AN: This is my first fic, and it's most definitely a short one. Just warming up to FanFiction. It hasn't been beta-reader'd, so all criticism/comments are welcome...
I don't own anything in this. That all belongs to Sondheim and Burton.
Mrs. Lovett stood behind her dusty counter, her pale face cupped in her left hand. She had stopped preparing pies for the moment, for her daydreams had overwhelmed her so much, she lost all concentration on her work.
Her mind was on a certain man she had grown to love over the years. His years were cut short, however, when the great Judge Turpin sentenced him for life. For what? Foolishness. Benjamin Barker had been sent to Australia on false terms, and the Judge knew this. Mrs. Lovett knew this too, but no one believed her when she tried to convince them otherwise. Mrs. Lovett gave up hope to redeem Mr. Barker, but she did make him a promise, one she intended to keep.
"Mrs. Lovett, Nellie, watch over Lucy and Johanna for me," the dark-haired man murmured hurriedly, seeing he had little time to tell the woman his request.
"I'll keep them safe," she replied, smiling weakly. Her auburn curls fell into her face as she walked with him down the dock. The only thing separating the two was a rope, leading down to some iron railing which ended right in front of a threatening metal boat. Black steam puffed into the air, sending chills down Nellie Lovett's spine. How could the Judge be so cruel?
"I'll keep them safe Benjamin," Nellie Lovett repeated, more to herself than the gorgeous man in shackles beside her. His once-loving dark eyes darted around, taking in the scene. All around them were citizens of London, walking by and watching the prisoners board the iron boat. Guards were posted all around the docks, their menacing stares boring down into the passersby.
All of the sudden, the beautiful man stopped walking towards the ship that would no doubt be the end of his life as it took him away to life at Australia, and he turned to face Nellie Lovett. He fumbled to grasp her hands, and after some wrestling with his shackles, he managed to hold her right hand between his own.
"Nellie, promise me you will." He said quietly, squeezing her small, fragile hand.
"I will, Ben." Nellie Lovett promised, placing her other hand on his. "I will."
A prison guard must have noticed them, for he came charging towards them, prodding at the unfortunate man with his gun. "Keep moving!" the guard barked.
He didn't even wait for the two to back away from each other after letting go of each others' hands to shove the man towards the boat.
"I promise, Ben!" Nellie Lovett cried out, feeling hot tears roll down her pale cheek. The sea breeze tossed her auburn hair around, blurring her vision even more. But no matter how unclear her sight was, she watched Benjamin Barker, the man she loved, board the iron ship and disappear. "I promise."
It had been a dreary day in London, when Benjamin Barker had left to serve his sentence in Australia. Lucy Barker, his wife, could not bring herself to say good-bye to her husband, so Mrs. Lovett went in her stead. In truth, it was one last effort to show Benjamin Barker she loved him, and that she was a strong woman, unlike his precious Lucy. But had he noticed? Would she ever know?
With a sigh, Mrs. Lovett picked up her rolling pin and continued to work. She knew one day, Benjamin Barker would come back, and he would notice she loved him, and perhaps he'd even love her back.
The ringing of her rarely-used bell over the door broke her temporary concentration. Somewhere between annoyance and glee for recieving a customer, Mrs. Lovett looked up.
She gasped. "A customer!" With a slam of her rolling pin hitting the dusty, floury counter, she made her way to the man who just walked in, unaware of how her life was about to change...