Hello again! I'm sorry for the wait but things have been rather hectic.

I want to thank my reviewers: XLovesickXMelodyX, AngelofDarkness, lilNellBell, XrazorxpiesX, Jade Lamourgy, Sweenett95, AgentxOfxChaos and sweenet4ever!

You are all amazing and thank you for supporting this story.

I think two more chapters are left to end this story…or maybe only one. I don't know how it will come out. We'll see.

Now, on with the chapter! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd!

Chapter 43

Three months later…

"Ben? Are you up there?" Nellie asked breathless as she was holding little Ruby in her arms. She had just finished feeding her and she had to go to the market for some things. After a while Ben opened the door to his shop and looked down at her with a smile.

"Yes, darling?" he asked and she smiled.

"Sorry…are you busy?" she asked and he shook his head.

"Not really. I just finished with a customer. You need something?" he asked her, looking sideways at the inside of his shop where a walking Johanna was.

"Can you keep an eye on Ruby? I have to go to the market." She asked softly and his eyes lit up.

"Yes! Sure…" he said clearing his throat and she laughed.

"Okay, I'll be up in a minute with her." She called as she went inside the shop.

"Okay…Johanna! Get back inside, darling! Don't run away from daddy now, love." He called loudly as he took hold of Johanna's little hand and led her back inside. Nellie laughed and put on her coat and purse before locking the door to her shop. She headed upstairs with Ruby in her arms, staring at her with her brown eyes. She opened the door and walked in to find Ben sitting on his barber chair watching Johanna as she played.

"Here we are." She said and he looked at her. He smiled and sat up on the chair as she came close to him and placed the small baby in his arms carefully.

"There, I won't be long." She said.

"It's okay. It's not a very busy day. Besides if anyone comes I will put her on my old bed. Don't worry." He said and she nodded her head before pecking him on the lips before walking out of the door.

"Bye, love." She called as she closed the door.

"Bye." He said gently before looking at his younger daughter who was sitting obediently in her father's arms. She was always good when Ben held her. When she was with her mother she was a little devil. Just like Nellie.

"Hey, sweetie…" he said softly as he kissed her cheek, making her look up at him curiously. Ben looked up and saw Johanna looking at him pouting. Lately she was a little jealous because her sister was getting most of her parents' attention; Ben especially since he was her favorite. He smiled from his chair and winked at her.

"Come here, darling." He said to her as he motioned her with his hand.

Johanna slowly started walking towards her father and when she was near his feet he reached with his hand and brought her easily on his lap; her back resting against the arm of the chair and her small legs across his lap.

"There. Sit here with us, hmm?" he said as he felt her immediately snuggling to his side. He laughed and kissed her head as he sat there with them in his embrace.

"You are a minx." He whispered into Johanna's ear and she giggled as she looked up at him. He grinned at her and shook his head before adjusting Ruby in his arm.

"You thought pouting will get me in there, huh?" he asked her with raised eye brows. The little girl giggled and gave a small nod and he smirked.

"Well, it worked...as always." He said laughing as he leaned back on the chair. His arms and legs were getting numb from holding them but he didn't seem to mind. In fact he didn't mind at all. Johanna was playing with his vest buttons and he watched her while Ruby had started dozing of. He was brought out of his happy reverie when a knock on the door came. He looked at the door and shrugged before speaking.

"Come in." he called and the door slowly opened. He looked and his eyes widened with surprise. Lucy was standing in the doorway, looking at him nervously.

"What…what are you doing here?" he muttered as he sat up on the chair.

"Um…I wanted to speak with you Ben." She said softly and he was surprised that she wasn't snapping at him.

"About what?" he asked a bit more harshly than he meant.

"Can I at least come in?" she asked and he hesitated before reluctantly nodding. She closed the door and walked closer to him. Her eyes went to the two girls in his arms and she looked at him stunned.

"You had another baby?" she asked and he cleared his throat before speaking.

"Yes, this is Ruby." He said and she looked at the baby.

"I see…" she said and her eyes returned to Johanna who was staring at her curiously.

"Hi, love…" she said softly as she reached with her hand and stroked her daughter's cheek. Ben looked at her confused, wondering what she wanted.

"Lucy? What are you really doing here?" Ben asked feeling threatened.

"I just wanted to say…that I'm sorry for everything I said the last time I was here. It is not my business what you do anymore." She said softly as she looked around the shop.

"It's okay…but that's not all. Is it?" he asked looking at her. He wanted to stand up but Johanna was sitting on him.

"Can you take her? I need to stand." He asked her and she complied, taking Johanna in her arms. She looked at her and the little girl became fascinated with the yellow hair that was falling over her shoulders; the same as her hair.

"She's has grown up…" she muttered and he strained to hear her.

"Yes…so, what else is it that you wanted to say?" he asked her as he stood up.

"Um…I am leaving London." She said sighing and he looked at her perplexed.

"Leaving? With the judge?" he asked her and she looked away.

"No…not with him. I'm leaving alone." She said and he nodded his head.

"You're not…?" he asked and she shook her head.

"I don't want to talk about it." She said as she looked at her daughter. Ben looked at her but made no attempt to take Johanna from her.

"Where are you going?" he asked softly after a while.

"Um…possibly Paris. You know my aunt is leaving there." She said as she looked at him. She placed Johanna on the chair and turned to look at him. She smiled sadly and outstretched her hand out at him. He hesitated but took her hand, holding it in his own.

"I hope that I can come and see her when I mean if I can…if you let me." She said softly and he nodded his head, offering her a small smile, extremely confused by her behavior.

"Sure…um…are you okay? You look paler than usual and …very thin." He asked her frowning as he looked at her tired face.

"Oh! I'm okay, Ben. Thank you. I'll be going now." She said with a fake smile as she quickly released his hand and walked to the door but not before kissing Johanna's cheek.

"I'm sorry again." She said in a quiet voice before walking out of the door and closing it softly behind her. He looked at the closed door and frowned. Something was not right; she was not okay. He shook his head and looked at Johanna was staring too at the closed door with her big blue eyes. He walked to the window and watched her leaving the street with slow steps. She looked up to his direction once and met his eyes. He looked away and when he looked back down again she was gone from his life forever.

End of chapter 43

Author's note: Thank you for reading! What do you think was wrong with Lucy? Any ideas for her sudden change?

Please review! Reviews are love! :)