Run, run, runaway runaway baby,
Before I put my spell on you,
You better get, get, getaway getaway darlin'
Cause everything you heard is true,
Your poor little heart, will end up alone,
Cause Lord knows I'm a rollin' stone,
So you better run, run, run away, run away baby.
- Bruno Mars (Runaway Baby)

Jack and Katherine dashed down the marketplace paths and dodged people left and right earning screams in return.

"Who the bloody-"

"It's James, Adam and father!" Katherine yelled to Jack as she ran.

"James?! The guy you were talking about?"

Katherine nodded quickly.

The two ran as fast as their feet could carry them and ducked down an alleyway.

"Think we lost- hmm!" Jack quickly shushed Katherine as James and the rest ran by.

"Be. Very. Quiet." Jack commanded grabbing her hand again.

Katherine nodded and they began to slowly make their way out of the alley. The two picked up their pace again and headed for the entrance they came from but it was too crowded. They quickly turned around and began running.

"Faster Kath!" Jack yelled but came no answer.

"Katherine?"

He turned around and saw her on the ground crawling back with James inching towards her.

Jack began running back quickly, breathing faster and faster. He didn't know why, but he was not letting a single thing happen to this girl. Ever.

"Finally found you." James smirked.

"W-What the heck do you want?!" Katherine yelled backing away on her hands.

"Hmm, a million dollars in your parents wealth would be nice but your pretty face could be better." He smirked crouching down and grabbing her chin and leaning close, "Now whattaya say we go home sweetheart?"

"Never." Katherine whispered yanking away.

James stood back up and realized he had backed Katherine to a wall. He smirked devilishly. He yanked Katherine up by the hair and crossed her arm against her back.

Jack was two feet away and not skidded to a stop, "Drop. Her." He growled.

"Ah, a street rat." James said, "Hey Pulitzer, did you know your daughter has been hanging around with a street rat?!"

"H-He is not a street rat!" Katherine screamed struggling against James who silenced her by gripping her hair harder.

Jack looked everywhere for how to save her. Anything would help at this point. He didn't necessarily have karate skills and James was a good 3 inches taller than him. Then it hit him, the backpack. He had it. Katherine had given it to him after she bought the typewriter.

"She's gone." James smirked sensing Jack thinking.

"Not really." Jack muttered.

He quickly swung the backpack under James' legs, careful to miss Katherine's and caught it back in one motion. James fell back and pushed Katherine forward who shakily fell into Jack, clutching onto him and shaking like a lost child.

"C'mon we have to run!" Jack whispered in her ear, his voice a comfort that she would be okay.

Katherine just nodded, she couldn't find the words to say anything and was physically shaking hard.

The two began running as fast.

"This isn't the end of it!" They heard Pulitzer scream from where he stood.

***

Jack led Katherine to one of the boats at the dock and they climbed aboard as it began to leave. Jack led her to the top deck where he jumped on the top platform overlooking the river and bridge.

"I'm da king of the world!" He yelled outspreading his arms.

Katherine leaned against the back wall and sank down putting her head inbetween her knees and trying to calm her shaking to no avail. A few tears slipped out and her back shook with silent sobs. They were out there; looking for her.

"Kath?" Jack asked turning back.

His smile fell when he saw her sitting there. Jack jumped down and walked over crouching down in front of her.

"Aye, what's wrong?" He asked.

"They're out there." She whispered, "They're after me."

Jack said nothing but pulled her into him and held her close, sitting next to her and held her while she sobbed.

"W-What a-am I gonna d-do?" She asked between sniffles.

"Well I can tell yous dis, dey're not gonna get you."

"H-How d-do you k-know that?" Katherine asked, wiping her nose on her sleeve.

"Because I won't let dem." Jack mumbled into her hair, holding her closer.

He stroked her hair lightly and rubbed calming circles on her back and whispered sweet words of nothing's in her ear as she silently cried into his chest.

Jack waited until her cries turned to sniffles and then helped her up and took her hand and led her to where he stood once with his arms outspread.  He helped her onto the platform and outspread her arms gently.

"Don't drop me." She whispered.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Jack mumbled putting his hands around her waist.

Katherine closed her eyes and inhaled the air deeply letting it fill her lungs.  She exhaled and opened them realizing where she was.  With Jack and how close his hands were on her waist.  With how her hair was blowing in the wind.  How close his lips and breath were to her neck.

Katherine turned her head to see Jack's face and just stared into his eyes.  He stared back.  Katherine's eyes flickered down to his lips and back to his brown eyes as if asking.  Jack gently nodded urging her forward.  The two leaned in softly and Jack softly captured Katherine's lips in his.  Katherine turned in his arms and slowly brought her hands to his face.  In an instant Jack had gotten his grip under her legs and picked her up and began to kiss her harder and Katherine pulled him closer.  Far too soon they pulled away and stared at each other wide-eyed and breathless.

"That was. . . New." Katherine whispered.

"Good new?" Jack asked quickly.

Katherine nodded and he set her down.

"Do yous wants ta go grab coffee?" Jack asked, "After we dock?"

Katherine smiled a genuine smile for what felt like the first time in forever, "I'd love to."

ERMAGERSH THE TWO DORKS KISSED IM CRYIN MY BABIES AND DAMN IT GOT INTENSE FOR A SECOND I WAS LIKE KYLIE CALM DOWN WHOO AND THAT TITANIC REFERENCE AYE AH MY JATHERINE FEELS THEYRE EVERYWHERE *SIGHS DEEPLY* I put on The World Will Know and screamed "Pulitzer and Hearst they think we're nothing! Are we nothing?!" And my little sister threw her math book down and screamed "NO!" #imsoproudofher #gettingturntinhere #wednesdaynightswithsis #thisishowwedo