From The Journals of Katherine Plumber

January 30th, 1900: Part I

(This one is short cause my computer broke on me, so I am writing all this on my phone! Whoo. Word count is only at 2650, so it's pretty short but the next part (or 2) or this chapter will definitely make up for it!)

I woke up in our bed, feeling emptiness next to me. I shot up in a slight panic, looking to see Jack wasn't there. I would've panicked more, if I didn't hear the clicking of Jack's cane coming down the stairs. I looked over, seeing him carry down a tray. He wasn't even dressed, all he had on was his pants, yet he... went to make breakfast?

"Good morning, birthday queen." Jack smirked as he put the tray on my lap and leaned down to kiss me gently.

"What is this?" I asked as he sat next to me.

"One of ya birthday gifts." He smirked, holding my hand.

"You didn't have to get me anything." I said.

"Ise did. Be happy." He smirked, "Besides, ya got me three gifts for my birthday."

"I got you one." I said.

"Three. Da watch, da baby, and dat cool little horse toy. Ise love playin' with dat." He teased.

"You're a child, Jack Kelly." I giggled.

"Do ya still love me?" He asked.

"Of course." I smiled.

"Den Ise don't care." He smirked and kissed me quickly.

I giggled and rolled my eyes, "Also, the baby wasn't a gift. That was a blessing and a surprise."

"Ise don't care. He's my excuse ta get ya more gifts ta'day." He said, getting up and going over to some boxes under a tarp.

"Jack, you didn't have to-" I stopped when he lifted the tarp. Underneath was a beautiful, handmade cradle. I gasped softly, tears escaping my eye, "J-Jack-"

"Ise was thinkin' if we gonna have a kid, it'll need a place ta sleep. Ise been makin' dis with da help of Spot, cause he's da only one who really knows how ta make stuff." He chuckled, "Do ya like it?"

"I love it." I said softly, "But, Jack,... There's something I need to tell you. And, I should've told you last night, I know, but I didn't want to ruin that perfect moment."

"What is it, Ace?" He asked.

"I-I'm... I'm not pregnant." I said, tears in my eyes. That was even harder than telling him I was.

Jack's wild smile turned upside down and he let out a heavy sigh, "Oh."

"While I was at Claira's I got my cycle. I... I really thought I was pregnant." I said, crying softly.

Jack nodded, "Y'know, dis is a good thing. We weren't ready. Wes' didn't want a kid yet. Maybe wes' just convinced ourselves dis was okay, right? It's a good thing.... Ain't it?" He asked, looking at me as if trying to convince himself.

I shook my head, "I don't know. I-I... I just thought... I hoped... God, why is this so hard? I should be happy I'm not going to get fatter again and go through all that pain but,... but I wanted this. I wanted to hold my son in my arms and say 'yeah, that's my little boy'. I wanted to be proud. I wanted to see the smile on your face when our son meets his father."

"O-Our son." He said.

I nodded, "I like to think it would've been a boy again."

"So do Ise." He said, sitting back down and holding my hand, "Afta' ta'night, if everythin' goes good,... What happens ta us?"

"We try to convince my Father that what we have is true love." I said, "And pray he doesn't murder one of us."

"Why don't ya Fatha' like me?" He asked.

"Well-"

"Otha' den da fact Ise is a Newsie, Ise don't got a home or money, and dat Ise don't come from some famous family." He said.

I sighed, "Well, he most likely thinks your intentions are only physical intimacy. That you have zero intentions of ever raising a family and taking a wife."

"So, what if someone else proposes? Before ya engagement is announced?" He asked.

"I don't really know. I-"

"So, let's find out." He said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a ring on a chain, "Katherine Ethel, Ise love ya with all my heart. From da moment Ise saw ya, Ise fell in love and Ise neva' looked back since. Youse is beautiful, caring, kind, smart, and really, really badass. Ise loved ya, even when ya didn't love me back. Ta'day is gonna be hard and if wes' learned anythin' da past few months, is dat we get through hard things ta'getha'. So, if all goes well, and it will cause wes' ta'getha', will ya do me da honor and be my wife?" He asked, holding my hands.

Jack's proposed before, in the carriage after the Reid wedding, but why now am I getting light headed and feeling my heart race? I think I should be concerned about that, but... I can't stop smiling. I don't know what to say now, "Jack,... tonight holds so much uncertainty. One of us could die, even! I might have to get married to someone else,... We're in no position to get engaged." I said, realizing Jack's saddened expression, "But, Jack,... When I'm with you,... Nothing is uncertain. I have full certainty that I will marry you someday. That I will be Mrs. Katherine Kelly... So, Mr. Kelly,... yes. Yes, I will be your wife." I cried happily.

Jack smirked and moved my hair aside, clipping the chain around my neck. I smiled wide, down at the gold ring. There was one large diamond in the center, two small ones on each side. Right in the center of the middle diamond, there was a gorgeous red stone. I turned to Jack and smiled wide. He had the wildest smirk across his face as his hands gently gripped my hips. I placed my hands on his neck, just smiling wide. I'm speechless. It's nice to know what a real engagement feels like. It feels like we're floating on clouds, like nothing else matters.

"Would Ise be takin' it to far if Ise call ya Mrs. Kelly?" Jack asked.