Hey! The characters belong to Mr. Charles Dickens, the musical lyrics belong to Mr. Lional Bart, and the story belongs to me.

In the distance, she could see a figure approaching. The deathly silence of the night just before the tavern as the creature who stalked, waiting in the shadows, and she knew it was Bill. She ran through the crowds and made her way to find Nancy, "Nancy! He's 'ere! Nancy!" Shouted the young girl to her dear friend.

Fagin's old popping eyes shut for a second, to catch his breath as the air caught in his throat. He approached the man slowly, fear and hatred from both sides hung in the air like a thick fog. Fagin met his eyes relucatantly, but asked with them what he had brought. As each medallion or beautiful baouble came to a clink in his ragged sack of crimes, he whispered with satisfaction, "Beautiful…Beautiful…" as the old Jew's porfitatble trade came to an end, with a nod in approval he addressed, "Good work Bill, all in one job." And the Tallowy man was off.

But stopped by Bill with a threatening finger snap, demanding pay. "Carry cash? At this time of night? With all those theives and villians lurking about, I wouldn't dare, Bill." The ironic words were left on deaf ears to the fiend and the man of his junior gave him a grave glare. "Tamorra Bill. My word on it." The old man comforted, less out of comforting, more to save his neck, the old man continued with a glance toward the tavern, "Look… Nancy's waitin' Give ya a good supper, eh?" With the shallow laugh, and a wary look about the streets, the ragged thief was off.

With a short grunt, the bulky villian slauntered off to the tavern.

Nancy was nervous, she had been but it heightened as he came toward her. She put on her best smile to try to make things seem better, but was greeted with something slightly short of a nod and a look like a scowl. So, the red headed girl began to sing, to cheer up the man, and make things seem alright again. She eyeed Bet, to get her into it as well, and they began to sing.

Small Pleasures, Small Pleasures, who could deny us these?

Gin Toddies, large measures, no skimpin if you please

I rough it I love it, life's a game of chance.

I'll never tire of it leadin a merry dance

Nancy grabbed a mug of gin and drank it down like there was no tomorrow. Fears gone, she danced along with the other prositutes, and felt as light as a feather. Through the next verse she joined in others,

If you don't mind having to go without things
It's a fine life. It's a fine, fine life!

Nancy looked to get the other's to join in as well. After the next couple of lines, she glanced at Bill, but just saw him simply ignoring the world about him, slathering his face with rations and letting his beaten dog lick his food from his rusty knife. She needed his attention. With a smile and a grin shot in his direction, she began;

If you don't mind having to deal with Fagin
It's a fine life! It's a fine life! Though diseased rats threaten to bring the plague in.It's a fine life! It's a fine life! But the grass is green and dense On the right side of the 'fence'. And we take good care of it That we get our share of it And we don't mean pence.
No! If you don't mind having to like or lump it...
It's a fine life It's a fine life! Tho' there's no tea-supping and eating crumpet It's a fine life! It's a fine life!

Nancy looked over once more to see how Bill's reacted to the song. She saw him pick up his old crooked brown hat, nod to his dog, and walk out. With barely a sullen, half hearted nod, he left her, and did no motion of reconciliation or a simple 'follow'. But, with a tear still in her eye, she softly belted the last words to her sorrowful piece.

Not for me, the happy home
Happy husband, happy wife
Tho' it sometimes touches me...
...For the likes of such as me...
Mine's a fine...
Fine... life!

And the poor misled girl walked off in the distance, away from the rawdy tavern and over the bridge, joining the heartless villain, walking by his side. As the two walked off into the streetlight, they both thought of each other. One of sad and longing, and one of deep compassion and neither spoke a word at all.