Walking through the streets of London, Toby and Beth made their way back through the market place when all of a sudden Beth spotted a scruffy yet adorable looking dog with floppy ears wandering around in front of them.

"Oh, a dog!" She cried, running over and kneeling in the puddles to shower the canine in affection.

Toby approached and stood nervously as Beth stroked the dogs head and patted his body. The pooch was obviously very comfortable being touched and wagged its tail happily, enjoying the attention. Toby knew right away the dog was probably a stray given its skinny frame and dirty fur, though there were some remnants of a torn collar around his small neck so he must have belonged to someone once.

"I think he likes me." Beth grinned, then she looked to Toby who seemed apprehensive around the creature "He won't bite, look he likes being stroked. Come and pet him." She reached up and took Toby's wrist, making him flinch a little as she gently pulled him closer.

Cautiously Toby approached and bent to pat the dog on the head. The canine rubbed affectionately against the two of them and the children giggled as he tried to lick their faces.

"Oh, you're so cute!" Beth wrapped her arms around the dog's neck in an embrace. "I wish I could take you home with me, but mother wouldn't like it."

Toby stood from his position on the floor and happened to glance around him when he spotted a man in a bowler hat and high collar looking at them by a flower stall. As soon as Toby's eyes met his, the man looked away and moved around the stalls, appearing to be shopping for something. Toby frowned, a peculiar sense of unease washing over him.

"Beth..." He said quietly "I think we should go now."

Sighing the girl nodded and gave the dog one last hug and stroke "Bye doggy." She stood and soon after she did the pooch began wandering off towards the food stalls and disappeared out of sight. Beth surveyed her now wet and muddy skirts fearfully, she was going to get in big trouble for that when she got home. Oh well, the more she annoyed her mother the better.

The pair made their way through the London market and Toby made a habit of stopping every now and then, pretending to look at some stalls to see if the man followed them. He did. Beth hadn't seemed to notice but was becoming annoyed by how many times Toby wanted to stop and look at things when all she wanted to do was go home.

Toby was far too focused on keeping the strange man in his sights to be bothered by her short temper and angry glares. The closer Toby looked at this man, the more uneasy he became. His low hat and high collar concealed a lot of his face but he could still make out strands of blonde hair poking out from underneath the hat and cold blue eyes scanning the surrounding market. What scared Toby the most was that his eyes seemed to be glued on Beth.

Becoming very scared for them now, Toby surprised her by grabbing Beth's hand and pulling her close so he could whisper to her "That man in the brown cap is followin' us - we need ta go, now."

"What?" She squeaked, automatically turning to look around her but Toby stopped her, begging her to not make it obvious.

"Let's just go, if 'e follows we can run." He told her. Beth nodded, her eyes wide and afraid but she listened.

Toby took the lead and kept his gaze over his shoulder as they strode away from the stall. They were walking away rapidly and as soon as the man realised this he began to follow them again, picking up his own speed. When Toby saw him practically jogging after them, he grabbed Beth's hand again and yelled "Run!"

They sped down the streets and out of the market place into the much quieter streets. To his horror, Toby realised that the man was chasing after them. He led Beth by the hand down a hill and in a different direction to the one they came. He intended to head for the busy pubs where there would be more people and safery in the crowds. He also didn't want to lead this man to the shop where his mum would be, he couldn't show this man where they lived.

Beth's skirts flew behind her as she allowed Toby to pull her through a small crowd of rowdy well-dressed men who were likely going for a drink. The children's small bodies and agility allowed them to weave their way around the group with relative ease. Toby prayed that them running through this group of men would slow down their chaser and help them lose him. To ensure they wouldn't be seen when the man got through the group, Toby took a sharp left into one of the small, darkly lit alleyways where they took cover behind two large bins.

"Toby!" Beth whispered fearfully as they crouched down on the dirty floor.

"Shhh!" Toby brought a finger to his lips and almost as soon as he'd finished shushing her, he heard loud footsteps.

Toby took the chance to peer over the top of the bin and watched with bated breath as the man pursuing them appeared at the end of the alleyway, out of breath. He stopped and looked around – searching for them it seemed.

Toby's heart nearly leapt out of his chest when the stranger began making his way down the alley and heading straight for them. Toby ducked down from the bin, clenching his eyes shut and preparing for the worst.

However, by some miracle, the man only took a few steps down the alleyway and then turned back, believing the children had gone elsewhere. Back out onto the streets he angrily took off his hat and threw it to the ground, cursing loudly.

Hearing that he was no longer close, Toby sneaked another glance over the bin and watched the man take off in the direction they had been running. He was gone.

Slowly, Toby stood and breathed a sigh of relief. He turned and bent down to Beth who had her knees to her chest and her hands pressed over her ears, shaking terribly like a frightened puppy.

"Beth." Toby gently pulled her hands away from her ears and made her look at him "It's alrigh', he's gone. You're safe now."

Still scared, she stood and looked down the alleyway to confirm that the man chasing them was gone. When she turned back, Toby was holding out his hand, comfortingly telling her that it was okay and that they needed to go in case he came back.

Scared, yet grateful she took his hand and the pair left the alley and went back the way they came, the opposite direction the man had taken. As they ran, it began to rain but Beth didn't care for her pretty dress and hair. She couldn't help but stare at the back of Toby's head and feel the warmth of his hand in hers. He'd just saved her, she realised.

By the time they reached Mrs Lovett's shop, the pair were soaked through and Eleanore and Richard were waiting for them inside. As soon as they ran inside, Beth rushed into her father's arms and hugged him.

"There you are!" He cried, lifting her up into his arms. "What took you so long? We were worried!"

"I'm sorry Papa," She murmured into his shoulder "We lost track of time."

"Toby, why are ya so out of breath love?" Eleanore asked, realising after hugging him that her clothes had become sodden.

"Uh-" Toby pulled away from his mum, momentarily worried about telling her. He looked to Beth "We...were jus'–"

"We started running when it rained," said Beth "But we still got wet."

Toby shut his mouth and silently the pair exchanged a look that didn't need any words. They didn't want to worry their parents by telling them they had been followed. Toby wasn't completely on board, he often told his mother everything. But if Beth did not want to tell them, be would oblige.

"Your mother is going to crucify me," Richard said fondly, his eyes taking in the mud-soaked skirts and wet body of his daughter. He didn't seem to mind in the slightest that she was getting his own clothes wet. "Oh well, good job your father brought an umbrella isn't it? We'd best be off home now, Eleanore. Thanks for having us."

"Not at all, Richard. You know ye can always come by whenever ya want."

"Thank you," Richard smiled and placed Beth down on the ground, taking her hand in his "Goodbye."

"Bye, love."

As they moved to the door, Beth's eyes met Toby's and she offered him a shy smile "Bye, Toby."

"Bye Beth." He waved, pleased that she had referred to him by his real name and not 'Tony.' She was beginning to grow on him a little.

Even if she was scary.

~•0•~

Once Richard and Beth left, Eleanore drew Toby a hot bath and fetched him some towels. Not long after the bath was drawn he began to sneeze and Eleanore left him in peace, promising some hot cocoa by the fire and a story when he was done.

While Toby was bathing in the bathroom, Eleanore's thoughts drifted to Sweeney and the events that happened earlier. Apparently, Sweeney was already in a bad mood this morning after cutting his hand. She wondered if him seeing her and George's intimate exchange had only worsened that mood.

Deciding to find out, she made her way into her parlour and grabbed a roll of bandaging from a first aid kit. Hiking her way back up the stairs to his shop she knocked before she entered but there was no answer, so she knocked once more and let herself in.

"Mista T?"

"What?" Snapped a voice from the bathroom.

Sighing, she closed the door and entered the shop. I guess that answers me question about 'im being in a bad mood.

"Ye gonna let me take care o'that hand of yours?!" She called.

"I don't need ye help." She thought she heard him mutter over the sound of a tap running. "I've fixed it."

Placing her hands on her hips she knelt against the dresser "Well ye can't very well jus' put some water on it an' it'll be magically healed. Let me bandage it properly before ye get an infection."

Hearing him groan, the door to the bathroom opened and Sweeney stood hard-faced with a pathetic piece of tissue wrapped around his thumb.

"It's fine." He said stubbornly, glaring at her.

"Toilet paper certainly isn't going to do it now is it Doctor Todd?" She said sarcastically. Beckoning him to sit down in his chair she showed him the bandages "Come on, stop bein' so stubborn an' just lemme patch ye up."

Taking his time to do as she asked he finally relented and sat down in the barber's chair without a word. Eleanore got to work quickly, peeling the toilet paper off to reveal a deep cut halfway down his thumb. Sweeney winced as she began to clean it, arguing with him to keep still and stop being a baby when she doused her cloth in alcohol to stop any infection.

Gritting his teeth through the pain he noted that she was relatively at ease around him now. The other day she had been sad and low, but this morning she had been rather passive-aggressive with him. He wondered if it was to do with the officer. Probably...

The fact that he had almost walked in on the pair smooching like a couple of young lovers made him want to be physically sick. He didn't like the idea of anyone being with her like that, it was just blatant jealousy. After all, he knew what those lips felt like and what lay beneath the skirts and dresses. Officer Brown certainly didn't deserve that luxury.

Surveying her luscious curves and breasts now, a surprising thought stuck his mind; he wanted her again. It surprised him mainly because the reason he had slept with Eleanore Lovett in the first place was to squash his desire. But since that night in front of the fire, those desires had only seemed to worsen and he was craving her touch again more than ever.

Eleanore could feel Sweeney's lustful gaze on her body as she dressed the wound and she clenched her jaw, trying desperately to ignore it and finish bandaging the wound. Sweeney sighed and tore his eyes away when she refused to show a reaction. He needed to stop letting his feelings get in the way of his thoughts, it was going to drive him mad.

"Why did you lie to me?" He asked flatly when the silence became too much.

"Whatever are ye talking about?" She asked shortly, wrapping the bandage tightly around his thumb.

"That officer...you said he was too young for you and he was practically a child." He growled at the rough handling of his cut "But then the pair of you are kissing like a couple of teenagers during your shift–"

"We weren't kissin'. He was about ta kiss me, that's what ya saw – an' he is too young fer me. So I didn't lie, and that's that!" She said firmly, her anger growing.

Sweeney looked at her again, sensing her growing hostility but he couldn't help himself from pushing her further. He just had to know if the two of them would become an item. He didn't know why he just had to.

"So if he wasn't too young, you would risk dating an officer despite knowing the crimes that we commit here?" As soon as he said this, Eleanore lost her cool and Sweeney quickly regretted it.

"We?" She turned to snap at him "Crimes that we commit?! Mista Todd, your crimes are your responsibility! I Avent baked a human pie in two weeks now but I know yer still killin' men on the streets so don't you dare make me feel guilty for wantin' a bit of romance in me life!"

Sweeney opened his mouth in an effort to calm her down, but now that he had set her off there was no stopping her.

"If I want to date a vicar that's wot I'll bloody well do an' you got no right tellin' me otherwise! Why do you care about wot I do with me life? You ain't got a claim over me! You've already got wot ye wanted which was a free ride an' no strings attached so wot the hell are you complain' about?!"

After her yelling was over she drew in a breath and parted her lips to say more, but all that came out was a pathetic whimper. She could feel herself becoming emotional, so she dropped the bandaging and buried her face in her hands, turning away from him and moving for the door.

Sweeney, on the other hand, was utterly speechless but one thing he did know was that he didn't want her to leave - not like this.

"Eleanore!" He ran forward to grab her arm when she began to open the shop door. Taking him by surprise she turned and delivered a swift kick to his ankle. Sweeney cried out in pain and fell down hard to his knees.

"Piss off!" She spat, opening the door and succeeding in getting out of the shop and down the stairs.

Clutching his injured ankle and groaning in pain, Sweeney hobbled out after her and nearly fell down the stairs in the process. "Eleanore! Wait!"

He followed her as she marched through the parlour and reached her bedroom door when she turned and faced Sweeney who'd caught up with her despite his injured ankle.

"Mista T I swear if I 'ave ta get my rollin' on ya I will do that - so stay away!" She threatened.

"Stop it. I'm not going to hurt you." He limped over to her and raised his hands in defence.

"I don't wanna speak to ya!" She spat angrily at him, but she couldn't help her heart from racing as he came nearer, almost nose to nose with her. He wasn't happy, she could tell from the tight line across his mouth, but he did not appear dangerous, merely determined and frustrated.

"You'll listen." He told her, placing one hand on the wall by her head, effectively trapping her. When she didn't speak again Sweeney drew in a breath and began to speak his part. "I want you, Eleanore. I want you because I shouldn't want you. But you're in love with the memory of Benjamin Barker - that's not who I am and I can't give you what you want... I'm sorry..."

Eleanore stood breathless at the closeness of his body. Just hours ago today she'd been in a very similar position with another man, but George Brown was nothing compared to the way Sweeney made her feel. He brought fire through her veins and yearning in her soul. She obsessed over him like a god, and she worshipped and basked in his presence like the sun.

"You don't 'ave ta be Benjamin." She said quietly "He was lost ta me years ago - Sweeney Todd still holds me heart. Don't cha get it ya silly man? I will always love an' want you. An' no dashin' policeman – or any man in London for that matter – is ever gonna change that!"

Sweeney stared at her, momentarily stunned. He had no idea what to say to that, no clue how to respond. Instead, all he could stutter was "But- how can you love someone like me? I'm a monster."

"Yes..." She breathed, her eyes welling and her breast heaving with desire. "But yer my monster."

Sweeney's heated gaze scrutinized her like an equation he had yet to solve. His eyes drifted to her heaving chest and the sharpness of her collarbone, his mouth dried and he could sense the lust coursing through both of them as he pressed her against the wall. He thought of the officer, that boy who'd had her like this against the wall and brought his lips to hers sent a shiver of revulsion down his spine. He'd tasted her lips before once, but now he wanted to taste them again.

His uninjured hand moved up to touch her face, but it hovered over her cheek and stayed there. His thumb froze there, mere inches from her soft cheekbone as his conscience tried to dissuade him one last time.

"I want you." He said again.

"Then why don't ya take what ya want?" She suggested, her eyes glinting.

Sweeney chortled and shook his head "You'll be the death of me."

"And you're no good fer me." She responded.

They kept their eyes on one another when slowly Eleanore's back came away from the wall and she moved closer to him, her eyes never once leaving his lustful gaze. Tentatively, she extended her height to her tiptoes and pressed a light kiss to his lips. Sweeney's eyes fluttered shut and he didn't react at first, but when she kissed him a second time he responded and a frenzy took over the pair.

Their mouths crashed together hungrily, their teeth clicking from the force of the kiss. Hands were everywhere, sliding around and down each others body, clutching one another, fingers running through hair. Their heavy breaths and moans filled each other's ears.

Sweeney drew back from her lips to kiss down her chest to the tops of her breasts and the baker buried her hands in the barber's hair. She panted and gasped at the feel of his kisses as they returned to her neck and her back met the wall hard. She didn't care about love or strings, right now she craved him and she needed to feel his touch again.

Sweeney slid his hands down her body, hardly drawing in air as he kissed her neck and breasts. Desperately he dove for his belt.

He wanted her.

No.

He needed her.

A/N: Sorry for the progressively later updates, I've been pretty swamped at work but I'm still really invested in writing this story. Let me know what you guys think! x