Chapter 4

Two weeks later…

Sweeney Todd walked over to the window of his pet's shop, flipping the sign around from "Open" to "Close".

And thank God for it.

Sighing, Todd went about his chores, trying desperately to forget the day's trials. When they'd first opened around mid-morning, there was already a line outside: the mid wives, homemakers, and gossipers of the town crowding the door and street outside. By lunch, the whole store was wall-to-wall with bodies. His pet had been quick to give him orders, as he was now in charge of making the pies and getting them out of the oven. He had originally helped her at the counter but customers kept saying he was "too melancholy" for their socialistically bombarded brains, so they'd hired a few young sweeps to help in the actual shop while he'd been banished to the bake house.

Todd sighed as he remembered that business hadn't lightened up until around nine that evening, when they'd finally stopped making rounds. Thankfully after that, it took all of thirty minutes to clear out the store.

He looked up as Mrs. Lovett strolled into the main room of the shop, humming happily. His frustration softening, he shook his head slightly as she paid the boys their due and sent them on their way out the back.

He picked up the broom and started sweeping, hardly able to believe how quickly the past two weeks had flown by. He'd come into the place thinking that it would take a month or two for business to really pick up. But it wasn't the second day they'd been open and the whole place was filled to the bursting. He wasn't complaining though; with business booming, time went by faster and there was always something to do. He was happy for his pet as well, as she seemed to thrive on the stress and business of the days.

He continued on his chores as his pet came back into the room to help finish up the work. Both worked diligently, hardly uttering more than a few words of help and thanks to each other as they worked. Finally, after a good hour of fixing, they left, heading for home along the beach walk.

As they walked along their way, the sea breeze wisped by their faces, a recurring memory as the sea churned and thundered below them. Mrs. Lovett smiled despite herself, happy about the day's profits and the turnout of the shop. She glanced at her Mr. Todd, walking along in his "gloomy" stride, knowing full well that he was exhausted from the day's work. They had taken this road several times on the way home, both finding it refreshing to get away from the streets and buildings of the town on their way home from work.

Stopping halfway across, Mrs. Lovett leaned against the railing, looking at the moon reflected on the dead still surface of the open sea. She felt Mr. T lean against the lamp post beside her, completing the picture she'd tried to paint for him back in London of their life together after her demon barber had had his revenge at last.

She glanced up at him now, all handsome and tall as his face reflected the warm light from the lamp and the icy glow from the moon.

"You 'ave a good day, love? Feels like I 'aven't seen you since this morning." She stared ahead, hoping he wouldn't pull the silent treatment ploy tonight.

He grimaced, trying to ignore his aching muscles from his constant servicing of the oven. "That's because you haven't."

She looked up and gave him a coy smile, humoring his moodiness. "It's tough being the baker and the butcher, ain't it?" Ignoring his sarcastic scoff under his breath, she watched him as he gazed out at the water. She felt bad for making jokes, but he seemed to need the sarcasm after the tougher days. She knew he missed his barber shop, with or without the gory exceptions. But she knew that wasn't always what put him in a foul mood after hard days. When he was tired, he seemed to brood more on his past wrongs, including the slaying of Lucy and letting Joanna go with the sailor.

"Mr. T? Can I ask you a question?" He looked down at her.

"Do you…ever think of Lucy anymore?" She felt him shift beside her.

"You mean in a romantic sense?" She shook her head.

"I mean at all." Todd gazed at his pet for a moment, her features gleaming in the light from the lamp. The truth was, he only thought of Barker's Lucy when Mrs. Lovett brought her up. On occasion, she'd be in a recurring nightmare of his but never in a nice sense anymore. He'd gotten over her, completely and forever. It was Mrs. Lovett only that dwelled on his thoughts nowadays.

"No." He answered, watching her for a reaction. What he saw was almost a relief that enveloped her features the moment the word was out of his mouth. She gave him a slight smile and nodded before turning back to the water.

"Why do you keep asking?" He added curiously. She didn't look up.

"Just checking up on ya, Mr. T. Seeing if you was holding onto the past when I've left it all behind."

Liar…

He moved around her and mirrored her position against the railing, before plunging them back into silence. After the close call in the kitchen two weeks back, he'd considered telling her his feelings once and for all. He squirmed a little against the railing, wondering how he was going to get back to his rehearsed proposal from their current conversation topic.

"Mrs. Lovett? Can I ask you a question?" She turned towards him.

"Of course, Mr. T." He shifted to his side.

"All those months ago, when I first stepped into your shop and you found out who I was, you took me in immediately. Probably when no one else would have."

He reached out and turned her head towards him.

"Why?" She gave him the sweetest and most confused smile he'd ever seen.

"Oh, Mr. T., do you really have to ask? I told you then I've loved you since before you was sent away." She looked him right in the eyes. "I meant it then and I mean it now: I love you, Mr. T. Whether you have feelings for me or not, I-" She stopped as Todd leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. She practically melted on the spot, gripping the railing for support. He kissed her for a few minutes, slipping his arms around her and pulling them both into a standing position, her arms wrapping around his neck and shoulders. Her mind flashed back to that day up in his room, when she'd first voiced her feelings to him.

When they finally parted, he wrapped his arms around her, their heartbeats frantic but one. He ran his fingers absentmindedly through her hair.

"I do have feelings for you, my pet. I've had them ever since I saw you that first night in the shop. I'm just sorry it's taken me this long to tell you straight out." She sighed into his shoulder, her heart melting at his sweet voice. It got so low when he talked about anything he was serious about.

"It's all right, love. You had other things on your mind." He gave a short sigh, almost like he was frustrated at her forgiveness.

"That's the point, Mrs. Lovett. You gave me a home, food, a place to work-" he pulled her back from him, looking her square in the eye.

"-and acceptance and love when I didn't deserve anything but a straight jacket." She beamed at him, moving her hand up to his cheek.

"That's all in the past now, love. If you have something to say now, say it and we'll never think on the things that can't be changed."

"Anything?" he asked quietly.

She smiled sweetly. "Anything, Mr. T."

He gazed at her a moment, taking in her radiance and beauty in the moonlight, before giving her a slight smile.

"If you wish, my pet." He released her waist and took the smallest of steps back.

"Mrs. Lovett, you been my angel of guidance and peace since I arrived back into the civilized world. You gave me companionship, friendship, and-" He gave her a sly smirk, "-partnership for many months while I exacted my revenge on those who'd destroyed my past. You then took me with you when my revenge was complete and I was nothing but a burden to you. You knew of Ben Barker and yet loved Sweeney Todd just as much, if not more." He paused for a moment, letting his words sink into them both, his heart hammering so loud, he found it hard to believe she couldn't hear it.

"You gave me everything a man could ask for and more, so let me give you something."

She shook her head . "All I want is you, Mr. T. That's all I've ever wanted or needed." He gazed at her a moment, drinking her in,

Reaching inside his jacket pocket, he said quietly, "Well, Mrs. Lovett, if you really want me-", as he pulled out a small wooden box and dropping to one knee, "I'm yours." Mrs. Lovett gasped as he opened the box to reveal a small pewter ring nestled snuggly in crimped velvet. She could only look at him, all words escaping her.

He looked at her helplessly. "If you'll have me…my love."

"You silly man. Of course I will." She smiled down at him as he removed the ring and placed it on her finger. He rose and took her in his arms, as she hoped he would for many years to come. She felt him brush her ear in a soft kiss as he clasped her to him.

"I love you, Mrs. Lovett." He whispered into her hair.

"I love you too, Mr. T."

~The End~