A/N: I'd like to give a special thanks to Lady Saffron of the Daggers for all of her wonderful support! I really appreciate it!

And to answer your questions:

If you look back you'll notice that it says "later that night Hazel couldn't sleep so decided to recite her conversations". So pretty much she was just lying in bed at night, shaken by the earlier events. And I wanted to give the feel that Sweeney was coming in just to hurt her, abuse her, ect. You know the feeling. And ooh indeed, why did Hazel reveal her love for Mrs. Lovett? And at that, why would she even open up to the man she hates?! All in good time my dear, XD I want to give the feeling that she wants to create peace with Sweeney. (And obviously, that takes a lot of time!)


The next morning, Hazel awoke from her bed with an empty feeling in her stomach. Hunger. She had never felt this feeling after what had happened with her uncle. And even though it was a pain, it felt so good to feel it again.

Trying her best not to remember last night, she got up and slipped on a blue dress Mrs. Lovett had bought her. She looked at the mirror and saw that within the past few days, she had become more familiar with her reflection.

Getting to sleep last night took ages, because she had a huge impulse to run to Mrs. Lovett and pour her heart out to her. Either that or go to the barber and beg for more answers to her questions.

And now that she thought back to the conversation, she realized that she had talked more last night in 5 minutes than she had in years. And all to wrench open a man who probably didn't even remember her name. Oh no, she had not discarded him calling her "mouse".

She walked into the shop to find Mrs. Lovett putting up the dishes. When she saw her enter the room quietly, she said "G'mornin love" but did not smile.

Hazel approached her quietly.

"I'm sorry about last night, mum." She said. "I did not mean to impose or harm you in anyway, I-"

"No need ta worry about that Hazel," said Mrs. Lovett hastily. "Jus me being a little over friendly ta Mr. T, and he's a burdened man at that. No worries though, he apologized as well! He really is a nice gent once you get to know em'" She grinned brightly.

Mr. Todd… had apologized?

Hazel found that hard to believe, but at the same time she did not expect him to say the things he had said last night, either.

Hazel smiled. "I'm glad miss." She said. "You know I'd never do anythin' to hurt you…."

"Enuff chatter, love, it's all over and done wif now! Here, I've made you a pie for your breakfast, a growing girl should always have something for her breakfast, and when your done let's get started for today's rush, it is Friday!"

Hazel sat down in the booth and quietly but somewhat savagely devoured the pie. It was one of the good ones.

She was embraced by the feel of filling herself with something.

Several seconds later, lost in her own pleasure, she jerked her head alert at the gawking Mrs. Lovett; a funny yet freaked look on her face.

"Ya mus be hungry!" Mrs. Lovett chirped humorously after a few minutes of Hazel clearing her throat in embarrassment and chewing as fast as she could.

Hazel just stifled a nervous giggle after she got up and began to make the batter for the pie crust.

So it was she and Mrs. Lovett, in the kitchen on a Friday morning making pies, getting ready for the loads of customers that were surely to come tonight. As Hazel was pounding the dough, she was lost in her own thoughts of Mr. Todd, for what reason she did not know. She tried her best to listen to the drabbles of Mrs. Lovett, as she always enjoyed doing, but today her mind was tuning her out.

"We'll 'ave to go get you a new dress." Mrs. Lovett eyed her as she bent over to put the last of the pies in the oven.

"Yes dear, always got to look dolled up for tha customas!" Mrs. Lovett nudged her elbow and winked at her.

Hazel laughed and said "Yes mum."

Just as Mrs. Lovett began to drone on about how many more pies she was going to have to bake, they heard footsteps descending down the stairs.

Her stomach tightened at this but she remained calm, reminding herself that she was with Mrs. Lovett, who also seemed to tense a little as the barber himself waltzed into the kitchen.

"G'mornin Mr. T!" Mrs. Lovett said in a somewhat false cheery tone.

He just nodded towards her, looking weary, and Mrs. Lovett poured him a glass of ale.

He did not look at Hazel. She dared to glance at him, and saw that he probably had not even recognized she was there. He sat there at the booth, drinking his ale, and looking down for a few minutes, both he and Hazel seeming to be drowning out Mrs. Lovett's chatter. When he was finished , he slowly arose from his place and began to walk towards the stairs.

Ignoring him at last, Hazel looked around on the counter.

"Mrs. Lovett, I seem to be out of meat filling. Here, I'll jus go down to the bake house…"

Both Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett stopped dead in their tracks, looking at each other. His stare threatened her, saying "Do something."

"Ahh uh, no luv! I'll do it, you done quite enough, I jus remembered I need you to go outside and uhh, sweep the steps!"

She gave Hazel a little push towards the door. Hazel dumbfounded and confused, watched Mrs. Lovett quickly descend down the steps to the bake house and then looked at Mr. Todd.

He looked side ways at her for a split second, but it held no scowl or look of disgust. It was more of a weary, tired look; As if he wanted her to leave him alone, as if this game was finished.

She grabbed the broom beside the door and walked outside to sweep the steps to his shop.


"Ah, love what about this one' eh?" Mrs. Lovett gestured towards a rather ridiculous looking gown that looked like a wedding dress.

Hazel's expression was enough of an answer, and Mrs. Lovett sighed and rummaged through the rest of the dresses.

Both Hazel, Mrs. Lovett, and Mr. Todd had gone to town (Mrs. Lovett had a great time persuading Mr. Todd to come) and they were all in the attire shop, looking for Hazel's dress.

Sweeney had hated the idea of even coming with the 2 women, agitated with them both. He scowled, standing beside the door of the shop, watching the baker and the girl sort through dresses.

Mrs. Lovett scanned the shop, noticing he was not there. When her eyes landed on him, her gaze turned weary as well.

"Mr. T, your lookin' miserable. Come 'ere and help us look for a dress will ya?"

She was somewhat teasing at this request, but to her bemusement, he slowly strode towards the table at which they were sorting through. Hazel's heart slightly quickened as he stood a mere inches beside her, feeling his gaze on her.

She looked up at him. He was looking on the table, now.

"This dress," he said, pointing to a dress of crimson with gold lining.

He picked it up from the pile, and looked her straight in the eyes. At this, her stomach lurched, as if something was fluttering around in her. What was this feeling she felt, as he looked at her as a human, and not a …mouse?

"You should wear this." He said matter of factly, holding it up to her.

She stared into his eyes and took the dress out of his hands, examining it.

All the while Mrs. Lovett stared behind him, also surprised.

To break the silence, she said "An' just your size too , aint it!?"

She laughed and took the dress from Hazel, bringing it to the shop keep and giving her several coins.

Mr. Todd looked back at the table of dresses while Hazel stood there still staring, and when Mrs. Lovett said "off we go!" he nodded his head towards the door to her.

She followed behind him, all the while thinking of how beautiful the dress really was. The demon barber has good taste, she thought.


A/N: I'm leaving you in somewhat of a suspense in this chapter. Because in the next one, the rush that evening, something will take its turn ;) You'll notice that Sweeney's character is starting to soften up at all these arguments…or so you think! Review please!