((Returning What was Stolen is a Copyrighted story, by me...))

Jacky stared out at the rainy streets of London. He detested the rain. It did nothing but harper his spirits. He stood abruptly pacing the room thinking sighing he took out his Journal and recorded the so far uneventful events of the day.

January 4th, 1875 Noon

It is barely into the New Year and I am already bored with the city. Though of course I am not here on my own accord but rather my Father's wishes for me to continue the long line of law men. I am, of course, not stating that I don't wish to continue the legacy, I would just rather it be in more remote city. Or in small town, but my Father's desire outweighs mine, that is why I am stuck in this distasteful city. Every day is the same, it rains. In the two weeks I have been here I have yet to explore the streets. And until the rain lets up nor will I. Hopefully later the rain will finally let up.

Jacky sighed closing the journal he got up to get dressed, sincerely hoping that the rain would vanish.

Down in the streets below a pair of light blue eyes peered from beneath his top-hat, up at the rows of apartments just above his head. Swinging his cane beneath the brim of his umbrella, his hawk-like eyes scanned the windows dreamily as the rain pelted down. He seemed to take little notice of anything else than the goings on in the windows and causing him to receive ugly curses from the other street passerby's as they ran along the sidewalks in the rain, wondering why such a well dressed man was standing like a statue in the middle of the street. He chuckled at them on occasion but did not bat an eyelash at their passing.

His eyes lit up like a spark as a figure passed one illuminated room. The figure took little notice in him as he returned to scribble something in his notebook. With a slight smirk on his lips, the man made his way to the door, tipping his hat and closing his umbrella as he tapped on the door with his cane.

A door-boy came to greet him and offered to take his hat and coat for him. The man politely declined and asked him to inform the resident which he had been watching that he had a visitor. Nodding at this the boy proceeded to go upstairs. The stranger followed him to the room, now and then gazing in awe at the luxury of the place that he had entered. All of it was stylishly made and tasteful in a very simple way. He could hardly imagine what the room would look like, but he knew it to be quite pricey from his sources.

When they stopped at one, large door, the boy stopped and announced him to the owner of the room, "Mr. James Harland Ackart here to see you Sir"

Jacky sighed looking at the door. He was unfamiliar with the name but knew the person must be somewhat well to do if a door-boy was letting him in. "The door is unlocked you may enter...." He fixed his jacket cuffs as he put away his journal relaxing into one of the comfortable arm chairs watching the door with fixed interest. He narrowed his dark green eyes thinking.

The boy nodded to himself and opened the door politely for the stranger. The man thanked him for this and left him a small tip for his trouble. The man looked into the room and smiled at the man cheerily, removing his hat with respect, revealing a head of dirty blond hair slicked back slightly, though it was obviously curly by nature. Chuckling slightly he strode up to the man and offered his hand.

"James Ackart, very nice to meet you sir," he said, still smiling cheerily.

"Sir Lawrence Chaplin," Jacky said standing shaking his hand before sitting again. "Please take the other chair no need to stand..." He said nicely enough though his eyes were still focused.

The man nodded at this and took the seat as instructed. Resting his elbows on his knees and lacing his fingers together thoughtfully he looked at Sir Chaplin thankfully and looked around the room. It was absolutely dazzling.

"My god, what a beautiful apartment you have," He said almost breathless.

Jacky's lips twiched into a small smile, "Yes I supose compliments of my Father's…" He said with a bit of disdain. He looked at his new compainion, "Now what brings you here Mr. Ackart, if you don't mind my inquireing?"

Jame's eyes flashed back to Sir Chaplin as he said the words. For a moment he was erily silent, but so quickly that it was almost starleing, he turned back to face him with as smile.

"Right to buisness then i see?" He said with a bit of a smirk, his sapphire eyes twinkling with delight, "I require your assistance with some legal matters Sir. Very important ones if i might be so bold.

At this the dark eyed boy's gaze softened, "Really well then proceed…" Jacky said leaning back holding his chin with one hand as he watched the man.

James could not help but show the smallest of smirks as he said this, but it was only for a second, so fast one might have mistaken it for a slight twitch. Sighing a bit and and turning his eyes to the cieling, he let himself rest back on the chair as he began his tale.

"You see Sir, my father has recently passed, a little less than a month ago and he has left me a rather large sum of money and a sizable estate. Or rather, he intended to. He never truly finalized his will you see, but even though it is not the full legal document, his intentions for the property are clear. There are only two living family members, my older brother John, five years my senior, and myself, but my brother is intent upon taking the entire estate and a large sum of the money that my father intended to be my own. I have no opposition to sharing my wealth with my brother, but I do feel that i deserve a greater sum than that which he is allowing me to have."

The man sighed and turned his gaze to the floor solemnly, "I have never been a rich man Mr. Chaplin. My father never left us much and ive had to get by on my own my entire life. I only want what is mine...As it is...i dont have much money, but i know that you must be quite talented. Your father is most well known. Might there...be anything you can do to help me in this matter?"

Jacky listened intently. He thought this over for a minute. "There are several things I can do but not with out your brother's consent of course. There are ways to settle this privately if you don't wish for commotion, however it will be more taxing. I am guessing that your brother has a lawyer already correct?" Jacky asked watching the man before him thoughtfully.

James sighed sadly at this and looked away in utmost annoyance, "Yes, a very good one as well. Charles McFarlan is his name i believe. My brother has done quite well for himself these past few years which angers me more. How much money does one man need? He has no wife or children to spend such a fortune on. He will not even give his own family some compassion. Its not right i tell you!"

Jacky nodded, "Charles McFarlan...yes I know him, a family friend actually......" Jacky sighed thinking, "Well that being the case I can arrange a meeting with both your brother and Charlie. Then hopefully we can sort this problem out...I understand where you are coming from and I will help you as much as I can unfortunatly legally I can't do anything with out them both here..." He smiled dryly looking at Mr. Ackart.

James nodded at this, his eyes still downcast deap in thought at full of anxiety
as he clenched his teeth, clearly feeling distressed.

"I can get him here by tomorrow at earliest, though i can make no promises. He is a severely pig headed man. He has his decision set upon this matter, i doubt that he will not pitch a bit of a fit." He said grimly, feeling the gravity of his situation way down on him heavily.

Jacky nodded, "Very well...." He scribbled a note down in a date book thinking, "I will contact Charlie and see what I can do..."

James forced himself to smile at this and stood respectably, outstretching his hand politely.

"Thank you very much for your help in this matter Sir Lawrence Chaplin. It has been a pleasure, i look forward to seeing you soon," He said, smiling again and placing his hat atop his head of thick blond curls.

Jacky smiled shaking his hand, "My pleasure! However if you don't mind me asking where is it that you are staying now, in case I have need of contacting you." Jacky smiled kindly at him though his mind focus on something else.

James looked at him almost stunned. Skimming his eyes to the side breifly, he bowed his head in what seemed like embarrassed.

"Truthfully sir, i dont know where im staying yet. I had planned that, should you be able to grant me some assistance, i would rent a room or move on elsewhere. As of right now my residence is unknown. On that note, do you know of any cheep hotels that might be open, as im short on money as i have explained earlier" He said cheerily but with a grim and almost embarased undertone.

"Hmmm...." The lawyer thought thinking, "Well if you have no place to stay, I have a second room across the hall you can stay in....it's of no use to me..." He said with a wave of his hand, "In fact you can keep it my Father pays for it anyway...." Jacky chuckled, "You would be doing me a favor actually."

Jame's eyes went wide and actually for a moment seemed to become glassy, but it lasted only a moment. After which he held up his hands in protest and shook his head.

"No Sir. I couldnt possibly! Your already doing me a huge favor simply by taking my case. I couldnt possibly take your room as well. Besides, i simply do not have the money to compensate for such generosity," He said speedily, his voice seeming to rise an octave but still remain somehow calm, cool and polite.

Jacky laughed at this, "Didn't you hear me? I want you to take it! For free...It's of no use for me....please I insist!" He smiled kindly.

James stared at him for a long moment before mumbling, "You dont even know me," Under his breath and paced between his two feet.

"Very well...but i will compensate you. James Ackart never takes without compensation. Should we win the case, you will be paid handsomely for your troubles," he said with a good amount of determination. It was an obvious promise.

Jacky laughed shaking his hand, "It's a deal then my good man, come let me show you it!" Jacky smiled standing up as he went to get the key to the opposite room.

"If you insist," James said with a sigh and a slight but tired smile as he followed him to the adjacent room.

Just as Jacky was to open the door it swung open an there stood a red haired lady dressed in window curtains as a sort of makeshift toga. "How dare you! So you just like a typical male comes to me with your own wishes! No matter what I wish!" Here the lady gave a sigh leaning against the door looking at Jacky with one hand to her head as she spotted James. "Oj! And what's this a compain! What horrors are these! Shall my Father come here and say for me to get to a nunnery! Oh the cruel fates! What I wouldn't give for a kind master...." The lady gave a sob wipping her eyes.
Jacky glared at the girl, "What are you wearing!"
"The curtains for you have given me no clothes! What shall you have me, laying about all day waiting for you in the nude? I won't have it! If I must be your slave I'll be one who is clothed!" The lady said as she looked to James for help, "Please kind Mister please help me!