I know, i know i've been waaaaaaay off scedule...hopefully this nice long chapter makes up for it..

Chapter 10

Sweeney ran his fingers over the broken picture frame. He had removed the photos- luckily, undamaged- and placed them safely in a drawer inside the vanity.

As he tucked the broken frame into the drawer as well, he noticed a mark on the floor where Toby's shoes had scuffed it when he fell.

Sweeney stared at the spot as the image of Toby flying into the vanity replayed over and over again in his mind and he couldn't help but pity the clumsy child. After all, he was just an innocent boy whose dreams were shattered early on, was abused and tormented.

And the barber was finally beginning to wake up to the fact that he was the same way. That they were both the same as the picture frame.

Broken.

Sweeney picked up his razor and began to sharpen it once more, turning his back to the vanity that held the picture frame. The motion of the razor was less fierce this time, for his mind was made up.

He could forgive the boy for his mistake.

He couldn't piece it together. It just wasn't making any sense!

Toby was lying on his back, contemplating all that had just happened. It didn't seem to make sense. How could the barber suddenly be kind to him and mean it? What was with this man?

Deciding that lying on the floor thinking about it wouldn't solve anything, he got up and walked out of the room, no longer feeling the need to be absolutely careful and silent. He needed to confront Mr. Todd head-on.

He went outside and up the stairs to the barbershop, for once feeling no fear as he opened the door slowly.

"Mr. Todd? Can I talk with you?"

Sweeney didn't look up. "I don't know…can you?"

Toby rolled his eyes. He hated when adult did that! "Sorry, sir, may I talk with you?"

Sweeney turned his head to face the boy. "Depends…"

"I've been thinking and…it…it doesn't make sense! One minute you push me down the stairs, the next minute you're holding me while I cry…so which is it? Do you really care about me? Or do you 'ate me?"

The barber stood up and took two steps toward the boy. "Frankly, all your crying did was cause a memory to come back, that's all…other than that, you're nothing but a servant to me…but I suppose I don't 'ate you…" There was a tense moment of silence. "Look, let's just stay out of each other's way until Mrs. Lovett's return…I can take care of myself…"

Toby nodded. "Agreed sir. And by the way, I do apologize for the picture frame, and-"

"Never mind that, boy. Run along…"

With another nod, Toby did as he was told.

Anthony walked around Hyde Park, his ears smoking. How dare that judge be so clever! He felt so mad he could kick a puppy!

He stopped and slapped himself, realizing that it wouldn't do any good to abuse animals, when Johanna was trapped like one.

In a sudden change in attitude, the young sailor took off toward the judge's home. He was going to rescue Johanna- even if he had to die to do it!

Johanna stared at the boards covering the window. Her face was a mess of tears, mourning the loss of her only doorway to the outside world.

This time the judge had gone too far! She suddenly leapt up from her bed and began a fruitless attempt to yank the wooden boards from the window.

No use; they were nailed on tight.

She began to bang on the boards, screaming and cussing. Suddenly the door flew open- and Turpin stood in the doorway. Immediately he ran toward the girl and pried her (with some difficultly) from the window. But Johanna wasn't about to give up that easily. She kicked and began to scream at him as he dragged her out of the room.

Angrily, the Judge clamped his hand over her mouth- which Johanna then proceeded to bite.

With a scream of pain, the judge threw the girl to the ground. Seeing her chance, Johanna jumped up and ran for the stairs. She had made halfway down when she saw the Beadle standing in her way, blocking her exit.

She stopped short in her tracks, knowing he was trapped like a rat. During this moment of ambush, the Judge grabbed her from behind, carried her down to the Beadle, who used his walking stick to whack her solidly on the head.

Johanna's world started to spin and blend together. Soon, no shape was recognizable and she lost all power to keep her eyelids open. The last thing she heard was the judge sneering, "I'm sick of you trying to escape me…little brats like you must learn the 'ard way!"

The judge and beadle dragged Johanna's limp form outside…when Anthony came around the corner. When he noticed his true love unconscious, he ran at the judge, but was struck with the stick as well before he could say one word.

It was midday and Toby was sweeping outside the pie shop, keeping the place tidy like Mrs. Lovett had requested. He whistled quietly to himself, a cheerful little tune as he did so. He had every right to be happy. He and the barber had finally made an agreement that didn't involve him getting emotionally disturbed anymore than he had already been.

But what struck Toby as odd was that he knew that Sweeney really did care, but he couldn't admit it. What was it going to take for the barber to admit it?

Ah, well…

After he finished sweeping, he went inside to begin to wipe off the dusty tables, when something on the counter caught his eye; it was a person's bloody hand!

Gross! 'Ow long 'as that been there? Toby thought, taking in a deep breath to keep himself as calm as possible.

Swallowing his pride, he walked over to it and tried to pick it up with the tips of his fingers. As his fingers came in contact with the dead flesh, visions of the horrid bake house, the dead bodies and scenes from his nightmares filled his head. He emitted a shriek as he jumped backward, throwing the hand in the hair and knocking over a stool.

The boy tumbled to the floor along with the stool. The hand came down with a plop a few feet away from him.

"Ok, this is not a problem. I'm sure Mr. Todd can take care of it…" Toby reasoned out loud. He then had a second thought. "Better yet, I could cover it up until Mrs. Lovett comes back…"He got to his feet. "I'm sure no one-"

That's when he looked outside and noticed a carriage pull up. Curious, the boy went outside to see what was happening.

A corpulent, yet well dressed man stepped outside of the carriage. He walked around to the other side and opened the door to allow another man out. This man was tall, skinny, also well dressed and had gray hair.

Realization struck Toby instantly: it was Judge Turpin and Beadle Bamford! Nervously, the meek boy walked over to the renowned judge.

"Good day, sir." Toby began, trying not to stutter. "'ow may we serve you today?" (In the back of his mind, the boy knew he'd accidentally just made a dark joke and if Mrs. Lovett had been there, her cheek would be hurting as she would hold in her wild laughter.)

"I've just come for a pie and shave. I 'ave 'eard wonderful things about your mistress' pies, and I would like to see if they are up to their standards…" The judge said simply, without giving the boy a glance as he started for the pies shop. Toby gasped and ran in front of the door.

"Step aside, boy!" the Beadle growled, brandishing his walking stick. Toby felt his heart pounding out of his chest.

"Well you see sirs, Mrs. Lovett is out of town, and the bake 'ouse is locked and I don't 'ave the key! So, I'm sorry, but there's no use going inside!"

The Judge took a moment before responding. "Ah, well then…I guess I could do without the pie for today… a shave would be all I require, then I'll be on my way. I mean, normally I wouldn't been seen at a premises such as this, but seeing as 'ow Signor Pirelli, my regular barber…'as vanished…" Toby gulped. "I suppose I should find a new one…" And he started toward the stairs. Once he was inside the shop, the Beadle looked at Toby suspiciously…

The bell on the door dinged lightly as the judge walked in. Sweeney looked up from sharpening his razor and smiled politely.

"Good day, sir." he said to his long-awaited costumer. The judge nodded in return as he walked to the barber's chair.

"If only it were, Mr. Todd. I 'ave just been through a great struggle only a few 'ours ago…"

Sweeney waited until the judge was seated, the draped a cloth over his front side and tied it at the back of his neck. "If I may, sir, what are you talking about?"

The judge sighed. 'I 'ad to lock up my dear ward in a mad'ouse…"

Nearly dropping the lather bowl he was holding, Sweeney stood stalk still. "And…why is that, sir?"

"She 'ad been pining to marry behind my back, and when I tried to prevent her, she became quite violent, as if bitten by a wild animal!"

Sweeney cleared his throat gently to prevent himself from crying as he smeared the lather on his enemy's chin.

Down in front of the pie shop door, Toby found himself trapped between the wooden door and the large form of the Beadle. For a long time they just stared at each other. Then the Beadle acted like he was going one way to confuse Toby. Once Toby tried to block him, the Beadle grabbed the boy through him out of the way and barraged into the shop.

"What in the name of all that's 'oly are you 'iding in-" He stepped on the hand before he could finish talking.

Sweeney felt his heart pounding even harder. This was the moment he'd waited fifteen long years for.

The Judge's eyes were shut as he was relaxed in the chair.

Come on, Sweeney. Just one slash and 'e can't escape you anymore… The anxious barber tried to convince himself. Taking a deep breath, he got as close to the judge as he could, brought his arm around in a curve, held the razor to his neck and-

The door burst open.

The Judge sat up and looked at the Beadle, Holding Toby by the collar of his shirt in one hand and the dead body part in the other.

I apologize emensly if this story gets a little twisted and turned this way and that....

let me know of any concerns...but remember, im still learning...the System doesnt provide much in the way of creative writing lessons...

new chapter coming soon!!