A/N: Hello, loves! The new chapter's here. Hope you like it.

I want to thank: Detective Huckle, xBelakinax and Lori. Thanks to everyone else who reads but doesn't review.

Review reply to Lori: Hello, hon! How are you? Glad to know you liked the previous chappie. Thank you for all your reviews!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd.

Chapter 7

Amelia was in the process of changing the sheets when a loud cry from Samantha caused her to pause. She moved away from the bed and came to stand next to her crib.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she reached inside and picked up the whimpering baby. She shushed her while she rocked her gently and the crying slowly subsided. Feeling quite proud of her self she placed the baby under the covers again and smiled. She pulled back and placed her hands on her hips as her eyes slowly moved around the room. She walked over to Sweeney's desk and brushed her finger over the furniture.

"Dust." She stated and then it came to her. Instead of just sitting around waiting for the barber to return he could clean the room. She entered the bathroom and looked around for a cloth or a mop but she was disappointed when she found none. She furrowed her brow and left the bathroom. She sighed and then her eyes feel on a chain of keys upon the desk. She reached over and picked them up. She eyed them with confusion before her eyes widened in realization.

"The shop downstairs." She whispered before she darted to the door. She closed the door and climbed down the stars until she was standing in front of the side door of the shop. She placed one of the keys in the lock and she was surprised when it was the right one. She pushed the door open and her eyes tried to adjust in the dark. She walked over to a window and pulled aside one of the curtains so that light would come into the shop. She walked behind the counter and indeed found a cloth. Her eyes scanned the place before she slowly walked towards the small parlor. She frowned when she realized that they could in fact live down there instead of upstairs but she pushed that thought to the side. With a little looking around she found the small washroom and took the mop she found there.

She exited the washroom and was ready to walk back outside when a strange smell reached her nostrils. She turned her head saw that on her tight was a staircase. With a frown she walked towards it and started descending down the many steps. She arrived in front of a metal door.

"What the hell smells so badly?" she wondered as she placed her hand on the bolt and opened the door. She entered the semi dark bake house and her nose wrinkled as the smell became even stronger. She looked around as her eyes adjusted in the dark but she could see nothing. The place seemed clean apart from the horrid smell that seemed to be getting even stronger the more she walked. She placed a hand on her stomach and with a last look at the large oven she turned, ready to walk out of the room.

She gasped out loud when she collided with a hard body. Her hand shot out to steady herself and her fingers closed around a strong arm.

"What are you doing down here?" Sweeney asked her in a dangerous low voice with narrowed eyes and she could swear that they glimmered in the dark.

"I…I was looking for a mop." She spluttered and his eyes became even darker if possible.

"I believe you found the mop, pet. You've left it at the top of the stairs." He said darkly and she nodded.

"Yes, I did. I was ready to leave but-…"

"Why didn't you then?" he cut her off sharply as his hand seized her wrist.

"The smell." She said in a small voice and his hold on her wrist became lax.

"It's the sewers. That's why it smells down here." He explained and she swallowed hard, terribly scared at the look his eyes possessed when he had first talked to her.

"Go upstairs. I'll lock." He said as he pushed her none too gently towards the exit and grabbed the keys from her unsuspecting hand. Amelia gasped as she almost stumbled but she was ready to obey him if it hadn't been for his hands seizing her waist before she even had a chance to do so. He pulled her back to him and placed his lips next to her ear.

"Do not come down here without telling me again. This is not our property, pet. Understood?" He said lowly as his thumbs stroked her waist in circles.

"Y-yes." She said in a trembling voice, shocked by the grip he had on her. He dipped his head slightly and placed a rough, openmouthed kiss on the back of her neck before he pushed her, gently this time, towards the door.

Shakily she walked out of the pie shop and headed for the stairs. She heard Sweeney following behind her and turned her head when she heard him locking the door. He closed his fingers around the keys and looked up at her. He nodded his head at her, his face a bit stormy and she continued walking up the stairs until she reached the top, all intentions of cleaning the room vanishing at the barber's behavior. A hand on the small of her back caused her to enter the room and Sweeney shut the door before he leaned against it.

"Well?" he asked a raised eyebrow.

"What?" she asked as she placed the mop against the wall and looked at him.

"Aren't you going to clean then? You were eager before. Quite curious too." He said as he cocked his head to the side.

"I…Why are you talking to me like that?" she asked instead. The barber pushed away from the door and walked towards her.

"How am I talking to you?" he asked and she threw her hands in the air.

"Like I did something so incredibly wrong!" she said and he remained silent.

"I didn't go down there to steal after all!"

"There's nothing to steal down there. There's only death down there." He almost snarled and she stared at him.

"Death?" she asked quietly and his jaw tensed.

"Anyway, the point is that you had no business to go downstairs." He said completely ignoring her question.

"What do you mean death?" she pressed and he shook his head.

"Nothing." He muttered as he turned away from her.

"I don't understand."

"There's nothing to understand." He said as he started to get agitated.

Amelia frowned deeply and rubbed her forehead before she collapsed upon the bed.

"I can't understand you. Why are you like this?" she asked softly and he turned to look at her perplexed.

"Why am I like what?" he demanded.

"You never open up to me. I want to try to get to know you. I do not remember you but I want to know you after…" she trailed off and he became intrigued.

"After what?" he asked as he approached her and sat next to her.

"You know what." She whispered as she looked at her lap. She flinched in surprise when his knuckles brushed over her cheekbone.

"Do you regret that you slept with me?" he asked as he nuzzled his nose into her hair.

"No…but I still don't understand you." She said as her face turned a bit pink.

"It's alright, pet. There's nothing for you to understand." He whispered as he kissed her cheek and stroked her hair away from her shoulder.

"But-…"

"Hush, now. Forget it. I overreacted. It's just…I don't like you going down there." He murmured before he kissed her softly.

"Why?" she asked as she placed a hand on his knee and squeezed.

Because you're going to get tainted down there. You don't belong down there. He wanted to say but instead he shook his head and kissed her again. He was ready to start clawing at her clothes but a knock and the cheery voice of Beth caused him to pull back with a growl.

"Hello?" the older woman called as the barber leaned his forehead against Amelia's with a miserable expression upon his face.

"I'm going to take a walk. I hope she's gone when I'm back." He murmured as he pulled back and stood up.

Amelia opened the door and Beth's smile invaded her vision.

"Hello, darling! How are you?" she said as she hugged the younger woman.

"I am fine. Please come in." Amelia said as Sweeney put on his jacket.

"Good evening, Mr. Todd." Beth greeted and he nodded his head at her in response as he walked over to Samantha's crib. He leaned down and picked his daughter up who gurgled happily at the sight of her father and immediately snuggled into his warm embrace. Sweeney smirked down at her and kissed her forehead before he turned to the two women.

"I am going for a walk. I won't be long." He said the last sentence while glaring at Beth who just smiled at him innocently.

"Okay." Amelia said as he winked at her and walked out of the door, leaving the two women alone to chat.

End of chapter 7

Author's note: Thank you for reading. Please, please review. Ideas, thoughts and opinions are always welcome! :)