Tales Of Another Beating Heart

1. Dearly Beloved, Are You Listening?

Jitters. Mr Todd had never got them before. Not even at his first wedding with Lucy. Now that he had them, he soon realised that he despised them. The sooner he got the dreadful deed done and dusted, the sooner he could get rid of the judge. The woman had never said there'd be a full church behind them both - and trust her to keep him waiting for an extra half an hour.

'Bloody woman drags me here then she doesn't even bloody turn up!'

His brain was still the usual bag of anger, hatred and emptiness at the same time. He wondered how he'd actually come to agree to this. He wanted to punch himself for it. But since there was most of London behind him, he decided not to. Where the hell was she? If he was the bride (which was hard to imagine), he would never keep his husband waiting... but then it was a strange thought to be thinking what a wedding dress felt like on a man. Silky, soft, lacy...

The spectators suddenly stood, the women gasping and admiring the bride's dress. Obviously Mr Todd followed their actions, but never glanced back to look at his bride. All he could think was 'Kept me bloody waiting. Stupid woman! She said it would be a quiet thing, quick and over with. She was lying about that now wasn't she? I s'pose I do owe this to her though, she does do a brilliant job looking after me - especially when I'm in my hormonal moods... People should know she deserves what she wants... but then again - could I live with her? Could I betray Lucy... ?'

The organ started to play and more people gasped, smiles on their faces. Toby guided the bride down the aisle, lifting her skirts to stop her from tripping. Still, Mr Todd did not look back.

A snobby couple whispered something about him behind his back, but still he did not turn, it just made him frown and wear an emotion you would go to a funeral with. The vicar nodded to him, giving him a sickly sweet smile. Hopefully the churchman wouldn't be wearing that ugly mug all throughout the ceremony. Then Mr Todd would go insane- well, more insane than he already was.

He could hear the rustle of skirts behind him, from this he knew that she would soon be gliding up to him, needing help up the steps because the dress would be too bloody big. He just knew he would have to do that.

Bloody woman. And the dress would be white too. She was always one for traditions - while he wasn't really. He did actually advise her on a red dress, and said it might make him a little more enthusiastic on marrying her. But she declined and insisted it was her wedding dress.

He sighed, hearing small footsteps behind him - the vicar's face seemed to lighten even more. 'Please do not smile anymore man! I might just gag!'

He smirked at the remark he was thinking of making. He opened his mouth to do so until he felt something grip onto his forearm. He still didn't turn to her; he just lifted his leg onto the next step and pulled her with him. As he'd expected he had to help her with the next one, and made the mistake of looking at her dress - that colour? Trying to ignore it, he raised the bottom of her skirts with his black polished shoe. At least there were only two steps, if there were another lot he would have given up and stormed out. The vicar stood before them, still wearing a friendly, enlightened grin. The boy stood on the side somewhere, but he could see him grinning inanely from the corner of Mr Todd's eye.

"Dearly beloved," the vicar started, his voice loud and booming so it echoed around the church walls. "...we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of..." Her grip on his arm ceased and stroked down to his wrist, clamping onto his uncooperative hand. He sighed heavily and made her gasp when he squeezed her hand back. "What are you doing?" she whispered, trying not to speak too loud (she would have disturbed the vicar otherwise). Mr Todd smirked. "I'm trying to make it look more realistic. Just go with it." He shot a quick glance at her, unable to resist seeing her any longer.

His breath caught for a moment, and he blanked out everything, except her.

She did look beautiful. More than any woman he'd ever seen. More than Lucy. More than Johanna. He could feel the corners of his mouth twitch, alas he resisted the smile.

He thought that her skirts had been a bit strange when he'd caught a glimpse before. They were a deep scarlet, bordered with a silky silver ribbon - even he knew they wouldn't have matched with white. He almost found himself tearing up - but he didn't do it. Then everyone would think he was a wimp - nervous about marrying the baker. Obviously he was, but he wasn't feeling teary over that.

It was the fact that she had actually worn the colour he wanted her to wear. And the fact that her hair had been put in angelic ringlets, like a halo around her face. She looked at him, smiling with little dimples in her cheeks. He was still studying her in awe of her beauty and suddenly realised he was actually marrying her - Sweeney Todd was marrying this woman? How hadn't he noticed how good looking she was before? This was odd. He was almost satisfied about marrying her now. Although he had been undeniably forced into it, but in a way he was glad it was her he was going to be husband to.

"Do you like it? I didn't like the white one. And I know 'ow obsessed with the ruby coloured stuff you are." she breathed, gazing directly into his suddenly twinkling onyx eyes.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes- I uh... I l-like it..." he whispered, almost losing grip of his secret enthusiasm as well as his disappointment for the occasion. She smirked smugly, her eyes actually catching his attention this time. They discovered something in those few moments they gazed into each other's eyes. It was like a shared epiphany - a sudden revelation in both of their lives. She suddenly turned from him, opening her mouth to speak. Clearly the vicar had asked them to answer some vow or something so he stared at the vicar too, like he knew exactly what he was answering to.

"I will." she said, loud enough so everyone in the church could hear. She glanced at Toby who looked like he was about to burst out in a dance. He looked so happy, for once.

"And you, Sweeney Todd, the same question?"

Sweeney Todd had been distracted by his bride yet again, too amazed by her beauty and the fact he was marrying her.

"Mr Todd, same question?" the vicar repeated.

His eyes raked over her torso, then up her neck and finally rested on her radiant face. "Hm? Oh uh... I will. Obviously, I will." he replied, still looking at his soon to be wife.

She turned and chuckled, fluttering her long black eyes lashes at him, her pale skin a sunny golden from the light peeping through the stain glass window behind the vicar. The vicar still droned on, about the vows they were making. Sweeney couldn't be arsed listening, it's not as if it mattered, and he was only marrying her because he would be bored, homeless and lonely otherwise. Not that he minded the last one.

His eyes trailed back to her. He secretly wondered if he was warming to her, rather quickly if so. The sudden realisation of how pretty she was had scared him. He knew she loved him, that's why she cooked the human pies for him. He heard of 'I'd do anything for love' but this was another level. He hadn't really noticed the brilliance of the woman until now, when they were at the altar. He had noticed her beauty, her love, her courage and finally her cleverness. She certainly was clever; thinking of how to dispose of his victims in her pies was definitely brilliant. He knew he should take more notice of her. He was treating her like shit yet she still cooked those damn pies. He had insulted her so many times that he couldn't count; he still was amazed that she was still going through with their marriage.

The vicar suddenly stopped and smiled at him, making Sweeney turn to face him, forcing himself to stop looking at his gorgeous fiancée.

"Do you Sweeney Todd take Eleanor Lovett, to have and to hold and to be your lawful wedded wife?"

Sweeney hesitated. This was it. This was what he owed Eleanor. He didn't vow this just to her, he vowed this to himself. She needed him. Not doubts whatsoever, she needed him. He glanced at her, their irises connecting and giving him a justification of his ready answer.

She smiled. Surprisingly, so did he, one that hurt, but it was for her, and to be quite frank and very honest, he was truly content that he was marrying her. It was going to be a fresh start, once he'd got rid of the judge, they'd be able to move away from the shitty place they were living in now and with all the money they had, they would be accepted anywhere. His smile widened and his eyes lit up, showing her (secretly) that he really did want her as she wanted him.

"I do."

Their connection broke and they were left smiling like small children in a toyshop. Especially Sweeney, like he'd seen a really hilarious piece of furniture for hedgehogs - random but sweet.

"And you? Do you Eleanor Lovett take Sweeney Todd to be your lawful wedded husband?"

She giggled, on the verge of joyous tears.

"Yes! Yes! YES! I do!" she squealed, losing half of her bouquet of roses on the floor already.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you..."

The couple took one last look at each other, both of them overjoyed and turning to face each other.

"...Man and Wife. You may kiss the bride."

Eleanor closed her eyes and stood on her tiptoes, expecting the tiniest of kisses on her (lips if she was lucky) cheek. But she had thought wrong. He picked her up completely and kissed her passionately, cheers, whistling and clapping roaring around them. He twirled her around, still kissing her, enjoying the feel of her lips against his.

He carefully flung her over his shoulder, both of them still catching their breath. The vicar congratulated them before moving out of their way so he could run with her down the aisle, her giggles muffled against the back of his ebony suit.

The spectators cheered after him, still clapping and laughing. It felt strange that this was happening and he'd just married his landlady. But he didn't give a shit anymore. He was now officially her guardian 'angel' or should he say devil.

There was a new, specially arranged coach for them outside. The horses black to match the coach. A footman opened the door and let the newlyweds jump in, the new wife still over the new husband's shoulder. He dropped her carefully onto the soft velvet material of the seats. He popped his head back out of the door, looking for Toby. The boy waved at him, running over to the coach.

"You enjoy the day together, Sir. You both deserve it. I'll be at Michael's all weekend, so I'll be out of y'way."

Sweeney nodded. "Alright. See you on Monday, Toby. Take care of yourself."

Toby nodded and watched the door close and the coach rumble away, smiling at the 'Just Married' sign stuck on the back of it. He knew his Mum would be happier now. And Mr Todd seemed different with them both already too. The way he'd kissed his Mum had been honest, happy and heartfelt. And he'd said 'Take care of yourself.' Perhaps he really was changing for the better. His Mum was really starting to bring the best out of him.

His new wife was sat next to him, a bag of giggles and longing glances. "That weren't a bad first kiss was it?" she said, still giggling from the excitement and expecting her new husband to kick off about her state at any minute.

"Best I've experienced, pet." he whispered, putting his arm around her.

She smiled but wore a puzzled frown. "What's gotten inta' you? You were slaggin' me off this mornin'. Sayin' I was retarded an' I needed psychiatric 'elp." He put his thumb on her chin and turned her head to face him, making her look into those burning, electric eyes.

"That was this mornin', Nell. From the moment I set my eyes on you at the altar, I could see us 'aving a life together. Having a family."

She gasped and before she could comment back he pulled her into a slow, caring kiss. She cautiously ran her hands around his neck and up to his hair, expecting to be throttled or thrown off. But no such thing happened; he just carried on kissing and massaging her lower back, like he really did love her. She did consider asking him when they'd finished their second kiss in their marriage. But she didn't. Maybe another time - it might have upset him.

She smiled and laid her head on his chest, both of them peering out of the window with wonder as they headed for home.

Nellie was certainly confused, but at least she had him. After his revenge was complete she would own him completely and then they would have a life of their own.

Little did she know Sweeney wanted that too.

She just needed to know that and then they were all set.

But Sweeney didn't realise how hard it was going to be to tell and get her to believe it.

He was going to have to try his damn hardest.

And that was exactly what he did.