AN: So sorry for the delayed update! I've been a bit busy with school work and exams and whatnot. But here is the next chapter! SWEENETT FOR THE WIN! Enjoy and remember to REVIEW!

Mrs Lovett sat, she stood, she paced, she stared out the window, she made a few pies and she worried. She'd made it back to the store safe and sound, and after 5 minutes of waiting she had taken a quick bath and gotten some fresh clothes on. By then that was another ten minutes and Sweeney and Lucy still hadn't shown up. She kept waiting, growing more worried and finally after half an hour they strolled down the street, Sweeney in front and Lucy trailing behind closely. Mrs Lovett couldn't help but notice the distance between them and wonder what happened with their relationship, only weeks ago they were inseparable, even as Lucy started losing her mind again. But at the current moment she couldn't be bothered dwelling into those facts, she was just happy to see Sweeney out of that place alive.

As soon as he walked through the door she threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. To her very pleasant surprise he hugged her back just as tight, "I am glad you are alright, Mrs Lovett" he said rather stiffly. All his feelings for her were multiplied when he saw her and he didn't know how to handle it, he hadn't felt this way for anyone for a long time. Yes, he always believed he loved Lucy but it seemed it was a mere infatuation, especially with that yellow hair of hers. But with Nellie it was different, it was new and to be completely honest with himself it was frightening.

"Come on, Mr T, it's Nellie remember" she said with a small laugh, pulling away from him and starting to head back over to a seat. But before she could get very far he grabbed her hand.

"Nellie, I need to speak to you about something" he said rather shyly, glancing at Lucy out of the corner of his eye, "Would you mind coming upstairs?"

"Course not" she replied simply and the pair headed up to Sweeney's store. "Now, what do you want to talk about?" she raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms

"I… I don't know how to start this. Or say it at all. So, I'll start from the beginning" Sweeney swallowed and looked at a very confused Nellie Lovett, "After you were… after he held you captive, I went home and I realized that. You meant more to me then I could have thought, I didn't want harm to come to you…"

Nellie stared at him in shock, was he really starting to say what she think he was saying?

"I also realized that my heart no longer belongs to Lucy, no matter how much I try to tell myself it does. When the Judge had you, you were his… but I refused to let it stand because, in the end. You are mine" he finished with a nod, avoiding eye contact. He wasn't very good at feelings, expressing them or even feeling them but he'd tried. Nellie was shocked to say the least, she loved him, of course she did, she had for many many years but for him to love her back, or even begin to, was to good to be true.

Carefully she inched closer to him, taking his hand in her own, "Mr Todd, you know I've always loved you. I told you that once before… I love you"

With a small smile, Sweeney pulled her close to him, kissing her with an enormous amount of passion. All this true feeling poured into their first real kiss and Nellie returned it with her own amount of love he had for the man. Her arms wound themselves around his neck, pushing her body close to his, she had longed for the feeling of his lips on hers, his body pressed against hers and it was all she imagined and more. Their kiss turned into one of heated passion and lust, every wasted moment they had spent together was being made up for in this night, that they were both sure of.

XXX

The next morning Nellie slowly woke up, her head on Mr Todds chest, his arms around her and hers around him. It was a rather bittersweet moment for Nellie, she smiled to herself recalling the events of last night and gently moved to give Sweeney a small peck on the cheek. She rose out of bed and quickly put on her dress, taking one more look at Sweeney before heading downstairs. At the bottom of the stairs she was greeted by a very over tired looking Lucy.

"Lucy, what are you doing out here so early?" she asked, gently pushing the other woman back inside.

"You never came down from there, Nell… I thought he killed ya!" Lucy replied, worry evident in her distressed tone.

"Course Mr T didn't kill me, Lucy. He has no reason to. If he wanted me dead he wouldn't have come to get me for the Judges, now would he?" Nellie said reassuringly.

"No, no, I suppose he wouldn't of… I was worried is all" Lucy whispered, sitting down on one of the benches.

"No need to be, dear." She replied with a smile, a more cheerful one than normal.

Lucy looked up at her, understanding on her face, she tilted her head before asking, "Did Ben tell you he loves you?"

Nellie glanced up, surprised. She hadn't expected Lucy to ask something like that, especially after her and Sweeney's relationship practically just ended.

"No he didn't, love. Not in those words at least…" she smiled softly refraining from saying anything else.

"But he does, I know he does. He was so worried when you were gone, all he did was plan to get you back… He didn't look at me once that whole time" she whispered then smiled softly, "And you love him… Like you always have… You're meant for eachother"

Nellie couldn't hold back the grin that spread across her features at Lucy's words, coming from a half crazy woman who was in love with the same person, that meant a lot. More than a lot. She was about to reply again when Sweeney came downstairs, Nellie grinned at him from across the room. He gave her a small smile back and a glance to Lucy.

"Good mornin', Mr T" Nellie called out, her happiness radiating through her voice.

"Morning, pet" he muttered, pouring himself a glass of gin and making his way over to the two women, "Good morning, Lucy"

"Morning, morning" she muttered and looked away, glancing at Nellie before she did so.

Sweeney placed a simple kiss on Nellie's lips that sent her heart fluttering, such a sweet gesture from a cruel man. Only Nellie knew he wasn't so cruel deep down, he was still the gentle loving man she had met all those years ago. Only now he had a new layer, a more mysterious, dangerous layer and she loved that. She had never been a prime and proper lady like Lucy had been, she'd always been… how she was now, unusual and eccentric. Sweeney was meant for her, Benjamin was for Lucy… It was her turn. Nellie smiled at Sweeney and moved closer to him, just happy to be in such a close proximity to her love.

"I love you…" she whispered to him, looking up at him with such admiration in her eyes.

Sweeney looked down at her, he had developed such a deep fondness for Nellie, yes, but love… He didn't know if he could tell her he loved her, not yet. He smiled softly and gave her another kiss in response before turning and walking away back up to his shop. Nellie stood in her place, slightly disappointed but not expecting anymore deep down.

"He'll get there, Nell…" Lucy said, then hobbled off outside.

Nellie nodded, she trusted Lucy on this, for Lucy did know about Sweeney's love a lot more than she did. He would come around, he would love her, it would just take some time.

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