AN: Sorry guys!! Didn't mean to keep you waiting for the next chapter for so long! By the way. . .it's a pretty sad one. AND OC Patricia Quinn is named after one of my favorite actresses. See "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".
When they reached Nellie's parents' house they were greeted by Nellie's mother.
"Nellie! Oh, how you've grown!" she said almost in a squeal, giving her daughter a hug. Nellie smiled slightly.
"Thank you," Nellie mumbled. Her mother turned to Sweeney.
"Who's this young man?" she asked Nellie.
"Sweeney Todd," Sweeney introduced himself offering his hand for Nellie's mother to shake. "Nellie's fiance," both Nellie and her mother beamed. Nellie's mother shook Sweeney's hand and introduced herself.
"Patricia Quinn,"
"Pleasure to meet you, ma'am,"
"Very same," Patricia replied.
"May I see father now?" Nellie asked. Patricia looked at her daughter worriedly. She looked back at Sweeney.
"I can't bare to tell her myself," she told him in a whisper. "Would you please break it to her gently that you missed him by five minutes?" she asked hopefully. Sweeney nodded once.
"Will do, ma'am,"
"Bless your heart," Patricia said, with that she walked back inside and closed the door. Sweeney took Nellie's hand, softly caressing the top. She would break down again, it was inevitable. She would need comfort. Sweeney had to be strong and comfort her this time.
"Nellie," he bagan as he lead her away from her parents' house. "Your mother couldn't bare telling you herself," he pulled Nellie close to him."You see, five minutes before we arrived, it's okay to cry, love. Five minutes before we arrived, your father, he - passed." Nellie could see it coming, but actually hearing the words made it a million times worse. She burst into tears, as predicted. Her breathing quickened, she began to sweat, and then she fainted, collapsing in Sweeney's arms.
He hadn't expected her to faint. He tried fanning her back into consciousness, but that didn't work. He was worried. He didn't need a repeat, another twist of fate, and he hoped he didn't get one. He was so desperate, the tale of Sleeping Beauty popped into his head. And with the touch of true love's first kiss, she revives to live a life full of bliss. Sweeney bent down and kissed Nellie. First on the lips, then on her cheeks, her nose, her forehead. Finally, Nellie gasped and sat up coughing. Her big, brown eyes met Sweeney's tear filled ones.
"Sweeney?" she asked, confused. Sweeney hugged her and pulled her up.
"You scared me," Sweeney said. "I thought I'd lost you forever," Nellie pulled him into a hug. She rubbed his back soothingly.
"I'm here," she said. "I'm okay. Now, let's go home," she said. Sweeney nodded and they looped their arms through each other's and walked the rest of the way home.
AN: Every time someone DOESN'T review, a certain baker misses her father's last breath by five minutes?
