"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride," the priest said to the happy couple before him, signaling for them to kiss. Today was the day that Firecracker and Mush had been dreaming of for a very long time, the day they would finally be married. However, the road to wedded bliss wasn't exactly the primrose path that some people had made it out to be. They had their share of problems, some of them no one knew about, but perhaps the worst of all was Fire's inability to trust the one she loved the most. "Dey shoah look happy, don't dey, Specs?" Slinks asked, leaning over to her long time boyfriend. "I can remembah when Fiah couldn't even look at Mush, let alone go ahead an' marry him." Specs nodded, smiling over at Slinks, "I remembah dat, da poor boy was a mess 'cause he thought Fiah hated 'im since she wouldn't look at 'im an' completely ignored 'im." Slinks giggled, "Well he shoah was wrong! She had a crush on 'im from da start, but she couldn't bring herself ta trust no one right away. Fiah's foist day heah is still clear in my head like it was jist yestahday….." *~*~* July 4th, 1900 - 5 Years Ago *~*~* A very scared and confused Felicia Williams knocked on the door of the newsies' lodging house, "H-hello? Is anyone in here?" she asked meekly, barely sticking her head through the door. "Hey everyone! Blink's back wit' da fiahcrackahs," Slinks cried, running to the lodging house door and throwing it open. Much to her surprise, she didn't see Blink with a box of firecrackers, she saw a tall girl with firey red, curly hair. "Wait… you ain't Blink." Felicia shook her head, a very confused look on her face, "N-no…. I'm afraid I don't know a 'Blink', whatever that is." Slinks laughed, moving out of the door so Felicia could walk inside, "Come on, Fiahcrackah, it's too hot out to be standin' around, 'specially in what yer wearin'. Ya know, it's a liddle too hot fer a shawl, lemme help ya wit' it," she said, reaching for the shawl draped over Felicia's arms. Felicia instantly pulled her arm away, "No, I'm ummm… I'm cold. Please, let me keep it on. Wait… Firecracker, who's that?" "Well if ya insist on keepin' it on, be my guest," Slinks said, sighing. "An' yer Fiahcrackah, I've nevah seen hair like dat befoah. It's da foist time I've confused hair fer a box a' fiahcrackahs." Felicia nodded, still a little confused, "Oh, okay. Well, I'm Felicia and I'm a little lost. Could you perhaps tell me where I could find a place to stay?" Slinks headed over to the desk and took the ledger from on top of it, "What about heah? Dis is as good a place as any. Da people are nice, Kloppman's nice, da rent is cheap…." "What is this place?" Felicia asked, looking around the lobby of the lodging house. "Dis is da newsies' lodgin' house, an' I'm Slinks, I live heah," Slinks replied, handing Felicia the ledger. "Awl ya gotta do is write yer name in dis ledgah an' answer a few questions dat Kloppman's gonna ask. Ya don't even gotta tell 'im yer real name if ya don't wanna!" Felicia looked down at the ledger in her hands, a somewhat worried look on her face, "And nobody's going to ask me what my real name is?" she asked, picking the pen up and getting ready to sign in on the piece of paper. Slinks shook her head, "Nope! An' ya don't gotta tell 'em if ya don't feel right sayin' so." "If no one's going to ask and I don't have to tell if I don't want to, I guess I'm going to be safe here," Felicia thought to herself as she signed herself in as 'Firecracker' in the ledger. "Now, who is this Kloppman?" Slinks pointed to the office door. "He's in dere. I'll tell 'im yer heah," she said, walking over to the office and poking her head inside. "Uhh, Kloppman?" Kloppman looked up from the pile of papers he was going over on his desk, "Ok, Slinks, hello. What can I help ya with?" Slinks walked into the office and leaned in closer to Kloppman, "We'se gots a new goil," she whispered. "Ya might not wanna ask 'er too much, she seems ta be hidin' from somethin'…. Or someone." Kloppman nodding in understanding, he had dealt with many people like this before and had learned not to be too nosy with anyone because he wanted to be perhaps the only adult these kids could trust, "Okay, send 'er in." "Okay, Kloppman, I'll be right back," Slinks called over her shoulder as she went back to the lobby where Felicia was. "Okay, Fiah, ya can go in now. Don't worry d'ough, Kloppman's a real nice guy." Felicia's slight smile dropped as soon as she heard Slinks tell her that Kloppman was a man, "Do I have go in there by… myself?" she asked, her face getting more and more pale by the second. Slinks shook her head, sighing, "Well if ya want, I can go in dere wit' ya. Would ya like dat?" Felicia nodded, the color slowly returning to her face, "Yes, I would, Slinks. Now I go right through this door?" she asked, walking over to the office door. "Dat would be da one," Slinks replied, following Felicia into the office. "Kloppman, dis is Fiahcrackah, but ya can call 'er Fiah. Fiah, dis is Kloppman, he runs da joint." Kloppman smiled warmly and motioned for the two girls to sit down in the two chairs in front of them, "Hello, Firecracker, sit down. Now I hafta ask ya a few questions, okay?" Felicia took a deep breath before finally nodding, "Okay, Mr. Kloppman. These questions aren't too…. detailed are they?" she asked somewhat nervously. Slinks shot a slight smirk at Kloppman, "Told ya," she whispered. Kloppman shook his head, a slight detection of a laugh in his voice, "Oh no, Fire, not at all! I just need to ask you your name that you would like to be called, your age, and your height, nothing more, nothing less." Felicia breathed a big sigh of relief, "Okay, I can do that. My name is Firecracker Williams, I'm sixteen…. well, seventeen in December, and I'm 5'10". Is that all you need? Oh wait, do you need my birthday or anything?" Kloppman finished writing Fire's information on the form he had pulled out from his desk drawer and looked back up at her, "Well, do ya remembah it?" Felicia nodded, "Of course! Doesn't everybody?" she asked, a confused statement on her face. Slinks snickered, "Fiah, I don't know mine…. Awl I know is how old I am." "Well, Fire, if ya know yer birthday I need it fer my records," Kloppman replied, chuckling. "Okay," Felicia said. "Well, it's December 23rd." Right away, Felicia felt one of huge heavy weights being lifted off of her shoulders. "That wasn't so bad," she thought to herself. "He didn't question my name or anything, I guess I really am safe here." Slinks got up from her chair and turned to Felicia, "Come on, Fiah, ya gots people ta meet!" Felicia looked up at Slinks and nodded, slowly rising from the chair, "Allright, Slinks," she replied, following Slinks out to the lobby. "So from now on I'm Firecracker?" Slinks nodded, "Yeah, dat or Fiah since it's shortah ta say." Felicia laughed, "Okay, Firecracker it is then. So, where are these 'other people' that I have to meet?" "Well, dere's two a' dem right now," Slinks answered, pointing to the stairs. Firecracker glanced over two the stairs and saw two somewhat tall boys walking down the stairs. "Dere she is," the boy with the glasses whispered to the boy wearing shorts. "Heya, Slinks! How's da cutest goil in Manhattan?" he asked, walking over to Slinks and sliding his arms around her shoulders. Slinks giggled, swaying back and forth in the boy's arms, "I dunno, Specs, tell me where she is an' I'll ask 'er for ya! Oh Specs, dis is Fiahcrackah. Fiah, dis is Specs." Fire smiled nervously at the boy in front of her, "Let me guess, you're named Specs because of your glasses?" Specs nodded, laughing, "Shoah am!" Then he looked over his shoulder at the boy with the shorts, "Hey Mush, dis one tawks awl propah!" Mush chuckled, "Oh does she now?" he asked, approaching the three. Slinks rolled her eyes at Mush, "Jeez, Mush, don't ya got ears? Can't ya hear da goil tawk?" "Is there something wrong with the way I talk?" Fire asked, looking over and Slinks and Specs before finally laying her eyes on Mush. As soon as she saw him she felt some sort of attraction to him, but she also noticed the slight resemblance to her ex-fiancé, Aaron, and her back stiffened. "H-hello," she said to him, the hairs on the back of her neck rising nervously. Mush smiled sweetly at Fire, he could just tell that there was something more to her that the other girls at the lodging house didn't have, something he wanted to be a part of. "Heya, I'm Mush," he said, extending his hand to her. Fire slowly backed away from Mush, she knew that he wasn't going to hurt her but she couldn't help but feel a little jumpy. "I'm Firecracker, nice to meet you," she said, turning to Slinks. "Are there a lot of boys here?" she asked nervously. Slinks nodded, not sensing Fire's nervousness, "A' coise! Dis lodgin' house has both guys an' goils. Perhaps ya'd like a tour?" "Dat's a good idea, Slinks. A tour would give ya a bettah feel fer yer new home," Specs added. "I'll take 'er," Mush offered, smiling as he approached Fire. Fire shook her head, "No, that's really okay. Slinks can take me." "Fiah, we can awl take ya," Slinks replied. "I'm shoah dey wouldn't mind." Specs shook his head, "Nope, I know I wouldn't mind. How 'bout you, Mush?" "I wouldn't mind a bit, it's no trouble," Mush answered, still smiling at Fire. Fire looked down at the floor away from Mush, that smile was so familiar to her and she couldn't help but get an uneasy feeling in her stomach whenever she saw that smile, it just always seemed to mean bad things were going to happen to her. "Well, where do we start? Am I correct in my assuming that this is the lobby?" Slinks looked around the lobby and nodded, "Yep, dis is da lobby. Nice, ain't it? Come on, da bunkroom an' washroom are up da stairs. Follow me," she said, taking Specs' hand and leading him up the stairs. "Come on, you'se two!" Specs called over his shoulder, allowing Slinks to pull him up the stairs. Mush went to link Fire's arm with his, "Shall we?" Fire immediately shook her head and pulled away, "No, no, that's not necessary. Thank you," she said, adjusting the shawl around her arms all the way up the stairs. Mush sadly shook his head, "She hates me," he thought to himself, smacking his forehead. "Why did I even think I could have a slight chance with a girl like that?" "Hey guys, I suggest dat ya covah up what ya don't want seen," Slinks shouted as the led the small tour group into the washroom. Once everyone was inside, she turned around to face them. "Dis heah is our washroom. Da toilets are on dat wall, da showahs are on da otha wall an' da sinks are in da middle." Fire looked around the washroom and bit her lip worriedly, "Excuse me, Slinks? Is this the only washroom?" "Yeah, whadda we need two for? Ya ain't scared a' da guys seein' ya, are ya?" Slinks asked, laughing. Specs chuckled, "Hey, we don't got dat bad of a one-track mind! I gots a one an' a half-track mind!" Mush smirked, "Yeah, dose tracks are goils an' food!" Fire shook her head, looking down at her feet, "No, I umm… I guess not," she replied meekly. Slinks clapped her hands together and smiled, "Okay, da next stop on our tour is gonna be da bunkroom. An' yes, Fiah, we got two a' dose," she said, laughing. "It's not like we use both a' dem once Kloppman goes ta bed d'ough," Specs added, laughing. "Shhh… don't scare da goil!" Slinks cried, playfully smacking Specs' arm. "Owwww, sawry," Specs shouted, grabbing his arm. Mush rolled his eyes and turned to Fire, "Don't mind dose two, dey can't nevah keep from touchin' each otha. You'll get used ta it." Fire shrugged, still looking down at her feet, "If you say so. Slinks, where is this bunkroom?" Slinks reluctantly pulled herself out from Specs' arms, "It's down da hall an' to da right. Come on, I'll show you da way." Mush watched Slinks lead Fire to the girls' bunkroom and sadly shook his head, "She hates me, Specs. She hates me." Specs walked up behind his upset friend and sighed heavily, "No, she don't, Mush. On da way up da stairs, Slinks was tellin' me dat she thinks Fiah's kinda uncomfortable around people for some reason. I'm shoah she like ya, Mush, jist give it some time. If ya want, I can have Slinks tawk ta her." "Ya would do dat fer me?" Mush asked, turning to face his friend. Specs nodded, "A' coise! What are friends for?" Slinks led Fire into the girls' bunkroom and smiled proudly, "Dis heah is da goils' bunkroom. If ya want, we can put yer things on da empty bunk by da window. Great view dat bunk's got. Are ya shoah ya don't wanna take da shawl off? It's real hot, a lot hottah den when ya got heah even." Fire walked over to the bunk, skittishly looking over her shoulder every five seconds, "Wow, this is a really nice view," she said, looking out the window. "No, really, I want to keep the shawl on." Secretly, Fire had wanted to take the shawl off because she was overheating, but she didn't want anyone asking questions once they saw the cuts and bruises. Slinks shrugged, "Okay, den keep it on. But I don't get how ya can be cold in dis swelterin' heat." "Perhaps I should take off the shawl," Fire thought to herself. "I am feeling a little faint." Then she sat down on her bunk and held her head in her hands, "Slinks, I don't feel very well," she said, fainting seconds later, the shawl falling to the floor. Slinks looked at Fire's arms with a horrified look on her face, never before had she seen so many cuts and bruises on one person before, not even when the Delanceys gave someone a bad soaking, "SPECS! MUSH! Please, help me!" she cried at the top of her lungs. Specs was in the bunkroom in a flash with Mush right behind him, "Are ya okay, Slinks? What happened?" he asked, not seeing Fire right away. "D-d-dat," Slinks replied, pointing to Fire's arms. "What's wrong wit' dem?" Mush asked, cautiously inching his way towards Fire to get a closer look. Once he saw the cuts and bruises that seemed to cover Fire's arms, he grew deathly pale, "Who would do dis ta her?" Specs shrugged, shaking his head, "I dunno Mush. Maybe dis is da reason she's so jumpy 'round us. Slinks, was she jumpy when she was only wit' you?" Slinks went over the events that happened since Fire arrived and shook her head, "No, only when she thought dat she had ta see Kloppman alone, an' when Mush smiled an' laughed dat weird laugh a' his an' went ta take 'er arm." Finally, everything started to come together in Specs' head, "Dat's it!" he cried, snapping his fingers. "What's it?" Slinks asked, a puzzled look on her face. "I think I may know why Fiah's so jumpy," Specs answered. "Maybe whoevah did dis ta her was a guy dat laughed an' smiled like Mush. Dat would explain why she's afraid a' awl guys an' why Mush really scared her." Mush pouted, "Are ya tryin' ta say somethin' heah, Specs?" Slinks laughed, "Relax Mush, what he's sayin' is dat Fiah pro'lly don't hate ya, she's jist afraid of whoevah she's hidin' from." Fire tossed and turned on her bunk, mumbling incoherently before erupting into a fit of screams, "No, Aaron! Please! Let me go, don't hurt me. Get off of me! Please, I didn't do anything," she sobbed. Slinks quickly looked over at Fire with a confused and horrified look on her face, "Fiah…. Are ya okay?" she asked, trying to wake her up. "No, don't touch me!" Fire shouted, swinging at Slinks and knocking her to the ground. Specs ran over to Slinks and helped her up, "Are ya okay?" Slinks looked at her arm and shook her head, "No, she clawed up my arm an' now it hoits." Fire's screams soon turned to a whimper as she started to shake more and more, "Why, Aaron, why? You said you loved me, why do you hurt me like that?" "Hoit you?" Mush asked, somewhat confused. Fire didn't reply, instead, she started to finally wake up. "What's wrong?" she asked, sitting up on her bunk. "You all look like you've seen a ghost." "Well what we saw is close enough," Slinks replied. "Are ya shoah dere ain't somethin' ya wanna tawk about, ya know ta get offa yer chest?" Fire grabbed her arms and curled up in a ball on the bunk, shaking her head, "No, there isn't anything, okay? I'm perfectly fine," she replied, wincing from the pain grabbing her arms had caused her. *~*~* Back at the Wedding *~*~* Slinks slowly shook her head, "Poor goil, we awl knew somethin' was wrong but no mattah what we did, we couldn't get 'er ta tawk." Lady Luck walked up to Slinks and Specs with Skittery in tow, "Whatcha tawkin' about?" she asked, sitting down by them. Specs looked up and fixed his glasses so that they were no longer nearly falling off of his nose, "We were tawkin' about how when Fiah foist came heah we nevah imagined in a million years dat she'd marry Mush." "I see," LL replied. "It took 'er ferevah ta even walk to da washroom alone. Remembah dat, Skitts?" Skittery looked up and nodded, "Yeah, I do. She would eitha wait until da washroom was empty or until eitha you or Slinks or Tigah went 'cause she was afraid a' getting' hoit." Slinks laughed, remembering that all too well, "Well, we got her ovah dat aftah a while, it jist took some time. It took at least two weeks aftah she came heah befoah she would even considah tellin' me a sentence about herself. You were dere, LL, don't ya remembah?" LL nodded, "I shoah do, an' even den she didn't say awl too much." *~*~* July 18th, 1900 *~*~* Fire shyly entered the bunkroom and walked over to where Slinks and Lady Luck were sitting, "Hello…." Slinks looked over at Fire and smiled, "Heya, Fiah. How's it rollin'?" Fire wrung her hands nervously, "I have to tell you something. Hi, LL." LL looked up at Fire and smiled as well, "Hey dere, Fiah." Slinks nodded, "Okay, Fiah. What is it?" "It's kind of…. personal," Fire said, sitting down close enough to Slinks and LL so she wouldn't have to speak above a whisper. "I can trust you not to tell anyone, right?" "A' coise ya can," Slinks answered. "Right, LL?" LL nodded, "Yep, yer secret's safe wit' us." "Good," Fire replied, breathing a sigh of relief. "I want to apologize for my behavior these past two weeks, I know it's been a little odd to say the least. It's not because I don't like any of you, because I don't, I consider you the family that I wish I had. It's… it's because of this person." "Go on," Slinks said. "We wanna help, you can tell us." "Who is dis poisen an' uhh… what did dey do?" LL asked, trying to keep Fire talking. Fire sighed, "Aaron, my ex-fiancé. He umm… well, he hurt me," she explained, choking back the tears. "So dat's who Aaron is an' where da cuts an' bruises are from. It's awl startin' ta make sense now," Slinks thought to herself. "What did 'e do to ya?" Fire shook her head, erupting in a fit of heavy sobs, "It doesn't matter, it was all my fault anyway. Everything was always my fault. If I had only did what he had wanted he wouldn't have done any of it to me, but I didn't listen so I paid for it." LL shook her head, "Fiah, it wasn't yer fault, I'm shoah it wasn't. He was jist sayin' dat ta make ya feel bad so ya'd do what he said." "No, LL, it WAS my fault!" Fire cried. "I was a bad girlfriend, it was bad of me to tell him I wanted to wait. He said I didn't love him, but I did, I swear I did!" LL glanced over at Slinks with a 'what do we do?' look on her face, "Fiah, dat's not love, not one bit. Love ain't spendin' yer time scared outta yer mind an' afraid a' getting' smacked around." "Well then what IS love?" Fire asked, crossing her arms. Slinks sighed, "Love is…. Love is…. I really dunno how ta describe love, but jist imagine awl dat's good an' right wit' da woild 24 hours a day an' 7 days a week. Yer gonna find yer true love while yer heah, I jist know ya are," she said with a smirk. Fire shook her head, "Oh no, not me. Boys don't like me very much." "Dat's what she t'inks," LL muttered. "Mush is head ovah feet fer her." "I know, I know," Slinks sighed. "But it's gonna take time fer her ta realize dat. I know she likes 'im, I jist know she does." Fire nervously bit her lower lip, "Well I ummm, I better be going. Thanks for listening like you did," she said, slowly walking away from her two friends. Mush ran into the boys bunkroom with a huge smile on his face, "Specs, guess what?" "Hmmm, lesse…. Yer runnin' away wit' da circus ta marry da bearded lady?" Specs asked. "No, no, way bettah den dat," Mush replied, shaking his head. "I gots meself a date." "Ohhh, wit' who?" Specs asked, suddenly more interested. Mush shrugged, "I dunno, I met 'er on da street taday. I figured dat I can't wait fer Fiah ta finally decide ta like me, so I should jist give up on 'er." Skittery rolled his eyes, "Mush, da goil likes ya, she's jist a liddle…. scared dat's awl. If ya really like da goil, don't give up on 'er so quickly, she's gotta be worth awl da trouble." "I still think she is worth da trouble, but I can't help but wondah if dat perhaps she isn't da one fer me an' dat if I waste awl my time on her I'll miss who I'm truly meant for," Mush replied, shrugging. "Dere's gotta be some way ta make him see dat she IS da one. Aftah everythin' Slinks has told me, it's gotta be true," Specs thought to himself before looking back over at Mush and sighing. "I know we can't stop ya from goin' out on dis date, but I don't want ya doin' nothin' yer gonna regret." Mush rolled his eyes, "Now what am I gonna do dat I'm gonna regret?" he asked, heading back towards the door. "It's jist one date." Fire, who was walking down the hallway at the time, swallowed hard when she heard this, "And so it starts again. I guess I just wasn't meant for anyone, not even a friendship," she thought to herself. "Well, I bettah get ready fer my date," Mush said, walking out of the boys' bunkroom and crashing into Fire. "Oh, Fiah, I'm so sorry! Can I help ya up?" he asked, cautiously reaching his hand out to her. Fire sighed heavily before finally taking Mush's hand and allowing herself to slowly be pulled back to her feet, "Thank you," she said, smiling. Mush nodded, smiling as well, "Yer welcome. I'd love ta stay an' chat, but I gotta go get ready fer a date." "A d-date?" Fire asked, trying to hold back the tears. "Yeah, I gots me a date fer tanight," Mush replied, still smiling. "I'm really lookin' forward to it." "Oh, that's…. nice," Fire said, feeling a small tear run down her cheek. "No! I can't cry, I can't cry," she thought to herself, quickly wiping the tear away. Mush saw the small tear run down Fire's cheek and sighed, wondering if that was because of all of this or because of something else, "Are ya okay? Do ya wanna tawk or somethin', I got time." "It's now or never, tell him now while you're feeling open about discussing this with him or keep it bottled up inside until you die," Fire thought to herself. "Okay, Mush. There's something I feel I have to tell you anyway." Mush nodded, "Allright, where do ya wanna go an' tawk?" "It's got to be somewhere where there will be too many people around for him to hurt me," Fire thought to herself. "Well, how about the fire escpae outside of the girls' bunkroom, it's really nice out there." "Okay, da fiah escape outside da goils' bunkroom it is, let's go," Mush replied, heading towards the fire escape. "I wondah what she could have ta tell me," he thought to himself all the way to the fire escape. Fire cautiously stepped out onto the fire escape and sat down, leaning back against the railing. "I know this isn't exactly the best time to tell you this since you have a date tonight and all, but I'm feeling open to people for the time being so I either tell you now or keep it bottled up inside of me until I breathe my last breath." "So, what didja wanna tell me?" Mush asked, sitting down on the fire escape across from Fire. Fire looked down at her hands and wrung them nervously, "Well, I know you think I hate you, but the truth is that I don't. Actually, it's the complete opposite. It's just that when I saw you for the first time, I sort of got scared." "Scared? Why?" Mush asked. "Ya can tawk ta me, I wanna help ya." Fire sighed heavily, wanting to tell him everything she could without technically telling him everything, "Because there was too strong of a resemblance to someone that used to hurt me. I want to get passed all that, really I do, but I just can't." "It's okay, I undahstand. But I don't get what yer tryin' ta say ta me heah, Fiah," Mush said, genuinely confused. Fire slowly looked up into Mush's gorgeous brown eyes, a feat she never thought she would conquer, and shrugged shyly, "What I'm trying to say is that I like you, I really really like you. There's just something about you that no one else has, I sensed it from the first time I saw you, but my memories got in the way. I know that you have a date tonight and that it's probably a very bad time for me to be telling you this, but like I said it was now or never. Maybe it just should've been never," she said softly, climbing back in through the window. "Fiah, wait," Mush called after her, gently taking her hand. "Yes, Mush?" Fire asked, looking down at their intertwined hands. Mush looked up at Fire and smiled warmly at her, "I've been waitin' fer ya ta say dat evah since I saw ya when I was walkin' down da stairs. I saw somethin' inside you dat I nevah saw befoah, somethin' dat I would like ta get ta know bettah. Please, whatevah ya do, nevah, evah let it go away." Fire shook her head, a small tear of joy rolling down her face, "I won't, Mush, I promise. And you still have a date to get ready for, so I'll leave you so you can go get ready," she replied, slowly climbing all the way through the window. "Fiah, do ya think we could maybe go out on a date sometime?" Mush asked once he was inside. "I would like that, but you have a date tonight you have to go on," Fire reminded him, nodding. "I know, I know," Mush replied. "I was thinkin' latah in da week we could do it, but I wanna do dis right." "What do you mean 'right'?" Fire asked, sitting down on her bunk. Mush smiled down at Fire, "I mean I pick ya up heah in da goils' bunkroom, I pay fer everythin', an' we fall in love." Fire blushed, giggling, "Oh Mush, Mush, Mush, I'm afraid I already beat you to the third thing on your list." "Ya did? How?" Mush asked, confused. "I fell in love with you almost right away," Fire replied, looking into his gorgeous brown eyes again. "Mush, I'd really hate to say it at a time like this, but you really should go and get ready for your date." Mush shrugged, "I dunno, she was jist some goil I met on da street, didn't even get 'er name. Besides, I was only tryin' ta get my mind offa you." "You mean you were doing it for me?" Fire asked, surprised. Mush nodded sheepishly, "Yeah, I'd walk around da woild barefoot an' bleedin' if it meant I would get ta see you." "Are you… serious? Completely serious?" Fire asked, biting her lip. "Fiah…" Mush started, crouching down and taking her hands. "I don't wanna miss one smile, I don't wanna miss one kiss. I just wanna be wit' you, right heah wit' you, just like dis. I just wanna hold you close, feel yer breath so close ta mine an' stay heah in dis moment fer awl da rest a' time," he whispered, kissing her on the cheek. Fire sighed happily, feeling completely different about herself in a matter of seconds, "Mush, you are the first person that I've ever known who's actually said something like that about me. I would always dream of the day that someone would say that and whisk me away for places a person only sees in their dreams, but after a while I gave up on my dream and nearly lost it all. I'm glad I caught you before you gave up on me." "Well I'm glad ya did too, othawise I'd be halfway ta my date wit' some goil dat pro'lly woiks fer Medda," Mush commented, laughing. Fire nodded, laughing, "I know, and that would be a bad thing, you don't want to end up paying for more than the dinner." *~*~* Back at the Wedding *~*~* Slinks sighed dreamliy, "I still can't believe she went an' did dat wit'out us! I woulda loved ta see dat." "I know what ya mean, Slinks," LL chimed in, "but some t'ings are bettah said wit'out da whole woild seein'." Skittery snickered, "Some t'ings are like dat too," he joked, looking over at Specs, who was also laughing. LL slightly smacked Skittery's arm, "Shaddup, yer ruinin' da moment!" "Ohhh, yer in troubleeee," Specs cried, still laughing. "Well so are you," Slinks commented, smacking Specs' arm. "So… where were we?" "Da date," LL reminded her. "Ah yes, da date," Slinks said, smiling. "Remembah how novious Fiah was?" *~*~* July 22nd, 1900 - Date Night *~*~* "Slinks, LL, help me!" Fire cried, rummaging through her bag of clothes for something to wear. "Ugh, I can't find anything to wear!" she whined, dropping herself down on her bunk and crossing her arms. "Fiah, relax. If ya went wearin' a potato sack Mush would still think ya were da most beautiful goil in da woild," Slinks sighed, picking up one of Fire's light blue shirts. "Heah, try dis." "I know, I know," Fire replied, putting on the light blue shirt. "But I want to appear acceptable to myself." "Ya worry too much, ya know dat?" LL asked, handing Fire a dark blue skirt with a light blue trim that he had thrown on the floor while rummaging through her bag. Fire took the skirt from LL and put it on. "I know I do, but I can't help it. I'm nervous, I'm excited, I'm in complete shock! I swear this is going to be the best night of my life. But until I can have the best night of my life, I need to do something with my hair. Do you have any ideas?" Mush paced back and forth across the boys' bunkroom nervously, "Do ya think she's ready yet? She ain't gonna cancel on me, is she? Ahhh, Specs, I dunno where ta take 'er!" Specs chuckled at Mush's unnecessary nervousness, "Mush, ya really should calm down, ya know dat? She ain't gonna cancel an' I suggest ya give 'er a few more minutes, she's pro'lly jist as novious as you are. If ya have enough money, I would suggest takin' Fiah to da flickers or somethin', but ya could always jist take a nice walk through Central Park." "Dat's it!" Mush cried, snapping his fingers. "Specs yer a genius! I'm gonna go see if she's ready," he said happily, walking over to the girls' bunkroom and knocking on the door. "Slinks, it's Mush. Is Fiah ready yet?" "Yeah, hold on a sec," Slinks called out to him, opening the door a few minutes later. Mush smiled at Fire as soon as he saw her. She was the perfect vision of loveliness, everything that Mush had hoped for and more. "Hey, Fiah. Are ya ummm, ready?" Fire nodded, taking Mush's hand into her own, "As ready as I'll ever be. We'll be back later, Slinks." "Ya bettah have 'er back by nine thoity!" Slinks teased, "I'll be waitin' up until she gets back. Oh an' Mush, I know every cop in town, bucko, so if she comes back cryin' yer in trouble!" Mush shook his head, laughing all the way down the hallway, "Quite da jokah she is, huh?" "Yeah, but she means well. At least she didn't give you the castration bit like she said she was going to," Fire replied, laughing. "An' I'm shoah glad about dat one," Mush said, breathing a sigh of relief. "So, what are we going to do tonight?" Fire asked, studying Mush's face for any trace of a hint. Mush smirked, "I was thinkin' maybe we'd go see a flicker an' take a walk in da park. How does dat sound?" "How about we skip the flicker, I like the stars in the sky more than the stars on the screen," Fire suggested. "A walk in da park it is den. Are ya cold or somethin'?" Mush asked as he started to slip off his jacket. Fire shook her head, "No really, you don't have to-," she stopped as soon and she felt the jacket resting on her shoulders. "Thank you, that was really nice, you didn't have to do that you know." "I know," Mush replied, shrugging. "But I wanted to. I wanna do everythin' I possibly can ta make yer life easier." "Don't worry about making my life easier, Mush. Just doing this right now is a lot easier than what I'm used to, believe me," Fire commented, sighing. Mush looked down at his feet, dying to know what could possibly be done to her that was so bad, but he couldn't bring himself to asking, "So do ya wanna go da long way around da park or da short way?" he asked, looking back up at Fire. Fire rested her head on Mush's shoulder and sighed. "I have no preference, but the long way would allow more time for us to be together, to talk without everyone else in the lodging house walking in pretending to be looking for something when all they really want is to hear part of what we're saying." Mush glanced over at Fire and smiled, "Yer right, ya know dat? I'm surprised none a' dem are hidin' in da bushes." Fire laughed, nodding, "I know what you mean. Slinks and LL are very protective of me. I'm surprised that they let me go with you alone, I really am. " Mush slipped his arm around Fire's shoulder and gently squeezed it, "I'm glad dey did, d'ough. 'Cause if dey didn't, I wouldn't nearly be havin' as much fun as I am now." "Me neither," Fire agreed, shaking her head. "D'ya wanna sit down or somethin'?" Mush asked, pointing to a park bench overlooking a small pond, the moon glistening on the water's surface. Fire nodded, "Yes, I'd like that," she said, following Mush over to the bench. *~*~* Back at the Wedding *~*~* Slinks wiped her eyes from laughing so hard, "As soon as I hoid Mush say dat whole thing about us followin' dem, I took off runnin'. I sweah he saw me or somethin'!" "But ya were such a cute liddle spy," Specs chuckled, gently squeezing Slinks' hand. "Yeah, I remembah dat," LL said. "Ya came runnin' through da bunk room white as a ghost! Remembah when Fiah came home dat night?" Slinks nodded, "I shoah do! She was floatin' on air an' wettah den da East Rivah! An' let's not ferget dey got home aftah nine thoity!" *~*~* July 22nd, 1900 - After the Date *~*~ Fire floated into the bunkroom, dripping wet, "Hello, Slinks. Hello, LL. How are you two on this wonderfully amazing evening?" Slinks looked up from her game of solitaire, her eyes growing wide, "Fiah, it's aftah nine thoity. An' why are ya awl wet?" "Who's awl wet?" LL asked after tossing her dice onto her bunk. "Who needs time? What is time but a number? As far as I'm concerned, all time froze as soon as we reached the park," Fire replied a dreamy, far-off look in her eyes. "Fiah, ya ain't tawkin' sense, what's gotten inta you?" Slinks asked, walking over to Fire and handing her a towel. Fire sighed, taking the towel and drying herself off, "I just had the best night of my life, Slinks. It was wonderful." "Yeah, we can see dat," LL commented. "But dat still don't e'splain why yer wet." "The pond, it was calling us," Fire explained. "The way the moon glistened on the water was so beautiful, I'll never forget it. Something magical happened in that pond tonight." "Is dat what dey're callin' it now?" Slinks whispered over to LL. LL shrugged, "I dunno. Fiah, e'sactly what happened in da pond?" Fire threw her nightshirt on and hopped up onto her bunk, "I fell in love, we fell in love. I discovered that love is a beautiful thing and it should be praised and put up on this pedestal instead of kept away in a dirty old cardboard box." "Fiah, are ya shoah dat ya know what yer doin'?" Slinks asked, laying down on her bunk. "Aftah what happened last time, are ya shoah ya wanna jump inta somethin' right away?" Fire sighed, hugging her pillow tightly, "He would never hurt me, he told me that he just couldn't. He said he could never do something like that to me in a million years." "Ya mean, ya told 'im?" LL asked, a shock look on her face. "Yes, I did. I felt really safe there in the park, there was just the two of us and the pond. He needed to know," Fire answered, laying down on her bunk. "Well what awl didja say?" Slinks asked, wondering if she told Mush more than she told them. Fire yawned, covering her mouth, "Can I tell you tomorrow, I'm really tired," she said, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep. The morning came all too slowly for Fire and she was up before the first of the sun's rays had a chance to shine down on her through the window. She sat straight up in her bunk and stretched, smiling to herself all the while. "Time for another gorgeous day, I wonder what marvelous things await me at the passing of every minute." LL rolled over in her bunk and groaned, "What are ya ramblin' on about dis time?" she complained, opening her eyes sleepily. Fire shook her head and laughed, "Luck, LL, Lady Luck, Lady, you have no idea how wonderful the mornings are. They're like the start of a whole new story each and every day. There's excitement on every page like in a great adventure story and love like in every great love story ever told." Slinks sat up in her bunk and threw her pillow at Fire, "Shaddup, it ain't time ta wake up yet so why are ya up?" Fire sighed happily and hopped off her bed, walking over to the window, "I swear the morning came all too slowly after a night like last night." LL looked over at Fire and smirked, "Hey, ya nevah told us what happened!" "Yeah!" Slinks cried. "I wanna know what happened, so is Mush really as sweet as 'e seems?" "Oh even sweeter!" Fire gushed, sighing happily. "He's kind, and caring, and adventurous. He's practically everything I've ever dreamed of!" LL snickered, "'Adventurous', eh?" Fire shook her head, blushing, "No, not like that. I mean like when we went swimming in the pond last night, who would really risk jumping into a pond in the middle of Central Park to go swimming?" "Ya went swimmin' wit' him?" Slinks asked, amazed. "So dat's why ya came home awl wet!" "What's wrong with swimming?" Fire asked, a genuinely confused look on her face. LL shook her head and giggled, "Nothin', nothin' at awl. So awl ya did was go swimmin'?" Fire nodded, walking over to her bunk and picking up her change of clothes, "Yes, all we did was go swimming." *~*~* Back at the Wedding *~*~* "I still think dat somethin' else went on on dat date," Slinks said, sighing. Spot walked up to the crowded table and sat down in one of the chairs, "What's goin' on ovah heah, some kind a' secret meetin'?" Skittery shook his head, "Nope, we'se just tawkin' about Mush an' Fiah." "Fiah… now dat goil had some problems. What kind a' goil won't let a guy touch dem?" Spot asked, grunting. Smalls walked up behind Spot and smacked him in the back of the head, "Stop dat, it ain't nice. Ya know damn right why she didn't now get ovah yerself an' grow up!" Spot held the back of his head and glared up at Smalls, "Ya bettah watch yer back!" "Easy, Spot. Don't be startin' no problems at Mush an' Fiah's weddin', dey desoive bettah den ta have you go an' start a fight," Specs warned, breaking up the developing fight between the two rivals. "Yeah," Skittery agreed. "Dey've been dreamin' a' dis since a month aftah dey started datin' an' dey don't need a bittah newsy messin' it up." Spot crossed his arms and huffed, "Look who's tawkin'," he muttered. Specs turned away from Spot and shook his head, "Now, if you thought Fiah was awl sunshine an' rainbows, ya shoulda seen Mush. Dat boy was even more lovestruck den usual." *~*~* July 23rd, 1900 - the Morning after the Date *~*~* As soon as the sunlight hit the windows in the boys' bunkroom, Mush hopped off of his bunk and ran into the washroom, "I gotta look nice taday, real nice fer Fiah." "What e'sactly are ya doin'?" Specs asked, sitting up in his bunk and rubbing his eyes. "I'm makin' myself look presentable-like," Mush replied, drying his now wet hair with a towel. Specs shook his head, "Mush, I've nevah seen ya so woiked up ovah a goil befoah." "Specs, Specs, Specs," Mush chuckled. "Dat's because I've nevah been in love befoah, but I am now." Specs' jaw dropped to the floor, his eyes wide with amazement, "You…. Fiah…. love? I nevah though I would hear dose t'ree woids in da same sentence." "Well why not?" Mush asked, wetting his hair. "We tawked everythin' ovah an' now I undahstand why she is da way she is. We can trust each otha, last night I told her things dat no one else but me knows." "Not even me?" Specs asked, pretending to be hurt by this. "Nope, not even you," Mush replied, shaking his head. "Dere are jist some things dat I'd ratha have my goil know instead." *~*~* Back at the Wedding *~*~* Specs shook his head, chuckling, "Dat's when it awl started. I nevah did find out what he said ta her, but it's not like I'm still wonderin' or anything." "Shoah ya ain't, shoah ya ain't," Slinks teased, lightly elbowing Specs. "I ain't!" Specs protested, tickling Slinks. LL sighed heavily and shook her head at Specs and Slinks, "Remembah when Fiah's boithday rolled around? She thought dat no one knew, but Mush proved 'er wrong." *~*~* December 23rd, 1900 - Fire's Birthday *~*~* Fire sat on her bunk and watched the snowflakes gently tumble onto the fire escape outside the window, "Happy birthday, Felicia. Happy birthday to you," she said softly to herself, a small tear rolling down her cheek. Mush quietly walked into the girls' bunkroom and knocked on the doorframe, "Fiah? Mind if I come in?" he asked, already half way to her bunk. Fire turned to face Mush and shook her head, "No, not at all," she replied, moving over on her bunk to make room for him. Mush sat down next to Fire and smiled, "I know ya think dat no one knew taday was yer boithday, but da truth is dat I asked Kloppman an' he told me, so I know dat taday's yer boithday. An' in celebration a' yer boithday, I bought ya somethin'," he said, handing her a small, black box. "What is it?" Fire asked, looking down at the box and then back up at Mush. "Ya gotta open it ta find out, ya silly goil!" Mush laughed. Fire slowly opened the small, black box and could feelthe tears coming to her eyes almost immediately, "Oh, Mush, I love it!" she cried, taking the silver bracelet out of the box. "You must've saved up your money for months to get this, I love it!" "I'm glad ya love it," Mush replied, hugging Fire. "But ya ain't seen da best part. Toin ovah da heart." Fire turned over the heart that dangled from the middle of the bracelet and read the inscription, "Dearest Fire, As long as there are clouds in the sky and fish in the sea, this heart will mean that I love you for as long as you love me. Love Always and Forever, Mush." "Do ya like it?" Mush asked, smiling sheepishly at Fire. Fire shook her head, tears of joy rolling down her face, "No…. I love it! It is the sweetest, most thoughtful gift that anyone has ever given to me! Thank you so much, Mush. I seriously didn't think anyone bothered to ask when my birthday was, but I guess I was wrong." Mush stood up and held his hand out to Fire, "Come on, everyone's downstairs an' we'se da only ones up heah, let's go see what dey're up to." "Good idea, Mush. They probably think that I don't like them anymore because I've been up here by myself all day," Fire laughed, taking Mush's hand and standing up. When they arrived downstairs, everything was dark and there was no one to be found. "Hmm…. I wondah where dey went," Mush said with a sly and all-knowing grin on his face. "I don't know," Fire replied, walking over to the light switch. "But I'm going to turn this light on so they can see when they decide to come home." With a flip of the switch, the seemingly empty room erupted into a room full of smiling and laughing faces, "Happy boithday, Fiah!" Slinks cried, running over to her friend and hugging her. Fire was in complete and utter shock because of the whole scene unfolding around her, "I… I don't know what to say! Thank you all so much!" *~*~* Back at the Wedding *~*~* LL had to wipe tears from her eyes because she was laughing so hard, "Remembah her face? Her jaw was on da floor fer an hour aftah da party ended, too bad we didn't have Denton's camera ta get a pitcha of it." "Now dat woulda been poifect!" Specs laughed, imagining all of the possibilities that could've happened with a picture like that. "We coulda sent it ta Denton an' told him ta tell Fiah he was puttin' it in da pape, or we coulda put it in a frame on da wall, or we coulda….." "Specs! Enough!" Slinks shouted, "Yer makin' me laugh too hard!" "Sawry," Specs replied, still snickering slightly. "I was jist sayin' how funny it woulda been." LL looked around the table and laughed, "Remembah New Years' Eve?" "How can I ferget?" Skittery replied, chuckling. Slinks nodded, bursting out in laughter, "Now dat was a night ta remembah! I swear, no one held dat kiss nearly as long as Mush an' Fiah did. An' when dey were done dey was wonderin' why everyone was starin' at 'em!" "Well don't ya think dat people would start ta stare if ya kiss fer ferevah an' a day?" Specs commented, laughing. "Apparently dey lost track a' time or…. somethin' like dat," LL said, laughing so hard that she had to rest her forehead on the table. *~*~* December 31st, 1900 - New Years' Eve *~*~* Fire looked up at the clock on the wall and began to prepare counting down to the New Year, "Okay, get ready everybody. Three…… two…… one…… Happy New Year!" The various couples in the room exchanged the traditional New Years' kisses and made their resolutions. Mush tapped Fire on the shoulder and spun her around, "Happy New Yeah, Fiah," he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. "Hey, would ya get a load a' dat?" Skittery whispered to Specs, pointing out Mush and Fire to him. Specs' eyes popped out of their sockets in shock, "I've nevah seen two people kiss fer dat long. Have you, Slinks?" Slinks turned around to see what Specs was talking about and shook her head, "No… hey wait has anyone bothered ta time how long dis kiss has been goin' on?" "Well, no," Specs replied, shaking his head. "It's too late now anyway," Skittery sighed. "Dat woulda been funny ta see how long dey was really kissin' fer." Fire slowly pulled away from Mush and smiled up at him, "Happy New Year to you too, Mush," she whispered, throwing her arms around him and hugging him. Slinks snickered as she walked up behind the embracing couple, "Did we awl jist witness da foist kiss?" "The first of a long line of kisses to come," Fire answered, sighing dreamily. *~*~* Back at the Wedding *~*~* "Foist in a long line a' kisses was an undahstatement!" Slinks cried, laughing. "Ya got dat right, Slinks," LL agreed. "I almost thought dat on Valentine's Day dey were gonna handcuff demselves tageddah or somethin'!" Skittery snickered, "Dey probably woulda if it weren't fer Kloppman's rules, ya know." "Maybe dat's why dey spent most a' Valentine's Day out, or maybe dey jist didn't wanna deal wit' us," Specs shrugged. Slinks sighed heavily, "Well aftah da grief we gave 'em on New Years' would ya really wanna be spendin' yer Valentine's Day around us too?" *~*~* February 14th, 1901 - Valentine's Day *~*~* Mush quietly walked over to Fire's bunk and lightly shook her awake, "Fiah, honey, it's time ta wake up. We gots lots a' stuff ta do taday," he whispered softly in her ear. Fire stretched in her bunk, her eyes slowly opening. "Good morning, Mush," she smiled. "What are we doing today?" Mush didn't reply, instead he just sat down on her bunk by her feet and smiled, "It's Valentine's Day, we're gonna do whatevah we want." "Oh wow, it is Valentine's Day, isn't it?" Fire asked, slowly sitting up. "I had forgotten, it's not like I ever really had the chance to celebrate Valentine's Day anyway." "Well den, Fiah my dear, dis is gonna be a Valentine's Day ta remembah," Mush answered, gently picking up her hand and kissing it. Fire leaned over to Mush and smiled, hugging him. "I already love it." Mush reluctantly pulled away and walked towards the bunkroom door, "I'll leave ya ta get dressed. I'll meet ya downstairs, okay?" "I'll see you in a few minutes," Fire called after him, waving as she stood up to get her clothes. Mush walked downstairs to wait for Fire in the lobby, his heart racing. "Dis is gonna be da best day evah," he said softly to himself. "I can't wait ta see her face when she sees it." "Sees what?" Fire asked as she started to descend the stairs. "Nothin', nothin', I was jist rememberin' somethin' Specs said ta be about what he got fer Slinks," Mush replied as he walked to the stairs to meet Fire at the bottom. Fire laughed, she knew Mush was up to something, "Oh, okay then. So, where are we going first?" "You'll see," Mush replied, taking Fire's hand. "Yer gonna love it." Mush led Fire through the streets of New York City until they arrived at Central Park. Once they were inside Central Park, he walked with her to the small pond where they talked on their first date and sat her down on that very same bench. "I know dat we've only been goin' tageddah fer seven months, but dere's somethin' dat I wanna tell ya," Mush said quietly as he sat down next to her. "What's that?" Fire asked, a little worried and excited all at the same time. Mush looked down before taking a deep breath, "I wanna spend da rest a' my life wit' ya, I knew dat I wanted to from da very start." Fire threw her arms around Mush and hugged him, tear of joy streaming down her face, "That's all I've ever wanted. All my life I've wanted someone to love and love me in return and then I finally found you. Ever since our first date right here in this very spot I've been in love with you. You are the sweetest, most thoughtful person I've ever known, I just know that everything will be fine whenever I'm around you." *~*~* Back at the Wedding *~*~* "An' jist like dat dey got engaged," Slinks said, sighing. "Dey came home well aftah dat nine thoity curfew I set up babblin' about gettin' married. A' coise I didn't believe 'em at foist, but I was obviously wrong." "I don't think anyone really believed 'em, I mean who would? Up until Fiah came Mush was known fer changin' his mind about a goil as soon as he saw a new one." Specs replied. "I know dat, but he always said it was because he was lookin' fer da right goil an' as soon as 'e saw Fiah ya could tell he was convinced dat he found who he was lookin' fer," Slinks pointed out, looking over at Specs. Specs nodded in agreement, "Yeah, right away ya could see dat dere was a change in him, not a big one but it was still a change. Aftah dey walked in da lodgin' house dat night ya could tell dey both were changed." *~*~* February 14th, 1901 - Later that Night *~*~* Mush opened the lodging house door and smiled, "Aftah you, Fiah," he said, letting Fire go in first. Fire looked over her shoulder at Mush and smiled, "Thank you, honey," she said, walking inside and sitting down on the couch. Slinks looked up from her extra paper and quirked her brow in confusion, "Are you'se two okay? Yer soundin' awful lovey-dovey. Don't ya think, LL?" "Huh? What?" LL asked, a confused look on her face. "Didja say somethin'?" "Yeah," Specs answered. "She asked if ya thought Mush an' Fiah were actin' awl lovey-dovey too." LL looked over at Mush and Fire, who were cozying up to each other on the couch, and nodded, "Definitely a lot more lovey-dovey den usual." "We are not acting lovey-dovey!" Fire protested. "Anyway, if we were we'd definitely have a good enough reason!" Slinks scoffed, "An' what would dis 'reason' be?" "Well," Mush started. "Fer one thing, yer lookin' at da soon ta be mistah an' missus Meyers." "Wait, wait, wait a second heah," Specs replied. "You'se two are gonna get…. married?" Fire nodded, smiling, "Yes, Specs, we're going to get married." "I don't believe dis," Specs said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Mush, I nevah though in a million years dat you'd actually settle down wit' a goil, yer philosophy used ta be 'so many goils, so liddle time' what happened ta dat?" Mush shrugged, "Times change an' people change. My philosophy changed da second Fiah walked inta my life. Now it's only one goil, but still not enough time." "Oh, Mush, that was so sweet!" Fire cried happily, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him. Mush blushed modestly, "It was awl da truth, Fiah, it was awl da truth." *~*~* Back at the Wedding *~*~* "Well he was right. Aftah dat night, he nevah looked at anothah goil again, not even when dey tried as best dey could ta catch 'is eye," Specs said, shrugging. Slinks shook her head, "No, aftah dat it was virtually impossible ta even get Mush ta say anythin' to a goil otha den Fiah. Dey nevah left each otha's side. I'm surprised dey didn't ask Kloppman fer some kind a' sleepin' arrangement where dey could be in da same room!" LL giggled, "Remembah when we caught 'em sneakin' down from da roof aftah sleepin' up dere awl night?" "Yeah, dat was perdy funny!" Skittery replied, laughing as well. "I remembah dat," Slinks answered. "I'm real shocked Kloppman didn't do nothin' about it, but den again he nevah really seemed ta have a problem wit' anythin' dey did." *~*~* September 27th, 1901 - The Morning after They Slept on the Roof *~*~* "Shhhh…. careful through da window now, Fiah," Mush whispered as they climbed into the bunkroom after spending the night on the roof. Fire silently made it through the window and sat down on her bunk. "That was really fun last night, I always go up there and look at the stars but I've never had anyone actually sit up there with me. Thank you for doing that," she whispered as she leaned over and hugged him. Mush's face turned a slight shade of pink. "Ya don't gotta thank me, jist bein' up dere wit' ya was thankin' enough. I bettah hurry up an' get myself in my bunk befoah da guys finally notice I'm gone," he whispered, reluctantly standing back up. Slinks' eyes slowly fluttered open upon hearing Mush's voice in the bunkroom. She sat up straight in her bunk and immediately looked over in the direction of Fire's bunk, "Mush!" she cried. "What are you doin' in heah? Ya don't even look like ya've seen yer bunk awl night. Come ta think a' it, neitha do you, Fiah!" "Slinks!" Fire cried, a surprised look on her face. "What are you doing awake? I ummm, thought everyone was asleep." "I was asleep until you'se two came in through dat window. Ya weren't up dere awl night, were ya?" Slinks asked, getting up and walking over to Mush and Fire. Mush nodded slowly, "Yeah, but we was just lookin' at da stars an' we sorta fell asleep, nothin' else happened…. I swear!" "Slinks, you have to believe us. Mush didn't even try anything on me!" Fire added, a sincere look on her face. "Well," Slinks started, "dere's really no way ta tell if yer tellin' da truth or not. I guess I gotta believe ya, but I still can't help but think dat maybe somthin' did go on." "Somethin' went on? Where, will it make da papes?" LL asked drowsily as she slowly sat up in her bunk. "No, LL," Mush replied. "Slinks jist seems ta think dat somethin' happened up on da roof last night." "But nothing did, I swear!" Fire cried, hoping that LL would believe her. Specs and Skittery ran into the bunkroom, worried looks on their faces. "Are ya okay, Slinks? We hoid ya yellin," Specs said, walking over to her. Skittery walked over to LL and sat down, "What's awl da ruckus about?" LL shrugged, "I dunno, I jist woke up. Try askin' Slinks." "Well, I caught dese two climbin' in thru da window. Dey spent da night up dere," Slinks explained, pointing to Mush and Fire. Specs chuckled, "So ya had a liddle fun last night eh, Mush?" "UGH!!!! I can't believe you!" Fire shouted, climbing back through the window and walking up to the roof. Mush glared at Specs before turning to the window. "See what ya did? I don't believe you eitha. Nothin' happened but ya don't seem ta wanna believe us! I bettah go up dere an' tawk ta her," he said, climbing out the window and onto the roof. Fire pulled herself on the roof and set herself down on the couch they had slept on the night before. "Why won't they believe us, why?" she asked herself, fighting back oncoming tears. "Fiah, are ya up heah?" Mush asked, stepping onto the roof. "Please, I wanna tawk to ya." "I'm over here on the couch, Mush," Fire replied as she tried to make her voice sound normal. Mush walked over to the couch and sat down next to Fire, holding her protectively, "I'm sorry about what dey said, dey jist dunno when ta quit." "You don't have to apologize for them, we both know nothing happened. We both also know that something did almost happen but that we stopped ourselves before we got carried away," Fire replied, shrugging. Mush nodded, "Yeah, but don't ya wish dat maybe somethin' did happen?" "Honestly?" Fire asked, blushing. "Yes, I do." "Ya do?" Mush asked, surprised. "Does this answer your question?" Fire asked, leaning over and kissing him. Mush nodded, a silly grin on his face, "Ummm…. ummm… yeah, I believe it does, but can ya do it again jist so I'm shoah dat it does?" "Of course I can," Fire replied, kissing him again. "Does that back up your answer?" "Yeah, I'd say it does," Mush replied, smiling. Fire smiled and rested her head on Mush's shoulder, "Good. Did I ever tell you how comfortable you are? I could stay like this in your arms forever." "Dat could be arranged, ya know," Mush whispered softly in Fire's ear. "It can?" Fire asked, raising her eyebrow. "I'd like that." Mush held Fire closer and started to rock back and forth, "So would I, Fiah, so would I." Fire leaned back against Mush's chest and closed her eyes, "Do you promise you'll never let me go?" Mush nodded, slowly running his hand over her curly hair, "I promise." *~*~* Back at the Wedding *~*~* "I still feel kinda bad fer doin' dat," Specs said, shrugging. "It's okay, Specs," Slinks replied. "'Cuz ya knew dat it was gonna happen eventually, we jist didn't know when dat eventually was." LL laughed, "Who's sayin' dat dey even did anythin' yet, jist because dey're newsies don't mean dey don't got morals." "Morals, what are morals?" Skittery asked, chuckling. Chesapeake walked up behind LL and rolled her eyes, "Newsies don't HAVE morals!" she shouted, promptly walking away. "And how is everything over at this table, my dear friends?" a voice from behind them asked. Slinks turned around to see Fire standing behind her, "Fiah, hi! We was jist rememberin'….. stuff." "Oh really now?" Fire asked. "What kind of stuff?" Slinks looked around the table for someone to help her out, "Ummm…. ummm….." "Da good old days!" Specs chimed in, smiling at Slinks. "I see," Fire said, pulling up another chair and sitting down. "Mush should be coming over soon, he's over talking to Tiger, Smalls, Blaze, Bumlets, and Dutchy." "Well why ain't you ovah dere?" LL asked, a curious look on her face. "Because, LL," Fire started, "I was already over there and it's just your turn." "What's goin' on ovah heah?" Mush asked, walking up behind Fire and wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Fire looked up at Mush and shrugged, "I don't know, they won't tell me." "Okay, okay, we'll tell ya," Skittery cried, sighing heavily. "We was tawkin' about you'se two." "Us?" Fire asked, a surprised look on her face. Slinks nodded, her face red from embarrassment, "Yeah, we were jist tawkin' about dat night up on da roof." "You aren't still on that are you?" Fire asked, biting her lip. "No, no we ain't," Specs answered, shaking his head. "It was jist how far we got in tellin' dis story." "Story?" Mush asked, slightly confused. LL nodded, "Yeah, da story a' what's happened in da past five years. Dere's a lot a' people readin' dis story right now as we speak!" Fire looked all around the room as if she was being spied on, "Right now, now? As in they can see Swifty picking his nose over there in the corner?" Slinks grabbed Fire's arm and shook her head, laughing, "Dat ain't Swifty….. dat's Spot! Some leadah he is!" Skittery shook his head, "No, dey can only see what's goin' on right heah or what we start tawkin' about. What are dose things called, flashbacks?" "Yeah, flashbacks. Dose are fun!" Slinks replied, laughing. Specs looked at his watch and pouted, "Okay, my watch says we're late fer da next flashback." "Ohhh… what is this one about?" Slinks asked, laughing. "I know!" Fire replied. "Remember that big party we had I think two years ago?" "Yeah!" Mush cried, "Dat was some fun stuff!" *~*~* June 17th, 1903 - Big Party at Irving Hall *~*~* Fire walked into Irving Hall and stopped suddenly, her mouth gaping at the sight of all the people in the room, "Looks like this is going to be one big party." "Yeah, it does," Slinks said, nodding in agreement. "Jist think, it'll be woise latah when Spot an' da rest a' Brooklyn get heah." Mush walked up behind Fire and took her hands, "Come on, we got a party ta get to! We bettah hurry befoah our spot on da dance floor gets taken." "Okay, Mush, let's go. I'll see you in there okay, Slinks?" Fire asked, looking over her shoulder at Slinks and Specs. Slinks grabbed Specs' suspenders and started to pull him inside, "Let's go, dis is definitely gonna be an interestin' night." "You can say dat again," Specs replied, slipping his arm around Slinks' shoulder as they walked inside. Irving Hall was even more crowded than usual with newsies singing, dancing, and having an all-around good time. "Hold onta my hand so ya don't get lost in da crowd," Mush said, squeezing Fire's hand. "We don't want some otha guy stealin' ya from me when my back is toined." Fire shook her head, smiling, "I would never let that happen, you know I don't trust anyone but you." "I know, I know," Mush replied, a smug grin on his face. "How's about we dance?" he asked, twirling Fire around in his arms. Fire giggled as she was twirled around and around in Mush's arms, "Of course I'll dance with you, but you're making me dizzy with all this spinning." "Oh, I'm sorry," Mush replied, smiling as they began to dance. "It's okay, I wasn't that dizzy yet anyway. Besides, it was fun," Fire said softly, resting her head on his shoulder. "Well, well, well, look who we have heah. Don't dey look awl close an' cozy?" a voice from behind the dancing couple said, laughing. Fire looked up briefly to see Bumlets and Blaze, both of them grinning as if they had discovered some big secret between her and Mush. "Bumlets, you're acting as if you've never seen a couple dancing before." Bumlets shook his head, "No, I have. I jist haven't seen a couple evah slow dance ta 'High Times, Hard Times', dat's awl." Blaze laughed, "Me neitha. And apparently neitha has da rest a' Irving Hall!" "What's that supposed to mean?" Mush asked, looking up and scanning the room. "Okay, ferget I said dat!" "What?" Fire asked, looking up. "What's going on?" Mush looked at Fire and blushed, "Everyone's starin' at us because we're slow dancin' an' dey ain't." Fire smiled devilishly, "Well if they're all watching, how about we give them the shock of a lifetime?" "An' how are we s'posed ta do dat?" Mush asked, chuckling. Fire giggled, biting her lower lip. "Like this," she replied, pulling Mush closer and kissing him. Blaze froze in shock, "Bumlets, did dey really jist do dat?" "Well I saw it, an' you saw it, an' da rest a' da room looks like dey saw it so yeah, I think dey did," Bumlets replied, nodding slowly. After the kiss had ended, Fire looked across at Mush and smiled, "Do you think that shocked them enough?" Mush nodded, taking Fire's hand, "Yeah, I think we did. But I'm pretty shoah da rest a' dis party's gonna be kinda borin'. Do ya wanna go home an' look at da stars or somethin'?" "The stars?? Oh I just love watching the stars!" Fire said, sighing dreamily. "I know," Mush replied, smiling. "Dat's why I suggested it!" Fire turned to Blaze and Bumlets and smiled, "We're going back to the lodging house to watch the stars. If anyone asks, you haven't seen us, okay?" "Okay, whatevah ya say, Fiah," Blaze replied, giggling. "Bye, Bumlets! Bye, Blaze!" Fire called over her shoulder, waving as she and Mush walked out of Irving Hall. *~*~* Back at the Wedding *~*~* Slinks shook her head, her face bright red from laughter, "So dat's where you'se two were!" Fire nodded, "Yeah, that's where we were. Mush knows how I can't resist watching the night sky." Then she turned around and smirked at him. "Then again, he probably had it planned." she teased, laughing. Mush looked around innocently, "Ummm…. no?" he replied, trying not to look too guilty. Fire rolled her eyes, "Suuuuure, Mush, whatever you say." Skittery raised his hand, a confused look on his face, "I gots a dumb question…… why did we skip ovah 1902?" The whole table shrugged, unable to come up with a good enough answer. "Because nothin' good happened in 1902!" Slinks finally cried, laughing. "Oh, ummm… okay," Skittery said, a little embarrassed that he had asked a question such as that. "Hey, Fiah, I gots a question fer ya," LL said, smirking. "Was watchin' da stars da only thing dat went on dat night on da roof?" she asked, laughing. Fire turned a deep shade of crimson and looked up at Mush, "Well, LL, I'm not telling you that. Hey….. isn't it time for another flashback?" she asked, trying to change the subject. Slinks snickered, "Shoah it is, Fiah, shoah it is. Remembah dat time you'se two didn't even botha ta come home? Ohhhh were we scared." Mush looked down, blushing, "We got stuck in da rain an' we were too far from home ta walk." "Riiiight, ya can keep sayin' dat, Mush, it ain't gonna change a thing," Specs replied, laughing. Fire sighed heavily, "Hey, we didn't choose to sleep under that bridge, we had to because the rain was too much to get stuck in. We could've gotten pneumonia or something even worse." "So ya spent da night in each otha's arms undah a bridge where no one could see ya?" LL asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, ummm…. we had to do something to keep warm," Fire replied, smiling nervously. *~*~* September 27th, 1904 *~*~* It had been an unseasonably warm fall day, the beauty of the weather had almost made Fire forget about the rotten headlines. "Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Ex-warden pleads temporary insanity due to rotten sauerkraut!" she shouted, walking through Central Park. "I can't take this anymore, this headline is absolutely atrocious! If only I was as good at improving the truth as everyone else is," she muttered to herself, sitting down on a park bench, unknowing that she had just sat down on someone's leg. "Well hello dere, Fiah," Mush said, tickling her sides. Fire squealed and jumped back to her feet, turning around to see Mush sitting on the bench, "Mush! I didn't know you were sitting there, I'm sorry." "Hey, I ain't complainin', am I? Havin' trouble wit' da headlines?" Mush asked, pulling Fire's arm so she was sitting down next to him on the bench. Fire nodded, rolling her eyes, "That isn't the half of it. These sauerkraut stories are getting so old!" Mush chuckled "I know what ya mean, but at least da sellin' day's almost ovah." "Yeah, that's about the only good thing about it!" Fire replied, laughing. Mush looked up at the sky and shook his head, "Tut tut…." "What?" Fire asked, a confused look on her face." "Rain!" Mush cried as the rain came pouring down. "Oh no!" Fire cried, hoisting her newspapers over her head so her hair didn't get wet. "What do we do?" Mush looked all around the park for something that could serve as shelter until the rain stopped. "Well dere's dat liddle bridge ovah dere," he replied, taking her hand and leading her to the bridge. Fire crawled under the bridge and leaned her head back against the concrete, "How long do you think we'll be under here?" she asked, looking over at Mush. Mush shrugged, "I dunno, we could be heah awl night, but it's bettah den takin' a chace in dat rain." Fire giggled, smirking. "I'm not complaining, not one bit," she said, sliding over to Mush and resting her head on his shoulder. "Neitha am I, believe me!" Mush replied, sliding his arm around her shoulder. The clock at the lodging house read 10:30 pm, well past the time Mush and Fire usually came home. "Where could dey be?" Slinks asked, looking out the window for the 20th time in five minutes. Skittery looked up at Slinks and rolled his eyes, "Relax, dey're pro'lly shacked up somewhere, don't worry about it. You'll see 'em tomorrow." "But look at dat RAIN!" Slinks shouted, pointing to the window. "It's been goin' on like dis fer t'ree hours! Who know, dey mighta gotten soaked by da Delanceys, ya know how dey have it our fer Fiah." "Are you lookin' out dat window again?" Specs asked, walking down the stairs. Slinks nodded, "Yeah, dey ain't up on da roof, are dey?" Specs sat down next to Slinks and shook his head, "No, I jist checked. Dey ain't even in dat liddle shack up dere." LL yawned as she walked to the stairs, "We'll see 'em tomorrow, but can we please jist go an' get some sleep now?" "I'm wit' LL on dis one," Skittery said, heading to the stairs. "Slinks, I wouldn't worry about 'em, Mush is tough, he can take care a' da both a' dem." Slinks glanced at the window one last time before walking with Specs to the stairs, "At least da rain's finally startin' ta die down." *~*~* Back at the Wedding *~*~* Fire looked up at Mush and smirked, "Hear that, Mush? They were actually worried about us!" Mush looked down at Fire and laughed, "Imagine dat, dey was worried about us." "Shaddup, we were worried!" Slinks replied, blushing. Skittery shook his head, "No, you were worried, we were tired." "Slinks, don't worry, ya were jist tryin' ta help," Specs said, smiling at her reassuringly. "I know, I know," Slinks replied. "But dey still won't lemme live it down.""Ya know we still love ya anyway," LL replied, laughing. "Yeah," Specs said, kissing her cheek. Fire looked up at Mush and smiled, "Some five years it's been, wouldn't you say?" Mush nodded, leaning forward and kissing Fire's forehead, "It shoah has, but I wouldn't trade it in for nothin'." "Me neither, Mush, me neither," Fire smiled, reaching up and taking his hands. Slinks sighed happily, resting her head on Specs' shoulder. "It shoah has been a long road ta get heah, but dey desoive it. I jist know dey're gonna be happy tageddah." Fire slowly stood back up, sliding her arm around Mush's waist. "You have been my best friends for the past five years, I don't know how I could ever thank you. Slinks, you taught me everything I know about friendship and trust. Mush, you've taught me everything I know about love," she said, kissing him and fondly remembering every little moment they had shared from the night at the pond in Central Park to the ceremony that had joined them forever as a married couple a few hours before. |
| I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing |
| Author: Firecracker |
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