Chapter 40: A Little White Lie

A/N: Quite proud of this one thanks. :-D As always read and review and thanks so much for your patience with my slow updates.

Warning: Contains lies, comical stories, and swearing.

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Bill came home late that afternoon, smiling and whistling to himself. Nancy looked up in shock, he was downright merry. She then realized what was going on, apparently the fact that he'd hit her wasn't going to be mentioned. Apparently they were going to pretend her eye wasn't black as coal right now and swollen shut.

"You want me to fix your supper Bill?" she asked quietly. Nancy was very careful to keep her eyes cast down.

"That'd be grand Nance," he replied. She couldn't understand what on earth he was so jubilant about, but he was right pleased with something. She moved about the kitchen, as efficiently and silently as humanly possible. "Something wrong?"

"'Course not Bill," she said with a weak smile. Bill scrutinized the young woman before him before coming to a very sound conclusion.

"Yes there is."

"No Bill, honest." Bill watched the way she flitted about nervously, keeping her head bent towards her work and her eyes down at all costs.

"Don't you lie to me my girl, there's something more then usual in the wind or I'll be called an honest man! What's wrong?"

"Nothing Bill," she said frantically. Nancy's hands, which had been fluttering about as if on their own will to begin with, were now moving at twice the pace. She moved as though she were about to have a nervous breakdown any given second. Bill had risen from his seat now, and was approaching the young girl flitting about his kitchen.

"What's up Nance?" he demanded.

"Nothing Bill, I swear Bill, I-" Bill wrapped his arms around her waist at this point and she instantly turned into him and threw her hands up in defense. "Oh God Bill! I'm sorry Bill, please, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she pleaded wildly. Bill was startled beyond belief by her frightened defense upon pure contact from him. Especially when he hadn't meant it in anger at all.

"Nance, Nance calm down." Nancy dropped her hands, absolutely floored by what had just occurred. She looked up at Bill, trembling in fear and trying not to cry. She whimpered in shock at her own behavior and Bill instantly clutched her close and tried to stop her shaking.

"I didn't mean nothin' by that Bill, I'm sorry," she whispered.

"I'm sorry Nance," Bill grunted. "Say, what do ya say to you an me goin' by Fagin's tonight huh? Go and see the boys?" Nancy nodded and clung closer to her Bill. He was trying very hard to make her feel better, guilt for his previous actions once again taking over. So he held the trembling girl in his arms, and for just a moment he was reminded of Nancy as he'd known her before the cruel world had broken her. For just a moment she was the young girl that had confused him from day one, and a smile crept onto Bill's face.

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"Plummy and Slam!" Nancy called smiling as she and Bill entered the flat. Bill shut the door behind himself and followed Nancy up the stairs scowling.

"Do ya 'ave to sound so damn cheerful," he grumbled. Nancy simply smiled at him as they went up the stairs.

"Nancy!" Dodger cried the second she came up the stairs.

"'Ello then Dodge, 'ow's my favorite little pick pocket then?"

"Alrigh' Nance, and boy you should see the-"

"Nancy's here!" Nancy turned to her right just in time to see Charley Bates plow into her and wrap her waist in a hug. "How's it then Nance?"

"Just grand Charley," she replied smiling.

"I was just tellin' 'er about the watch I picked today," Dodger plowed on through gritted teeth. He was obviously none too happy about Charley haven stolen his spotlight so easily.

"Oh yeah, it's a great story Nance. See Dodge an' I are walkin' down the street when we see this prime plant right?" Charley prattled on right over Dodger. Nancy seated herself at a table as the boy continued. She gave a nod to Fagin who smiled at her as the boys competed viciously for Nancy's attentions.

"An' I see this chain hangin' out of 'is pocket, it was practically too easy."

"'Cept it wasn't really 'is watch!"

"So when Charley grabs it," Dodger said laughing. "All that comes out is the chain."

"It was a trap you see 'cause....Nancy! Flippin 'eck, what'd ya do to yer eye?" Nancy smiled wearily, the boys had finally noticed the fantastically horrific black eye she was now sporting. She was wondering how long it would take for the excitement to wear off and them to see it. Nancy cast a glance over at Bill and then turned back to the boys with a warm smile.

"Now that's a story all on it's own. I was walkin' through the marketplace today an' I wasn't payin' no attention to where I was goin'. I ran m'self right into someone's shoulder! Knocked me straight back onto my...anyway really banged up my eye." She shot one more protective look at her Bill before turning back to the boys. "Now what on earth happened with the fake chain!" she urged quickly. Ordinarily the boys would've questioned her up and down about it but the excitement of their own story already had them taken away.

"'E 'ad 'is watch in the other pocket! He used the fake to catch those like us." Dodger cried out excitedly. "So I sneaked around and grabbed it as 'e reaches for Charley, hollerin' about 'im bein' a thief an' all. So Charley-"

"I bite 'im right on the hand 'e's 'oldin me with," Charley finished dissolving into a violent fit of laughter.

"An' we both took off runnin' with the watch!" Nancy smiled gaily with the boys while they showed her the watch and flooded her with many more a story. All the while, she kept stealing glances a her Bill.

It did not go unnoticed by Fagin, that the girl had once again saved the housebreaker's reputation with a lie.