Author's Note: Sorry about the delay. I was grounded off the computer...
That is why I don't really like parents, they are so mean...But I love my mum.
She let me have a DS Lite for just washing the dishes...
Oh, and a Nintendo Wii for helping her clean the whole house, and if I pay it with half of my money.
Anyways, Enjoy!
:D
Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd, even if I wish, I only own my character.
Chapter 1
Nellie couldn't believe what had just happened. Everything just went by in a blur, well for her at least.
One minute, she was holding Johanna, the next Ben was looking at her, and then he was moving closer...
She gasped.
He almost kissed me...
Nellie walked in through the parlour to her bedroom and collapsed onto her bed. Only one thought was going through her mind...
If Lucy hadn't interrupted, he would of...
Nellie shook her head, she couldn't think straight, not after what had just happened.
The rest of the day was busy as always. Baking pies and putting up with rude customers.
But Nellie didn't really notice anything. She was up in her own world, dreaming of Ben...
Until a rather handsome customer dropped by her shop.
"Excuse me...Miss?" asked the man.
Nellie looked up, she couldn't believe her eyes, and this man was gorgeous.
He had blonde hair, bright green eyes, and perfect teeth.
"Uuhh...'ello...sir...What 'ould you l..like?" Nellie stutters. She was a loss for words.
He smiled, and Nellie melted. She grabbed the counter before she was going to fall head of heals.
"Hello, I'm new here and I'm just looking around, I saw your pie shop and thought I might come in and have something to eat"
"Sure sir, 'ere, a fresh one, ho' ou' of the oven" She put the pie on a plate and handed it to him.
He took a bite and smiled.
"These are quite nice Mrs Lovett, do you bake them yourself?" He asked.
Nellie sat down across from him and put her head between her hands.
"Yes, I do, quit' easy once you ge' the 'ang of it"
"Well, a beautiful woman like you shouldn't be doing hard labour everyday" He said, as he brushed his hand across her face. Nellie's face became deep red.
"I'm no' really tha' beau..."
"No need to be modest, Mrs Lovett" He cut her off, flashing another toothy smile.
Nellie looked away, trying to occupy herself, feeling as she has embarrassed herself.
"Oh, and my name is David. David Hughes, yours...?"
"Uhh...Eleanor Lovett, bu' you can ca' me Nellie, if you lik'? Replied Nellie, looking up at him.
They started at each other for a few seconds before David interrupted the silence.
"Well, I've got to head off" He said, while standing up.
"It's nice to meet you, Nellie; we shall meet again, in due course"
He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the cheek before heading out the door.
Nellie touched her cheek and smiled to herself, before being interrupted by a loud shout.
"Miss! Where are our pies??!!" demanded a man, sitting outside.
Nellie rushed and got some pies out of the oven and served the rest of the customers.
Once the lunch rush was done, she quickly cleaned the tables, made some new pies for the dinner rush and made some lunch for herself and the family upstairs.
Oh, almost forgot about them!
She quickly put the food on a tray and walked up the stairs.
I swear...these stairs will definitely be the death of me some day
She took a breath in and knocked on the door. She heard footsteps and then to door open. Lucy was standing at the door with an irritated look on her face.
"What do you want?" she asked harshly, but quietly.
"I've go' your lunch 'ere, love" replied Nellie, showing her the tray in her hands.
"About time, come...in" she said in a fake sweet voice. "Benjamin and I are starving"
"Sorry abou' tha', love, I was busy" huffed Nellie as she put the tray on the table.
Ben looked up at the sound of her voice, and smiled. Nellie smiled back. Lucy saw a connection between the two and immediately went over to Ben and sat in his lap.
"You know what Ben, I love you so much!" And with that, she kissed him full on the mouth.
Nellie looked away, tears welling up in her eyes. She will never have Ben...
But as she remembered earlier, she sniffed and looked at the couple.
"I'd bes' be leavin', go' work to do, Good evenin' Mr Barker...Lucy" She said as she emphasised the word 'Lucy'.
Nellie turned around and walked to the door. She was half way down the stairs before she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Nellie" said a soft voice.
Her ears were ringing with it, as she turned around.
"Benjamin, wha's wrong?"
Ben looked at her, and said hesitantly" I'm sorry for what happened up there..." But he was cut off.
"its alrigh', Mr Barker, she is your wife" And with that Nellie walked off, leaving a hurt Benjamin behind.
Ben walked back up to his pie shop, and opened the door. He walked straight over to his barber chair and sat down in it. He started to think.
What should he do, he liked Eleanor, very much indeed, but he couldn't betray his wife, not even if he was losing his appeal on her...
He looked over at Lucy. She was beautiful, but it was personality and attitude that he despised a lot.
But what could he do? Nellie was mad at him...
He looked around his shop, as his gaze settled over the portrait of both Lucy and Him hanging on the wall.
Young Love...He thought.
Then it hit him. How could he forget, its Valentine's Day today! He could get Nellie a gift.
He could sneak it to her bedroom, while she was doing the dinner rush...
Of course, why didn't he think of it before!
He jumped up and started pacing, thinking of a present he could give her.
What do women like? Especially Nellie...Well, she's not into fancy stuff like dresses, hmmm...
His pacing became faster, and Lucy was looking at him dumbfounded.
Maybe a nice necklace would be nice...I'm sure she will like it.
He decided on the present, and looked up at his wife.
"Happy Valentine's Day, my pet". She smiled.
"And to you too..."
"I'm going out to the markets for a bit, I've got to buy shaving equipment, and I'll be back soon." He cut her off, as he put on his coat and walked out the door.
It was indifferent today, cold and bitter as usual. Ben put his arms around himself and started to walk down Fleet Street. As he looked around, he couldn't help but feel sympathy for the people living on the streets. They were all dirty and dispossessed, without any love on their being. He walked past a few drunks, merely evading being puked upon. After a few more minutes he arrived at the Jewellers.
He looked around, having a look at the necklaces, until he found one that was perfect.
It was gold, with a small diamond pendent on the front.
"'ello, sir, anythin' you would lik'? Asked the jeweller.
Ben looked up from where he was looking and smiled.
"Yes, sir, how much for that necklace...there?" said Ben, as he pointed to the necklace with the diamond pendent.
"6 poun's" He said, looking directly at Ben. Ben thought for a minute.
That is quite a lot...but it's for Nellie...
"I'll take it" Said Ben, as he handed him the money. The Jeweller gently grabbed the necklace and put it in a small box.
"There ya go, sir, 'ave a nice day!"
Ben walked out of the shop and quickly walked home, hiding the box in his jacket pocket.
Nellie was standing in front of her mirror, deciding what dress she should wear.
A Ruby coloured one, its Valentine's Day anyway, why not dress up for the mood...
She took hold of the dress and put it on. It fit her perfectly, showing off her curves, but making her stomach look nice and thin.
Now...What to do with the hair....
She put her hair down, and tied the top part in the back, leaving the bottom half flowing gracefully on her back.
This looks alright...
Nellie smiled at herself in the mirror, she looked beautiful, she had to admit it, but there was no-one she could show it off to, other than Ben.
She sighed, unless David was there...
Suddenly thoughts of what happened earlier came into her thoughts.
David's smile...He was perfect...
But I love Ben, she thought.
But Ben, love, is married. David may not be...
She put the thoughts back into her mind when she heard the door bell ring in her pie shop.
Customers are coming.
She quickly got out the pies and went to serve them. As more and more customers came, she thought to herself,
Oh Boy...
Ben looked outside to check if Nellie was too busy to notice him. He saw her busily chatting with a rather handsome bloke. He glanced at Nellie and saw the look in her eyes. Nellie had a fondness for this man...he could tell. Ben became curious about the man, but he had to keep on task.
He quickly ran into the pie shop and walked towards her room. He walked over to her bedside table and lit a candle. He put the small box on the table and a small card. He quickly walked out of the room and walked back upstairs to his shop, taking the steps two at a time.
I hope she likes it, he thought, as he walked over to Lucy, who was caressing Johanna in her arms.
He embraced her, though, in the back of his mind, wishing that he was embracing Nellie instead.
Nellie sat up. She looked at David and said, "Sorry, love, bu' its closin' time, I'll see you tomorrow, alrigh'?"
David stood up as well and kissed Nellie full on the mouth. She stood there frozen, before she started to return the kiss. It felt like she was kissing him for hours but soon, he separated from her and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"Good Night, Nellie" And with that, he was gone.
Mixed emotions were going through Nellie's mind. She didn't love David, but she liked him very much.
She wanted to give him a chance, but after what happened yesterday with Ben, she couldn't help but want Ben even more. Nellie slowly walked into her bedroom and got undressed, she put her night dress on, but before she would get into bed, something on her bedside table caught her eye.
It was something small, a box.
She picked up the note and read it out loud to herself.
Dear Nellie,
Happy Valentine's Day.
Sincerely,
Ben.
She picked up the box and opened it. Her eyes began to water. She picked up the necklace and dangled it between her fingers. It was absolutely beautiful.
She put it on and looked at herself in the mirror.
Ben really does care about me; I wonder what he got for Lucy...
Author's Note: Thank you for Reading. Hopefully it wasn't too long or too short. If you find any mistakes, please tell me.
If you have any ideas for the next chapter, please say so.
I hope you enjoyed it!
Reviews always make me happy! :)
:D