"Hey, I’m sorry ta bother ya so late, but can I stay here for a couple days," Mush asked.

"Of course," the old man replied. "Your old bedroom is still empty, so I will have Isabella put some blankets on the bed." He opened the door to let Mush in, then closed it and locked it behind them.

Mush walked into the kitchen and turned left, heading up the stairs, and felt a strong sense of familiarity at being back.

"Isabella," Guido called up the stairs from behind Mush, "we have a guest for a few days." He grinned up at Mush, and they both remembered the last time he’d said that; the few days turned into a few years.

Isabella walked out of their bedroom and gasped in surprise. "Ay, Mush, li ho mancati."

"I’ve missed you, too," Mush said, hugging her carefully. He backed up and looked Isabella and Guido standing together. ‘I don’t remember them being so old and frail,’ he thought. ‘I should be here more often.’

"But why are you back," Guido asked. "Is there some problem with the newsies?"

"Just some things I have to work out," Mush said carefully.

"Can we help?"

"I dunno. Maybe talkin’ things out with you’ll help," Mush replied.

"Well let me go make your bed," Isabella said. She started off down the hall, then turned and added, "it is good to see you, mio caro."

"So why do you like this girl Alex," Guido asked, after Mush had explained what had happened that day.

"I dunno," Mush said. "I started liking her as soon as she got here. She’s a real nice person, even if she does have a temper, an’ she’s real protective of her friends. Plus she’s real pretty. I don’t understand why Blink don’t think it’ll work. He thinks me an’ Maggie feel something for each other."

"And is it so impossible that you do love her?"

"But I like Alex. The boys always say that I fall in an’ out of love too quickly. I mean, they’re usually right, but not this time."

Guido sighed. "This is not something that I, or anyone else, can decide for you, Mush. You must look deep inside and find what you really feel. Do not listen to your head, listen to your heart." He got out of the chair that had been pulled up next to Mush’s bed and pulled it back to its place next to the dresser. "Sleep well, Mush, and do not worry too much."

"Thanks for lettin’ me talk all dis out with you," Mush said, pulling back the blankets and getting into bed. "It’s nice to have someone who’ll listen."

"Good night," Guido responded.

"G’night."

Maggie’s exhaustion finally got the better of her, and Alex heard her breathing slow as she fell asleep. Alex got up from her place on the floor next to Maggie’s bed and headed towards the door. She stopped as she opened it, and turned to look back at Maggie. There were tear marks on Maggie’s face, but she still looked peaceful.

Alex left the room and walked slowly towards the bunkroom. The lights were out, and most of the boys were asleep, but as she walked across the cold wood floor to her bunk, Blink slowly sat up and looked at her.

"I’m gonna kill Mush," he said. "How can he be such an idiot?"

Alex went to Blink’s bunk instead and climbed up, sitting across from him. "He told Maggie that he doesn’t like her as anything but a friend," she said, not really answering the question. She looked down at her hands lying in her lap. "Do you think we were wrong? Maybe we messed everything up."

"No, of course not," Blink said. "Mush is just scared I think. He - "

"Shuddap," came a voice from the other side of the bunkroom.

"Let’s go outside," Blink whispered. He and Alex climbed quietly out of his bunk and padded across the floor to the fire exit. They got outside and closed the window behind them.

They sat silently for awhile, then Blink said, "he thinks he’s in love with you, Alex."

"He what? But it would never work between us."

"I know that," Blink replied. "You know that. And he does too, he just won’t admit it to himself. He liked you before he even knew you, and he’s too stubborn to realize that he was wrong."

"So what do we do? I feel like it’s my fault that Maggie’s going through all this, but I don’t know how to make it any better."

"Me either," Blink sighed. "I guess we’ll just have ta hope that things work out somehow."

"Cause that’s always worked so well for us newsies in the past. The reason we’re here is because nothing works out for us," Alex said bitterly.

"Yeah, it ain’t fair. But that’s why Mush an’ Maggie should be together. They understand each other."

The two sat in silent thought for awhile, then Alex shivered from the cold, and they decided to go inside to bed.

Maggie opened her eyes and looked around her room, then noticed the light coming through the window. ‘Why did Alex let me sleep so long,’ she thought, but when she turned her head from the window, she saw her mother sitting on the end of her bed.

"This is a dream," she said out loud.

"Yes, Princess, it is," her mother replied.

"I don’t understand," Maggie said, sitting up. "You keep coming to tell me things, and I always forget until I’m asleep again. It never helps, so why do you keep coming. I hurt so much, and you can’t do anything to help," she ended sadly.

Maggie‘s mother pulled her into her arms. "You haven’t been ready until now, Maggie. And I can only do a little bit, the rest you can only hope will follow." She paused to let Maggie get control over her feelings. "You must give him time, Princess. I can’t promise that it will all turn out alright, but waiting is the best thing right now."

"Does he love me or not," Maggie asked.

"You know the answer to that, but you must be patient. Love isn’t black and white. You know that after your time with Spot, don’t you?" Maggie nodded, and she continued. "Sometimes it is, Princess. I always will, and always have loved you, whatever anyone says."

"I know mommy," Maggie whispered.

"My little girl," her mother said, and Maggie noticed the room around her getting whiter, almost luminescent. She hugged her mother tightly, knowing on some level that this was the last time they’d be together in her dreams. "My Princess," was the last thing her mother said before the room was gone, and Maggie woke up.

She remembered everything.

Mush woke up the next morning and decided that he wouldn’t be able to sell papers that day. If he went to the distribution center, he’s end up seeing his friends, and if he went late to avoid them, there probably wouldn’t be any papers left.

He slowly threw back the blankets and got out of his warm bed onto the cold floor. His shirt was hanging on the back of the chair, so he walked over and pulled it on, then left his room and went downstairs.

"Buona mattina," Isabella said when she saw him. "What would you like for breakfast? I have some meatloaf in the icebox from yesterday, would you like a sandwich?"

"Shoa," Mush said gratefully. "That sounds wonderful."

He wandered over to the cupboards where they kept the dishes, and grabbed a glass from the middle shelf, filling it with water from the sink. Isabella finished his sandwich a few minutes later, and he brought his plate out of the kitchen into the restaurant, sliding into a booth across from Guido. "How are you doing this morning," Guido asked.

"I dunno," Mush replied after swallowing the bite that was in his mouth. "I think I’m gonna head ta Central Park today an’ try to figuah things out." He looked up as Isabella slipped into the booth next to her husband. "Is there anything I can help you with while I’m here?"

"Don’t worry about it today," Isabella said kindly. "But tomorrow," she added, grinning, "I put you to work."

"Dat’s fine with me," Mush said.

They continued eating breakfast, and Isabella told Mush about everything that had happened since he’d left. The three spent an hour catching up, and finally cleared their plates away to the kitchen. Having nothing else to do, Mush made himself another sandwich for lunch, then put it in his pocket and headed out.

It wasn’t normally a long walk to Central Park, but Mush kept seeing other newsies and had to duck behind a building or cart so that they wouldn’t see him. ‘It’s not that I don’t want to talk to them,’ he thought, ‘I just need time to figure things out before I have to see my friends.’

As he was walking, he thought about what Guido had said the night before. Was it possible that he was in love with Maggie and didn’t realize it? ‘Things are different with Alex than they used to be,’ he realized. His infatuation seemed to have diminished since Maggie had come, but he’d assumed that it meant he was out of the puppy love stage and was feeling real love. ‘Besides, I didn’t know Alex as well as I do now. I still think she’s great but… maybe she isn’t what I’m really looking for.’

Must stopped walking and looked at his surroundings. He was standing by the bench where they’d first found Maggie, and was only momentarily surprised. Sitting down, he thought back to that day, and all that had happened since then.

It was true that he wanted to keep her from hurting, but did that mean he loved her? The protectiveness and caring was something new to him. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever actually been in love before,’ he thought. ‘Maybe that’s why I didn’t realize that… oh god. I do love her.’

Maggie spent the day with Blink and Alex, though she didn’t get any papers to sell, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to focus long enough to sell more than a few. She still hurt, but it was a dull, lingering sadness, rather than the excruciating pain of before. Blink and Alex sold their papers rather half-heartedly, trying to pay as much attention to Maggie as possible.

Suddenly, Maggie looked up at Blink. "Did he ever come to the lodging house last night," she asked.

"Um, no," Blink answered. "I dunno where he is."

"He’s with Guido," Maggie whispered to herself. "That’s where he’d go if things got bad again."

"What did you say," Alex asked.

"Nothing." Maggie gave her a rueful grin. "C’mon Alex, you gotta sell your papers or else you aren’t gonna have any money for lunch. And I’m fine," she said before Alex could say otherwise. "Well, not fine, but I will be. Don’t worry about me so much."

"How can I not," Alex asked seriously, showing her real feelings as she so rarely did.

As he fell asleep that night, Mush knew that he’d have to go back and talk to Maggie, hoping that she still listen to him, but he had to wait a few days to collect all his thoughts.

The next morning, he got up, and after breakfast with Isabella and Guido, told them he wanted to help with the restaurant for a few days. They were glad for his help; it was getting hard for them to manage it by themselves.

Mush spent the day working in the kitchen with Isabella, relearning how to make the food he’d eaten during those years he’d spent with the old couple.

"Tell me about her," Isabella suddenly said.

"Who?"

"This girl you are in love with," she replied.

"Did Guido tell you," Mush asked.

"No, love. I can see it in your eyes. I remember that look in my son’s eyes when he told us about Maria."

Mush stood in silence for a moment, then said, "she can’t lie." He smiled, thinking about her attempts at selling papers, then continued. "It’s like no mattah how hard she tries, she can’t be anything but honest. An’ she ain’t scared to let people know she cares about ‘em. She’s been through a lot ‘a hard stuff, but she still knows deep down that things’ll get better."

He stopped for awhile to slice tomatoes, then spoke again. "She’s always honest about how she feels, no matter what othah people’ll think of her. She has these big green eyes that always sparkle, even when she’s sad."

Isabella looked up at Mush and smiled. "You have grown up," she said. "Not just in body, but in heart. I have missed seeing you grow, mio caro."

Mush smiled at the use of her old pet name for him. They went back to cooking, then Mush said, "Isabella?"

"Yes?"

"What ‘appened to your son? I mean, if it ain’t too hard to talk about."

Isabella paused, collecting her thoughts. "It was a few months before we left to come here. He was going to see Maria, and as he passed by the tavern, two men came outside, fighting with each other. He tried to stop them, and was stabbed with the knife of one of the men. Guido and I were at home getting ready for bed when his friends brought him in. He asked them to get Maria, and when she got to our home, he finally told her that he loved her. That was the last thing he said." She looked sadly at Mush. "He was never able to live his life with her. Do not let your fear keep your heart from what it needs. Your heart knows better than your head what is right."

After two more days, Mush decided he couldn’t put things off any longer. Standing in the kitchen across from Isabella, he looked up from the cooking pasta to say, "I think I’m gonna go back to the lodgin’ house tonight."

"You’re ready to face everyone?" she responded, her focus still on the stove.

"Yeah. Like you said, don’t let the fear take over everything. Besides," he added shyly, "I kinda miss seein’ everyone."

"We will miss your help, of course, but I understand what you must do." She wiped a tear away when he wasn’t looking. "Do not stay away so long next time, mio caro."

"I promise," he responded seriously.

After they closed the restaurant that evening, Mush hugged them both good-bye and set off for the lodging house. When he got to the front door, he suddenly realized that he had no idea what he could say to Maggie, or to Blink, to explain everything. He turned and went around the building, climbing up the fire escape so that he could sit on the roof and think. But when he got towards the top, he heard someone up there already.

Mush peered over the edge and saw Maggie sitting down, huddled in a large blanket, though she was still shivering. He sat down quietly on the fire escape, just out of sight of Maggie, and spent a few moments collecting his thoughts. When he finally felt he was ready, he stood up and climbed onto the roof.

Maggie turned around when she heard him, and before she could say anything, he asked, "hey Maggie, can I talk to you?"

"Yeah, sure," she said, her face betraying none of her emotions.

Everything Mush had planned to say suddenly sounded wrong in his head, and the only thing he could spit out in the jumble was, "I was wrong."

"About what," she asked calmly.

He sat down across from her. "When I said I didn’t feel anything for you. I was wrong. I spent a couple days thinking’ about things, and um… I love you."

Maggie smiled. "I know."

"You know?"

"Why else would you be here stumbling over your words and looking you’re getting a death sentence?"

Mush laughed. "Did I really look that scared?"

"Nah, I was just trying to make you feel better," Maggie said, biting her lower lip.

"Well, it worked. I feel a lot better, but… Maggie, I’m so sorry for what I put you through. How can you just forgive me so quickly?"

"Because I knew I just had to wait and everything would turn out right. Besides, I love you, too, that’s how I can forgive you." Maggie stood up. "Now all you have to do is go apologize to Blink."

"Oh. Right." He stood up as well, and suddenly wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you," he mumbled into her hair.

"For what?"

"Everything," Mush replied. He leaned down and kissed her softly, then took her hand in his and they walked down the fire escape together.

"Hey Maggie, how…" Alex stopped talking when she saw Mush walk in behind Maggie, her mouth still open. "Uh…"

"Hey Alex," Mush said meekly, realizing that he’d have to deal with her anger as well. "Is Blink here?"

"Well where else would I be," Blink asked sarcastically from the left side of the bunkroom.

"Blink, I uh…" Mush looked around the room to see that all of the focus was directed on him. "I…"

"You were an idiot, you’re sorry, and I was right," Blink supplied.

"Well yeah, that’s uh… that’s almost exactly what I was gonna say, actually."

"Well a’ course," Blink said, grinning. "I am your best friend, ain’t I?"

"Even though I was an idiot," Mush asked, surprised that all his apologies were going so well.

"Mush," Blink said seriously, "you’ve been an idiot b’fore. You’re probably gonna be an idiot again. Heck, I’ve been an idiot sometimes."

"Ain’t that da truth," Race’s said from his usual place in the poker game.

"Da point is," Blink continued, "we’se all still friends, right. We stick togethah, no matter what… just don’t make a habit a’ bein’ an idiot."

"Okay," Mush said, relieved. "Now, uh… Alex?"

Ales stood up, walked over to where Mush was standing, and punched him in the shoulder. She took a deep breath. "Alright, I feel better now." Mush started to speak, but she cut him off. "Remember, if you hurt her, I’ll have to punch you again…" Alex looked down at her fist. "Even if it does kinda hurt my hand."

Maggie giggled from behind him, and Alex smiled at Mush. "You’re forgiven."

"Thanks, Alex," Mush said. He looked down at his shoulder. "And it’s okay, your fist ain’t the only thing hurtin’."

"Aww, poor baby," Jack said from the middle of the room. "Maybe he should get Maggie to kiss it an’ make it all bettah."

The group started laughing, and all was forgotten. Life was back to the way it was supposed to be.

"Alex!" Maggie yelled as she tore into the bunkroom the next morning. "Alex, wake up!"

"Whadda ya want," Alex responded into her pillow.

"I’m not pregnant!"

Alex shot out of bed, but before she could say anything, Blink interrupted. "Whadda ya mean, you ain’t pregnant?"

Maggie looked around the room and her eyes widened. "Oh dang it. I mean, uh…" She paused for a moment, then grabbed Alex’s wrist and dragged her out of her bunk and into the hallway.

"Damn, damn, damn. I didn’t mean to say that in front of everyone," Maggie berated herself.

"Maggie," Alex exclaimed, "how do you know you aren’t… wait, never mind. Stupid question, huh."

"Only a little," Maggie responded, "and I’ll forgive you since it’s so early in the morning."

"Well, this is good… I mean, it is good, right?"

Maggie nodded emphatically. "Yes, it’s very good. Now I can stop worrying about how I can raise a baby with no dad and only the money I make from selling papers."

Mush walked up behind Maggie. "So dat’s what the screech was this morning’ in da bathroom," he asked.

"Yeah," Maggie said. "Everything’s okay."

"Thank goodness," Alex said, slumping against the wall. "Now all I gotta do is get ready… I hate mornings," she added as she started walking towards the bunkroom.

Maggie smiled and shook her head at Alex, then turned around and found herself wrapped in Mush’s arms. "I’m so glad everything turned out okay," he murmured in her left ear. "I was real worried about you."

"I know," Maggie said. She turned her head up slightly and gave him a quick kiss, then added, "lemme go get dressed and then we’ll go grab our papers."

"Actually," Mush said brightening, "I have a better idea."

The two were walking down the street when Mush suddenly stopped and said "okay, here we are."

Maggie looked at Mush strangely. "You want to have Italian for breakfast?"

"No, I want… here, jus’ follow me."

They went inside, and instead of sitting down in one of the booths like they usually did, Mush took her into the kitchen, then up the stairs. He knocked on one of the doors, and it was soon opened.

"Mush!" Isabella said. "Back so soon? And with company this time."

"Isabella, I want you to meet Maggie," Mush said, pulling Maggie closer to him so that Isabella could see her.

"It’s nice to meet you ma’am," Maggie said shyly.

"Well goodness, you don’t need to behave so proper," Isabella said. "I’ve heard a lot about you, dear. But Mush," she continued, "what are you doing here so early?"

"Well, I know things was easier when I was helping’, an’ I thought maybe Maggie could take my place," he said. "She uh, she isn’t very…"

"I’m not a very good newsie," Maggie finished for him. "That’s a wonderful idea, if you’ll have me."

"Well we’d be happy to have the help," Isabella responded. "When would you like to start Maggie?"

"I’m ready anytime."

"Why don’t you come in tomorrow, and you too, Mush, and we can all help you out until you get the rhythm of things."

"That sounds great," Maggie replied. "We’ll be here tomorrow morning."