Hey again, guys. I promised Lily Yamamoto a fresh pie, but don't worry I didn't forget my other peeps. You all get nice clean shaves. (Don't worry, Mr. Todd promised not to kill any of you 'cuz he knows you're too important). All new reviewers get pies. Over 300 hits! WOOT!

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Mrs. Lovett stood from her bed and tiptoed to Rose's bedroom. She slowly opened the door, being careful not to let it squeak. She looked so sweet sleeping soundly in the candle light. Nellie sat on the bed next to her and dandled (?) a few strands of dark auburn curls. She did look quite a bit like her. Her hair was a darker auburn, but auburn none the less. And she had amber eyes just like Albert. The only thing that confused Nellie was the girl was thinner than either of them, but she figured it was probably from starvation. This had to be her daughter... didn't she?

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"Mark!" Anthony called, running to the bench his friend promised to meet him.

"Anthony, you look like you haven't slept all night. What's your rush?"

"Mark," Anthony spoke between gasps "Johanna... they've taken her... they've sent her somewhere, but... they wouldn't tell me."

"Oh, Anthony." Mark was disturbed. "What exactly happened?"

"Well, apparently the judge found her getting ready to leave. I suppose he figured the best way to keep us appart was to send her away."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Mark would do almost anything to help his friend be with the woman he loved.

"Do you think you could look around the east side of London while I check the west?"

"Anything, Anthony."

"Make sure you don't miss anything. Look everywhere."

"I promise to look under every rock." Mark held his left hand in the air and laid his right hand accross his heart.

"Mark!"

"What? She's small." He said in mock confusion.

"Goodbye, Mark." Anthony said as he got up and left to look for Johanna. Mark was glad to take the east side of London. Maybe he would see Rose again.

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It was late morning, about eleven o' clock and there were only a few customers so Rose felt free to wander about. She dashed bac and forth from Todd's parlor to Lovett's shop. Even though there weren't very many customers it was enough to drive Mrs. Lovett to the boobyhatch. Normally she could handle Rose's high activity level, but today for some reason she was acting up more than usual. Finally she managed to get Rose to stay inside, but not five minutes had gone by when she heard a loud thud coming from the other room.

Mark stepped into the pie shop, but when he looked around he found no Mrs. Lovett.

"Can I help you, sir?"

Mark looked down to see a young boy not more than twelve years of age.

"Yes, I was just looking for Mrs. Lovett, sir." He said politely. Toby smiled at being called sir. "Do you know where she might be?" He asked taking off his cap. Suddenly,
they heard a shout from the other room.

"Rose!?" They heard the voice call in fear/worry, and then a crash came from the direction of the voice.

"I think she's in the living room." Said the boy without averting his eyes from the sailor. "Come on, I'll show you in."

They entered the room to find the baker struggling with Rose, who held a rose in one hand. The others scattered on the ground amongst the shattered glass.

"Ma'am?" Toby asked timidly. Mrs. Lovett jumped.

"Oh! Mark."

"Hello again, ma'am. I was wondering if I might have a moment?" He scrunched his hat nervously. (He has the cutest habits!)

"Of course." She looked at Toby, who was scanning the young man suspiciously. "Toby." She said and he jumped. "Thank you, Toby. You can go back to the customers now, alright?"

"Yes, ma'am." He left. Mrs. Lovett stood up straight now that Rose had stopped fussing. Rose made sure to stay close to Mrs. Lovett's side.

"Is Rose usually this, uh..." he thought for the right word as he bent down to pick up on of the roses. "Active?" He concluded.

"She's always very energetic, but I don't know why she's been acting up like this today." She looked at Rose.

"Well, I could take her off your hands for a while if you like. We can find something to do at the park." He suggested hopefully. Mrs. Lovett looked at him and thought carefully. "I'm very trustworthy, I promise. I used to look after my own little sisters."

Mrs. Lovett looked out the window.

"Well..." She thought out loud. She saw the pleading look in the sailors eyes and she couldn't help but smile. "Alright. If you're sure it wouldn't be too much trouble." She really wanted to take a break from Rose, but she was still a little sceptic.

"No trouble at all! I was actually hoping to spend some time with her anyway." He said with relief, but as soon as he did he felt a little embarassed. Mrs. Lovett frowned for a moment, but she decided to let it go. Mark looked at Rose. "Hello, Rose. Do you remember me?" He crooned. Rose shrunk back a little, but she responded.

"M-Mark."

Mark smiled and Mrs. Lovett nudged her.

"Go on, Rosey. Ain't nothing to be afraid of."

Mr. Todd watched the body slide down the chute to the bake house below, and dropped the hat down after him. Wiping his razor he absentmindedly walked over to the window. He looked up to see Rose skipping off with some boy. He frowned as he leaned against the sill. He didn't know why, but suddenly he was overcome with a fatherly emotion.
Protectiveness it must have been. Perhaps he was channeling his feelings for Johanna.

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When Mark said that he used to look after his little sisters he didn't realize how much alike this would be. Rose was delighted with the things they found in the market. It made him laugh to see her play with the merchandise and annoy the salespersons. She didn't even realize that her cat was not with her. Being out with out it made her look so much older. She actually looked like a mature fifteen year old girl: tall and oh so beautiful! When they finally reached the park Mark sat her down on a bench.

"Did you have fun so far today, Rose?" He asked retorically. She held up the flower that she had been carying around with her.

"Wose." She beamed and he half forced a grin.

"That's right. It's a lovely rose, lovely like you." He mused. She looked at her rose, too na?e to realize what he was doing. "You're a very lovely Rose." (I know that sounds tarted, but hey) He gazed longingly at her full glossy lips. They were so lustrous and red againsted her pale skin and they enticed him. He wondered what they would taste like. He had to find out if they were as soft as they looked. He closed his eyes as he slowly started to lean closer to her.

Rose hadn't noticed him move as she played with the flower and she turned once again to show it to him. The rose fell on his lips. Startled, he opened his eyes and jerked back a little. Rose giggled and he smiled. He couldn't wait any longer and he lunged torwards her before she could do anything. Her lips were smooth and velvety like the petals of a rose and they tasted of bramble. He couldn't believe it! Everything about her was a rose: her looks, her feel, her taste. She even smelled like a rose! He broke away from her. 'Did I frighten her?' he wondered. He looked into her eyes and to his surprise she was almost unphased. She just looked up at him as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. He was a little embarassed and surprised at his sudden lack of self control. She grinned at him sweetly (you know that look someone gives you when you know you've just done something stupid and they just grin at you like they wanna pretend they don't know? I don't know how else to explain it.). He smiled back a smile that was half relief and half satisfaction. She was a rose by definition and nothing less.