Hey all! Well this may or may not be the last chapter...we'll see what the plot bunnies decide!

Disclaimer: Jack Kelly is an epic piece of epicness. Wanted a real disclaimer? YOU'RE NOT GETTING ONE! THIS IS FAN-FICTION! NOT "ORIGINAL WORK-FICTION"! Want that? GO TO A BOOKSTORE! YOU'LL FIND ORIGINAL WORKS THERE! OR A LIBRARY! OR SOMETHING! Jack: ROSEBUD MAY OWN THIS STORY, BUT SHE DON'T OWN US!
Me: *dreamy sigh at Jack*
Jack: *scared blink*

*Ahem*

Love ya'll!

~Rosey

CHAPTER SIX:

Kloppmann went into the baby's room the next morning and chuckled to find Jack still sound asleep in the chair, the blanket that had been around his shoulder having dropped to the floor in the night, and Screamer still curled up against his chest, sleeping heavily, his thumb stuck into his mouth. Smiling, the elder man went over to Jack and gently shook his shoulder. "Wake up, Cowboy. Time to go carryin' the banner."

Jack squinted up at him and then blinked, realizing he wasn't in his bunk. He then looked down at the child sleeping in his arms and he chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "This kid's gonna be da death of me, Kloppmann," he smiled, but there was warmth in his voice than made Kloppmann grin.

"You like the kid, Cowboy. Just face it," the old man beamed.

"He's alright," Jack admitted with a crooked grin. "When he ain't screamin' his head off, I mean."

Gently, Jack carried Screamer over to his cradle and laid him inside, covering him with a blanket. "Maybe if we're lucky he'll just...stay."

"Ya mean stay sleepin'?" Kloppmann asked with a raised eye brow. "That's pretty unlikel-"

"No I mean stay wid us," Jack mumbled. "Da kid obviously needs a family."

"Hmm. Sounds like someone else I know," Kloppmann murmured, putting a wrinkled hand on Jack's shoulder.

Jack looked up at the older man with a small smile before nodding slightly. "You're good, old man."

"Well, Screamer has an amazing big brother to grow up with if he stays," Kloppmann patted Jack on the back. "Now come on-it's time to go sellin' the papes."

Yawning and rubbing his back, sore from sleeping in a chair all night, Jack nodded and followed the older man out of the room.

However, right as Jack and Kloppmann exited the child's room, there was a hasty knock at the door. Kloppmann faced Jack, who shrugged. Also shrugging in confusion, Kloppmann went to the door and opened it.

A young couple stood there, both red-eyed and looking terrified. "Excuse me," the young woman mumbled. "Is there a boy named Christian here?"

"Uhh...no, I'm sorry," Kloppmann rose an eye brow.

"Wait! No, dat's me," Jack pushed past Kloppmann, nudging the older man in the ribs, telling him silently to just go with it. "Can I help you?"

"A Dr. Banks told us that you had a baby here?" the man replied, his voice trembling. "We lost our baby boy the other day...We were shopping at a market with him and he got seperated...Is he here?"

"Nope doesn't ring a bell and my name is Jack not Christian," Jack said quickly, attempting to shut the door. "Well thanks for-"

"Jack, what are you doing?" Kloppmann scolded, opening the door again and gently pushing Jack out of the way. "Yes, we did find a baby boy. Jack, go get him."

"But-"

"Jack," Kloppmann looked at the seventeen-year-old seriously.

Heart dropping, Jack turned and went into the baby's room. Screamer giggled when he saw Jack and held up two chubby hands to him. Smiling slightly, Jack picked up the baby and sighed, carrying him out of the room. "Your family's here for ya, kid," he mumbled. "It's time to go."

When Jack and Screamer reached the front door again, most of the other Newsies were downstairs too, and most of them were looking excited to finally be getting a full nights sleep. Mush was talking to the parents, who cried in joy when they saw their baby. Jack slowly handed the child over to his parents, who couldn't stop thanking the Newsies, mainly Mush.

"Hey, Jack's the one who's been taking da most care of him," Mush pointed out finally, not taking all the credit. The couple then turned to Jack, huge smiles on their faces.

"Thank you so much, young man. I hope he wasn't too much trouble," the father asked kindly.

"Uhh...nope. Not at all," Jack shook his head with a shrug. "He's a good kid. Lucky to have a family who cares about him." He then knelt to face Screamer, patting the child's shoulder. "Bye-bye, squirt. Don't forget us."

"Jack's gone soft for the baby!" Kid Blink jeered. But a glare from Jack silenced him and he bit his lip.

"Thank you all so much again," the mother smiled. She then looked at her son with a smile. "Come on Francis, let's get you home."

"FRANCIS?" all the Newsies cried at once. Jack winced and then faced the kid one last time.

"Stick with Screamer, kid. You'll never live Francis down," he warned.

"Screamer?" the parents asked in unison.

"Uhh...wellthanksforpickin'himupbye!" Mush said quickly, pushing the young couple out the door. As they left, Screamer...Francis...looked over his mother's shoulder and waved bye-bye to Jack, who made a weird squeaking sound. When the Newsies looked at him in confusion, he cleared his throat, shrugging. "I didn't do dat. Dat was...Crutchy."

"No it was-"

"Oktimetogohawkin'theheadlines!" Jack said quickly, changing the subject as fast as he could. But when he saw Screamer wave good-bye one last time, he waved back, biting his lip. "Bye, kid."

LATER THAT NIGHT

"Psst! Psst Jack wake up!" Mush tapped Jack's shoulder that night, bouncing up and down on the bunk bed steps. "Jack I have a problem!"

Jack groaned and rolled over, facing Mush through squinted eyes. "Not another kid, Mush. One was enough."

"No...no it's not a kid..."

That's when a puppy leapt out of Mush's arms and onto Jack's bunk, licking his face and jumping all over him. Jack groaned, flopping down and covering his face with his hands. "Here we go again."

"It followed me home, I swear!"

"Good, then you should be his favorite, not me."

But our poor Jacky Boy was wrong.

THE END! Awww Screamer (hehehe...Francis) found his family, and the Newsies got a dog! lol

Well I'm so glad you all liked this story and, if you would, please REVIEW? They make my day!

~Rosey