There's always a happy ending for a Corpse Bride.

I don't own anything but my OC's. Hints of a Corpse Bride/Sweeney Todd crossover.

Warning: Bonejangles is slightly OOC in this chapter, but you should know why.

Chapter 10

Oliver was sleepy. He had hardly slept last night. His brother, his friends; they were all in danger. And there was nothing he could do…

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

Oliver looked at the door but didn't get up.

Another knock was heard. "Ol?" Someone called from outside. Mary.

Oliver just stared at the ceiling.

"Oliver? Are you ok? Do want me to get Bonejangles?"

Oh, God. She had to say that, didn't she? The door suddenly opened and Mary walked through. "Oliver?"

Silence.

"Ol? Please answer me, Ol."

"Go away." Oliver managed to say.

"Ol?"

"Leave."

"Oliver…"

"OUT!" Oliver suddenly stood up and shouted at her. His eye burned with rage and pain.

Mary felt fear boil up inside her. She then felt the tears threaten to pour out. Oliver had never shouted at her before. He'd hardly ever loose his temper. She ran out quickly.

Oliver kicked the door close after she had gone. He could feel it. This anger boiling up inside of him. It felt…good. He felt powerful. Not fragile and weak like everyone thought he was. Even his own brother…

Oliver went over to the desk in the corner. The one with the box on top. He opened the rectangular box carefully. Several barber razors shined in the light. He lifted one out and flicked it open. The blade gleamed in the light. He stared at the silver tool. He remembered how he had gotten these tools. From his mentor.

Oliver had been his apprentice. He had learned how to shave and pamper customers.

Oliver doubted his brother knew about this old job. Probably didn't even remember.

Oliver smiled. "These are my friends…"

His smile became a grin and he strolled over to the window. "I'll have him."

Oliver's grin widened. "I'll have him!" He repeated, louder this time.

Oliver grabbed his blazer and placed the razor in his pocket. He slipped his blazer on as he opened his front door and walked through, whispering: "There's a hole in the world like a great black pit,"

…

The gun…it was pointing at his brother.

The eldest brother panicked. No, not his brother! He clutched the murderer's leg, making the man look at the older brother, who was currently on his hands and knees.

"No! Please, Russell!" The eldest shouted. He pointed at his younger brother. "That's my little brother, please don't take him away!" He begged. "I'll do anything!"

The murderer raised his eyebrow. "Even die in his place?"

"If that's what you want!"

The murderer chuckled.

The younger brother's eyes widened. "Brother!" He shouted. "What're you doing? Brother!"

The murderer ignored the younger sibling and pointed the gun at the older one's head. "You're a foolish man, Bojangles."

The eldest ignored him, giving him a look that told him to shut up. He clutched his bleeding arm.

The murderer was just about to pull the trigger-

"NO!" Bonejangles woke up.

He clutched his skull. These memories. They had been getting worse lately, one more gruesome and frightening then the last. And they had all one thing in common. They all featured him. Russell.

BJ sighed in relief. That was the past. It was gone. But…

But it had felt so real. Like he was living it all over again. Oh, God…

Bonejangles removed the blanket from his body and got up. He was still wearing the clothes from the night before. He strolled over to his bedroom door and descended the stairs.

Bonejangles soon found out that he had woken up…later then usual. Some people were already at the pub. Including his girl.

BJ would've usually gone up to her, hugged her, told her a joke or something. But no. He was…scared. Scared of a man he couldn't remember. A man with a gun.

Emily spotted her lover and smiled. She got off her barstool and walked over to him. "Morning, Bone-"

She was interrupted when Bonejangles grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her towards him, throwing his arms around her.

"Bonejangles? What's wrong?" Emily asked.

"Nothin', Em. Just had a bad dream." BJ whispered his reply.

Emily smiled. "Oh, Bonejangles. It's ok. It was just a dream."

God, he wished that were true.

"You're right, Em." BJ lied.

Bonejangles finally released her.

Emily gave him a loving smile and wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a full kiss on the teeth.

Bonejangles felt…better, in a way. Emily always did that to him. He still felt a little scared, though. He felt Emily's hands slide down to his shoulders and her lips come away. She rested her head on his chest. "I love you, Bonejangles."

Bonejangles didn't move. He suddenly felt as if he couldn't protect her anymore. Like she was going to get hurt.

"Bonejangles?"

Bonejangles came back to reality and looked down at her. She looked up at him. "Sorry?"

"I just told you I love you."

"Oh, right! Love you too, Em."

Emily's eyes saddened. "BJ, what's wrong?"

"Nothin'. Why?" BJ asked.

"You're sort of…out of character today."

"Like I said, Em," BJ shrugged. "Just had a bad dream."

Emily smiled again. "Ok, if you're sure." She proceeded to hug him again.

Bonejangles wrapped his arms around her.

…

Oliver walked around town, hand in his pocket; twisting the razor between his fingers. All the while getting more and more angry. Tonight, he was going to go back and get him. Seeing his brother so happy with Emily made him think of the life his brother had been robbed of by him. And by hook or by crook, he was going to get his revenge. He knew that having Emily in his brother's afterlife, making him so happy, was triggering his memories whilst sleeping, he was remembering how happy he was with Caroline, which in turn was triggering the memory of his death. Oliver remembered, that's why Russell hated his brother. He stole his girl. So he stole his life. The younger Skeleton brother still remembered finding his brother's bloody body in the alleyway. Blood on the walls. His eye had still been open; showing Oliver all the fear his brother felt before dying. There was a hole in his chest. Back then, Oliver thought his day would've been normal, he didn't expect to find his brother's dead body. But Oliver was determined that if there was anyone who cared about Russell (not that he believed there was) they were going to find him in the same bloody mess that he had left his brother in. Maybe then, BJ could concentrate on his afterlife with Emily and forget his past again.

When night fell, his revenge would be swift and oh so sweet. Oliver climbed the stairs to Elder Gutknecht's tower. He entered the Elder's study. "Elder Gutknecht!" He called.

The Elder leaned over his podium. "Oliver Skeleton, my boy! What a nice surprise."

"I need to go to the Land of the Living."

"Land of the Living?"

Oliver nodded.

"Now why go up there when people are dying to come down here?"

Oliver's anger was rising. "I just need to go up!" He snapped.

The Elder paused. "Alright…" He almost mumbled. He squeezed a crow, the egg popping out. "Remember to say hopscotch when you want to come back."

Oliver nodded. He felt the cold wind blow in his hair.

The trees were tall and towered over him.

Oliver glanced around. There were graves everywhere. These were all the people he knew. He paused. No…No!

One grave…

Russell Pearce

He didn't read the rest, too shocked. Oliver stared at it, dumbfounded. Someone…beat him to it…There's no way Russell would commit suicide. No! This…This wasn't supposed to be this way…Oliver was supposed to slit his throat, spill his blood. But someone had already done the job.

Wait a second…If Russell had died then…Oh no…

"Hopscotch!" Oliver shouted in panic.

He reappeared in the Elder's study and quickly ran out, ignoring the Elder asking if he was alright.

Oliver sprinted down the streets. He couldn't believe this. It was his job to kill Russell. Someone else had taken it.

Oliver kicked open the door to the pub, not caring if anyone was behind it. He looked around. Good, Russell wasn't here, there was still a chance.

He saw his brother talking to Emily on the couch, though it looked like Emily did most of the talking. His brother was barely looking at her. Strange.

Oliver looked at his shoes. He heard Emily call a greeting to him, but he ignored her.

"New Arrival!" Miss Plum shouted, ringing a bell.

If Oliver were alive, his blood would've run cold.

Everyone rushed to the newly dead, Bonejangles practically sprinting to the front of the crowd.

When Oliver saw Jums, he grabbed him by the shoulder. "He's here. Russell's here."

Jums' eyes would've widened. "And BoneJ doesn't know."

They looked at each other before quickly charging to the front of the crowd.

Sure enough, they were right. There he was. The man they both despised. In his tan suit-torn slightly- and his scruffy, toffee coloured hair, in the same style as Oliver. The same scar across his left eye. The same Russell Pearce. And he was clutching Bonejangles by the collar, just about lifting him off his feet.

Oliver scowled and clenched his teeth. How dare he? How dare he grab his brother like that?

"Look what I've done to you, Bojangles." Russell was smiling, as if he enjoyed seeing his victim with just a skeletal frame. "To think, a couple of bullets did this to you."

"It's not Bojangles," Bonejangles told him. "That's not my name anymore."

"Then what is? What ridiculous name have you now acquired?"

Bonejangles mumbled something.

Russell leaned closer, turning his head so Bonejangles' mouth was close to his ear. "What? Say that again?"

"Bonejangles Skeleton."

Russell stared at him. "And people just call you that?"

"Y…Yes." Bonejangles responded, whispering.

Russell tilted his head then shook it. "You always were an odd one, Bo. An' I always thought you 'ad an odd jaw." Russell added, gesturing to Bonejangles' jaw. "Honestly, Bo. How'd d'ya kiss a girl like that?" Russell raised his eyebrow. "You do have a girl, right?"

Bonejangles nodded.

Russell just stared at him. "Right."

"Russell."

Russell turned his head, searching for the person who had said his name.

Oliver took the razor out of his pocket and flicked it open.

Russell smiled. "You're 'is brother."

Oliver nodded. "Yes, I am."

"I killed you."

"You did."

"Cause ya wanted revenge."

"I did." Oliver held the razor with one hand. "And I still do."

Russell's smile became a small grin. "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to play with knives?"

"It's a razor, it's quite different."

"Still a sharp object."

"True."

"You were 'is apprentice," Russell continued. "Benjamin something."

"Benjamin Barker."

"That's it. Fleet Street."

"Indeed."

"Cuttin' people's hair."

"Cutting hair is an art and I am the artist. This just happens to be a very sharp paintbrush." Oliver played with the razor, swiping at the air. "I hope you realize that you're surrounded by people who would hurt you just to protect Brother and I. And they have knives."

"Wow." Russell said sarcastically. "And I have a gun."

"You don't have enough bullets to shoot everyone. Besides, we're already dead."

"Aw, damn. Ya mean there's no one t' kill?"

"Unless you go back to the Land of the Living. Though, I doubt the Elder would give you the spell."

"I could dig."

"Sure, if you have a ladder tall enough to reach the soil."

Russell stared at him then smirked. "You're actin' like ya don't care."

"The only thing I care about right now is you."

"That's kinda flatterin'."

"Or, more to the point, the many ways I could mangle your face!" With that, Oliver sprinted towards him.

"No, don't!" Jums warned.

"Ol!" Emily shouted.

Russell threw Bonejangles down, the skeleton landing on his backside. The murderer punched the younger Skeleton brother around the face, then grabbed both wrists and twisted, picking him up and spinning him around; throwing him to the floor. "You never were into violence," Russell sneered. "Why start now?"

"I kinda get that way when I'm fighting some sadistic coward like you." Oliver sneered back.

"No, you didn't jus' say that." Russell said.

"Tell me, Russell, where's your wife, eh? Still in 'er coffin? Or is she down here with your daughter? You know, the family you killed!"

Several gasps rang out through the bar.

"You shouldn't have said that, boy." Russell reached into his coat pocket, bringing out his revolver. He pulled the hammer back with his thumb and pointed it at Oliver's head, pressing his foot down on Oliver's torso to keep him there. "I hate to do this, Ol, I really do. You were a good kid until you went against me."

"You killed my brother and my best friend."

"They would've died someday. Why not make it sooner?"

"I hate you."

"Feelin's mutual, kid."

"I'll get my revenge."

"Do that when you wake up from this new wound, eh?"

Russell put his finger on the trigger, just about to pull-

SMASH!

Russell went flying to the floor, falling onto his side.

Bonejangles stood, holding a glass bottle by the neck. A broken glass bottle. The rest of it was either inside of Russell's head or on the floor. "Don't you dare, Russell, don't you dare."

Russell got onto his hands and knees. "That was unnecessary and uncalled for." He began picking the pieces of glass out of his head, throwing them to the floor. Soon, there was a small pile of glass on the floor.

Oliver got off of the floor.

"You alright?" Bonejangles asked.

"Yes." Oliver nodded.

"Looks like you've got a backbone after all, eh, Bo?" Russell asked, standing. "An' ya wasted the gin."

"I want you outta my pub." Bonejangles ordered.

"Or what? You'll cut me again?"

"Why not?" Mary spoke up. "It would be an improvement."

"Shut up." Russell said.

"Why?"

Russell turned on his heel and began walking towards her. "Cause I said so."

Jums stood in between Russell and his sister. "Don't you dare…hurt my sister…" He said angrily.

"Jums? That you?" Russell tilted his head. "Great."

Russell lifted his knee and people heard the crack! as it collided with Jums' ribcage. Jums bent forward from the blow. Russell wrapped his fingers around Jums' neck and lifted him. "'ere, Bo, catch!" With that, Russell threw Jums at Bonejangles. Bonejangles fell over as Jums landed on him, dropping the broken bottle.

Emily cupped her hands over her mouth.

The bottle rolled away and stopped at Mary's feet. She got to her knees and picked it up, pointing it at the murderer standing in front of her.

Russell pointed his gun at her. "An' you looked like a sweet girl." He put his finger on the trigger.

Oliver rushed over, sitting in front of her, protecting her with his body.

Russell paused and looked into Oliver's eye and eye socket, seeing all the pain and anger; the pain and anger he had caused. Russell blinked and, as he did, Oliver changed shape. Into his wife. Russell's eyes widened. She had the same look on her face from before he killed her. He felt as though everything had frozen around him and now, despite the fact that he was dead, he felt sick to his stomach.

Russell blinked again. Oliver was pointing his razor at Russell's throat, where a thick line resided; dried blood around it. The younger Skeleton brother was leaning forward, like he had just tried to stab Russell but had stopped. Maybe he had, Russell couldn't recall.

"Get out," Oliver muttered his order.

Russell gave the smallest of nods. He slipped his revolver back into his pocket. Russell turned and began walking towards the door. He turned, "I'll see you again. Both of you." Then left.

People in the pub sighed in relief.

Miss Plum rushed over to Jums, who was laying on the floor, caressing his ribs to make sure they weren't broken.

Oliver turned to Mary when he heard the shatter of glass as she dropped the bottle.

"I-I could've…" Mary whispered. "But…"

"Do you know why you couldn't hurt him?" Oliver asked, kneeling down to her.

Mary shook her head.

"Human hands were not made for destruction. We were made to take care of this planet, populate it. Not hurt it and each other. You couldn't hurt him because you're hands were made for creation, not destruction." Oliver took her hands in his own. "You give me hope and strength so I can stand and fight him. If you weren't here, Mary, I would've been too scared to stand up to him."

Mary felt the tears swell up in her eyes and she buried her face in Oliver's chest, sobbing for all she was worth.

Oliver slipped off his coat, wrapping it around her shoulders.

"I can see why you were afraid of him, Ol." Mary said in between sobs. "That's why you were so angry earlier."

"No, it wasn't him I was afraid of. It was myself. I've gotten this angry before, and I hurt someone I care deeply for. I didn't want it to happen again, so I got scared."

Emily rushed over to her lover, who sat against the wall. As she approached, Bonejangles stood and opened his arms.

Emily threw herself into his arms.

"I'm sorry, Em. I'm sorry ya had t' see that." Bonejangles whispered, holding her tightly.

"I would've lost my temper as well if I were you, Bonejangles. He did hurt your brother." Emily replied, pulling back slightly and giving him a kiss. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm alright." Bonejangles took her hands in his own. "C'mon, babe. I'll take ya home."

"But, Bonejangles, what about everyone else? Shouldn't I stay here to help you with-" She was interrupted when Bonejangles pressed his teeth to her lips. He pulled back.

"You don't have to worry 'bout us, baby. Let's jus' get you 'ome." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and escorted her out.

…

Emily and Bonejangles stood outside of Emily's house, their lips/teeth locked in a lingering, passionate kiss. Considering neither of them had to breathe, they could've stayed there forever, but considering Bonejangles had to go and check on the others, he had no choice but to pull away; much too soon for Emily's liking.

"I'll see ya tomorrow, baby." Bonejangles said.

Emily nodded.

"Guess this kinda cancel that dinner you invited me an' Ol to."

Emily shook her head, still smiling. "We'll have to do that some other time."

"Yeah." Bonejangles kissed her one more time before turning to go. "G'night, babe."

"Good night, Bonejangles."

Emily opened the door and closed it behind her. She laid down on her bed, picking up her newly framed picture of her boyfriend and staring at it. He was happy in this picture. She placed it back on her bedside table and pulled the blanket over herself, finally drifting off to sleep.

…

Bonejangles entered the pub. Most people still inside turned to him.

He saw Miss Plum cleaning up the broken glass.

"I'll make it up to ya." He said.

She turned to him, raising her eyebrow.

Mistaking this for anger, Bonejangles shook his head softly. "I'm sorry. I was jus' makin' sure 'e didn't hurt Ol."

"I know, Bonejangles." Miss Plum said. She smiled. "Get up to bed, Bonejangles."

Bonejangles nodded. "Thanks. Where's Ol?"

"Took Mary home."

"Jums ok?"

"Yes, he's fine."

"Good."

With that, Bonejangles ascended the stairs.

He laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling. Russell's words echoed in his head. I'll see you again. Both of you.

"Yeah, you will, Russell. Yeah, you will."

…

Author's note:

Ya know, now I see why I rated this T. Lots of Drama and Angst in this chapter. I really wanna know what you guys think of Oliver and Russell in this chapter. Sorry if the ending's a little rushed, I was in a hurry. Plus, I watched Corpse Bride today. It's more awesome every time I see it.