I am so sorry it has been too long since I updated. I had major writers block and I actually forgot about the story. But I am back and ready to write once more. Enjoy. ^_^

The next few days Hope was beginning to see a change in Sweeney. He wasn't getting as angry as he once was and there were a few times he let people live. There was one day when he only killed two people. Hope was hoping that maybe someday he would stop killing all together.

Hope wasn't the only one who noticed a change. Mrs. Lovett saw it as well and Hope knew she didn't like it. Not only was Mrs. Lovett jealous of Hope's relationship with Sweeney, but she was also losing business. Without people to put in her pies they were back to the disgusting pies she once made.

Right now Sweeney was looking out the window like he always did; that had not changed. Hope was leaning against the wall as she watched him. She wanted to go over there, wrap her arms around him so he would forget all his worried, but something held her back. There was a little part of her that was still afraid of Sweeney. He could still turn into that murderous monster she met months ago. She didn't want to cuddle up to him then have a razor against her neck.

"Hope, I have an idea." Sweeney said as he looked at her. "Why don't we go out?"

"Out where?"

"Just out for a walk. I don't feel like staying inside today."

Hope walked up to Sweeney and put her hand on his forehead.

"What are you doing?" Sweeney asked.

"I'm checking to see if you're sick. You usually don't want to go out."

"Well, today is different."

"What's different?"

"I'm not in the mood to kill."

Hope was surprised by what she was hearing. She always hoped that she would hear it, but now that she had it surprised her. She never thought Sweeney would want to just go for a walk or even leave the room.

Hope thought back to what might have changed him. What was with his change of mind? He was quite different then the man she had fist met; the man that had threatened to kill her and nearly slit her throat. He didn't seem to want to stop his murderous rampage any time soon so what had changed?

Suddenly Hope realized why he seemed like a different person. It was so simply she couldn't believe she didn't think of it before. It was because of her. Sweeney had started changing when they were becoming close. She smiled to herself as she thought about her influence on him.

The two of them soon headed out and when Mrs. Lovett saw them leaving she wanted to know where they were going. Sweeney said that they were just going for a walk and that they would be back later. Hope knew that Mrs. Lovett didn't like that. She could feel the glare she was receiving as she and Sweeney walked away.

It had been such a long time that Hope had been out and it felt good. It did feel strange being out with Sweeney though especially since their arms were linked. Last time they were out wasn't very pleasant, but that was all in the past…at least she hoped it was.

The two of them walked around town and occasionally went into a shop. Neither of them bought anything, it was just nice to look around. Hope felt so secluded in Sweeney's room so it was nice to look at different things for a change.

After awhile of walking around they went to get some lunch. The food they ate was much better then what they ate back home. When they finished their lunch they ordered dessert. Hope had ordered a piece of chocolate cake while Sweeney just ordered a small piece of apple pie.

"I'm surprised you aren't sick of pies." Hope said. "I know I am even though I don't eat them."

"I don't eat the either."

"It still makes me sick to think about."

Hope took a bite of her cake and it brought back memories. She did miss working in a bakery and baking cakes and other desserts. It was the only thing she had been good at and now she can't even do that. If she had the money she would buy her own place and start her own bakery, but she knew that was impossible.

Hope looked up at Sweeney who was staring at her. "What?"

"You were thinking about something. What is it?"

Hope sighed. "Just thinking about my job before I met you."

"You said you hated your job."

"I hated my boss, but I loved what did when I got the chance. I love to bake and I miss it. I hope to do it again someday."

"What was your favorite thing to bake?"

Hope smiled. "Chocolate cake."

Sweeney said nothing more after that.

When the two of them got back Mrs. Lovett wasted no time in coming up and demanding why they weren't back earlier. She wanted to know why it took them so long to go for a walk. Sweeney said that it was none of her business as to what he and Hope did. Mrs. Lovett then stormed out of the room.

For the next few days Sweeney was up to something. He didn't spend much time in the shop and every time Hope asked what he was doing he would say it was a surprise which confused her. Since when does Sweeney think up surprises?

Mrs. Lovett wanted to know the same thing. She was losing business and wanted more people for her pie, but Sweeney refused. Mrs. Lovett knew why Sweeney was going soft. It was because of Hope. She decided that Hope had to go one way or another.

Hope was sitting on the bed as she looked at the picture of Lucy and Joanna. She missed Joanna very much and wished there were a way she could save her. She felt guilty that she hadn't done anything in a while, though she knew there wasn't anything she could do. She was hoping that Antony was having good luck in getting her out.

Sweeney walked into the room, snapping Hope out of her thoughts. "Hope, come with me."

"What is it?"

"Just come with me."

Hope was very curious about what Sweeney had planned. She was even more curious when he led her downstairs. She looked around and saw that Mrs. Lovett and Toby were gone. On the counter she saw boxes, bowls, mixers and other things.

She looked at Sweeney with confusion. "What's all this?"

"I have been getting things together that you need to bake your cake. It took Mrs. Lovett some convincing, but I finally got her to tell me what I needed and she said you could use the stove. She and Toby went for a picnic or something."

Hope was stunned. She never expected Sweeney to do such a thing. She didn't know what to think of it at first. Once the shock wore off she turned to Sweeney who was…smiling?

"You're smiling." Hope said, shocked once again.

"You have that affect on me."

Hope kissed him. "Thank you."

As Hope started making her cake, Sweeney sat down as he watched her work. He did wonder why he was being so nice. Well, he knew he did care for her, but there was something more that he didn't understand.

When he first met her he couldn't care less what happened to her. There were many times when he was close to killing her, but something stopped him from doing it. As they spent time together he just couldn't kill her like the others so he stopped threatening her.

Then a few weeks ago something in him changed. He wanted to be there for Hope and protect her. He would do anything for her and that confused him. He hadn't felt like this in a long time. Last time he felt this way was with Lucy.

Suddenly Sweeney realized why he had an urge to protect Hope. He knew why he wanted her to be happy. He knew why he had changed. It was because of Hope. He was falling for her.

"What are you thinking about?" Hope asked, snapping Sweeney out of his thoughts.

"Nothing."

Hope just shrugged. She knew that Sweeney would tell her when he wanted to. She wasn't going to press him.

After awhile the cake was done. Hope let it cool then she started decorating it. It felt good to be baking again. She didn't realize just how much she missed it until she was actually baking. It was nice of Sweeney to do this for her. She knew there was still good in him somewhere and she finally found it.

When Hope was done she cut a piece for her and Sweeney. She watched Sweeney as he took his fork, cut a piece of the cake and put it in his mouth. She waited to see what he thought.

Sweeney smiled at her. "It's delicious."

"You really think so?"

"I wouldn't have said it if it weren't. You have better skills then Mrs. Lovett."

Hope smiled back. "Thank you."

When Mrs. Lovett came back she didn't look happy. She looked at Hope and Hope moved closer to Sweeney. Sweeney wrapped his arm around her as he glared at Mrs. Lovett; that seemed to make her madder.

Hope was going to be on alert from now on. Mrs. Lovett had threatened her once before and who knows what else she'll do. She might actually try to kill Hope. She also decided to stop taking food or drinks from Mrs. Lovett for fear of what may be in it.