A Month After the End of "Passages":

Tired of not having an answer when the newsies would ask him what Katharine planned to do with Lucy, Blink headed off to her apartment one afternoon, earlier than he usually did. Katharine was fairly quick to answer his knocks and smiled broadly as she saw him on the other side of the door.

"It was nice of you to come by early," she said as she kissed him. "I need someone to talk with who can actually talk back," she laughed.

"I thought I'd come by an' spend some time wid ya an' Lucy 'fore we go ta Tibby's wid ev'rybody else."

"I set her in her cradle when I heard the door, but I'll go get her," Katharine said, heading towards her bedroom.

"Don't wake 'er up if she's asleep," Blink said quickly.

"Sleeping?" Katharine called back, incredulously. "I should be so lucky!"

Blink grinned, but the comment made him more apprehensive. He knew that he had to ask her today what she was going to do with Lucy and he was scared to death of the answer. Katharine had always been so independent and having a child was something he wasn't sure she would be able to see for herself. He and everyone else saw how quickly she and Lucy had fallen in love with each other, perfectly filling the roles of mother and daughter, but Blink wasn't sure that Katharine saw it. If she didn't keep Lucy...he had grown so attached---could he stand to give that feeling up?

He had to put those thoughts on hold as Katharine reentered the room, holding Lucy. A thick blanket had found permanent residence on the floor and Katharine knelt down on it to lay Lucy on her back and hand her a toy. Then she looked up at Blink as he sat on the sofa.

"Why did you come by early?" she asked.

"I...uh...well, see the guys---an' Lissa---dey..." Blink was stumbling horribly over his words and Katharine began to look puzzled.

"What is it?" she asked him, interrupting.

Blink took a deep breath. "I was wonderin'---'cause ev'rybody's been askin' me an' I don't know the answer---what you're gonna do with Lucy?"

There. He had said it. He sat back, relieved that his part was over and that now all he had to do was wait for her answer---and worry over what it might be.

Katharine looked troubled and bit her lower lip. She looked away from him and down at Lucy, beside her. She kept him in agony for a long moment.

"I'm so confused," she said, tears choking her voice early on in the sentence.

Blink slid off the sofa to kneel in front of her. "'Bout what?" he asked.

Katharine shook her head. "I never wanted to have children," she said and he looked somewhat surprised. He had always thought she would, just later. His heart began to fall as well. He looked over at Lucy and wondered how on earth he could say goodbye and then watch someone else take her.

"So ya ain't gonna keep 'er," he said flatly, not looking over at her.

"You didn't let me finish," she said. He looked toward her this time.

"What else?"

"I never wanted to have children, but there's nothing on earth that anyone could do to make me give her up," Katharine continued softly. "I feel as though she's mine and I just can't watch someone else take her away."

Blink watched her in amazement. "You're gonna adopt 'er?" he asked.

Katharine nodded and a tear slipped down her cheek. He reached out to brush it away. "So why're ya cryin'?" he asked.

"Are you---is that what you---did you not want me to?" she asked, uncertainly.

"No," he said quickly. "I was already comin' up wid ways ta convice ya ta adopt 'er 'cause I thought ya wouldn't."

"Really?" Her voice was still shaky and she looked incredulous.

"Yeah, really. I can't---I don't even wanna think 'bout what it'd be like widout 'er around," he said. "I was afraid ya wouldn't wanna adopt 'er 'cause ya've always sorta been dat way an' I didn't know if ya saw how much ya love 'er an' she loves you."

"And I suppose you've seen that all along, correct?" she asked, raising her eyebrows and smiling slightly. He didn't smile back.

"Yeah," he said. "We've all seen dat." She looked surprised again, but he cut her off before she could say anything. "Why don't we go ta Tibby's early an' tell ev'rybody, 'kay? Believe me, they'll be jus' as relieved as me."

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

Blink was completely correct and Katharine looked more sure of what she was doing as she watched Lucy being passed from person to person at Tibby's that evening. The only ones who weren't there were Jack and Lissa. Blink explained to Katharine that they had gone out early that morning to look at apartments. He was finishing up his explanation when they entered, looking exhaused.

"Didn't find anything?" Crutchy asked them as they look seats.

"No, we found the perfect one in the second buildin' we went to, but we've spent all day movin' our stuff," Lissa answered. "The Hatcher's house is gonna be sold by the end of the week an' we've gotta get ev'rything out."

"Need help?" Blink offered, but she shook her head.

"It's all moved, jus' not unpacked. Dere really ain't much ya can do for dat 'cause ya wouldn't know where anything went. I'll let ya know if we need somethin', though."

"So where is it? Is it nice?" Katharine voiced her question next.

Lissa looked toward Katharine and smiled a little. "Yeah, it is," she answered. "It's right across from Central Park."

"It's a nice area, but it ain't like the Hatcher's neighborhood," Jack threw in. "We won't be too outta place."

They went on to tell about it. It was a seven room apartment on the forth floor of a middle-class apartment building to the west of Central Park.

"Most of the furniture's still covered an' dere's boxes ev'rywhere but it won't take too long ta get it fixed up right. No hurry, though," Jack said as they finished their description.

Everyone nodded except for Blink who had noticed that Jack had added that last sentence a little too quickly. He looked over at his brother and knitted his eyebrows as he noticed that Jack was only picking absentmindedly at his dinner. What was he not saying?

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

Jack and Lissa weren't too shocked by Katharine's decision to adopt Lucy, but were when Katharine asked them to be Lucy's godparents. It was something she was accustomed to in her family, but something they were a little unfamiliar with. They agreed, though, and so their titles as Uncle Jack and Aunt Lissa became just a bit more official.

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

It was several mornings later when Jack called across the bunkroom to Lissa.

"Hey Lis, can we talk?' he asked, as he saw her finish tying her bootlaces and then stand.

She looked over, smiling, but when she saw his seriousness, she grew puzzled. "Sure Jack," she answered hesitantly, but trying to sound sure of herself.

"Ya want me ta wait for ya?" Blink asked them as he paused in the doorway. Everyone else had already left.

Lissa started to nod, but Jack interrupted before she could.

"No, go on, we'll catch up later."

Blink saw Lissa's puzzlement become replaced with worry and he hesitated. He started to say something as he recalled Jack's absentmindedness in Tibby's a few evenings previous, but then closed his mouth, deciding to let Lissa handle something on her own. It might not be the place for him to be now.

"Sure, see ya later," he said finally, hurrying after the other newsies.

As soon as she heard the door downstairs close, Lissa spoke frankly. "Jack, you're worryin' me."

"It's nothin' bad, Lis," he reassured, "dere's jus' somethin' we oughta talk 'bout widout ev'ryone else 'round ta overhear."

"What?" She was still horribly confused.

Jack took a deep breath, then motioned for her to follow him out onto the fire escape. She did, still scared of what he might say. As he helped her through the window, she felt the cool clasp of her engagement ring on her finger and her mind went---as much as she didn't want it to---to the possibility that he was going to ask for it back. It would kill her, that much she knew.

"Please explain, Jack," she said as they stood on the fire escape, the cold wind rushing over them. "Ya 'ave no idea what's goin' through my head, but it scares me!"

"I told ya dat it ain't anything bad," he reminded, pulling her close for a minute then releasing her only enough so that he could look into her eyes.

"So what is it, then?" she asked, quietly.

He hesitated. "See, ever since Blink an' Katharine found Lucy, I've caught myself thinkin'---when I see ya an' Lucy together---dat dere's somethin'---" he broke off, afraid he wasn't getting his point across. He started again. "Dere's somethin' 'bout the way ya look when you're wid Lucy dat's been buggin' me, but I didn't figure out what it was until a few days ago. I 'aven't gotten much sleep 'cause I've been thinkin' so much 'bout it."

"'Bout what?" Lissa prompted.

"Dat I want dat," he said at last, deciding to say it and get it over with. "I see ya wid Lucy an' I want ta be able ta see ya wid OUR child."

Lissa's jaw dropped slightly for a minute before she recovered. Jack saw the shock in her expression and he hurried to say more.

"I want a family, I really do, Lis. It surprises me too, but it's dere---dat feelin', I mean---do...do ya feel the same way?" he asked.

"Some---someday but---I---what---" Lissa couldn't complete a thought to save her life.

"I know we said we wouldn't get married for a long time," Jack said, "but I don't wanna wait another year or more. I guess what I've been tryin' ta ask dis whole time is if you'll marry me sooner."

Lissa's mind was still reeling and she struggled to make complete sentences out of her thoughts.

"Jack I'm not---I had no idea---an'---I can't Jack!" she finally choked out, tearing herself from his arms. "Please not now," she whispered hoarsely. "I'm not ready!"

Before Jack's stunned mind could comprehend that she was turning him down and before he could think of something to say, Lissa had darted down the fire escape and down the street.

She had a tremendous head start, for it took Jack a long time to recover. When he did, he went after her, but had no idea where she had gone. He searched several spots before finally pausing to think. Then he headed towards their new apartment. He paused in the hallway for several seconds, debating whether or not to leave her alone, then used his key to unlock the door and step inside. No lights had been turned on and no sounds could be heard, but he sensed that she was there---and he knew where to find her.

The door to one of the bedrooms was slightly ajar and Jack pushed it slowly inward. The only light in the room came from underneath the half closed window shade, but he could see her. She sat on the floor, her back against the bureau and her gaze on the antique cradle in the corner, which she had uncovered.

Lissa gave no hints that she knew he was there, but she knew, and he stopped across the room, sitting beside her, but not reaching out to her just yet. Without even looking towards him, she spoke.

"I'm scared, Jack," she said, softly and shakily.

He let the sentence hang in the heavy air for a moment. "Of what?"

"Of ev'rything," she replied. "I want the same things ya do, Jack. Ev'rytime I pick up Lucy or see Katharine cuddle 'er, I want wid my entire heart an' soul ta 'ave a family---ta 'ave children ta love dat much, but I'm scared of it. It's so unknown ta us an' dat's what scares me, Jack."

"So we'll learn," he said, reaching out to hold her hand. "Nobody's born knowin' how ta be a parent."

Lissa shook her head. She used the hand he wasn't holding to brush away the tears that were dropping from her eyes, running down her cheeks and nose, and falling onto her skirt.

"Jack, we've spent our entire lives bein' kids," she said. "Sure, dere've been a few times when we've had ta grow up a little, but all those times 'ave been short an' then we've gone right back. What if we forget when's the right time ta be kids, an' when's the right time ta be adults?"

"Lis, you're thinkin' 'bout dis all wrong," Jack rationalized. He moved closer so that he could put his arms tightly around her. "I think if we're so good at bein' kids dat it'll make us betta parents 'cause we'll understand more. We knew when it's time ta be serious an' when it's okay not ta be. We've done more growin' up than ya realize, Lis."

Slowly she nodded, realizing that he was right. Now that she heard him say it, she could recall many more times, both important and not, that had slipped her mind. She leaned against him more and closed her eyes. The apartment was so silent and she could hear his heart beat and she could hear as he took each breath. He kissed the top of her head.

"I love you," she whispered in the silence of the dark room.

"I love ya too," he replied, as he always did.

Lissa moved so that she could look at him. "I didn't jus' say dat the way I always do," she said. "I love you 'cause you always listen ta me an' ev'rything I say is important---jus' as important as what you say. Ya don't jus' love me 'cause of SOME things I say or do but ya love ALL of me, jus' the way I love all of you." She paused and stared deeply into his eyes. "Dat's why I love ya, Jack. Dat an' a hundred thousand other reasons."

"So," he began, "will ya marry me sooner? In March?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned towards him until their foreheads touched. "March it is," she whispered, then grinned.

Jack grinned in reply. "Then I guess we betta get ta spreadin' the word dat dey're all gonna hafta drag out their best clothes, huh?"

"Not jus' yet," she said. "I'd rather stay 'ere a lil' longer. Jus' the two of us."

He grinned more, then kissed her ardently. "Since I care so much 'bout what ya think," he said when he pulled back a few moments later, "I guess I'll jus' hafta agree."

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

When they saw everyone next, it was for dinner that night.

"Must be nice ta 'ave an apartment ta stay at all day, huh?" Race commented slyly, grinning, as they took their seats. He expected a glare from Lissa, but it never came.

"Yeah it is, Race," she replied simply, smiling.

The glare to Race came from Blink, who STILL acted protective of Lissa. She had finally accepted that it was just going to be that way for the duration of her life.

"God Race, if your mind ain't at the tracks, it's in the gutter," Blink complained.

"Hasn't hurt it yet," Race shot back, grinning good-naturedly.

Blink rolled his eyes and went back to eating his dinner. He was slightly relieved, though, to find out where Jack and Lissa had been all day. He had worried for hours that Jack had broken off the engagement or something equally as serious and that Lissa was alone somewhere, heartbroken. Now he relaxed slightly, for they seemed just as they had been before that morning. He watched as Lissa took a bite of food from the fork Jack held out for her and had to smile a little. He was glad that everything seemed to be fine. It wouldn't exactly give him pleasure to kill his brother, but he probably would have done it if Jack had hurt Lissa in any way.

"What are ya all doin' 'round the second weekend in March?" Lissa asked suddenly and loudly enough for everyone in the restaurant to hear.

"Gee, I don't know," Race said, sarcastically.

"Yeah, I'll check wid my secretaries an' office boys an' get back ta ya," Boots threw in.

Lissa pretended to look annoyed. "Cute," she replied.

"Really, Lissa, ya know we neva do much. What's goin' on?" Blink asked.

"Well, Jack an' I weren't busy either and we thought maybe if ya weren't, ya could come ta a weddin'," she said.

Blink seemed not to notice the shocked silence. "Whose?" he asked, rather densely.

"Their's you idiot!" Katharine exclaimed.

"You're so kind," he shot back to her, then realized exactly what he had just been told. His gaze snapped back to Lissa and Jack. "You're gettin' married in a month an' a half?" he asked, incredulous. Lissa nodded. Blink looked slightly suspicious. "Why?" he asked, hesitantly.

Lissa heaved an exaggerated sigh and rolled her eyes. "'Cause we want ta," she replied. "Stop bein' so nosy an' suspicious!" She threw her roll across the table at him, but he caught it before it hit him and then tossed it back to her. Jack laughed and Blink looked over at him.

"Dat's the real reason?" he asked him.

"I swear it," Jack replied, holding up his hand to take the oath. "Dat's the general reason."

"General?" Blink questioned. "What's the speci---"

"Would you please stop it?!" Katharine asked him, clapping her hand over his mouth. "I'd like to be able to tell them my news before you make them so angry that they leave!"

"What news?" Lissa asked.

Katharine slowly took her hand away from Blink's mouth. When she was sure he wasn't going to say anything, she answered Lissa's question.

"Lucy's adoption is official today," she said, moving the sleeping baby onto her shoulder. "She's now Lucy Carroll."

For everyone else, that was a cause for celebration. For Blink, it only made him thoughtful.

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

The morning of the wedding, Katharine---and Lucy---found Lissa in the bunkroom of the Lodging House, staring out of the window. The building was nearly empty, except for Kloppman downstairs and Lissa was taking the rare quiet moment to stare out of the window and reflect. She turned from her memories when Katharine entered and smiled, holding out her arms for Lucy. Katharine complied and Lucy snuggled against Lissa's shoulder. Katharine sat next to Lissa on the bunk.

"Nervous?" she asked, but Lissa shook her head.

"No, not really. Not 'bout marryin' Jack, at least. I AM nervous 'bout leavin' all of dis. I'll still come all the time, but it won't be the same," she said, rather sadly. "Yesterday was my last day sellin' papes an' I didn't even stop yesterday ta realize it. I didn't even think 'bout it until last night. Neither did Jack."

"I'm sorry that you couldn't have realized it sooner," Katharine consoled.

Lissa nodded. "Well, it ain't like I'm leavin' the city or anything."

"True."

"So did ya come ta help me get ready so I don't tangle myself up in the dress?" Lissa asked, her eyes twinkling.

"More or less," Katharine replied with a grin.

They barricaded Lucy on the bunk with pillows and then she watched as Katharine dressed in her forest green maid of honor dress and then helped Lissa into her wedding gown. It was a simple ivory colored dress, with a slightly full skirt, a short train, a fitted bodice and a wide sash. The neckline was only low enough to show off the gold locket Lissa wore around her neck. It was the one Jack had given her that Christmas that seemed like decades ago and it still fit perfectly in the hollow of her throat. Lissa braided her hair, then wrapped the long coil around her head once, making a crown that Katharine then stuck tiny white flowers into. They were in place of a veil. Finally Lissa stood in front of the long mirror in the washroom and grinned.

"It's perfect," she said.

"Where's your bouquet?" Katharine asked and Lissa's eyes widened.

"I didn't even think 'bout dat!" she exclaimed, then shook her head slowly. "We've been so busy, I nearly didn't 'ave time ta get fitted for the dress! I'll jus' hafta do widout it, I guess."

"Don't worry," Katharine reassured. "It isn't truly important."

"You're right," Lissa agreed. "I've hardly had time ta breathe the past month. Since we changed plans so suddenly...we've hardly had time ta do anything 'cept work on the apartment."

"Why did you decide to be married so much sooner?" Katharine asked. When Lissa raised her eyebrows, Katharine hastily tried to defend herself. "It isn't that I think what Blink did when you told us!" she said. "I was only curious."

Lissa laughed at Katharine's defensive ramble. "Well, it is sorta dat," she admitted and it was Katharine's turn to raise her eyebrows.

"Pardon?" she asked. "Are you---"

"No," Lissa said, shaking her head as she interrupted, "but I'd like to be."

"Oh," Katharine said slowly, recognition dawning.

"It was Jack who said it first an' it scared me 'till he convinced me dat we were capable of bein' parents. I was unsure of myself, I guess," Lissa said with a sigh as she sat on the bed next to Lucy and tickled the baby's stomach, grinning as Lucy smiled.

"So was I," Katharine reminded. "Don't you remember how you took more care of Lucy that first week or so? You knew so much more than me!"

"Dat's true."

"Do you want to have many children?" Katharine asked, sitting across from Lissa on the other end of the bunk.

Lissa laughed. "Three or four," she answered. "Back so long ago when I thought I was pregnant, I didn't want it ta be true. I wasn't ready then, but if it 'appened now I'd welcome it an' I'd be so happy 'bout it. I want to have children with Jack---I want us to have a family together an' be able ta give our kids ev'rything we missed out on. I think he wants ta prove dat he'd be a betta father than his dad was. What 'bout you an' Blink?" she asked.

Katharine suddenly looked troubled and Lissa became concerned. "Is somethin' wrong?" she asked her friend.

Katharine shrugged. "I'm not sure. He seems so preoccupied. I'm hoping that it's only because of the wedding and that he'll return to normal soon."

"I'm sure he will," Lissa said, trying to sound reassuring.

Katharine nodded, but did not reply with an agreement. Kloppman appeared in the doorway, then stood still for a moment, looking very proudly at Lissa before he handed her the flowers he had been holding behind his back.

"Jack jus' came by wid 'em," he explained.

Lissa took the flowers from him and bit her lower lip. They were pale yellow roses that were tinged along the petals' edges with pink. All the thorns had been carefully cut off and the dozen flowers' stems were tied with an ivory ribbon.

She handed them to Katharine while she hugged Kloppman. "Thanks for ev'rything, Kloppman," she whispered.

"Aw, you're welcome Lissa. If ya ever wanna spend the night 'ere again for old time's sake or if Jack gets on your nerves too much, jus' let me know an' I'll let ya stay the night for free," he said, in a joking tone, but Lissa knew he was serious.

"Jack an' I'll take good care of each other, ya know dat, right?" she asked as she stepped back.

Kloppman nodded slightly. "Yeah," he replied. "Ya always 'ave."

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

Lissa was in a back room of the church---a small Irish Catholic church in the heart of the Lower East Side---checking her hair and dress from all angles when the door behind her opened. She whirled around, expecting to see Katharine, but when she saw Jack instead, her eyes widened and she tried not to grin.

"Katharine will kill ya if she finds ya in 'ere!" she exclaimed, then couldn't help laughing slightly.

"So don't tell 'er," he whispered back. "Keep your voice down." That's when he closed the door behind him and took his first good look at her. He was stunned. He had seen her dressed up in fancier clothing, but it was the simplicity and abundance of the ivory that made him once again think of how lucky he was.

"Ya like what ya see, Mr. Kelly?" she asked teasingly, raising one eyebrow.

Jack snapped from his shocked state and grinned. "Damn straight, I do," he said. They were still both talking quietly. He stepped across the small room---it was about two strides for him---and put his arms around her.

"The priest is gonna say 'Francis Sullivan', ya know," he said.

"I know dat," she replied.

"Jus' checkin'," he said. "Didn't want ya ta think ya were marryin' the wrong person dere."

She punched his arm lightly. "You're jus' a big smart aleck, ya know it?"

"Yeah, I know. Listen, I can't stay 'ere much longer or Blink's gonna come lookin' for me, think I've run off, an' hunt me down ta kill me---" Lissa had begun to giggle. "---I jus' wanted ta see ya. I don't really know why, come ta think of it." He laughed along with her.

"I'm glad ya came," she replied. "Oh! An' thanks for the flowers. How'd ya remember dat we'd forgotten ta get a bouquet?"

Jack's face went blank. "We had?" he asked lamely.

Lissa slowly smiled. "So ya were jus' bein' sweet, huh?"

Jack grinned. "Dat's me."

Lissa was quiet for a long moment. "I know now---dat we're doin' the right thing at the right time, Jack," she said even more softly than before. "An' I know dat I'm doin' it wid the right person. I love you."

Jack brushed his hand over her cheek. "I know we are too. I love ya, Lis, but I betta go or Blink AN' Katharine'll kill me!"

She nodded and he kissed her forehead quickly, before leaving the room.

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

It WAS a surprise to hear the priest say 'Francis Sullivan' in reference to Jack and Jack was quick to shoot a death glare to the newsies seated in the pews behind him before any chuckles could be heard or even before slight grins could be seen.

Kloppman held Lucy during the ceremony, for Katharine stood beside Lissa in a dark green silk dress, holding the bouquet and Blink, who had first escorted Lissa down the aisle and---because she asked him to---given her away, now stood to Jack's right, as best man. Jack hadn't wanted to choose between his other friends for the positions of ushers, so since it was a relatively small ceremony anyway, there were none and the newsies sat together. The only people in the pews who were not newsies were Kloppman, Lucy, Mrs. Hatcher---whose handkerchief was excessively used---Denton, Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs, and finally, Medda.

The only problem came when it was time for Blink to hand Jack Lissa's ring and he had momentarily misplaced it. As he tried his jacket pockets, Lissa threw him an exasperated glance, that he caught.

"C'mon, Blink," she whispered, quietly enough so that only those standing at the alter could hear her. "We're gettin' married whether ya can find dat ring or not, so ya may as well hand it over."

Blink looked annoyed, for he really hadn't lost it on purpose and knew he was being horribly teased. But he found the ring in his left pocket and handed it to Jack, the ceremony proceeding from there.

As the priest spoke, Blink tried his best to pay attention, but his mind kept drifting to Katharine, as did his gaze. She appeared to be paying close attention to the priest's words and so he watched her. He tried to imagine her in a dress similar to Lissa's and found that he could see it clearly. It was the thought of actually getting married that caused him to break himself from his thoughts. He didn't know how Jack could have stayed so calm the past month and a half. If he had been in Jack's place, he was sure he would have been too nervous to be of any use. What made him think he could be so different from his father? After all, before the drinking had started---or so his mother had said---Sean Talley had been a perfectly loving husband.

Katharine glanced over at him and smiled slightly as she saw that he was looking in her direction. He returned the smile, but weakly. She noticed and her eyebrows knitted together somewhat. Before she could change her expression, he looked away, trying in vain to pay more attention, but leaving Katharine not only puzzled, but worried.

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

The reception after the wedding was at Irving Hall and for five hours the theatre rang with the sounds of a lively Irish band and dancing feet. As it happened, many of the newsies had been holding out over the years and were actually very good dancers (A.N: *grins*). Katharine was a little lost in trying to follow the fast paced steps, though, having only danced to waltzes before, but before she became too frustrated, Lissa took her hand, pulling her onto the floor that had been cleared for dancing. Lissa showed her as many steps as she could before she ran out of breath and started laughing. Katharine picked it up fairly quickly and Lissa stepped aside so Blink could cut in and she was then pulled away by her husband.

To speak so she could hear him, Jack had to shout over the music. "'Avin' fun yet?" he teased as he spun her around.

She grinned more than she already was. "Dis is the best it's ever been!" she shouted back.

"Ev'rything's gonna be betta than it's ever been!" he replied, then pulled her even closer.

Suddenly Lissa noticed that some of his fingers had tiny scratches on them. "What 'appened ta ya?" she asked and he looked sheepish.

"Rose thorns hurt, ya know," he said vaugely.

Lissa looked sympathetic, but Jack only grinned, having grown tired of shouting, and stopped dancing momentarily to kiss her.

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

Jack was startled awake at nearly three the next morning. He listened for a moment, but heard nothing and prepared to roll over and go back to sleep. When he rolled to face Lissa though, he didn't close his eyes right away. Moonlight was spilling in through the window and landing on her. Otherwise the room was dark and Jack reached out, lightly grazing the plane of her cheek with his hand. The white light made her skin look more like marble than flesh, but as he ran his fingers down her neck, he felt her pulse beating evenly just beneath her skin. Her left hand lay close to her cheek and the light made the thin golden band on her finger glow. He took a deep breath upon seeing it. It reminded him again of just how real everything was. The only thing he regretted was not realizing his feelings for her long before he had. When she had been gone to the Hatchers' and when he finally realized what he felt for her, it was all he could do to wait until he was forgiven before he had kissed her. After that first kiss he hadn't been able to keep any of his feelings from her. She'd been in his life for nearly nine years, but only the past three had she been its entirety.

He moved his hand from her neck and tried to run his fingers through her hair, but the threads were too tangled. He shifted without waking her and held her closer. The way her head fit so well on his arm and the way he could feel her soft breaths flutter on his chest...he loved every second of it. Lissa's lips curved in the slightest smile and Jack suppressed a chuckle. He wondered if it was possible to hold time still. He wouldn't mind being here like this forever. He had moved still closer and in the absolute silence of the apartment, he could feel her heart beating. In that moment, he felt the one and only feeling of sympathy for his father that he would ever feel. He felt sorry for a man who didn't ever find happiness with one woman. He felt sorry for someone who never knew what it was like to hold someone this close and not be perfectly, absolutely, without a doubt content to stay this way for the duration of life.

But that moment passed and Jack put his father out of his mind, finally taking his eyes away from Lissa and closing them, moving his head beside hers on the pillow and letting sleep steal unnoticed over him again.

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

It was three months later when Katharine stopped by Jack and Lissa's apartment with Lucy, glad to find Jack out and only Lissa there.

"He went out wid Race an' some of the others ta the tracks," Lissa explained. "I didn't wanna go taday so I stayed 'ere. Somethin' wrong?"

"I-I don't know," Katharine said, stumbling over her words a little bit.

Lissa looked puzzled and took Lucy from Katharine, setting the alert baby on the carpet in the parlor and handing her one of the toys that was kept at the apartment. Then she and Katharine both took seats on the sofa.

"Is dis 'bout Blink?" Lissa asked, not even bothering with small talk.

Katharine nodded. "Isn't it always?" she asked and Lissa grinned.

"So what's he gone an' done now?" she asked, jokingly. Then she saw that Katharine only looked more serious than ever and so her teasing smile faded. "What is it, Katharine?" she asked, seriously.

Katharine sighed miserably, looking down at Lucy so she wouldn't have to meet Lissa's inquisitive gaze. It was hard enough to talk about this with someone, much less look at them at the same time.

"I only---" she began. "He's been so...preoccupied the past few months. At first I thought it was only because of your wedding, but it hasn't stopped---in fact, it's only gotten worse. I'm wondering if he even still cares the way he used to."

"Of course he does!" Lissa protested quickly. "Maybe he's jus' got other things on his mind, Katharine. Ev'rybody has more'n one thing ta think 'bout ev'ryday."

"I know, Lissa, and that is precisely what I've been trying to tell myself these past weeks, but I'm starting to doubt it. I know we don't have the freedom or the time together that we used to, because of Lucy, but I thought---I thought he understood that from the beginning!" Katharine replied, rushed.

"He did---he does."

Katharine shook her head woefully. "I'm beginning to think that he has changed his mind. I don't think he's ready for so much responsibility yet and he knows that wherever I am, Lucy will be there as well. I don't think he wants that family, Lissa, but after all this time, I finally DO. He's coming over tonight because it's Lucy's sixth month birthday, and I don't know if I know how to act around him anymore! Lissa, what am I going to do?"

"Give 'im a chance ta explain, Katharine. Ev'rybody deserves ta explain their actions, ya know," Lissa replied, giving her friend a long hug.

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

Evidently, Lissa forgot to take her own advice when she went on a mission to find Blink that afternoon after Katharine and Lucy had left and after she had left Jack a note at the apartment. She finally spotted Blink on the sidewalk, around midtown.

"James Talley!" she shouted, to get his attention. It worked and he half-glared at her as they approached one another.

"What's gotten inta ya, Lissa?" he asked. "Ya---"

"Dat's a damn good question ta ask yourself, not me!" she retorted, interrupting him. "Look, ya don't spend more'n a year wid somebody, then jus' start driftin' off, not even tellin' 'er why. Whatever crazy idea ya've got in your head 'bout not wantin' the responsibility of Katharine AND Lucy right now is 'bout ta make me hurt ya, Jims. Unless ya want me ta write ya off as a jerk too, ya better have a damn good explanation!" She finished in a huff and crossed her arms over her chest.

Blink didn't say a word, but reached into his shirt pocket, pulling out a rectangular shaped box, opening it, and holding it out to show Lissa. Inside it was a diamond ring.

"Well, I don't want it---OH!" Lissa nearly bit her tongue and she flushed brightly, glancing up at him sheepishly. "Ya betta be plannin' ta give dat ta Katharine soon 'fore she depresses herself anymore," she told him.

"What are ya talkin' 'bout?" he asked, confused as he put the ring box back in his pocket.

"Katharine stopped by the apartment taday. She's been worried the past couple of months, but dis time was different. She thinks ya've decided dat she an' Lucy are too much responsibilty so ya've been driftin' off lately. She pretty much thinks ya don't love 'er anymore, when ya get right down ta it," Lissa said softly.

"But dat ain't true!" he protested. He gestured to the building they stood in front of and Lissa looked up at the sign above the door.

"Hargraves and Wright, Attorneys at Law," she read. She looked back towards him. "So?"

"So I've got a job as of next week," he said and watched as her eyes grew enormous.

"What?" she managed to squeak.

"I know I really wouldn't hafta work, wid the money Kat's been makin' off of 'er book, but I ain't gonna jus' sit 'round like I watched my dad do," Blink said. "I mean, Jack's been workin' on the lodgin' house 'ere an' the one in Brooklyn an' ya an' he are always doin' stuff for the Refuge an' all, but Kat an' I wouldn't 'ave DAT kinda money. So I decided ta get a job. It ain't much, I'm jus' filin' stuff an' doin' some paperwork, but at least it's a job. She doesn't know 'bout it yet."

Lissa slowly shook her head, then hugged him tightly. "Well good for you," she said. "Now get over ta Katharine's an' propose 'fore she get 'erself committed, okay?"

"Okay, Lissa. Love ya, sis."

He gave her a kiss on the cheek, then took off down the sidewalk towards Katharine's. Lissa watched him go and later swore to Jack that Blink's feet were floating at least an inch above the ground.

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

Katharine nervously let Blink in the door and took the present he gave her for Lucy.

"I know we were planning to celebrate with her, but that was before she fell asleep," she told him, smiling wryly.

"Dat's okay," he said. "I wanted ta spend time wid you too, ya know."

Katharine shut the door behind him and tried to smile again, though she couldn't quite bring herself to do it. Blink nearly kicked himself for his last remark. From what he had been able to gather from Lissa's tirade, Katharine was none to sure of his comfort around Lucy anymore and that comment certainly hadn't helped.

"Look, Kat," he said, using the nickname he had begun to use more often. It delighted Katharine, who had always thought Jack's way of calling Lissa 'Lis' was adorable.

"Yes?" she asked, her increased nervousness evident in her voice now.

Blink took a deep breath. "C'mere." He took her hand and led her to the sofa, gesturing for her to sit down, though he made no moves to.

"Blink, please, what is it?" she asked. "The past weeks---months---I've just felt---"

"Wait," he interrupted. "Let me go first, okay?"

She hesitated, then nodded, biting her lip so she wouldn't cry. She couldn't cry in front of him. When he left, she didn't want him to know how much it hurt.

Then he began to talk so she began to listen.

"Katharine, I've loved ya from dat first time ya walked inta Tibby's wid Denton an' I on'y wish I'd let ya know how I felt sooner than I did. Then again, maybe it wouldn't 'ave worked out so well if I had, I don't know. All I do know is dat I can't imagine ever feelin' dis way 'bout anyone else."

To further Katharine's already shocked state, Blink took her hand as he dropped to one knee in front of her, then reached into his shirt pocket, pulling out the box he had shown Lissa earlier and opening it.

"I don't wanna try ta make a long speech, 'cause I know dat I still wouldn't be able ta say ev'rything I want ta," he said, "so I'll jus' get ta what I've been tryin' ta get ta. Will ya marry me?"

He held the box out to her a little more and dazed, she took the ring from it, staring at the braided band of gold with the diamond in the center.

Blink explained. "See, dat was my ma's an' she gave it ta one of our neighbors 'fore she died. She knew my dad would jus' sell it for more liquor money or somethin' an' I was too little for 'er ta give it ta. When they took me ta the orphanage, the lady gave it to me. Ma had wanted Meggie ta 'ave it when she got married, but..." He paused slightly, then cleared his throat and went on. "I've kept it all dis time, waitin' for the right person ta give it ta. So I'm givin' it ta you."

"Then I'd be honored to wear it," Katharine said quietly, her voice barely holding out to the end of the sentence.

Grinning, Blink took it from her and slipped it over her finger.

"Why have you been so distant?" she asked. "I thought---"

"I know what ya thought, an' I'm sorry," he interrupted. "I've jus' been thinkin' a lot. 'Bout my parents an' how I could be any different from my dad."

Katharine looked stunned and slid off the sofa, dropping to her knees in front of him. "You're nothing like him!" she protested. "You couldn't EVER be!"

"I know dat now," he replied. "I love you."

"I love you too," she said.

"Dere's somethin' else too," he said. "I got a job. Startin' tomorrow."

"Tomorrow! Doing what?"

"I'm sorta doin' some paperwork an' filin' for a law office a few blocks over," he answered. "Taday was my last day sellin' papes, I guess."

"Does that mean you'll have to leave the Lodging House?" she asked.

"Well, Kloppman said he'd let me stay dere for awhile anyway," Blink answered slowly.

"Why don't you move in here?"

"Ya wouldn't mind?"

"What I'd mind is if you didn't," she replied with a grin.

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

Katharine had been pondering the idea of buying a new apartment, for the room Lucy was in was no more than an emptied out closet and now that she could afford it, Katharine wanted her daughter to live in a true room. Now, with the upcoming wedding, Katharine and Blink went looking for an apartment together, finally finding one several blocks from Jack and Lissa. It was a three bedroom, two washroom apartment with a kitchen and dining room/parlor. It was slightly smaller than Jack and Lissa's, but it was quite nice and just at their price range.

Katharine had written her family about Lucy and now she wrote them again, inviting them to the wedding, though she didn't know who would actually come. Alec had graduation exams the same week and Belle was eight months pregnant and her doctor had advised her not to travel, so she and Russell would also not be attending. Katharine received a proper note of congratulations from her mother and a more personal one from Justin, the only member of her family who said he would try his best to come. It surprised her, though, to realize that it wouldn't matter so much if no one but Justin did end up coming. She realized now just how much New York had become her home and the newsies her family.

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

It was the day before the wedding and still Katharine had heard nothing from Justin. Things had been to hectic, though, for her to dwell on it and so she tried to keep it out of her mind. She couldn't handle a single other thought just then. Everything was moved from her old apartment and into their new one, though very little had been unpacked. Mostly only clothes and essentials had found their new homes. The newsies, and especially Jack and Lissa, had offered to help and HAD helped with the actual moving process, but since they didn't know where certain items went or how to put certain things away, they couldn't help much. Besides that, Lissa seemed to have caught the flu that was circulating throughout the Lodging House and had stayed home much of the past week, to ensure that she would feel better by the wedding.

It was the morning of the day before the wedding when Lucy's cries awoke Katharine at eight. Katharine hurried to quiet her before she could awaken Blink. He had been even more exhaused than she the past two months, both with working at the law office and moving and planning the wedding, and trying to keep an eye on a very active, crawling Lucy.

Lucy's tears dissolved into wreaths of smiles as Katharine scooped her from the crib.

"How are you this morning, my angel?" Katharine asked in a whisper.

In answer, Lucy reached for Katharine's loose hair, tugging on it sharply.

"Don't hurt your mama, Luce," said Blink's voice from the doorway.

Katharine looked up as he walked over and tickled Lucy. "I'm sorry," Katharine apologized. "I was hoping she wouldn't wake you up!"

"Dat's all right," he promised. "It's eight anyway. It's fine."

"If you're sure," she said, then kissed him. "What do you want to eat? I can't promise that we have much food in those cabinets, but certainly I can find something."

"What 'bout---"

He was interrupted by the sound of knocking and Katharine left him there while she and Lucy went to answer it. Blink stood back in the doorway of Lucy's room, still trying to shake away the last feelings of sleepiness.

"Justin!"

Blink looked up at Katharine's exclamation to see a tall man who closely resembled Katharine.

Katharine hugged her brother awkwardly, for Lucy was still in her arms, then laughed.

"Is it safe to assume that you're happy to see me?" Justin teased.

"Yes! Of course! Why did you not tell me you were coming? I've been worried."

"I wanted to surprise you," he answered simply. "Is this Lucy?"

"Yes, this is your niece," Katharine answered, quite proudly.

"She's adorable," Justin said, taking her from Katharine momentarily, then handing her back. "Mother wanted to come, Katharine, but she hasn't been feeling her best and so---"

"She would have come if she had wanted to," Katharine interrupted. That was the last they spoke of their mother that day.

Blink stepped forward then and Justin looked up, for the first time noticing that he was there.

"Hello," Justin greeted him, obviously surprised that he was there. The eyepatch and attire surprised him as well. Blink had paused a few minutes earlier only long enough to put on a pair of trousers and a shirt, the latter of which he was now buttoning quickly.

"Hi, nice ta meet ya," Blink replied.

At the accent, Justin was visibly more startled. "You too," he said, glancing quickly at Katharine. "I've, uh, heard so little about you."

Blink now realized what was making Justin so uncomfortable and he sucked in a deep breath before speaking again.

"I'll go down an' get breakfast from Tibby's, okay Kat?" he asked.

"That might be a good idea," she answered.

Blink disappeared into their bedroom and Katharine glared at her brother. "I'll talk to you when he leaves," she hissed, then turned on her heel and stalked into the bedroom, still holding Lucy. Once she had closed the bedroom door behind her, she looked nervously towards Blink, who sat on the edge of the bed, lacing his boots.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Blink looked up. "So what did ya tell 'im 'bout me when ya were in England?" he asked, a slight and unfamiliar edge to his voice.

"I only answered what he asked," she admitted, as she sat Lucy in the bassinet that she was quickly outgrowing.

"Dat's real nice ta know, Kat," he said sarcastically, as he stood and crossed over to the window. "It's real nice ta know dat ya were ashamed ta tell your family the truth 'bout me!"

"That's not true, Blink!" she exclaimed, loudly, then remembered Justin in the other room and lowered her voice. "I've never been ashamed of you."

"Then what, huh?" he asked, turning around to face her.

"You know damn good and well how snobs of the upper classes treat you and Jack and Lissa and everyone else," she said. "Justin is the only member of my family who isn't like that and if they had known about you then, I never would have gotten back here!"

"So if he ain't like the rest of your family, why is he actin' the way he is?" Blink shot back, though his anger was fading quickly. He never seemed to stay angry too long.

"Because he's overprotective of me---exactly the way you are with Lissa. Now, how do you think you would react if I was Lissa and you were in Justin's position?"

Blink held her gaze for a long time, then sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed again and dropping his head into his hands.

"I'm sorry, Katharine, really," he said, his voice muffled. "I've jus' been workin' too much an' we've jus' got so much ta do 'fore tomorrow an'...I'm sorry."

She sat beside Blink and put her arms around him. "It's okay," she replied, softly. "We're just too worried, that's all. Once the wedding is over, we won't have so much to do in so little time."

Blink nodded, then sat up more, kissing her and then her ring. "I'll be back in 'bout half an hour, okay?"

Katharine nodded and he gave her another kiss before leaving the apartment, sending Justin one of his usual grins as he walked out.

Justin stood from his seat on the sofa and entered the bedroom, where Katharine was tying a robe over her nightdress and tickling Lucy, seemingly all at once. She laughed as the baby giggled and Justin could help but smile. Katharine had changed so much.

"Is she always this happy?" he asked.

Startled, Katharine turned, then nodded. "Most of the time," she replied shortly.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth?" Justin asked.

"Probably because it's none of your business."

"You told me that he was in the newspaper business," Justin said. "Is he?"

"He WAS a newsboy, though he isn't any longer," she answered.

"Talk about splitting hairs, Katharine!" Justin exclaimed. "You call being a newsboy being in the newspaper business?"

"Yes I do!" she said, angrily. "And now he's working at a law firm."

"Doing what?" Justin asked, sounding as though he didn't believe her.

"Paperwork," she answered. "He doesn't even need to work because of what I do, but he does it because he wants to feel useful. What's so wrong about that?"

"Nothing!"

"Then why are you still arguing with me?"

"Do you know what Mother will say when I tell her about all of this?" he asked. "The accent and the eyepatch....what, does he like playing pirate?"

Katharine went from merely upset to furious at that remark. "To inform you, Justin Carroll, when he was thirteen he stood up to his intoxicated father because his baby sister had died from neglect and his father broke a liquor bottle near his face, scarring around his eye," Katharine said, her voice trembling with anger and tears. "Sometimes he doesn't wear the patch, but it embarrasses him in front of people he doesn't know."

Justin glanced down, somewhat ashamed. "I'm sorry, Katharine," he said quietly. "I didn't know. I'm only trying to do what's best for you and my neice."

"Then let me decide who to love, who to marry and who should be Lucy's father and then trust my decision."

"It's going to take time, Katharine. It's going to be difficult for me." Then he turned and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

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

Because the guestroom did not yet have any furniture in it, Justin slept on the sofa that night and Blink on the floor in the main room, though he teasingly complained about this to Katharine when Justin was not within earshot.

Justin was jolted awake that night by a sharp scream from Katharine's room, followed by hysterical sobbing. As Justin hurried to Katharine's room, Blink turned up two of the gas lamps on the main rooms' walls. When Justin entered the bedroom, he found that Katharine was still asleep and in the middle of a horrific nightmare. He awakened her, but she still shook violently with sobs and through all of his efforts, Justin couldn't calm her.

"Let me try."

Justin turned to see Blink in the doorway. Wordlessly, he stepped aside and Blink took his place next to Katharine, holding her tightly to him, gathered up in his arms, and he spoke softly in her ear. He was so quiet, that Justin, a few feet away, couldn't hear him.

"It was---all the heat and I---I couldn't see---all the smoke," Katharine said, her voice small and frightened.

"Shh," Blink whispered. "You're gonna be okay. You're gonna be fine now."

Katharine took deep, ragged breaths as her shuddering slowly came to a stop. Justin watched, with a small pang of jealously as his sister moved even closer to Blink, letting her head rest against his chest and letting him hold her hand with its ringed finger...now that she had Blink, Justin didn't feel as needed anymore. Katharine had always been his favorite family member and he knew that he would miss her every day that he didn't see her.

His thoughts were halted as Blink moved, carefully placing Katharine's head back on her pillow. She was asleep again, and perfectly calm. They both left her room and then stood rather awkwardly in the main room.

"What---why did she do that?" Justin asked finally.

"She dreams 'bout dat factory fire sometimes an' usually it ain't dis bad," Blink answered. "It's jus' ev'ry now an' then, she thinks she's still in the buildin'."

"IN the building?!" Justin exlaimed, shocked. "She told me she was only injured as a passer-by. What is this about her being IN the fire?"

Blink looked surprised as well and he slowly shook her head. "She saw a kid bangin' on an upstairs window of the factory 'cause he couldn't get out an' she took off inside ta get 'im," he told Justin, who was looking more surprised by the second. "I don't know why she didn't tell ya the truth---an' I TRIED ta stop 'er," he added quickly.

Justin nodded, but still looked dazed. "Does this happen often?" he asked, referring to the dream.

Blink shook his head. "On'y 'bout four times 'fore when...well, when I've been 'ere," he said, finished uncomfortably and rather lamely.

"Oh," was the only response Justin could come up with.

Blink headed back to his blankets and pillows on the floor and Justin turned down the lights before laying back on the sofa.

"I love 'er, ya know," Blink added suddenly.

"What?" Justin asked. He had heard him, but hadn't been expecting the comment.

"Kat," Blink said, "an' I love Lucy like she was my own daughter, same as Kat does."

Justin was silent for a long moment. "I'm glad," he finally said, for the first time never wondering whether or not it was true. He knew it was.

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

Justin was in much better humor the next day and actually seemed glad as the hours until the wedding ticked away. Katharine decided not to question her good fortune, however, and merely let it go. He seemed a bit bewildered by the great number of newsies that he was introduced to, but quickly learned the unusual names. He seemed relieved though, when he was introduced to 'Blink's brother, Jack and Jack's wife, Lissa', for at least those two had decent names. Katharine decided to skip over the parts about Sean Talley and Francis Sullivan for the time being.

Once again, a glare was shot at the newsies as the groom's name was spoken by the priest and many of the same guests were in attendance. As he walked with Katharine back down the aisle after the ceremony, Blink was relieved to find that his nervousness---over whether or not he could be different from his father---was gone. That life was through now, offically, and he had to move on, as Jack had already done. Sean Talley was long dead and that's how he needed to stay.

The reception was held at Medda's and was fairly similar to Jack and Lissa's. Katharine and Blink were talking with Jack and Lissa---who was looking as though she felt much better, as had been her plan---when someone tapped Katharine on the shoulder.

"Congratulations."

She and Blink both turned to see Denton behind them.

"Thank you for that and thank you for coming," Katharine said as he hugged her and shook Blink's hand.

"How could I have missed this?" he laughed.

"Oh, there's someone I'd like you to meet," Katharine said, remembering. She motioned across the room for Justin. He caught the gesture and came to stand beside them. "Denton, this is my brother, Justin Carroll. He's a reporter for---"

"Why don't we just say that I'm a reporter?" Justin interrupted, his tone a little odd as he shook Denton's hand.

Katharine's eyebrows knitted together. "What---"

But Justin sent her a look that plainly said they would talk about it later. Before she could go on, a tall woman with light blue eyes and pale blond hair appeared at Denton's side. He introduced her as his cousin, Elise Anderson, from upstate.

Katharine caught the inital sparks that seemed to fly between Elise and her brother and she exchanged an amused and knowing glance with Blink.

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

"Are you asleep?"

Blink had been dozing off and on, but at Katharine's whispered question, he opened his eyes to look at her. "Not yet," he answered, keeping his voice equally as low as hers. "Why?"

He could barely see her smile in the darkness. "I don't know," she answered. "I feel like there's so much to say and yet I don't know how to say it all. Does that make sense?"

Blink thought of how much he felt for her and nodded. "I don't think dere's anyway ta say ev'rything I want ta," he said. "I don't think I'll ever be able ta do dat."

"Then I suppose as long as we know that we each have those unspoken things, then there's no reason to keep trying to say them," she reasoned.

"Not really." He draped his arm loosly around her waist and drew her closer. "An' if I know what I'm feelin', even if I can't say it, then I know what you're feelin' so dere's no reason ta hear it from ya. I already know it exactly."

Katharine thought for a moment, then laughed quietly.

"What?" he asked, pretending to be slightly offended. "Why exactly was dat funny? I thought I was bein' kinda serious, myself."

"I'm sorry!" she whispered, still giggling slightly. "It's only that I realized that what we've been saying is really confusing."

Blink grinned. "Yeah, well, I can be sorta confusing, but you're the expert."

"Stop," she replied, laughing once more as she hit him lightly. "How have I ever been confusing?"

Blink's grin faded slightly and, upon seeing it, Katharine's did as well. "What?" she asked. "Did I say something---"

He shook his head somewhat. "I was jus' rememberin' when ya were in England writin' those letters," he said. "I told ya dat I thought ya might stay, but I neva really explained all dat ta ya."

"I'm sorry that I wrote such artificial letters, but I wanted you to think that I was having a marvelous time, even though I wasn't," she said. "I didn't want you to feel sorry for me."

"Well, I didn't!" he whispered with a laugh. Then he sobered again. "I really did think ya'd stay. I thought dat maybe ev'rything over 'ere had been a joke, includin' me."

Katharine's mouth dropped open slightly. "Never! I---"

"Lemme finish, okay?" he asked gently and she closed her mouth, nodding. He went on. "I was even wishin' I hadn't gone ta Central Park wid ya dat day. I had neva been as happy as I had been dat evenin', when I finally got up enough nerve ta tell ya how I felt an' 'ave ya feel the same way. Then ya left so quickly an' I knew it was 'cause of your dad, but a part of me wondered if ya were sorta glad ta get away. Dat maybe ya regretted sayin' what ya had an' decidin' ta jus' stay so ya wouldn't hafta worry 'bout tellin' me how ya really felt."

"Oh Blink," Katharine whispered through tears. "I never meant for you to think that! It's only that I abhor pity more than anything."

"I know dat now," he said quickly, "but dat was pretty hard for me ta believe then."

Katharine raised a hand to wipe away her tears, then moved closer so she could tuck her head under Blink's chin. "I never thought that," she said softly. "I always wanted to come back to you and every day I was away only made me feel that more. I love you and I love Lucy and as hard as it is to believe, I really do have a family now. One where everyone really, truly cares about everyone else. It's what I've always wanted. Thank you for helping me find it."

Blink tightened his arm around her. "What am I supposed ta say ta dat?" he said, trying to lighten his tone, but she could feel him swallow hard.

"You don't have to say anything," she told him. "Why don't you just let me go to sleep like this every night?"

She yawned and he felt sleep begin to overtake him too. "It'd be my pleasure, Mrs. Talley," he mumbled drowsily.