title Girl Anachronism

author pinkeop

summary Behold the world's worst accident, I am the girl anachronism. ( AU )

authors note So, what up my faithful reveiwers? I'm not sure how many times I'm going to chage this chapter before I post it... Something about the original draft just doesn't flow right for me, but we'll see, we'll see. In awesome news, I got the lead singer of Four Letter Lie to sign my hand last night at their concert at the Warehouse. It was pretty freakin' cool. Had a lot of fun, then we to go see the last showing of Sweeney Todd at the theatre down town that takes all the movies from the big theatres and plays them at obscene hours of the night / afternoon four like, three bucks.

Pretty cool.

Anyway, without further ado ( yeah right! ) here is chapter seven.

Love!

Pink Elephants on Parade

p.s; just finished this stupid chapter. lots of spelling mistakes. i'm none too happy with it... just review.

--

chapter seven Alms! Alms!

I picked up the pieces of my broken ego

I have finally made my peace, as far as you and me go

But i'd love to have you up to see the place

& i'd like to do more than survive

i'd like to rub it in your face

Ana didn't go back down to the bakehouse.

Nellie put her in charge of serving the pies and taking the tips, a job Ana found much more suitable, when you got right down to it. Toby was a hard worker, trailing behind her and serving ale, greeting customers at the door and what not when he wasn't doing that. Mr. Todd, when not with a customer or victim, stood out on the landing and watched the chaotic, if not somewhat rhythmatic, scene of dinner rush below. Ana even liked to fancy that Mr. Todd watched over her as she ran to and fro from tables, taking pennies and dropping pies. But it was more of a possiblity that he was looking for his next victim rather than her clumsy progress at being a hostess. Nonetheless, when Mr. Todd stood out on the landing, Ana felt a relaxed calm as the cold-hearted man watched over them.

It was a hot night as Ana flounced through the outdoor court, a tray of pies balanced on her hands. She wore a pretty dress that fit her body better than any of Nellie's dresses. The baker had gotten it for her, claiming that ana would be able to lure in young men who would go up for a share better than she ever could. The corset was tighter, pushing up her breasts, making them look fuller than they really were. The fabric was black, the midsection a dark, auburn color, the sleeves cutting off at her shoulders. A pair fo mesh gloves donned her hands and under the skirt of the dress she wore a pair of heels that Nellie had found for her. Unable to disappoint, warm, motherly Nellie, Ana wore them.

"Toby!" Ana called as she sat the tray of pies down on a table, taking the coins from the customers and tucking them into her bodice.

"Coming!" the young boy called from the other side of the court.

"Ale there!" Ana told him, nodding at some empty, waiting glasses for the customers. Two ment stared at her in a way that made her skin crawl.

"Right, m'am!" Toby crowed, grabbing a pitcher of ale and bounding towards her. She smiled at the boy, ruffling his hair before turning and slipping back inside the shop. She took a seat on the stool behind the counter, watching the people inside eat and chatter. She wondered in the abck of her mind how many people were eating a friend or family member, lost and forgotten. Those thoughts were getting easier to stomach- it was sick, really. But those thoughts also wouldn't help her any- no, not at all. So she pushed them out of her mind and stood from her stool. She heard Nellie calling her from the court door way.

"Ana!" she sounded upset. Ana gave her a curious look as she rounded the corner. "Throw the old woman out!" The baker demanded, one finger pointing towards the main door fot hes hop where a tired, haggard looking woman stood. Her dress was messy, dirty and ripped and a bonnet covered her head, tangled, damaged blonde hair hang in her face. One of the beggers wandering the street. Trying to be sneaky about it when Nellie turned away- for her temper was unforgiving -Ana grabbed a pie off the counter, ignoring the way it burnt her fingers, and started towards the woman who had a sort of lost determination on her shadowed face.

"Hey!" Ana said sharply, grabbing the begger by the arm and hauling her from the shop. The woman began speaking in fast murmurs and pulled her around the side of thes hop and leaned down. "Here, Lady," she said. "You hungry? Take this and get, ok?" She held the hot pie in one hand.

The old woman looked up at her and Ana could see she wasn't really that old. The world has just taken a turn for the worst with her- pale, pretty skin was dirty and marred and her hair was broken and stringy, probably a once pretty blonde. She hunched over in an odd stance, holding her arms close to her. Her blue eyes were milky and clouded over when she looked up at her. Ana's brow furrowed. "Here," she went on, holding out the slightly burnt pie. "Take this."

The woman cringed away from it, shaking her head. "The devil's wife 'as made those, don't you know? Tha' woman yeh workin' for, she's the devil's wife! Smoke from the bowels of 'ell! Oh, the smell, the smell!" The woman's shaky hands clawed at her own face. Ana took a jerking step back. The woman shuddered away from the pie she held in her hands.

"What's all that nonsense?" Ana hissed. "Nellie Lovett is a real lady! She ain't the devil's wife!"

"An' the man upstairs!" the woman went on, moaning pathetically. "They got up but they don't come down! 'E's the devil 'imself, 'e is!"

"Hush!" Ana scolded, fear striking her. What if this woman went right to the law? But then again, who would listen to a begger woman? No one, no. "There's a second staircase upstairs that leads right into the parlor! They come down, all right."

"Child!" The woman begged. "There, there! Look up there! Didn't I tell you, smell that air! City on fire!" Ana glanced upwards. She could see the edge of the large window that gazed into Mr. Todd's shop.

"Here," Ana snapped, getting irritated with the woman. She shoved the hot pie into her hands and watched the begger look down with wide eyes. "Now go one and get out of here, lady. There's not devil here. So leave us in peace."

In a world where there is so much sickness and pain and death, where no one can live in peace, then maybe you're better off.

"Sign of the devil!" the woman moaned. Ana gave a heavy sigh and grabbed the woman roughly by the arm.

"What's your name, miss?" she asked. The woman thought for a minute, as if she couldn't quite recall.

"'E used to call me Lucy. That must be me. Lucy." The begger muttered. Ana's blood ran cold for a half a second. No, she thoguht quickly. Lucy was dead. Nellie had told her so. This was just a coinidence. Ana nodded.

"Lucy is a pretty name," she reasoned.

"Ben used to think so. They took me Ben away from me," Lucy stammered, her crazed murmurings. Ana's lip curled back.

Benjamin Barker, 'is name was.

Ana's brown furrowed and she took a decided step back away from the begger. If she could grab Nellie, perhaps that woman could make sense of this. She wanted to believe that the woman was just a crazy begger who adopted the name. Lucy was dead, Nellie had said it herself. Not that Ana knew much of anything on that matter. Johanna would be here in a few days and Mr. Todd would have his daughter back. And then, maybe, they would all leave this place together- she, and Nellie, and Mr. Todd, Johanna, Antony, and even little Toby. Nellie said so, more often than not since the sailor's last visit. The woman had to be someone else. She was so queer, her mind gone to next to nothing. It almost scared her.

"Lucy Barker?" Ana asked, praying the woman would say no. Just say no. The woman's blue eyes widened and she nodded in quick, jerking movements. Ana's breath came out in a defeated huff.

"Will you wait here, Lucy?" she asked, feeling the tiredness in her voice. "Will you wait for me right here?"

The woman nodded her head and stuck her finger in her mouth, chewing on her nail. Ana stood and ran quickly back into the shop. It was just as busy, if not more, than when she left. Nellie spotted her and she knew she wa in trouble for running off like that. "Ana!" The baker said. "Where 'ave you been? Did you chase that dirty begger off? No matter, 'ere, take these out to the customers, would yeh, love?"

Ana set the tray that had been shoved into her hands down. "Nellie," she said. "Listen, you need to come out here, the lady---"

"You want me to slit yeh throat meself?" Nellie threatened. She looked so stressed. Ana almost wanted to give in and forget the woman, but her last bit of remaining conscience wouldn't let her. Ana glanced around before taking Nellie by the hand.

"It'll just be a moment," Ana promised. "And then I'm yours to work until my bones drop, I swear."

Nellie sighed heavily but allowed Ana to lead her around the corner of the building. Lucy stood there, quivering and buttering under her breath. nellie wheeled back a half step as soon as she saw her. Ana pulled her forward. The begger- Lucy! -let out a loud noise.

"Devil's wife!" Lucy screeched.

"No, no!" Ana begged. "Nellie, she says she's Lucy. Lucy Barker, Nells! Mr. Todd's---"

"Shoo!" Nellie hissed at Lucy, whipping her wash rag at the woman. She stomped her foot sharply. "Get out of 'ere, yeh dirty whore! Take yeh dirty business else where!" Lucy's blue eyes seemed to glaze over as she cowered back from Nellie, milky and lost, moving away. Ana frowned. Lucy wandered down the allye, chases away by Nellie's constant shooing.

"Alms!" the begger moaned pitifully. "Alms, alms! For a miserable woman!"

Ana slapped the other woman on the arm.

"What'd you go and do that for?" Ana snapped.

"Dirty beggers," Nellie huffed softly.

"She said 'er name was Lucy Barker!" Ana said. Nellie slapped a hand over her mouth. Ana's eyes grew wide as Nellie leaned closer, speaking low.

"See 'ere, love- if our Mr. Todd knew who that woman was it would kill 'im from the inside out. She's not 'is Lucy anymore, Ana, and she's as good as dead. An' you best be lettin' 'him keep thinkin' tha'." Nellie moved her hand away from Ana's mouth. "You understand?"

"You lied?" Ana hissed. "To him?!"

"To him? No, no not lied, at all. No, I never lied. Said she took a poison she did, never said that she died. Poor thing," Nellie sighed, turning away. "Let's get back to work, dear. No use wasting anymore time."

Ana stood around the side of the shop for a short few minutes before finally returning to work. It made no sense to her at first, but then as she got more into her business, carrying pies and ale and peenies, as her mind slowly began to shut down with seeping exhaustian, it made plenty of sense why Nellie kept Lucy's life away from Mr. Todd. She was obviously a shell of her former self. A begger, living on the streets and doing God only knew what for money, lifting her skirts and what not. Why would Mr. Todd need to know such things, her tired mind reasoned as she cleaned up the dishes and wiped down the tables, silent alongside Toby. Better he lived with them, with his Johanna. He would have her soon. Maybe that would warm him. Not a new Mr. Todd. But perhaps a warmer Mr. Todd.

Nellie was only a little upset with her by the time they crawled into bed.

"Was Lucy once beautiful?" Ana asked as they lay, backs facing each other. Nellie turned over to lay upon her back. Ana turned, greatfully snuggling against the older woman.

"Aye..." Nellie said softly. "She 'ad beautiful golden hair, and pale skin. Big, blue eyes. Soft voice. Ben always bought her the prettiest things like clothes and jewels. She always 'ad a flower in 'er hair." Nellie sighed. Ana stared up at the ceiling in silence. She could see the begger woman in her head- that wasn't the beautiful Lucy Nellie had described.

"Why don't you tell him?" Ana questioned. Nellie gave another sigh.

"I told yeh- it would kill 'im inside. 'Is beautiful Lucy turned into that dirty begger. 'E taken enough, yeh see... 'e don't need no more. Now, no more on this subject either. I thought maybe yeh could use some fresh air... packed a picnic and I ever got Mr. Todd to agree to it. So you hush up and sleep now. We'll go out early to the park, 'ow's that sound?"

Ana felt her heart swell at Nellie's geture. She'd never been on a picnic and the thought of going made her feel a giddy excitement. Nellie had done so much for her. The only way she could think of repaying her was to do exactly as she said- and keep her big mouth shut about Lucy.

"It sounds perfect, Nells," Ana murmured softly.

"Good... now sleep, and you best forget all about Lucy. If Mr. Todd knew, it would be the death of us both."

--

"Mr. T!" Ana sing-songed as she flounced up the stairs. It was early morning, the sun not at it's highest yet, but it was warm and muggy out, a few clouds breaking the bluish grey sky. It was a perfect day for a picnic! Warm and as bright as London was going to get. Nellie had packed a delicious picnic and Toby had walked down to the market himself and bought a kite for just a few pennies- another thing Ana had never done and was excited to try. Nellie had sent her up to retrieve Mr. Todd now. She could see his door was propped open and she swung herself into the shop with a flourish. "Mr. T, we're ready to go!" The man was sitting in his chair, flipping open and closed one of his razors, a pair of suspender visibly hooked over his shoulders, his vest laying somewhere in the room- probably waiting to be washed.

"Mr. T," Ana said a bit softer now as she stepped into the shop. Lucy's name ran through her head. She wanted to tell him- that little bit of conscience clinging to her- but she had made a promise to Nellie, and keep her big mouth shut she did. Along with that, the little last bit of conscience was cut- even if she didn't know it yet. "C'mon, we're waitin' on you!"

Mr. Todd turned his head to look at her, his brows pulled together in the middle of his forehead, a curious expression on his face. It looked, to her, for a moment he was going to decline and send her on her way, but instead he stood. Ana smiled brightly and stepped into the room. "Don't look like you're on death row, Mr. Todd, it's just a picnic."

His lip twitched and she thought for a moment he smiled. He placed a hand on the back of her neck- a gesture she was slowly becomming used to -and menuvered her back out of the shop, closing the door behind him. "Ah, but a picnic with the two most insufferable women in all of London," he said shortly.

Ana was surprised by her own laughter. She thought, for a moment that she felt the same shake Mr. Todd, but when she looked up at him his face was dead pan. The two of them descended the stairs side by side, Mr. Todd's hand still resting ont he appex between her shoulders. HIs fingers were cold but the more they rested on her skin, the warmer they began to feel.

"There you is!" Nellie crooned, stepping out of the shop just as Ana and Mr. Todd reached the bottom of the stairs. To her surprising disappointment, the man removed his hand from the back of her neck. Nellie carried a blue, faded folded blanket and behind her trailed Toby with a picnic basket in one hand and a messy, tangled kite in the other. Ana, trying to be helpful, took the basket from the young boy.

"Thank yeh, m'am!" Toby said, grabbing her hand and pulling her forward. She could hear Nellie laughing a few steps behind them. The walk to the park was a delightfully relaxing one, Nellie and Ana chattering loudly the entire way, Toby clinging to her hand as they walked. It rienforced the younger sibling feel to their relationship and she was suddenly very greatful to the boy. Mr. Todd didn't say much, but then again he never did, but he strolled calmly at Mrs. Lovett's side. She wondered how much of a family they looked like- strikingly, surely!

They found a nice large tree under which to lay the blanket- Mr. Todd sat down cross legged promptly and stared off into space, looking completely unamused all of a sudden. Ana watched him out of the corner of her eye as she held the kite for Toby while he unraveled the knotted strings. His skin was so much paler in the light, but she could see a flush in his cheeks, simply from being out of that musty old room of his. He had no expression, but just slightly were his brows pulled together. His wrists rested on his knees and he looked relaxed, but his face held a tenseness.

"Mum!" Toby said to Nellie, who was reclined back beside Mr. Todd. "Will you come fly it wiff me?"

Nellie looked up at the boy and a smile graced her aging, motherly face. Her dress today was of bright blues and whites and she looked so much younger. Ana wore her same black and auburn dress, contrasting the warm surroundings. The two went off a ways to catch the wind, leaving Ana alone with the demon barber of fleet street. She sat down where Nellie had been sitting, leaning back on the heels of her palms, crossing her ankles, her converse sicking out from under the layers of skirt.

The two didn't say anything for a while, Ana staring up at the sky, Mr. Todd staring right ahead at perhaps nothing in particular. "Mr. T..." Ana said thoughtfully. "How long do you 'spect to keep this up? This business? Killin' and cuttin' and bakin' and servin'?"

The man said nothing for a long while and Ana thought perhaps he wasn't going to answer her. But then he made a gruff noise in the back of his throat. "'Owever long it takes," he said quietly, eyes snapping to her. "Why? 'Ad enough 'ave you?"

"Not nessicarily," Ana defended snappishly. "It's just that... well, with your Johanna gonna be here, what with the plan the sailor concocted... Nellie's been talking about going away what with money coming in regular-like..."

Mr. Todd huffed a breath of air. "'As she, now?"

Ana managed to nod. "She does a lot for us two, Nellie does..." she said quietly.

Mr. Todd said nothing this time, so Ana went on. "I'd probably be dead from my fever if she hadn't found me. I've never found the right way to thank her properly." Other than not telling Mr. Todd of his wife, alive and insane. "And she puts up with you, Mr. T, and that's something not even a saint could do."

His lip twitched, causing a smile to strech across her own lips. They sat in another soft silence, this time seeming much more relaxed, as Mr. Todd's shoulders had slumped and his fingers fiddled with a string of grass. Ana watched him with probing eyes. He wasn't human yet, but it was the small things that made it visible to her. It was almost uplifting.

"Mr. T," Ana said with a sigh. "Are you listening to me?"

"Of course," the man responded.

"Then what did I just say?" Ana snapped.

Mr. Todd turned his head to look at her, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly, whatever traces of tolerant amusement gone from his face. He was back to his dark self. "There 'as to be a way to the judge..."

Nellie plopped down inbetween Ana and Mr. Todd, looking over her shoulder at Toby, who was flying his kite quite well on his own.

"Judge!" Nellie snapped, obviously catching the last of what the barber had said. "Always harpin' on your bloody old judge. We got a nice respectable business now, us three, Toby too." Her smile was whicked. "And we're careful to pick and chose... people who wont be missed... who's gonna catch on?" The woman was suddenly on her knees and she leaned to swiftly kiss Mr. Todd's cheek. The man didn't look at all caught off gaurd- more like completely unaware of the lips on his face.

"Oh, Mr. Todd..." Nellie sighed. "We could go away, all of us. You know where I'd like to go?" She paused. "Don't you wanna know?"

"Of course," Mr. Todd said automatically. Ana's lips twitched and she shook her head.

"Do you really wanna know?" Nellie pressed. Mr. Todd growled something out of his vocals, and that was enough for the darling baker. "By the sea, Mr. Todd, that's the life I covet... Oh, I know you'd love it... All of us, we could be alone, in a house what we'd almost own..."

"By the sea?" Ana asked curiously, her eyes wide. Another place she'd never been- and now that she thought about it, she led an oddly sheltered life. No picnics, no kite flying, no trips to the beach by the sea. Nellie turned to look at her, eyes bright with happiness. She wrapped one arm around Ana's shoulders and the other around Mr. Todd's.

"Down by the sea, married nice a proper, we could be, you and I, Mr. T. Give our little Ana and Toby a proper family." Nellie went on.

At this point Ana and Mr. Todd both turned their heads a fraction of an inch to meet each other's eyes, then look to Nellie, who looked off so fondly, neither had the heart to break her from her trance. She sighed contently and moved her arms away their shoulders. Ana looked down at her lap. She'd been so lost in this world that she'd completely forgotten about her quest to find a way back home- in fact, she'd almost completely forgotten about how tormented her mother must be without her. She swallowed thickly and looked away, off to the side, where some grass swayed in the gentle breeze.

"Think on it," Nellie said softly, her arms coming around Ana tightly, hugging her close. "You'll come to love the idea, I'm sure." She stood then, going back to Toby. Ana looked over her shoulder, watching the woman walk away and her heart sank. As much as she wanted, she couldn't stay. She needed to find a way, any way, back home. How she was going to do this was beyond her. It was silent between the two, Ana and the barber.

Ana placed her elbows on her thighs and cupped her chin in her hands. "Can I ask you a question, Mr. T?"

"What?" he replied, deadpan, sounding as if he didn't really care one way or the other- she could only guess that he didn't.

"Do you think you'll ever go away... with Nellie... and me... and Toby, and Johanna, and Antony?" She asked. "Do you ever think that we'll really get away from all this, just like Nellie dreams?"

He looked at her now. His face was twisted in what could only be described as pain. Ana swallowed, feeling awfully sorry for him. Was he remembering life with Lucy, she wondered? Or did the thought of being with Nellie in a secluded place by the sea make him sick? She moved closer to him so that they sat so close their knees touched as she crossed her legs. He looked away from her then, staring at his hands in his lap.

"Life is for the alive, Mr. Todd... You could have a life with her," Ana said softly. "Maybe not like she dreams... maybe not like you remember... But you two could get by. With Johanna, and Toby, and Antony... you could get by."

Mr. Todd turned his head a fraction, his eyes narrowed. "And you?" he asked gruffly.

Ana's smile was weak. "I'm hoping I'd find my way home by then," she whispered, ignoring the sinking feeling she got in her stomach. The feeling of belonging she had sitting here beside Mr. Todd, with Nellie behind them teacher Toby to fly a kite properly. She hated the feeling of them being an unconventional family. Because they were- she knew it, Todd knew, even Nellie knew it. And yet at that small moment in time, as they sat together, it's what it felt like. And yet something was off. The feeling of belonging was attributed to more than just Nellie and Todd and Toby, the little brother he was.

No, something was off, but she wouldn't be able to pinpoint that until later, when it would be too late.

Ana reached over and placed her hand on Mr. Todd's arm, squeezing gently. He looked at her again, this time his expression a bit more docile.

"You'll get by," she repeated, ignoring the feeling in her stomach that made her want to wrap her arms around him. It wasn't a smile he gave her, but his eyes crinkled around the edges before he looked away again, staring off into the distance, leaving them both with their quiet thoughts.