From The Journals of Katherine Plumber

September 19th, 1899

You don't just heal from broken bones, or cuts or bruises. You also heal mentally. It's a long recovery, sometimes, people never recover. But, when you have someone at your side that understands and you both go through each struggling moment on that journey together, it's not all bad.

For me, that person was Jack. For the past week, Jack and I haven't left each other's side. We became even closer and started telling each other everything. We did sell a few times, but not all that much. The boys would bring us back food each night and we would eat it in our room.

The boys weren't all too pleased with the idea of me living with them. They went from thinking of me as a friend, to being an annoying mother, but I am determined to make this work. Even though Jack and I were still struggling through our mental state that last week had put us in, we were still happy together.

It was nearly noon as Jack sat on the ground next to the bed, leaning his back against it. He was wearing his usual grey slacks and had his suspenders clipped on, hanging around his legs. I laid on the bed, my head at the foot, and my legs up against the wall. My robe flowed around me, and hung over Jack's shoulder. It was a humid day, one of those days where all you want to do is be lazy and lay around.

"So, what do you want to do today?" I asked, reaching a hand down to hold his.

"Well, y'know what Ise wanna do." Jack smirked, turning and kneeling on his knees and his face hovered over mine.

I blushed and giggled softly.

Jack smirked and chuckled, holding me close, "Y'know, ya just got one of those contagious laughs."

"When I laugh, I sound like a hyena." I giggled.

"A what?" Jack asked.

"A hyena. It's an animal in Asia." I said.

"Oh."

I nodded and held his hand close to my heart, "So, I was thinking, maybe after I clean the boy's clothes, we could go for a walk? Maybe stop at Jacobi's?" I asked.

Jack sighed softly, "I make 7 bucks a week as a Newsie. Nearly 14 when youse with me or one of da kids. It ain't gonna be enough to provide for us, though. Ace, Ise love ya. Ise love spendin' all day with ya and actin' like nothin' else mattas, but we all gotta eat. Ise only made $5.32 dis week from selling cause I kept coming back early. I know dere's a lot left ta learn for both of us, but we also gotta be realistic." He said.

I sighed, "I knew it was only a matter of time till you would say that."

"Ace, ya keep goin' on about how we can start a normal life ta'getha', but wes' can't without money." He said.

"I know. I just didn't want our fairy tale to end." I said softly.

"Ya call cryin' almost every night or arguin' cause of somethin' important dat we didn't tell each otha' a fairy tale?" He asked with a soft chuckle.

"Fair point." I giggled softly, sitting up and reaching for Jack's shirt that was thrown on the opposite side of the bed from him. "You better get ready for work." I said, handing it to him.

He groaned softly and nodded, "Just wish Ise don't gotta wear dis." He chuckled, "It's hot out dere."

"Take it in while you can. We both know that in a matter of days there could be snow, then a heatwave again." I giggled, "Gotta love New York."

"Yeah." He chuckled and kissed my cheek, going to get ready by the wardrobe, "So, what are youse gonna do taday?"

"Well, maybe after cleaning up around here, I'll go look for a job." I said.