Chapter 6: The Box

A/N: Well a lot happens in this chapter, however short it may be. Please enjoy, and R&R!! And I don't know if they had delicious chocolate frosted cakes back in this time but I use one in this chapter so deal with it.

Warning: Contains a thieving, lying, acting, gambling, secret discovering six year old...and cake. :-)

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When they came back inside, Bill didn't say much of anything. He simply disappeared off to her left and went back to bed. Nancy had just finished yanking her shoes off when she heard something very odd indeed. From behind the tiny alcove Fagin used as his kitchen there was odd muttering and a continuous clinking of jewels. On bare and silent feet Nancy tip-toed her way to the back of the room, pressing herself up against the fireplace so she wouldn't be seen. Then quietly she peered around the corner.

Fagin sat there, decked out in all his glory, with a box open on his knees. He had a pan full of coffee sitting next to him, but he barely paused to think as his hands moved continuously through the box, pulling up jewel after precious jewel. A gold crucifix, a ruby ring, a diamond earing, a crystal tiara...one by one he went through the finery. Nancy stood there awestruck as she watched the old man, muttering to himself different odds and ends of praise for his young wards. Finally, yawning and exhausted, he closed the box. Nancy turned sharply on her heels and ran across the dirt blackened floor until she was safely back in her bed and pretending to sleep. She didn't know how and she didn't know when, but one of these days she would find the time to ask Mr. Fagin about what on earth he'd been doing. When they were alone of course, she didn't want the other boys to know.

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"Cash or Mash little one?" Johnny asked as they emerged into the London streets.

"Mash today as a matter of fact." Johnny eyed her curiously before shrugging and taking off down the London streets.

Nancy walked off in the other direction, knowing exactly where she was headed. She snatched sausages off of meat carts and some fresh biscuits from anyone stupid enough to be carrying a tray within her reach. Opening up her apron pocket she deposited the food in one by one until she had accumulated enough to feed the gang. She had worn the thing on purpose that morning knowing full and well she'd be taking mash, and for good reason too. Then she went down the street towards the baker shop, this was going to be too easy.

When Nancy stepped in the door a little bell tinkled over head. There was a large man with a blue cap on behind the counter. He had a large smile and cheeks as red as an apple that complimented his twinkling eyes. Amused he leaned over the counter and looked down at her.

"What can I do for you today little one?" he asked with a smile.

"Oh I'm just looking," she said pretending to take some particular interest in the rolls beside her. The man smiled and nodded before turning back to his work. Moments later another woman walked into the shop, and while the man busied himself with that customer Nancy went for the gold. A chocolate frosted cake sitting in a box on the back counter. She waited until the man was completely engrossed in the woman before snatching it up. Then, when he had turned his back to fill her orders and she was looking about at other various baked goods, Nancy slipped out the door, doing not so much as jingling the overhead bell. Grinning ear to ear, the girl walked back to Fagin's, knowing she had just successfully bought herself some time to speak with the old one.

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"You nicked a what?" cried Ace staring at her in astonishment.

"A cake silly, with chocolate frosting, these kind are the best," she said grinning.

"Well that explains that don't it Morice," James said chuckling. "She must be the little one the baker was makin' such a fuss about when we went by there earlier, you remember that?"

"Now now my dears," Fagin said taking the cake from Nancy and cutting it into somewhat even slices for everybody. "Nancy's done a very generous thing for us, no need to pick at it." Bill wasn't quite listening to the words coming out of Fagin's mouth. He was too busy eying the cake with greedily. Even with the new girl business had been bad lately, food had been so scarce. A treat like this had never before been seen in Fagin's flat. Finally every last boy had a slice on their plate.

"Dig in," Nancy said beaming. She already had some cake poised on her fork that went into her mouth as soon as she had finished talking. It was delicious! Every last boy in the room made quiet noises of satisfaction in their throat as they bit into the treat Nancy had brought back for them.

"I should put you on mash duty more often," Johnny said raking in another forkful of cake.

"No no my dear, we must have Nancy snatching wallets and the like, where she belongs yes? Turning a profit is better then a full stomach any day."

"Speak for yourself," Ace snapped at Fagin as he continued to delve into the cake. Finally the lot of them had licked their plates clean and were sitting back with a contented air.

"Man Nance," Johnny said "you about deserve a reward for somethin' that good!"

"Quite right m'dears," said Fagin smiling. "Nancy should be rewarded." Those, were exactly the words Nancy had been hoping to hear. She swiveled in her chair to face Fagin.

"The day off," she said. "I want the day off tomorrow."

"Very well, but don't go thinking you get such luxuries every time you nick a sweet," he said with a look of warning to all his boys. Nancy was talented to be sure, but she was also instilling dangerous ideas in his young wards. "Now bedtime all of you!"