The Box

Disclaimer: I don't own Sweeney Todd!

Warning: This story may be sad to some viewers.

Mrs. Lovett was out, shopping in the market. Being his third day back, Sweeney was quite curious about a few boxes stacked in the closet. They were considerably old, seeing as the dust covered every one in the room, though everything else was tidy and freshly cleaned.

He looked in a random one a pulled out some of the contents. It was a box of framed pictures. Most of Nellie and a man, whom he assumed to be her late husband, Albert. It had to have been, because there were wedding photos as well. She looked very unhappy. No smile graced her features, no light in her eyes.

"Hm." Sweeney hummed, shrugging his shoulders and putting the picture down, going to the next. He looked back at all the memories of hers, taking it all in. Mrs. Lovett was a very sad woman.

Moving on to a small wooden-clasping box, he opened the lid and peeked in. Letters. He had no sense of personal space, so he went through and read them. All addressed to Eleanor Lovett. All asking about how the 'three' were, best wishes. Boring stuff, Mr. Todd thought.

There were more boxes left, but he decided the next one would be his last. After all, Mrs. Lovett was to return soon. He'd save the others for another time. He reached his hand in and pulled out a blanket. Small, but soft. He shuffled through, finding nothing but baby stuff. Clothes, toys, blankets. This caused him to raise an eyebrow. Why would Eleanor have so many children's supplies?

"I see you've found me old memories, Mr. Todd."

He stood up and cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Yes, of course. I must be going." He walked out of the room briskly.

Though he was about to leave, she leaned against the door frame and spoke.

"A li'le gem. So precious. Carriage accident, that's what happened. She was only three, Mr. Todd."

Sweeney stopped to listen to her, but his back was turned.

"Named 'er Hope, thought maybe she would save our marriage. Albert passed when she was small- leaving me a widow with 'er to take care of. Times was hard, Mr. T. Harder without 'er. I still bake the rare cake on 'er birthday. Your Lucy and Johanna aren't here now, but you didn't 'ave to see 'em leave. Not like that. At first I was shocked. She couldn't be dead, I told meself. But she was gone. My li'le girl."

"Mrs. Lovett, why not have another child?"

"Ah. Y'see, doctor said I wouldn't hold another baby, not with all the ones before. She was just a miracle."

Nellie put a hand on her stomach and smiled. "It was 'ard. Worse than most, the doctor said. She came out just fine, though. It's been ten years. But sometimes I sit at a table and think she'll just come runnin' in the door. She never does... Never will."

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I had to think hard about this one. Hope you liked it, and if you did, review, favorite, or don't. ;)