A/N: I am so sorry for the delay, loves. Classes and life in general got in the way again. Please, forgive me.

I want to thank my wonderful reviewers: TinkerbellxO, xBelekinax, KMN91, ForeverACharmedOne, Deathroman13, You cant rush science, Makrciana, Hawk Vercetti and Amy Williams.

You are all very helpful. Without you, I wouldn't be writing this.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd…Obviously.

Chapter 34

Oliver was sitting on his bed, swinging his little legs as Eva buttoned up his shirt and tucked it inside his pants. Her face was calm, but her eyes were slightly narrowed in thought. She smiled when she heard Oliver humming a song and she looked up when she felt his eyes on her.

"What is it?" she asked as she sensed that he was ready to ask something.

"If you are going to work…then who is going to take me to the park?" He asked with a soft frown.

"Oliver…we talked about this, remember? Mr. Todd will take you there." Eva said quietly as she reached for his dark brown scarf.

"Then he must like me." Oliver exclaimed suddenly and she smiled.

"He does. He likes spending time with you." She said as she placed the scarf around his neck.

"Like my daddy would?" Oliver asked with his head tilted to the side.

Eva paused for a moment before she brushed his brown hair from his forehead with a gentle hand.

"Exactly."

"Mr. Todd is very serious…" Oliver trailed off uncertainly and Eva looked at him.

"Does it make you uncomfortable?" She asked softly, but Oliver shook his head quickly.

"It'd be nice if he wanted to be my daddy since I don't have one. Would he be my daddy if I asked him?" His eyes lit up at the thought and Eva didn't know how to answer him.

"I am sure that he'd like that, darling." She said with a smile as she leaned forward and kissed his forehead.

"Can you ask him?" Oliver asked timidly and Eva laughed.

"Why don't you?" She asked and Oliver shrugged.

"Alright…maybe I will. Maybe if I buy him toffees he'll agree. Can I?" He exclaimed with a smile and she nodded.

"That's a good idea." She winked as she stood up and reached for his coat. He hopped from the bed and she helped him put it on.

"Come on." She said as she opened the door and they left the room.

In the parlor, Sweeney was putting his jacket on, facing away from them.

"We're ready." Eva announced and the barber turned towards them. He nodded and buttoned up his jacket before he walked towards them with his right hand outstretched. Oliver looked at it and then at his mother. At his mother's almost imperceptible nod. he tentatively placed his small hand into the barber's large one. Sweeney's fingers closed around Oliver's hand and he nodded at Eva once before he headed for the door.

"Wait." Eva called as she reached into her purse for money.

"Don't." Sweeney cut her off and she paused to look at him confused.

"But-…"

"I'm alright. I don't need money." He said gruffly with a warning look in his eyes.

"But how?"

"What do you think I am? Stupid? I had saved money while…" He trailed off as he looked away. Oliver looked up at them and blinked.

"We aren't going?" He asked and Sweeney looked down at him,

"No, we are, lad. I'll take care of him." The barber said as he turned to Eva who nodded back.

"I know." She whispered and with a terse nod Sweeney opened the door and exited the house with Oliver's hand clutched tightly in his own.

"Bye!" Oliver called with a wave as he bounced happily alongside Sweeney.

Eva watched them with a small sigh before she too left the house for work.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Sweeney was not easily amused. In fact, he could count the times he had been amused with the fingers of one hand. But this time he was definitely amused. Oliver was chewing on a toffee and his fingers and mouth were sticky with it. The barber opened his mouth to reprimand him, but the delighted look on his little face prevented him from doing so.

He reached into his coat pocket and fished a handkerchief. He waited until the child was finished and then handed it to him with a small smirk. Oliver took it from him and started wiping his mouth quite unsuccessfully. The barber chuckled and stopped him.

"Here. I am sure your mother wouldn't appreciate it if I returned you to her like this." He said as he started cleaning the boy's fingers one by one.

"Oh!" The child exclaimed and Sweeney looked at him with a frown.

"What is it?"

"I was supposed to buy you the toffees." The child murmured and the barber smirked.

"And why is that?" He asked still abnormally amused.

"Because I wanted to ask you…something." Oliver said hesitantly.

"Then ask me." The barber nodded his head as he finished cleaning the child's hands.

"Um…maybe later." Oliver said quickly and the barber chuckled.

"Alright." He agreed as he put away the handkerchief and they continued walking around in the park. Sweeney placed his hands behind his back as he walked while Oliver gazed up at the tall trees.

Sweeney stopped his footsteps when he realized that the boy was not walking next to him. His eyes widened and he looked back. He let out a sigh of relief when he spotted him on a bench under a large oak tree.

"Careful." He said and Oliver looked at him with wide eyes.

"Can I go up there? There's a little birds' nest." The child asked excitedly and the barber paused.

"Um…I am not sure you mother would approve-…"

"But mommy isn't here right now and you'll be here to catch me when I'm done." The boy pleaded with puppy dog eyes that made the barber fidget.

"Just for a moment." He said quietly and the child nodded enthused.

The barber watched as Oliver climbed up the tree carefully until he was able to see the birds.

"Wow…" The child muttered in awe and the barber smirked

"How many are there?" he asked the boy who turned to beam down at him.

"Three! They are small." Oliver said as he shifted his foot to a closer, but less steady branch in order to get a closer look.

"Careful." Sweeney warned as he saw the branch cracking loudly under the boy's weight.

"I am-…" His response was cut off when the branch gave away and the child's foot swayed precariously in thin air.

The barber's eyes widened and he stepped closer until he was standing directly under the tree.

"Easy." Sweeney called as Oliver whimpered. One of the child's hands let go of the branch it was holding and he cried out as he felt gravity pulling him towards the ground.

"Bloody hell!" The barber exclaimed as he watched the boy falling backwards and towards him with lightning speed. His arms moved out of reflex and he stepped forward.

Oliver shut his eyes tightly and waited for the hard impact with the ground, but it never came. He felt his foot bumping severely against the hard surface of the tree but two strong arms stopped his fall. He cried out and buried his face in the barber's chest as he felt his foot throbbing with pain.

"Shh, I've got you." Sweeney murmured as he tightened his hold on the child and held him close.

"Are you hurt?" he asked as his heart thumped wildly against his chest.

"My foot." Oliver said as he whimpered.

"It's alright. Let's go home and have a look at that." The barber said as he moved away from the tree and headed for the direction of the house.

"I think we are in trouble, Mr. Todd. Oliver whispered as they walked and Sweeney looked down at the child.

"You've got that right, lad." He said as he imagined Eva's reaction the moment she'd find out about the accident.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Eva shrugged out of her shawl and massaged her neck as she walked into the hall. She looked around and frowned.

"Sweeney?" she called and a moment later the barber appeared in the kitchen doorway.

"You're late." He stated and she nodded.

"I know. I had to close the shop. Everything alright?" she asked with a tired smile and the barber swallowed hard.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen." He said softly and she frowned.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, "Where's Oliver?"

"He's asleep…He had an accident today." Sweeney admitted quietly and Eva's eyes widened.

"What? When?"

"At the park. He wanted to see some birds and he climbed up the tree-…"

"What? You let him climb a tree?" She exclaimed and he paused.

"Yes, I did."

"He's not supposed to climb trees! I thought you were going to take him for a walk."

"I did! He just wanted-…"

"He can't do whatever he wants, Sweeney. He's six years old!"

"I know that! All children like to climb trees!" The barber exclaimed and she rubbed her temples.

"He slipped and he almost fell. But I caught him. He simply scratched his foot. It's nothing. He'll be fine in a couple of days." He explained quietly.

"You said you were going to watch him." She said slowly.

"I did watch him!" Sweeney snapped and she glared at him.

"You should have done better!"

"What?" he asked abruptly.

"You said you'd take care of him."

"I did take care of him. I'm here, am I not? All children fall." He snapped angrily.

"Not from trees."

"From trees too. You can't protect him from everything. No one can."

"How do you know what I can or can't do? I raised him on my own, did I not?"

"Jesus, Eva. I am sorry! I told you he's fine." He said wide eyed, but she remained silent.

They stared at each other unblinkingly before she broke the contact and walked away in silence, leaving him alone with his fists clenched on either side of his body.

End of chapter 34

Author's note: Thank you for reading. I hope you liked it. Eva overreacted a little bit, didn't she? Please review before you go. I need your thoughts and opinions!

Xxx Lina :)