Disclaimer: I don't own Tale of Two Cities

Sydney half listened to Jerry Chruncher as he prattled on letting the walking stick he was holding swing idally by his side. He was not even paying attention to anything. His mind was distracted with thoughts of Lucie. She must be very desolate that night. It was only after Jerry mentioned Barsard that Sydney's attention was caught.
"Is he here in town," Sydney asked.
"He is," Jerry replied, "and very important. He's a turnkey. He can go in and out of prisons as if he owned it. If you ask me though I would say he's a spy."
"A spy in the prison," Sydney said thoughtfully, "What prison for example?"
"La Force prison mostly."

Immediately Sydney's mind went into barrister mode. This was not a simple matter. It was more complicated then just fixing it with a simple motion but there was a solution.
"La Force," he said, "That information may be useful." He said his goodbye to Jerry and started to walk down the street lost in his thoughts. ...

Sydney's point of view
Lucie thinks I am a good friend. Charles thinks I am a good friend. I guess they are right in some ways but I am not as good a friend as I could have been. Many was the time I had screwed up. Many was the time that I have done things that I am ashamed of. My friends know all about my flaws and yet they remain my friend. They are true friends.

The lamp post turned my thoughts to a night six years ago. Lucie and I had sat in the garden. She had been having a rough day. I remember sitting down next to her and took her hand.
"Are you alright," I asked her gently.
"A rough day is simply a rough day," she said softly.
"I hate it when you have rough days," I told her.
"Well I've never been a fan of it either," she said, "You know I didn't forget to set the brake on the carriage."
"Of course I know that," I told her, "But the important thing is that everything is alright. It could have been a disaster." She nodded knowing that it was true. Charles had come back home after the days end. He had been called away on a family bushiness and I was looking after his family.
"Hello darling," he said kissing Lucie. She smiled exhausted.
"I missed you," she said softly.
"I missed you too," he said
"Well I shall see you in the morrow," i said to both of them smiling.
"Oh Sydney," Charles said, "I'm sorry. I had forgotten you were here."
"No need to be sorry," I had said.

The light from the street lamps had given some light in the garden. This street lamp had the same light the garden had given off that day. I had left after their reunion not saying anything of the fright that day. I didn't think it would cause any trouble but I didn't think it was required to bring it up. I see Lucie's house coming up. I slow and knock at the door. Lucie went to answer the door.
"Lucie," I said in a whisper. She buried her head in my chest and my shirt became wet with her tears.

In La Force prison Charles felta shudder run through his frame. He felt tears prick at his eyes. He wasn't afraid to die. He knew he would wake up on the shores of heaven. It was not death that troubled him. It was his separation from Lucie and more then that Little Lucie. It wasn't fair that this was happening. This was a time when everything seemed overwhelming. He was exhausted but he could not sleep. In 72 hours his life was forfeit. He closed his eyes. He said a
prayer not for himself but for Lucie and the little one. As he was no longer in secret he had access to people during the day. It didn't really matter anymore. He was numb. He was tired. He made himself a promise. If he ever did get out of here alive he would never forget how much his family meant to him.

Charles'point of view

Sydney, after having a very frustrating and frightening day one time asked me how I managed to remain positive. It was hardly a choice. It was just the way that I had always been. Positive always seemed natural to me. Many of my friends had teased me (some gently some not so much) for my choices and patience. I simply would joke back with them. I remember being questioned about everything from the reason I allow Lucie to express her opinion on issue when the man is supposed to be the 'head of the household'. I was questioned about why I didn't make it worse when the little one had a rough day. I simply never understood what that accomplishes. Someone who had a bad day doesn't need it to be made worse. There was a dreadful silence. I knew that this was the end save a major miracle. Lucie and I would be parted for a good long while. I felt tears prick my eyes. The worse thought was about being parted from the little one. The night slowly turned into morning. The morning sun came out. It was ebbing toward my last morning. There was 8 and 40 hours before my execution. I just feel like I'm about to throw up. It's going to be so hard to say goodbye to my love. It will be harder to say goodbye to my little girl.

It took hours for Lucie to calm down. Sydney finally managed to settle her down. She was shaking like a woman who had been in the dunking pool on a blistering cold day. Sydney put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's going to see so long Sydney," Lucie said, "Afterward... I wish I could just see him one more time. I wish I could tell him I love him just once more."
"He knows," Sydney said softly, "and he loves you too. Look do you recall six years or so ago when you were going through a rough time?"
"That's not something a person forgets," she said, "How am I going to get by without him?"
"I will tell you what I told you six years ago. Don't give up."
"But every appeal has been denied," Lucie exclaimed, "He didn't even do anything." Sydney nodded. It was true what Lucie was saying. Charles never did anything wrong.
"We simply need to get more creative," Sydney explained.
"Creative?"
"Sure," Sydney said, "I have some great ideas. Trust me!"

Lucie's point of view

Trust me. Sydney is probably the only one I do trust at this point. He is rational. He is calm. He knows when to put his foot down. He knows when to let things go. Sydney can stand firm when he needs to and do so in a way that is empathetic. The little one woke up from a nightmare. I rush in to assure her.