A/N: Hello, my dears! Welcome back.

I want to thank my wonderful reviewers: Zoek80, livicullen01, NikkiBee, Makrciana, skycord1990, Leyshla Gisel, sullsinger, AdaYuki and TinkerbellxO.

Thank you so much! You are the reason I am writing this!

On a different note, please know that I will be posting the prologue of my new POTC story today. The ones interested keep and eye for it. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd.

Chapter 20

It was the third time she had come there. The third time she watched him from afar without showing herself and the third time that she had to bite her lip in order not to talk to him, shout at him for disappearing like that from her life. What made him think that a bloody note was sufficient enough? How could he ever think that all she deserved was a bloody note? Didn't she at least deserve a goodbye? She had done everything for him and she had never questioned him. She had never asked him whose blood it had been on his clothes that night even if the thought of him hurting someone terrified her and gave her nightmares. And now she found him by chance working at the docks and acting like she had never existed.

She knew that what she was doing was not right. It was degrading and stupid of her to return there every Thursday for the mere purpose of seeing him; seeing him existing without her while she wasn't able to forget him. She didn't know if he worked there any other day so she only came on that day only.

As she watched him, she noticed that he was completely focused on his work and that he answered the questions of his fellow workers with short replies or a simple nod of his head. He was always serious and gruff and he hadn't broken into a smile; not once. The boy she had seen the first time was with him every time and it was astonishing to watch that he held no ill will against him. In fact he made sure to keep the lad by his side while he worked. Why she didn't know. The only thing she knew was that she was jealous of a child because he received even a minute amount of attention from the former barber. It was pathetic of her and as she stepped back to walk away she vowed to never come back again. Of course that could be an easy promise to break. She was certain of it.

A month later…

He wasn't there. It was the first time after three weeks that her urge to see him won over her better judgement and he was not there. The other men that usually worked with them and the boy were there but he wasn't. Her eyes searched around for any sign of him and when she didn't see him she sighed and looked at her feet.

After a few moments two small feet appeared in her vision and she blinked as she raised her eyes to look at the child in front of her.

"Hello." She stuttered as she looked around her nervously. The boy blinked up at her before his face broke into a smile.

"I've seen you before, Miss." He stated as he took a bite from his almost dry piece of bread.

"Oh." Anna was shocked by that. He had seen her? Did that mean that Sweeney had seen her too?

"It's been a while since you've been here. Are you here to see Mr. B?" he asked and Anna's eyes widened.

"I am sorry? Mr. B?" she asked him shakily and the boy nodded enthusiastically.

"I've seen you looking at him but I never told him because he doesn't like to be stared at…Why were you staring at him?" he asked her with his very natural, childish curiosity.

"Um…I used to know him…Uh, what's your name?" she asked him softly and the child beamed at her.

"Jack."

"Jack…has…Mr. B, been working here for long?" she asked him and the boy thought over it.

"Yes. For a few months." He nodded.

"I see…And do you like him?" Anna ventured.

"Yes. He's quiet. I like it. In my house they're always yelling." Jack answered simply and she nodded.

"Where is he today?"

"He's not here. He got sick but he'll be back next week." Jack answered and Anna started looking through her purse for the small bag of toffees she had bought earlier. She handed it to the boy who took it with wide eyes.

"Will you do me a favor, Jack?" she asked him quietly and he nodded.

"Can you tell me where he lives? I won't tell you told me, I swear." She smiled at the child.

"Is this why you gave me the sweets?" he asked her suspiciously and she shook her head in denial.

"No. I would have given them to you anyway."

The child remained quiet for a while before he nodded, "He's staying in that inn." He pointed towards the end of the docks and Anna followed his finger and squinted.

"Brown's Inn?" she questioned and Jack nodded as he slipped his hand in the bag of sweets and started nibbling happily on one.

"Thank you." She told the boy gratefully before she straightened her posture and smiled down at him.

"You're welcome!" he exclaimed before he walked back towards the other men who were busy looking at her and whispering to each other.

As she stepped into the inn she was assaulted by the stale smell of ale. She winced at the scent but it didn't stop her from walking towards the counter. The woman behind it was busy reading a newspaper and didn't notice her. Anna placed her hand on the counter and when the woman didn't acknowledge her she spoke.

"Excuse me?" she said and the woman looked up.

"Yes?"

"Um…I was wondering if a man with the name Todd is living here. In one of your rooms." Anna asked slowly and the owner looked her up and down before she scowled.

"We're not allowing wenches in this establishment, Miss. And no, there is no one here with that name." the woman said angrily before she got back to her paper.

Anna's anger flared and she slapped her hand hard against the wooden counter.

"Excuse me? I am not a whore, Madam. I am simply looking for someone." She said in a loud voice and the woman looked at her with a sigh.

"Fine. But there's no one with that name here." Se repeated and Anna took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Barker then?" she asked again, "Benjamin Barker." She clarified and the woman looked at her suspiciously.

"Yes. We do have a Mr. Barker here." She agreed, "Room four." She pointed upstairs as she looked at Anna up and down in a speculative manner.

"Thank you." Anna said crisply as she walked up the stairs, gathering her courage as she did so.

Her feet brought her slowly in front of the door of room four and she paused. She raised her hand and knocked on it once and then waited. She heard the distinct sound of footsteps and then the door opened. Anna came face to face with the barber and he froze at the sight of her. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes red and it was obvious that he was sick. His eyes widened and a scowl formed on his face as he regarded her coldly.

"How the hell did you find me?" he asked her hoarsely and she swallowed hard.

"That doesn't matter." She shook her head and his eyes narrowed.

"It matters to me. How. Did. You. Find. Me." He enunciated every word but she held her ground.

"I saw you at the docks." She answered simply.

"Of course you did. What's the matter, Anna? Did you miss me that much?" he asked her bitterly and she shook her head.

"You're unbelievable. I helped you and I let you stay in my house. I cared for you and you just leave! You didn't even tell me that you were planning to leave. You left me a note. A bloody note? Is that all I deserve? A short, hasty note?" the words flew out of her mouth in a hurry and he seemed to be surprised by her bitterness.

"I did what I had to do." He answered simply as he let out a small cough.

"And what does that entail exactly? You told me that you couldn't stay away from me and I believed you. Do you remember your words? Was that a lie?" she asked angrily as she took a step towards him, causing him to step back. He shook his head and opened his mouth to speak when another cough cut him off. He pressed a handkerchief to his mouth and squeezed his eyes shut. That one cough turned into a series of longer ones until he could barely stand.

Anna's eyes widened as she watched him having trouble breathing and she touched his arm before she led him into a chair. He sat down and reached for the glass of water that was on the small table in front of him. He took a sip and after a few deep breaths the coughing stopped. He swallowed several times until he looked up at her worried face.

"You shouldn't be here." He told her as he looked away from her.

"You're sick. Have you seen a doctor?" she asked him instead, trying to prolong what she knew was coming.

"Anna-…" he closed his eyes wearily.

"You want me to call someone?"

"Anna, stop-…"

"I know a doctor and I can-…"

"Anna, stop it!" he barked suddenly as he stood up, "I don't want you here. Is that so difficult for you to understand? I want you to go. Go. Go back home. Go back to your life and to your dog. Don't come back here. I'm fine. I will be fine. But you need to leave. Now. You don't belong here. With me. Can't you see that?" He said to her as his breaths escaped him in a heavy pattern of angry pants.

Anna stared at him and she bit her tongue, trying to keep the sting out of her eyes long enough to say the next words.

"My dog's dead, Mr. Barker. And I swear that's just exactly what you will be to me from now on. I apologize for bothering you." She spoke quietly before she turned on her heel and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Not even pausing for a moment, she walked down the hallway in a hurry. She headed for the stairs but not before noticing that the door she had just slammed opened behind her and a pair of eyes followed her on her way out.

End of chapter 20

Author's note: I know it's short but it had to be. So, you liked it? Hated it? Please leave me a review! It makes me happy to know your thoughts!

Xxx Lina :)