Chapter Thirty-One – Together
In the nights following Bill's unexpected discovery of Nancy's new line of business, the housebreaker hardly said a word to Fagin when he visited, and what little he did say to him was always harsh and unfeeling. Fagin didn't question this, he knew he deserved it. Nancy hated how Bill was treating Fagin and attempted to reprimand him as such, but Bill would have none of it.
He was shocked at how eager Nancy was to defend Fagin, the old wretch that had driven her to the cold dark streets to earn her keep. What she was forced to do was as bad as him risking his neck every time he cracked a crib.
One week after their fateful meeting had transpired, Bill 'persuaded' Fagin to give Nancy the night off. The pair of them, Bill and Nancy, went to the Cripples as they used to, arm in arm, Bulls-Eye tagging along behind them.
Fagin watched them go from his seat near the fire, continuing to stare after them even when Bill had slammed the door upon departure.
He didn't notice the Artful Dodger standing beside him, watching as well, a look of immense distaste on his young features. Bill and Nancy…together…that didn't sit right with him, that didn't.
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The tavern was crowded as ever tonight, filled with chatter, laughter and bursts of drunken song. Bill and Nancy acquired their usual table and got their gin; the girl that brought it was one of Nancy's new associates, heavily made up as always when working. Nancy gave her a small smile, which the girl duly returned before sauntering off again in the direction of a group of men idling at the bar.
Turning back to Bill, Nancy smiled at him too, a bigger smile, a brighter smile. She was so pleased to be here with him again, just like the good old days, before her new job. Just being around Bill made her smile, smile all genuine like. When she was with him she didn't have to wear a mask like she did with everyone else.
Little did she know it, but Bill felt the same way she did. He was always acting tough, living up to his reputation as a hardened criminal. It wasn't as if he really was a caring person inside, he certainly wasn't that. It was just…when he was around Nancy, what little kindness and compassion he had made themselves known. As pleasant as this could be, reliving himself from his usual demeanor, it was also unsettling.
It worried him how Nancy could make him feel so strange, so different. He wasn't his usual self around her; he was very different…he smiled, he laughed, and he even cracked jokes, on occasion.
He hoped these new, unusual emotions would wear off as time wore on.
There was silence between them for a few minutes, but they both seemed content with it, simply enjoying being in each other's company. Nancy took a small sip of gin, her smile still playing about her features. Was it her imagination, or was Bill smiling too? He hardly ever smiled as a rule, and yet there he sat, a small grin on his face.
"Wot you thinkin' of Bill?" she asked curiously, setting her mug down again. What was making him smile so?
"Nothin'," Bill replied, a little too quickly.
"Bill," Nancy said with a chuckle, raising an eyebrow. "You're smilin'! Somethin' must be makin' you smile like tha'."
Bill chuckled. If only she knew. It wasn't something, it was someone. Namely her.
"Nance?" Bill asked, after a moment's silence. "This is gonna sound strange but…do you ever feel…outcast, sorta?"
Nancy's smile faded a little at the question. She felt that way often, especially recently. The wide world seemed to frown on her and those like her, not that she blamed them. But she hated their sneers all the same.
"Y-Yes," she stammered, wondering what Bill could be getting at.
"Do you feel tha' way around the gang?" Bill asked, his voice as gentle as he could make it. Nancy felt the same way he had during his last days at Fagin's; he hated that she felt this way, but then it only helped his case. He wanted to help Nancy, help her escape.
Nancy nodded.
"Yeah…I do. How…how did you know?"
"I felt the same way."
Nancy gave a small start of surprise. It all made sense why he'd left now; not just because of Dodger, but because he felt apart from the gang, as if he no longer belonged. But…what did this have to do with her? What did it matter if she felt the same way?
"Nance," Bill said, his dark eyes boring into hers, a soft smile gracing his features. "Wot I wos thinkin' wos…would you like to come an' live wiv me?"
He had to do something to rescue her from Fagin's clutches, from this miserable life. If she came to live with him, she would no longer be one of Fagin's pawns, as the boys were, as he once had been. She would be free to live her life, with him, Bill Sykes, by her side.
Nancy gasped, her eyes sparkling. He wanted her to come and live with him? Did this mean…could it possibly mean…he wanted to help her? He loved her? She loved him, she was sure of it, with every fibre of her being. Was it possible that he felt the same way?
"Yes," she said, her voice tremulous with emotion, her eyes swimming with unshed tears of joy. "A million times yes!" She practically leapt across the table to engulf him in a hug, relishing the feeling of his strong arms around her, keeping her safe and protecting her from harm.
Bill didn't think his smile could grow any wider.
She'd said yes.
"Bill?" Nancy said, looking up at him with bright, twinkling eyes, an expression of such happiness she never thought she could wear again affixed to her face. "D'you…d'you love me?"
Without pausing to think, Bill leant down and firmly planted a kiss on Nancy's lips.
Nancy felt as if she would explode with the ecstasy that consumed her; this must mean, surely, that he loved her.
He loved her.
He loved her.
He loved her.
When Bill broke the kiss, his smile still in place, it was to find Nancy sobbing in his lap.
"N-Nance?" he said worriedly, his expression changing in an instant. "Are you alright?"
"I've…never b-been more alright in my l-life…" Nancy said through her tears. Tears of joy. She leaned closer to Bill, resting her head on his shoulder, crying and laughing hysterically at the same time. She had never been this happy in her entire life, she was sure of it.
As for Bill, he was sure he loved her; how could he not? Even when he'd first met her in the alleyway, when she'd reprimanded him for attacking the helpless toff…he'd been drawn to her, he'd been captivated by her…
And she loved him back. He could scarcely believe it. All these years he'd been thinking she'd never see him as anything more than a good friend, all this time he'd thought she could never feel the same way… He'd thought he was no good for her, and yet…she loved him.
She loved him.
She loved him.
She loved him.
Bill got to his feet, Nancy let go of him but still stood by his side. He smiled fondly down at her before wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"C'mon Nance," he said, pulling her closer to him. "Let's get out of 'ere."
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A/N: Can you say fluff? I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. XD
Sorry it's taken so long! D:
Please R&R!
