A/N: Hello once again! Thank you all for your reviews I'm always happy to see new reviews. I just want to explain one thing, the cover image is a locket and inside are a picture of Ben and Nellie (top) and Nellie's parents (bottom) please enjoy the new chapter and don't forget to review!

Chapter 3.

As the excitement of Halloween faded the town returned to its normal affairs including Benjamin who was working as a barber out of a small building near where the park ends and the docs begin. Nellie however was still in a festive mood but no longer for Halloween as she stepped into the market side shop causing the bell to jingle loudly and the older man behind the counter to look up at her.

"Good morning Mr. Hathway."

She smiled brightly as she reached the counter her eyes carefully scanning the packages scattered across it.

"And a good morning to you miss Walker, come to check for a package?"

The man had a glimmer of knowing in his eyes as she nodded moving her eyes to the shelf behind him.

"Yes sir, those silver razors you've 'ad since summer, 'ave they been sold?"

Before she'd finished speaking mr. Hathway turned and took a smooth box from the shelf and set it before her carefully opening the lid to revile the 7 gleaming razors to her.

"Not a one miss Walker although your young fiancée has been eyeing them for some time now."

Nellie nodded and fished her purse from the pocket of her coat, eyes never leaving the razors.

"'ow much for the lot?"

She tore her eyes away from the razors to meet the astonished gaze of Mr. Hathway who seemed to struggle for an answer.

"5£ miss Walker."

Nellie dug the needed bills from her purse mumbling to herself about how "Benjamin had better love these razors" as she handed the notes over to the shocked shop owner who took it before closing the box's lid and sliding it to her. She smiled lifting the box into her arm being sure it stayed closed.

"Thank you very much Mr. Hathway! Say 'ello to your Amy for me."

She called over her shoulder as she left the shop. After walking through the market place and buying a few things Nellie returned home quickly hiding the box of razors under her pillow in her room before returning down stairs to the kitchen. A few hours later that's where Lucy found her sister working away over a heavily floured surface while the air was rich with the smell of different fruit pies. Lucy looked at the counter clear of flour and seen at least a dozen pies and if she had to guess each one had a different filling from the one next to it.

"Eleanor what are you making all of these lies for they'll spoil before we can eat them all."

Nellie sighed turning to face her sister wiping sweat from her brow and leaving a dusting of flour in its place.

"Not all of 'em are for us, I'm takin' some to Benjamin once they cool, then there's a few for mr and mrs. Barker as thanks for invitin' us to that party..."

She paused in pointing to groups of pies long enough to count them and shake her head.

"I'll need another apple, they're 'is favorite but if I do that I'll 'ave to many raspberry for you..."

She trailed off looking lost in thought as she stared unseeing at the pies. Lucy was about to say something when Nellie smiled and snapped her fingers and moved the pies around with a smile on her lips.

"There we go now there's enough everyone's 'appy."

Looking satisfied with her work she turned back to the counter and began cleaning it.

"Was there something you wanted Lucy?"

She glanced over her shoulder but found Lucy was no where to be seen and one of the pies was gone making her shake her head and resume cleaning. Once the cleaning was done she quickly changed her dress and pulled the pins from her hair so it cascaded down her shoulders and back like an auburn wave before she grabbed the box of razors from under her pillow and tucked it gently into the basket holding pies she'd made for Benjamin. She left the house catching a glimpse of Lucy in the parlor as she did so. Her feet seemed know exactly where she wanted to go and as joy bubbled in her chest she looked up at the building containing Benjamin's shop. She could just make out his figure in the window as he talked to a client smiling the smile she loved so much.

Smoothing out her dress she went to the door pushing it open setting off the joyful jingle of the bell above the door causing the two men to look up and Benjamin to smile wider his eyes moving from her face to the basket in her hand as she took a seat on one of the waiting chairs letting him resume his work. Once the man was shaven, had paid and out the door Benjamin turned to look at Nellie who acted as though she hadn't seen him looking despite the smirk on her lips and the nervous flutter gnawing away at her stomach as he stepped to her side. She jumped but quickly relaxed as his fingers brushed a stray bit if flour from her cheek finally making her look at him smiling.

"To what do I owe this visit miss Walker?"

Nellie rolled her eyes before looking into his onyx eyes her heart hammering away in her chest.

"As if you don't know Mr. Barker."

He looked at her truly confused and the look only became more etched into his features as she giggled behind her hand brown eyes dancing with laughter.

"Don't tell me you forgot your own birthday love."

Her giggles faded as he looked away from her eyes and his cheeks flushed causing her to stand with a sigh before gently pushing him down into his own barbers chair making his eyes widen as he looked up at her. She smiled setting the basket on the floor after removing the box containing the razors from it, she perched herself lightly in his lap rolling her eyes as he shifted under her his cheeks still red as cherries.

"Well if you did it's alright 'cause I sure didn't forget."

She handed him the box her smile widening as he took it with wide eyes trailing over it, she kissed his cheek before moving her lips to his ear.

"Happy birthday love."

He set the box down in her lap long enough to wrap his arm around her waist and turn his head to capture her lips in a sweet, gentle kiss.

"Thank you pet."

She purred against his lips before breaking the kiss to look at the box before meeting his eyes.

"Well go on, I didn't pay a pretty penny for ya not to open 'em and I swear if you don't like 'em you can plan on a very lonely wedding Mr. Barker."

Benjamin looked slightly taken aback by the seriousness in her voice before he looked at the box in his hands and began to open the lid. The moment the gleaming silver handles caught the sunlight Nellie thought Benjamin was going to faint as his eyes drank in the sight of the new razors hungrily making a microscopic pint of jealousy filled her chest but faded as he lifted one of the razors flicking it open and examining the polished blade. She watched smiling like a parent watching her child on Christmas morning as he tested the blade on the back of his hand and marveled at how sharp it was, his eyes tracing the contours of the silver as he closed the blade. Nellie managed to wipe the smile from her lips as she looked at her nails doing her best to look annoyed, Benjamin caught on quickly and placed the razor back in the box before tightening his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder until she looked at him with a raised eyebrow that melted into a smile as she rested her forehead to his so their noses were touching.

"Thank you so much Nellie, but how did you know I wanted them?"

Nellie smiled placing a soft kiss to his lips.

"You know 'ow much of a gossip ol' Mrs. Hathway can be, I over 'eard 'er tellin' 'er daughter about a handsome young barber comin' into 'er 'usband's shop askin' after the razors and I knew your birthday was today so I thought I'd surprise ya."

He placed a soft kiss to her lips making her relax and lean into the kiss before moving away and looking into his eyes.

"I have something else for you but if it gets cold it ain't no good."

He looked at her confused but he let her stand and walk back to the waisting chairs where the basket was sitting. With her back to him she rummaged for a teasingly long moment before smirking as the sweet cinnamon scent of apple pie filled the air making him inhale deeply. She turned around holding a plate with a pie cut in half sitting happily on the ceramic surface as she handed it to him.

"Your favorite, 'ope it's sweet enough I had to use a different kind of apple this time."

Benjamin smiled and carefully pulled her by the waist back into his lap causing her to giggle as his lips brushed her neck.

"As long as you made it I'm sure it will taste wonderful."

She kissed his cheek before getting comfortable as he ate the pie listening to her as she talked ideally about wedding plans until she bit her lip looking at him with big puppy eyes she knew he couldn't say no to.

"Ben?"

He looked at her and sighed lightly with mock annoyance as he placed his chin on her shoulder.

"Yes pet?"

She bit her lip again in an attempt to hold back a smile knowing she had him around her little finger.

"What do you think of a winter weddin'? The willow tree will be so beautiful during the winter, we could 'ave it just before Christmas."

She looked into his onyx eyes hopefully watching them brim with a mixture of worry and amusement.

"A winter wedding, are you sure Nellie? It'll be cold standing out there for so long and if you wear a coat no one will see your dress."

She looked down disappointed unaware that Benjamin was having a hard time keeping the image of his bride to be dressed in white walking down an isle of powdery snow, her auburn curls blazing against the white of the snow covered park out of his head as his cheeks turned pink and he shifted under her making her fight a smile at his always being a gentleman act.

"I-is that what you want pet?"

She nodded looking at him through her lashes before her eyes fluttered closed feeling his lips light as feathers on her own.

"Then a winter wedding it is."

She smiled and pressed her lips to his again but wrapping her arms around his neck locking him in place, with no where to run Benjamin let his hands rest on her hips holding her impossibly closer as their kiss deepened. She pulled away from the kiss first glancing at the door hearing foot steps.

"Sounds like another man comin' to see the best barber in all of London, I should get outta your way."

After a final kiss she stood and watched as Benjamin took one of the new silver razors from the box before placing it on the vanity in the place of his old and dull razor, which was now shut in the drawer, before quietly leaving with a final glance back and a small pardon as she brushed past the sailor walking into the shop. As she made her way home she couldn't help but smile knowing that by the end of the next month she would be married to the man she loved more than anything in the world and hopefully soon after she would be able to have a family of her own. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts as she entered her house she nearly ran into Lucy who was walking out, stumbling back a step she looked over her sister confused by her powder blue dress and a cape over her shoulders that looked oddly like one she had been given for her 15th birthday.

"Lucy where are you going and with my wrap?"

Lucy rolled her eyes tugging her gloves more securely onto her hands before meeting her sister's gaze.

"I'm going out, to Helen's if you must know I'll be back before morning, there is stew on the stove of you are hungry."

Nellie shuddered at the idea of her sister's cooking, since their mother had passed away three years prior and just days after her 16th birthday Nellie had been cooking for herself and her sister which was better than the either undercooked of burnt food her sister always made. She brought her focus back to Lucy as she walked out the door and closed it behind her, Nellie went to the window and peeked out seeing her sister walk the opposite direction from her friends house, a weird feeling rose in the deepest reassess of her stomach but she pushed it aside heading to the kitchen not even sparing a glance at the obviously burnt stew on the stove as she began to cut up the remaining vegetables to make a new pot of her own.

Lucy took a final glance over her shoulder to be sure no one was fallowing her through the darkening streets as she made her way up the steps of the large manor like house as the empty carriage pulled away. She took a deep breath and knocked twice on the door with the large brass knocker smoothing her skirts under her sister's cape as footsteps neared the door. A moment later the door opened and Beadle Bamford stood before her a smile on his lips as he bowed slightly to her before ushering her into the house, he walked ahead of her leading her to the parlor before speaking.

"I beg your pardon my lord but Miss Walker is here."

As Lucy stepped into the room she suppressed the urge to smile as she seen Benjamin look up from running the blade of what appeared to be a new gleaming razor along the leather strop on his side to meet her eyes, everything was going according to plan as she smiled nodding her head to him before meeting Judge Turpin's eyes.

"Have her wait in the library I shall join her as soon as Mr. Barker is through."

The beadle nodded his head once and walked out of the room gesturing for Lucy to fallow which after a quick wink to the judge she did. With the beadle's back to her she paused in her fallowing him to slip into the hall where Benjamin's coat was hanging and withdrew a string of milky pearls from her borrowed cape before smirking as she dropped them into the pocket of the barber's coat. Once they were in place she returned to fallowing the beadle who was none the wiser of her disappearance as he held open the library door for her bowing his head to her as she entered looking around at the high shelves around her while her mind went over the plan once more. All she had to do was slip a string of her mother's pearls into Benjamin's coat when she came during his house appointment with the judge then go to the officers in place of the judge who would be in court waiting for the framed barber to be brought in.

Lucy was hardly aware of the door closing behind her as she sat herself in one of the large arm chairs thinking carefully about the one thing that was standing in the way of the plan going off without a hitch, Nellie. Her sister was the one unreliable part of the plan because if she knew her sister she'd do anything to protect Benjamin even if that meant taking the theft upon herself and being sent to the gallows in order to keep him from being sent to Botany Bay and that just couldn't happen. She looked around the room before her eyes peered out the open window where just barely in view was the wooden sign pointing the way to the answer to her problem making her smile evilly.