Title - It's A Fine Life
Chapter Title - She ain't no lady
Author - OblivionsGarden
Genre - Romance/Crime/Friendship/Hurt/Comfort/Drama
Disclaimer - I do not own Oliver Twist or Oliver! in anyway, shape or form. I entirely own the plot for this fic and my original characters.

A/n - Just another short one for now. But the chapters after this one should start to get longer.
Please leave a review if you read, I'd greatly appreciate it. x

C.3

The next day as Dodger and the gang made their way into town, it was in high spirits for Dodger had a plan. The boys had been skeptical at the thought of a girl being a good pick pocket but when they heard she'd stolen from Fagin without him realizing, they soon warmed up to the idea.
" 'ere, Dodge." Called Charley Bates. "How're we gonna find 'er then?"
"I told you before, she's easy to spot." And sure enough, once again, Dodger was right. He spotted the familiar green coat and brown bowler hat in the crowd. "Right then. We ask again, if she says no we go to plan b." The group walked swiftly towards Lyra until they managed to corner her.
"Of for gods sake." She mumbled, rolling her eyes when she spotted Dodger.
"Blimey, it ain't 'alf odd seein' a girl in boys clothes." Chuckled a young member of the gang.
"It's even odder seein' a lady so skilled in the art of pick pocketin'." Added Dodger.
"Take that back." Snapped Lyra.
"Ain't nothin' to be ashamed of is pick pocketin'. We gotta survive some how."
"Not that." Lyra took a step closer to Dodger, her eyes narrowing. "I 'ent a lady."
Dodger stared curiously at Lyra for a moment. "Well, you ain't a bloke."
"I'm a girl. A female or a woman. I ent a lady, now take it back!"
"What's wrong with bein' a lady?"
"I said take it back, Dodger." Without warning her hand flew up to Dodger's head and snatched his top hat from it.
"Oi, that's-"
"Take. It. Back."
"Fine. You ain't a lady." Dodger took his top hat back as the rest of the gang watched the pair curiously.
"Not 'ard was it? And like I said yesterday and the day before, I'm fine where I am. Move." Lyra glared at a small, grubby looking boy whose eyes widened before stepping aside to let her pass.
"Well that went well."
"Shut up, Charley." Snapped Dodger replacing his hat on his head.
"Plan b is it then, Dodge?"
"Yeah."

Dodger's plan b took place later that same afternoon. He shadowed Lyra around town whilst ensuring to keep out of her sight. It took a while but eventually, Lyra slipped her hand into a pocket and produced a rather fat looking wallet. Without a seconds hesitation, Dodger darted forwards, snatched the wallet from her fingers and put it into his own pocket.
"Oi!"
"If you want it back, you'll 'ave to come and get it." Dodger felt very much as though he were ten again but when Lyra's fists clenched and she stepped forward, he anticipated the chase. He patted his now bulging pocket with a smirk. As soon as she made a grab for him he bolted off through the crowd, Lyra hot on his heels. They ran away from the crowds and down alleys where, one by one, Fagin's gang joined the chase.
"Dodger that's mine, give it back!" She shouted.
Dodger turned so he was running backwards. "no it ain't. It's that blokes from the market!" He called back. A few of the other boys laughed as he turned back to face where he was going.

Eventually, Lyra was running up a set of rickety steps, across a balcony and through the now open wooden door. She stopped though, when she saw Dodger leant smugly on the wall with one leg crossed over the other.
"Give it back." Lyra stared, unblinkingly at him as she swallowed her pride. "Please." For a moment Dodger's smirk faltered but he replaced it as Fagin came in from another room.
"What was all that noise about?" He asked before he noticed Lyra stood in the doorway.
"Miss Blackwell's come to inspect the lodgin's."