"Do I eat it? All of it?" asked the young Oliver, whom had been nick-named Nolly.
"Yes me dear, all of it" smiled Fagin.
"Dodge, who owned that locket?." asked Oliver when he saw the golden chain on Dodgers bed.
"A young girl Oliver, she was very close to Dodger" Fagin said as he returned to his chair.
"She was beautiful she was, she 'ad the kindest eyes I've ever seen, and a pearly smile" Chester (another new boy) said.
"How'd you know what she looked like?" asked the very annoyed Dodger.
"The pictures Dodge, the ones you drew of 'er" Chester replied.
"Can I see them?" asked Oliver.
Dodger got the crumpled drawing from his pocket and gave it to Oliver.
"A real beauty ain't she" Dodger smiled.
"It was always 'er, me and our baby Oscar" he continued.
"I've seen her before" Oliver said.
"I doubt it" Handles (a boy with big ears) said, getting elbowed by Dodger.
"Where?" he asked.
"Next to the bakery down the street, she had a baby with her."
"When did you see her?"
"About an hour ago, before you found me"
"I have to go" Dodger said as he quickly bolted through the door.
"Are you sure it was her?" asked Fagin.
"Yes, why?"
"He's been looking for her for months, since December"
"The baby she had, it didn't cry. It didn't move" Oliver said.
"Let us hope Dodger finds them, he can get very angry when he's lied too"
"Why did she leave?"
"Dodger betrayed her trust, we never found out who Ophelia was" Pearly replied.
The Artful Dodger sprinted down the street, in hope of finding the girl he loved, the girl he still loves. Thoughts flooded his mind, he wandered how big Oscar was, he wandered if Rayne was alright, and if she still remembered him. He was given strange looks by the other boys who were out "working" as he ran, he had to weave through crowds of people, and he was sure that by now his feet would be bleeding. He saw her; she was sitting in a doorway, her purple dress black with dirt. She held a wad of material close to her chest; Dodger knew that in that wad the baby would be.
"Rayne, Is that you?" Dodger asked as he neared her.
"Dodge?" she asked looking up, her skin paler than before.
"Yeah, it's me. I've missed you so much" he said sitting by her side."
How's Oscar?" he continued to ask.
"Sick" she said.
"Look, I'm really sorry Rayne. I didn't mean to hurt you" he apologised.
"Who's Ophelia" she asked.
"Nobody"
"Who's Ophelia" Rayne demanded, her voice rising.
"A girl"
"Why'd you do it Dodge?" she asked near tears, but still willing to forgive him.
"I wanted to adopt her"
"Adopt her, how old was this girl?" Rayne asked shocked.
"She was the same age as Oscar, Oscar's twin sister. The mother saw me when I was out with Oscar; she asked if I would care for Ophelia as well. Otherwise the mother was going to drown her." Dodger explained honestly.
"Where were you, in the night?" she asked, not looking at him completely
"I met the mother; she wanted to give me Ophelia. I was going to bring Ophelia back with me, so Oscar could have a sister. But the mother wanted me to pay for her. I refused"
"Why were you happy then?"
"Well, the Mother (Who refused to tell him her name) gave me a few pennies to care for Oscar. I bought you a gift on the way back" he smiled, pulling a small book from his pocket.
He gave her the book, it was the sequel to the book she had with her many months ago. The book she would read to Oscar at night, when he was restless. The book that made her feel warm, while she rested in the cold doorways of London pubs.
"You kept it, all this time?" Rayne asked shocked.
"I never forgot you, I've been waiting so long for you, and for Oscar" he said, helping her up. It soon began raining.
"Best get you home before you get sick" Dodger smiled holding her hand, pulling her towards the building where he lived.
"I don't have a home" she sighed.
"You can come back, to your old home. With me, Fagin and the boys" he said.
They walked back to the building Charm once called home. The Artful Dodger filled her in on everything that had happened. And he told her about the young boy, who was called Oliver Twist. Dodger was worried about Oscar, not once did he move or cry. They arrived at the wooden door they knew too well.
"Fagin, its Dodger and a girl, should I let them in?" asked Oliver from the other side of the door.
"Why yes Oliver, let them in" said Fagin.
"Hello Nolly" Dodger said joyfully as he entered, pulling Rayne behind him.
"Oh my, Charm is that you?" asked Fagin.
"Hello Fagin, still caring for the boys I see" Charm smiled as Fagin hugged her.
"Is that your baby?" Oliver asked Dodger; who held the bundle of clothes close to his body.
"Yes he is, do you want to see him?"
"Please, if it's alright with his mother" Oliver said, turning to Charm
"Go ahead, but I warn you. He's been very sick lately, been coughing up blood" she replied.
Dodger handed the baby to Oliver, Oliver hesitated before pulling back the clothes that covered Oscar's face. The baby's face was pale and dirty, a small patch of blood on its chin. He was cold, his hair damp.
"He's dead" Oliver stated, looking up at Dodger and Charm.