...I told everyone to not yell at me for downing myself yesterday...AND I GOT YELLED AT ANYWAY!! Hmm...maybe I SHOULD tell you all to yell at me when I down myself! MWAHAHAHA! REVERSE PSYCOLOGY!! Anyway, enjoy chapter 21!

Mrs. Lovett

It's been two weeks since th' Judge got 'is guts cut out by Mr. Todd and I think I'm well enough t' work again. I carefully get out o' bed, I'm still pretty sore between me legs. Bloody bugger. At least 'e's dead. I make me way down to th' kitchen an' start breakfast. To no surprise, Mr. Todd comes down soon after, givin' me a stern look.

"You should be in bed," He says t' me as he crosses 'is arms. Wot am I? 'Is daughter??

"I've been in tha' bleedin' bed for two weeks, Mr. Todd. I am well enough t' work an' move about," I state to 'im as I start th' eggs. I see 'im keepin' his gaze on me as 'e sits down at one o' th' booths. I inwardly sigh as I continue me cookin'. Later on, Toby comes down to th' shop an' gives me th' exact stern look tha' Mr. T gave me when he came down.

"You should be in bed, Mum," He states plainly. I give 'im me own stern look. Sulkin' slightly, Toby sits beside an equally sulkin' Mr. Todd. No matter wot age, men can be such babies. I 'ave t' laugh when I see th' two o' them sittin' next to each other. Ever since tha' unfortunate event, they seem to be bondin' very well. When I finish cookin', we sit down at a table together an' eat.

O' course, th' day tha' I decide t' come back t' work 'appends t' be th' busiest day o' th' week! Well, at least th' customers are bein' nice for once. They seem t' be leavin' more tips, too! Well, I know tha' in a few days, th' novelty will wear off an' they'll act like their usual, uncarin' selves again. For now, they'll forgive me for me slowness due to th' pain I'm in. So, I might as well enjoy their kindness while I can.

"Mum, we're out o' pies," Toby calls t' me.

"Alright, dear, be back in a tick," I say t' him as I serve th' last pie on me tray.

"Mum, I'll get th' next batch for yeh," He offers. Normally, I'd say no, but I nod an' watch 'im go into th' shop's interior t' get more pies. I don't know if I'm ready for those bloody stairs yet.

"Hello, Eleanor!" Says an overly cheerful an' phony voice from behind me. Oh, bollocks, it's Lucy. Reluctantly, I turn an' face her, slightly cringin' as she smiles at me with tha' phony politeness. I notice tha' th' shop quiets down considerably when she makes 'er presence known.

"'Ello," I say coolly. She's th' last person I want t' see right now seein' she's partly responsible for wot th' Judge did to me two weeks ago.

"I do hope that you're feeling better, my dear friend," She drawls. I know wot she's tryin' ta do an' I'm not fallin' for it this time.

"I'm feelin' perfectly fine. Now, excuse me…" When I go t' pass her, she puts 'er leg in th' way an' causes me t' trip. I fall harshly onto th' ground.

"Oh, Eleanor, you've always been so clumsy. Let me help you…" She roughly pulls me to me feet. Huh, th' little stick is stronger than she looks. I angrily pull meself out o' her grasp.

"Unless yer here for a pie, beat it," I growl quietly so th' other customers won't hear me.

"I won't leave until I get what I want, Eleanor," She replies in tha' sickeningly sweet voice.

"Well, Lucy, wot do yeh want?" I ask 'er impatiently.

"Where's Judge Turpin?" She asks. I keep me glare on 'er as I smile very slightly.

"Why would I know where 'e is?" I ask her coolly. She returns th' glare as she smiles a little too pleasantly for me tastes.

"Why, you were the last person to see him, Eleanor. You couldn't have missed him seeing he was last seen shagging you like the whore you are." I tense up considerably in a deep rage. At this point, I find it very, very hard t' control me rage.

"Well, if he wos seen by someone, 'e'd be in jail right now for doin' wot 'e did," I say very quietly.

"Not quite, Eleanor. You forget that he's good friends with my husband, the Beadle," She replies coolly.

"I don't know where th' 'Honorable' Judge is, Mrs. Bamford. So, beat it," I growl.

"Oh, I think not, Eleanor," She replies, takin' a step closer t' me. She pauses suddenly when she notices someone behind me.

"You heard Mrs. Lovett," Said Mr. Todd's voice from behind, "Leave here, Mrs. Bamford, unless you came for a pie." Sneering, Lucy turned and quickly left th' patio. All o' th' other customers clapped when she finally left. I turn an' look up at Mr. Todd as 'e watches her go. 'E has th' deadliest glare tha' I've ever seen on 'is face as he watches her. When she's out o' sight, he looks down at me. Th' glare is quickly replaced by concern and tenderness.

"Are you alright?" He asks softly.

"I'm quite fine," I say to 'im. Seemin' satisfied, he turns an' heads back up t' his shop. A moment later, Toby comes up with th' next batch o' pies. Like th' incident never 'append, I start t' serve more pies to me hungry customers.

Thankin' th' gods tha' tomorrow's Sunday, I settle down on me arm chair in th' parlor an' pick up th' current book tha' I'm readin'. It takes me a moment that there are eyes watchin' me. I look up from me book t' see Mr. Todd standin' in th' doorway. He quickly makes 'is way across th' room t' me. Before I can protest, 'e scoops me up in 'is arms an' starts t' carry me up to me room.

"Mr. Todd, wot th' Bloody Hell are yeh doin'?!" I squeak as we head up th' stairs.

"You need your rest because you're not well," He says plainly as he kicks me door open. Gently, he lays me down on me bed and takes a seat in th' arm chair beside me.

"Wot, are yeh goin' t' stay 'ere all night so I won't sneak back downstairs?" I ask 'im as I sit up. Firmly but gently, he shoves me back down onto th' bed.

"Sleep," 'E orders. I give 'im an annoyed look.

"Can I at least change into me night dress?" After a moment o' thought, he gets up an' leaves th' room. It takes me a while to unclothe meself seein' I'm still sore. Cursing quietly, I take off me bleedin' dress an' carefully slip on me night dress.

"Alright," I call to 'im. He immediately comes into th' room an' sits on th' arm chair. I give 'im a look.

"I promise that I'll go t' sleep. Go t' bed, Mr. Todd," I say to 'im.

"I'm stayin' down here with you," He says firmly. Sighin', I get under th' covers an' blow out th' candle.

"Are yeh sure you're comfortable in tha' chair?" I ask 'im.

"Go to sleep." Ugh, stubborn man. At least 'e cares. Smilin' slightly, I close me eyes an' drift off to th' sound of Mr. Todd's steady breathin'.

This chapter was "wonderful"! I really "love" this chapter! Honestly, though, I loved having Sweeney give Lucy the death glare! That was my favorite part of this..."lovely" chapter! Reviews are lovely, too!