Specs returned to the clinic in the bright morning sun. Dr. Bradshaw had allowed him some time to rest, and he had gone back to the lodging house. Many of the newsies had begun to slowly recover, so he was able to get a few hours of sleep. He met Jack on the sidewalk. "Headed for the clinic?" he asked

Jack nodded, and they continued on. The two of them entered the clinic and walked back to see Les.

Dave looked up and smiled at Specs when he and Jack sat down beside the bed.

Most of the children were looking better - Specs was glad to see that. The flu had killed many of the children his uncle had tended to. Over the course of the day, as Specs took care of Les, Dr. Bradshaw let the other children each go home with their parents. When the little blond girl's parents started to leave, she ran over and hugged Specs. "Thanks for making me better," she said.

"Glad t' do it," he replied. As the family left, he heard her say, "Mama, can you take me to Harlem when you want a paper?"

"Looks like everyone's getting better," David said.

"Yeah," Specs responded. "This was kinda like th' life of a newsy sometimes is - short, but tough."

"So, he should be OK by tomorrow morning, right?"

"Uh huh."

Dr. Bradshaw called Specs outside. "Those children would never have recovered so quickly if I hadn't had your help. How old are you, Seth?"

"Eighteen next month."

"I've been wanting to take on an apprentice for some time," Dr. Bradshaw continued. "The position's yours, if you want it."

Specs' heart seemed to stop for a moment. Without realizing what he was doing, he just stood staring at Dr. Bradshaw, who went on, "I couldn't pay you, I'm afraid. Just part of what a patient pays me if you happen to be helping at the time."

"Can't pay me?" Specs asked, still amazed at the offer. Then, realizing the impression he must have given, he clarified, "I mean, that's fine! I just…I've wanted a chance like this for years."

Smiling, Dr. Bradshaw responded, "I'm glad to find such a willing assistant. What I can offer you is a small apartment over my office…"

A woman who was walking into the clinic suddenly approached them. Upon recognizing Specs, she turned to the doctor and said, "I refuse to allow this street rat to take care of my family!"

"Listen, lady, that 'street rat' is th' only reason your daughter's home and not dyin' in one of those beds!"

All three of them looked at the person who had spoken up. Specs' jaw almost dropped to the ground when he saw his defender - Oscar Delancey. He and his older brother, Morris, had always done whatever they could to get the newsies riled up enough for a good soaking. Specs wondered what their angle was now. Morris walked up behind Oscar as he continued, "Believe me, that's not easy for me t' say, but it's true."

"Street trash, all of you!" the woman hissed.

"Better t' be trash on th' streets than a snob in a mansion!" Oscar yelled as the woman stomped inside.

Specs stifled a laugh - even though he would never admit to either of the Delanceys being in the right, he had to admit that the woman had deserved that comment, and he wasn't at all surprised that the always outspoken Oscar Delancey had been the one to make it. But he was still unsure as to the brothers' intentions. He shot a quick glance in their direction, and he was surprised even more by the slight smile Morris gave him.

"I take it you boys know each other," Dr. Bradshaw said.

"Um…I guess you could…say that," Specs responded in confusion, still looking at them. Then, turning his attention to the doctor, he shook his hand and thanked him again.

"You're free to move into the apartment at any time," Dr. Bradshaw concluded as he entered the clinic. "Why don't you take the rest of the day off?"

"Thanks."

Both of the Delanceys approached Specs, who instinctively backed towards the door. He wasn't about to readily throw himself into a fight with the toughest guys in New York.

"Um, look," Morris began reservedly, "I know we haven't exactly been friends…"

"No kiddin'," Specs answered, rolling his eyes.

"…but, well, um…"

Oscar sighed and stepped in front of his brother. "Y' had a girl here, a red-head…"

Specs remembered her immediately. "Katie?"

"Yeah. Anyway, she's our cousin. When we came by yesterday morning, he didn't think she'd make it," Oscar continued, pointing at the doctor. "But last night, she told us she felt a lot better, and when she said who'd…well, we just wanted t' thank you for helpin' her."

He smiled and held out a hand to Specs, who shook it tentatively. Specs didn't know why, but something told him that Oscar was actually sincere in what he was saying.

Having sold all of his papers, Skittery stopped by the clinic to see Les. He walked up to Specs just as the Delanceys were leaving. Watching them go, he asked, "How come you're not beaten to a pulp by now?"

Looking at his best friend in annoyance, Specs replied, "Thanks for th' vote of confidence, pal!"

"Y' gotta admit it, you're not exactly Jack Kelly," Skittery said with a laugh.

Specs turned to Skittery and landed a good-natured punch on his right shoulder. Skittery retaliated by grabbing Specs' hat before he had time to react. Backing away from Specs, he tossed the hat to Jack, who had come outside to talk with his friends. Staying out of Spec's reach, Jack put it on and looked at his reflection in a window. "Makes me look more sophisticated, don't you think?" he asked in a British accent.

"Oh, definitely, old chap!" Skittery said. "Anyone for tea?" he asked, taking the derby from Jack and putting it on.

He made the mistake of turning his back to the window. Jack stood quietly, putting on his black cowboy hat and trying not to laugh as Specs walked up behind Skittery. In one lightning move, Specs pushed Skittery to the ground and reclaimed his hat. He smiled triumphantly as he helped Skittery to his feet and bowed to the applauding Jack.

"You're next, Cowboy," Skittery said with a smile as he dusted himself off.

"So, Specs, what was th' deal wit' th' Delanceys?" Jack asked.

Specs explained the whole story to them. "I was surprised they would care so much about their family."

"I'm surprised they even have a family," Skittery responded, leaning against the corner of the building. "I always figured they just crawled out from under some rocks."

A girl in a beautiful handmade green dress came towards the clinic. Specs smiled when he saw the brunette and embraced her happily when she ran up to him. Jack removed his hat and looked at Skittery; both of them stared at Specs and the girl.

"Geez, I wish a gorgeous brunette would run up and greet me like that!" Skittery exclaimed as the girl kissed Specs warmly.

"Y' just ain't my type," Jack teased as he brushed a hand through his own light brown hair.

Ignoring his two friends, Specs and the girl pulled apart and smiled at each other. "I was so worried about you," Specs told her.

The girl responded in a pleasant Irish accent, "My two brothers were sick yesterday, but it didn't last long. Luckily, the rest of us didn't catch it."

"Oh, I forgot," Specs said suddenly as he put his arm around the girl's shoulders, "y' don't know each other." Then, commencing with the introductions, he said, "They're th' jerks I sell papes with. That's Jack, our fearless leader."

Smiling, Jack stepped forward and shook her hand.

"And th' nut attached t' th' wall is Skittery," Specs continued, pointing at him.

The tall, wavy-haired boy gave a slight nod and said, "How y' doin'?"

She smiled demurely as she replied, "Fine, thank you."

Putting the whole situation together, Jack saved Specs the introduction by saying, "Y' must be Elizabeth. We've heard a lot about ya."

"How'd a gorgeous thing like you end up with a goofball like him?" Skittery asked as he nodded towards Specs.

Specs looked at Elizabeth in mock agitation when she giggled at Skittery's comment. "I think I better get y' away from 'em now," he said.

"It was nice meeting both of you," Elizabeth said over her shoulder as she and Specs walked away from the school.

The two strolled arm in arm, neither one saying anything. Elizabeth broke the silence, "So, you've been working at the clinic?"

"Uh huh." Specs was obviously distracted, his mind somewhere other than the New York street on which they were walking. He didn't even give an acknowledgement when Dutchy greeted him as they walked past. Noticing the girl on Specs' arm, Dutchy just adjusted his glasses, smiled knowingly and went back to hawking headlines.

"Is he a friend of yours?" Elizabeth asked, glancing back at the blond boy holding a stack of papers.

"Who?"

Elizabeth sighed and responded, "Never mind."

Entering Central Park, Specs spotted a bench in the shade of a tall oak, well away from the rest of the people who were milling around the park. The two of them walked over to the bench and sat down; Specs removed his hat and put it on the bench beside him. Turning to face Elizabeth, he told her the whole story about Dr. Bradshaw and his offer.

"That's wonderful!" Elizabeth said, happy for him.

Nervously, Specs went on, "I'll still be sellin' papes, plus I get part of the payment he gets if I help him with somethin'. So, since the apartment is mine - no charge or nothin' - I'll have th' money t' take care of someone else…" At this point, his voice trailed off, and he quickly looked at the ground, trying to find just the right words to say what he wanted to.

Praying that this conversation was leading in the direction she thought it was, Elizabeth anxiously waited for him to finish as she looked at his almost black hair shining in the light that filtered through the leaves of the tree.

Taking her hand in his, Specs quickly rattled off the end of his part of the conversation. "OK, if I don't ask y' now, I'll never be able to." Remembering a story he had read a long time ago, he got down on one knee, took a deep breath, drew up all the culture he could, and said, "Elizabeth, I'd be honored if you'd marry me."

A grin spread across Elizabeth's face as she dropped to her knees, threw her arms around his neck, and happily squealed, "I thought you'd never ask!" Then, pulling back, she looked into his brown eyes and said, "Seth, I would have married you even if you hadn't gotten this new job."

Smiling, Specs got up and helped Elizabeth to her feet. "Well, now y' don't have t' sleep in a bunk in a room full of uncultured creeps like th' ones at th' clinic."

Elizabeth laughed and took the arm Specs offered. As they walked down the street, they were met by Bryan Denton. "Well, if it ain't our man Denton!" Specs said. "What's goin' on at th' Sun?"

"Not much. World leaders, royal families, the usual stuff," Denton laughed. "We need another strike to liven things up. How have things been with you guys?" he asked.

"Better," Specs replied. "They've just lost a newsy, though. I finally got a break."

"He's going to be a doctor!" Elizabeth said proudly.

Shaking Specs' hand, Denton said, "I heard about the work you've been doing at the lodging house and the clinic. It's always great to get a chance to spend your time doing something you really like. I'm happy for you," he concluded with a smile. "Whenever everyone's ready, I'll treat all of you to a meal at Tibby's for old times' sake."

"I'm sure they'll be better soon - a free meal's always been a miracle cure for a newsy." Introducing the two, Specs said, "This is Bryan Denton…"

"The one who covered the strike! I thought your article was wonderful," Elizabeth interjected as she shook Denton's hand.

"Thanks," Denton replied.

"And this," Specs went on, "is Elizabeth McCormick - my fiancé." The moment he said it, Specs was filled with more emotion than he'd ever felt before. Fiancé - the word almost seemed magical. Saying it confirmed the fact that he'd be spending the rest of his life with the girl he loved more than anything in the world.

The newsies had filled an eleven year old boy's need for friendship and family, and now Elizabeth was fulfilling a young man's need for a different kind of family. Seth Goldstien knew how lucky he was to have found both of them. No matter what happened in his life, they would be with him forever. That, Specs knew, was more than anyone could ask for.