-1Thank you all once again for the reviews. It turns out that this fic is so much fun to write and I have many new ideas conjuring in my head…though it may be the influence of caffeine on the brain. Anyways, hope you enjoy chapter 3!

Several weeks after the party, Nellie decided to work up the courage to go and visit Mr. Barker. Her father remained adamant about keeping his beard long and grey, there was no swaying him. Instead Nellie offered to go out to get blueberries for a pie that her mother was planning on baking that afternoon. She threw on her warmest coat and descended into the blustery cold outside world. The sun was out and caused the snow on the ground to cast tiny little diamonds in the brilliant light. The streets were filled with people of all sorts. The wealthy rode in carriages scowling at the mob of commoners who seemed to populate the streets. Teenagers window shopped with their friends, every so often stopping inside one of them, only to be disappointed by the prices. Mothers clung onto their children's hands as they strode through the marketplace while the children reached out to grab the cookies and sweets. Elder couples walked together arm in arm without a particular purpose and talked quietly to one another about the old times; when things were so much simpler.

Amongst them, fifteen year old Nellie, hurried to "Barker's Barber Service", periodically stopping in front of one of the windows to check her reflection. Several blocks later, Nellie came upon her destination and took a deep breath before entering. Her heart pounded so hard in her chest that one could literally see it coming through her blouse. She quickly took control of herself and pushed the door open causing the small bell to ring. Benjamin Barker looked up from attending his customer and shot Nellie a smile. Luckily, for her, the customer was just wrapping up and wiped the access shaving cream off his chin. He thanked Ben and paid him, then left quickly.

"Hi Nellie, I thought you'd never come." Ben greeted handing her a red lollipop as he place the money into his cash box.

"Sorry it took me so long, father still believes that the beard looks good on him." she said rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, dads could be like that sometimes." Ben said sliding one of the chairs next to her and sitting down in it.

"When is your next appointment?" Nellie asked.

"I have about a ½ hour break until my next one." Ben said.

"Oh alright then, that works out perfectly." Nellie said.

"What works out? Are you being a troublemaker again?" Ben taunted.

"No, I'm out of that stage silly. I don't consider any of this trouble making…it's exercising my independence. I am fifteen after all." Nellie said proudly.

"Yeah, I was like that when I was fifteen." Ben said with a sigh.

"Which wasn't THAT long ago." Nellie said.

"Sometimes it feels that it's an eternity. I'm not sure if you knew this Nel, but my father died that year. It was a couple months after we met. He died of a heart attack, no one expected it." Ben said sadly.

"Oh Ben, I'm really sorry. I honestly didn't know." Nellie said.

"How could you? You were too busy worrying about growing your hair out and helping mum with pies. How is that going by the way?" Ben asked.

"Well, I'm no longer putting 'special ingredients' into the pies, if that's what you mean. I'm really trying to help her, but a lot of the time she thinks I'll only screw up. I love to make pies though. I think baking is my calling." Nellie said.

"Could be, I knew shaving was my calling when I was twelve and witnessed my father shaving a customer for the very first time. It was so magical and beautiful that I just had to continue on the legacy and become an apprentice." Ben said.

"Wow, that's great Ben, you're very good at it. I heard that you're the best barber in town and not even 25. Its very impressive, the whole town knows it." Nellie said.

"Don't you worry, you have you're whole life to decide what you want." Ben said.

"Ben..can you?" Nellie started but kissed him gently. He surprisingly pulled back out of her reach.

"I'm sorry Nellie, I really shouldn't be kissing you." Ben said.

"But why? I don't mind." Nellie said sadly.

"Its just..you're fifteen. I'm twenty two..that may not seem like much of an age difference, but it is now. I could get in so much trouble for kissing you Nel." Ben said.

"I won't tell, I promise you that." Nellie said.
"Nellie, I'm sorry, plus I'm seeing someone." Ben said watching Nellie's face fall into a look of such despair and sadness.

"Oh, silly me, to think that you were single." Nellie said fighting back tears.

"Nell, you're fifteen, you don't want to commit to someone. You're supposed to be enjoying life. I'm not even that great of a boyfriend. I'm constantly working and I forget meetings and hardly ever sleep. That's not the kind of man for you." Ben said watching Nellie desperately fight back tears.

"So if I wasn't fifteen…would you kiss me and marry me like you said you would?" Nellie asked.

"Look Nell, relationships are complicated." Ben started.

"Please just answer me." Nellie interrupted.

"No, I'm sorry Nell, but I'm in love with another woman right now." Ben said.

"I get it okay, don't worry about me. I'll just go home and play with my dolls like a good little girl. News flash, Ben, I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm not sure what I can do to prove it to you, but someday I will." Nellie said bursting into tears and racing out of the barber shop.

Nellie raced through the streets sobbing uncontrollably and winding in and out of the crowds of people. Her vision was so blurred by her tears that she did not see the dark figure that was about to collide into her. She fell backwards and looked up quickly. A tall man with brownish hair, a slightly big nose, and cruel dark eyes loomed over her. She immediately knew who it was and stood up as quickly as she could.

"Watch where you're going girl." he said.

"I'm really sorry My Lord." she apologized quickly and tried to pass him. He pulled her back by her coat and looked at her closely.

"You're Charlie Sunner's daughter aren't you?" he asked looking her up and down.

"Yes sir, I am." she said.

"Your father is quite the salesman, isn't he?" he asked in a low creepy voice.

"He sure is, now if you please sir, I have to get home." Nellie said trying to pass him once again.

"What's the rush, silly girl?" he asked even more creepily.

"Mums expecting me." Nellie fibbed nervously.

"Oh well then, we must not keep mum waiting now. What's that you have there?" he asked indicating the red lollipop that Ben gave her.

"Oh nothing really, I got it from the barber." Nellie said.

"Oh…yes, Benjamin Barker." he practically spat.

"That's right, now can I please go." Nellie asked.

"Alright then and next time watch where you're going. I'd hate to think that something bad would happen to a pretty young woman like yourself." he said in a dangerously low voice looking her over once again. This time Nellie caught on and ran from him as quickly as she could. The man watched her then motioned to his assistance who had beady eyes, kind of a rat face, and small sized body.

"Yes Milord?" the assistant asked.

"Beadle, keep an eye on that one. See her? The one in the red coat, that's running. I also think we may need to pay a visit to Margaret Sunner's pie shop." the man said.

"But sir, you don't like pies." the assistant said.

"Heh, things change." the man said with a grin then continued on his way while humming the "Pretty Women" song.

Back at the Sunner household, Margaret Sunner was pacing around the kitchen like a mad woman trying to get three different pies baked. Nellie burst through the door panting then set the blueberries down on the table. Her mother whirled around catching Nellie off guard.

"Where have you been?" she yelled.

"I'll tell you later." Nellie said sitting at the table exhausted and still traumatized from her heart being broken.

"Oh no you don't." Margaret yelled pulling her daughter out of the chair roughly.

"Mum, I'm sorry, I got stopped by Judge Turpin and he wouldn't let me leave." Nellie said quickly.

"That's the most ridiculous lie I have ever heard. Judge Turpin is one of the most respected men in all of London, why would he waste his time on you?" Margaret asked.

"Cause he's a pervert, you should have seen the way he looked at me." Nellie said.

"Stop lying, he won't waste is time on a little commoner like you. Plus there are tons of prettier girls to chose from." Margaret asked.

"Mum..." Nellie started.

"That's enough, if your so tired then go to bed. And you can forget about supper." Margaret said.

"Fine, losing weight would only make me prettier." Nellie said.

"What did you say?" Margaret asked.

"Oh nothing." Nellie said stomping up the stairs and slamming the door. She slumped on her bed and began to cry again for she knew the man of her dreams was in love with someone else and in his eyes she was only just a kid.

Bum bum bum…hehe…thought I'd end that chapter on a rather sad note. Isn't Turpin such a perv? I kept getting chills as I was typing his dialogue. There's certainly more to come involving him. Here's a slight preview of the next chapter: Three years pass, Nellie doesn't really converse much with Ben..yet something happens causing them to come together once again. What could it be? A death in the family? The wedding? Creepy Judge Turpin? You'll just have to see in Chapter four…see you there!