A/N: Not my characters, so don't sue me.

A Happy Life

"What's on your mind, love?" Mrs. Lovett asked.

Sweeney Todd gave her no response. He merely continued to sit, slouching, at the dusty table in her bakery. Eyes unblinking, he stared coldly at a chip in the table.

"Mr. T? You alright?" she ventured again. Toby made a derisive noise from the corner, as if to say "why bother", and she sent him a warning glance. As much as she liked having the boy around, she was not fond of his attitude concerning her beloved barber. Sweeney would come around eventually; all of the killing had to be purging his soul and clearing his mind somehow.

The object of her attention continued to sit blandly.

Tutting, Mrs. Lovett walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. At the contact, his eyes flicked towards her, then returned to their original study of the chipped table.

After a few minutes, he shifted slightly, a silent signal that he wished her to stop touching him.

Sighing, she stepped back. Sweeney stood, and slowly returned to his barbershop.

"Apparently he's had enough socializing for the day, mum." Toby said, his voice tinged with dislike.

"You hush. I'll not have you mocking that poor man while you're under my roof." she snapped. "Go along now. Busy yourself."

--

Mrs. Lovett gingerly opened the door to the barbershop. Night had fallen, and the customers had come and gone. There had been no sign of Sweeney since earlier; he had remained in his barbershop, killing the customers that had visited.

She stepped inside.

As usual, his quarters were dark and depressing. He hadn't bothered to light a candle, so the only source of light in the room came from the bloated moon's light, which glittered coldly on his treasured razors. An unexpected chill raced down Mrs. Lovett's spine as she glanced at these razors, but she refused to let herself wonder what the cause of the chill was.

"Sweeney?" She quietly inquired, looking around.

There was a hint of movement as Sweeney titled his head slightly in her direction. He sat in the chair that held the center of the room, his pale visage turned to the moon as he lost himself in his undeniably dark thoughts. The ever-present razor glistened from its resting spot on his left leg.

He looks so beautiful in the moonlight, Mrs. Lovett thought. For a moment she contented herself with just taking in the sight before her. She longed to rush over to him, throw her arms around him, and kiss him under the moonlight which graced his sunken features. If only…

Sighing, she approached him. "Mr. T, you missed dinner. And lunch. Also, breakfast. You've got to eat something, love; you're practically a gho-" Before she could finish, his hand locked tightly around her wrist.

Heart stopping, lips still parted in surprise, she looked at him, and for the first time, he truly seemed to be looking back.

Eyes glittering, he looked up at her. He took the razor in his free hand, and stood up. She tried to back away, but his grasp on her wrist was tight. A small smile toyed at his lips, and he pushed her to the nearest wall.

"Sweeney!" she gasped, but could not continue. Fright and longing had silenced her, and she could only stand and wait to see what he would do.

To her surprise, he leaned in towards her, bringing his pale face close to her own. He smelled of shaving cream and sweat, but the smell was tantalizing to her senses. This was the closest the barber had ever willingly gotten to her, and, despite the possibility of her impending demise, Mrs. Lovett couldn't help but to enjoy it. His wild hair stood on end, the white stripe lit to an almost blinding color in the moonlight. Sweeney's dark eyes remained locked on her own.

He leaned closer still, and his breath danced on her ear as he whispered, "What do you want?"

You. She was unable to say anything, senses clouded with his scent and the surprise of this sudden attention. She longed to put her arms around his neck, but the man had her pinned against the cold wall.

Now his lips brushed her ear, sending shivers coursing through her frame. "I am not a happy man, Mrs. Lovett. What makes you think that we could have a joyous life?" His body was pressed against her, and a soft whimper escaped her.

The door banged open, and Sweeney's frame stiffened.

"MRS. LOVETT!" Toby screamed. "DROP THE RAZOR, YOU BASTARD!"

A/N: More to come. Comments?