A/N: Here it is my first and hopefully not my last Newsies fan fiction. This is for Kid Blink. The songs are Santa Fe (Prolouge) from the Broadway play and Carrying the Banner from the movie (except for one part, bc i like that part better) and I do not own it or the movie Newsies, unfortunately.

Her sea green eyes flutter open as she scans the room around her. There are fellow newsies all asleep, except for Crutchy and the girl's best friend Jack Kelly or Cowboy.

She knows they are on the roof so she quickly heads up there but not before she bandages her chest down to keep her breasts from showing too much and she dresses in brown pants, black shoes and a white shirt, all caked with dirt. Even though she was dirty, she never smelled, she wishes she could say the same for some of the other newsies.

She collects all of her hair and tuck it inside my grey cap.

She is a girl, all the newsies and Medda Larkson know that, Kloppman didn't or else she'd be back on the streets. But that's another story for another time.

Here the newsies never really talk about their lives before they became newsies, it is like an unwritten rule of the Lodging House. The only person who knows about the girl's past is Jack Kelly.

She grabs her brown light jacket and heads upstairs to the roof.

"Hey guys, what's up?" She asks emerging.

"Ey, it's Aggie!" Jack says helping her up. He smiles at her.

He calls her that because all the newsies have a nickname based on their personality or looks. For the first few days the newsies just called her Aggie so she would have a nickname until they figured one out. Only two people still use it. Later it became Royal, because whenever she would play poker, she would get a royal flush, every single time. She prefers to be calked Aggie, she likes that nickname more, which is why Royal stuck. But sometimes others slip and call her Aggie. Her full name is Agatha Barter. But she denies and refuses her last name. And her full first name Agatha, it's so formal she despises it; she likes being the "street rat" she is and she needs a casual name to go with it. It's only used in great persuasion or trouble.

"Well if it ain't Cowboy, himself." She says laughing and she takes his cowboy hat off his head and puts it on hers.

"Watch yerself goily." He says with a smile teasing her as he takes back his hat.

Aggie considers herself extremely lucky, she wasn't always a poor street rat that sells papes. She was once part of a middle class family that had enough money to put her through some school. So she

doesn't have a newsies accent and she likes to read but sometimes Aggie still make mistakes in grammar. Still sometimes she fakes so she can sound more like a boy.

"Hey, Crutchy, how are you feeling?"

"Great, anuddah day ta live in New York." He says without sarcasm he actually likes New York and God only knows why. Jack and her dream is to go to Santa Fe.

Jack laughs humorlessly and says, "Them streets down there, they sucke' the life right outta my old man. Well they ain't doin' that ta me."

"But everyone wants ta come ta New York." Crutchy says trying to reason with him, trying to get him to see the bright side of things like always. One of the reasons Aggie always thought of Crutchy as a good friend. He could make her smile on the worst of days.

"You keep your small life in the big city. Give me a big life in a small town."

She scoffs and knows what's to follow and yet she joins.

"They say folks is dyin' to get here.

Me, I'm dyin' to get away,

to a a little town out west

that's spankin' new." Jack sings looking out to the city streets.

"And while I ain't never been there,

I can see it clear as day.

If you want, I bet'cha you could see it, too." Aggie sings knowing that it's my dream as well.

"Close your eyes...

Come with us,

Where it's clean and green and pretty.

And they went and made a city outta clay.

Why, the minute that we get there,

Folks'll walk right up and say,

"Welcome home, son, welcome home to Santa Fe!"

Plantin' crops,

Splittin' rails,

Swappin' tales around the fire,

'cept for Sunday when you lie around all day.

Soon your friends are more like family,

and they's beggin' you to stay!

Ain't that neat?

Livin' sweet in Santa Fe." They sing in unison since their thoughts are so alike. One of the many reasons Jack and Aggie are like brother and sister.

"Hey, no one worries 'bout no gimp leg in Santa Fe. Youse just hop a Palomino, youse ride in style!" Jack says to Crutchy trying to lure him into going as well because he is like family to the two teenagers. All the newsies are.

"Picture me, ridin' in style." Crutchy says with a giddy laugh, he is already liking the idea.

"Hey, I bet a few months of clean air, you could toss that crutch for good!" Aggie says with a smile.

"Santa Fe,

you can bet.

We won't let them bastids beat us.

We won't beg no one to treat us fair and square.

There's a life that's worth the livin',

and I'm gonna do my share." They all sing

"Work the land." Jack sings.

"Chase the sun." Agatha sings looking up at the sun rising now. She can barely see it due to all the smog from industrialization in New York. She hopes that Santa Fe will be cleaner

"Swim the whole Rio Grande just for fun!" The three all sing.

"Watch me stand! Watch me run..." Crutchy sings then chokes back a sob. Aggie can't imagine how it must feel for him, to not walk right, always be behind his friends, people not believing his condition. But it's as real as day.

She pulls him into a quick hug, and he looks up and Jack attempts to soothe him as well, he hates seeing those closest to him cry,

"Hey, hey...

Don't you know that we's a family?

Would I let you down?"

"No way." Crutchy says looking back up at Jack and Aggie.

"Just hold on, kid,

till that train makes Santa Fe." They sing softly to Crutchy.

After, they head down just in time to see Kloppman, the kind old man who runs the Newsboy Lodging House, getting everyone out of bed.

They are all grateful for him getting them off the streets, giving them food and shelter, he has become like a father to them. Plus he's the best alarm clock ever.

Aggie's eyes meet with Kid Blink's one eye and she smiles at him and he smiles his beautiful trademark smile back. He waves at her and says, "'Morning, Aggie." She waves back and greets, "'Morning, Blink." She shortens Kid Blink's nickname because its a bit of a mouth full. Everyone has their own version. Aggie's is Blink. She feels as if a butterfly is floating around in her stomach. She is puzzled at the reaction to this. It's usually just a plain feeling but she gets weaker in the knees every time he even looks at her.

He and Jack are the only ones that still call her Aggie on a day-to-day basis.

She can't help but look at him in his underwear and undershirt. He is lean and muscular from being a newsie but she quickly looks away once she's caught by Skittery. He elbows her out of her daze fixated on Blink. She blushes from being caught checking him out. Why she anyway? Well he is one of her closest friends.

In fact, Blink, Jack, Crutchy, and Race are all her closest friends here, everyone else are good acquaintances. They all joke and treat each other like family but if Aggie has a problem she heads for either Jack, Race, Crutchy, or Blink first, but it depends on the problem for her to chose who to go to.

Race stands up and looks for his cigar that's in Snipeshooter's hand.

"Hey that's my cigar!" He shouts at him.

"You'll steal anuddah." Snipeshooter shouts back and Race grabs his cigar and hits him on the head so Aggie steps in front of Race indicating that he shouldn't make a scene, it's too early in the morning.

"Hey bummers we got work to do!" She sings and they nod.

"Since when did you become me mother?" Specs sings to Aggie with his mornin breath. She rolls her eyes and shoves him away.

"Ah stop yer bawling!" Crutchy sings trying to crankily keep the peace.

"Who asked you?" The newsies shout. It's too early for most of them.

Crutchy then asks where he can find a new spot since Jack recommended he should.

"Try Bottle Alley or the harbor" Mush suggests.

"Try Central Park its guaranteed." Race suggests combing his hair.

Jack hits Mush and Race with shaving cream as if to say 'He was asking me. "Try any banker, bum or barber" Jack sings.

They almost all knows how ta read" Skittery sings Dryin his hair with a towel. Aggie watches Kid Blink put on his cap and swipe a stray pretty blonde hair away from his face before turning to wash her face.

Kid Blink watches Aggie's dainty yet calloused hands stained with ink wash off her amazing features. He smiles softly at the sight.

"I smell money." Kid Blink sings with a smile and Crutchy smells his breath.

"You smell foul." Crutchy sings and Kid Blink goes to hit him but Mush gets in the way trying to distract him long enough to let Crutchy get away by singing, "Met this goil last night."

Crutchy makes it to a bin to wash off his face but Boots keeps hitting him with his elbow while he is pumping water.

"Ow! Move your elbow." he sings scaring Dutchy and he accidentally throws shaving creaming at Race and he tries to hit him but he's blinded so he sings, "Pass the towel."

Skittery hits his face and grabs the towel singing, "For a buck I might!"

Aggie rolls her eyes at the crazy behavior of the other newsies but she knows she loves it. She smiles at them as they start putting the finishing touches on their outfits such as shoes, vests, and suspenders.

For Jack, it means fixing his infamous cowboy hat.

"Ain't it a fine life?

Carryin' the banner t'rough it all
A mighty fine life, carryin' the banner tough an' tall
Every mornin' we goes where we wishes
We'se as free as fishes
Shoa beats washin' dishes
What a fine life, carryin' the banner home-free all" The newsies sing as some finish shaving and putting on clothes,a shaving cream war even erupts but Crutchy stops it. Always being the peacemaker. Aggie thinks his nickname should've been Benvolio. Since he's like the peacemaker, Benvolio, in Romeo and Juliet. But most of the newsies never read that book. Some can't even read. Yet Aggie thinks that nickname better sums up his personality and does him more justice.

The newsies finally finish their morning routines and they head outside to go to get their breakfast.

"An' Jack, what does it take to be a newsie?" She asks teasing him. He always take new newsies under his wing and he smiles thinking of a different answer than he normally does.

"It takes a smile as sweet as butter." Jack sings.

"The kind that ladys can't resist." Crutchy sings getting in on the joke.

"It takes an orphan with a stuttah." Race sings.

"who aint afraid to use his-" Jack sings.

"Fist!" Kid Blink sings Jumping onto a crate behind them scaring them before running off. Aggie somewhat believes his eye patch is for sympathy because he's never really told anyone why. But she also believes he is a good man who is trying to make an honest living.

"Summer stinks an' winters waiting
Welcome to New York
Boy ain't nature fascinating
When youse gotta walk." They sing continuing on to the Nun's convent.

"So its a fine life carryin' the banner with me chums." one group of newsies sing including Aggie.
"Its a fine life carrying the banner with me chums." the other newsies repeat Including Kid Blink.
"A mighty fine life, blowin' every nickel as it falls."
"A mighty fine life, blowin' every nickel as it falls"

The newsies are all singing and dancing. Having fun with their poor selves.

"I'm no snoozah
Sittin' makes me antsy
I likes livin' chancy" Crutchy sings dancing as well. Showing he is still a person, just with a limp.

"Harlen to Delancey
What a fine life

Carryin' the banner t'rough the slums." They sing as they reach the convent. Soon the nuns show up with bread, apples, certain cheeses, coffee, and water. The water is the freshest thing there. But they don't complain, they are grateful for it all. Except Race.

"Blessed children
Though you wander lost and depraved
Jesus loves you, you shall be saved." The nuns sing the same as everyday.

The food and drinks are passed throughout the crowd.

"Curdled coffee

Concrete doughnuts sprinkled with mold

Homemade biscuits

Just two years old." Race sings over all of rest.

"Jus' gimme half a cup." Mush sings grabbing a cup.

"Something to wake me up." Kid Blink sings getting his.

I gotta find an angle." Romeo sings nervously eating his bread. Aggie feels bad for the kid, he's still new and the funny thing is, Romeo is his real name and his nickname. On his first day he tried to impress the newsies by sweet talking some girl but she said, "No way, Romeo." And he asked, "How'd youse knows me name?" So it stuck because it was really funny. Mush even offered lessons on charming a girl.

"I gotta sell more papes." Crutchy sings as he limps over to the cart of food.

"Papers is all I got." Aggie sings reaching for an apple but she put it back when she sees the mold, and besides she's not even that hungry.

Kid Blink hears this and looks at her and shakes his head thinking, "No youse gots me."

"Wish I could catch a breeze." Specs sings.

"Sure hope the headline's hot." Swifty sings.

"All I can catch is fleas."Romeo sings still hopeless so Aggie, feeling bad, places a hand on his shoulder and smiles at him. He smiles back. Kid Blink looks at her with an unreadable expression on his face. Kid Blink notices it as jealousy and looks away but Aggie catches it.

"God, help me if it's not." Boots sings To Swifty.

"Somebody help me, please.

If I hate the headlines
I'll make up the headline
And I'll say anything I have to
'Cause at two for a penny
If I take too many
Weasel just makes me eat 'em after." the newsies all sing as they reach the square. They are already putting up the headline.

"Look! They're puttin' up the headline!" One group of newsies sing including Aggie and Kid Blink

"What's it say?" The other group sings.

"You call that a headline"
"That won't pay"

"I get better stories
From the copper on the beat."
"So where's your spot."
"I was gonna start at twenty-"
"God, it's hot."
"-now a dozen will be plenty."
"Will ya -"

"Tell me, how'm I gonna make ends meet?" They all sing.

Then they all sing, while dancing, "We need a good assassination
We need an earthquake or a war."

"How 'bout a crooked politician?" Snipeshooter suggests. Most newsies throw their caps at him and sing,

"Hey stupid that aint news no more
Uptown to Grand Central Station
Down to City Hall
We improves our circulation
Walking till we fall" The ones that threw their caps, pick them up and dance almost at Newsie Square. Actually early for once.

Half the newsies sings, "Still we'll be out there
Carrying the banner man to man!
We'll be out there
Soakin' every sucker that we can!
See the headline:
Newsies on a mission!
Kill the competition
Sell the next edition
While we're out there
Carrying the banner is the

The original second group sings over them, "Didja hear 'bout the headline?

They call that a headline?

The idiot who wrote it

Must be workin' for the Sun!

Did ya hear about the fire?

Heard the toll was even higher why do I miss all the fun?"

Hitched it on a trolley.

Little Italy's a secret.

By the courthouse on the corner someone beckoned and I-"

"It's a fine life

Carrying the banner through it all?

A mighty fine life

Carrying the banner tough and tall

See the headline

Newsies on a mission

Kill the competition

Sell the next edition

What a fine life,

Carrying the banner

It's a fine life

Carrying the banner

It's a fine life

Carrying the banner

It's a fine life

Carrying the banner

It's a fine life

Carrying the banner

It's a-"

"Would you look at that headline?

You call that a headline?

I get better stories

From the copper on the beat!

I was gonna start with twenty

Now a dozen'll be plenty

Would you tell me how'm I ever

Gonna make ends meet?

Hitched it on a trolley

Meetcha Forty-fourth and Second

Little Italy's a secret

Bleecker's further than I reckoned

By the courthouse

Near the stables

On the corner someone beckoned!

Go get 'em Cowboy

You got 'em now, boy!

Go get 'em, Cowboy!

You got 'em now, boy!"

"Go!" The all shout.