A/N: I really hate titles. I either come up with the best title ever but no story for it, or a great story but no title. Most often I simply don't name my stories until they are finished, but to post this story here I obviously have to.
And another thing: I love imagination and hate logics. That is why many of my stories (none that I've published here, though) are like this: no explanations, just beautiful words about alternative realities.
Lastly: The "I" in this story, the central character, is the real me. Although I use my name, Lea Jailbird, in this alternative reality. Me real name will, though, be uncovered in the last chapter ;)
"I gave him my eternal devotion, I was his most faithful servant, I gave him my body and SOUL, and this is how he thanks me? Abandoned, betrayed, left all alone with his unborn child…"
Well, this is what love is like. You give another person your everything and get nothing back.
But how do I explain that to Bellatrix Lestrange without hurting her? Or… getting killed?
In the end, it's all about survival. For me, for my wards and for their unborn children.
I listen to her, let her cry and scream until she has calmed down. Her magic doesn't work in this house but I'm sure she wouldn't hesitate to use muggle methods for killing. Poor Edward is terrified of her. So are Mrs. Lovett and little Toby. Sweeney doesn't care about anything but his razors. Jack is the Pumpkin King and as the Master of Fear he has his own methods to keep Bellatrix away from his Pumpkin Queen and unborn Skellington child. And I think Bellatrix has started to respect him. For myself, I'm not sure of anything. We've only been in this house for a day and I still wonder who will be the first one to get killed.
When Bellatrix has calmed down, I sneak out from her room and go downstairs. Realizing that Edward, Mrs. Lovett, Toby, Jack and Sally are sitting in the couch in the living room, holding their breaths.
"Lea! You're alive!"
Lea is not my real name. But this is not my real world either. I like the name Lea and, besides, it's pretty similar to my real name. It didn't take many hours to get used to it.
"Yes, Mrs. Lovett, I'm alive. But Madame Lestrange is very upset, and her broken heart makes her even more dangerous."
We hardly know each other so we're still being ridiculously polite. I actually asked Jack if I was supposed to call him Mr. Skellington or even Your Majesty, but then he started to laugh and said those titles were enough to scare even the Master of Fear. Since then, I just call him Jack. Happily, Mr. Skellington sounded terribly silly even in my ears. Mrs. Skellington was even worse, so I talk to both Jack and Sally in a friendly and relaxed way.
I let my eyes wander over them and am suddenly filled with a deep and sincere devotion for them all. Toby and Mrs. Lovett, holding each other's hands. Edward, looking so scared and all alone that it almost breaks my heart. Jack, with his bony arm protectively wrapped around Sally. And in some way, I love my murderers as well. I think about Bellatrix, all alone in her room with an unborn Child of Evil. And Sweeney, in his own room, so dangerous and deep inside so sad, so misunderstood and all alone in this world...
No Lea, you will NOT go upstairs and give him a hug! He may need one, but he may also slit your throat. This is about survival. Besides, there is someone in your instant presence who needs a hug and who would never try to hurt you...
I walk over to Edward and wrap my arms around him, tightly. I feel him relax in my embrace and carefully move his scissor hands to hug me back.
"Hush, darling. It's OK, you don't have to be scared. I'm here and I will never let anything hurt you."
No matter how much Bellatrix scares me, I will protect Edward until death. Sweet and innocent Edward who looks at me like he really believes that I can protect him from anything, like he really adores me...
"Thank you." He whispers when I reluctantly let go of him. I feel a loving smile spread in my face. It does go away, though, when Mrs. Lovett says:
"We can't go on like this, Lea. She will kill us all, and..."
If you and Mr. Todd don't kill us first, turning us into meat pies...
I let out a heavy sight. "Of course we can't go on like this. Of course she will kill us all. Trust me, I didn't ASK to be placed here." Although it does make things feel a lot better when Edward looks at me like that... "None of us did. But here we are, and there is nothing we can do about it. All we can do is try. Try to cooperate, or at least stand each other, try to..."
Survive. I just can't say that in Edward's presence. He's so innocent and trusting, like a child...
Instead, I change the subject:
"Isn't it time for dinner soon? Oh yes, it is. Sally and Mrs. Lovett, I will need your help with the cooking. If you feel well enough, of course." I add with a glance on their big bellies. "Edward, I'll give you some vegetables to chop. Toby, lay the table please. And Jack... prepare a way to make Madame Lestrange join us for dinner without killing someone."