Chapter 31: The Morning After

A/N: this could be subtitled changes. Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers, here's a new (and slightly longer) chapter for you. :-D Hopefully you all enjoy.

Warning: Slightly touchy subject matter, some sad moments. And oh yeah irony, a lot of irony.

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Nancy rolled over and squinted her eyes discontentedly at the sunlight streaming through a crack in the curtains. She wondered incredulously at the fact that sunlight could make it through the film of dirt on the window, let alone enough that it should wake her from her otherwise peaceful sleep. She became of two things besides the light disturbing her otherwise grand morning. The first was that for the light to be there in the first place it had to be very late in the day, and the second was that something was tethering her in place. Bill had his arm around her and the thing was like a dead weight in his undisturbed slumber. She rolled over and faced him, his snoring form looking oddly peaceful in this light. It reminded her vaguely of the morning after his first housebreaking job when she had pounced on him in glee. How different a position the two of them found themselves in now. Their innocent friendship seemed such a thing of the past Nancy couldn't imagine that not too long before that morning that was all their relationship had been.

"Bill," she whispered gently, a smile turning up the corners of her petite mouth. "Bill," she murmured, just a bit louder this time. He stirred slightly, but not by much. Gently she craned her head enough to kiss him softly. Oddly enough, the gin soaked breath he was exhaling repeatedly into her face did not smell foul to her this morning. He stirred a bit more this time before his eyes opened slowly and he seemed to remember where he was. Nothing about him seemed rushed or startled, all his movements were languid, peaceful, and lazy. It was such a different state then what she was used to seeing him in. He smiled softly as he took in his surroundings. Gently, the housebreaker laid a kiss on the top of the young woman's head.

"Good morning my girl," he said with a soft smile. Nancy sighed happily and scooted a little bit closer to him. My girl, she quite liked the sound of that. She quite liked the idea of all of this actually, happy and warm in a home she boarded in for free. Safe, under the arm of the likes of Bill. And that warm and fuzzy feeling, the one she'd had brewing inside her since Bill had made his request last night. She had no idea what on earth it was, but she liked it. Like her veins were full of fire and her heart was going to explode out of her chest. She wondered if this was how the wives of toffs felt when they kissed their husbands goodbye for the day. Or maybe when their husbands returned home at night and they could live in snug little houses, warm and safe. And happy. Nancy was so happy.

"G'mornin' Bill," she murmured in a dreamlike state. She wasn't sure if all of this was real yet, and if it wasn't, she never wanted to wake up.

"What time is it?" he questioned gently. It seemed as though the pair of them shared the intention of lying there as long as possible. Nancy laughed softly and looked at him with sparkling eyes.

"Do I look like I've been out robbing toffs this morning?" she asked. "I don't 'ave a pocket watch Bill," she added more quietly. Bill smirked quietly and hugged her to him. She smiled at the obvious strength of his arms, they made her feel so safe. He could strike down anybody that defied him, he could protect her.

"Nance?"

"Hm?" she asked. She barely had her eyes open anymore, she was enjoying every minute of this and praying it wasn't a dream.

"You can say no," Bill said. Nancy was wide awake now, it was always these kind of proposals that were the worst. She prepared to be given a rude awakening from her dreamlike state. "But...if you wanted to live 'ere, you could. There's plenty of space for one more, an' you wouldn't 'ave to be a prostitute no more or nothin'. You could be 'ere, my girl, an' I'd never ask for anything in return. Except for you to say you feel the same way I do. We could move you out today, or not there's no rush. What do ya think Nance?" Nancy was silent, this dream of hers was getting sweeter by the second. Feeling as though she was floating on a cloud she replied to him.

"Now wouldn't that be a fine life," she murmured smiling.

"So...yes?" Nancy smiled before grasping his face and kissing him once more. Their lips separated and she smiled while his broad forehead rested against hers.

"Yes," she whispered

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"Nancy!" Dodger cried jubilantly as he walked in the door. However the young thief stopped dead in his tracks as he realized this was not normal. Nancy was almost never this glum, and when she turned to face him, he wanted to tear his eyes out to not have to look upon her sad face. It was late afternoon, he and the other boys had just returned from the job. He noticed a bag on Nancy's bed, already filled. Or rather, not filled considering Nancy's belongings were next to nothing. "What's goin' on Nance?" he asked quietly. There was no use in masking the confusion in his voice.

"I'm going Dodge," she said quietly.

"Going where...to the Cripples for the night?" He was laughing nervously, trying not to notice the obvious.

"No Dodge, it's my time. I'm moving out into the world. On to bigger and better things, yeah?" Dodger stared at her dumbfounded and even the usually chipper Charley was staring at her in awe.

"You're....you're not gonna be around no more Nance?" Charley asked confused. She laughed and shook her head.

"Of course I'll be around," she said smiling. "You're my boys aren't ya?" she continued with a playful ruffling of Charley's hair. Charley smiled, satisfied, but Dodger was far from happy.

"Where are you movin' to Nancy?" he asked morbidly. Dodger started in shock as Fagin's hands clamped down firmly on his shoulders.

"Nancy has decided to move in with Bill my dear," he informed Dodger. In turn, Dodger stood there gob smacked and tried to even fathom what Fagin was saying.

"B-bill?" Dodger asked incredulously.

"That's right Dodge, me an' Bill are stayin' together."

"You and Bill," Dodger repeated numbly. His heart felt like a lead balloon in his chest. Fagin scuttled the awestruck Dodger away and leaned in close, whispering so only he and Nancy could hear as she prepared to depart.

"Are you...sure about this my dear?" Nancy scoffed lightly as she pulled her shawl around her shoulders.

"Course I'm sure," she insisted.

"Of course you are my dear," Fagin said with a sad smile. "Bill's a good man, very good man, it's just...he's a very violent man as well," Fagin said gageing her reaction. She was looking at him hardly but he pressed on. "I'd just hate to see something bad 'appen to you." He had laid a tentative hand on her shoulder which she quickly shook away.

"I can take care of myself thank you," she said saucily. She paused by the door before turning about and wrapping Dodger in a hug.

"Watch the gang for me," she said with a smile. Dodger nodded as if he was a soldier taking orders. "And be good my friend," she added. She tweaked his hat which he hastily pulled into it's proper place on his messy brown hair.

"Bye Nance." His smile was something if not weak. Nancy gave him one more smile and then she was gone in a flash.

And so the changes had begun.