The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day two: Cards

Mrs Lovett closed the door behind her gently, not wanting to wake the single occupant of the room. Mr Todd was, for once, sleeping -and quite silently at that- his long legs sprawled out in front of him, slumped in the deadly chair, his fingers resting over the holster which housed his 'friends'. Her hand tightened unconsciously on the item it held, her heart thudding as she quietly crept over to the small table where he kept his barbering implements. She placed the object carefully where he would find it, and quickly fled the room before he awoke. She had tested him enough yesterday; better to be cautious.

As the door shut, Sweeney Todd's eyes snapped open. What the hell had she been doing? It was far too early for breakfast, even he knew that. It couldn't be more than six in the morning! Not that cared about the disturbance, no; he didn't sleep to warrant caring about the time.

The dream he had had that nightwas quickly and efficiently shoved from his thoughts.

As he sat in his chair, toying with his schemes for revenge, he had heard her ascending the stairs outside. Curious and slightly annoyed, he had decided to feign sleep, hoping she would leave him in peace.

He needed to think, after what he had nearly done yesterday.

…

Then again, maybe he didn't need to think.

Ever again.

Pushing these thoughts from his mind, Sweeney focused on the task at hand: finding out what that bloody woman had done. He stood from his chair, enjoying the loud crack his back made as he straightened, and moved to his table where he had heard her moving his things.

For a brief instant, panic coursed through him- his Friends!

But it soon settled as he spotted the envelope placed upon the case that (upon checking) safely held his razors. He picked the envelope up, turning it over curiously.

What the hell…?

Flicking his Friend from its' holster, he quickly slit the envelope open before closing and returning it with a fluid motion that comes only with practise. Turning the envelope on its side, he caught what slid out of it.

He stared.

One, two, three seconds passed.

And still, he stared.

His eyes scanned the card, taking in the merry scene on the cover. Two children, engrossed in the snowman they were creating. A boy with brown hair held a striped blue scarf and a girl with auburn curls was on tiptoes as she placed a button in place of an eye…

Ben looked over at Nellie, his stomach fluttering oddly as it had been prone to do as of late. He didn't know why. Maybe he was ill?

Her cheeks were flushed with cold, and she smiled cheerfully as she finished what she was doing.

"Nellie, I wanted to do those!"

"Sorry Ben, my buttons, my eyes."

"No fair." He pouted overdramatically, and Nellie threw a bit of snow at him, grinning. "You can do the scarf," she giggled, her hazel eyes sparkling. "Keep our snowman warm Ben!"

He grinned, and picked up the scarf as she reached to do the last eye…

Sweeney shook his head, clearing his mind of long bypassed memories as he opened the card.

Dear Mr Todd.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas,

Sincerely yours,

Nellie Lovett

The simplicity of the card astounded him. He had half expected it to be crammed full of nonsense; to see that he was wrong was… refreshing.

'We used to love Christmas.' He thought suddenly, turning back to the cover, taking in the suspiciously familiar children. 'Ben and Nellie: we were never far apart, back then…

'I always used to buy her a card,' he remembered, 'and she would make me one, her Father having blown their savings gambling and drinking…'

He scowled at his less-than-fond memories of Benjamin's old neighbour, before a strange thought occurred to him. 'Even before he met Lucy, Benjamin had loved Christmas…It wasn't the presents, or the snow or any of the other things I now find so irritating. Ben had loved it… because she had loved it…'

Benjamin Barker had loved Christmas because of Nellie.

He cast his eyes away from the card, ashamed.

He had forgotten.

Mrs Lovett had just placed her latest batch of pies on the bench to be cooled for the lunch rush when a knock came at her door. She turned, and caught a flicker of legs going up the stairs that led to Mr T's. She went to the door, confused. She opened it, and something caught her attention on the ground near her feet. She bent, and picked it up. A smile broke out on her face as she realised what it was, and her heart swelled with delight.

There was nothing on the front, but when she opened it the message inside made up for the plain bit of paper it was scribbled on.

Dear Mrs Lovett.

Also wishing you a Merry Christmas.

Regards,

Sweeney Todd.

Mrs Lovett smiled, and went inside, bypassing the table where her Christmas cards were usually placed, and heading straight to her room. She placed the card carefully on her bedside table and paused a moment, smiling, before bustling back to the kitchen to get ready for the midday rush.

She couldn't believe he had remembered…