Authors Note:
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Chapter 25
Johanna wore a long blue dress that flowed with the wind. On her head rested a blue hat that covered almost all of her hair. She ran towards the bench swiftly through the crowded train station. Once she made it, she gave Mr. Todd and Mrs. Lovett a big smile and then she took off her hat and held it in her hand.
Sweeney Todd lifted Mrs. Lovett head's off his shoulder and then asked completely bewildered "What are you doing here"? Johanna smiled at them and then replied in her small strong voice "I missed Anthony and well I have news to give him". Sweeney nodded and in his head he wondered what exactly the news was.
Mrs. Lovett rested her head once again on Sweeney's shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her for comfort. Johanna bit her lip and whispered "Mum…." Mrs. Lovett's head once again rose slightly and her eyes became fixated on Johanna. Nellie Lovett let out a smile gasp and asked "Johanna"?
The young yellow haired girl nodded and said brightly "I am so glad he found you". She smiled at her and Mrs. Lovett looked at the young girl speechless. She had become a beautiful young woman since Nellie had last seen her. Johanna once again spoke, this time to Sweeney "I had my doubts Mr. T. I didn't think you'd find her, but you did and that's great"!
Sweeney Todd watched his daughter consciously smile while trying to figure out why she was so happy. Just then Toby walked towards them with his little suitcase in his hands. He looked at Johanna with slight embarrassment and then he pointed to her and asked his Mum "Who's that"? Mrs. Lovett took a hold of Mr. Todd's hand and whispered back "Johanna… she is Anthony's lass".
Johanna nodded and let out her hand so Toby could shake it and then she asked "And what is your name"? Toby blushed and shook her hand and replied softly "Toby, that's me name". Johanna smiled at him and then looked at the big suitcase in his hand and asked, "You've sure got a lot of clothes".
Toby took the suitcase and held it close to his chest and replied sternly "Yes, I know, they are mine though". Sweeney Todd put a hand on the boy's shoulder and said seriously "Those 'clothes' belong to everyone, boy". Toby sat down on the pavement, sighed and whispered "Yes, sir". Mr. Todd bit his lip and looked back at Nellie Lovett who asked, "Where is this boy? He is takin' really long".
Sweeney was about to make a sour remark when Johanna beat him to it "He's probably helping some old woman or something. Good boy he is. Good man, I meant to say". She paused, looked over at Nellie Lovett and said "Remember that old woman who used to walk the streets at night and scream and offer herself just about to anyone…."
Nellie gulped hoping that Sweeney would not notice she was talking about Lucy, but he did and it was showing in his newly sunken eyes. Johanna continued "…well, when Anthony saw me for the first time, he gave her money, what a good heart he has! Kind of like you Mrs. Lovett". Nellie smiled at the girl and whispered out "Same to ye Johanna. I haven't seen ye in years, but to be honest darlin', yer still a very well behaved young lady". Johanna chuckled at that and then said to Nellie Lovett "Mum, do you think we could speak to each other later on, I mean, there are some things I want you to know".
Mrs. Lovett nodded, let go of Sweeney's hand and answered sweetly "Of course, dear". Sweeney Todd sat on the bench with a look of abstract scratched onto his face. Lucy had given herself to men? For money? He bit his tongue hard, not wanting to think about it anymore, he was going to have a new life now, with Mrs. Lovett, at least he hoped he was.
Johanna sat down beside Toby on the pavement and asked Nellie Lovett "Mum, is this your boy"? Toby replied loudly "I am hers thank ye very much. She is me Mum only, not yers"! Johanna looked down at the boy and asked "Does it hurt you if I call her Mum"? Toby nodded and Johanna sighed and continued, "Well, Toby, I won't if you don't want me to, alright"?
Sweeney Todd watched his daughter talk to Toby with utmost respect and Mrs. Lovett was completely baffled at why Johanna was calling her Mum, but she didn't want to say anything anyway, poor girl was confused enough. Toby looked back at Johanna and asked roughly "Why do ye call her Mum anyway? Ye don't even know her"!
Johanna's eyes widened at the young boy's voice and she whispered back to him "Well, your right. I don't know her, anymore, I guess. But I did once, and well, she was like a mother to me…." And before she could continue a hand was placed on her shoulder. The voice said, "I knew you'd come, Johanna".
Johanna's eyes flew wide and she jumped up and hugged Anthony with all the power in her. Anthony let go of her and whispered "Sorry I am late, love. I was helping this poor old woman buy some food, she looked really fragile, I just…." And before he could continue he looked over at Sweeney Todd and saw Mrs. Lovett. He gasped and then said happily "Ma'am! Your alive"!
Sweeney Todd's face quickly grew pale before he asked "What…why wouldn't she be"? Anthony let go of Johanna and he replied sadly "There was a massacre at her house this afternoon. I just came from Eaton's Street and well it seems the nurse killed Mr. Bond with this razor she had…two razors…actually".
Sweeney Todd gulped and Nellie Lovett reached for Mr. Todd's hand to relieve her nerves but Toby decided to change the subject "I need to go to the bathroom"! Anthony smiled at the boy as Sweeney whispered "Anthony, be a good lad and take him, will you"? Anthony nodded, kissed Johanna on the lips and then left with Toby towards the rest room.
Nellie Lovett whispered into Sweeney's ear "That was a close one, eh"? Sweeney Todd nodded, and just stared at her small brown eyes. Nellie rubbed her stomach to relieve some pain and then asked "What are ye lookin' at Mr. T"? Sweeney gave her a small smirk and then whispered "Everything…" Nellie looked at him puzzled for a second before he continued "…. that I have been missing". Mrs. Lovett looked up at him and whispered dreamingly "Oh, Mr. Todd".
He kissed her slightly on the lips and then he whispered in her ear "Please…don't leave me again". Nellie Lovett felt her eyes water, as he whispered again "Don't die, Nellie Please". Mrs. Lovett kissed his forehead and then whispered "I…" and Johanna sneezing interrupted her. Nellie Lovett looked over at Johanna and suddenly felt uncomfortable so she gave Sweeney a small kiss on the cheek and whispered "Later, love".
Sweeney Todd grunted at that, later. Always later! Never now! He looked down at Johanna who was now sitting in front of them and he asked "You said you had some news for Anthony". Johanna looked up at the two, smiled and whispered, "Yes, I do. It's good actually, at least I hope".
Nellie Lovett smiled at the young girl and asked, "What is it, dear"? Johanna stood up onto her feet, placed her hat on her head and replied happily "I'm pregnant"! Sweeney Todd bit his tongue so hard that he thought he had bitten it off! He jumped off the bench, causing Nellie to be pushed aside. He then screamed angrily "What? How could? I mean, how could? Your not married"!
Johanna nodded but then whispered "But we are in love and once I tell Anthony we will surely marry. Really soon I hope, before I start to show". Sweeney Todd sat down on the bench slowly and then whispered "But you are just a child, how could you have a child"? Johanna rolled her eyes and said bitterly "I am not a child! Mrs. Lovett, you think it's alright, don't you"?
Nellie Lovett sighed and whispered, "I think pregnancy is a beautiful thing Johanna. I wish ye and Anthony all the best". Sweeney Todd growled at Mrs. Lovett after hearing that and he bit his lip while saying "Could you be reasonable Nellie"? Mrs. Lovett rubbed her stomach and replied sadly "If she wants the child, let her have it"!
Johanna nodded and then said harshly "Yes, Mr. Todd. I am sorry, but you cannot tell me what to do, you are not my father"! Sweeney Todd's face froze and after a few seconds he nodded and whispered "I'm sorry, Johanna. I didn't mean to offend you". Johanna smiled and replied back "It's alright, Mr. T. I understand, it is a bit shocking, especially for me. I wonder how Anthony will react".
As Johanna pondered that, Mrs. Lovett placed her hand on her stomach and asked Sweeney softly "Is havin' a child that bad to ye, Sweeney"? Mr. Todd bit his lip and whispered, "Yes! I mean, it is too much responsibility for her"! Mrs. Lovett shot back with "For her, or for ye"?
Sweeney Todd looked at her puzzled for a second and asked, "What is that supposed to mean"? Nellie Lovett rubbed her stomach, got up slowly and said bitterly "I knew it would be like this, Mr. T! I knew ye felt that way 'bout babies, I just knew it"! Mrs. Lovett walked away from the bench while Sweeney called after her "Where are you going"? Nellie screamed back "I need the restroom! I don't feel very well"!
Sweeney watched her go and he whispered softly to himself "What is her problem"? Johanna looked up at Sweeney Todd and replied, "Isn't it obvious, Mr. T"? Sweeney Todd shook his head as Johanna continued, "She's angry at you for not liking babies because she is going to have one herself". Sweeney Todd's eyes widened to their biggest extent and the first words he whispered were "Excuse me"?
Authors Note:
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