Don't Leave Me

Mr. Todd stalked forward towards Mrs. Lovett, a wicked grin on his face. "Mrs. Lovett, you're a bloody wonder, eminently practical and yet appropriate as always. As you've said repeatedly there's little point in dwelling on the past." Sweeney kept walking until her back hit the wall. Astounded by what he was saying she said, "Do you mean it?"

"No, come here, my love." He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. Unaware of the true danger Nellie enjoyed being held finally by the man she loved most. "Everything I did I swear was only for the best." She quickly explained, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Believe me!"

"What's dead is dead." He growled in her ear. "Can we still be married?" Nellie had a hopeful glint in her eyes as they began a slow waltz across the bakehouse floor. "The history of the world, my pet." He sang, spinning her around in circles. Overtaken with joy she said, "Oh, Mr. Todd, oh, Mr. Todd, leave it to me!" The oven became closer and closer. "Is learn forgiveness and try to forget." He forgave her and he was confessing his feelings for her.

The soft glow of the oven illuminated Sweeney's face making the blood staining his skin glisten and his eyes light with a strange spark. "By the sea, Mr. Todd, we'll be comfy cozy. By the sea, Mr. Todd, where there's no one nosy."

"And life is for the alive, my dear." He said, getting ready to shove her into the oven. "So let's keep living it!" They both sang. "Really living it!" Just as he was about to send her to her fiery death Sweeney froze. The look on her face nearly killed him. She was the happiest woman on Earth right now all because she was with the man she loved most: him. He couldn't kill her. No. Though he blamed her for Lucy's death he really knew that he was all to blame. Mrs. Lovett never told him that she was dead all she said was that she took poison. Just because he heard the word 'poison' he automatically assumed his wife to be dead. He was supposed to kill people that had done him wrong and Nellie had never done anything wrong besides loving him.

Sweeney stood there frozen staring at Nellie's beautiful face. He realized then in that instant that he loved her, too. "Mistah T, what's wrong?" Nellie asked, confused by his fixed gaze. "I can't hurt you." He said, quietly. "Whatcha talkin' 'bout, love?" She said, looking concerned for the barber. He released her and took a step back, tearing his gaze from her face. The feel of her hand on his shoulder made him see what he'd be missing if he had killed her. The last thing on this God damned Earth that cared for him. "I almost killed you, Nellie. Did you not feel the heat of the oven on your flesh just as I was about to let go? I almost lost you forever. I couldn't live without you, the same way I couldn't live without Lucy. I love you, Nellie."

Though she had feared for her safety at first Mrs. Lovett knew everything was going to be all right because of what he was saying to her. "Mistah T, I love ya, too." She threw her arms around him and gave him a quick kiss. But the kiss that he returned was fierce and full of desire for her. "As I said, 'Life is for the alive, my dear.' And trust me we're very much alive. In the morning I'll take you away from London where you can open a better shop somewhere by the sea. How does that sound, love?" Sweeney said, looking into her deep brown eyes. "I say that would be wonderful, Sweeney. But first promise me something."

"What?"

"Don't leave me."

"I never will, my pet."