A/N: Hello again! It's me with another story for your enjoyment. I've just finished a lovely vacation by the sea and was inspired to write this.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd. Or Mrs. Lovett. Or Toby. Or pretty much anything else. All rights go to Dream Works, Warner Brothers, Stephen Sondheim and Tim Burton. I think....
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It was the dead of winter, and snowing outside. The icy winds tore through Fleet Street howling loudly, and the cold air seeped through any cracks in windows or doors. Everyone bundled up in thick layers and kept stones and anything else that could be warmed in their pockets. They blew into their hands and did their best to keep warm. Everyone that is, except for Mrs. Lovett.
She was hot. The bakehouse was always rather warm, but today it was sweltering. She wiped the sweat from her face and pushed her damp curls out of her eyes. Very damp curls.
"Toby." she called as she went from table to table, serving hungry customers. They hadn't opened the outside dining area because of the cold and the tiny shop was packed with people, wanting a warm pie. "Toby." she called again, having to shout over the noise.
The boy was instantly at her side. "What is it mum?" he asked.
"Is it hot in here love?" she asked, fanning her face with her hand.
"I'm rather cold." Toby replied, "Are you all right? You look flushed."
Mrs. Lovett managed a smile. "I'll be all right. After the rush is over, I'll just step outside for a tick and cool off."
Toby flashed her a look of concern. "If you say so." he said, and ran to serve an elderly couple who had just entered. Mrs. Lovett could hear him saying "Looking for some of the best pies in London?" She knew she could always count on that boy to-
Since when had it become so much warmer? Mrs. Lovett tugged at her dress, trying to loosen it a little. She knew it was a fruitless attempt; she had too many layers on. Just need to make it through the rush she thought to herself. But it seemed that each minute the shop got hotter and hotter.
Finally, most of the people had cleared, leaving Mrs. Lovett and Toby to clean up the mess they had left behind. By the time the shop looked presentable, Mrs. Lovett was gasping for air, she was so hot.
"Toby.. I'm just... going to….bring up Mr. Todd ....some of this....soup." she managed to say. Toby nodded and continued to scrub the counters. "You sure you don't need any help?"
Mrs. Lovett shook her head. "I'm sure dearie. Thank you though." With a weak grin, she went out into the cold. As soon as the cold air hit her face, Mrs. Lovett gasped. Letting out a cry of relief and breathing deeply, she walked up the stairs to Mr. Todd's barber shop. At the top of the stairs, she paused, and was suddenly overtaken by a fit of coughing. She leaned heavily on the rail and continued to cough for a moment and then forced herself to stop. With a sigh, she opened the door and entered the shop.
"Afternoon Mr. Todd." she said wearily.
Mr. Todd graced her with a curt nod and turned back to sharpening his razor. Mrs. Lovett shrugged and set his tray down.
"Brought some soup for you love." she said, "Should warm you up a-" Mrs. Lovett doubled over and began to cough violently. Over and over her tiny body shook with the force of her coughing. Mr. Todd turned sharply and watched as her coughing ceased.
Too warm Mrs. Lovett thought.
"Mrs. Lovett?" Mr. Todd asked, "Are you feeling well?"
Hard to breathe
Mr. Todd strode over to her and placed his hand on her shoulders. "I said, are you all right?"
Oh Lord I'm going to cough again
"Mrs. Lovett, can you hear me?"
Tell the room to stop spinning
"Mrs. Lovett!"
Need to lie down
Mr. Todd was about to turn away, when Mrs. Lovett's eyes rolled back and she began to crumple to the ground. Before she could hit the floor, Mr. Todd caught her limp, unconscious figure. Picking her up, he wondered where to lie her down. He decided to take her downstairs. If the judge came while she was laying on his cot in the corner, he would probably get the wrong impression and leave. Yes, downstairs was definitely the best place.
He carefully trudged down the icy steps and entered her shop. Toby glanced up and his eyes widened. "What happened?" he asked, running to the baker's side.
"She passed out boy, what's it look like?" the barber snapped. "Just tell me where to put her."
Toby led Mr. Todd down a hallway and into Mrs. Lovett's bedroom. "Right here I suppose sir." he said, obviously intimidated by Mr. Todd's presence.
Gently laying her down on her bed, Mr. Todd loosened the laces on her dress. That done, he turned to Toby.
"Sir, why did she pass out?" the boy asked timidly.
Mr. Todd shrugged. "I don't know." he replied, "Did she act differently at all today?"
Toby nodded. "Yes sir." he answered, "She was complaining about being hot earlier."
Mr. Todd laid a hand on Mrs. Lovett's forehead. It was very warm. "She has a fever." he mumbled.
"Should I get a doctor?"
Mr. Todd shook his head. "Not yet." he said, "This could be something mild."
Just then, Mrs. Lovett stirred. With a groan, she started to sit up, but Toby pushed her back down. "Not now, Mum." he said softly but firmly, "You need to rest a little."
Mrs. Lovett glanced around and realized where she was. "How exactly did I get-"
"You fainted in my shop," interrupted Mr. Todd, "and I carried you down here."
Mrs. Lovett was secretly overjoyed at this, but did not show it. "Thank you Mr. T." she said. She sat up and wrapped her arms around herself.
"What's wrong?" Toby asked anxiously. Mrs. Lovett smiled.
"Just a little cold dearie." she said, "Nothing to worry about." She shivered after saying this and Toby's face clouded with concern.
"Mum, you're sick." he said, "Please get some rest."
"I feel fine." Mrs. Lovett lied, "I don't need to rest." To prove her point, she stood up from the bed. She seemed to do alright, for a moment. Then she began to sway a little, and Toby grabbed her waist, sitting her back down.
"See?" he exclaimed, "You're not well at all. Please rest, just for a little while."
Mrs. Lovett sighed, knowing she couldn't fight. "All right." she relented, "But only for today." With a nervous glance at Mr. Todd she added, "If Mr. Todd doesn't mind."
Mr. Todd gave her a distant nod. With a turn of his heel, he left the room.
Toby watched the barber leave and then turned back to Mrs. Lovett. "Can I get you anything?" he asked.
"Another blanket would be wonderful." Mrs. Lovett said, "They're in the cabinet in the washroom."
The words had hardly out of her mouth when Toby whizzed out of the room and came back seconds later, panting, with a quilt in his hand. "This do?" he asked breathlessly.
Mrs. Lovett nodded and spread it on her bed. Climbing in, she reached out a hand to gently squeeze Toby's shoulder. "Don't know what I'd do without you." she said with a smile. Toby grinned and returned the gesture.
"Thanks Mum." he said. With a hug, he left the room, leaving Mrs. Lovett to get her much needed sleep.
Things were quiet on 186 Fleet Street until late at night, when Toby was awoken by strange noises coming from Mrs. Lovett's bedroom. It sounded like she was saying something, but he couldn't quite make out what it was. Running down the hall, the boy burst into Mrs. Lovett's room, to find her tossing and turning in bed, crying out things in her sleep.
"Put that down!" she cried, "Think of Johanna!"
Toby rushed to her side, and took her hand. "Please Mum," he said, "Wake up."
"No! No!" she gasped, "I can take care of her, I swear sir!"
The boy shook her shoulders. "Mrs. Lovett, wake up."
The baker began to sob in her sleep. "No, not again. Not another one. Please, tell me everything's fine."
"Mum, it's all a dream." Toby frantically cried, "It's not real."
But Mrs. Lovett continued to talk and cry deliriously. Poor Toby was at a loss for what to do, and decided to get Mr. Todd. He didn't particularly like the man, but Toby was sure the barber knew more than he did about fevers.
Running up the stairs, Toby pounded on Mr. Todd's door. "Mr. Todd!" he shouted, "Mr. Todd, come quickly."
Todd opened the door and glared at the boy. "Yes?" he asked grumpily.
"It's Mrs. Lovett sir," Toby said breathlessly, "She's taken a turn for the worse I think." Grabbing Mr. Todd's arm, he practically dragged him down the stairs and into Mrs. Lovett's room. She was still sobbing and thrashing around.
Mr. Todd turned to Toby. "Get me a damp cloth." he said. Toby rushed off to do exactly as he had said and was back almost instantly. "Here sir." he said, handing it to Mr. Todd.
For the next hour, Mr. Todd and Toby nursed Mrs. Lovett, cooling her forehead when she tossed in heat, and covering her with a blanket when she shook with cold, until finally she calmed down somewhat. Her fever hadn't broken but she wasn't crying out anymore.
"Thank you Mr. Todd." Toby said gratefully. Mr. Todd nodded and grunted, "Better get to bed boy. It's late."
Toby shook his head. "But what about Mrs. Lovett?" he asked "I need to stay here with her."
Mr. Todd rolled his eyes. "Look, I'll stay with her, alright?"
"Alright." Toby replied sleepily, "But come get me if anything happens." He stumbled out of the room and shut the door.
Mr. Todd turned back to Mrs. Lovett. She had begun to mumble again. He was in for a long night. Remember to tell the boy to get the doctor tomorrow if she's like this in the morning he thought
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A/N: Is it okay? Bad? Tell me what you think. Yes, I know they're not at the seaside, but it's coming, don't' worry.....