Surprise! I'm back! I had to take a break from from it all I wasn't in a great place mentally for a while and I associated Newsies with it. But I have returned to prime fangirl mode (I can now obsess over multiple fandoms at once) and I decided to give this story one last chapter. Also I have nothing to do because of quarantine. I hope everyone enjoys!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Newsies. Never have, probably never will (but one can dream!)

"You'll really stay then?" I murmured as Jack pulled me off to the sidewalk, away from the other Newsies, who were celebrating and dancing in the street.

"Yeah. This city's worth sticking around after all." I felt so happy that I could have floated right up into the stratosphere. But then Jack was kissing me, keeping me grounded to Earth. The boys didn't interrupt this one, but we still pulled away fairly quickly. We had all the time in the world now.

"So now what?"

"I believe now I offer Mr. Kelly my congratulations." We whirled around to find my father standing right behind us. I blushed, wondering if he had caught our kiss. If he had, he graciously said nothing. "And you as well, Miss Plumber. I must admit, I did not expect you to be such a shrewd journalist."

"Thank you, Mr. Pulitzer," I replied carefully. I could have been seeing things, but there might just have been a glint of pride in his eyes.

"No doubt you would make just a shrewd a businesswoman. Perhaps I should start training you alongside Ralph." I blinked. Was my father really suggesting that one day I could run The World? "Mr. Kelly, I expect a response to my offer no later than Monday." And just like that, my father moved on, leaving both me and Jack in some degree of shock.

"He was serious about the job," Jack muttered.

"Hey, Kat." It was Crutchie. He and a group of Newsies stood a ways off, close enough to have heard everything… "What did Pulitzer mean about training you?"

I swallowed hard. Jack's hand slid down my arm to give my hand a squeeze. I had to tell them. I had promised Davey and Racetrack. I supposed now was as good a time as any. But oh, why did they all have to be watching me?

"Boys, I, I have something to tell you. All of you." They gathered closer. Even Spot Conlon seemed intrigued. "A few of you already know that I, that I am Joseph Pulitzer's daughter. My name is Katherine Pulitzer. I am so, so sorry that I deceived you. I assure you; I have been loyal to all of you throughout the entire Strike."

"She tellin' the truth, Jackie?" one boy called out. I supposed he was within his rights to not trust me, but did he really need Jack's opinion? Jack, however, took a step back, letting me stand on my own.

"You'se all gotta believe her for yourselves, fellas." That may have been the sweetest thing he'd done for me. A moment passed, then Crutchie stepped forward.

"Her words got me outta the Refuge," he said softly. "They put Snyder in jail. They'se gonna make sure that no one ever has to go to that damned place again. And—" he grinned slyly— "I'se never seen Jack so happy. So yeah, I believe you Kat. And thank you."

"Oh, Crutchie." I threw my arms around him. At long last, my words were making an impact. "Thank you."

"Guess we got a new King of New York!" spot crowed. "All hail our Lady of the Upper East Side, Katherine Pulitzer!" The applause that the Newsies broke into filled my heart. I couldn't tell if I was crying or laughing. Probably both.

"Thank you, thank you all so much!" The clapping died down. "Although I hope I can always be Katherine Plumber to you boys."

"You got it, Plums!" Racetrack replied.

"Alright! Enough of you standing around like mops! These papes ain't gonna sell themselves!" At Jack's command, everyone dispersed. "As for you, Lady of the Upper East Side." He slid his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder. "Let my walk you home?"

"Don't you have papes to sell?" I asked with a smile.

"Eh, let the fellas have a head start. I'll still have them beat by the time we sell out." I laughed. "My lady." Jack offered his arm like a proper gentleman.

"Why, thank you, kind sir."

"We headed up Sixth?"

"No, actually. Contrary to Mr. Conlon's belief, I do not live in the Upper East Side. Not anymore anyway. I have my own place at the Henry Street Settlement."

"What, the Lower East Side?" I nodded, quietly enjoying the shock look on Jack's face. He looked me up and down as though sizing me up. "You live all alone at what, sixteen?"

"Seventeen, thank you very much. Eighteen come January. And I have a roommate." I smoothed a wisp of hair back behind my ear. "I moved out when I decided to become a journalist. I wanted a fresh start, to not be associated with the Pulitzer name. I just wanted to be Katherine. It took months to convince my mother."

How do you pay?" I reddened slightly; I had always been taught that money was not a fit topic for conversation. But this was Jack.

"Well, there's the money I make for my articles. I do a little work as a seamstress, and a few of the girls at the settlement have kids that I'll teach reading or arithmetic to a few times a week.

"Huh. Didn't picture you to be a seamstress," was Jack's only remark.

We walked in silence for a few more blocks. I had never had a romantic relationship before, and certainly never expected to have one like this. Despite my desire to make my own name for myself, I had always figured that at some point I would have to return to society. And then there would have been suitors from respectable families and proper courting etiquette to observe. But this, just walking arm-in-arm with Jack, this was what I imagined a normal relationship to be like. Just a girl and a boy.

"Hah!" Jack suddenly exclaimed triumphantly.

"What is it?"

"I told you, you need a nickname, remember?" I smiled, thinking back to that conversation at Medda's. "Well, I've thought of one."

"I think the others beat you to it. Racetrack's been calling me Plums, and I can't imagine that it won't catch on."

""Well, that can be their name for you. But I've got one just for me." Jack's eyes sparkled mischievously. "You wanna guess?"

"Is it Kitty? 'Cause I have to tell you, that's what my family calls me, and I really don't want you calling me that too." Jack smirked and shook his head. How was it possible that his smirk made me want to kiss him and deck him all at the same time? It would be the death of me, that was for sure. "Alright, I've got nothing. What is it?"

"Ace."

"Ace," I echoed, my heart beating a little faster. "Why?" I was pretty sure I already knew the answer. I just wanted to hear him say it.

"You said before that you were the ace up my sleeve." We came to a stop by a stack of crates where we had relative privacy from the other pedestrians. "Not to mention, you'se is gonna be an ace reporter someday."

"For sure?"

"For sure." I would never get sick of hearing him say those words, just like I would never get sick of the taste of his lips. He leaned down to kiss me, and I edited what I had told the Newsies at Jacobi's. Fame may work quicker than liquor, but Jack's kisses worked the quickest.

""So, do I get to give you a nickname?" I murmured as I pulled away. He inclined his head and we started walking again. I stared at him hard for a few moments. "Cowboy."

"Really?" he laughed.

"Yep. You're gonna get to Santa Fe someday, Jack. Even if it's not to stay."

"Oh, who need New Mexico? I've got my Santa Fe right here." Honestly, he was better with words than I was. "Hey, who's Ralph?"

"Hmm?"

"Ralph? Your dad said he might start training you along with him? Who is he? Is your father tryin' to match you up with him?" I laughed at the hint of jealousy in his voice.

"Ralph is my older brother. My father's been training him to take over The World." Jack chuckled slightly, turning adorably pink around the ears.

"Oh."

"Bill on the other hand, well, our fathers have been trying to match us up since we were born." Jack's face turned hard, and I laughed again. It was just too fun to tease him. "I'm kidding! Bill and I don't feel that way about each other. We're just friends."

"You sure? He was pretty quick to join the Strike when you asked him to." I rolled my eyes.

"Oh please. Bill's been waiting to rebel against his father since Mr. Hearst put an end to his theater dreams. Believe me, Jack, you have nothing to worry about."

"I'm just saying, a smart, gorgeous, independent girl like you. Fella would be a fool to not wanna snatch you up."

"Excuse me." I put my hands on my hips with mock offense. "I will not be snatched up, Mr. Kelly, not even by you." His smirk came back.

"Oh, I don't need to snatch you up. Not when I've already swept you off your feet." He scooped me up as though I weighed nothing and spun me around. I couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm quite sure it was me doing the sweeping. You were a goner the moment you laid eyes on me, admit it." Jack set me back on my feet and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"Happily, Miss Plumber." His lips dipped to hover right by my ear. "Love at first sight ain't for suckers after all." I bit my lip and ducked my head.

"I believe you are right."

Ah, nothing better than good, pure fanfiction. With all this time on my hands, I have a feeling I'll be doing more publishing in the future. I do love polishing old writing. I hope everyone is staying safe and inside if you can. I hope that this may have brightened your day, even a little bit. It's the little things that are going to get us through this. Until next time, signing off, and may the mouse be with you!