Disclaimer: Jesus do I wish I owned Johnny Depp or Sweeney Todd. But no, as stated the many numerous other disclaimers I've written before, I don't. I do own the original characters throughout this new entry into my world of Sweeney Depp. Which you'll see is quite a few as we're now completely out of the past and into the present.

Authors Note: This is a sequel to my story Silver and Rubies. And this will not make any sense to you unless you actually read that one first. So go do that now…Okay, great! Now you're ready to read this one.

I also wanted to take the time to thank ALL OF THE FANS OF SILVER AND RUBIES! You guys rule and I hope you enjoy this next adventure and blood bath that Benjamin and Diana will take you on. Cause as we know…its all about the bloody Benjamin's baby.

Chapter 1

Second Chances

(Soon…)

He was right of course.

As I watch the life ebb out of the eyes of the man lying at my feet, I realize that Benjamin Barker wasn't lying when he told me that killing a man for the first time would both horrify me and excite me in equal measure. I feel a smile tug at my lips as the blood gurgles down the soon to be corpses chin. He's trying to grab at my ankle, and I see fury still fighting against the encroaching death in his gaze. I back up a step, shaking my head at him.

There's very little in the way of horror at what I've done in me at the moment. There was some of course, a last vestige of conscience that I couldn't shake, even though the man in front of me had none that I'd ever seen. No, there was more satisfaction mixed with pleasure.

This is a goal and I've achieved it, and its one that I wouldn't have achieved without the help of the creature who I feel step up behind me. My dark angel as it were, who's cold fingers come to rest on my shoulders, their chill radiating through my clothes, skin, and into the very center of my soul.

"Well my Diana…" His rough voice flows into my ear. "How does vengeance taste to you?"

As we both watch the man's head falls to the side, his eyes now seeing nothing but the hell that awaits him. I lean back against my monster, turning my face to stare up into his onyx eyes. I reach up and let my fingers curl around his neck. "It tastes sweet." I say, pulling him towards me for a kiss.

"That it does…" He whispers before his lips meet mine.

(Now)

Tracy had a bad feeling all the way down to the cafeteria and the entire time her double strength mocha latte was being made. The cop that she'd slammed into…there was something just not right about him. And Diana was just acting far too strange. The whole damn last twelve hours were too strange. And Tracy knew the best thing that could happen was getting her friend out of here and on the next plane back to the states.

Taking a sip of her coffee she nearly burned herself when the elevator doors popped open onto Diana's floor. She was getting spooked, and Tracy didn't spook easily. "Fucking London." She swore, trying to remember why she wanted to come there in the first place. Letting out a sigh she stepped off the elevator and headed down the relatively quiet hallway.

The monitors pinging and the rattle of IV stands being moved were the only noises she heard until she came near Diana's room. Just outside the door she heard a familiar male voice saying something very quietly…she nearly didn't hear it.

"That's enough my greedy girl, we want you well…not sick." The rough voice actually had a tenderness to it, which threw her.

"I feel dizzy…" That was Diana, and she sounded like someone who'd been giving a dose of really good ecstasy.

"Rest love and I'll watch over you for a time." The voice said.

"Okay," Tracy thought, "This is getting into a whole new level of weird and wrong." She came around the corner to see what she'd hoped was just her imagination. But there he sat, the policeman on the edge of the bed next to Diana. He was already looking at the doorway, as if expecting her to walk through it. There was amusement in his black eyes, and he was pulling at the sleeve of his long coat.

"Well hello again." He said with a half smile.

"She's the patient you came to see?" Tracy asked staring at him hard.

"Yes she is." He replied, and turned back to Diana. "We met at Fleet Street." He said this while taking Diana's hand. Diana's eyes were riveted to his. She hadn't even glanced yet at Tracy. "Isn't that right Diana?" he asked the girl.

Diana had a smile cross her own lips, eerily similar to the pale man's who sat next to her. She finally looked at her friend, and Tracy noticed the bruising on her face had actually faded in the minutes she'd been away. "Trace, this is Constable Barrett. He was there when I fell."

"I don't remember seeing you there." Tracy stepped into the room, wary of what was happening.

"It was dark Miss. And there was quite a commotion. You probably just missed me." The policeman's voice was melodic and held an edge of seduction to it. It was a dangerous voice, and it set Tracy's teeth on edge.

"Sure…" Tracy cocked a brow. "I wouldn't have noticed you at all."

He turned and gave her another disconcerting smile, her sarcasm not lost on him.

"I was concerned for the young lady, so I thought I'd check up on her." He told her, his fingers laced with Diana's and not making a move to leave. Tracy knew what concerned looked like, and this was something far more than just his being worried about her welfare.

"Well Mr. Barrett, I'm concerned for her too. And I think she should be resting so the sooner she's better the sooner we can get her home." Tracy placed her cup of coffee on the table and crossed her arms over her chest. She wanted this guy out of here. Menace was a word she'd never had an occasion to use, but this guy's picture could have been in the dictionary for the definition.

At the mention of taking Diana home, Tracy noticed a hardness come over his face, as though daring her to try and take Diana away from him. It was so abrupt, she thought she'd imagined it…and then it was as if a mask slid into place a heartbeat later. "Home…of course. America."

"That was a real hard one to figure out." Tracy thought to herself. She didn't want him knowing anymore about them, but the way Diana was looking up at him like a love struck puppy, who knew how much she'd said in the ten minutes or so that she'd been out of the room.

"Yes, the states. Long way away from home and all that." Tracy moved closer, even though every instinct told her not to. "And the doctor said she needed her rest, so it's probably best we let her sleep."

The barber studied Tracy sensing the discomfort he caused her. He knew she was afraid of him, the scent was overwhelming and her body language screamed it. He knew she was friends with his girl. He knew that she was trying desperately to keep her safe. This was the only thing that kept him from ripping out her throat right then…the knowledge that Diana wouldn't like it, and that he had a grudging respect for her ability to overcome her fear in the cause of keeping Diana out of harms way. She didn't know of course he'd never harm Diana, but it spoke to her intuition that she knew he was dangerous.

He looked up at Tracy, pursing his lips in thought. He had no intention of leaving Diana's side just yet. He'd promised her he'd watch over her for awhile. And he wanted to ensure his blood was doing its job, and healing her quickly. The greedy lass had nearly taken too much, which was partially his fault. The feel of her lips upon his wrist, her teeth suckling his skin…it had been far too pleasurable. He'd lost himself to the feel of his life flowing into her, her warm tongue lapping at his cool flesh. Just remembering it stirred him.

He'd had to pull her away with a bit of force, and she'd been drunk on his blood, she still was from the glazed cast of her eyes and the flush of her cheeks. But he had noticed, just as Tracy had, that her bruises were healing. He had no doubt by tomorrow night her wounds would all be gone. And once she was healed, they would leave…together. Plans had already formed in the devious mind of Benjamin Barker, and he was ready to act on them.

But before that could happen, he needed to deal with Tracy. "Why don't you go and rest yourself Miss? You look ready for a nap." He pushed this idea with a bit of power behind it.

Tracy actually stumbled a bit. But she held on, grabbing the edge of the bed. "What the hell was that?" She wondered, feeling herself grow so tired she could barely stand. He was looking at her with that amused smirk again. "I don't know…if that's a good…(yawn) idea." She managed to get out, her eyes heavy.

"I am an officer of the law Miss. I think I can watch over her in your stead without worry for a while." He gently kissed Diana's hand and placed it back on the bed, standing to look down at Tracy who was having trouble staying conscious.

She knew she was tired, but there's no way it could have hit her this hard this fast. Tracy looked up into eyes of Benjamin Barrett and knew somehow he was causing this. His eyes looked like they were glowing in the dimly lit room. And they dragged her down into a wave of weariness. "Tracy…" His voice wrapped around her like a warm blanket. "Go now and rest, you've earned your sleep. Diana is safe with me. She's protected. And you do not have to worry about her. Go and sleep peacefully. When you wake, you'll have no doubts, nor concerns about her. She's in my care."

He could feel her fighting, but he also felt the moment she gave in to him. Tracy nodded, barely standing. "She's in your care." She said. "I'm so tired."

"Go now and sleep." He told her again, pointing towards the waiting room down the hall. Tracy nodded once more and then shambled out of the room like a zombie. He watched her go with a half smile on his lips.

"You whammy'd her." Diana's voice came suddenly from the bed, half asleep herself.

The barber turned, his face puzzled. "I what?" He asked her, sitting back down beside her. She was still feeling the effects of his blood, and he had to admit it was rather charming to see her in this inebriated state, knowing he was the cause.

"Whammy. You put the whammy on her." She smiled blissfully. "I think you whammy'd me too."

He couldn't help but smile himself, whatever nonsense she was speaking about seemed to amuse her. "You my darling little leech are blood drunk. I should have stopped you sooner, but you had me under your spell." He reached out and ran his fingers along her cheek, the bruises nearly completely gone. "Tis a testament to the power you have over me lass…from the dead you called me, and from the darkness you are able to bring a smile to this black hearted soul. I'm yours girl, there's no help for it…" His eyes tensed at the corners, as the words left him, perhaps saying too much.

He'd lost too much already…and now a second chance was given to him for happiness. Not the day bright happiness of Lucy and his baby girl. That life was long since dead and denied him. But with Diana…with her he could live an eternity of night, of a love and fire that would burn as bright as any sun could, but without the need to be afraid. He was the master now, Benjamin Barker and Sweeney Todd made flesh anew. The two combined into one creature of darkness, in love with this woman who had given him a new life in a new time.

Diana gazed up at him, her brain fuzzy, simply staring. He truly was beautiful. The shorter hair suited the angles of his face. His cheekbones more accented he looked like he was carved from ivory by a master artist. His eyes, if possible, seemed even larger. Her fallen angel…her demon made real. He knew what she wanted, and he would give it to her…every dark desire or wish. He knew the truth that burned within her heart better than she did, and now he would help her make those dreams come true.

She felt sleep clawing at her as much as it had been Tracy. She fought it, not wanting to wake and find he really was a dream. "Benjamin…you are real..." She asked him in a voice fading quickly away.

His finger tips smoothed along her hair, picturing it a bit longer and pleased with the prospect. "Yes love…I'm very real." He told her.

"Stay with me…" She closed her eyes as the words left her, her fingers clasping his.

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and repeated the last word he said to her over a hundred years before. "Forever."