Disclaimer: I don't own TOTC

As Sydney Carton was walking down the street Madame DEFARGE came up to him.

"Mr. Carton," she said, "I have a proposal for you"

"Do you now," Carton asked brazenly, "I thought you were married"

"You are an alcoholic aren't you," Madame DEFARGE asked

And you're ugly, Sydney thought but instead said, "I've been known to drink my way"

"Well Mr. Carton I know that alcoholics need alcohol," Madame DEFARGE said, "and so here is my proposal. If you can go for a week without alcohol, and to prove to me you did I will have Vengeance shadow you, I will withdraw my denouncement of EVERMOUND"

"So let me get this straight," Sydney said, "one week without alcohol on my part and you will withdraw your denouncement of Charles"

"That's what I said," Madame DEFARGE replied.

"We'll need a contract," Sydney replied.

He had a backup plan as well if this didn't work.

"I will have my husband write one up," she said

"I will read it to make sure it's fair"

The contract was written, read and sighed. The Vengeance would be watching Sydney at all times.

Sydney found he had a headache when waking up the next morning. Instinctively he reached for his glass of wine and pulled back. No way in hell was Madame DEFARGE going to win. Little Lucie, Lucie and Charles was his family and a week of no alcohol was a small price to pay for their happiness. He drank plenty of coffee that day.

Every second he wanted alcohol he had to stop himself. It was hard as hell but he knew it would be worth it. Every second seemed like an hour the first day. He even thought about going into the bathroom where there was no way Vengeance could see him and drinking wine but he decided against it. He just couldn't risk it.

Every day got a little easier. He was able to distract himself. He was able to not think about alcohol. He was able to barely not want it. At the end of the week he, Vengeance and Madame DEFARGE met in an agreed upon spot.

Vengeance angrily confirmed Sydney didn't touch a drop of alcohol. Madame DEFARGE angrily took back her denunciation of Charles and he was released with in the hour