5Hey guys! So, I'm sure you're wondering, 'why's she putting out another fic? She has a million others!" Well, I joined a challenge that requires me to write a fic with a prompt. The prompt was Ring, and I instantly thought wedding! So here you go. Anything you'd like to see, please let me know.
This fanfiction is dedicated to 9mouse9, Percie Jean, and StarBeloved. Thank you for your amazing contributions to the Newsies fandom!
Everything Newsies is owned by Disney.
Jack Kelly took several deep breaths and straightened the collar of his shirt for the eighth time. He, who was usually unflappable, who tried to make anxious moments such as these more lighthearted, was suffering from the worst case of butterflies in the stomach. "I can't do this," he whispered.
"Sure you can!" Crutchie appeared in the doorway of the bathroom, leaning on his forearm crutch. He was grinning his lopsided smile that usually mollified Jack. It worked a little, and Jack felt his innards untwist slightly. Crutchie handed Jack a small, black velvet box.
"What if she says no?" Jack fretted, running his hands through his hair.
"Jack, she won't!" Crutchie stood next to Jack and put his hand on his shoulder. "Why do you think you guys would date for, like, EVER if you both weren't serious?"
"Alright, alright." Jack gulped air and reached for the box. But at the last moment, he drew his hands back. "Crutchie, I can't do it!"
"Of course you can," said a different voice. Davey appeared behind Crutchie. "We'll all be here to help you."
All of Jack's friends materialized in the bathroom doorway. They were grinning, holding turquoise balloons and glitter sharpies. "C'mon, Jack!" Davey was smiling wide. "Are you going to chicken out on the best decision of your life?"
There was silence for a moment, then Jack exhaled loudly and snatched the ring box.
"Hey, that's my balloon!"
"Go get another!"
"JACK! ALBERT STOLE MY BALLOON!"
"Stop whining, Race!"
This was the general feeling in the large, quirky rental house that Jack and Crutchie shared; then again, that wasn't anything out of the ordinary. The boys were busy working on a project in the living room; sharpies squeaked, balloons bumped, and boys argued.
"HERE SHE COMES!" Bellowed Race, glancing out the window. There was a clamor as the boys crammed their surprise into the closet and managed to shut it without calamity. Then they jumped onto couches and chairs, acting casual as there was a knock on the door.
"Come on in," called Jack, strolling out of his room looking very different from the nervous young man of fifteen minutes earlier. The door swung open and Katherine stepped in, grinning. "Hey, boys." She wrapped Jack in a hug.
"Hey, Ace." Jack hugged her back before releasing her. "You ready for game night?"
"Of course!" She smirked. "I'm ready for anything you boys decide to throw at me."
"We'll see about that," snorted Buttons.
"Shh!" Albert nudged him with his elbow.
"Just sayin', Kath!" Buttons shook his head dramatically. "You have no clue what you're getting into..."
Indeed, Katherine had no clue what she was getting into. After betting on Candyland, an almost fatal game of Risk, and a lengthy round of Scrabble (obviously, Davey won), Jack sat up and stretched. "I'm done here," he said. "Anyone wanna eat?"
"YEAH!"
"I brought food," Davey added. "Mom said you all shouldn't be eating pizza and wings all the time."
"And of course you listen to mama," Race teased gently. Davey rolled his eyes and grabbed the car keys.
"C'mon, Les." They walked to their car and brought out two insulated bags. The newsies began to poke the bags as soon as the boys returned.
"Wait!" Chided Davey, setting the bags on the cluttered kitchen counter after sweeping car keys, loose sketches, and used napkins aside. He unzipped one bag, and a delicious smell wafted out. The boys started to crowd, but Les fended them off with a serving spoon. "Here we go," said Davey, after bringing out paper plates and plastic silverware. He reached into the bag and pulled out a foil-wrapped tray of baked chicken, a large bowl of macaroni salad, and a veggie plate.
"Yeah!" The boys lunged for the food, but Les whacked Race on the head with the serving spoon. Davey grimaced and set the sullied utensil aside.
"Calm down and let me serve the food! Line up." The boys obeyed, forming a straggly line with Katherine at the head. Davey began to fill up plates with food and pass them out.
"Aw, gracie, Davey." Jack took a plate, but stopped as he noticed Davey stare at him blankly.
"Gracie?"
"Y'know, thank you in Italian?"
"That's grazie!"
"Ain't that what I said?" Jack gave him a cheeky grin before stepping into the living room with his plate. Davey quickly served the other boys and Kath, then grabbed plates for himself and Les.
"Why don't we eat outside?" Asked Kath. "It's beautiful out there."
"Sure, Kathy." Everyone trooped outside. It was beautiful. The sun was setting, and from the yard, which was surrounded by trees, it was almost impossible to be distracted by the city buildings in your way. "It ain't exactly Santa Fe, but it sure is pretty," breathed Jack, sitting cross-legged on the grass.
Everyone was quiet for a while, eating and taking everything in. But the butterflies soon returned to Jack's stomach, and he knew he couldn't put off the inevitable much longer. He nodded to Race, who was sitting behind him. Race grinned and gestured to the other boys, who started slipping one by one into the house.
"Kath?" Asked Jack, taking her hand.
"Mmm?"
He pulled her into a standing position. "I have a question for you."
Katherine was now fully roused out of her trance-like state. "Yes?"
"It's really important."
"Jack, just shoot!"
He took a deep breath. "Katherine Pulitzer, will you marry me?" He slid down on one knee and pulled the ring box out of his pocket, opening it to display a white gold band. A heart-shaped diamond was centered on it, flanked by two smaller square diamonds.
Katherine put her hands over her mouth. "Jack...why...yes! Yes!" She let out a half-sob, half-laugh as she pulled Jack up. He grinned as he slipped the ring on her finger. He put one hand on the side of her face, and she grinned, pulling him into a long, perfect kiss. Silhouetted against the setting sun, Jack felt that there had never been so wonderful a time in the whole world.
There was the sound of a throat being cleared, and the two broke apart, turning to see their friends standing behind them, beaming, holding turquoise balloons. Written on them in glitter sharpie were words like Love and Forever, or drawings of hearts, stars, and happy faces.
"You boys." Katherine wiped a tear out of her eye and laughed. She walked up to Davey and threw her arms around him.
"Group hug!" Hollered the boys, folding Jack and Katherine in a warm, energetic hug.
Leslie Larkin's phone buzzed as she chewed on her pencil. Eager for a distraction from her work, she picked up the phone and looked at the text. Kathie BFF has sent you a photo, the preview informed her. She opened the text and gasped in shock. The photo showed Kathering sitting on a couch with Jack, holding up her right hand which was now graced with a ring. Several boys photobombed in the back.
Leslie dialed Katherine as fast as she could. "Kath!" She squealed as soon as her friend picked up.
"Hey, Leslie!"
"You're engaged!"
"Yes!"
"I'm so glad! Just now?"
"Yep. Game night at Jack's house."
"That's awesome! One second." Leslie put her hand over the phone speaker and screamed, "Mom!"
There was silence for a moment, then her mother appeared in the doorway, wearing a bathrobe, her hair covered with a showercap. "You don't have to shout, Leslie-"
"Mom! Kath's engaged!"
"What?" Leslie put the phone on speaker. "Kathie?"
"Hey, Mrs. Medda!"
"Oh, honey! That's so wonderful! Where's Jack?"
"Right here. Jack, Medda wants to talk to you."
There was a second of silence, then Jack's voice came over the speakers. "Hey, Mrs. Medda."
"Jack! You done went and got yourself a fiancee!"
"Sure did!" There was evident happiness in Jack's voice. Leslie leaned in to the phone.
"When's the engagement party, Kath?"
"Next month. You both are invited, of course!"
"Great, Kath!" Leslie let out a squeal. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Me too!" Leslie could practically see Katherine's infectious smile through the phone.
"Well, you two are going to be such a beautiful couple!" Medda was practically radiating excitement. "When's the wedding?"
"Next July."
"Great! Well, we'll certainly be there!" Medda caught sight of the unfinished work on Leslie's desk and gave her daughter a look. "Well, we should be going. Congratulations!"
"Thanks!" Jack and Katherine replied at the same time. Leslie cut the call and glanced at her desk.
"Aw, come on, Mom!"
"You gotta finish it, sweetheart." Medda patted her daughter's shoulder. "I'll leave you to it."
As Medda left the room, Leslie allowed herself a moment of reverie. She had known Katherine since they were both five, and had met Jack when he first moved to New York with his now-deceased parents, maybe since he was ten. Now to think that her two good friends were getting married? Leslie grinned and sent Katherine one last text.
Love ya, Kathie. I know you two will have the most beautiful wedding ever.
