A/N: Helloooo! SO, I apologise terribly for not updating sooner, but I'm letting you know, this fic may be on temporary hiatus until after the 18th of June due to my exams. No, I am not abandoning the fic, but updates will become really really rare. Kay? Also, thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and the one-shot I posted a while back..
Enough ranting, on with the chap!
Disclaimer: I don't own Sweeney Todd. No matter how much I wish I did. :'(
Snip. Snip. Snip.
"Ouch! Watch what you do with that bloody thing, woman!"
"Sorry, love."
Snip. Snip. Snip.
A snicker.
"Oh, come on, not this again," the man whined, sounding a lot like their 10 month old child.
The woman burst into a fit of giggles, covering her mouth with her free hand to prevent her giggles form escaping.
"I- I'm sorry l-love, I just find it really funny that you're a bloody barber but you can't cut your own hair," she explained through her snickers.
"It's not that funny, Nellie," he grumbled, crossing his arms like a petulant child.
"'Course not, love," she retorted, though her smile lingered for a while.
He glared at her in the mirror, though he was hard pressed to do so with the beautiful and contented smile that graced her features. His eyes skimmed guiltily down her figure, she had lost practically all her baby weight, leaving her form once again slender and curvy. Her voice suddenly jolted him out of his reverie.
"There we go. Hopefully Jack will be less inclined to grab your hair if it's shorter."
He mumbled something under his breath, but stood, leaning down to press his lips to hers in thanks. She smiled against his lips, reaching up and running her fingers through his freshly cut hair. Before she knew it, he had her pressed against the wall, his mouth hungrily devouring hers, his hands skimming down her body. She moaned , the sound getting muffled by his lips, grasping his shoulders tightly as he pulled her leg up to hitch on his waist, pressing her harder against the wall.
"Sweeney…" she groaned as his mouth fell to the curve of her neck, nipping and sucking at the pale flesh there.
A sudden wail made them break apart, chests heaving and faces flushed. Nellie looked at him apologetically, before reaching up to press her lips to his once more.
"Sorry, love."
He frowned but nodded, before smirking.
"You can make it up to me, later.", he growled in her ear, breaking away to see her wide eyes and the slow smirk spreading its way onto her face. She arched a brow and grinned wickedly before leaving to attend to their wailing child.
XXX
Midnight, October 15th
Four days before Jack's 1st birthday
A drunk man stumbled in the streets. He was on his way to a place, but he couldn't quite remember where he was supposed to go. Someplace that started with a…a…P! yes, that's it. P..P…Pearce! That's where he was headed. That Pearce Estate at the top of the hill…I think…
He took a swig from the bottle of rum in his hand, his blue eyes clouded with drink. He sang loudly and with foul words as he staggered along.
"Sir? Are you intoxicated?"
He turned slowly to the person, who turned out to be an officer.
"Are you blind? Anyone could tell that drunk not am I." he replied brusquely, his eyes trying to focus on the moving image of the officer.
"Sir? Where do you live? Perhaps I could escort you home, ensure that you arrive safely.", the policeman said.
"Do I look like I need a fucking escort?", he snarled.
"I'm sorry-"
"DO I? Eh, lad?! I AM NOT SOME KIND OF FUCKING INVALID!" he screamed, jumping the man and attempting to bash his head with the bottle of rum.
The enraged officer quickly avoided the drunk man's slow swings and cuffed him, dragging him back to the station.
Noon, October 16th
He sat up with a groan, a massive headache pounding his brains out of his head.
I've got to stop getting so goddamned drunk, he thought.
He opened bleary eyes only to realize that he was not back in his apartment. He was in what appeared to be a jail cell. WHAT THE HELL?!
"Ah, so you've risen, Sleeping Beauty.", drawled an officer.
"What am I doing here?", he rasped with a raspy throat.
"Well, you, my friend are here, for the attempted assault of an officer and for public intoxication.", rumbled the burly policeman.
"Well… when can I get out?"
A dry chuckle came from the man.
"That's the thing, laddie. Charges for public intoxication are one year in jail. Charges for assault of an officer stand at three years, minimum. You won't be getting out for a while, now."
The officer chuckled again, whistling and jingling his keys.
Blast it!
The next day, his spy came to speak to him.
"How could you get yourself into this kind of situation?!"
"Don't talk down to me." He groused.
"There's been a change in plans. Don't go through with phase three till I am out of jail. You hear?"
"Of course." Came the muttered reply.
XXX
October 19th
Jack's first birthday
The little boy giggled and clapped his hands as his parents, Toby and Johanna showered him with gifts and attention. The night was wonderful and the family couldn't be happier.
Julia stood in the kitchen, preparing some tea as Nellie had requested, when a knock came on the back door. Reluctantly, she opened the door, peering out into the cool autumn air to see who had knocked. Instead, she saw an envelope with her name on it. She reached out with a shaky hand and picked it up before shutting the door against the chill.
She stared wearily at the envelope on the counter, chewing on one fingernail nervously. Finally she huffed and opened it. Only a few words were written on the page.
Ran into unforeseen circumstances. Plan is stalled.
She stared wide-eyed at the page before running her hand through her short dark hair.
Unforeseen circumstances? What?
"Julia? Is the tea ready yet?"
She jumped slightly.
"Oh, of course, Miss Johanna, I just got lost for a minute, is all." Julia quickly replied, stuffing the letter down her apron pocket and turning to collect some tea cups and a tray.
She swallowed thickly as Johanna eyed her curiously.
"Is everything all right?"
Curse her and her bloody mouth.
"Yes, yes of course, Miss. I just got some upsetting new that one of my friends engagement was broken off.", the maid lied easily.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry to hear that.", Johanna replied.
Sure you are, you bloody wench.
Julia ran a hand through her hair and sighed as the girl finally left her alone. Her uneasiness was not erased from her mind, though.