A/N: So I've already written the next four chapters :D _proud face_ But I won't let you have them :P Not yet. Going on a writing group thing tonight, so I'm posting this one early. Have funzies
"Thank you for choosing the S.S Lillyson," the Captain grinned as Sweeney, Mrs. Lovett and Jess left the boat, with their horses in tow.
"Thank you so much for what you did for Thomas…"Mrs. Lovett thanked him softly and he nodded humbly.
They stepped onto the docks, and Mrs. Lovett wobbled slightly, steadying herself with Toby's horse. They had docked at a small town and they were each wondering where they would go from here.
"I say we stay here for a night." Jess offered her opinion, and Sweeney glanced over at her.
"Why's that?"
"I…need a day to get used to the land again, before I get on a horse," she admitted, grinning slightly.
"I thought riding was like second nature," Mrs. Lovett grinned back, recalling the phrase Jess had boasted.
She smiled and ignored their teasing.
"I agree…we should rest here for the night. This pony is too small for me anyway…I'll need to get another one." Mrs. Lovett said softly.
"No." Sweeney blurted. "You'll be riding with me."
Oh god. What had he just said? He mentally kicked himself. No, he mentally slit his own throat.
"I mean, for the town. So they'll…"
He stopped when he saw the smirk on Jess' face, and the shocked face on Mrs. Lovett.
"Just do it," he hissed, feeling foolish.
"Alright love," Mrs. Lovett said softly, a funny sort of smile on her face.
Dang. What was he thinking? Sweeney took the reins of his horse and lead them all to a small inn, tethering the horses to a pole. He stepped in and found it served double as a pub. Pleased with his finds, he ushered Mrs. Lovett and Jess in and lead them to the bar.
"Evening sir," the bartender grinned.
"Evening," Sweeney grinned back. "Have you any rooms available?"
"Certainly have…two bedroom?"
Sweeney nodded, putting his arm around Mrs. Lovett.
"Right away…you got horses?"
"Yeah…"
"The stables are out the back – food and water are already in the stalls." he instructed and Jess piped up.
"I'll take them. You two go check out the room," she grinned cheekily.
Sweeney narrowed his eyes briefly before waving her off.
"Room 2," the bartender called after her, giving Sweeney the key. "Up the stairs and it's the first one on the right. You pay as you leave,"
"Thank you!" Mrs. Lovett called as Sweeney partially dragged her upstairs.
They split as soon as they were out of view – it was almost an unwritten law now. Sweeney lead the way to the first room on the right, and they entered. It wasn't half as nice as the ship or as big. The door lead to a tiny living room before forking into two small bedrooms. The curtains were ripped and dusty. In fact, everything was dusty. The floor itself had a layer of grime over it.
"Good thing this place is cheap…" Sweeney grumbled, casting a dismal glance around.
It had two shabby rooms, both were poorly looked after. Mrs. Lovett tutted quietly.
"You take the bed tonight love. I'll sleep on the floor," Mrs. Lovett offered, and Sweeney shot her a ridiculed look.
"Don't be stupid." he growled and she sighed.
"There isn't even a chair for you. Please." she begged but he walked away.
Jess entered the room behind them, out of breath from running up the stairs.
"Yuck," she said softly, gazing into the room.
"I know love," Mrs. Lovett frowned, moving to sit on the bed. It was hard and things dug into her. "Great. What a comfortable night we're going to have,"
"Well…we've only got about an hour left until it's dark…at least we won't be here too long," Jess optimized.
Mrs. Lovett stared out the grimy window. She hadn't bothered to find out where they were. She didn't really care. For once, she finally felt safe. Nobody knew their names, their faces. Maybe they could even abandon their disguises and alias'.
She heaved a sigh and leant against the window frame.
"What are we going to do now?" Jess asked and looked at Sweeney.
Mrs. Lovett did the same.
"We'll find some bit of land…buy it," he started. "I'll probably open a barber shop again,"
Jess shot him a dark look.
"Properly," he added quickly. "And we'll see what happens from there."
Mrs. Lovett's heart started beating quicker. He had said we. Twice.
She felt like a teenager again, getting excited over the slightest hints.
"I'm going to turn in early," Jess yawned fakely, noticing the awkward tension between her two surrogate parents.
"Night love," Mrs. Lovett nodded.
"We'll be leaving at the crack of dawn. I don't want to spend much time here," Sweeney warned her and she nodded, retreating into her room and closing the door.
"I won't let you sleep on the floor…or stand all night," Mrs. Lovett said quietly, still leaning against the window frame.
He glared at her, but knew it was useless.
"Well I'm not letting you sleep on the floor either," he retaliated, and she bit her lip gently.
The tension hung in the air around them like a heavy mist. Sweeney could see that Mrs. Lovett had an idea. He knew he wouldn't like it. But he knew she wouldn't sleep until he was comfortable.
"It wouldn't be too horrible if we shared a bed, would it?" she said after an extremely long pause.
Sweeney groaned in his mind. This was the one conversation he really didn't want to have with her. Not right now. Not so soon.
"It would be." he said softly.
"And why is that?"
He paused to think. He couldn't give her the real reason. But what was the real reason?
I'm afraid it'll lead to something else?
You like me too much for it to be innocent?
I know the thoughts that'll run through your head?
Or worse…
I might get carried away.
No.
He couldn't even let himself think of the last one. What was he doing to himself? Mrs. Lovett waited, her eyebrows raised.
"It doesn't matter,"
Smooth.
"Please." she said softly and he glanced at her.
Maybe it wasn't going to be bad.
"I'll consider it." he answered, even quieter than she was.
"Well…I'm going to bed. Please…don't stay out here all night," she said softly.
She wouldn't sleep until he was comfortable. Thought's entered Sweeney's mind of her lying awake, waiting for the creak of the bed.
Like with Albert.
Sweeney remembered the stories Lucy used to tell him about Albert and Mrs. Lovett's relationship. No matter how he used to refuse to listen, she would end up muttering it to herself, making sure he would hear.
Albert was an alcoholic, always returning from the pub drunk and abusive. He had never hit Mrs. Lovett – he wasn't like that. But the words he said to her – Ben and Lucy would hear him from their bedroom. A couple of times, Benjamin was tempted to rescue her, but he didn't.
It wasn't his problem.
But it wasn't Sweeney's problem either. He brushed the thoughts from his mind, thinking hard about how he would spend that night.
He knew that even if he did join her, she probably wouldn't sleep anyway.
But then again, neither would he.
A/N: So I wanted to do a bit of backstories - I already did in the other chapter about Sweeney's adolescence. Now you've got a bit of Mrs. Lovett's and Alberts. There's more to come...