AN: Since you guys are being SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy with my story, and I'm getting demands for updates already, here's Chapter 8. (Don't worry, it's not over yet!) Oh, and I don't own the brief Gwen Stefani lyrics in this chapter.

Later that night, Nellie just began to remember what had happened that evening. When she remembered the whole night's events she called for Sweeney.

"Yes?" he asked in her doorway, concerned.

"Please, hold me tonight," she begged. Sweeney slid under the covers of Nellie's bed and wrapped his arms around Nellie. She lay her head on his shoulder and cried. They both knew it would be a while before she'd fall asleep again and they didn't care much. She'd cry until she felt better and he's hold her as long as he needed to. Anything for her to be happy again, they'd take the steps to get her there. Nellie looked up at Sweeney. "Sweeney?" she asked shakily.

"Mm?"

"Did you really mean what you said earlier?" she asked. "About getting marries and moving somewhere by the sea?" she clarifired.

"Yes, I did," Sweeney answered. "And it will be soon," he promised. This made Nellie smile a bit.

"How soon?" she asked.

"As soon as you'd like," Sweeney answered. Nellie hugged him tight to her as she squealed,

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I love you, I love you, I love you so much!" Sweeney smiled at this.

"I take it you're feeling better?" he stated with a tiny lilt that made it a question.

"Almost," she answered, her voice filled with sadness and regret. "There is something I must tell you. . ." she looked down at her hands, which were now in her lap.

"Yes?" Sweeney asked, waiting for her to go on. Nellie took a deep breath and sighed.

"I lied to you, a tiny bit, earlier about. . .Lucy," she admitted. Sweeney felt his arms go limp and his heart shrink a bit.

"What part?" he asked cautiously, not wanting to blow up on Nellie after all that had occured.

"The part about her being dead," Nellie answered, flinching as if waiting for a blow. When it didn't come, Nellie looked at Sweeney catiously. He had that lost look in his eyes that he got when he was deep in thought.

"Why ever so?" he asked.

"I didn't want you to get hurt. . ." Nellie answered, yet another tear sliding down her cheek. Nellie's reply shocked Sweeney, and he met her regretful eyes with his hurt ones.

"What?" Sweeney asked, his ears might've deceived him, but he wanted to make sure.

"She poisened herself, yes," Nellie began. "But she survived. She is. . .insane, Sweeney. She can't recognize anyone. Doesn't remember anything. Not even her name. All she does now is circle the London streets, begging for alms," she said. "I'm so sorry I never told you. At the time, I thought it was for the best, but now. . .you deserve to know," a tear slid down Sweeney's face as he replied,

"Forgiven," Nellie reached up and brushed the tear away.

"Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around. Nothing's gonna harm you, darling. Not while I'm around," she sang softly to him. Her heart had exploded with joy that Sweeney wasn't mad at her, just upset.

Sweeney placed his hand over her's, which was on his cheek.

"Oh, Nellie," he said. "I love you," he said as another tear slid down his face. "Please don't leave me the way Lucy did!" he pleaded.

"Sweeney," Nellie said caressing his cheek with her thumb. "I'm not going anywhere. Our love's the real thing. You're the one I want, and it's not just a phase. You're the one I trust. I want you to stay in my life," Nellie wiped the rest of Sweeney's tears away. "Let's get married soon, love. These sentiments are driving me crazy," she said. Sweeney leaned into her and kissed her. Deep and passionate. If he didn't distract himself somehow, he'd begin to sob and would end up having a nervous breakdown. Nellie felt her head spin with heppiness. She shortly broke the kiss and said, "catch me," before fainting in Sweeney's arms. Her body began to shake, as if she were having a seizure. What was going on? When the shaking finally stopped she was hot to the touch, as if she sudden;y had a fever. Sweeney was worried and confused. He pushed the covers off the bed and gently laid Nellie down on the cool sheets.

Sweeney left the room and returned with a wet rag to press against Nellie's forehead. When she awoke, she felt the rag pressed against her head.

AN: The dreaded cliff hanger!! Sorry to leave you with this for a while. . . .I kinda forgot about the cliff hanger. OOOPS! Nice and long, ay?