Toby picked up the cards from the cushion and looked through them. "Now whot?" Jamie set the draw pile of cards in the middle and set the top card in the center. "I don't get it." She quietly yawned.

"Sorry. This game is called Crazy Eights. You see, the object of the game is to get rid of all the cards in your hand. The number or suit..." "Suit?" The boy scratched the back of his head. "The shapes." She smiled. "A heart, diamond, club, or spade. The eight is a wild though. If you set it down, it doesn't have to match the color, number, or anything. You can change the shape into one you have or to annoy your opponent." Jamie blinked. "Got it?"

"Yep. What does that one say?" He pointed to the starter card. "It says a two of hearts. You can either play another heart or a two, or an eight if you're lucky." "Hmm.." Toby set down a two of clubs. "It looks like a clover." The girl giggled a little. "It's called a club. But you can call it a clover. Looks quite like it." She played a six of clubs. Toby smirked, looking at his hand confused. "I don't know what to do." Jamie stood up from the couch and knelt beside him. "Why don't you play.." Her eyes set on an eight. "...that one!" "Ah! An eight! I win!" "Uh uh, the person who runs out of cards wins. Remember?" She sat back down on the other side of the couch. "Oh." He shrugged and set it down. "The two triangles." Jamie blinked then caught on to what he meant. 'At least he's having fun.'

While waiting for the oven to heat up, Ms. Lovett watched the two from the hallway. The barber stood blankly at the booth table. "Good to know they are getting along, eh Mr. T?" She turned her head. "Mr. T, are you listening to me?" "Yes." His voice was almost a whisper. She sighed and walked down the hallway.

"I don't have the same number or a diamond. I need to keep taking cards from the deck until I get one." Jamie started drawing the cards then sighed as she passed five. "You stumped me, Toby." She placed down her ninth card, a king of diamonds. He laughed then turned his head. "Mum, Jamie taught me this really fun game and I'm winning." The woman sat in a chair and smiled. "Did she now? Oh, Can you set the pies in the oven love?" "Can I do it?" "I don't want you to burn yourself. Take your turn and I'll be right back." Jamie nodded and left the room. "She's nice mum. I like her." Toby lightly coughed. "Yes, she's a nice girl." "Does that mean she's my girlfriend?" She coughed. "You're too young for a girlfriend Toby. When you're older." "Like fourteen?" "We'll see." The baker lightly kissed the top of his head.

She picked up the tray off the counter and nudged it down a rack before closing the door. "Mr. Todd? You look ill. Are you alright?" Her body sat next to his. Let alone the heat of the oven, he was warm as well. "I'm fine." Mr. T moved her body out of his path and went to get another drink. "Mr. Todd, please don't." She hurried over then found herself pinned against the wall, his dark eyes staring into hers. Jamie shivered. "What part of 'I'm fine' do you not understand?" A single tear ran down her right cheek. "I'm sorry." He groaned, looking away. "Make yourself useful then and bring me a cup of tea instead." The barber scratched the back of his head on his way to the bedroom.

Jamie silently cried and heat up some water on the stove. 'I know he'd never hurt me, but that doesn't mean I'm still not a little uncomfortable around him. Perhaps Toby was right.' She sighed then added a few squeezes of lemon juice into the pot. She then took a taste test with a spoon. Her eyes widened. 'God that's sour.' She added a light shake of sugar then tasted another sample. 'Better. Now I don't think it's just a headache. Perhaps a cold, or the flu. I don't think I can run the barbershop by myself! Whatever.' Jamie poured the tea into a mug and sprinkled a few chops of basil into it. 'Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself again.' In the bedroom, the barber had changed into his pajamas from the night before and was under the covers with his head on the pillow. His eyes looked blankly at the ceiling.

Jamie quickly wiped her eyes before setting the mug on his nightstand. "Thank you." She sighed. "Mr. T, I hate to say it but I think you have a cold." He covered his mouth with his arm and roughly sneezed. "Do I have to repeat myself again? I just sneezed." He glared as he sipped the tea then stopped. "Did Ms. Lovett make this?" "No sir. I did. With lemon juice and basil." Mr. Todd went to sit up and Jamie fixed his pillow before he lie back. "Why don't you go find Toby? I don't need anything else." "You sure?" He smiled and cleared her hair bangs out of her eyes. She blinked as his warm hand touched her left cheek. "Yes." "Alright then." The girl left the room.

"I win again!" Toby picked up the cards and put them back in the box. "How many games could you have possibly won?" Jamie laughed. "Good heavens. There you are! Trouble getting the fire started?" The baker stood up. "No, not at all. I just made some tea to pass the time. Would you like some?" "Please?" Jamie smiled and led Toby to the kitchen and set aside two other mugs. Ms. Lovett sat back in the chair and rested her eyes.

"Here you are." She set the beverage on the table. "Don't burn your tongue." "Thank you." The girl took the other to the baker. "Thank you love." The woman smiled. Jamie did as well but stopped as the front door to the shop opened. Only the footsteps needed say who entered. "Stay here. It's alright."

Ms. Lovett patted her shoulder then sighed.

"Judge Turpin. How may I help you today?" He cleared his throat. "Two of your pies if you will. Also a certain girl." "Ah. A fresh batch is just about done." She put on her oven mitts and set the tray on the counter then smiled. "For here or to go, sir?" His eyes narrowed then eyebrows rose as he made contact with the floor. "Here if you will. It's quite cold out." The baker nodded and set the full plate beside Toby. Judge Turpin sat down and then blinked with his eyes still on her. "And the girl?" "Girl?" She tilted her head. Toby kept quiet. "Hm." He turned to the boy, who shivered a bit. "Long time no see lad. Have you seen the light of day as well?" "That's enough!" Ms. Lovett scowled. "He's done no harm to you."

He shot up and cornered her with a scowl. She bit her lower lip. "There is no such thing.." His hand traced her collarbones. "..as too much company."

Jamie scowled from the doorway and motioned the boy towards her. He blinked and hurried over. "Wait in the living room alright?" He tightly hugged her and obeyed. 'Good boy.'

His lips lightly kissed her neck. "Stop it!" "Why would I do such a thing like that?" The kisses traveled upward behind her ear. Ms. Lovett quietly moaned. "Three years pass by too fast, don't they? If Albert really.."

Jamie went to risk herself when the barber showed up in his non-working attire of a white t-shirt and dark blue pants. The judge quickly freed the woman. "Mr. Todd." "Judge Turpin." He nodded. "Perhaps you'd be the wisest of this matter. Where is the girl?" His fingertips drummed on the counter. The barber blinked, confused. "Must've left for the market. Inventory's short." Judge Turpin slowly nodded. "Shall I wait here?" "No no no." Mr. T cleared his throat. "Practical. She's playing hard to get." He smirked. "Yes. Thank you sir." The judge bore his teeth with a smile. "Ma'am." He closed the door behind him. The barber sighed. "Mr. T!" "Are you alright my pet?" She quickly nodded then hugged him. He rolled his eyes.

Jamie groaned and walked towards the two. "Ms. Lovett, are you okay ma'am?" The baker heavily sighed then spoke. "I'm fine." She left back to the living room to be with Toby. "Perhaps I should find another place to stay." The girl went to open the door when he closed it. "No. You're not leaving." "But you said it yourself to find him before he finds me." Mr. T groaned. "Yes, under Anthony's accompaniment." Another sneeze caused him to hold onto her shoulder to keep balanced.

She brought him back to the bedroom and undid her shoes and coat. "No. Last thing I want is for you to get sick. Out!" Jamie blushed as put his pajamas back on and rested back under the covers. "I once cared for my whole family when they were sick with a cold and I was the only one without it." "This is dif.." He sighed. "Whatever. Come here then before I change my mind." Her body crawled over to him and lay her head under his chin. "Immune to sickness huh?" "Physical sickness, yes." She lightly smiled and closed her eyes.

Mr. T softly hummed, bringing her cold body against his. "Are you sure you don't get sick?" Her eyes looked over her shoulder. "Why?" "You're quite pale and cold." "I'm not. Promise. It's an ongoing joke that I'm cold blooded." He felt her forehead. "Uhuh." He covered her with the blankets then closed his eyes. She brought her legs up to her chest in her usual 'cuddle mode' and shut her eyes as well. He sighed and kissed the top of her head. 'Johanna.'

The baker sighed and flipped the door sign from open to closed. "Mum can we play again?" Toby smiled. Ms. Lovett handed him back his mug of tea and sat back in her chair with hers. "Maybe later love." "Okay." He shrugged and took out a few sheets of scratch paper and a box of crayons from under the coffee table. She smiled as he quietly drew and colored.