Epilogue

The sea. That was the first memory she could remember vividly. The bright, sparkly blue sea water glowing magically under the haze of the yellow sun. Her toes buried deep in the wet sand. Her Mother and Father at her side, watching her as she stared off into the distance. How old was she then? Four? Five? She couldn't remember. All she remembered was how at peace she felt whenever her parents would take her there. She supposed she had never been very happy in her life, except when she went to the sea or baked with her mother. Or when she looked into Sweeney Todd's eyes.

Yes, when she looked into his eyes. Even his eyes still had fragments of Benjamin Barker. But that was not who she saw in them.

Months had passed, seasons had come and gone quicker than she ever thought would. London became a place of the past. A memory. The Judge, long since served to customers along with the Beatle, had only been in the papers for a few days. Their identities went from England's view.

Demons had charmed her with smiles all her life before now. No freedom, no kindness, no protection, no love. Well, not even the demons could stop her from smiling now.

She looked up from the window seal, the sea crashing violently just a few feet away, the salty night air blowing against her tired face. Her barber at rest in the bed beside her.

Why did people talk of heaven, she wondered. This was her heaven on earth. She still had to get Sweeney to pinch her sometimes in the morning, making sure she was actually alive. That she was not living in a fantasy she had made up in her head. He teased her about it every now and then.

She pulled her dressing gown against her tightly, the chilly air making her shiver slightly. She stood up and reached out and closed the window gently, making sure she didn't wake Mr. Todd. Sighing and glancing at the sea one more time, she walked back to their bed.

Pulling the covers away, Nellie crawled back into the white bed, Sweeney's snoring coming to a halt. Laying her head against the pillow, she felt sleep already crawling its way in. She closed her eyes, a smile still planted on her lips.

"I just had a dream about you."

She opened her eyes and turned, "Wot?"

He turned over on his side and met her gaze, "You were still making those bloody pies"

His grin made her melt and she lifted her hand to cup his cheek, feeling the light stuble he had neglected. He closed his eyes and savored her touch, gently taking her wrist into his own hand.

"Well...go on."

"You were passing out pies to the whole street, chatting to everyone."

"Oh that definitely sounds like me, love. Ya sure you were dreamin?"

He chuckled and moved closer to her, his hands going to her waist and his face in her hair.

"Then you came back up to my shop…"

She raised her eyebrows and stared at him.

"And you dragged me to some open field or whatnot and made me look at the stars with you."

She rubbed his back and smiled.

"Well...how romantic." she winked.

"Don't you dare start making some plans…" he growled into her ear playfully, his warm breath hitting her neck and the tip of his nose tickling her. She wrapped her arms around him tighter and pulled him close.

"You can't stop me, you know that." she whispered, knowing damn well she was right and he knew it.

"I do." he replied, lifting his head to look into her eyes. He pushed some of her ginger hair out of the way of her face, his thumbs resting on the hollows of her cheeks.

She stared back at him, her nails running up and down his neck, making their way into his messy hair. The moonlight still lit their silhouettes. The sea still crashing. Toby still fast asleep in the other room. Her heart still racing.

He brushed his lips against hers. She closed her eyes.

"I had been a great fool not to love you…"

"I know.." she said back.

"The course of true love never did run smooth." - William Shakespeare.

Hope you all have enjoyed my story! Loved writing it. We all wish it had ended up like this :(