Katherine was beyond stunned. "What? He-You-How-" was all she could spit out. Joshua raised his hand gesturing for her to calm down. Then he told his story.

"Twelve years ago, my family and I were here in New York City celebrating my birthday. The streets were crowded and I got separated from my family.

Eventually, a man found me with only a locket from my mother. He brought me to an orphanage where I met a boy named Jack.

He called me Joey. Even though we were the same age, he took me under his wing and help me.

About two years later we ran away from the orphanage and became newsies. We always had each others backs.

As the years passed, we found more and more boys who were homeless and alone. We helped them and we became a family.

When I was about 12 or 13, I was just selling papes one day when a woman came and asked to buy one. I gave it to her but before she left she caught a glance at my locket.

She recognized it and asked me my name. I told her everyone called me Joey but my real one is Joshua. She looked like she would faint.

She said that she was my mother and that my family had been looking for me and was about to give up. I asked her to prove it, and she did by telling me my birthday date.

I had a family.

Well, another one.

I brought her to the lodge house and introduced her to the boys and to Jack.

She said they were good boys, but we had to leave. My other family wanted to see me.

I asked her if Jack could come with us, but being the stubborn leader that he is, he said he couldn't. The boys needed him, and he was right.

I left that day with my mother back to our home in Florida.

I've been back to see them about five times and I send money because I know it's a hard, but fine life, and that way Jack can't refuse it."

Katherine laughed, after listening quietly, knowing how Jack was. She also noted that Joshua now had that slight Newsie's accent that all the other boys had.

"Even after five years, he still cares for people more than himself. And just by knowing you for a few days I can see why he loves you." Joshua commented with a large smile.

"So, how did you meet my father? I mean, it's not like he just saw you walking down the street and decided you'd make a good suitor for me, you must have met at some kind of event." Katherine asked.

"Well, a few weeks ago, we moved back here because of my father's company.

Not long after the move, I was politely forced to attend a gala.

A lot of big names were there, including your father. My parents and I met him and they basically arranged for you and I to meet. I tried to get out of it, but it was already set in stone."

Katherine figured it would have been something like that. Her father always picks and plans things for her, and she was tired of it.

A thought popped into her head and she couldn't stop herself from asking. "Joshua," "Please, when your father's not around, call me Joey." He said civilly.

She continued. "Joey, are you in love with someone else?" 

The question stunned him. He gave a small chuckle with a shy smile. Clearing his throat, he said "Um, well, yes actually. But my parents don't know. One occasion while I was visiting the boys here, I met a nurse in training named Mary. She was so lovely and kind, but you never want to get on her bad side. I've loved her from the moment I laid eyes on her."

He was almost as lovesick as Jack.