A/N: Hello again my loves, *URGENT NOTE: MY AUTHOR NAME HAS CHANGED (from MoonDoll33) TO "Lilly Lovett Todd" SO DON'T WORRY IF YOU CAN'T SEE MY OLD TITLE WITH THE STORIES!*

I know that the update for The Light After the Dark is most likely over due but as I said before I am having to rewrite the whole thing because I didn't like how it sounded the first time but I promise you that I will get it up the moment I am finished. Also regarding this story maybe twist was too large a word for the change in this story (has anyone figured it out yet? If not that's ok it'll come at you as so small you didn't think of it at first since SHE doesn't alter the way of the story much.) but at any rate I do hope you are enjoying this story I'm working to improve it so it doesn't seem bland. Now enough of my rambling here is the next chapter of The Scars of Our Hearts.

XxXx

"Where did that come from?"

His eyes never left the baby as he spoke making her bite her lip.

"She was theirs, poor little thing is all alone now, we can't just abandon 'er."

Sweeney looked into Nellie's eyes realizing it was a mistake as soon as he had because she was looking at him with her large brown eyes begging and wet with crocodile tears as her lower lip pouted, the look Benjamin was always unable to refuse, he shook his head working to clear it as adrenalin clouded his thoughts.

"No, send her to the workhouse, make her into a pie, I don't care but get rid of her!"

Unsure of what possessed him to say such a thing, but chalking it momentarily up to the fact the tiny child was part of the two people that had ruined his life so many years ago, he watched as Nellie's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to argue until Joanna began to cry woken by his shouting. She gave him a cold look pointing to the hallway leading to the bathroom before she gently rocked Joanna in her arms singing softly once more. He watched her surprisingly feeling a bit hurt by her actions as she turned her back to him soothing the whimpering Joanna. He walked from the room to the bathroom as told slightly relieved to find a hot bath drawn and clean clothes awaiting him. He undressed and got into the tub letting the water wash away the blood and clear his head, as his mind eased he began to realize exactly what he had asked his Nellie to do and it sickened him now as he heard his own words echo in his head. Joanna was only a baby how could he even suggest Nellie cast her away when he remembered her speaking so fondly of having children one day.

He finished his bath and dressed before returning to the parlor looking around for Nellie discovering her gone from the room, is mind reeled as fear and guilt creeped into his chest that she had listened to him and taken the babe down to the bake house. He shook his head casting the image of the baker performing her everyday actions of cutting up corpses on the baby away looking around the room again as though he might have missed her.

"Nellie?"

He called softly listening for any sound and the only response was soft foot steps from the pie shop making him turn to see Nellie standing there holding the once again sleeping Joanna in her arms a determined look in her chocolate eyes as they met his onyx eyes.

"I ain't goin' to abandon 'er love, she's my niece, course no one 'as to know that, raise 'er as my daughter lord knows there's poor babes left on door steps all the time for better lives, wouldn't be 'ard to believe."

Sweeney opened his mouth to clarify he hadn't thought before he'd spoken before but a soft sound from Joanna made him freeze and look at the child for the first time. Her skin was a creamy ivory with rosy flushed cheeks, her tiny lips were pale pink like flower petals, the small bit of dirty blonde hair was softly curled but not unruly like Nellie's, and her eyes were the most lovely and captivating shade of hazel green he'd ever seen as they looked at up at him with innocence and curiosity. Nellie smiled seeing him watch the child in her arms and biting her lip made her point softly a final time.

"We can't abandon 'er love, she needs us."

She watched his reaction and to her surprise he smiled wrapping his arm around her as he looked away from Joanna to kiss her cheek.

"I know we can't that's why we'll raise her as our daughter."

Nellie's eyes widened as she looked up at him as though she hadn't understood him making him smile again and carefully take Joanna from her cradling her in his arms with a soft smile she'd never seen from Sweeney Todd.

"Joanna Eleanor Todd, has a pleasant sound to it don't you think pet?"

Nellie snapped herself out of her thoughts and noded with a bright smile.

"It sounds perfect love."

She rested her head on his shoulder watching as Joanna's tiny lips formed a perfect "O" as she yawned and fell asleep, almost immediately after Nellie yawned but shook her head knowing there were bodies in the bake house that needed to be burnt before she could sleep. As if reading her thoughts Sweeney handed Joanna to her and kissed her head.

"Go get some sleep pet, I'll clean up the bake house."

She was ready to protest but a heavy wave of fatigue washed over her only allowing her a nod before she went to her room and laid on the bed, not bothering to do more than loosen the laces of her coset, Joanna beside her in the middle of the pillows sleeping peacefully. Nellie laid awake listening to the dull sounds Sweeney was making in the bake house before she closed her eyes letting sleep take her as she lightly rested her hand protectively over Joanna's stomach relaxing farther when the child's chubby hand closed around her finger.

Sometime later Nellie was woken by the door to her room creaking open then the mattress on the other side of the bed dipping a moment later, she thought nothing of it believing it was Toby slipping into her bed as he often did after a nightmare until a cool and strong hand laid protectively over her hand and Joanna making her eyes open to the darkness.

"Sweeney?"

Her voice was hushed to be sure not to wake Joanna.

"Yes pet."

She smiled to herself hearing the tone of exhaustion in his voice, she moved her hand so she was holding his with a content sigh as his breathing became deep and even with sleep. She watched the darkness where she could guess his head was and gave another content sigh before letting sleep claim her. It seemed she had no more then closed her eyes when a loud bangin sounded, she opened her eyes to the now dimly lit room growling as the pounding on her door continued, she glanced beside her at Joanna still sleeping, though uneasily, nestled against Sweeney who was out cold his arm cradling the small girl allowing him to hold Nellie's hand.

She carefully got to her feet and went to the bedroom door pulling it open and just narrowly avoiding Toby's hand as he went to knock again but froze seeing she'd opened the door.

"What is it Toby? Makin' such a ruckus this early on a Sunday."

She shook her head glancing over her shoulder when she heard Sweeney shift on the bed followed by a small whimper from Joanna as she was shifted.

"I'm sorry mum but there's a man 'ere wanting ta speak to you and Mr. T."

He shifted nervously wringing his hands as he spoke glancing over his shoulder."

"What's goin' on mum? Did Mr. T do somethin' bad?"

Nellie looked around the door frame to the parlor and narrowed her eyes before smiling softly at Toby.

"Go and tell 'im I'll be there in a tick, offer 'im one of the pies left ver from last night okay?"

Toby nodded and hurried to do as told while Nellie closed the bedroom door and hurried to the closet digging around until her hands found the dusty box on the top shelf just out of her reach.

"Damn it!"

She cursed under her breath as she strained to reach the box but only succeeded in pushing it farther from her reach.

"What are you doing pet?"

Nellie jumped hearing Sweeney's voice but she remembered Toby stalling the man in the shop.

"Tryin' to reach the bloody box on the shelf up there, Toby says there's a man to see us and we can't 'ave 'im see Joanna in what she's wearin' 'ed know it was 'er."

She reached for the box again but sighed relieved when he appeared at her side and grabbed it for her handing it to her with a raised eyebrow as she dusted it off and went to the bed sitting on the edge as Joanna began to fuss at being left alone. After removing the dusty lid Nellie withdrew a faded pale blue baby dress and bonnet laying them on the bed to lift Joanna softly shushing her so she did not begin wailing, out of the corner of her eye she seen Sweeney looking confused at the tiny outfit making her blush as she began to change Joanna who was sucking on her tiny fist.

"I bought it at the market years ago, before you were sent away, 'appily convinced that one day I'd 'ave a daughter to wear it."

Her blush deepened as she tied the dress string then laid Joanna back on the center of the bed leaving her to happily suck on her fist once more. Nellie pulled a dress at random from her wardrobe and looked at Sweeney with raised eyebrows, but a faint gleam of amusement danced in her chocolate eyes.

"I 'ave to get changed love, maybe you should go and talk to the man in the shop, just don't do anythin' rash until we are sure 'e knows we was the ones that killed the Turpins."

Sweeney opened his mouth to argue but closed it realizing she was right and nodded leaving the room not closing the door completely so she could hear the conversation. She quickly dressed herself listening to Sweeney apologize for the delay saying that he had been cleaning up his shop. Nellie sighed lifting Joanna into her arms smiling as the girl's pudgy hand reached for a stray auburn curl that she quickly swept behind her ear playfully putting the infant girl who just giggled as they made their way through the parlor and into the shop.

Her entrance made both men and Toby look up, she didn't miss Sweeney's slight smile as she came to his side holding Joanna on her hip with a weary smile.

"Sorry dear, 'ad to dress ourselves,"

She paused smiling as Joanna reached for Sweeney her tiny fists grasping open air until he took her sitting her on the table in front of him chuckling as she babbled at him. Nellie turned to the man sitting across the table, his pale blue eyes were wide at seeing Sweeney's demeanor change so quickly, and offered her best smile resting her hand on the back of Sweeney's chair.

"Loves 'er daddy she does, now what can I do for you sir?"

The man looked away from Sweeney to meet her eyes clearing his throat.

"As I was telling Mr. Todd, the judge Turpin and his wife have gone missing, a few people say they seen the pair come into your shops, Mr. Turpin went up to Mr. Todd while Mrs. Turpin came here to your shop ma'am but no one saw the leave."

Panic swelled in Nellie's chest as she tightened her grip on the chair back hidden by Sweeney's ridged form, which he tried to hide behind a wince as Joanna got her hand around a stray bit of hair and yanked it making him gently pry it away from her, she swallowed thickly but kept her face blank of emotion as she met the man's eyes.