Now time for the perspective of the others :)

This is going to be fun :)

Enjoy! :)

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Mush almost drops the frying pan with surprise when he hears Blink say "oh, good morning Jack!"

Half the surprise is that Jack is that their door. The other half of the surprise is that Jack is at their door at 8 am.

Luckily, Mush is not as clumsy as some of the other former newsies, so he gets a grip on the frying pan before it drops or before anything spills out. Quickly, he turns off the stove so he can go out and see why Jack Kelly is at his door at 8 am, which is much more interesting in this moment than the breakfast he was planning on making.

His eyebrows rise as his surprise grows as he sees Jack isn't the only one here: he's accompanied by David (but honestly, when is he not?), Ray, and Stargazer.

"Good morning, everyone," Mush greets cordially. He nods at Jack. "Jack."

Jack nods back slowly. "Mush."

"Big surprsie seein' ya awake at 8 am."

Mush smirks as Jack swats at him.

Ray grins with amusement. Sure, they may have grown old, but they haven't grown up quite yet. He's glad that he can still see the kids they used to be in the people they are today.

"So what brings you here?" Mush asks, getting more curious by the second.

"Well, may we come in?" Jack asks.

Mush and Blink get out of the way. "Of course."

They get everyone settled, Mush finishes making breakfast, and so they're all together in the tiny living room, and Jack and Ray explain why they're here.

"So when is the last time you guys saw Race and Spot?" Jack asks, fiddling with his bandana. It might be subtle, but to everyone who knows him well, it's easy to see that he's nervous.

"Well they were here last week," Mush tells them. He swallows. "Do we really think they've been taken?"

Although Jack was infinitely more freaked out when Race went missing three years ago, Mush and Kid Blink also experienced a flurry of emotions and did their fair share of worrying.

"That's what we're trying to figure out," Stargazer explains. 

"So if you've seen them in the past few days, then there's still a chance that they just forgot to check in rather than went missing," Ray adds.

Blink and Mush exchange glances, thinking. "They didn't know about this...new activity, right?"

"We haven't told them yet, so unless they had a different source, they still don't know," Ray responds.

"So if they don't know, then they should not be on Their radar right now," Stargazer responds.

"Then I think it's safe to say that they just haven't checked in," Mush decides. "You know how Race is."

"But Spot isn't like that," Stargazer counters, worried.

"They're young lovers," Blink responds breezily. "You know what that's like. Off in your own little world."

"Yeah, we do know what that's like," Ray agrees, amused. He nudges Stargazer. "Right?"

Stargazer stammers, failing to form any coherent words.

"Good to see that Ray still has that effect on ya," Jack jokes, huge smirk on his face.

Stargazer waves a hand in his face. "Can it, lover boy."

"Yeah, yeah, call me lover boy." Jack leans into David. "I am a very happy lover boy."

"Oh come on, are we competin' for the mushiest couple?" Blink complains.

"Because I think we win," Mush jokes, interlacing his fingers with Blink's. They smile at each other and brush noses.

"Sure, sure, you win," Jack agrees hastily. "Let's get back to talking about our younger brother."

"Well, have you talked to Crutchy yet?" Blink asks.

"Not yet."

"So let's all go to him, and see if he has any information we don't, alright?" Mush suggests.

Their guests all look at each other, none in disagreement.

Jack stands up first. "Sounds like a plan. Let's go."

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There is a big commotion going on behind the door of this specific apartment as Jack knocks. They wait patiently as they hear a consistent thud of a crutch hitting the ground. Finally, Crutchy opens the door and grins widely. "Why, I don't believe my eyes!"

Jack grins. "Hiya, Crutchy."

"Hey Jack!"

Without another word, the two are hugging.

The others smile as they watch. Jack and Crutchy always were very close.

Finally Crutchy looks around and sees everyone else who accompanied Jack. "Oh! Hi everyone! What brings you here?"

Beofre anyone can give an explanation, the five kids swarm out from behind Crutchy's waist.

"Who are they?" Loretta demands.

"Are they bad guys?" Henry adds, eyeing them suspiciously.

Crutchy laughs. "Quite the opposite, actually." He gestures out to his brother. "Kids, meet my fellow newsies."

Cue screaming from the kids.

Jack and David raise their eyebrows. 

Ray grins.

"Tell us everything!" Henry demands.

"Yeah!" Marcus agrees.

"Leave nothing out!" Claire yells.

"Well..." the grown newsies exchange glances, unsure how to tell the kids no.

Luckily, Crutchy knows how to distract them. "Hey, fellas. it ain't polite to crowd, ain't it?"

They all respectfully take a step back, put their hands behind their back.

Crutchy grins. "Good thing ya remember your manners."

He turns back to his friends. "So what's the big idea?"

They set the kids up with Ray, who is totally happy to oblige, and keeps them distracted as everyone else fills Crutchy in on the real reason for their visit.

"Oh yeah! They were here three or four days ago!" Crutchy tells them smoothly. "They're doing fine."

That gets everyone to react. Jack moves closer, relieved to finally hear something positive and certain. "Do you know where they are now?"

"No," Crutchy responds, "but I do know what they're up to. They said they were gonna go 'round visit different people. See, they said that they were going to help people affected by Them."

"Did they talk about new activity from Them?" Stargazer asks urgently.

"No," Crutchy reassures him. "It just sounded like they'se is tryna undo the damage from three years ago, or further back."

Stargazer and Jack relax. Stargazer more than Jack.

"But do you have any idea of where they are now?" Jack asks.

Crutchy shakes his head regretfully. "Unfortunately, I don't."

Jack's shoulders droop. David places a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

Before anything else can be said, the parents open the door to the little apartment...to find six strangers in their house, and all five kids climbing on one of the strangers, without Crutchy's intense super vision.

"Uh..." Crutchy smiles apolgetically, guiltily, sheepishly at them. "So uh. I can explain..."

At least they're okay with us, Jack thinks as he watches Crutchy explain that they are all his friends.

Crutchy turns back to Jack. "You should come talk to these two."

Jack comes closer, and Crutchy introduces them. "These are Seamus and Áine. They are the ones who talked to Race and Spot."

Before the couple tells them anything, though, they insist that they go somewhere no one is listening. They lead them to the very spot they took Race and Spot a few days ago.

"Your boys are working for a man named Fabrizio," they tell him.

Stargazer's eyebrows shoot up as he recognizes that name.

"He told them to find people who have been affected by Them," they continue. They clasp hands. "Like us."

"Did they help?" David asks softly.

Áine smiles. "Yes. They did."

Jack feels warm. That's my boy.

"Did they tell you where else they were going?" Stargazer asks.

They shake their heads. "They did not. But we know where Fabrizio is."

They all lean in, eager to finally have a lead.

"Go to the pier in Brooklyn," Seamus tells them. "Fabrizio has a boat. If he is not on the water, he is at least close by."

"Thank you sir, madam," Jack tells them appreciateily. He looks at the others. "Let's go."

They return to the apartment to collect Ray, however they do have to fight five kids who are very much against him leaving. They are amused and exasperated when Ray agrees with their protests.

"We got a lead on Race and Spot," Jack tells him, hand on his face, thumb web over the bridge of his nose, losing his patience. "Let's go."

"I hear ya," Ray tells him. He faces the kids solemly. "I'm sorry, but I have to say goodbye for today."

They start whining.

"You're coming back, right?" Loretta asks.

"Absolutely," Ray tells her seriously.

"Don't forget about us!" Ainsley pleads.

He gets down on Ainsley's level. "I couldn't if I tried."

He stands back up, grinning, and thanks the parents for being understanding, and bids them farewell.

Mush and Blink are the first out the door, followed by David and Stargazer, then Jack and Ray. Jack stops when he notices Crutchy hobbling after them.

He stops, and glances behind him. "Are you...coming too?"

"Of course I am!" Crutchy exclaims. "I can be gone an hour or two. Besides, seeing you and Race reuinte? Oh, it's going to be the drama of the year. I can't miss this."

Jack doesn't know how to respond so he just sticks his tongue out at him as they walk out the door. Crutchy snickers. Jack huffs, and places an arm around him. Together, they go leave to find their younger brother.

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They approach the pier, and find an old man talking to a young boy.

But not just any young boy.

Ray's eyes widen. "Emiliano!"

Emiliano turns to him. "Hi, Ray!"

"Where've you been?" Ray scolds him gently, mussing his hair and pulling him into a hug. "I thought I told ya to check in."

"I...forgot?" Emiliano answers sheepishly, face flushing.

Ray eyes him. "For several days?"

"We were having an advernture!" Emiliano defends himself. Then he scuffs his feet. "besides...I ain't used to people wanting to know where I am. It's...weird that it...matters."

Ray softens and crouches down. "Well, it is important. To me. To Stargazer. So let's work on that in the future, okay?"

Emiliano nods smally, eyes averted.

He's so much like Race, Ray muses. No wonder they clicked. 

Speaking of Race.

"Do you know where Race and Spot are?" Ray questions.

Emiliano nods. "You just missed them. They were on their way to Moretti's."

Jack groans, and puts his hands on his head, looking like he wants to rip his hair out. "Can that little stinker stop moving for one minute?"

Ray chuckles. "It's okay, Jack. At least we know they're moving to get food. Race'll stop there."

Jack inhales deeply. "Okay."

Ray looks back down at Emiliano. "Wanna lead us to Race and Spot?"

Emiliano nods eagerly. "Sí!"

And so he bounds off, and they all follow him--minus Stargazer, who wants to catch up with Fabrizio, share stories, and also share what he learned.

Finally, Jack thinks as he follows the kid with energy. I get to put this worry to ease.

----------------------------------------------------

Finally, finally, Jack has Race in his eyesight. He and Spot are chatting, looking at a sign in a window.

"There you are!" Jack shouts, nearly steaming.

They turn around.

"Jack?" Race questions. Then he spots Ray. "Ray!"

"Hi, Jackie Boy," Spot greets him. "Mush. Crutchy. Blink. Walkin' Mouth."

"Hiya, Spot!" the three greet back as David rolls his eyes.

Jack walks very pointedly to Race, simmering. "It's about darn time!"

"What's...going on?" Race asks slowly, very confused, noticing that Jack is seething.

"Come here." Ray tucks Race under his arm, as if to steer him from Jack's wrath. "We have a lot of catching up to do."

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Oooooh that was fun haha.

And hopefully a good splash of fluff considering how deep the last chapters have been.

Not that there's anything wrong with depth, but fluff is nice too.

I just knew it was gonna be dramatic when they reunite haha. Can't wait to write more of it in the next chapter.

I'm going to be so real though...I am about to get very busy. I will write when I can, but I won't have solid time to write until fall. I'm sorry. I have a couple more chapters planned, so I will try to write them when I can, but I have a feeling you won't hear much from me until late August or early September.

I won't abandon this story tho!! It's just going to be some time before I can continue.

Also my computer is malfunctioning a little right now, so we'll see. I'm currently on my iPad, but I can't stand writing large chunks of text on my iPad. I can edit and write extra little things, but I wouldn't write a whole chapter here. I need a real keyboard.

Also HAPPY PRIDE MONTH EVERYONE!! I can't believe I haven't said that yet. Whether you are celebrating out and proud or still in the closet, happy pride to you all!! <3

Please, no homophobia/transphobia/aphobia, profanities directed at other users, hate etc in the comment section at all times.

Best,

~Your Beloved Author (who has gone down the One Piece rabbit hole)