DISCLAIMER: All characters except the girls belong to The disney Corporation. This story was written for my own personal self, I don't plan on making money off it.

AUTHORS NOTE:This is a sad story... I want feed back please!

The sun was pouring down on the streets of New York. Blink smiled to himself and sold a few papes. It had been a great day selling, and Kid Blink had been in a god mood all day, so good infact, that he bought 150 papes instead of his usual 100. He had sold almost all of them, and it wasn't yet lunch time. He ambled to Tibby's, anxious to see his friends. He swung the door open to the cozily lit room and glanced around. He was the only newsie there so far. Grabbing the largest table, he flopped down into a seat comfortably. The door swung open again, and Race walked in grouchily. He sat down at the seat across from Blink and proceeded to scowl at no one in particular.

"Bad day at the track, Race?" Blink questioned.

He looked at Blink sourly, "Yeah the tip I got about Flash, da new horse? Well, it wadn't no good. I bet everything I had."

Blink sighed, "Den don't spend all yer money. We's all keep tellin' ya not to."

"I know, but it's addicting."

The door swung open again and Jack, Dave, and Les, followed soon after by Mush, Skittery, Dutchy and Bumlets. In no time at all, the resturant was filled with hungry newsies. Complaints about headlines and scabbers filled the air, and Blink grinned his trade-mark grin. He had the best friends in New York. The door swung open one last time, and some of the girl newsies huried in. It had just started raining. Tiny, Cinder, Raven, and Kit stood there sopping wet, and gave the guys blank stares.

Blink jumped up and sauntered over to Kit. "Ya look cute as a drowned rat," he joked with her, flashing his award-winning grin.

"Shut up Kid." He slipped his arm around her waist, drawing her close, and kissed her passionately. The couple stood there, wrapped up in each other's arms until Jack intervened.

"Cant youse two stop dat fer a minute? I'm tryin' ta eat!" Jack grumble, and the other newsies nodded in agreement.

Kit scowled at Jack, "Just 'cause Sarah aint here ta kiss ya doesn't mean we have ta stop.." She grabbed Blink's hand and pulled him over to the table.

Blink grinned at his girlfriend. They had been together for over two years now, and were the happiest newsie couple in Manhattan. Everyone knew the two would get married someday. After a long, leisurely lunch, the newsies went their seperate ways to finish selling their papes. it stopped raining right before they went outside, and Blink smile at the sun peeking out from the clouds. He pulled Kit in tow, and sold the rest of his papes to the people walking back to work from lunch. When they were both done, Blink turned to Kit.

"Let's go to tha park," he suggested, offering his arm.

"Ok," She took his outstretched arm, and they walked slowy, looking around and talking about Racetrack's gambling problem. Suddenly a question popped up in Blink's head. 'I love 'er so much,' Blink thought. 'Should I ask 'er?" He shook his head slowly, deep in thought trying to figure out what to do. They arrived at the park after a short walk, and sat at the base of an old oak tree. He felt her warm hand slide into his, and he smiled to her.

"I love ya, ya know dat?" He kissed her tenderly on the forehead.

She beamed up at him, "I love ya more." Before he could answer, she covered his mouth with a deep kiss. He murmurred something, and slipped his tongue past her lips. The two sat on the grass, embracing and kissing for what seemed like an eternity until they heard a cough. Blink opened his eye and look.

Kit complained, "Damnit Race, can't we be alone fer awhile?"

"I'm sorry, but I t'ought you would like ta know dat I won taday, aftah lunch!" Race grinned proudly and Blink spoke up.

"Dat's great Race, but couldn't ya have told me when I wasn't busy?"

He grinned," Yeah, sorry. i didn't mean ta disturb nobody. See ya 'round. Behave yerselves."

Kit whispered in Blink's ear, "But dat aint any fun..." He silenced her with another passionate kiss, then broke away.

He glanced at the ground, "Kit- I need ta tell ya somethin'."

She looked at him curiously, "Yeah?" He pulled a tattered black velvet box out of his vest pocket and held it out to her. She looked at him quizzically. "What's dis?"

"Open it." She carefully flipped the lid open, and her eyes grew as large as a plate. She put a hand to her mouth and looked to him. He took a deep breath, "Kit, I love ya...more'n anything...I guess what I'm tryin' ta say is... will ya marry me? I mean, not right now, but- when we's ready...da ring's my mudders and she told me 'afore she died she wanted it on the hand of da goil I loved." She took the ring out, a small, delicately carved silver ring. he gently took it from her and slid it on her finger.

"Yes!" She could hardly contain herself as she threw her arms around his neck in a hug. Curling up next to him, she closed her eyes. "I love you Blink." She drew him to her in another deep kiss, and soon it was pitch black. Blink stood up, helping her up too. They walked hand in hand back to the lodging house. They walked into the door, paying Kloppman for the night. With a kiss goodnight, they fell fast asleep.

*****

Blink opened his eye and sat up sleepily in bed. He looked around the room to all of his friends. He saw Kit, surrounded by the girls. She was showing off her ring. He grinned and felt a hand on his shoulder. Jumping, he turned and saw Race and Jack.

Blink smiled. "Heya."

Race offered a cigar. "Congradulations."

Jack added, "I heard about yer lil' escapade i tha park. Well done, Kid."

"Does everyone know about it?!" he took the offered cigar and lit up, puffing away happily.

The two of them smiled. "Yeah."

Blink stood, throwing on his clothes, and went into the washroom, getting ready for the day. Walking up behind Kit, he kissed her softly on the cheek.

She smiled up at him. "Good mornin' handsome." Throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed him soundly, to the other newsies delight.

Blink grinned at all of them. "Aw, shuttup!" After a few other goodnatured comments, the whole groupd headed off to the distribution office. After waiting in line, Blink strolled up to the window.

"Hundred papes."

Morris counted them out and slid them under the window. "here ya go, Cyclops." Morris growled.

Kit lunged at the bars. Her temper was almost as bad as Blinks "Dont you call him that, you bastard! I'll kill you!"

Morris sneered at her. "Don't be so sure about that. I'll get you 'afore you can swing yer fist at me."

"Kit, calm down." Blink warned, "I can take care of meself." He grabbed Morris's derby and threw it down the stairs, stepping on it with a crunch. "Have a nice day, Morris," Blink grinned, and after flipping up his middle finger at Morris, he took Kit's hand, sauntering off. In the distance, he could hear death threats from Morris, and thought nothing of them. The clouds were overcast, and it was cooler than usual. The usual archetype of a dreary day. Blink, his usual good-natured self, grinned up at the clouds and vocalized his opinion.

"Beautiful day, aint it Kit?"

She scolwed at the clouds, and punched him good-naturedly. "No, ya dummy. It's all cloudy." "I know dat, but at least I'm wit' you." She smiled, madly in love with him. Blink saw a group of factory workers on their way to work and sold a good amount of papes. After about ten or more great sells, he was out. Kit didn't have as much luck, but she had Blink to support her now.

After a hard day of selling, the pair headed to Tibby's to takea late lunch with the rest of the newsies. They walked into the dmimly lit yet comfortable, smokefilled room and looked around. It was an unusually busy night at Tibby's, and tables were full of newsies yelling, play-fighting, smoking and playing cards. Dutchy yell to Blink and Kit, letting them have the seats he was saving for them.

Mush spied the pair and hopped on the table, glass in hand. He raised his glass over his head and yelled ,"To Blink and Kit!" "TO BLINK AND KIT!" The newsies sounded. Kit blushed and squeezed Blink' s hand. He pulled her up off the chair she was perched on, and much to the newsies delight, dipped her ball-room style and kissed her passionately.

When the kiss ended, he whispered, still dipping her, "I love ya."

Jack walked in and groaned, "I know youse two're engaged now, but do that on yer own time, alright?" He grinned, punching Blink playfully.. This action got all the boys wrapped up in a mock soaking, and with friendly fists and insults flung, the girls watched on in pure enjoyment.

Cinder turned to Kit and grinned, "They kinda grow on ya, dont they? Poisonally, I got me eyes on Race. But I forgot, ya cant look at anyone but your fiancee now, can ya?"

"I nevah looked at anyone else anyway,Cinder." She giggled. and her eyes fell on Blink, wrestling with his friends. She was filled with an immense sense of love, and couldn't begin to think of a time when she was happier. The feeling she got when she loked on her one true love was indescribable, and cinder picked up on Kit's adoration.

"You've relly got it bad, dontcha?"

"Nah, I'm marryin' him fer tha hell of it."

Raven walked by and added, "yeah, and at the ripe old age of seventeen, no less." She grinned at Kit, who began to blush.

"It's not that young," she replied, defending herself. " 'Sides, we're in love, so age don't mattah."

cinder shrugged, "I guess yer right."

"Yer damn right I'm right," Kit grinned, and looked outside. It was getting dark, and she still had a few "errands" to run. She scurried over to Blink, and kissed him sweetly on the lips, saying a quick goodbye and walked briskly out the door.

*****

Blink was in a headlock as Kit said her goodbyes. He grinned as his only love walked out of the door, and athletically slid ouf the grasp Jack held him in, whacking him upside the head and jumping up on the table, looking for a wrestling match to engage in. Mush threw a piece of bread at him, connecting with his shoulder. Blink whirled around trying to see who threw it, and glimpsed Mush snickering ebhind his hat. Blink picked a spoonful of mashed potatoes, and flung it wrathfully at Mush. The blob hit him square in the face. Cracking up, Blink dodged some food as the craziest food fight at Tibby's broke out. Anything remotely close to being edible was thrown, and the manager quickly came out, kicking them all into the street. Blink smiled as he pulled his vest tighter around him. The newsies headed off home, and Blink followed, lighting a cigarette like he had every day of his life. But this was going to be a day that would stay clear in his mind forever.

*****

Kit pulled her light jacket tighter around her small frame as she braced herself to step out of the warm shop. She had had to pick up a sketch pad and drawing pencils from the art store. One glance told her how late it was, and she set off for the lodging house, on the other side of town. Althugh the street lamps had been lit long before she left Tibby's, some had been extinguished by the cold winds blowing all around. It was dismal and gloomy outside, and she continually thought she heard footsteps following her. 'It's just me imagination runnin' away wit' me,' she thought. 'I'll be home soon and me an' Blink can snuggle up in da lodgin' house and-' She strained her ear, listening. The stepping sound was definately not in her head. She spun arund blindly, and saw nothing.

Suddenly, from behind, an object struck the back of her head and she was out cold. She came to, and found herself lying cold in an alley. She felt a strange feeling of pain, one she had never before experienced and her attacker loomed before her, fastening his belt.

He struck a match and lit a cigarette and lit a cigarette. The dim light showed the truth. It was the evil, lurking face of Morris Delancy. Kit froze in fear as he glared down at her. "I told ya I'd get ya, ya whore," he scowled down at her. Kit's temper flared as she realized what happened, but she feared worse than a rape if she opened her mouth again. Trembling, she reached for her jacket to cover herself up. Embarassed, she felt along the ground, searching for her clothes. Kit's shivering fingers closed over her pants, and she slowly pulled them on, sitting up, her body aching. Not finding her shirt, she yanked on her jacket, and a horrible feeling swept over her. She felt she would be sick. When Morris saw her attempting to stand, his fist struck out and clobbered her, sending her sprawling down. She was racked with tears and starting sobbing violently. His face peered down at her with an almost sympathetic look, but it quickly changed to rage as the day's earlier events flashed before him.

"You know why I'm doin' this, dont ya?" He sneered down at her as she shook her head miserably, a fresh stream of tears pouring from her eyes. "Cause I dont like bein' disrespected by yer little boyfriend, an' 'e desoives ta pay. Ta hurt fer his actions. Dis is the only way I could think of...shame ta waste such a pretty face like yers, but-" He shrugged.

"Please," Kit whimpered quietly. Morris pulled an unidentified objest out of his coat pocket, and not until a glint of light flashed on it could she tell what it was. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart beating rythmically against her chest. The object he possessed was a knife. 'I don' wanna die...I love Blink...he'll miss me.... I have tha rest of my life ta live, please dont take me like this… what did I do to deserve this?" Wild thoughts passed through her head. She was not thinking clearly, and she curled up into a fetal position, sucking her thumb roughly like she did when she was small, scared and alone in the dark. Morris kicked her hard in the ribs, and she groaned in pain. As she rolled over, Morris crouched down over her and hit her all over her face. Salty tears stung the fresh cuts and bruises on her face, and she was too pained to move. Morris crossed himself in an almost holy manner, then brought the knife down into her chest. Kit coughed, choking and sputtering blood. Crazy illusions of Blink and her, married and happy. Rich. Kids crawling all over in their house, with enough food, money, and security to last for the rest of their lives. Then suddently her dreams of how her life could be vanished, as quickly as the never-lifting black cloud passed over her life. As she took her last breath, four words came out softly. "I love you, Blink." And then she was gone.

*****

Morris stood over the body of Kit, trembling with an even mixture of fear and fury. He coldly pulled the knife out of the corpse's bare chest and ran out of the alley. He had been lucky. This one hadn't screamed as much as other girls he had his way with. Pulling his crushed derby over his eyes, he took the knife and threw it into the storm gutter. Rain came then, clearing his conscience, and the knife slowly washed away...as did the life of a young lady with a promising future. But Morris, being of a simple mind, soon forgot his night's adventures as he headed off towards the World building in search of his brother and uncle.

*****

Blink was jolted awake by a feeling of dread. He dismissed it as nothing, yet glanced from his perch on Kloppman's tired old armchair to the clock. It was quarter 'till midnight, and he jumped up. He had been keeping watch from the front room of the lodging house, waiting for Kit. Worried, he climbed the stairs to the bunk room. He swung the door oen, surprised to see a few of his friends still awake. the tired faces of Jack, Mush and Race looked curiously at him from their game of cards. Race shuffled and redealt, adding Blink in. Kid sat down gratefully, needing something to take his mind off Kit. After a few hands, he jumped up.

"I can't take it anymore! will you guys help me go find 'er?" They could see the worry in his eye and agreed. Sneaking down the fire escape, the four boys headed off in different directions. Blink ran around, looking by Tibby's, the distribution center, and the World Building. No Kit. Shakily, he pulled out a cigarette and, with some difficulty because of the wind, lit it and continued his frantic search.

*****

Jack walked, hands in pocets, towards Brooklyn. Kit had many friends there, maybe that'sdwhere she had gone. Spot was sitting on the rail of the bridge, thinking about his latest girl, and almost jumped out of his skin when Jack called him.

"Spot!"

Spot turned to Jack, smiling. The quirky grin vanished when he saw the worried look on Jack's face. he could tell something was wrong. "Jacky-boy, s'amttah? Ya look like ya seen a ghost..."

"Kit's ben missin since around seven 'er eight.. Blink's got a whole damned search party out. 'Ave ya seen 'er?"

Spot looked thoughtful. "Kit? Nah, I ain't seen 'er but I c'n help ya look."

"T'anks, c'mon." The two newsies headed off towards Manhattan. Spot clenched his fists, worried about what might have happened to his friend.

*****