The queen of New York (Newsies fanfic)

Santa Fe

I woke up curled into my brother Jack when I heard my best friend Crutchie who was just waking up about the same time.

"Morin Hun," I said sitting up to stretch.

"Morning, Clo" he yawned.

He stood up making his way to the staircase.

"Hey! Where ya going? What're ya?... The bell ain't run yet, go back to sleep." Jack called out to Crustice pulling his hat down further over his eyes.

"I wanna beat the other fella to the street. I don't want anyone to see that I ain't uh.. Been walking so good." Crutchie said looking down.

"Ah, quit ya gripin'. You know how many guys fake a limp for sympathy. That bum leg of yours is a gold mine." Jack tease, I shove Jack a little smiling at him.

"Someone gets the idea I can't make it on my own, they'll lock me up in the refuge for good," Crutchie said.

"We would neva let dat happen," Jack said firmly.

"Be a pal Jack and help me down,"

I screamed as he nearly fell down the steps, Jack barely catching him, before he plummeted.

"Hey! You wanna bust ya otha leg too!" Jack snapped, his chest heaving.

"No... I wanna go down," Crutchie said, as if it were obvious, making me chuckle a little bit.

"You'll be down soon enough, Drink in da view Crutch." I said, facing the still dark skyline.

"My penthouse! High above da stinkin streets of New York City," Jack, added.

Crutchie laughed at the childlike wonder in our eyes.

"You both are crazy," He said affectionately.

"Why? Cause I like fresh air? Cuz I like seein the sky and stars?" Jack questioned.

"Yeah, you're seeing stars alright," I teased, making Crutchie laugh.

"Those streets down dere. They suck the life right outta our old man. Years of rotten jobs, starved on my bosses, and when they found him broken, they tossed him to the curb like yesterday's paper," Jack took a breath. "Well they ain't doin that to me.. Or Clover," Jack said determinedly.

Crutchie nodded, it looks like Jack was finally going to tell him about our plans of Santa Fe.

"But everybody wants to come to New York?" Crutchie said, curiosity lacing his words.

"New York's fine, for those who got a big strong door to lock it up. I'll tell ya personally deres a whole odda world out there." I said softly.

"You keep your small life in a big city, give me a big life in a small town," Jack said leaning over the edge of the building.

Jack: they say folks is dyin' to get here. Me, I'm dying to get away, to a little town out west that's spankin' new. And while I ain't never been there, I can see it clear as day. If you want, I bet'cha you could see it, too.

I put an arm around Crutchie shoulders.

Clover: Close your eyes..... Come with me, where it's clean and green and pretty. And they went and made a city outta clay. Why, the minute that ya get there, Folk'll walk right up and say, "Welcome home, son, welcome home to Santa Fe!"

I watch a dreamy smile spread across Crutchie's lips.

Jack: Plantin' crops, Ha! Splittin' rails, Swappin' tales around the fire, 'cept for sunday when you lie around all day. Soon your friends are more like family, and they's beggin' you to say! Ain't that neat?

Clove: Livin' sweet

Clover/Jack: In Santa Fe

"Got folks there?" Crutchie asked curiously

"We got folks nowhere," Jack scoffed.

"You?" I asked.

"Nah, I don't need folks. I got friends," He smiled making his way over to me.

I grinned and wrapped my arm around him so he could lean on me.

"Hey, hows about you come with us," Jack said.

Crutchie looked at him with adoration in his eyes.

"Me?" He asked looking at me.

"Yeah! No one cares about no Gimp leg in Santa Fe!" I said excitedly

"You just hop a palomino, you ride in style," Jack said, mimicking, riding a horse.

"Yeah, picture me ridin in style." Crutchie said.

"Hey! I bet a few months of fresh air you can toss that crutch for good!" I exclaimed.

Jack/Clover/Crutchie: Santa Fe, you can bet. We won't let them bastereds beat us. We won't beg no one to treat us fair and square. There's a life that's worth the livin' and i'm gonna do my share.

Jack:Work the land, chase the sun

Jack/Crutchie:Swim the whole Rio Grande just for fun

Crutchie:Watch me stand! Watch me run...

I saw hopeful tears prick his eyes. I grabbed his hand squeezing it tightly, using other hand to force him to look at me.

Clover: hey hey.. Don't you know that we's a family? Would I let you down? No way.

Jack: Just hold on, kid, till the train makes

Jack/Clover: Santa Fe

The bell rang signaling it was time to start the day.

"Time for dreaming's done boys! Get a move on those papes don't sell themselves! Hey! Specs, Racer, Henry, Elmer, Albert, Get a move on! Them papes don't sell themselves!" I shouted.