissa quickly offered to help. "Before ya drown 'er," she said with a grin at Katharine.

"I've never been around babies before," Katharine protested in her own defense. "In fact, other than this one, I've only held one other, for about thirty seconds.

They were all watching Lissa soap up the baby now.

"Since when did you get so good at takin' care of babies?" Blink asked Lissa. "Dere ain't been many 'round 'ere."

"No, but I've only lived 'ere for three years," she shot back. "'For dat, dere was a whole tenament of babies who needed a baby-sitter."

Then she, Kloppman, Blink and Katharine all laughed as the baby splashed her hands in the foreign liquid, splattering the front of Lissa's shirt with soapy water. Jack, on the other hand, was too busy watching Lissa alone as she interacted with the baby girl. There was something about that picture---of the two of them, as Lissa picked the baby out of the water and wrapped her in a fluffy towel---that intrigued him immensely. If only he could figure out why...

**************

It was a restless night for them all. Not a one of them---even Lissa---was used to a baby's wails awakening them at odd intervals. Katharine would always stumble from her borrowed bunk, however, and pick up the baby, from between the barricade of pillows they had set up, and walk her up and down the hall until the cries ceased.

By four the next morning, she estimated that she had had about two hours of decent sleep. No one else had gotten their full amount, but they hadn't missed too much, except for Blink. He had awakened whenever Katharine had, not relaxing until she was back in her bed and then watching her from across the room until she was asleep again.

When everyone was in the washroom the next morning, and Katharine was in the bunkroom feeding the baby with a bottle Kloppman had rigged up, Lissa noticed how exhaused Blink was.

"Dere ain't no way you're sellin' taday," she told him. No one was snowed in and already some were heading towards the circulation alley.

"But Lissa---"

"No," she repeated, steering him back into the bunkroom. Then they both noticed that Katharine was about to drop off too. "Forget it, both of you," Lissa said. "I'll stay an' watch the baby taday while the two of ya get some sleep!"

"Yeah, an' I'll help 'er," Jack added, coming into the room and watching Lissa take the baby from Katharine's arms. There was still something about the way that looked....he wanted to figure out why this intrigued him so much. Today might be a good opportunity.

Katharine and Blink were too tired to argue much.

"By the way, Lissa," Katharine said, as Lissa prepared to take the baby downstairs to watch her with Jack, "her name is Lucy."

Both Lissa and Jack turned. "Why Lucy?" Lissa asked.

"I like the name," Katharine answered simply, before yawning greatly.

Lissa grinned and nodded. "I think it's perfect. Lucy, Jack an' I'll be downstairs whenever the two of ya decide ta wake up."

Katharine nodded and Lissa left, closing the door behind her.

Katharine turned to where Blink was beginning to relax, propped up in his bunk against several pillows he'd snatched from other bunks. She sat down next to him and he opened his eyes, startled from his dozing.

"What?" he asked.

"Move over," she ordered. "There isn't enough room for me."

Tired as he was, Blink managed his trademark grin. "Anything ya say," he answered, moving over.

Katharine relaxed only when she felt his arms go around her and she snuggled closer, closing her eyes and laying her head against his chest. It was the last feeling she was conscious of for the next several hours.