Daisies.

Nellie hummed to herself as she made her way through the crowded market listening to the chaotic music of vendors shouting over one another, families walking together, groups of friends gossiping, and children running around chasing each other while parents yelled after them. She made her way around to the stands with the supplies she needed and once that was through she just walked the area looking at the stalls until a glimpse of red caught her attention. She looked in the direction the glimpse had come from and smiled making her way to the cart.

Once back at her shop Nellie quickly put away the ingredients from the market before she headed up to the barber shop above her own shop still humming to herself as she held her surprise behind her back with one hand while the other opened the door without even knocking.

"I'm back Mr. T."

She announced as she stepped into the room looking around to find the barber nowhere in sight. She gave an annoyed sigh but went ahead with her plan, she took the cup she'd brought up with his breakfast and tossed the untouched tea out the window, smirking at hearing someone yell as it hit them, before she went to the kettle on the little wood stove in the corner of the room pouring some of the cold water into the cup then setting it on the vanity beside the box containing Sweeney's silver "friends". Glancing around as if to make sure the barber wasn't going to pop out of nowhere she took the blood red daisies from behind her back and arranged them neatly in the cup of water. She stepped back to admire her work smiling before the sound of someone walking up the stairs made her jump and quickly retreat from the shop down the stairs that lead to her parlor then into her shop where she began making the pastry for pies.

As she worked she listened to the bell on the door of Sweeney's shop ring as he entered, she waited for the sound of shattering glass as he found the flowers but to her surprise there wasn't a sound, he wasn't even paceing like he normally would have been. She sighed pulling her hands away from the ball of pastry she working as the clock in the parlor chimed 12 in the afternoon. She quickly placed a cherry pie, from the few she'd made earlier that day, onto a plate and poured some milk into a cup holding on in each hand she made her way up the stairs once again. When she reached the top she nudged the door open with her hip still not bothering to make herself known.

"Brought ya somethin' ta snack on Mr. T."

She said as she set the plate and cup on the dresser looking up to find Sweeney eyeing the pie wearily drawing a smirk to her lips as she put her hands on her hips.

"It's a cherry pie, made a batch this mornin'."

He seemed to relax before looking at the red daisies narrowing his eyes for a moment before he turned back to facing the window.

"Where did those come from?"

His tone wasn't as cold as when he used to speak to her, since killing the judge and seeing Johanna leave with Anthony the cold and blood thirsty demon had slowly melted away and he wasn't killing his customers any longer now that they made good money. She looked at the flowers her brows knitting together as he lifted them from the vanity, she waited for him to either throw them or shove them into her hands to take away from his sigh.

"I bought 'em, thought they might cheer the place up, 'eaven knows it needs it."

The last part was mumbled to herself as her eyes looked around the room before focusing on him and widening as she watched him place the flowers on a table near the window where they could get light and not be in the way. He noticed her shock and a small smile tugged his lips before it was one as he turned away and began polishing hi razor. Thinking she would get no response, much less a thanks for the flowers, she turned to leave but as her hand pulled the door open his footsteps came up behind her making her pause.

"Thank you Nellie."

The words were so soft she could have imagined them, she smiled to herself as she left, her heart racing wildly as she entered her shop and began working the pastry once more singing softly to herself unable to keep the smile off her lips.

"By the sea that's the life I covet. By the sea Mr. Todd oh I know you'd love it."

As she sang she was unaware of the barber sneaking down the outside stairs and heading down the street toward the market. After awhile of not hearing a sound from the above shop Nellie decided to pop upstairs before the dinner rush.

"Mr. T you alright up 'ere? Mr. T?"

She looked around a feeling of worry filling her when she didn't see him.

"Now where did 'e go off to?"

Suddenly the door opened and she spun around letting out a relieved sigh to see Sweeney in the doorway holding a paper bag in his hand.

"Was there something you needed Nellie?"

She felt a blush cover her cheeks at the use of her first name, her mind went temporarily blank as she watched him cross the room and set the bag in the barber's chair before facing the window looking at her reflection with the same cold expression as he removed the razor from the holster at his side, leaving her to think he believed his razor would loosen her tongue, so she mentally shook herself moving back to the door.

"Oh it ain't nothin' love, just didn't 'ear you leave so it sounded awfully quiet up 'ere so i just thought I'd check on ya."

He stayed silent turning his eyes down to the razor in his hand s he began to polish it.

"And you've done that now get out."

She opened her mouth to protest but the sound of the bell over the door in her shop made her snap it shut again and hurry from the room closing the door behind her. Sweeney glanced over his shoulder hearing the door close and placed his razor back in it's holster before walking out onto the balcony looking down a Nellie as she made her way around to customers balancing plates on her arms to the point if she wasn't careful they'd all fall to the ground ruined. He felt a small pang of guilt in his chest at seeing her do it all alone now that Toby had run off , yet he hadn't returned with the law as they feared.

Sweeney shook his head and went back into his shop where he grabbed the bag from the market and made his way down the inside stairs into Nellie's parlor. Once in the parlor he made his way to her room being sure not to be seen as he slipped in and closed the door behind himself. A few moments later he was back upstairs watching the dinner rush from the door of his shop, moving now and again so Nellie wouldn't see him when she waited the tables nearest the stairs. After dark had fallen the customers began to leave as he watched from the balcony, Nellie cleaned most of the tables before throwing down the rag on the one she had been scrubbing with a shout of 'Oh sod it, tomorrow's Sunday, I'll clean then.' before entering her hop and slamming the door behind her.

He moved inside and silently made his way down the inside stairs enough he could see her walk by, to busy pulling pins from her unruly auburn hair to see him hidden in the shadows.

"Ruddy 'air! One of these days I'm gonna cut it all of short!"

He rolled his eyes, he'd heard the threat on her hair many nights through the floorboards, but stayed quiet as she moved around the parlor before entering her room, by this time he had already returned upstairs listening to the gasp then silence from below. It was a moment before the silence was broken by the sound of bare feet padding up the indoor stairs, he kept his back to her as she walked into the room but in the large window he could see her reflection standing in nothing but a white night gown that stopped at her knees, her wild curls spilled over her shoulders the soft glow of the oil lamps gave them a more fiery look, and in her hands was a bouquet of snow white daisies that now seemed paled in beauty in comparison to the way she looked like a dark angel in the glow of the lamps.

"Do you 'ave any idea 'ow these got in me room?"

He met her reflections gaze keeping his face emotionless but said nothing. In the silence a blush creeped over her cheeks as she bit her lower lip against a smile as she set the flowers on the dresser before making her way to him. Now that she was closer he could see tears in her large brown eyes before her reflection was masked by his own as she wrapped her arms around his waist resting her forehead on his back, surprised when he didn't push her way but rather carefully loosened her arms enough to turn and give a silent gasp. The windows reflection somehow hadn't done what was standing before him justice.

He recovered quickly placing his hands on hips causing her to blush deeper. She bit her lip looking up into his eyes before standing on tiptoe and placing a kiss to his cheek blinking shocked when he turned his head and captured her lips in a kiss with his own. She melted into the kiss as his arms encircled her waist holding her close, neither wanted to break the kiss first but Nellie pulled away a little when it felt like she'd suffocate and looked into his eyes, a smile dancing on her lips as one tugged at the corner of his mouth. Carefully he moved her back until her back touched the wall beside the dresser and he lifted one of the daisies tucking it behind her right ear with a stray curl, the contrast between the snowy petals and her hair was like ice and fire drawing another smile to his lips.

"Thank you love, for the flowers."

Nellie's voice was hoarse from the kiss making his smile turn into a smirk as he leaned in close son on an inch separated their lips.

"What flowers pet?"

She smiled and closed the space between their lips losing herself in the kiss as he held her close.