Author's Notes: Yay, 2 updates in one day!!! I probably won't have time during the week to update much, but there might be some random day where I don't get a lot of homework. But that's not likely to happen anytime soon…

Chapter 2:

"Nice spot of gin for 'ya," Mrs. Lovett said, handing a glass to the man who she was sure was Benjamin Barker. "Drink up, now."

The man nodded his head in thanks upon receiving the glass, and took a sip. Mrs. Lovett smiled as she watched him do so. Her smile than broadened as she saw him sneak a glance at the staircase that lead to the room above her shop.

"Isn't that a room up there?" the man asked as Mrs. Lovett turned to put the gin away. "If times are so hard, why don't you rent that out? Should bring in something."

Mrs. Lovett beamed, still facing away from her guest. This is him! It had to be. She let out a deep breath, and composed herself before turning around. "No 'on'll go near it," she said. "People think it's 'aunted. You see, something 'appened up there years ago. Something not very nice…" The man leaned forward in his seat and placed his glass down on the end table. "A barber and 'is family lived up there," Mrs. Lovett said, seating herself in the chair opposite him. "Benjamin Barker, 'is name was." As she said this, the man's eyes seemed to flash red for a moment. "He and his wife and daughter. Johanna… that was the baby's name. Pretty little Johanna…"

"Go on," the man growled. His eyes stared intently at Mrs. Lovett.

"But Benjamin Barker, oh, he was shipped off for life. Down to bloody Australia, or whatever, leaving his wife and daughter all alone. His wife was a silly little thing. Couldn't do anything on her own, even when her 'usband was there."

"What was his charge?" the man interrupted.

Mrs. Lovett blinked at him. "Foolishness…" she said, looking into the man's eyes. They burned bright with hatred again. "There was this judge, you see, love. Judge Turpin, his name is. He fancied Mr. Barker's wife. He'd send 'er a flower everyday. But that silly girl didn't know what to do. They was run'in out of money. Did she use her head even then? Oh, no, God forbid!" Mrs. Lovett said, rolling her eyes. "'Course, that judge wouldn't give up that easily, no, sir. He sent his Beatle to 'er house one night, say'n she had to come see the judge, and than it was really import'an…" Her voice trailed away. "Well, after that, they came for the baby. Not too long after that, I 'eared rumors that the girl 'ad gone bonkers. Wouldn't be too long 'for she ended up in bedlam. Then one day I runs into her at the market. She tells me that she was 'gonna poison 'erself. I tells her no, 'an to think of the baby, but it was no use. Not even a week later, I hears she's gone and done it."

"No!" the man yelled, jumping out of his chair, his eyes blazing brighter than ever. "No!"

"So it is you, Benjamin Barker," Mrs. Lovett whispered, staring at his menacing figure that towered over everything in her parlor.

"Not Barker," he growled, his burning eyes staring into her dark chocolate ones, "Todd, now. Sweeney Todd."

"So changed…" Mrs. Lovett said. "What did they do to you in Australia?"

But he didn't seem to hear her. "Lucy…" Mr. Todd whispered, falling back down into his chair. "Fifteen years… Fifteen years of dreaming that I might come home to a loving wife and child…"

"You see," Mrs. Lovett chimed in, "that's what I tells her. I says you'd be home some day, and there's no reason to poison herself. But she didn't listen." Mrs. Lovett shook her head, and cast her eyes down to the floor.

"And my daughter?" Mr. Todd asked. "Where is Johanna?"

"Johanna?" Mrs. Lovett said, looking back up, a frightened expression on her face. "Well… he's got 'er now."

"He?"

Mrs. Lovett gulped. "Judge Turpin," she whispered.

Mr. Todd let out another angry growl. "His time will come. Him and his Beatle. I will have them…"

"You?" Mrs. Lovett asked, looking perplexed. "You 'gonna get him? You poor thing!" she laughed. "Haha! You poor thing! It won't happen, dearie, trust me, it won't." She stopped. "Hey, 'ave you got any money?" Mr. Todd just glared at the floor. "Listen to me, 'ave you got any money?"

"No, no money," Mr. Todd said.

"Then 'ow will you live?" she asked.

"I'll live," he said, "if I have to sweat in the sewers, or in the plague hospital…"

"No, you won't," Mrs. Lovett said after a few seconds of thoughtful silence. "'Ow 'bout I gives you the room about me shop? After all, it is really yours." She stopped. Mr. Todd looked up to see her face breaking into a smile. "Come with me," she said. "I've got something for you."