A few days had passed since Nancy had died, and we were now laying low from the police. Oliver heard the news about Nancy's death, and he blamed himself for the event, but I told him not to, that she wouldn't want that. If anyone deserved the blame for Nancy's death it was me, but I didn't tell him that.

Midnight had struck, and not a soul in London was awake. I decided to take this chance to go the place where Nancy had picked me off the streets. It was the place where we first met, and it was about to be the place where I would say goodbye…

Artful Dodger thought of everything and nothing.
His friend promised him that he would never be alone.
His friend promised him…
His friend promised him...

You were once my one companion,
You were all that mattered.
You were once a friend and mother,
Then my world was shattered.

Wishing you were somehow here again,
Wishing you were somehow near.
Sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed,
Somehow you would be here.

Wishing I could hear your voice again,
Knowing that I never would.
Dreaming of you won't help me to do,
All that you dreamed I could!

Passing bells and sculpted angels,
Cold and monumental.
Seem, for you, the wrong companions,
You were warm and gentle.

Too many years fighting back tears,
Why can't the past just die!

Wishing you were somehow here again,
Knowing we must say goodbye!
Try to forgive, teach me to live!
Give me the strength to try!

No more memories, no more silent tears!
No more gazing across the wasted years!

Help me say goodbye
Help me say goodbye…

With this, I let out all the tears that I had been holding back for many years; it wasn't just tears of Nancy's death, it was me wanting to live a better life, but I had forgotten that I had once hoped to live a better life; that was going to change today! I ran back to the new hideout, and I decided to end this life of crime.

When we had woke up, I told Charlie that I was planning on taking Oliver away tonight.
"I understand…" Charlie responded. "I was planning on starting a new life anyway."

"Thank you, mate…" I said. "While we're at it, let's turn in Fagin…"

"You got it…"
With that, we formulated a plan in taking Oliver to Mr. Brownlow's house, and reveal the location of Fagin's hideout. However, things didn't go as we planned… Night had hit, and everyone was still awake; they were all afraid that the police were going to find them, but then someone knocked on the door; it was Toby Crackit. Fagin let him inside, and he told us that all of London was looking for Fagin. There was silence all throughout the room, but then Toby saw Bill outside.

"It's Bill…" Toy stated.

"Don't let him in!" I ordered, furious.

"We have no choice, Dodger…" Fagin responded, opening the door.

"I need money to get out of London, Fagin!" Bill stated.

"We don't have any money!" Fagin lied.

"Ya can't fool me, old man!" Bill stated. "If you don't have any money, the other boys should have some…"
With that everyone, except me and Charlie, gave him money.

"Dodger, give me what you got…" Bill ordered.

"No…" I responded. "Nancy was a good'un, and you killed her in cold blood…"

"You would be dead right now, if you hadn't told me she peached!" Bill stated.

"You don't scare me, Bill…" I stated. "I'll tell the police you're here without a second thought."

Just as Bill was about to say something, we heard a dog barking outside; it was Bullseye.

"Let him in!" Bill ordered me.

"Do it yourself!" I yelled.

Bill then went towards the door, but found that there was a mob looking for him.

"Fagin, give me the boy!" Bill ordered.

"No Bill, he's out bargaining chip!" Fagin responded.

"They won't shoot me as long as he's with me."

"Get away from him!" I yelled, jumping at Bill.

I started hitting him as hard as I could, but Bill was easily able to throw me off, so I went to the window and yell: "Help! He's here! Bill Sykes is in here!"

Bill then threw me to the ground, and he took Oliver to the roof.

"Where are you going, Dodger?!" Fagin asked.

"To help Oliver!" I answered.

"Take the back door." Charlie said, showing me to the back entrance, and locking it behind him.

"Charlie, what are you doing?!" Fagin asked. "Let us out!"

"No way!" Charlie responded. "You're getting what's coming to you, old man!"

"Thanks Charlie, now let's go find Oliver."

"Alright, I will try and join the mob." Charlie said.

I then followed where Bill went, and I noticed a police officer trying to find Bill.

"Officer, I know where you can cut him off." I said.

"You do, son?" He asked.
"Yes sir, it's just this way!" I said, leading him to where Bill would be.

"There he is…" I said.

"Thank you, son…" The officer responded.

"Wait until the boy crosses over here." I pleaded. "I am going to get as far away from him as possible, so you can get a clear shot of him…"

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Damn sure…" I responded.

Once Oliver and Bill were over on my side, I grabbed Oliver as fast as I could, and the cop was able to shoot him. Bill stumbled off the edge, and was now hanging by the noose of the rope; it was honestly a gruesome sight, but I didn't care much.

"Thank you, son…" The Officer said, with his hand out. "If you hadn't come along, we may have been too late…"

"You see, Oliver here is my friend, and I couldn't just let him be taken like that…" I explained.

"Well, you're a good friend." The officer stated. "What's your name?"

"Jack Dawkins…" I answered.

"Well, Mr. Dawkins, thank you for your help."

"No problem, sir…"

After rescuing Oliver, we took him back to Mr. Brownlow; he was most relieved to see him.

"I hope you're not mad at me, sir…" Oliver said, worried.

"Mad? I'm not mad, I couldn't be happier." Mr. Brownlow responded.

Charlie soon found me, and along with him was Bet; it looked like she was also in the mob.

"Oliver, who are the people?" Mr. Brownlow asked.

"These are my friends…" Oliver answered. "I was hoping that you would be able to let them stay."

Mr. Brownlow gave a questioning look, but frankly decided to take us back to his house.

Once we were back at his house, Oliver took the liberty to explain who we were.

"I see…" Mr. Brownlow responded. "So, you three are criminals who want to start over, correct."

"Yes sir," I answered. "Oliver has been a real good friend, while I have been a lousy one, and I would like to make amends."
I gave him back his wallet that I stole, and this seem to convince him.

"If you need a place to be accommodated, then you can consider this house your home." Mr. Brownlow said, smiling.

"Thank you, sir…" I said, bowing. "What about Charlie and Bet?"

"They can stay too…" Mr. Brownlow answered.

They both bowed, and Oliver couldn't help but smile.

"Isn't this great, Dodger?" Oliver asked. "You can finally start a new life."

"It wouldn't have happened if I had not met you, Oliver." I stated. "Thank you…"

"You're welcome…" Oliver replied, bowing. "Thank you for saving me…"

"No problem…" I said.

"So, what do we do now?" Charlie asked.

"Get yourself cleaned up, and some sleep." Mr. Brownlow answered.

"Are you sure you don't mind?" Bet asked.

"Of course he doesn't mind." Oliver answered.

Consider yourself at home
Consider yourself a one of the family
We've taken to you so strong
It's clear, we're going, to get along
Consider yourself, well in
Consider yourself, part of the furniture
There isn't a lot to spare
Who cares? Whatever we've got, we share!

If it should chance to be
We should see some harder days
Empty larder days, why grouse?
Always-a-chance we'll meet
Somebody to foot the bill
Then the drinks are on the house!

Consider yourself our mate
We don't want to have no fuss,
For after some consideration, we can state
Consider yourself, one of us!

With that, we cleaned ourselves up and we put on some sleep wear. It felt weird to be living this kind of life, but at the end of the day, it was good to be done with the life of crime.
Before I went to sleep, I went to talk to Oliver.

"Hey Oliver." I said.
"What is it?" Oliver asked.

"I just wanted to talk for a little bit." I answered.

"Alright, what do you want to talk about?"
"I just wanted to thank you for being such a good friend to me, despite everything." I answered.

"Don't worry about it." Oliver responded. "If it weren't for you, I would probably be dead."

"I never thought I would meet someone like you…" I stated. "Thank you, for being my friend."

"Likewise…" Oliver responded.

"Well, goodnight…" I said.

"Goodnight, my friend…"