Chapter Fourteen
Together We'll Be

You and me together we'll be
Forever you'll see
We two can be good company
~Good Company, Oliver and Friends soundtrack

"Good morning."

Sweeney grunted in reply; he was still miffed about last night.

"Would you like something to drink?"

He grunted again. I smiled.

"Coffee ok?"

Sweeney made a jerky movement that I presumed to be a nod. My smile growning, I wandered out of the living room and to the kitchen, turning the radio on as I poured water into the kettle.

I was in a really good mood.

Turning the volume of the radio up so that I could hear the song playing, I gently played with the collar of my turtleneck jumper, chosen to hide the bruises that had formed over night.

Sighing, I flicked the switch of the kettle down and then searched for the coffee.

I felt so happy that I began to sing along with the song playing.

"Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo. The way you move ain't fair you know. Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do - "

I cut myself off as I spun around and saw Sweeney stood in the doorway.

He was watching me with an odd expression, confusion mixed with amusement, his head tilted to the side and his brow furrowed.

"Hi."

"I came to get my coffee." He explained quietly.

"Oh, right. I was going to bring in for you."

"Oh."

My cheeks burned as I turned around and continued making our coffees, trying hard not to make eye contact with Sweeney.

"Here."

Sweeney took the cup from me silently, his fingers brushing against mine. My cheeks turned a deeper shade of red, so I looked away and distracted myself by spooning sugar into my coffee.

"We can't be long," I told him, still not looking at him. "Your hair appointment is first thing."

He didn't respond, drinking his coffee and grimacing slightly. I grinned despite myself.

"Want some sugar?"

Sweeney stared at my outstretched hand, in which I held the tiny sugar pot, before reaching out and taking the pot from me.

"Thank you." He mumbled, spooning sugar into his coffee.

"You're welcome."

We stood in silence for a moment, the radio playing in the background as we drunk our coffee.

"You were singing."

I looked up, surprised at Sweeney's sudden offer to open a conversation.

"Yes," I replied slowly. "I was."

"I didn't know you sung."

I grinned. "It's my job," I told him. "I'm a performer."

Sweeney frowned, tilting his head to the side as his brow furrowed.

"I sing, dance and act on stage," I explained. "In front of loads of people. It's really good fun."

"I can imagine." He muttered in a somewhat bitter tone. I laughed, finishing off my coffee and placing the mug on the counter.

"Well, I'm done. I'm going to grab my bag and I'll meet you downstairs, ok?"

Sweeney nodded in agreement and I smiled at him before leaving the kitchen.

I couldn't help but grin to myself as I entered my room, overjoyed that he seemed to be opening up slightly.

I decided that we were going to walk to town, not wanting to overwhelm Sweeney with the concept of cars and buses quite yet. I did notice him looking at my car in curiousity, but quickly disguised it as indifference when I questioned him about it.

We walked along at a serene pace, talking. I would explain things as we passed while Sweeney listened, occasionally passing a comment or asking a question.

He wasn't exactly talkative, but he was good company.

"Here we are," I announced as we approached the hairdressers. Sweeney stared at it with slight contempt.

"This is where people come to have their hair styled." He muttered, shaking his head. I smiled.

"Yep, so you're gonna have to like it or lump it. Either way, we're getting that hair sorted out."

Inside, we were greeted by a pretty woman with blonde hair called Leanne, who took Sweeney's coat and led him to a chair. I grinned and sat down on the sofa, leaning back and watching as she played with his thick tangle.

While Sweeney was taken to have his hair washed and dyed, I flicked through one of the magazines with disinterest, wishing I had something else to do.

I looked up just in time to see Sweeney being led back, a towel wrapped around his shoulders and his hair soaking wet. He looked fairly disgruntled, glaring at me as he passed.

Grinning, I gathered my things and wandered over.

"And how would you like it?" Leanne asked, playing with his hair with a small frown.

"Nothing fancy," I explained for him. "Just cut to a reasonable length really."

"Oh, alright."

While Leanne chopped and dried his hair, Sweeney continued glaring at me through the mirror. I simply grinned at him.

"So, have you two been together long?"

Sweeney frowned as I straightened up, shaking my head.

"No, no, we're not together!" I said hastily.

"Oh, sorry!" Leanne smiled apologetically as she flicked her hair over her shoulder. "I make that mistake, like, all the time!"

She smiled again before continuing with Sweeney's hair. I looked at him, to see his reaction, only to find that his dark eyes were watching me.

Blushing, I looked away again, focusing on his hair cut, but knew that he was watching me.

"Is this an alright length?" Leanne asked, taking a step back from Sweeney.

"I think it is," I commented. "What do you think?"

Sweeney nodded. "It's acceptable." He muttered.

"Right..." Leanne said in an obviously worried tone. Poor girl. "I'll just dry it for you."

Sweeney's hair didn't look half bad, actually. It was the same, just...less curly...with no white streak...

He looked quite handsome really.

After thanking and paying Leanne, Sweeney and I left the shop. I still couldn't get used to his new hair cut, however.

"It does suit you," I told him. "It's hard to get used to, but it suits you."

Sweeney grunted. "Is that why you keep staring at me?"

"I'm not!"

He gave me a scathing look before turning and continuing to walk, leaving me stood there, unable to respond.

"Oi!"

I quickly ran after him, scowling up at him.

"Look, you better sort out your ego because I have not been staring at you and I wouldn't want to stare at you." I told him.

Sweeney merely looked down at me.

"Shut up!"

I scowled as I stormed ahead, leaving Sweeney to walk behind me. It didn't take him long to catch up with me, though; he walked with much longer strides than I could ever manage.

"Where are we going first?" He asked quietly, keeping his head ducked.

"Somewhere that sells decent clothes." I growled, still annoyed.

It didn't take long to find a shop to fit that description, and when we did, I immediately thrust a basket in his arms.

"Carry this." I ordered.

Sweeney followed me through to the mens section and watched as I went through the clothing, selecting various pieces for him.

In the end, he had various pairs of jeans, smart black trousers, several casual t-shirts, polo shirts, proper shirts that buttoned up and a few jumpers. All of them were fairly dark and plain.

Socks and boxers were easy really; all he needed were plain ones. Shoes were also fine, Sweeney finally owning a pair of plain black leather ones that were both smart and casual.

But then came the hardest part.

A coat.

"No..."

Sweeney looked severly discomforted in the suede jacket I had suggested, frowning with mild digust.

"Ok, maybe a different one."

While he took the coat off and hung it up again, I rooted through the shelves.

"Aha!"

I grinned triumphantly as I pulled out a leather trench coat that, judging from the length, would finish about mid-thigh.

"Try this on."

Sweeney pulled the coat on and then looked up at me, silently asking for my opinion. Pursing my lips together, I stepped forwards and buttoned the coat up, adjusting the lapels slightly, before stepping back again.

"Perfect."

"I'm not hungry."

"Tough, I am, and I'm not eating on my own like a total fatso."

Sweeney glared at me as I practically dragged him into the cafe. We had ordered a sofa bed and arranged for it to be delivered the next day, so I was now starving hungry.

"Here."

I thrust a menu at him as I arranged the bags underneath the table in a way that none of them would fall over. When I sat back up, Sweeney had put the menu on the table and was glaring at me.

"Pick something or I'll pick something for you." I threatened.

"I'm not hungry." He insisted.

"I don't care."

He glared at me and I glowered back.

This was going to be a long lunch.

In the end, I ordered us both sandwiches and salad with large coffees, which we definately needed. While we sipped our coffee and waited for our food, I gazed out the window with a content smile.

Our food finally arrived, and I amused myself by watching Sweeney. He was fairly suspicious of the sandwich, peeling the top piece of bread off and poking the contents before picking it up and examining it. He stopped, however, when he realised that I was watching him with raised eyebrows.

"What?" He demanded.

"Nothing...just wondering why you're being such a baby about a sandwich."

Sweeney glared at me as he picked his sandwich up and took a defiant bite out of it, continuing to glare at me as he chewed.

Whether he enjoyed it or not, I didn't know, but my comment made him stop playing with his food and actually eat it.

"Aren't you going to eat your salad?"

Sweeney looked down at the salad as if it was a piece of dirt, his nose screwed up slightly.

"It's rabbit food." He muttered, pushing the plate away from him. I laughed.

"No it isn't!"

He crossed his arms and continued glaring at the offensive salad. Rolling my eyes, I leaned forwards and, with his fork, stabbed a piece of lettuce and cucumber.

"Open up."

Sweeney looked at me with a dark look, but I merely smiled.

"Open wide for the choo-choo train!"

His mouth remained firmly shut as I made train noises and moved the fork towards him.

"Stop it." He muttered.

"The choo-choo train needs to go into the tunnel!"

"Stop it." Sweeney repeated, grabbing my wrist and slamming it onto the table.

We sat like that for a moment, neither of us knowing how to react. Though the contact with the table didn't actually hurt, my wrist...felt funny.

Though I would never admit this out loud, I liked his hand on my skin.

As if suddenly realising the contact, Sweeney snatched his hand away and picked up his fork, stabbing at his salad violently.

Swallowing, I followed suit, withdrawing my arm and picking at my salad.

"Aren't you going to eat your salad?"

I looked up at Sweeney, who was looking down at me with a small grin. It was the first genuine smile I had seen, and it transformed his face from haunted to beautiful.

Grinning back, I put my fork down.

"Nah, it's rabbit food."

Sweeney shook his head, still grinning, and then looked down at his salad. I grinned to myself, leaning back in my seat and sipping my coffee.

It wasn't going to be easy, but, hell, living with Sweeney was sure going to be fun.

Everyone seemed pretty eager for this shopping trip and new hairstyle, so I tried to put in as much detail as possible!

Thank you JDeppIsMyLovely, CadyD, Saphire Bethany Stacy Skyle, Shelia Chiaroscura, xXGreenRoseliaXx and Lily Yamamoto for reviewing!

As for the changing Sweeney to fit times - I will be very careful doing this, but, really, these will only be physical changes. Deep down, he'll still be the murderous barber we all know and love!