"Hanged?" Oliver shrieked.
Dodger closed his eyes, resting his forehead on Cat's.
"Dodger, you're not getting hanged, are you?" Oliver had to ask.
Dodger looked away from Cat. "Yes."
Rose gasped and wrapped her arms around Oliver. Mr. Brownlow raised his eyebrows.
"But, you can't!" cried Oliver, tears falling from his eyes.
Dodger looked at the ground. "Oliver, ple-"
"Why, Dodger? You can't be hanged!"
"Oliver, I-"
"There's got to be something we can do, I-"
"Oliver!" Dodger's voice was firm, but kind. He knelt down and held Oliver's shoulders.
"They're…they're getting rid of some of the convicts that 'aven't been sentenced yet. Like me."
"That doesn't seem fair at all!" murmured Rose.
Dodger looked up at her. "It's not," he muttered.
"Aren't you scared?" Oliver asked.
Dodger smiled. "Terrified," he admitted.
"I'll be there." Cat spoke after remaining silent for some time. Dodger stood up and walked over to her.
"No, Cat, I don't want you to see that."
"No, Dodger," Cat declared. "I want to be there. I'm going to be there during your last breath, whether you want me or not."
Dodger smiled, a tear sliding down his face. "I guess I can't stop you."
Oliver was a little surprised. He'd never thought of Dodger as someone to cry.
Cat smiled, more tears streaming down her cheeks. "Dodger…"
Dodger leaned his forehead on hers again. He held her face in his hands, wiping her tears with his thumbs. "'ush now…it's going to be alright."
"No, it's not," murmured Cat. "I don't want to live without ya, Dodger." She swallowed.
"And I don't want to be away from you."
Dodger pressed his lips on Cat's for a few moments, and she leaned into him. When they separated, Cat buried her face into Dodger's neck again.
Oliver looked up at Mr. Brownlow. "Isn't there anything you can do?"
Mr. Brownlow thought a moment. "The only thing that could work would be taking him into my care."
Dodger opened his eyes.
Oliver smiled. "Did you hear that, Dodger?"
Dodger rolled his eyes. "I 'eard it, alright."
Cat glared at him. "Dodger! It's yer only chance!"
"Eh…" Dodger thought a moment. If he said yes, then he'd be dragged off to some huge estate, wiped of his roguish ways, and forced to dress and act like a gentleman. But, if the stayed here…
"Oh, I'm sure Mr. Brownlow doesn't want a rat like me in 'is 'ome," said Dodger. Oliver's face fell.
"Why not?" asked Mr. Brownlow. "I can see you could be…decent…if you worked at it."
Dodger rolled his eyes. "Please, Dodger," murmured Cat. "I don't want to see you dead."
Oliver gazed at Dodger, hope in his eyes.
Dodger closed his eyes, tight. Don't say it, you'll regret it…you'll regret it…
"Fine."
Oh, yes. He was going to regret it.
So, yeah! Now you've met Cora. She will be in at least one future fic, but for now, she's just in this one.
NOTE: Not all my fics are connected. Dodger might be arrested in one and not in the other. I like to take several different angles.