Thanks to ColorPoetEntries and Samantha Eleanor Lestrange for Reviewing, I really appreciate it! Now on with the story!
Sweeney watched Mrs. Lovett sleep, her chest rising and falling steadily. He stroked her and would occasionally tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. He thought about Lucy, but he also thought about Nellie. He felt like he was betraying Lucy, but he also felt that after all Mrs. Lovett had done for him, she deserved to be cared for, just this once. He had promised her that he would stay by her side all night long, and after a while he too felt himself drifting off into a much needed sleep.
The sun was shining through the window. Mrs. Lovett woke up to find Sweeney asleep in the chair next to her, her hand resting in his. She watched him sleep, wondering if she should wake him, but it was Sunday and he didn't need to open his barber shop so she let him sleep. After a while he began to stir.
"Morning love." Mrs. Lovett said. Sweeney groaned and rubbed his aching neck. He was sore all over from sleeping upright all night. He looked over at Mrs. Lovett. Her face was pale, she was shivering, but her face and neck were covered in sweat. He quickly placed a hand on her head, she was burning up.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, he didn't sound concerned, he sounded like he was asking her what the weather was suppose to be like that day.
"I'm alright." Mrs. Lovett lied. In truth, she was feeling miserable, she was cold, her whole body was aching, she was tired and her headache was back.
"Are you sure? You're burning with fever." he said, the slightest bit of concern detectable this time. He glared at her, knowing she wasn't telling the truth.
"Really love, I'm fine. No need to worry 'bout me." she said giving him a weak smile.
"I'm going to get you something that should cool you off." With that he left the room. When he returned, this time with Toby at his heels, he carefully placed a cold wet cloth on her forehead.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
"Just a bit."
"Toby go get Mrs. Lovett something to eat." He turned to watch the boy scamper off to find something. When he looked back at Mrs. Lovett he saw that her eyes were shining.
"Thank you." She whispered hoarsely. He searched her sparkling brown eyes and for the first time in 15 years he wasn't thinking of Lucy, he was only thinking on Nellie Lovett.
Toby walked into the room carrying a tray with a glass of water and some toast perched on top. Mrs. Lovett ate her breakfast slowly, remembering the night before when Sweeney had feed her. She remembered his promise not to leave her side while she slept. Finally she remembered Sweeney Todd stroking her hand as she fell asleep.
When she was finished eating she handed Sweeney her tray. He got up and left the room without a word, but he didn't return.
Mrs. Lovett watched the door. She sat and waited. She didn't return. Just when she was about to give up and try to fall back asleep the door opened a crack. Mrs. Lovett perked up. Maybe it was Mr. Todd coming back to take care of her. A smile grew on her face as the door opened even wider and someone stepped into the room.
Mrs. Lovett's smile faded just a bit when she saw that the person who had just entered the room was not Sweeney Todd, but Toby. As much as she loved her "son" she really had been enjoying the company of Mr. Todd.
"Ello Toby love." she said, as cheerfully as she could.
"Ello Mum. How ya been feelin'?"
"Bit better thank you."
"That's good. Mr. Todd wanted me to tell you that he went out for the day, but he'll be back later." Nellie's heart sank. Mr. Todd had left without even telling her, in person that is, he had gotten Toby to do it for him.
"Well where did he go?" she asked wondering what the barber could be doing on a Sunday when all the shops were closed.
" 'e didn't say, muttered somthin' 'bout a walk though." Toby said, "Wot's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing love." Mrs. Lovett said trying to sound cheerful. In truth, she was not only feeling sick, she also felt stupid. Of course Mr. Todd wouldn't take care of her for too long. He only cared for Lucy she reminded herself. He would only care for her so she could get back to cooking his stupid corpses into her meat pies. She sighed and wiped the tears from her eyes. She didn't want Toby to see she was crying. Mrs. Lovett never cried, in front of people that is. She had been really emotional lately, that always happened when she was sick and she hated it almost as much as she hated headaches. She quickly pulled herself together and turned back to face Toby, flashing him a smile.
"You know wot Toby love, how 'bout I read you a story. How would you like that?"
Sweeney walked through the streets. He didn't know what he was doing or where he was going. He wondered the streets wondering what to do. Getting angry at himself for betraying Lucy. He thought about her a lot, hoping that she could forgive him, even though she was dead. he wished his feelings for Mrs. Lovett would go away he didn't like her, he didn't care for her, but he couldn't stop thinking about her. Her hair, that fierce curly red hair, and her eyes those big beautiful brown eyes. He hated himself for caring for her. He thought to himself, the only reason why he was caring for her was so she could get back to work as soon as possible, yes that's the only reason.
He wondered the streets thinking about the two women in his life, past and present. Then he noticed the fresh flowers at the stand and stopped.
"Don't you know it's Sunday? Why are you open?" he inquired gruffly to the woman running the stand.
"Times is hard sir, need somthin' to keep the little ones feed, even if that means workin' on Sunday." she replied, "How 'bout some flowers? Give 'em to a lady friend of yours, perhaps your wife." Sweeney stood there and thought about getting the flowers.
No! His mind screamed. What are you thinking?
I'm thinking I'm going to get some flowers for the woman I care about. Said a part of him calmly.
"Daisies and Gillyflowers please." he said, before he could change his mind.
"Would you like a card with that?"
"Fine." She handed him a card and without a second though he wrote a name on the card.
Nellie Lovett.
A/N: Alright so we had the talk earlier, I'm just going to remind you to REVIEW! No it's not over. I already started writing chapter four. Right now I feel that the story has gotten started so the updates won't be every day. I'll try to do every other day until we get further into the story. It's hard work posting every day! I'll try to have chapter four up tomorrow, but if it's not then it should be up Friday! REVIEW if you want it to be up tomorrow!