Thank you all for your great comments: Raine44354, lifetime'slost, xXWolfAngelXx, TheRosalieHale, Shiloh, bugbug05, PireliTodd, KaliPayton, akane sarumara, me-loves-demon-barber, GladeSistas, -my-forgotten-rose, Emma, Haeronwen, xPrincetonx, BleedmetoINSANITY, Midna Hytwilian and CrazyAcorn! Thank you all! You made my day!
Review reply to Emma: Hi, love! I am sorry for doing that to the baby but it has a point. It might change Sweeney in a way you never expected. Thank you once again for your support! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd!
Chapter 28
The only sound inside the cold hospital room was the clock ticking and Amelia's uneven breathing as she tried to block her tears.
Todd seemed frozen on the spot; his eyes were wide, his face too pale and his fists curled to his sides. His mind was trying to process her words but he couldn't allow himself to believe it. He had never thought that something like that would happen. It was true that at the beginning he didn't want the child but lately…lately he had started facing the fact that there was a child and that it was his. He was getting used to the idea of seeing Amelia pregnant and he had hoped that he would at least have the chance to feel the baby move inside of her with just a touch of his hand on her stomach. Now that possibility was gone. He had what he wanted but he wasn't sure he wanted it anymore. His eyes moved over her form on the bed and a knot appeared in his stomach as he watched her face. This was not what he wanted. Not at all.
The door cracked open and he faintly registered Beth's form appearing in the doorway. He looked at her sideways and his jaw tensed.
"Amelia…you want me to come in?" she asked and Amelia looked at her and made to nod but Sweeney was quicker.
"No, she doesn't."
"Excuse me?" Beth asked with narrowed eyes.
"I said she doesn't." he repeated and Amelia looked at him confused.
"What are you doing?" she whispered but he didn't answer her, instead he turned towards Beth.
"Get out." He demanded and the older woman glared at him.
"Why don't you ask her if she wants you here, Mr. Todd?" Beth asked with her hands on her hips.
"I said get out. She does not need your petting. I am here." He growled and Beth stole a glance towards Amelia but the younger woman only looked at her lap.
"Alright…I'll be outside if you need me, dear." Beth said quietly before she exited the room, closing the door behind her.
Sweeney tore his eyes away from the door and he took a few steps closer to Amelia's bed. His eyes moved over her face and settled on her hand that was resting on her stomach. His mouth went dry and he didn't know what to say.
"It's my fault you know…" she whispered and he frowned.
"It's not your fault…" he said shaking his head.
"I wasn't eating well…I was a wreck…" she whispered as her hand stayed on her belly.
"Why weren't you eating?" he asked as he came to sit on the bed next to her.
"I don't know…"
Sweeney's eyes moved over her and saw that indeed she was thinner.
"Are you hungry now? Do you want to…"
"No…You must be happy…" she said as she finally looked up at him, silent tears running down her face.
"Me? Why would I be happy?" he asked and he could see the faint accusation in her eyes.
"You never wanted it…but I did." She whispered as she wiped her cheek.
"That's not true." He said hoarsely.
Amelia laughed bitterly and shook her head.
"You wanted me to get rid of it. And you would have forced me to do it if I hadn't left." She said and he shook his head fiercely.
"No…no I wouldn't…" he whispered as he reached for her hand but she snatched it away.
"I don't know why I still love you." She whispered and he felt the knot in his stomach tightening.
"Amelia…" he whispered her name as she choked on a sob and buried her face in her hands. His hands twitched and before he knew it his arms went around her frame, pulling her closer to his body. She didn't struggle against him but only fell limply into his arms. Her head pressed against his chest and her hands grabbed fistfuls of his vest. He felt her body shaking in his arms and he tightened his hold on her, moving his body closer to hers.
"Are you cold? Why are you so cold?" he whispered as he felt how cold her arms were.
When he received no answer he took one of his arms away and she whimpered.
"Shh…I'm here…" he said as he jerkily took off his coat and wrapped it around her form. He scooted up and pulled her more firmly in his arms as he felt slowly her sobs subsiding.
He rubbed her back as guilt and regret slowly settled in his gut like a knife. He felt her arms snaking around his torso as she laid her head on his shoulder, her shaky breath brushing over his neck. He moved one hand and stroked her cheek, his fingers brushing stray tears from her pale skin.
"I am not happy." He rasped after a while and she nodded against his chest.
"I just…" she trailed off and he looked down at her.
"Yes?" he encouraged and she sniffed.
"I really wanted the baby…"
"I know you did, pet…I know you did…you're so young…you'll have the chance to have children…" he said, his voice so sincere that it shocked him that he actually believed it and that he actually wanted to be the one who would make that come true.
Amelia remained silent, her eyes staring at the material of his white shirt. She didn't even understand how she could feel so good in his arms but his hands felt nice around her. Sweeney's eyes searched for hers and she locked eyes with him. His mouth twitched and she found that she couldn't look away from his almost black stare. His right hand left her back and trailed down her arm, coming to rest on her stomach.
"Does it hurt?" he asked and she nodded.
"A bit when I move…I lost blood and my head hurts." She answered as she gazed down at his hand. Todd nodded, taking his hand away to move a stray lock of hair away from her eyes. He leaned down and kissed her forehead and then her nose as a sudden wave of affection made its appearance in his heart.
"Sweeney…don't…" she whispered but he ignored her warning by pressing his lips against her mouth in a soft kiss. She didn't kiss back but he didn't expect her to. He just wanted the contact and she didn't deny him by moving away. He moved away and reached for her again, this time more firmly. The only reaction he had was her fist tightening around the material of his vest.
"When can you leave?" he asked as he pressed his lips on her cheek and hugged her to him.
"Anytime I want…I can't walk though." She whispered and he nodded.
"I'll let you sleep for a while then…" he whispered as he let go if her and fixed her covers around her, leaving his jacket around her too. She nodded and closed her eyes. Sweeney walked out of the room and closed the door behind him, his eyes fogged with moisture but no one noticed because in a matter of seconds it was gone.
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Amelia felt someone remove the covers from her body and a pair of hands sliding under her body. She felt herself being lifted up and she stirred.
"You can't take her like this! Did she agree?" she heard a female voice whispering.
"I don't need your opinion, Mrs. Madison." She heard Todd's voice snarl as she was cradled against a broad chest.
"I have been with her. Do you know how she was because of you?" Beth hissed as Sweeney made to pass by her to get to the door.
"This is not your business. Move away." Sweeney hissed.
"Do you even care for her?" Beth asked and Amelia's eyes opened.
"My feelings are no concern of yours. Now move away." He said in a low voice. Amelia looked between the two but she was so tired that she couldn't voice her opinion. She simply lay there in his arms.
"I'll come over to see her." Beth said finally as she moved away glaring at the barber who glared right back. Sweeney adjusted his hold on the woman in his arms and made his way out of the room and down the hall towards the exit of the hospital.
He stopped a carriage and placed her inside before getting in next to her. He pulled her in his arms and she closed her eyes again. He kissed the top of her head, anger building inside him because of that woman who liked to interfere. Soon they arrived at his house and he picked her up again as he headed for the door. He walked in and placed her softly on his bed, covering her with a blanket.
"Why did you bring me here?" she whispered groggily and he stroked her hair away from her face.
"You live here."
"No, I don't…I left remember? You told me to…" she whispered and he sighed.
"That's why I'm not letting you out of my sight again. Sleep." He commanded as he took his jacket from the bed and sat in his chair, watching as she slept.
She was staying with him no matter what she said.
End of chapter 28
Author's note: Thank you for reading! Please review. :)
