A/N: Okay, so I'm new at as an author! So constructive criticism is VERY appreciated. Anyone who might've bothered to read this sure noticed I didn't include any note at all in the first chapter(obvious pointer I'm a preemie here) so think of this little note as my intro to the story . Please forgive any mishaps that my abilities at posting stuff might cause.

This is slightly AU, in the sense there is no Toby. I just hate that kid. And I'm thinking on switching the end to one where Mrs. Lovett does not die in the oven. Either way, Lucy really died in this story with the poison she took.

I appreciate suggestions, so I could use advice and REVIEWS!

***I'm very happy to start off thanking linalove, author of the fantastic(!!) Illuminate My Darkness for being my first reviewer :D. The reason I'm extra thrilled for this is because precisely during the past couple days I began reading her aforementioned fic. And although I'm still in process of reading it complete, I have to say it's the best I've read in a long time. Thanks loads for your comment and keep the beautiful work up, lina!!

So, Disclaimers: I do not own Sweeney Todd. (Otherwise I would spend every waking hour screwing him in his edgy barber chair)

And…On with chapter 2!

Few moments later, I practically devoured the pies set in front of me by Mrs. Lovett, or as she told me to call her, Nellie. Even though the dress she gave me was certainly better than my thin cotton nightgown, there was still just enough fabric to cover my chest. I couldn't say I wasn't expecting it; I'd always had bosomy trouble, especially when it came to dress hunt. Nevertheless, while I came accustomed to the idea of showing a little cleavage, I still had issues with my breasts looking as if ready to pop out of this dress's plunging neckline.

I discretely tried to cover myself with a shawl I borrowed from Nellie's room, but once I sat down to have a decent meal, my hunger made all modesty be left aside. Just as I had finished and was about to stand up with my plate, I noticed Mr. T standing in the middle on the room, a curious frown on his face. I wondered how much time he had been standing there before noticing the curious thing about his frown; it was set directly on my chest.

I looked down and felt a fierce blush creep to my face. How could anyone expect him to avert his gaze if my boobs were now practically out of the damn dress? Without much thought I threw the shawl over my shoulder and fled out of the shop and into the parlor, unaware of the very disconcerted Mr. T now alone in the shop. I then realized the plate I used was still on my hand and unconsciously headed back to the shop, only to bump into a large form and fall on my back with a loud thud. As I lifted myself onto my elbows with a groan, my eyes found the object that had made me fall, none other than Mr. T himself, with a slightly annoyed expression.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. T" I scrambled to my feet as fast as I could, avoided his eyes and went to the kitchen to leave the damned plate.

"What did you just call me?"

I froze and turned slowly to look at him hanging in the doorway. I gulped. Visibly.

"Mr T. That's what Mrs. L–Nellie calls you, is it not?" A small frown appeared on his already inquiring face. "I…well, I don't think I know your real name."

"It's Todd. Sweeney Todd." What a bizarre name.

"Oh."

"And you are…?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh, forgive me. I'm Mina. Wilhelmina Thatcher." How ironic it was that my parents had a liking for Victorian century vampire tales and I now found myself facing a man of this era, who much to my dislike resembled a very convincing vampire.

He slowly took deliberate steps toward me, his movements almost catlike. "All right then. Miss Thatcher… If I may ask, what exactly is your business here?"

"I… I… don't really know, Mr Todd."

"You don't? How is that?"

"Well, truth of the matter is I still know nothing of how I got here. All I remember is falling into my bed, before waking in the middle of the street, just outside this establishment, still in my nightgown." He grunted and turned his back on me.

"Hmm. Probably a sleepwalker." My lips twitched into a sneer. I had a feeling we weren't going to get along.

Shame. Despite the cold eyes, harsh voice and perpetual scowl, he was a very attractive man. Almost pretty-like, in a strange sort of way. As if he once was so.

…………. ………… ………….

Nellie was the most cheery person I'd probably met. She made me laugh so much I even came to enjoy the sweeping, mopping, and dish washing I got to do while she went on with her own chores. We talked about everything, from what I could do now I found myself in a 'brand new life' as she decided to call it, to how she became landlady to certain barber who we could hear pacing above us, in his shop.

After she ended telling me about Mr Todd's tragic past, present, and his plans for the future, I got a grasp of what his life was now, compared to what it used to be. If I thought about it myself, even if my life in the past had been quite easy compared to this, I'd be scared shitless to be in Mr Todd's position. Suddenly a thought hit me.

"Nellie… What exactly does Mr Todd plan to do with Judge Turpin?"

She, who had been using an old cloth to wipe a table with her back to me, stilled her movements. I could tell she was nervous from the way she fumbled with the dirty rag in her hands. I ventured further.

"Because, what he did was certainly horrific. I wouldn't be surprised if Mr Todd thought of doing something awful as well; to me it would only sound fair…"

And in reality it did. So maybe the man living above was not in his right mind. After being sent to a hellhole on false charges and being able to survive only by grasping to the idea of coming home to my loved ones, returning to find one's dead and the other lives with the asshole who caused all this in the first place, I surely would be nutcase mad.

Nellie slowly turned to face me, her face flushed and a nervous smile playing on her lips. She approached and held a hand to my cheek. I flinched at the cold but gentle touch. Her eyes were wide as she whispered, her face inches from mine.

"We mustn't be indiscrete, luv. Mr T barely manages to live each day through." Her hand moved to fondle my hair, the other grasping my own cold fingers.

"His thoughts of revenge are the only thing keeping him sane. Only after making things right 'n fair is he gonna rest again."

I silently nodded, coming to terms with the situation I found myself in and deciding that even if it was wrong, right or even a dream, I would not give in until I helped these people get through. It was all I could do since they had done the same for me.

So… any thoughts? Next chapter really soon. Extra soon if I get reviews! :D