A/n: So I think that that was my favorite chapter so far. I hope all of you liked it as much as I did.
Mrs. Lovett sunk down in to the hot water, letting her hair get soaked. She washed her dark curls and scrubbed the dirt away from her body. She hummed softly to herself as she lathered herself up, washing away the stress of the day. Her ears pricked up slight when she head Mr. Todd's voice trickle through the house. She pulled her newly cleaned body out of the tub and wrapped herself in a large bathrobe. She followed his voice in to Toby's room where he sat on the edge of the bed book in hand. Toby was curled up, asleep, hands under his head. His breathing was deep and calm, his face peaceful.
"He's asleep love." She stood in the doorway watching him. She walked past him and kisses Toby's forehead. "Come on let him sleep. You need to get back in bed."
She pushed him out of the room and closed the door softly behind them. She pushed him back in to her room and closed the door. She slipped behind a folded changing screen. "I'm going to change, don't look please." He sat on the bed and watched her slight silhouette through the screen. His mind traced the curve of her body as her hands twisted her hair up. His mind told him to look away but something about this woman drew him so deep in. Benjamin Barker was dead, he thought, Sweeney Todd isn't. He pressed his fingers to his lips and remembered the spark he felt then he pulled her close and kissed her. He watched her slip a thin night gown over her still damp body. He gripped the sides of the bed to keep himself from jumping and claiming her.
She stepped out from behind the screen and sat back down in her chair.
"What are you looking at?" She asked tucking her feet under herself.
"Nothing." He shook his head and let go of the bed. "Tell me about Albert."
"I prayed you'd forget."
"You don't want to talk about it? You know about me, it's only,
"Fair I know." She cut him off "I met Albert for the first a month before we were set me be married. We never had much money and with out my brother we didn't have much money coming in to the house. I was only a few days over 18 when I was married. My parents thought it was best to marry me off, off to some one who could take of me. I spent more time taking care of him. He wasn't very healthy when we were married, I'll tell you that. He was a banker, sat a desk all day, yelled at by others all day. So what did he do took it out on me. I slaved over his meal every day and if at the end of the meal he wasn't full it was my fault, I only thank god that I could run away to my own room."
Mr. Todd watched her carefully, his face slightly shocked.
"Don't look that way. I'm not the only wife on Fleet Street that has been abused. He got what he deserved in the end though. He chocked to death one, chicken bone. Can't say I will ever miss him. He never liked much of anything but my cooking, well cooking in general. Always wanted kids, I did but Albert detested them. Small little messes he called them." She sighed deeply and brought he knees to her chest.
"Why didn't you kill him?" He asked.
"Don't think that I hadn't thought of it a few times. I just never found the right moment." She smiled slight and yawned.
"You must be so tired." Mr. Todd said and reached out for her hand. He took it gently into his and caressed the top. She nodded and yawned again.
"I am. I've tried to sleep but the chair is less the comfortable to sleep in."
"Than sleep with me." He said picking up the edge of the covers and patted the space beside him.
"Oh no I couldn't, I really shouldn't." She stammered. He slide up and brought his lips close to hers. He pressed his passionately to hers and pulled her out of the chair in to the bed.
"Stay with me Nellie. Keep me safe." He mumbled in to her hair. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, feeling his warm breath on her neck. She was lost in him, his smell, his voice, his touch.
"Of course love." He pulled her close and nuzzled his nose in to her neck, quickly falling asleep.