Chapter 10 is finally here. I hope you enjoy. I can't wait to read your reviews:)

"Nellie, what happened?" Richard demanded softly. He couldn't take his eyes away from the big, purple and blue, bruises that covered his wifes body. On her hips she was bruised, one side of her stomach was bruised, and even part of her arm and chest were slightly bruised. He looked into her eyes and saw the pained look she had while the tears poured down her cheeks.

"I... I can't," she cried and shook her head.

"Nellie, please?" he tried again, stepping closer.

"Please.. Richard, don't.. don't make me tell you," she shook her head desperately. "H-he'll hurt me."

"Nellie, no one will hurt you," Richard's eyes widened a bit at her words. Who was he and what did he want with his wife? "I can't help you if you don't talk to me. I won't let someone hurt you again, Nell."

Nellie didn't speak for awhile, only cried. She knew that she could trust him and she wanted to tell her husband, but she couldn't. She had to think of her child and their new family. If the Beadle were to take her again she wouldn't be able to take it.

"I can't.. tell ya," she looked down crying. It hurt to cry and it hurt to move, but she couldn't stop. The memory of what happened the previous night was stuck in her mind and it wouldn't go away. Suddenly Richard turned away and headed towards the door.

"Richard wait!" Nellie called after him, but he didn't stop. She could tell by the way he had looked at her that he was determined to find out.

Richard walked quickly down the hall and down the stairs. He was going to get an answer no matter the cost. Maybe not rom his wife, but his maid, who had been here last night, would know. This was his wife and some man out there hurt her, there would be know escaping the wrath of Judge Turpin.

"I need to kno who was here last night while I was gone," he demanded as soon as he saw Rosa with Toby in the kitchen.

"Wot?" she asked startled and glanced at Toby who was trying not to stare in shock.

"While I was gone last night," he added through gritted teeth. "Who was here? What man?"

"I didn't see anyone but the Beadle, sir," she stammered. In frustration and anger he hit the countertop causing Rosa and Toby to jump.

"Where is he?"

"At your office I presume, sir," she answered before she could ask any questions he had left the oom. It wasn't long before she heard the front door slam.

The streets of London were crowded with men, women, and children. Men on their way to work, kissing their wives goodbye and hugging their children. Children playing 'kick the can' in the alley ways.

Richard paid no attention to that, though. With his head held high, fists clenched tight by his sides, and eyes narrowed angrily, he weaved through the crowd quickly. The thought of someone taking his wife- other than himself- raping her in their own home! It made him angry, no! It made him furious and boil inside. Whoever did this to his wife would pay, his poor Nellie. Nellie, he thought to himself. Left alone at home. Taken forcefully in their bed by some... some perv! Some hustler! How dare he touch my wife like! How dare he hurt my Nellie! He would lose his head for this! Making his way up the steps to the court room he opened the door heavily and marched straight for the Beadle.

"Who was at my home last night?" were the first words he demanded when he spotted the Beadle. "Someone attacked Nellie last night while I was away and you were there," he continued when he saw the confused look on the Beadles face.

"Attacked?" the Beadle's eyes widened in shock. "Is she alright?"

"Who was there?" Richard demanded ignoring the question.

"Benjamin Barker came by to visit her, my lord," he lied. "You don't think he.." his words trailed off as he tried to sound sympathetic.

"My wife can barely move from the bruises!"

"They're such good friends," the Beadle went on. "I would have thought he would not hurt her."

"Then explain the bruises, Beadle," Richard demanded again. He sighed in frustration, "Where is he?"

"Your wife's pie shop I presume," the Beadle answered calmly. He had planned out this moment and Benjamin was the perfect scape goat. He saw the anger in the Judge's expression as he turned to leave.

"Get the police," he called over his shoulder. "He will pay for what he did," and with that he was gone.

Beadle Bamford smiled to himself when the Judge was gone. He was going to get away with this. He was going to get away with this. He was going to get away with this. He was going to get away with raping Mrs. Turpin. The thought of her being Mrs. Turpin gave him a feeling he had never had before. He loathed the Judge for what he had, who he had.

At first it was just a heavy knock, but not even a moment later did it become harder. It was more of a banging. Lucy held a crying Johanna close to her and looked to Benjamin. He saw the frightened look on her face and assured her that everything would be okay. She nodded and he cautiously opened the door to find a few police men waiting there. Their looks were angry and firm as they demanded, "Are ya Benjamin Barker?"

"Yes? May I ask what is wrong?" he asked confused glancing back at Lucy and Johanna.

"Yer under arrest for the rape of Mrs. Nellie Turpin," they informed turning him around harshly and forcing his hands behind his back to drag him away.

"Nellie?" he was shocked. He would never touch her in such a way! He wouldn't do that, he couldn't! He had a wife and child to care for. "I didn't! I wouldn't!" he began exclaiming to them. He continued as they dragged him to the carriage but stopped upon seeing the Beadle smirking and the Judge glaring dangerously at him. "Sir, I would never touch Nellie, you know that. She's my best friend!" he rushed to the Judge.

"Take him away," he told the police, never taking his angry eyes away from Benjamin. The police gripped his arms tighter, but he still fought them. He wanted to get away. He needed to et away. He tossed and struggled from their grip until he felt a blow to the back of his head. Then it went dark.

Nellie sat in the warm bath trying to relax. Richard had been angry that morning and she hoped that he would figure out that it was the Beadle. She wanted him gone and as far away from her as possible. That pathetic excuse for a man! she thought angrily. 'ow dare he touch me like that! 'Ow dare he force me in such a way! I hope he 'angs for it! I want to see his fat ole body hanging by ropes, I do! her eyes narrowed at the thought of it and tears shined brightly in her eyes. She couldn't stop them from falling when she dropped the bar of soap and it hit her aching stomach. Memories of the previous night pounded in her head. The thought of him bruising her while he painfully took her as only a husband should do. The way he had slapped her and covered her mouth so she could not call out for help. The way he had threatened her. If you tell anyone Mrs. Turpin, it'll be your life, the words haunted her every thought, but the next words terrified her more than anything ever had. It'll be your life and that child o' yours too, he had hissed in her ear dangerously. The image of that moment replayed. The way he smirked at her as he got off of her helpless and naked body. 'Ow dare he, her thoughts were suddenly cut off. She couldn't breathe. Water was everywhere and all she could do was struggle. Strong hands were gripping her neck and forcing her under. They were shaking her shoulders not letting go. She kicked her legs and her small hands flew to her neck and she tried desperately to free herself. She was able to come above the water just long enough to gasp for breath and barely make out who was doing this to her. She recognized the round body as the Beadle. He forced her back under and she fought with all she could to get free. She couldn't breathe as the water and his hands cut off her air flow. Just as she felt like she was going to give out he pulled her back up, where she gasped heavily for air.

"I told you not to go tellin' yer husband!" he shouted at her. His hands were still firm around her neck as he slammed her hard against the tub. She cried out in pain still trying to recover her breathing. She tried to pry his hands away from her neck but it only made him press harder.

"St..." she tried to say, but his grip was too tight.

"I told you what would happen, didn't I?" he shouted more and slammed her against the tub again and slapped her face. She screamed as loud as she could in pain. "If he finds out it will be the end of you and your child," he hissed and slammed her against the tub once again.

The pain was too much. She was going to give out shortly if he didn't stop. Tears poured down her face like a waterfall. She was hurt, but most of all she was scared. She was scared of this man. He had control of her and he knew it, she knew it. He could kill her right then and get it over with and she knew that. The life of her child was in his hands. She couldn't stop him. She was too scared.

She closed her eyes tightly and bit her lip in fear as she felt his hand roam her body. He gently let it slide down her breasts to her sides under the water. She felt two of his fingers plunged harshly into her core. Her whole body jolted and she screamed in pain. He plunged them in as roughly as he could and twisted them inside of her before pulling them out.

"Don't test me, Nellie," he warned in her ear. He kissed her and smirked and then he left.

Nellie couldn't control it after that. She couldn't stop the tears as they turned into sobs, nor her whole body from shaking. She had to gasp, heavily, for air. He would kill her.

Dark. It was dark all around. Benjamin woke up with a painful headache. He put his hand to the back of his head and felt a warm, sticky, liquid. Blood. His blood. He remembered now how the police had dragged him away. Away from his Lucy. Away from Johanna. And under false pretenses at that! He would never take Nellie so forcefully! He would never even touch her like that! She was a married woman, and most of all his best friend. Now the question that haunted him was who was it that really did this? Who wanted to hurt Nellie in such a way?

In the distance he saw a light. It was the sun rising and shining through the cell window. How long had he been out? Where was he exactly? Just then another light in the distance shown through. He heard the faint murmurs of people.

"Right in there. Last cell on the right, only one in 'ere," said the male voice.

"Thank you, sir," came a woman's soft voice.

The light was gone and then there was silence. Only one in here?, Benjamin thought. They were coming for him. To save him! They must have bailed him out and explained misunderstanding. The sound of heels echoed through the cemented room and became louder as they grew nearer to him. Soon a shadow was standing outside what seemed to be bars. It took only a short time for his eyes to adjust and he immediately recognized who it was.

"Nellie?" he asked "Nellie, what happened?"

"I'm so sorry," she was crying. He saw her body shaking and she held the bars.

"Sorry?" he was confused now. "Sorry for what?"

"I couldn't stop 'im," she was saying through tears. "He said 'e would kill me."

"Who?" Benjamin was shocked now. "Nellie, tell me what happened?"

"The Beadle! He forced me! 'e said 'e would kill me if I told anyone. He bruised me black and blue," she moved her sleeve off her shoulder to show him part of the bruises. His eyes widened at the sight.

"Nellie, he can't do that to you! You need to tell Richard," Benjamin exclaimed.

"He'll kill me! I can't risk that!" she cried and then softened her voice. "I have to care for two people now."

"T-Two?" his eyes widened a bit. Nellie had tried for years to have children and nothing happened, and now she was.. expecting?

"I'm pregnant, Benjamin. After all of these year, I am finally going to 'ave a baby of my own and.. and the Beadle is threatening to take that away from me. I can not throw that away," Nellie whispers, tears slowly rolling down her cheeks.

Benjamin was quiet in shock. He was happy for her, but scared at the same time. "Why am I in here?" he finally asked after moments of silence passed.

"The Beadle told Richard it was you who did this to me," she looked down. "Richard saw the bruises and demanded the Beadle tell him who did it since I wouldn't say. He came into my house while I was bathing and nearly drowned me. He slapped me and beat me because he thought I told," she was in tears again remembering the events. "I can't tell 'im the truth."

"Nellie," Benjamin reached through the bars and held her hand. He was scared for her. "Don't tell," Nellie looked at him shocked.

"Benjamin, yer family w-"

"Take care of them for me," he cut her off. "I don't want anything to happen to you or your child."

There was a light from the end of the hall and a guard was walking towards them. Once he stood in front of the cell he unlocked it and opened the bars.

"Wot are ya doin' with 'im?" Nellie demanded when the guard put Benjamin's hands behind his back.

"This ones off to Australia," the guard informed. Nellie's and Benjamin's eyes went wide.

"Australia?" Nellie gasped.

"That's where men like him belong," he said coldly.

"Wait! Please," Nellie grabbed the guards hand from Benjamin's. "I need to say goodbye," she explained and the guard nodded and let go of his hand. Nellie wrapped her arms around Benjamin for a long hug despite the shocking pain in her whole body.

"Take care of Lucy and Johanna for me," Benjamin hugged her back.

"I will," Nellie nodded and chocked back a sob as she pulled away.

The guard didn't hesitate another moment after that. He put the cuffs on Benjamin's hands and pushed him down the hall. Nellie watched her best friend being taken away and out of sight. How had everything gone so terribly wrong?