The next morning, Bill had already left. He must have left early, as she was always the first to wake. Worried, she quickly got dressed and presentable and walked to Fagin's getting ready for a normal bout of the day.

Walking along the shaking bridge she thought of Bill. Where had he gone off to? Was she going to be forgiven? She continued to doubt herself until she reached the chimney well and shouted, "Plummy and Slam." She was ready to apologize, anything to get him back. He always did this, but this time she had also shouted back, resulting in insults and both emotional and physical injury. She had this codependency on him that she couldn't fathom. She loved him, because, well, there really never had been anything stable in her life. There hadn't been any in his either, so both seemed to need each other for something stable. A single thing that is stable in their life of madness.

"Fagin!" She addressed the old withered red head when she spotted him, by the fire as usual. "Have you seen Bill?" She asked this nonchalantly but he saw through it. He knew her since a child and could tell when something was troubling her. "What 'as he done this time, my dear?" Nancy shrugged off his shriveled hand that was trying to comfort her and replied defensively, "We didn't have a fight, I just haven't seen him is all."

Fagin nodded in understanding and asked, with a gesture towards her bruises on her arm and then on her head, but not saying anything at first. Nancy pulled her outgrown sleeves down as far as they would go, covering the purple pests half way, and made a somewhat unnoticeable movement to cover her bruise on her forehead with her bangs.

"My dear, I know Bill is a troubled man, Nancy he's a brute, you know. I think maybe it's time you leave him; get a good trade at The Three Cripples, eh?" She winced with the memory as she chuckled at the thought of working with her once more, leading her in the trade she was trained in since the age of thirteen.

She shook her head slowly, "No, Fagin. Never again. I shall never be that creature again, Lord help me. I cannot save what I've done, but I can prevent greedy minds such as yours from getting me into that dirty work again. I can make a living, and I can be good. But there's no hope in this place, no, not for me. It's too late, and you have condemned me. No, I shall never again be one of the women that walk the streets for comfort in return for cash. Leave me be Fagin, its not use trying that with me."

Fagin nodded reluctantly and disappointed. She passed him over, and reached into the pan cooking on the stove. She grabbed some toasted bread and ate, returning to the old villain for some interrogation, "Where was Bill last you saw him?" Fagin waved her off in a crude manner as he had picked up an accounting book in which to write his profits, but Nancy was persistent, "Fagin. Tell me now, I must know!" She was actually as tall as he was, since over the years his back had withered into a round curve, and her threatening stance and words knocked some sense into him.

"Nancy, my dear. He's on a job near Chertsy; you know how he is. ''Tis' early, but he's to be waitin' at the Three Cripples for me at nine. Tonight I price his plunders and give the cash to you on the morrow. Don't worry, Nance." He closed the book and began to walk away towards the door, ready to show her out. As she was leaving, he added, "If you and 'im are havin a bit of trouble, I'd wait for him when he comes back." With that he closed the door, and Nancy headed out towards the Three Cripples and awaited her meeting with Bill for the first time since the fight. She was scared, but she knew she would do anything to get him back.

AUTHOR NOTE:

I am really, really sorry it's so delayed. I need some help and comments on revising it/how should I introduce Oliver, etc. Anything is greatly appreciated, and though I love reviews, I cannot handle harsh criticism, as this is a favorite of mine. But I hope you all review and enjoyed it. I will post more soon, I promise.