Christmas Eve was clear and cold. Annalesa was dressed in a new dress and coat but still wore her green wool hat. She had been in Philadelphia for the past few weeks and was now going back to New York. She had, after all, promised the newsies that she would be back for Christmas. The train was pulling into Grand Central Station and Annalesa's stomach was full of butterflies. She was more than a bit apprehensive about returning to the newsies. She missed them terribly but was not sure how they would react to her return, especially after she had left without saying goodbye. And Jack...she would simply have to see how it went. The train came to a stop and Annalesa grabbed her suitcase and got off. The smells and noises of New York assaulted her senses in a welcome rush. She simply stood for a moment, enjoying the sensation. Then she set off for Duane Street. The night was coming on fast and she didn't want to be caught outside alone. Also, she wanted to run to get there but knew she couldn't. She was painfully aware of her fancy dress and coat...her father had been rather wealthy and she loved nice clothes. She hoped the newsies wouldn't hold it against her.

All of the newsies were gathered in the bunkroom of the Manhattan Lodging House for the annual Christmas Eve poker game. It was a tradition in Manhattan and Brooklyn that the losing borough bought Christmas dinner for both houses. Of course, the winning Lodging House found ways of repaying them with cigars and marbles or cookies over the next few weeks. The game was in full swing and the newsies who weren't playing at the moment were cheering on those from their side who were. The mood was loud and boisterous, as one might expect from a roomful of teenage boys.

Annalesa saw the lights spilling out of the Lodging House and suddenly the butterflies left and were replaced by a warm and safe feeling. She walked up the steps and opened the door. Kloppman looked up and was about to say something when Annalesa put her finger to her lips. She walked over to the old man and gave him a hug.

"Hey there Kloppman! Merry Christmas!" she whispered.

"Oh Annalesa it's so good ta have ya back! Are ya stayin'?"

"Yes, this time I'm staying...if they'll keep me."

"Oh they will. They will or I will, I promise."

"Thanks Kloppman. I guess they're all upstairs?"

"Yeah dem and the Brooklyn newsies too."

"Great!" Annalesa put her suitcase down by Kloppman's desk and went upstairs. She paused outside the door to the bunkroom and then took a deep breath and went inside.

Blink was sitting on a chair near the door and Annalesa put her hand on his shoulder. "Hey Blink."

He nearly fell out of his chair and then scrambled up to nearly crush her in a hug. "Allie! You're back!"

She laughed. "Oh it's so good to hear someone call me that...yes I'm back."

By now all the newsies had turned around to see what the commotion was and from all the Manhattan newsies and quite a few Brooklyn newsies there was an outcry of surprise and joy that 'their girl' was back. They surrounded her and there were lots of hugs and more than one person asked if she was staying, to which she always replied in the affirmative. Once the initial crush of excitement was over, most newsies went back to the game, but a couple newsies still stayed by Annalesa. This group was slightly quieter than the other, none quite sure what to say. Race, of course, was the first to speak.

"We sure missed ya, Allie. But I'm glad you're stayin'. Just don't go away again, ok?"

"I promise, I won't."

Race went back to the game to make sure his bets won (which they didn't) and Annalesa was left with Blink, Specs, and Jack. She had hardly looked at the latter, not quite sure what to say to him. Specs, in his quiet way, gave Annalesa a brotherly hug and whispered in her ear

"I knew you'd be back." Then he and Blink left in a hurry, obviously trying to give Annalesa and Jack a minute to figure out whether they hated each other or not.

"So, uh, how've ya been?" Jack asked.

"Good. And you?"

"Uh...I's been good. Look...about all dem things I said..." Annalesa put a finger to Jack's lips, stopping his words.

"Shh. It's forgotten. Friends?" She stuck out her hand.

"Friends." Jack couldn't say anything else since his throat was tight with emotion. She had forgiven him. He took her hand and instead of shaking it pulled her into a hug. Once his emotions were under control he pulled back and smiled his typical smile at her.

"So, ya up for a game of poker?"

"If you're ready to be beaten by a girl." She winked at him and smiled, then turned her attention to the poker game, of which she was immediately the center of attention. Jack stood back and smiled. She had come back and she was here to stay. A peaceful feeling stole over him and he sighed contentedly. Then David and Les walked into the room, which caused another wave of excitement. David was the first to see Annalesa.

"Annalesa!" He was halfway to her when she turned around.

"David! Oh it's so good to see you!" He engulfed her in a hug that would have lasted longer had Les not tugged on Annalesa's sleeve and demanded attention. She hugged him as well, and the two brothers stuck close to Annalesa for the rest of the night. She learned that an aunt of theirs in Boston had fallen ill and Sarah had gone to live there to take care of her and to go to school. Annalesa was disappointed that she would not get to see her friend for a while, but was still incredibly happy to be back.

Jack hung back from the group for the rest of the night. Suddenly Annalesa was not a girl with any motives, she was just someone who needed a family, and that's what she had found. He found himself not suspecting her of anything anymore, and admiring her more every minute. The lamplight lit up her hair and brought out the red in it, while her eyes sparkled. She never once let Les out of her sight but treated him like her own brother and even helped him win a hand of poker. Later that night, after the Brooklyn newsies had left for their own Lodging House with most of the Manhattan newsies' money, David approached Annalesa.

"Sarah said for me to give you this when you came back." He held out a folded piece of paper, which Annalesa accepted.

"Thank you. Merry Christmas David." She hugged him once more and hugged Les as well.

"Merry Christmas. See you at the party tomorrow!" Before Annalesa could ask what party he was talking about, David was out the door. She looked at Jack and once again that flash of...something...went through her. She had noticed him hanging back all night and went over to where he was picking up some of the cards that had found their way under one of the bunks.

"Hey."

"Oh, uh, hey Annalesa, how're ya doin'?"

"I'm good. Were you ok tonight? You seemed kind of quiet."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Glad ta have ya back."

"I'm glad to be here. Oh...what's this party David was talking about?"

"Oh dat's the newsie Christmas party over at Medda's. She lets us use her place ta dance and whatever else."

Annalesa smiled. It had been a while since she'd been to a party. "Sounds like fun. See you in the morning!"

She turned on her heel and went to her bunk. She remembered Sarah's note and opened it up. She grinned as she read it.

Annalesa-
Sorry I couldn't stay to see you home. Merry Christmas! Take care of Dave and Les for me. See you soon!
-Sarah
After grabbing some nightclothes from her bag she went and changed in the washroom then went to bed. Smiling happily, she drifted off to sleep, the sounds of the New York night serving as a welcome lullaby.

Jack lay awake for a long time before he went to sleep. Christmas was always the worst holiday because of what had happened that Christmas day so long ago...he shook his head violently as if the shake the thought from his head and forced himself to focus on more pleasant thoughts. Inevitably his thoughts drifted to Annalesa...for the past few weeks he had dreamt of her and played out countless scenarios in his head. But now that she was actually back he didn't know what to do. With confused thoughts chasing each other in his head, Jack finally fell asleep.

The next morning Annalesa awoke to the sounds of boys getting ready for the day. The newsies didn't work on Christmas, even though the paper still went out. The newsstands would have to sell it alone for once. Quickly she got dressed and then went out to stand on the fire escape and breathe in the frosty New York air. It was incredibly different from the country air she was accustomed to, but at the same time homey and comforting to her now. She went back inside and rummaged around in her bag for a minute before drawing out a large brown sack. Inside were the presents she had gotten for the newsies. Most were just shirts or caps but for some she had gotten more special things...a book of Shakespeare for Specs, drawing pencils for Blink (who was quite a good artist despite only using one eye), and various other things. She went quietly from boy to boy, handing them a present and giving them a hug and a "Merry Christmas" before moving on to the next one. When she reached Jack she paused. He was turned away from her, making his bed. She smiled. Maybe they did listen to me, after all. She tapped Jack on the shoulder.

"Jack?"

"Hey Annalesa. Merry Christmas."

"You too. Here...this is for you." She held out a book. The cover read "A Cowboy's Ride". She had found it while looking for Specs' book in an old bookshop. It was a story about Santa Fe and the cowboys there. She'd heard several of the boys joking with Jack about Santa Fe and had often seen him with a faraway look in his eyes when he was, she guessed, thinking of somewhere other than New York.

Jack took the book and opened the cover in which she had written To Jack- Merry Christmas. Your friend Annalesa MacGaren, 1899.

"Thanks Annalesa...Dat was real nice of ya." Before either one could say any more a voice came from the window.

"Well if it ain't Jack-be-nimble, Jack-be-quick and da poor little rich goil. I see she's spreadin' a little holiday cheer wit' her fadder's money. Does he know you're handin' out his money to da street rats?"

Annalesa and Jack both turned to see Spot Conlon sitting in the window. Annalesa had met him the night before and hadn't really thought much of him. She'd gathered that he was the head of the Brooklyn newsies but hadn't cared to know much else. Surprised at this sudden hostility from a stranger, Annalesa said coldly

"My father is dead."

"Well den what about yer mudda? It jus seems awfully strange ta me dat a rich goil like you is hangin' out with da lowest members of New Yawk society."

Jack began to look a bit uncomfortable at this statement since Spot was voicing his very thoughts of a few weeks back. But Annalesa simply stood her ground, unflinching. Had she known what Spot could do she might have been afraid but to her he was just another newsie, and she had learned not to be afraid of them.

"Who says I'm rich?"

"Yer clothes, dat's who! And yer language, and yer presents ta the boys. Look, I don't have any say ovah who Jack let's in his Lodging House, but you just better stay outtah Brooklyn."

Annalesa visibly stiffened at this remark. This conversation was too much the same as hers with Jack a few weeks previous.

"What are you trying to say, Mr. Conlon?"

Spot's eyes grew narrow and he jumped off of the windowsill and into the bunkroom.

"I'm sayin' dat my boys don't do business on street corners."

At this remark the room fell silent. Jack's face was blank and nobody would have guessed that his emotions were boiling. In the past twenty-four hours he had learned to see that Annalesa had more class than anyone he'd ever met and was willing to defend her against anyone. Hearing the words from Spot only made his embarrassment that much greater over what he had said to Annalesa not so long ago. This time though, she was ready. Instead of standing there as she had done in Jack's presence, she walked resolutely to Spot and looked him square in the eye. Without a word she brought her hand up and slapped him so hard across the face that he staggered. Then she turned on her heel and marched past all of the gaping newsies and out the door. Jack was the first to recover his ability to speak and went over to Spot.

"You're lucky she did that Conlon. 'Cause if she hadn't, I was about ta, only I wouldn't a been so nice. Now go back ta Brooklyn and so help me if I evah heah of you talkin' ta her or ta any of my boys like dat again I'll kill ya."

Spot sneered, still shocked at having been spoken to that way, much less hit by a girl, but trying not to show it he said

"Merry Christmas Jacky-boy." Spot leapt nimbly through the window and down the fire escape and sauntered home to Brooklyn, whistling as he went. Nobody could have guessed that inside he was raging. She had hit him! A girl had hit Spot Conlon, fearless leader of the Brooklyn newsies, and he had just stood there. She just bettah watch it...and Kelly too. Dis ain't de end a dis one.