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A few weeks later, and Mr. Todd had fully settled into life above the Meat Pie shop, even opening his barber shop right above it. He had been toying with the ideas of reopening it, but then realized that he had absolutely no idea what had happened to his razors. He heard the sounds of someone on the steps, breaking his train of thought. A few seconds later, Nellie appeared.

"Hello, Mr. T. I brought you something," she said in that slightly husky voice of hers that made him go hot and cold at the same time and he needed to stop but didn't know how.

She pulled a slightly worn case from a cloth bag and held it out to him. "Albert thinks that when the police arrested you they nicked 'em. But I just hid 'em away because I knew he'd sell them," she told him.

He looked up in her eyes, astonished at the fact that she knew what he was thinking, and had even saved his razors for him. Then again, she had been the one to give them to him for his nineteenth birthday anyway, saving up weeks and weeks of her allowance, and foregoing a new dress she had been eyeing. That was okay, though, because he had secretly bought her the dress for her birthday after saving whatever he earned in his shop.

"Mrs. Lovett- no, Nellie. Thank you. Truly," he told her as he took the box, his fingers lingering on hers slightly longer than was proper.

"It was no problem love. Just had to hide them away in my stockings drawer," she said, mirth creeping into her tone.

He chuckled- actually chuckled! , before staring into her entrancing hazel eyes. She blushed as she looked at him, somehow unable to break the gaze. He found himself leaning closer, so close until their lips nearly touched, watching as her eyes fluttered closed, ready to receive his kiss.

The door downstairs suddenly opened and closed and she drew back sharply, all colour drained from her face. She shot him an apologetic look, before racing out the door and down the stairs. He sighed angrily and sat in the chair Albert had given him for his shop. It was probably the nicest thing the fat blob had ever done in his pitiful life. Minutes later, he heard raised voices. Good thing the shop is already closed, he thought to himself. Intrigued, he crept quietly down the stairs, and peered through the shop window. Albert was leering over Nellie again, and she stood there with her head bent submissively as he spoke harshly to her, spit flying all over the place.

Sweeney felt his anger growing as he continued to watch, Albert's voice now audible.

"Where are you hiding it, you little bitch?! I'm off to the tavern and this pittance you've given me is barely enough to afford more than three drinks!" he spat.

"It's all I made today, Albert, business wasn't good," Nellie replied.

"You lying little bitch! I know that your shop is one of the most popular eating places on this side o' London! So where are you hiding my goddamn money?! How about in this whorish dress of yours, huh?" he said venomously as he shoved his hand inside Nellie's bodice, ripping it. She cried out in surprise, desperately trying to defend herself.

"I should have known to never marry a lying, deceitful little cunt like you, Ellie," he growled harshly, before backhanding her across her face. She fell back on her stomach on the floor, the perfect position for Albert to rain kicks down on her sides, barely giving her the chance to curl into the fetal position to protect her head. Sweeney was nearly seeing red when Albert finally gave up and staggered out onto the street. He opened the door and immediately rushed to where Nellie was lying on the floor, crying quietly to herself. He gently touched her back, feeling her muscles tense. He soothed her lightly before scooping her gently into his arms and carrying her up to his shop and into his bedroom, where he lay her gently on his bed. She snuffled quietly, her eyes teary and bloodshot, a red mark on her cheek that was sure to darken into a deep bruise by the morning.

He went over to his basin and wet a cloth with some cold water and brought it back for her, gently pressing it against her cheek. She hissed slightly, but accepted his attempt to soothe the aching skin. He knew she would have bruises from where he had repeatedly kicked her. She blushed as he helped her to ease out of her dress, and then gently, ever so gently, he pulled his sheets around her and sat next to her, petting her hair and pulling out all the pins. The motions were so soothing that in a matter of seconds, Nellie had fallen asleep, snuggled against his side. He kept watch over her for the rest of the night, and when it was just breaking day, her wrote her a note explaining where he was, and then left his shop, making sure to lock his door behind him so no one else could enter.

Just as he was leaving, he was stopped by Albert. He schooled his face into indifference despite the disgust he felt when he saw him.

"Mr. Todd, have you seen my wife?" he snapped.

Mr. Todd frowned. "Not since yesterday, sir, when I came down at lunch to have a meatpie. Is something the matter?" he asked nonchalantly.

"No. I couldn't find her when I woke up," Albert replied.

"Perhaps she woke early and went to the market. I believe this is usually the day she goes. I'm heading there now, so I shall keep an eye peeled for you," Sweeney said to him.

"Of course, thank you, Mr. Todd," Albert said before retreating inside.

Mr. Todd sneered as he continued to the apothecary and not the market.

When he arrived, he asked the man at the counter, "I need something that will heal bruises easily, and if you've anything for scars too."

The man nodded and set two bottles on the counter. "Green label is for bruises, white is for scars. Apply three times daily," he said, "and that'll be six pounds."

Sweeney sighed at the amount of money, but reasoned that it was for Nellie and he didn't mind spending his money on her. On his way back, he stopped by a little bakery and bought them each some buns and pastries for breakfast. After that, he hurried home, afraid that Albert may have discovered Nellie hiding in his rooms.

When he arrived, he found the door still locked, and breathed a sigh of relief as he slipped inside, immediately locking the door again. He quietly crept into his bedroom, finding Nellie still asleep. She looked so beautiful lying there with the morning sun illuminating her skin and lighting up her auburn hair into fiery waves.

He sat on his bed gently, petting her hair again. "Pet, wake up," he murmured, cupping her face lightly between his two hands. He frowned when he saw the ugly bruise marking her cheek. She stirred lightly, and moaned as her eyes fluttered open.

"Mr. Todd? W-What am I doing in your bedroom?" she asked in sweet confusion, making his heart melt.

"I brought you up here after Albert beat you last night," he told her honestly, still gently stroking her uninjured cheek.

"Oh no, he's going to be looking for me, and when he finds me, well, let's just say if you thought last night was bad, then you haven't seen anything yet," she said sadly as she tried to sit up, only to wince when she felt a painful pulling in her sides.

"I don't care. I'm keeping you up here for the rest of the day. You need rest, pet. Come, I've brought us some breakfast and I went to the apothecary for something to heal that bruise for you," he replied sternly as he gently helped her to sit up, propping her up with pillows.

She blushed lightly. "You really don't have to go through all this trouble, you know," she murmured.

"Yes I do. I…I care about you, Nellie," he replied quietly, turning a light shade of pink.

She blushed even more, but he quickly tried to brush over the slightly awkward but tender moment by standing and retrieving his packages. He carefully handed her the one he bought in the bakery, and then went to put some tea on using his little stove in the corner. When it was finished he sat with her and ate as they sipped on their tea, and then he removed one of the bottles he had bought in the apothecary.

"He said you have to apply three times daily until it fades," Sweeney told her as he carefully poured some of the thick liquid onto his fingers and then gently rubbed it onto the bruised skin. She hissed in pain but bit her lip until he finished.

"At least this one smells nice. The last one I had like this smelled like the sewers," she said quietly. He chuckled and then on impulse, kissed her uninjured cheek. She blushed slightly, looking up into his deep brown eyes.

"D-Do you want me to do your sides too? Or can you get those yourself?" he asked her.

She looked down, realizing she was only wearing the slip she wore under her dress, having shed her dress and corset. She blushed before replying, "I believe I can get them. Thank you so much for everything, Sweeney," she told him, cupping his face with one small hand.

"It was no problem," he replied, reaching his own hand up to squeeze hers. She smiled slightly before he stood.

"I'm going to open my shop before Albert becomes suspicious. I'll come back to bring you lunch," he told her.

She nodded and settled back into his bed, still tired from the ordeal she was put through yesterday.

'I really have to get rid of that bastard,' Sweeney thought as he left the room.

A/N: Thanks for all the lovely reviews! I hoped you liked this chapter, so gimme a shout if you did!