Chapter 32: Reflection

A/N: These are becoming increasingly difficult for me to write seeing as this is the part of the story I never actually pictured. Still, I'm doing my best so send me some feedback and tell me what you think. And hey Coralyne, this is where the make-up bit comes into play. Subtle but it did have a point my faithful fan. :-D Anyways please R&R.

Also, I'm considering not taking this story all the way through the movie as I said I might. Tell me if you'd rather I cut it off right before the whole Oliver Twist deal happens or if you want me to go all the way through to the end. Majority wins with this one, I can do it either way.

Warning: Contains happiness, awkwardness, and oh so much fluff.

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When Nancy returned back to Bill's place, he was there waiting for her. Bulls-Eye was barking happily the second Bill let Nancy in the door. She reached over and scratched the dog's ears somewhat awkwardly. She wasn't sure what to do here. In fact, Nancy felt so sick and completely out of her element she was contemplating bolting back to Fagin's the moment she had the chance. She wondered half-heartedly if anything would be the same as it had once been between her and Bill. Nancy couldn't imagine it would be, seeing as they had both grown so. She was no longer the aggravating child that could beat him at cards, and he was no longer the older boy that was fun to annoy. Bill seemed to be struggling with the same ideals as they both stood there in the late afternoon light. It seemed the odd lack of things to say would go on infinitely until the dog took it upon himself to chase a reflection off Nancy's hair comb and run head first into the wall. It was at the sight of Bulls-Eye doing such a strange thing, repeatedly, that Nancy and Bill finally burst into laughter.

After that, the awkwardness seemed to melt like ice on a hot day. They hugged and laughed, chattering about everything and nothing. Nancy seemed to be doing most of the talking but it wasn't as though Bill wasn't paying attention to her. He himself, was not a man of many words, so he kept his speaking role mainly to a minimum.

"You want me to fix your supper Bill?" she asked sweetly. He and she were standing as if they were about to slow dance in the sunset light filtering through the grimy window.

"Unless you'd rather enjoy some fine dining at the Cripples," he joked sarcastically. Nancy laughed and moved off to fix him some dinner. She had learned to cook at the Cripples before when there were hungry customers and none of the other girls were inclined to cook. Nancy laughed awkwardly at the fact that her chosen 'profession' had taught her so much more then she ever anticipated. Speaking of professions...

"Hey Bill, you goin' on the job tonight?" The housebreaker shook his head in the negative with a sly smile.

"I figured I'd stay 'ome for my first night wiv my girl." There it was again. Those words that sent Nancy's mind spinning out of control. She loved when he called her that. His girl. She was his, and he was hers and they were each other's in their own little house on the bad side of London. "Bring me the gin over, will ya Nance?" Nancy prepared to have to slam through a million cupboards to find it like she had at the beginning of the meal, but it was sitting in plain sight on the counter. She was just starting to look for a glass when Bill spoke up again. "'Ere now don't trouble yourself, jus' bring it over." Nancy smiled and brought the gin bottle over, handing it to him with a smile on her face.

Eventually their dinner was done and Nancy had just laid their plates on the table when Bill was already digging in. She smiled quietly to herself as she ate at a somewhat slower pace, Bill's appetite certainly hadn't changed much, of that much she was certain. It was quiet save for the noise of forks on plates when Nancy spoke up. Her voice was very timid and shy, unlike Sikes had ever heard it. Which was why he was so apt to worry when she spoke that way.

"Bill," she said quietly "did you really mean what you said this mornin'?" Bill swallowed before tearing gruffly into his food, avoiding her gaze.

"'Bout livin' 'ere?" he asked confused. She smiled in a small way before shaking her head no. She took another bite, chewed, and swallowed before using her mouth to speak once more.

"About not 'aving to work at the Cripples no more," she said. Her voice was like a mouse, barely a whisper that disturbed the silent flat.

"Cor! An' 'ere I thought you were worried 'bout somethin' wot was important, of course I meant it." The smile on Nancy's face was so bright it could only be compared to looking straight into the sun after living in darkness for years. Bill smiled back warmly, pleased that he had made her happy. Nancy was literally trying not to squeal with joy. She wouldn't have to do it any more, be handled and fondled by those disgusting men. It could just be she and Bill. Her Bill. Nancy's smile only got brighter as this thought settled in her head.

It was after dinner and Nancy was just finishing the dishes when Bill's strong arms wrapped around her waist. Nancy smiled as she kept washing, making feeble attempts to look out the dirt caked window. In reality, the film that made it impossible to see out reflected all with in. And, in her reflection, she saw herself. Happy, with a smile on her face, her hair in a decent way. She was amazed that she recognized her face, no longer buried in make-up. Around Bill it didn't have to be. She was safe, she was happy, she was wholesome, she was healthy.

Most of all, from that day forward, she was his.