Sweeney walked into the pie shop to find it empty except for Toby. He frowned as he looked around. "Where's your mum?" He barked at the boy.

Toby stopped stirring what ever was in the bowl and looked at him. "She's not 'ere sir. I jus' thought I'd get the pie crust ready for when she dose get back."

Sweeney nodded, already heading for the linen closet. The girl needed to be changed again. He quickly unwrapped the soiled sheet and had just got her wrapped in a clean one when he heard the door to the pie shop open up and a tiered looking Lovett stepped inside. "Mum, your back!" The boy exclaimed happily, rushing forward. He caught her hand, pulling her over to a chair. "How are you today mum?" She smiled at him.

"Wonderful love, how's-?"

"Mista T was out walkin' and found th' basket last night!" He exclaimed urgently and Sweeney decided that was his cue to step into the room. They both stopped talking. Toby pointed at the bundle in Sweeney's arms. "There …umm…was a baby in it." He finished, eyes on Sweeney. Mrs. Lovett stood, walking slowly over to the barber.

"Oh, Look at the lil angel!" She reached out, slipping the child from his grasp. "Aww" She cooed, one hand lightly brushing at the chocolate colored curls. "Hi lil lady, hi!"

Sweeney glared at her, resisting the urge to snatch her back. The child blinked up at her and he watched her grinning down at it, still cooing to her. She finally looked up at Sweeney. "Why are you wearin' me Albert's clothes?"

Sweeney glared at her. "I haven't had a chance to do laundry." He stated, reaching out to take the child back.

"Me and mum'll watch 'er Mista T! You can go do your laundry." Toby said confidently. Sweeney hesitated a second before nodding and moving to the door. 'Good.' He thought as he started up the steps 'The two of them will be able to take care of the babe'

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Sweeney awoke with a start. He had washed all his clothes as well as the soiled sheets and had sat down in his barber's chair, intending to wait for them to dry but had unwillingly fallen quickly to sleep.

He hurriedly pulled on a fresh pair of his pants as well as his own shirt. As soon as he had dressed he rushed from the room, recipe for formula clutched in his hands. He hadn't even thought to give this to the baker, poor child was probably starving!

When he stepped into the pie shop it was still empty. Mrs. Lovett must have decided not to bother opening today. The only sound was Toby's voice, slow and deliberate. Sweeney realized he was reading. He stepped into the living room to find the three other residents of the house seated together on the largest couch. Toby was snuggled closely to Mrs. Lovett, book in his hand, the baby was sleeping, head on her chest and a few of the woman's maroon curls caught in its tiny hand. He also noticed she was wearing a pale yellow dress.

The baker looked up at him, giving him a small smile with those ever-so-pale lips. "Where'd you get that dress for her?" He whispered, not wanting to wake her up.

"Oh, well, umm, Toby had told a few coustmas earlier today wot you found so one of 'em brought over a bunch of old baby clothes, isn't that nice?" She whispered hurriedly back. He nodded, not really knowing what to do. He hadn't thought that they wouldn't need him down here.

"I…." He shuffled his feet, finally thrusting the slip of paper into the woman's hand. "Take this, it's what your supposed to feed her." He didn't wait for a response, just turned on his heals and hurried from the room and back up the stairs to his apartment.

He began pacing as he normally did, a murderous glare on his face. Why did his room feel so empty tonight? So quiet? He hoped some one would show up soon so he would have something to do!

Not even half an hour passed before he soon found himself leaving the room. 'A nice walk is what I need.' He told himself, stepping out into the London streets. He wondered aimlessly until the dusky sky was pitch black and the moon hung high overhead. Tonight as he walked his mind was filled with thoughts of wide hazel eyes and dark, wispy curls of hair. Why couldn't he get the child off his mind?!

It had been the same way when Joanna had been born, a blond haired, blue eyed piece of heaven sitting in a bassinet. Lucy had laughed and chided him for his habit of constantly carrying the child about. He shook his head trying to clear it. He told him self it was the fact that he missed Joanna that was making him think of this baby. That must be it. There was no reason for his mind to be dwelling on this stranger he'd found on a doorstep.

It was well into the night when he made his way back to Fleet Street. He was about to head up the stairs when he thought better of it, deciding to get something to eat instead. There was no pies left, he knew that. Toby had sold them all but there had to be some other food there, the woman had recently taken to munching on carrots and leafy green stuff so it had to be in the kitchen somewhere, right?

As he walked in he herd the child whimpering softly, not exactly crying, more of a demand for attention. He walked into the living room to find the three of them exactly where he saw them earlier, only difference being his land lady and her "son" where both sound asleep. He slipped the small child away from the maroon haired woman, unable to resist the urge to smile at the small bundle now in his arms. He turned to leave than as an after though tossed a blanket over the two on the couch.

He looked at the child, blinking lazily up at him. "you hungry?" He asked. Of course she didn't answer, how could she, but he wasn't too concerned. She wasn't fussy so she couldn't be hungry, right? Satisfied with that thought he went up to his room, intent on a good night sleep.

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Sweeney sat bolt up suddenly. Where was she?! The little girl had cried every time he sat her down so she had been in his arms when he fell to sleep. So where was she now. He quickly searched his sheets before dropping to the floor, franticly searching under the bed.

"Mister T?" Toby's head poked in the door, near the floorboards. Sweeney frowned, still half asleep and puzzled at this until he realized he must be sitting down. "Did I wake you?" The boy asked. "I'm sorry, I tried to be quiet."

"You have her?" He growled , already walking over to the door. He swung it open before Toby had a chance to respond to find him sitting on the top step, feeding the baby from a glass bottle. "Mum said she'd probably be getting hungry." He explained.

Sweeney nodded, sitting next to the boy. He was going to ask where he found a bottle at this time of the night but decided against it. He had talked to the boy enough today. Any more and he would think he wanted to be his friend or something.

"you don't have to stay 'ere Mista T. You can go back to sleep." He mumbled.

"Give her here lad, sounds like you're the one who needs to sleep." He said holding out his arms. The boy obeyed with a grateful smile, quickly hurrying down the steps with a call of "good night sir!"

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I have no artist comments. I cant think of anything to happen. Ideas please. To see Nellie and toby and the baby sleeping go here /pic-696997.html