Well here's chapter 10 for you all. Thank you RubyRosette5, Guest, EleKat, Noodlemantra, Nutter101, Helen Young, Guest and Chi for your encouraging reviews, they keep me writing! And thanks as always to Bellatrix Nellie Le-Lovett for beta-ing for me.

Hope you enjoy this one and make sure you review!

Chapter 10 – Ghosts in the Doorway

It was at times like these when Nellie wished there was no lock on her daughter's bedroom door. Not that there had ever been a time quite like this one before. Sighing deeply, she tried again, deciding this would be the last.

"Caddie love?" She called softly, the sound of her daughter's sobs still sounding through the door. Nellie knocked once again, "Let me in love. Or at least tell me what's upset yer?" Silence. Nellie turned from the door and was about to make her way back out into the shop to give her daughter some time on her own until she heard a quiet, broken sounding voice.

"Why don't yer ask 'im?" Caroline said, her voice shaky from the crying.

Nellie frowned, what on earth was she talking about? And then it occurred to her. What if Harry had done something to her? Leaning closer to the door, she called out again. "Harry?" She questioned, hoping the answer would be no.

Instead of an answer, she got a sharp laugh, "No. Not Harry. Yer precious barber."

Nellie froze. Sweeney? She knew he had changed but he hadn't changed enough to hurt her daughter had he? Blood boiling, Nellie stormed out the parlour, straight through the shop and up the stairs to his shop. Barging through the door, her eyes immediately started searching for the man in question. When she realised he wasn't there, she swept through the shop and swung the door into the parlour open, her eyes landing on the figure of the barber on the couch as soon as the light from the shop hit him.

He was sat with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Nellie didn't even pause to realise he had his daughter's necklace dangling from one hand, the chain entwined through his fingers, or the fact that when he looked up, a single tear was trickling its way down his cheek.

The barber stood up slowly and opened his mouth to speak but Nellie got there first, shouting him down before he'd even drawn breath.

"What the bloody 'ell 'ave yer said ter Caroline?!" She yelled, stepping further into the shop, "She's currently locked 'erself in 'er bedroom sobbin' 'er 'eart out an' blamin' it on you!" she added, emphasising her last word by stabbing her first finger into the barber's chest. She was beyond worrying about upsetting him at this point she realised.

"I think I should be the one asking you that question Mrs. Lovett. Lucy dying of illness. Joanna being taken away because of my circumstances. Me moving away. How many more lies have you told your daughter?" He asked, his voice low and unsettlingly calm.

Nellie looked down at her feet feeling slightly ashamed, "What did yer expect me ter tell 'er?" She asked quietly.

"The truth. Like I told her." He replied.

Nellie looked up at him, her eyes wide with shock. "Yer told 'er what?" she asked slowly.

"The truth." He repeated, "Or at least more of it than you told her."

"What did yer tell 'er?" she asked quietly.

"That Lucy poisoned herself and Joanna was taken away from me and if I went to claim her back then I'd be shipped off again." He said calmly.

"Yer didn't tell 'er where yer'd been? Where yer were when you were away?" she asked, feeling slightly calmer now she knew the extent of the revelations. Sweeney shook his head. "And that's all yer told 'er?"

Sweeney paused and shook his head again. "No. I told her that Albert wasn't her father." He said, not a hint of regret in his voice.

Nellie's eyes widened as she realised what he was saying. "Yer bastard." She hissed, stepping forwards so they were standing right in front of each other. "'Ow could yer?! After yer promised yer wouldn't!" She yelled, getting more annoyed by the fact that he wasn't responding.

Taking a step back, she turned and stormed to the door before pausing and turning back towards him. "Yer know she were startin' ter like yer. Think of yer as a father almost. Now it wouldn't surprise me if she never wants ter speak ter yer again. Yer seem ter be makin' a habit o' losing people that love yer." She said before turning and sweeping from the shop.

-x-

"Mrs. Lovett, Ma'am?" Toby asked as Nellie swept through the front door into the shop, "Is Miss Lovett alright Ma'am?" He asked nervously, "Will we be openin' the shop fer dinner Ma'am?"

Nellie paused and turned to face the boy hovering by the counter, "Yes love, Caroline'll be fine. She's just found out somethin' that she didn't know is all. And no, I don't suppose we'll be openin' the shop later. Why don't yer go out an' enjoy yerself, 'ave an evenin' off. Yer work so 'ard." She said, watching as the boy's face lit up at the mention of an evening off.

"Thank yer Ma'am!" He said before dashing out the shop.

Nellie turned and made her way quickly through the shop and into the parlour. Caroline's door was still shut but there was no sounds now coming from the other side. Slowly, Nellie made her way up to the door before tapping on it lightly.

"Caddie love? Yer still in there?" she asked, leaning her ear close to the door so she could try and hear if her daughter was still in there. When she got no answer, she was about to turn away and look for her somewhere else until she heard a quiet cough coming from the room. "Caddie? Love can I come in?"

"Doors open." Caroline replied quietly.

Slowly Nellie pushed the door open and stepped in, sighing heavily when she saw her daughter curled up on her bed hugging her pillow close to her. "Oh love." She said sadly, walking into the room and perching on the edge of her bed.

Caroline looked up at her mother, revealing her red puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks, "Yer lied ter me." She whispered, her voice hoarse from crying, "Everythin' yer told me were lies. Anythin' else yer want ter tell me while we're 'ere?" she asked, her voice taking on a sharp edge that made Nellie want to cry along with her daughter.

"I'm so sorry love. I just wanted yer ter 'ave a normal life. Knowin' who yer father was an' that. I wanted ter tell yer so often but I jus' couldn't find the words. I'm so sorry yer had ter hear it like that." She said, her eyes on her hands resting in her lap.

"An' what about the rest of it? About Mr. Todd an' 'is wife. Was everythin' yer told me about 'im a lie as well? Is what 'e told me true?" she asked.

"Well that depends on what 'e told yer love." Nellie replied, daring a look up at Caroline who was staring straight at her.

"Well 'ow about you tell me the truth an' then I can know who were bein' honest wi' me. But I want what really 'appened this time." Caroline said flatly.

Nellie sighed and looked back down at her hands again, "I don't know where ter start." She said with a sigh.

"How about at the beginnin'." Caroline said bitterly.

Nellie closed her eyes and tried to ignore the edge in her daughter's voice, "Well in that case I s'pose I should tell yer 'is real name is Benjamin Barker, and not Sweeney Todd. 'E changed it when 'e came back ter London."

"Why?" Caroline butted in, remembering when Sweeney mentioned that name while looking at her.

"I'm gettin' there." Nellie said impatiently, "About 17 years ago 'e moved in with 'is wife Lucy. Best tenants we'd 'ad in years. Anyway, about a year an' a half later little Joanna were born. The most beautiful family yer ever saw they was. Always smilin' all of 'em. Anyway, it turns out I wasn't the only one ter notice this an' one day while they were out at the market, the judge spied 'em an' decided 'e'd quite like Lucy fer 'imself. And so 'e 'ad Benjamin arrested on a charge of foolishness an' shipped off ter the colonies. Anyway, Lucy wouldn't go along with 'is little scheme so the judge tricked 'er inter comin' ter his 'ouse one night when 'e was havin' a masked ball. Poor dear didn't stand a chance. Was never the same afterwards, jus' cried all the time. Until finally she decided enough were enough and poisoned 'erself. Arsenic. We took in little Joanna, tried ter keep 'er but the judge came fer 'er an' we 'aven't seen 'er since." Nellie said, only looking up at Caroline when she'd finished her story.

"So why's 'e back now?" Caroline said after a long pause, her eyes wide and unbelieving.

"'E escaped. Came back expectin' a family like 'e left poor man."

"An' that's why 'e changed 'is name? 'Cause 'e escaped." Caroline asked, still sounding thoroughly confused.

Nellie nodded her head, "Now d'yer see why I didn't want ter tell yer?" She asked, "It's big this Caddie. If anyone found out, 'e'd be back on that ship before yer could say..."

"Joanna Barker's me daughter." Caroline said with a ghost of a smile. Nellie frowned and cocked her head to the side, "It's what 'e said earlier. 'E said if 'e went ter the judge's 'ouse an' tried ter get Joanna back then 'e'd be shipped off again quicker than 'e could say 'Joanna Barker's me daughter.' Didn't understand it at first but it makes sense now."

Nellie nodded and smiled slightly, wondering when the subject of fathers would come up. As it turned out, she didn't have long to ponder it over.

"Mr. Todd said somethin' else as well. Somethin' I'd 'alf suspected fer a while." She said, her voice a lot calmer than Nellie had thought that it would be.

Nellie looked back down at her hands and nodded, "I know what yer goin' ter say." She said quietly.

"Why didn't yer tell me?" Caroline asked, her voice staying calm.

Nellie shrugged not knowing what to say. Why hadn't she told her? Because she was too frightened? Because she didn't want her to know? She didn't even know herself. "I were too scared." She replied, knowing it was a feeble excuse.

Caroline nodded and looked away from her mother, "So who is my father then?" She asked quietly, hoping Mr. Todd was wrong and that she did know.

Nellie swallowed nervously and looked up at Caroline. She supposed now was as good a time as any. "I don't know." She said before she could stop herself. 'Coward!' "I'm sorry Caddie, I know that's not the answer yer wanted." She added, kicking herself for being so harsh to the girl.

Caroline looked at Nellie briefly before looking away again, "So Mr. Todd was right then." She said.

'Oh God, what's 'e been sayin' about me know?' Nellie thought, "Right about what?" She asked, dreading the answer.

"'E said yer wouldn't know who me father was. Called yer a whore." Caroline answered, a bitterness in her voice that Nellie couldn't tell whether was directed at her or the barber.

"I'm not a whore love." She answered, hurt evident in her voice.

"Well then yer should know who me father is!" Caroline said, her voice considerably raised.

Nellie looked down at her hands again; she was on the brink of tears now. There was only one way of proving she wasn't a whore and that was to reveal to her daughter that her father was the man who she hated most at the moment. How else could she do it? Telling her she'd only ever slept with two people in her life wouldn't help either as that would mean she'd know who the father was.

Sighing frustratedly, she stood up. "I'm not a whore love. This one yer just goin' ter have ter take me word on." She said before sweeping from the bedroom and closing the door behind her.

-x-

It was getting late and Sweeney had seen no one since Nellie had left his shop that afternoon. He sighed; he didn't blame them. He wouldn't want to be around him if he was Nellie or Caroline.

Glancing down at his hands, he watched as he slipped the silver chain through his fingers. He hadn't put the necklace down since he'd retrieved it off the floor earlier. Slowly, he gathered it up in his hand again before once more letting the chain slip down between his fingers. He'd been sat like this for over an hour now, planning what he should do, deciding how he should make it up to them. He knew he had to at some point so there was no point in delaying it.

Looking across at the door to the stairs down to Nellie's parlour he wondered how far Nellie had got with calming down Caroline. The shouting had stopped about an hour ago and the crying some time before that. Time seemed to drag in the company of his new found emotion; something he hadn't felt in over fifteen years. Guilt; guilt and regret. He found himself realising that he could have just ripped the family downstairs apart through his selfishness. It was the fact that he couldn't have what they had that made him keep shouting at the girl earlier and now he was starting to hate himself for it. Well, that reason and because of his little trip out earlier.

Rubbing his free hand over his eyes, he wondered whether he should go down and see what was happening. But then he imagined being yelled at and being thrown out of the shop so stayed put. He'd go down later he decided.

Leaning back against the couch, he closed his eyes, only to snap them open again when he heard the sound of the shop door downstairs being slammed shut. He stayed silent for a moment, half dreading and half hoping for the sound of footsteps to come up the outside stairs. When they didn't he sighed, partly out of relief and partly out of disappointment.

And then it came to him. If one of them had gone out, he could go down and see the other; surely it would be easier to handle one angry woman at a time rather than two. Proud of his decision, he stood, slipping the necklace into his pocket in case Caroline was still there. He wanted her to have it back.

Quickly he made his way across the parlour, through the door and down the stairs as quietly as he could. When he reached the bottom he peered round the corner. When he was sure no one was there, he stepped off the bottom step and wandered through into the parlour. Looking round, he realised it was empty in there as well. 'Perhaps they've both gone out.' He thought, turning to wander back upstairs again. Just as he left the parlour, a voice from behind him made him freeze.

"Yer more similar than I thought."

Sweeney span round and almost gasped at what he saw. In the doorway was what looked like a ghost. Caroline, her eyes still puffy and tear tracks staining her pale cheeks, stepped out into the parlour towards him, the flames in the fire lighting up her face. She looked tired; her usually neat hair hanging down her back messily only enhancing this. She was no longer wearing the emerald dress she had been earlier but a white night gown with a grey shawl thrown over her shoulders.

Sweeney swallowed, the feeling of guilt stabbing him in the stomach more now he could see the after effects of his words. And then hers sunk in. "Yer more similar than I thought."

Sweeney frowned, "Similar to whom?" he asked, stepping back into the parlour.

"My mother. She's jus' run off an' you were about ter run off as well." She said, nodding towards the door out of the parlour in which he was still hovering close to.

Sweeney bowed his head and sighed quietly, "Where has she gone?" He asked, glancing back up at her in time to see her shrug.

"She didn't say." She answered, padding barefoot over to her mother's chair by the fire where she deposited herself, stretching out her legs stiffly. "Yer can sit down yer know."

Sweeney raised his eyebrows, surprised at how calm she seemed to be. Slowly he made his way into the parlour and perched on the couch. Silence hung heavily as Sweeney fought to find something to say and Caroline just lay with her eyes closed. Coming up with nothing worth saying, he suddenly remembered the necklace in his pocket. 'Too soon?' he thought, 'Got nothing to lose' he realised, stretching his leg out so he could reach into his pocket and pull out the necklace.

Hearing the shuffling about, Caroline opened her eyes, her gaze immediately fixing on the bit of chain that had escaped through his fingers.

Sweeney followed her eyes to his hand and instantly started to explain himself. "It's yours. You can hate me if you like but take the necklace back again. Forget I gave it to you if you like. Just please, have it back." He begged, holding his hand out to her with the necklace in his palm.

Caroline smiled weakly before leaning forward and taking it from him. Slowly she unclasped it and reached up to fasten it round her neck again. Sweeney smiled when he saw it settled around her neck.

"I'm sorry." Caroline said, un-tucking her hair from the chain at the back.

Sweeney frowned, what on earth could she have to be sorry about? "About what?" He asked.

"About yer wife. An' yer daughter. Mum told me what 'appened. The truth this time." She said.

Sweeney dipped his head, "Was a long time ago." He mumbled.

"Pain never goes away." She said repeating the very words he'd said to her a few weeks after he'd arrived. A sad smile crept across his lips as he looked up at her, obviously remembering the conversation from all that time ago as well.

"No it doesn't." He muttered, "But at least yer don't need ter worry about that anymore. Now yer know." He said, hoping he hadn't said the wrong thing.

Caroline shook her head slightly, "Don't yer remember, I never felt it."

Sweeney chuckled slightly before the pair descended into silence once again. Sweeney shuffled on the sofa, making himself more comfortable. He chanced a glance up at Caroline only to see her lying back on the chair again with her eyes closed. His lips twitched into a sort of smile; he was glad she didn't seem to be angry with her anymore. Sighing, he closed his eyes as well, leaning his head back against the couch.

He didn't know how long he'd been sat like that, but the sound of the shop door opening and closing again made him open his eyes. Blinking rapidly, he realised it was almost dark out the window; he must have fallen asleep. Leaping up off the couch, he glanced down at the chair only to see Caroline fast asleep how she had been earlier.

Not wanting to confront Nellie yet, he turned and dashed from the parlour, only to almost run into Toby at the bottom of the stairs up to his parlour. Sweeney cleared his throat awkwardly, still not feeling totally comfortable in the boy's presence after what he had done to his master.

"Where's Mrs. Lovett?" he asked after a few long moments. The boy shrugged.

"Dunno Sir. I went out lookin' fer 'er when I got back ter the shop an' found she weren't 'ere but can't find 'er. I 'oped she'd be back 'ere already." He said.

"Well she obviously isn't." Sweeney growled brushing past him and straight up the stairs. Where the hell had she got to? She could have gone anywhere in the mood she must have left in. He sighed heavily as he opened the door into his parlour; he'd go back downstairs later he decided, just to make sure she'd gotten back safely.

-x-

Nellie wandered in through the shop door, closing it quietly behind her in case anyone was already asleep. She dumped her bag down on the table just inside the door and pushed the shawl she'd worn over her head back around her neck.

Unwrapping her jacket from around her body, she pulled the gin bottle that she'd just bought out and placed it down on the table before wandering into the kitchen to get herself a glass. She deserved a drink that night she decided. Wandering back out again, she stopped in the corridor. There where footsteps coming from the direction of the parlour into the shop. Slowly, she crept along the passage until she could peer out into the almost dark room.

Glancing around, she saw a candle being carried through into the shop. Squinting against the dancing flame, she could just make out the figure of the barber staggering slightly into the shop. Sighing in relief that it wasn't Caroline, she stepped out into the shop and shuffled her way over to the counter, struggling in the lack of light.

"I heard you return." Sweeney said, striding straight over to where she was stood.

Nellie looked up into his eyes, "Yer've been drinking." She said matter-of-factly as he reached her, smelling gin on his breath.

Sweeney shrugged and nodded slightly, "Only one or two." He replied, his eyes travelling down to her hand where the glass was still firmly gripped. He glanced over at the table and noticed the bottle before sighing and stepping away from her. As quickly as he could, he strode off down towards the kitchen, Nellie's eyes on his swaying form as he went. She shrugged and headed straight for the table where the gin was before depositing herself down on the bench. Quickly she unscrewed the lid and poured herself a generous measure, spilling some on the table in the dark.

Just as she raised the glass to her lips, she caught the glow of the candle returning into the shop out of the corner of her eye. Looking across, she smiled when she saw the barber returning with a glass in his hand.

"Take a seat love." She said, picking up the bottle again. As soon as it was on the table, Nellie poured him a glass before topping up her own.

Silence enveloped for a long while, neither knowing quite what to say until Sweeney put down his glass and cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry." He said, his voice sounding deflated and slower than usual.

Nellie looked up at him; his slightly intoxicated state showed her that something was troubling him. Pushing aside her feelings of blame towards him that her daughter now knew Albert wasn't her father, Nellie frowned at him, concerned.

"What for love?" she asked, taking a small sip from her glass.

"For telling Caroline, it was not my place."

Nellie rolled her eyes, there was definitely something else troubling him. Deciding she would never get anything out of him using the direct approach, she pushed her glass away from her and rested her head on her hands, she needed to be at least slightly sober for this.

"S'almost the very date ain't it?" She asked, wondering whether he would realise what she was talking about. He did.

"13 days." He said, "13 days since the anniversary of the day my life was ruined by that bastard." He added gloomily before downing his glass and pouring himself another one.

"An' that's why yer snapped earlier?" she asked slowly.

Sweeney shook his head before taking a long drag from his glass. "No, not really." He said slowly.

Nellie raised her eyebrows and twirled the glass round between her finger and thumb. With his eyes focussed on his glass, she let herself rake her eyes over his body. He definitely had a better physique since he had come back from prison, the hard labour had made him toned and broad shouldered, something that made her long for his body over hers again like that night all those years ago. Smiling to herself, she let her mind drift back to that night. She wondered if he remembered it. She hoped he did.

His voice brought her back to the present. "I went there today. I hadn't been there since I've been back." He said quietly.

Nellie cocked her head to the side and frowned, "Where's that love?" she asked when he showed no sign of explaining further.

"The judge's house." He growled.

Nellie widened her eyes. What the hell had he gone there for? And what had he done there to make himself return in this foul mood? "Oh?" She prompted, sitting up straight and pushing her glass away for good now.

"I saw her. They were going out and she was there." He said.

Nellie frowned slightly, thinking she already knew who 'she' was. "Joanna?" She said quietly.

Sweeney nodded and downed his glass of gin, a top up coming almost before the glass was back on the table. "She was getting into a carriage. All dressed up and beautiful." He added, his voice beginning to slow down and slur slightly now. Nellie stayed silent, knowing he was on the brink of saying something more. "She looked over at me and looked straight through me. Then she turned to that man and he helped her into the carriage."

There it was, she thought, the reason for today's little display. Nellie sighed slightly. "It ain't 'er fault love. She didn't know yer from Adam." She said, watching helplessly as he downed another glass and reached for the bottle, however this time, he didn't pour himself more, just pushed the glass away and raised the bottle to his lips, taking several large gulps before lowering it back down to the table and wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

"That's the point. Whose fault is that hmm? His! His bloody fault." He said, his voice loud and slurred.

Nellie winced; he'd be passed out on the floor in no time the way he was going. She'd never seen him drink like this before and she was starting to worry, she realised as she watched him raise the bottle to his lips again.

"Don't yer think yer've 'ad enough love?" she asked reaching out to take the bottle off him. He moved it and glared at her before lifting it again to his lips. Nellie sighed and raised an eyebrow. "Well don't say I didn't warn yer when yer can 'ardly walk termorrow." She added.

Sweeney looked up at her as if only just realising her presence. He was drunk now, very drunk, she realised, noting how he was struggling to focus on her face for any length of time.

Slamming his hands down on the table, he shot up from his seat, only to stagger and almost topple over from the amount he'd drunk. Nellie gasped and jumped up, rushing round to the other side of the table and grabbing his elbows to steady him. Sweeney turned slowly to look at her, his dark eyes boring into hers. His gaze was wandering as it roamed from her eyes to her lips and down to her breasts before back to her eyes.

Nellie felt her breathing quicken. She couldn't let anything happen; he was drunk and didn't know what he was doing. However her traitorous body ignored the rational side of her when he pulled her clumsily into his arms, his lips landing on her cheek instead of her mouth as he went to kiss her.

Nellie feebly pushed him away, secretly pleased when he pulled her back and bent down to kiss her again, only this time, hitting his target. His lips were lazy, kissing her clumsily in his drunken state. However she was beyond caring; all that mattered was that she was back in his arms with his lips on hers once again.

Suddenly, she felt herself being pushed backwards by hands that had found their way to her hips. Opening her eyes she didn't know had closed, she realised Sweeney was pushing her backwards towards the parlour. Nellie's heart began to beat faster; could this be happening? Could he be about to take her to her bedroom?

Looking up into his eyes, she saw they were clouded over with drink and lust. Turning in his grasp, she took his hand and pulled him towards the bedroom, his drunken amble not being quick enough for her growing desire.

Sweeney showed no sign of hesitancy, even drunk he was still strong enough to scoop her up in his arms and carry her the last few strides to the bedroom. Nellie squealed before burying her face in his neck and praying it wasn't loud enough to wake anyone. She didn't know what she'd do if someone came out and discovered them like this and interrupted them. She just had to have him that night. Feeling him pause, she looked up and latched her lips onto his pulse point at the base of his neck. Feeling his arms start to wobble as he fumbled with the door handle whilst still trying to hold onto her, Nellie clasped her arms tighter around his neck, not enjoying the prospect of being dropped.

With Sweeney obviously feeling he didn't need to cling onto her so tightly, he soon had the door opened and closed before he threw her rather ungraciously onto the bed. Nellie squealed and giggled as he crawled up the bed and planted his lips roughly on her neck, trailing wet kisses up to her mouth.

Reaching up, Nellie tangled her hands through his black mane before pulling his head up to hers where she kissed his lips hungrily. Their tongues dulled lazily as Sweeney's hands roamed over her body, making Nellie grip firmly onto his shoulders. God she was glad she decided not to drink that night now. Pulling back for breath, she opened her eyes and looked into his still glazed over eyes. She realised with a jolt that he had little or no idea what he was doing; he was almost completely drunk.

Feeling she was taking advantage of him, she tried to pull away from him again, only to be flipped onto her stomach and have her hands clasped together above her head. Nellie gasped as she felt the barber move away from her slightly, his hand still holding hers together before his weight returned to her back. Turning her head as much as she could, Nellie caught sight of something silver in the corner of her eye in the barber's hand. Wide eyed, she tried to turn completely to see what it was.

Sweeney's hot breath by her ear calmed her slightly, and his words even more so, despite being slurred from drink, "To many clothes, too many laces. Much easier just to cut 'em." He said as she felt pressure being applied to her dress stings at the bottom of her back. Slowly, she felt them being cut open one by one as the dress was freed from her body. When all the ties had been cut, Sweeney pulled the bodice and the corset away in one, making Nellie gasp as the cool air hit her exposed skin.

Grinning, Sweeney lowered himself down her body and pulled off her skirts and petticoats, her bloomers soon following leaving her naked and shivering underneath him.

Flipping her back over again, the barber knelt over her, trailing clumsy kisses up from her belly button to her lips torturously slowly. Nellie let out a moan of frustration before clasping her hand over her mouth, hoping no one had heard through the paper thin walls.

Finally, he reached her lips again where he kissed her roughly, shrugging off his shirt as Nellie unbuttoned it with trembling hands. His trousers and boxers soon followed his shirt leaving them both bare and trembling. Nellie bit down gently on the barber's neck as he ran one hand down her side; even when drunk he knew how to please her she thought with a sigh.

Leaving her again, his lips roamed her body, followed by his fumbling hands. Frustrated, Nellie pulled him back over her once more, her legs wrapping round his waist to keep him in place this time. Stretching up to kiss him, Nellie gasped into his mouth as he finally succumbed to his desires.

-x-

The hooting of an owl outside her bedroom window woke her gently. Blinking against the moonlight seeping in through her window, Nellie shifted in her bed only to hit something firm lying next to her. Freezing, she swallowed, suddenly finding her mouth had gone dry. Turning her head, she gasped when she saw the barber lying in her bed next to her. So it wasn't a dream, she thought as her eyes wandered down over his exposed torso appreciatively.

Then suddenly she realised how dead she would be when he woke up in the morning and found himself in her bed. The only thing she could do was to get up and sleep on the sofa she realised, that way she could say he was too drunk to get upstairs so collapsed into her bed instead. Slowly, she sat up, pulling the covers down as she did so. A hand hitting her back made her freeze. Wide eyed, she turned her head cautiously. Sweeney shifted, still asleep, his arm stretching out towards her.

Turning her head back to the door she wondered whether she could stay. His arms looked so inviting, welcoming almost. She could creep in under his arm and pretend he was holding her; pretend he loved her like she wished he did. She could always claim they were both drunk the night before and she had no memory of it either.

Realising she might not get another chance, she pulled the covers back over her body again and turned to the sleeping barber, lowering herself slowly down under his arm, her head resting on his chest. As soon as she was settled, he stirred, making her jump. However, to her delight, he simply pulled her closer, his arm draping itself round her shoulders. Nellie smiled against his chest, sleep overcoming her as soon as she closed her eyes.

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