This is the story of an ordinary man who could have anything his heart desired.

This is the tale of Benjamin Barker.

"Da, tell us a story?" five year old Rose asked her father one evening as she was being tucked into bed.

"Please?" Rose's older brother of eight, Daniel, added.

The man sighed tiredly, but nodded, smiling as his children exclaimed with glee, and sat next to his daughter. As he pulled the blankets up around her, hiding her from the London winter night, he asked "What do you want it to be about? Pirates and krakens? Knights and dragons?"

Daniel and Rose both shook their heads.

"Can we have a new story?" Rose asked, her brown eyes pleading.

"A true story- one with a hero" added Daniel

"And a barber" Rose added, smiling at her father.

"And monsters!" Daniel said excitedly, sitting up.

"And love!" Rose giggled.

The man stared at his children.

"Did your mother put you up to this?"

Both shook their heads, and he sighed again, this time in resignation.

With his heart pounding and his voice not as steady as it usually was, Sweeney Todd began his story.

"This is the story of an ordinary man, who could have anything his heart desired. This is the tale of Benjamin Barker…"

The daisies were in blossom when he first glimpsed her. Her hair was a waterfall of golden waves cascading down her back. Her laughter tinkled in the spring air, and he smiled at its -and her- beauty. He and his friends whispered to themselves as she passed with another girl with wild red-auburn curls, heading in the direction of the flower stall. Her eyes caught and held his; he felt a rush of adrenaline as his pals patted him on the back, as he stood and made his way across the market to her. He bent and picked a daisy from its basket as he approached where she stood, looking through the daffodils. He came to a stop in front of her, very aware of the many eyes of his mates -not to mention her and her friend- on him.

"For you" he said, suddenly shy.

"Thank you, Mr...?" She said quietly, accepting the flower.

""Benjamin Barker" He said, as his hand brushed hers. She smiled, and Benjamin felt his heart lift at the sight.

"Thank you, Mr Barker"

Her name was Lucy, and they were in love.

That was all he knew, all he cared about. It didn't matter she was too good for him, or that he was still learning his trade as a barber: he was getting better, and they would get by. Not four months had passed before he was looking for a ring.

It was a small ceremony, with only their immediate families, a handful of friends and themselves. Benjamin didn't think that Lucy could possibly look more beautiful than when she walked towards him, proclaiming her love for him in a way that all could see. Braids which had white flowers intertwined throughout them were holding back the rest of her golden curls, and her eyes sparkled with joy. The white dress she was wearing paled next to her loveliness.

She was stunning.

She was his…

Nellie Lovett, Lucy's friend with the wild auburn hair, offered them the attic above her pie shop when her husband died. She said that it was lonely, and that she'd enjoy the amity the two would bring. They took it. Lucy soon found herself helping in her friends' pie shop below her home, and Benjamin had his own barber shop established just as quickly, the two drawing in a decent living. The quiet and polite ways of Benjamin and the kindly beauty of Lucy soon ensured that the Barkers were a well known and well liked couple on Fleet Street.

Benjamin yawned widely as he opened his eyes. The small, cheerful bedroom that branched off from his barber shop greeted him, sunlight streaming in the window. He rolled over in bed, and his gaze softened at the sight of his beautiful wife Lucy sleeping soundly next to him. The blankets were strewn back, covering a noticeable bump at her middle, her face nestled into her curled up fingers. A soft, golden wave of hair had fallen across her face, and moved slightly in time with her breath. He chuckled quietly, and reached over to gently tuck the curl behind his love's ear. Lucy stirred at his touch, opening her azure eyes slowly.

"Good morning" she whispered, smiling lazily.

"And to you." Ben replied, equally as quiet.

Neither wondered why they were whispering, simply just happy to stare at each other, memorizing the moment.

A flash of surprise crossed Lucy's face, and she murmured a small 'oh'.

"What is it? Are you alright?" Benjamin asked, propping himself up on his elbow, immediately concerned.

Lucy simply took his hand, and moved it to her stomach.

The two parents-to-be stayed still, neither wanting to break the fragile moment as they felt their baby moving for the first time.

Benjamin grinned with pride as his baby girl took her first steps, her wobbly legs barely holding her weight. "That's right darling… come to Daddy, Angel" he said, his voice quiet and steadying, an eager undertone clearly heard.

"Da" she cooed, falling into his arms after a few shaky steps.

"That's my girl" he said quietly, hugging his daughter to him, stroking her silken wheat blonde hair. He looked over his daughters' shoulder at his darling Lucy. She was beaming, her face positively radiating with joy. Their eyes met, and his heart leapt. He couldn't believe how happy he was…

Sweeney Todd stopped, as he realised his children were all but asleep.

"And the rest can wait for later" he said quietly, feeling slightly thankful they hadn't gotten too far into the tale tonight. He needed to prepare himself.

He tucked Rose's wild black curls back from her face, before planting a soft kiss on her forehead. He stood and moved to Daniel, smoothing his auburn hair back and tucking him in.

"Nigh' Da" Daniel murmured sleepily, rolling over as his father pulled the blankets up to his ears.

"Goodnight, my little ones." Sweeney whispered, standing for a moment at the foot of their beds, gazing at them in quiet wonder.

Nellie Todd leaned against the doorway silently, unnoticed, and wondered just what was going through her husbands' mind at that moment. She had always wanted to find out her Sweeney's point of view on those years, which they unconsciously seemed to have decided to ignore. It seemed that this bedtime story was the best way to do it. She stepped back from the doorframe and yawned noiselessly. She started for her bedroom, ready for a good nights sleep. After all- what good was a bedtime story without bed?