ASJDFHADSKJGHADSJHGKLASDJF HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Right where the epilogue of the last one left off :)))

As a helpful reminder to everyone including myself, here are some reminders about ages:

Race: 19 1/2

Spot: 20

Jack: 26 

Louis and Mush: 25

Crutchy: 23

Ray and Stargazer: 35 and 34

Oh my gosh they are so old-

(For anyone confused on why they are this old when they were all teenagers in the movie, remember that I messed up their ages so they would all be a lot older than Race :) ) 

Enjoy! :)

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Carpe diem.

Race takes in all the faces around him as he and Spot walk hand in hand out of the Manhattan newsies' lodging house. The faces of all the newsies he's ever known, the aged faces of those who were with him growing up, those who are in the lodging house now, and of course, those of his brothers.

They're all smiling at him. He smiles at them back. He is extremely touched that they all came to see this historic moment for him.

He still is having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that they are all here for him. He still has a hard time believing that he can be this special.

Spot glances over at him, and almost as if he can read minds--or maybe Race just has an obviously dubious expression--he squeezes Race's hand and tells him, "You are special. You mean a lot to me, and everyone here."

A grin tugs at Race's lips. "I don't think that is ever gonna fully sink in for me."

"Well then, I guess we're just gonna have to keep reminding you forever."

Race grins and shakes his head, wondering what he did to have someone like Spot as his side.

He's jumbled out of his thoughts when after not even walking ten feet out of the lodging house, Jack suddenly breaks down sobbing.

Everyone turns to look at him, some with raised eyebrows, some a little startled, some are rolling their eyes. Race started out as one of the startled, but once he realized what kind of moment Jack is having, he sighs and becomes an eye roller too.

David is patting him on the back sympathetically, trying to calm him down.

"I remember him when he was just a little innocent little baby," Jack sobs. "How is it possible he's old enough to go out into the world now?"

"Jack, you just used little twice in the same sentence."

"I don't care!"

"How do you think I feel?" Stargazer butts in, looking fully amused. "I'm the one who first carried that little innocent little baby here!"

Ray nudges him gently. "Hey now. This is a big day for Jack. His youngest brother is finally leaving the lodging house. Let his maternal heart let it all out."

Race looks to Ray. "How are you calmer than Jack right now?"

Ray shrugs. "Better at keeping it inside, maybe?"

"Or maybe it's because Ray always loved Race but has always been level headed," Blink jokes. "Jack however, has tipped over the overprotective iceberg and has gone too far down to be fished out now."

That gets everyone to laugh as Jack indignantly protests "Hey!"

While everyone else is occupied, Mush is the first one to hug Race. "I'm so proud of you, Race."

"Me too." Crutchy is next in line for the hug. "Never stop being you, ya hear?"

And then Race gets many more hugs. Some from the former newsies he had been closer to, like Sheeny and Morris Cohen and Henry, and many from his current newsies, like Boots and Tumbler...and then reluctantly Snipeshooter comes up to tell him "you've been alright."

Skittery and David and Les come up to him too.

And finally, the rest of his brothers.

There's Kid Blink, who tells him he's got the best spirit he's ever seen.

Then Stargazer gives him a hug, telling him how grateful he is that Race reunited him with Ray.

Then Ray hugs him, hugs him a long time, closely. "Just know that I'm always going to be here for you, okay? No matter how far you go, no matter how many mistakes you make, you can always come back to me and I will always love you, ya hear?"

Race nods into Ray's chest. "I hear you."

It's great having Ray back as a constant in his life. They both wish they could make up for the missing time, but they are making it up now as best they can. Ray was always the parent that Race never had. And it looks like even separation cannot break that bond.

They break apart, and now it's time for Race to hug Jack, the brother he always had the deepest connection with. Jack hugs Race very tight, using one hand to press Race's head toward his chest, resting his chin on Race's head. "I love you Race. I have more love for you than I know what to do with. I'm always going to be around for you, okay? It doesn't matter where you are, just holler, and I'll hear it somehow, and I'll come runnin' in to save the day, okay?"

"He don't need savin', Jackie Boy," Spot deadpans. "He can handle himself."

Jack looks at Spot reproachfully but no real menace. "A guy can dream he's still important to his brother, you know?"

"But you are still important to me," Race counters, perking his head up.

Jack sniffles again.

A little giggle escapes Race's mouth.

"Oh, you think this is funny?!"

"Jack-"

"Is this funny to you, hmmm?"

"Jack, stop-"

Too late. Jack is already tickling Race.

"You want me to stop now, huh?"

Between laughs Race chokes out, "yes, yes I do-"

"Well you should'a thought of that sooner!"

"No!" Race tries getting away from Jack, but it's no use. Jack has got him stuck, and it appears he is trying to tickle Race to death.

He hears people around him laughing.

Race's face heats up a little, because he feels he's not proving his point that he's all grown up now.

But on the other hand, he's enjoying this moment with Jack. It makes him feel younger, feel safe. So maybe a bunch of people will call this childish. If anything, it's Jack that should be subject to more scrutiny of childlikeness because he's the one who has been alive for two and a half decades.

Finally, Jack stops, and they break apart, but still are holding hands. "I mean it though, Race. I ain't ever going to leave you. Whatever happens in the future, I just want you to know that you still have your big bruddah by your side. You hear?"

Race grins. "I hear. Thank you, Jack." He presses against Jack one more time. "I mean it."

Jack kisses the top of Race's head.

Finally, they break apart fully.

Race looks at Spot, who has a smile on his face and adventure in his eye. "Ready to go?"

Race grins. "I'm ready."

He looks around him one last time, at this community of newsies. Sure, being a newsie doesn't last forever, but he knows this connection will.

He knows that they'll always have his back.

And so, Race and Spot start their journey for the day, finally walking away from the lodging house, their people, and all they've ever known.

"So?" Spot asks once they're farther away from the rest, "where to first?"

"Hmm...." he is trying to give a contemplating air, but there's a small smirk on his face that Spot catches.

"Where do you wanna go?" Spot asks, smile in his voice letting Race know that he knows he already has a plan.

Race turns to Spot and smiles. "Sheepshead."

Spot smiles back. "Sheepshead it is."

And so together they begin their journey to Sheepshead Bay, seizing the day.

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Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa I enjoyed that!

I thought this chapter was going to be about going to Sheepshead, but the goodbyes were getting long and I didn't want chapter one to be a million words.

So that means we are going to have TWO fluffy chapters in a row :))

I mayy have had the epilogue of the last one open while writing this to make sure that I could get details right haha.

So! How are we feeling about chapter one?!

Yeah, I don't have many more thoughts on this chapter.

Let us see where we go :)

Please, no homophobia/transphobia/aphobia, profanities directed at other wattpad users, or hate of any kind in the comment section.

Best,

~Your Beloved Author (who was listening to Moana 2's What Lies Beyond while writing this)