Thanks for the reviews!

Well, Toby's death was obviously a bit shocking for you... But I told you there will be some tragedy and besides, if you're a character in one of my fanfics, then your ALWAYS in mortal danger or in danger to have a cruel past. Bad things happen to you if you're a character in my fanfics...

Howsoever, I hope you still like it.

So here's the next chapter, it didn't took me look because I already had the whole chapter in my head ;)

Strong arms supported her body. She was obviously on the lap of the person the arms belonged to. Nellie slowly opened her eyes. Somebody, probably the somebody who was holding her, had brought her onto the couch in the living room and removed her corset.

"Sweeney...?", she muttered quietly, slightly confused about what had happened.

"I'm here, Nellie."

The baker leaned her head against Sweeney's chest, feeling tears starting to run down her cheeks. Why. Why had Toby had to die? Nellie had loved him like a son, she had wished so much that he would have a nice life somewhere. He had been able to look after himself... He would have deserved a good life. A life without crime. A life Nellie hadn't been able to give him.

"It's not your fault", Sweeney said softly as if he could read her mind, caressing Nellie's back. "It was his own decision to run away, not yours."

"But I gave him reasons to run away", Nellie answered with tear-stroked voice.

"No, Nellie. You did the best you could for him." Sweeney held her shaking body tightly and placed a kiss on her forehead.

Sweeney didn't know how much time passed while he just held his wife, letting her cry. He knew how much Nellie had loved the boy and he also knew how it was to lose a beloved person. He understood her perfectly. With the time Nellie's tears stopped, but the barber didn't stop holding her in his arms. She needed somebody to be there for her...

"Do you want to eat something?", Sweeney asked as it was getting dark outside. Nellie shook her head slightly.

"I'm not hungry."

"Love, you need to eat something", he said. Then he carefully laid Nellie onto the couch and stood up. It was terrible to see her like this, pale and the eyes full of sadness.

"You never wanted to eat", she interjected, but not very convincingly.

Sweeney sighed. "But I haven't been pregnant, have I? I'll be right back." He went to the kitchen and was quite sure to have seen something smile-like on Nellie's lips.

For sure Nellie was imagining now him being pregnant. He knew her, she had a wonderful imagination.

But as long as it made her think about more amusing things than Toby's death, Sweeney was fine with it.

Nellie sat up when Sweeney returned with some food on a plate and a cup of tea. While she ate, more or less voluntarily, he sat beside her, an arm around her body. She was thankful to have a husband like Sweeney. Whenever she needed somebody to hold her, he was there. Yes, the person Nellie trusted the most was actually a murderer. He had killed people. Some time ago, he had almost killed her too. But she knew that she wasn't better at all.

In fact, Nellie would probably describe both of them as psychopathic. But they made each other suffer less. They helped each other to forget the past, to keep living.

"I think I'll go to bed", Nellie said after finishing her dinner.

"All right. I'll join you soon", Sweeney answered and gave her a kiss onto the cheek.

The baker went to the bedroom and changed her dress for a nightgown. She was tired. Confused. Too much had happened today.

Toby is dead, she made it clear to herself once again. It was still so unreal... Nellie closed her eyes. She didn't know whether she wanted to be alone for a while or not. At the moment, she just wanted to sleep, to forget all the terrible things.

Did she really sleep as peacefully as it looked like? Sweeney carefully covered Nellie's body with a blanket before laying down too. He stared grimly at the ceiling.

Why did always something bad happen when his wife was finally lucky? The barber didn't care much about himself, but he wanted his wife to be happy. He only needed his wife and child, they kept him alive.

Nellie definitely didn't deserve more suffering. She had suffered so much in her life. Also because of him. Now he only could try to protect her, but there were things he couldn't protect her from.

Sweeney wasn't able to sleep. And suddenly, a loud scream took his whole attention.

Nellie was sitting uprightly, screaming, her eyes wide in shock. Sweeney immediately put his arms around her. It was obvious to him that she had had a nightmare.

"No! No! You won't hurt my child!", she screamed, trying to push Sweeney away forcefully and trying to hit him.

The barber wrapped a blanket tightly around Nellie, making it impossible for her to move her arms. He didn't care whether she would hurt him – he didn't want her to hurt herself.

"Nellie!", Sweeney said loudly. He had never seen her like this. She seemed not to know what actually was going on, she was like in trance.

"Please, don't hurt me!" She still struggled against Sweeney's grip around her. Obviously, she wanted to get her arms free.

"Eleanor!" Now the barber had to shout at her as she didn't react. He needed to wake her up completely. Sweeney leaned his back against the wall and pressed Nellie close to him. He was stronger than her, but though it wasn't easy to hold her.

"Eleanor, look at me!" Sweeney put his hand onto her cheek, forcing her to look at him. "Look into my eyes. Shh. Nellie... I won't hurt you, do you understand? Shh..." He had never seen so much fear in her eyes before.

"Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around.

Nothing's gonna harm you, darling, not while I'm around.

Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays,

I'll send 'em howling,

I don't care, I got ways.

No one's gonna hurt you,

No one's gonna dare.

Others can desert you,

Whistle, I'll be there..."

At last Nellie stopped screaming, breathing heavily, and her head sank onto Sweeney's chest. Her struggles got weaker.

"It was only a nightmare, love. Only a nightmare", Sweeney whispered softly, stroking the hair out of her face.

"Don't hurt me..."

I want your opinions on this! What do you think?

I'd be very thankful for a review