Benjamin Barker lay in his bed staring at the ceiling. He felt as if he had been in this position for hours because he was unable to sleep with several thoughts racing through his mind.

It was still quite early on this Sunday morning, so he felt no need to get up. The sun hadn't even begun to try forcing its way through the clouds yet. Birds rested peacefully still. No chirping had sounded through the darkened skies.

Lucy shifted in her sleep beside him. She had been one of the things he was thinking of. Although the word "worrying" seemed to be more appropriate. She was to have a baby in the very near future. A doctor had told them to expect addition to their family within a month or two. Now it's bad enough for him having to worry about making sure Lucy gets through the birth okay, but having another life to be responsible for worried him the most. And since Lucy didn't have a job, he would be the one to provide the money for all the necessities.

Lucy was absolutely joyful when she discovered she was having a baby. She had even convinced herself she was having a girl. She told Ben that it had been a "tradition" of sorts in her family. Her mother's first child was a girl. Her grandmother's first and only child was a girl and so on. Since she was so positive it would be a girl, she bought a wooden crib and made a pink quilt to go with it.

He sat up slowly, making sure not to wake her. Taking a look around her saw the previously mentioned crib. It sat in a corner to the far side. Across from it, there was a rather large wardrobe from which Lucy's many dresses hung. Ben's few clothes had been packed neatly away in a set of drawers by his side of the bed. The door was directly in front of the bed. Although the room might seem small, it was perfect for the two (soon to be three) of them. He didn't think his family with Lucy would get to be much bigger anyway. It wasn't that he didn't like children. He was just scared of actually having to raise and care for them. How is he supposed to know whether of not he'd be a good father? Nellie Lovett had told him he'd be a "fine father" to quote her exact words.

He sighed. Nellie had been another one of the many things Ben was thinking of. She had been one of his good friends since they were young children. He could still remember the day they met. He was about seven-years-old and she had been around six-years-old.

It was an unusually sunny Saturday. A breeze rustled the leaves on the trees. A young Benjamin Barker and his parents were having a picnic in the park. Mrs. Barker had packed a large lunched was displayed in an organized way across a blanket.

Benjamin sat crossed-legged on the ground. But instead of staring at the food like most other boys his age would, he was looking at the pond that was several yards away. Two ducks were sitting in the water. These creatures fascinated the boy.

"Father," he said while tugging on his father's sleeve. "May I go ta the water?" He asked pointing at the pond. Mr. Barker looked down at his son.

"Eat first, Benjamin, then you can play for a lit'le while." The older male barker answered. Ben frowned for a second but his smile was back in no time. He took a piece of meat and bread from the layout of food, popped the meat into his mouth, chewed quickly, and stuffed the bread into his coat pocket.

"Finished!" he shouted as he got up and ran towards the pond. He could hear his parents shouting at him to come back, and he knew he'd be in trouble later, but he wanted to feed the poor creatures swimming in the pond.

He neared the water's edge and sat down again. Ben pulled the now crumpled piece of bred from his pocket. He tore a piece off and threw it at the ducks. Unfortunately, it hit one of them, so they swam a little father away from the small boy.

He heard a giggle come from behind him. Turning a round, he saw a young girl his age standing there. Her curly reddish hair reached her shoulders. She was dresses in a light blue dress. She held her hand up to her mouth, stifling her laughter.

"Ya ain't gonna get 'em ta near ya if ya chuck the bread at 'em." she said as she went to sit beside him.

Ben glared at the girl. "'Oo says I was tryin' ta get 'em closer?"

"I do." The girl said smugly.

"And 'oo are you?"

"I'm Nellie."

"Don't ya 'ave a last name?"

"Yea, but I ain't even s'posed ta be talkin' ta ya, so I doesn't 'ave ta say it." Nellie retorted.

Ben glared again.

"Ya 'ave a name too, doesn't ya," the curious girl asked.

"I'm Benjamin."

"Well Benjamin, I can show ya the proper way ta feed the ducks." She took the bread from his hand, tore off a piece, and threw it near a duck. The duck bobbed its head down to eat the bread. Nellie threw another piece, but this time farther from the duck and closer to the children on the edge of the water. The duck followed the bread. "Ya see? It's already closer!" She handed the bread back to him. "Your turn."

Ben snatched the bread back; he took a piece and tossed it in the water, careful not to hit either one of the ducks. It landed between them and the poor things started to fight over it. Both children started to laugh at this. Out of pity, Ben through another piece. The ducks stooped fighting; each picked a piece to eat.

"Better i'nt it?" Nellie asked.

"Yea, thanks." Bean said forgetting very quickly that he was annoyed by the girl. The continued to sit by the pond, taking turns tossing scraps of bred into the water for several minutes before….

"Benjamin Barker!" Ben heard his father call; suddenly remembering that he ran off and was most likely in trouble. He stood up quickly.

"Bye Nellie. I've got ta go!"

"Are ya gonna come back Benny?"

Ben flinched when he heard the name "Benny", the name his mother usually called him.

"I don't know." He told her before he ran off to find his parents. He could hear her faint call of "Bye, Bye."

Benjamin laughed remembering how it seemed to be fate that he met her again on the next outing to the park. The second time they met, their parents met also, which led to more frequent visits as their parents became friends. Benjamin basically grew up with Nellie after that. Every birthday, every death, every happy memory, every sad moment, they spent together; which is more than he could say about Lucy.

He met Lucy just about two years before. He felt as if he had known Nellie forever.

"Nellie." He sighed letting the name roll off his tongue with ease.

Lucy began to stir at this, beside him. She sat up groggily, asking,"what was that, Ben?" while she rubbed her eyes.

"Nothing, love. I was just thinking I might go down to visit Mrs. Lovett before I open shop today."

Lucy's eyes immediately shot open. "Again? You were just there yesterday." She complained. "You've been spending more time there lately, than you 'ave with me."

"Mrs. Lovett's just going through some tough times and I 'aven't been seein' 'er as often as I usta. We were such good friends before." Ben said convincingly.

Lucy looked up at him warily. "But you 'ave me now. You don't need any other female friends." She pouted.

"I can't just forget about 'er though! I've known 'er since we were kids and she's our land lady!" Ben argued. He was starting to get frustrated. He got out of bed and opened a drawer to find clothes to change into.

"You don't 'ave to see 'er every day!"

"You don't 'ave to be worried about me visiting 'er!"

"I 'ave every right! You're married to me, not 'er! She married too!" Lucy began to wobble her way off the bed.

"I think you've forgotten that she's a widow as of a few days ago. She needs moral support right now." Ben knew he was lying, partly at lest. True Albert Lovett had died but it hadn't affected Nellie much at all. From what he heard, Albert was a down right pain in the a—

"Are you listening to me?" Lucy demanded, snapping him out of his stupor. She had been talking while Ben was thinking,

"'Course." Remarkable, isn't it, how much Ben's like Sweeney.

"Do you know what I said?"

"Uh…" Ben was at a loss for words. He had absolutely no idea what she had been saying wile he was distracted. His mouth hung open as if he was going to say something, but he shut it quickly when he realized he had no response.

"I thought so." Lucy glared angrily at him. "Thinking about Mrs. Lovett no doubt!" her voice began to rise. Most other husbands at this time period would not allow that tone to be spoken to them. But Ben was to caring to ever physically hurt her.

"Maybe I was. It shouldn't matter to you! She's just my friend!" he was starting to lose his cool, even, tone as well.

"I think she has more than friendship on her mind! And I'm startin' to think you do too!"

"Don't be silly Lucy, if I 'ad liked 'er in that way, I would 'ave married 'er! But I didn't, did I? I married you! You're the one 'oose 'avin' my child!" he slammed the drawer shut and held new clothes in his hand. He sighed when he saw sadness reflected in Lucy's eyes. "Look, I'm sorry for raising my voice dear, but ya need ta understand that Mrs. Lovett don't 'ave many other friends. The friends she does 'ave 'ardly ever come about anymore. They 'ave families of their own to worry 'bout. I should be there for 'er."

Lucy's annoyed look had yet to fade.

Ben sighed once more. "I'm going to get out of my sleep things. After that, I'm going down to the pie shop for no more than 'alf an 'our."

Lucy turned her back to her husband, leaving him to feel extremely guilty just for wanting to talk to a friend. He walked out the door and down the hall to the restroom to change.

Lucy 'asn't been right in the 'ead lately. All this talk 'bout liking Nellie is crazy! I've known Nellie for practically my 'ole life! She's like my sister. He paused in his head. I'n't she?

A/n: Sorry this took long! School has kept me VERY busy the last couple of months, but it's over now!!

This is longest chapter I've ever written!