I found Benjamin's cell. He was curled up in the corner, his head down. I nearly fell apart looking at him.

"Ben...?" His head shot up.

"Nell?" He rushed to me and wrapped his hands around the bars.

"Ben, what happened?" I asked, placing my hands over his.

"Where's Lucy? And Johanna?" He asked, ignoring my question.

"They're safe. Don't worry, they're home." I said, trying to calm him. He sighed in relief.

"Ben, what's going to happen?" I fought back the tears that pooled in my eyes.

"It'll be okay, Nell. Don't cry." He wiped an escaped tear from my cheek. "My trial is tomorrow afternoon."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Nothing. Nell, I did nothing. I swear."

"I believe you."

"Hurry up!" The guard hissed at us. I bit my lip as I looked at Ben again.

"Nell, you have to take care of them." He said frantically. "Lucy and Johanna. Make sure they know I love them. Don't let them get hurt. And-"

"We need to go." The guard said, rushing me down the hallway.

"Nell, make sure they're safe!" He yelled.

"Don't worry, Ben!" I cried back to him. "It'll be okay. I won't let them take you! It'll be okay, Ben!" The door was closed and I couldn't hear or see him anymore. "I love you, Ben." I whispered as the tears spilled freely from my eyes.

~X~

They took him. He was sentenced to life in prison on a false charge. To some prison I'd never even heard of, but they took him the following day. Neither Lucy or I got to say good-bye. He was just gone. And I knew he was because I could feel it. And I'm sure Lucy could too.

I hardly saw or heard from Lucy in the following days. I kept my shop closed. I couldn't bear to face anyone. Even Albert, who had taken to eating out. Which he claimed was better than my food anyway. I cried myself to sleep every night on the sofa in the parlor, clutching onto the framed picture of me and him from that day on the beach. There was no use hiding it from Albert anymore. He knew and he'd always known that my heart belonged to Benjamin.

Johanna's birthday cake ended up in a pile on the floor during one of my rampages. It took a week to clean it up. I just sat in the shop and starred at it in the corner. It seemed to be the only thing that was real.

Finally after 2 weeks I reopened the shop. Not that there were an insane amount of customers. The one's I had came looking for Benjamin and settled for a pie. After 3 weeks, Lucy finally emerged from hiding. She looked as though she hadn't slept or eaten in those 3 weeks. I'd taken over care of Johanna from then on. Lucy could hardly keep herself alive.

Albert wasn't happy with Johanna or Lucy, but I threatened to leave if he did anything. Not like losing me would be a huge loss to him, except I was the only source of income since he'd become sick.

Over time, Lucy became more and more distant. She'd wander about the two shops, ignoring a screaming Johanna and quite frequently attempting to starve herself. She'd mumble a few words here and there, but for the most part she was uncommunicative.

I took care of Johanna and Lucy. Warding off Judge Turpin when he came by to harass Lucy. Protecting them. Providing for them. But all I could think of was Benjamin. How I missed him and how I wished he was here. How I loved him.

I was in love with falsely accused man.

A/N: Hello, lovelies! I hope you're still liking the story! For my last chapter, I recieved 7 reviews! Would it be greedy of me to ask for 10 this time? 10 reviews gets you a new chapter sooner! Love you all! ~Helen