AN: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE SWEENEY TODD: DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET FRANCHISE!
Me: Total bull, possibly.

Chapter Ten: Thought,

Over the next few days or so, Sweeney refused to enter the shop, and refused to open his own at that, leaving Mrs. Lovett to close her shop as well and let the children simply do housework rather than shop-work. Mr. Todd had been so deep in thought, he had not left the very spot he sat in in the corner of his shop for several days. Not noticing that he hadn't slept in two days, nor had he eaten since the incident with Mrs. Lovett. His thoughts were at such a depth that he did not hear as Mrs. Lovett herself opened the door and stepped inside with a tray of food, knowing he had not eaten for several days on end, worried that he would starve himself if he did not eat soon. She set the tray down gingerly and looked at him, realizing he had not heard a single thing she'd done. Concerned she went over to him, lightly touching his shoulder.

Feeling the brush of a hand upon his shoulder, Sweeney Todd turned his head to look at the hand, recognizing to whom it did belong to. Turning back to his former position, he ignored her. Frustrated, she walked in front of him and kneeled on the ground, coming face to face with the murderer. With no escape from her, he finally asked what she wanted. Sighing she stood and brought the tray over to him.

"Eat," Was all she said before laying it so that it rested on her knees as she sat across from him in another chair. When he didn't move at all, she told him; "I'm not leaving until you've eaten all of this." Even though she herself left out the small fact that she had not eaten either. Grudgingly, Sweeney picked up the bowl of soup, and making barely any noise or motion than was needed, ate it quickly before a sound pierced the air. A stomach growling, and most definitely not his own. He arched an eyebrow at Mrs. Lovett before pushing the rest of the food towards her, getting up, and exiting, closing the door behind him.

It'd be another week before they spoke again, though they both did re-open their shops to the public, realizing they needed the business. Meanwhile, Sweeney had finally come to the conclusion of why on that fateful night had he not been able to do what he had sought to do, and revenge had nothing to do with it. Sighing, he closed his shop early and came downstairs, hiding in the edge of the crowd in Mrs. Lovett's shop. He watched as she served people his victims and took orders as the children cleared away dishes and brought out pies to waiting customers. More importantly, he watched her every movement, taking in the correct moment to pull her inside of the parlor.

She was coming closer to him, the time was perfect. As she finished serving a customer, he grabbed her wrist and whisked her through the door before she could question who it was that had the nerve to pull her away from her shop. Seeing it was Mr. Todd, she crossed her arms and waited for an explanation from the man whom she still was devoted to, heart and soul. He then took her wrist again and led her to his shop, still wearing a blood-soaked shirt, a small bit of blood upon his face as well. Having no choice but to follow him, she did. Once inside, he motioned for her to sit, she did, curious by this point rather than angry with him.

When he did not speak, she said in a voice barely above a whisper, "Mr. T?" He looked at her, almost as if he had forgotten that she was there. He shook his head slightly, some of his red curls that had grown longer bouncing this way and that at the slight movement of his head. He came to stand by his window, still staring at her, making her wonder what he had brought her up here for. He had a complex look upon him, as if deciphering a hidden code that she could not find. Finally, he approached her.

"Mrs. Lovett," He said, his voice hardly audible. "I have been thinking since that night in your parlor a week or so ago. I apologize for taking advantage of your affections," She almost could not hear the very last part, "Before realizing my own, for you."