A/N: I'm so sorry the update has taken so long. Things have been so hectic recently, but thanks for your patience. I hope to update more once school finishes and I get a break from performing.
Fic starts here:
"Is he coming or not?"
"Don't know. Don't care."
"You do."
"I don't. Shhh."
"You still haven't told me his name."
"Shut up, will you?"
"No! I'm enjoying this. Third night in a row. Think it'll happen?"
"Stop it!"
The two girls were sheltered in a corner of the tavern, partly as protection against the wind and partly because it gave them the best view of the entire establishment, and, much to Bet's joy, a complete lookout for anyone entering or leaving. Nancy had kept annoyingly quiet about this new man and had insisted Bet not say anything. "It's nothing," she had said. "Chances are he'll get sick of this, and clear off to somewhere else eventually. If I was stupid enough to hope for anything more than that, I'd get pretty disappointed. Don't tell the others, neither. They'd never shut up about it."
Now that the two of them were alone and waiting, however, Bet had seized the opportunity to talk and tease. She leant over to Nancy to say something further, but quickly shut her mouth when a figure approached them.
"What's going on here?"
"What d'you want, Alice?" Asked Nancy of the new figure.
"Saw you two whispering in the corner. Don't you know that's bad manners?" The third girl smiled. "Besides, the others were getting dull and I thought I could stand to hear something different. Come on, you can trust me."
"It's nothing, really. Bet's just being a fool. Ain't that right, Bet?" There was no answer. "Bet?" Nancy turned to face her friend. "What's –"
"See for yourself." Bet pointed to where a now familiar man was entering the tavern. "Didn't I tell you?"
"Whose he?" Alice asked curiously.
"Nance's."
"Shut up, will you?"
"Look!" The man had turned to where the girls stood, smiled slightly at them and winked. Bet turned triumphantly to Nancy. "If you don't want him, I'll have him!"
"Explains a lot," grinned Alice. "Careful there, Nance." She waved to the two other girls and left in the direction of the bar.
"Aren't you going to go over to him?"
"No. Don't be so stupid. Why would I want to do that?"
"Because he wants you to. Look, he's motioning. Go."
"Alright, just - "
"Now!" Bet pushed her out of the corner, a little roughly, Nancy thought. She approached the table hestitantly and prayed none of the other girls were watching. Bill motioned for her to sit and she did so.
"Want a drink again? My treat."
"Aren't you the generous one!"
"Always." Bill grinned and poured her a drink . "It's been a good day."
"Pleased to hear it." Nancy took a mouthful and swallowed.
"I was talking to someone about you today. Fagin."
"You were? Why?"
"Because he wanted to know. He's too inquisitive for his own good." Sikes sighed. "He said you were one of the best girls he knew. Smart."
"Really? And what do you think?"
"If you are smart as he says, you'll know what I think. Now come on, let's drink."
"Alice?"
"Hello again, Bet."
"Do you think I'm pretty?"
"I think you're drunk."
"I don't care about that. Tell me."
"Of course you're pretty. What made you think otherwise?"
"Don't know. Nancy."
"What did she say?"
"Nothing. But she gets him." Bet gestured unsteadily. "It ain't fair."
"Life never is, Bet."
Several hours later, a man and woman exited the tavern and walked slowly and shakily down the street. They were laughing and talking loudly.
"Get off me, will you! You're heavy."
"I have to stop. This ain't good." Sikes, groaning, tottered unsteadily to a nearby wall and rested against it. "Oh, God."
"You alright?"
"Yeah."
"Good, because I ain't going to help you." Nancy laughed. Sikes joined in but quickly fell silent as he turned to face her. Slowly, he reached up and gently pushed her hair back from her face. She quietened, clasped his hand in hers and rested her head languidly upon his shoulder. He put his arms around her and they embraced, oblivious to the misery and deprivation that lay around them.