26) -

"We're leaving."

Mrs Lovett tried not to cringe; when she had told Abby that her sister and Lily ought to know of their plans to leave Fleet Street, she did not mean for Abby to put it so abruptly and so bluntly. Especially not the moment she walked into the shared bedroom.

She was so like Sweeney.

"What?"

This, of course, was her own daughter. Just like her mother, Lily Lovett was not one for manners.

"Sit down, love," Mrs Lovett ordered gently. "You too, Johanna."

Lily and Johanna sat down on Lily's bed, exchanging confused looks. Abby remained standing.

"You see...Mr T and I, we was thinking, and maybe staying round 'ere ain't the best idea, what with all that's 'appened recently."

Abby's jaw tightened slightly.

"But...what about Anthony?" Johanna asked, her eyes wide. "I can't just leave him!"

Mrs Lovett sighed. "When is 'e next planning on coming over?"

"Tonight."

"Then 'e can come with us." She reluctantly suggested; Sweeney was not going to amused by this turn of events. The fewer people leaving, the less obvious their departure would be.

Johanna, however, seemed delighted.

"Why are we leaving?"

Mrs Lovett turned her attention to her daughter, panic surging through her.

"It's like I said," She said shakily. "What with all what's 'appened 'ere, we think it's best if we get away for a bit."

Lily narrowed her eyes. "I don't believe you."

"That's your choice, Lily, but either way we're still leaving."

"I don't want to."

Lily folded her arms across her chest stubbornly, glaring up at her mother. Mrs Lovett fought the urge to give her daughter's ears a sharp boxing.

"Tough. We ain't leaving without you."

"Then we ain't leaving."

"We have to." Abby whispered.

"What 'ave you got to do with this?" Lily demanded abruptly. Abby flinched.

"You know what, Lily."

Lily immediately felt guilty, slowly unfolding her arms and letting them drop to her sides as she stared at Abby.

"I'm sorry, Abby, I wasn't thinking."

"It's alright."

"Why are we leaving, Auntie Nell?" Johanna asked softly, standing up and taking her sister's hand comfortingly. Abby gave her a small smile in return. "Please don't treat us as if we are children. We have the right to know the truth."

"The truth is that we ain't 'anging round 'ere no more."

"Please, Auntie Nell, just tell them."

This plead came from Abby. All eyes turned to her, but her gaze was focused on Mrs Lovett.

"Please."

Lily and Johanna stared at Mrs Lovett, the former's gaze too accusing for Mrs Lovett's liking.

"Tell us what,Mum?"

"Auntie Nell?"

"Well...um...you see..."

"It's Father," Abby whispered. "He's going to do something terrible tonight."

Johanna's face turned pale.

"What?" She asked in a very unlady-like manner. Manners, however, did not matter at this present moment.

Abby remained silent, immediately regretting what she had just said.

"Abby, what is Father going to do?" Johanna asked through gritted teeth.

"Mum, what the bloody 'ell is Abby talking bout?"

"Nothing," Mrs Lovett said quickly. "She ain't talking bout nothing, are you, Abby? Just being silly, right?"

Again, Abby remained silent.

"Abby," Johanna whispered. "Please."

Letting go of her sister's hand, Abby took a step back and stared up at Johanna with tear filled eyes.

"I'm sorry, Johanna."

Johanna stared at her silently, her heart racing furiously.

"Why?"

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you...I should've told you..."

"Abby, if this is about what happened with the Beadle then - "

"It isn't."

Mrs Lovett wished that she could stop Abby, tell her to be quiet, but it was too late now.

The girls had to know.

"Abby, what are you talking bout?" Lily asked again, standing up next to Johanna. "You're getting us all bloody confused."

"We're leaving because Father is going to do something terrible tonight, something that means we have to leave. Forever."

"Yes, but what?"

Johanna remained silent as she stared at the ground, her mind reeling with possibilities.

"No..."

Abby stared at her, her bottom lip trembling slightly. Johanna slowly lifted her head.

"No," She repeated shakily. "He isn't."

"Johanna, love, your father ain't - "

"He can't!" Johanna interupted Mrs Lovett loudly. "You're lying, Abby, you're lying!"

"What? What is 'e gonna do?"

Lily stared at Johanna in confusion, her eyes flickering from her to Abby and then back to Johanna.

"What?"

"Judge Turpin and Beadle Bamford," Johanna whispered. "He's going to kill them."

Mrs Lovett remained silent as she stared at her daughter and the Barker girls, unable to think of anything to say. She wished that she could tell them that they were wrong, that Abby had got it wrong, but she knew it would be worthless.

They knew the truth now.

No one spoke. No one dared even breathe.

"Johanna, I..." Abby tried to speak, but her voice trailed off.

"We have to stop him." Johanna announced determindedly, turning her back on everyone as she stormed out of the room.

"No, Johanna!"

Abby ran after her sister, closely followed by Lily. Mrs Lovett grabbed her daughter's arm.

"'Old on," She said. "This doesn't involve us."

Lily yanked her arm from her mother's grip, glaring up at her furiously.

"'Ow can you say that? You and 'im, you've been planning it, 'aven't you?"

"Yes, and do you know why?" Mrs Lovett hissed furiously, making her daughter turn to face her. "To protect you and Johanna and Abby from those 'orrible men. To stop anyone else in our family from getting 'urt."

Sweeney scowled as he glanced at the clock; still another hour until the Beadle's arrival.

Impatience surged through him.

What was taking so long?

Why was time passing so slowly?

"Father!"

The door slammed open, followed by Johanna storming in with a furious expression, Abby on her heels.

"Father, we need to talk to you."

Sweeney frowned. "What about?"

Johanna glared up at him, her arms folded across her chest and her jaw tight.

Sweeney couldn't help but notice how like Lucy she seemed to look at the present moment.

"What about? Father, you cannot trivialise murder!"

Abby's cheeks turned red as she ducked her head, staring at the floor. Sweeney stared at Johanna.

"Johanna, I - "

"Do not try to deny it," She interupted, glowering at him. "I know. We all know."

"How?" He asked quietly.

"I told them," Abby reluctantly admitted, looking up at her Father. "I'm sorry, Father."

"Don't be sorry," Johanna snapped. "It is not your fault that."

"Johanna," Sweeney said through gritted teeth, trying to remain calm. "I am doing this for your benefit."

"My benefit? Father, how is murder beneficial for our family?"

"Do you think I want them to hurt anyone else in our family?"

Johanna froze, her eyes flickering to Abby. The youngest Barker girl's face turned pale as she swayed slightly.

"Father, please reconsider."

Sweeney remained silent, turning his back on Johanna.

"Father, please. This is our home."

When Sweeney didn't respond, Johanna let out a heavy sigh.

"I can see my pleads are useless. I shall go pack my belongings and find Anthony. He needs to know."

Johanna turned to her sister, but Abby shook her head; she needed to speak with their father.

When the door was shut and Johanna was gone, only then did Abby cross the room to stand by her father.

"I understand why you are doing it," She murmured softly. "I do not condone your actions, but I understand them."

"It is only for your benefit, Abby." Sweeney whispered brokenly, his dark eyes gazing at the rooftops of London.

"And you cannot reconsider?"

"No."

Abby sighed. "I thought so. I suppose that I, too, ought to pack my belongings."

Sweeney was silent.

"Where will we go, Father?"

Frowning, Sweeney looked down at his youngest daughter.

"I don't know," He admitted. "But as long as we are safe, anywhere will do."

Abby nodded once before looking up at her father with a serious expression.

"I love you, Father, and Johanna does too," She told him. "I suppose now is the best time to say it."

Sweeney stared at her in silence, momentarily surprised.

After a moment, he reached down and brushed her hair behind her ear, kissing her forehead in a fatherly fashion.

"Abigail Barker," He said softly. "You and Johanna are worth more than anything else in my life."

Abby stared up at him, her eyes wide, and gently placed her small hand on top of his.

"I love you too, Father, as does Johanna."

Without another word, she took a step back from him and crossed the room to leave. As she reached the door, Abby turned to face him once more.

"Good luck, Father."

A wry smile appeared on Sweeney's face as his daughter disappeared from sight, the door gently closing behind her.

Luck had nothing to do with revenge.

Thank you to a raven like a writing desk, CadyD, babyvfan, The FanFic Critic and MrsNellieLovettTodd for reviewing!