I honestly don't like this chapter. I'm sorry, it is a jumble of random scenes, I'm trying to move along to the "good stuff" and it has been a struggle. Hope you enjoy nonetheless and thank you!

Baking by the Sea

Sweeney awoke the next morning, surprised to notice that Nellie is not in bed with him. Feeling a bit guilty about the night before, he pushes the covers off of him, preparing to search the house for his wife. Something smelled absolutely heavenly. Brows furrowed in confusion he steps into kitchen.

Nellie was busily rushing about. There were small cakes and pies, breads with jams scattered all over the table. Sweeney stood frozen in shock in the archway. "What's all this pet?"

She gasped, spinning around facing him with her hand over her heart. "Bleedin' hell love, you gave me such a fright, you did."

"Not my intention." He continued to be perplexed by the bakery goods around him. "Having a craving for bread, are you?"

She wiped her hands on her apron, "Oh, I was just preparing for today love." She looked back at the mixing bowl, remembering what was she doing. "I've been up for hours." She says. Sweeney yawned, snatching a cake from the table and taking a bite. Nellie shrieks in his direction. "Those are for customers love." Deadpan, he continues chewing the small cake. She sighed, "Well no matter." The chair scratched on the floor as he took a seat at the table. "First thing is we'll need to go to the market. I've used up everything here."

"Have you eaten?" Sweeney asked.

"Not really, had some coffee, quite a lot actually, why do you ask?" She was jittery and trembling. Her hands shaking as she mixed contents into the bowl. After a bit she moved over a counter space and began kneading dough on the cutting board. "I need to get a new rolling pin." She mused while frantically tossing and shoving her knuckles into the dough.

"If only you hadn't thrown the other one off a cliffside." He teased.

She kept working the dough, her breaths labored. She barely even registered that he made a sound. In fact, she forgot his presence entirely or how much time was going by. She jumped out of her skin suddenly again when his fingers were pressed into the back of her shoulder blades.

"Pet." His voice sounded of rich velvet; it gave her chills for it also had a bit of warning to it. "Please, come sit, rest awhile." He moved his cold hands over her floured ones.

"I have too much work to do, dear."

"You need to sit and eat something." He said leading her to the table.

She spun on her heels, "At least let me finish this batch and get them into the oven." She said. Once that next pastry was cooked, Nellie agreed to rest. She ate some of her own wares and laid down on the settee. She closed her eyes for what she thought would be a few minutes, to her dismay she opened them to a different shade of color in the sky. She launches herself into a sitting position. Her head spun around to the sound a front door closing and footsteps walking over the threshold.

"You're awake, good." Sweeney said.

"Love?" she stood up and a blanket she didn't notice before fell to the floor.

"I was paying our landlord." He said. She opened her mouth to speak, mainly ask what time it was but he spoke before she could. "That last batch of cakes burned a bit." He made a slight apologetic look, "You needed the rest."

She smiled real big letting loose a small laugh. "It's alright love," she stretched her arms above her head. "And I did need the sleep." She finished with a yawn. "What time is it dear? I'd still like to go to the market." She poked her head into the kitchen. "Oh lovely, you covered everything up for me so they won't stale. Thanks love." She sent a warm smile his way.

"It's after midday."

"Would you like to accompany me to the market?" she smiled, a bit in a tease sort of manner.

"Yes." He mused.

"Come this way, I want to show you my new shop." She was grinning ear to ear while dragging him through the streets. He was carrying a full basket of groceries, one on each arm. Nellie had a basket full of produce hanging off her arm as well.

"Eh, yes. The shop that we don't have money for."

"Yet. That we don't have money for yet my love. We'll get there." Nellie said.

"We?" she looked over her shoulder and winked, giving the hand that she was holding a light squeeze. "So bold of you dear, to assume I'll help you with your new business." He said.

"We're a team dear, you must help me." He rolled his eyes at that. "Here we are." They stopped in front of an absolute boring dump of a building in the midst of downtown. There was nothing special about it, the flat looked the same as all the other dingy ones neighboring it.

"It's simply beautiful, pet." He teased causing her to elbow him.

"I know it's a bit run down, but you'll see. We'll fix it up real nice here soon."

"No customers are going to come to this."

"I think after London, anything is possible." She mused facing him. "I'd show you the inside but I left the key at home." The salty summer breeze was whipping his hair around, she could see the strands of white that were trying to make a reappearance. "I'll have to give you another haircut soon. The white's coming through."

"You're never giving me a haircut again my dear." He said causing her to laugh. He took ahold of her wrist beginning to drag her and their groceries back home. "Let's speak business pet, how do you plan on raising enough money to open that shop. With the groceries and paying the landlord, were about to be in poverty."

"The same way I earned money on Fleet Street."

Sweeney looked over at her, a worried expression on his face. "Please tell me you never sold your own backside."

She glanced his way looking slightly offended. "Do I really look like that sort of woman to you?" He opened his mouth then quickly closed it again. "I sold my pies." She said keeping a steady walking pace beside him. "I did sing in pubs a couple times." She paused thinking of memories no doubt. "I suppose I could do that again."

"You do have a lovely singing voice." She smiled looking down, blushing a bit. "How are you going to sell pies when you don't have the money to fix up and open the shop?"

"I'll get a stall. Sell on the streets. Loads of bakers start out that way." She said.

"Anything you say, my pet."

They made preparations to have a stall ready for Nellie to use in the market starting and continuing every Thursday. She was utterly ecstatic the entire walk home. The woman had also planned out her next move. "I can sell the pies and cakes I made this morning in Monica's inn. They won't go to waste and all. I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

"We just left the inn yesterday and we have to go back." Sweeney growled in a low tone.

"Will you help me carrying the pies there?" Nellie pouted looking up at him.

"I suppose." He muttered.

Trading their groceries for pies and cakes, they loaded up the baskets and headed for the Grimsby Inn. Of course, Monica was all annoying smiles and gladly let Nellie sell whatever she'd like. The guests were very eager to get their hands on her wares. With the sun setting, empty baskets, and a decent amount of coin in their pockets, they retreated for home. "If you can sell pies so easily with using only sugar and no meat, then why in God's name are we fugitives, pet." Sweeney teased on the walk home.

Nellie looked around before elbowing him in his side. "Yes, scream it so the whole fishing town can hear." Despite her tone she was grinning madly. She sighed happily, "Things are looking up Mr. T."

He grumbled something that half-heartedly sounded like an "Indeed".

"Why is having a shop so important to you?" Sweeney asked his new wife during dinner. She opened her mouth to answer but he cut her off. "Yes, I understand you like working but is there any other reason?"

She looked down at her plate, "I just think we'll need the money."

He frowned, cocking his eyebrows, "Is that all?"

She met his gaze, "You don't have a shop right now love, in fact I don't know if it'd be wise for you to be a barber again. At least not for a while." He didn't look like he had anything to add so she decided to continue her ramble while she could. "I think owning my shop and baking are the only things in know how to do. Or I know that I'm good at anyway. And if you won't work than someone is going to have to make earnings." She paused for a moment. "I have to raise money for us, so we can move to a better home one day that holds our children."

His eyes locked with hers, "How are we going to have children, if you shutter every time I go touch you now?"

She stares at him appalled before standing up from the table and takes their plates to the sink. "Bleedin' bastard," she mutters under her breath. She was hoping Sweeney wouldn't hear that but unfortunately for her, he did.

"Careful my love." He stood behind her as she faced the sink, as if he was a monster out of folklore, spreading bat like wings and preparing to take a bite out of her neck. "Would you prefer we go back to our old ways, Nellie?" His voice was dripping with venom but that sweet velvet that drove her insane remained.

"No, of course not my dear husband." She turned around to face him, surprised that at their proximity.

"We've managed to build a peace between us. I'd be more careful if I were you."

Nellie snorted, moving away from him. "I hate to tell you this love, but you don't scare me anymore like you used to." she cleared off the rest of the table. "And about last night, on the subject of having children and all."

"Our deal." He spoke.

"Yes," she looked at him once more.

"I think we should pause our arrangement." Her brows knit together and she frowned. "Is that what you were going to suggest?"

"No, I was going to say, I wanted to try again." Nellie said.

"I see." He looked down at the floor as if it was more fascinating than what was happening before him.

"If you don't want to Sweeney, then…"

"It's not that I don't want to… I," he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't think that we should. That it would be best for you if we wait."

She let out a humorless laugh, "Wait?" He opened his mouth to continue his thought but she cut him off. "How do you know what's best for me? It didn't happen to you. You don't know what it was like." Her chest was heaving up and down. He could have sworn that tears were threatening to spill from her eyes. "I need to conquer this. To not let it control me. I want to have children one day and I'm not getting any younger."

"We don't need to rush. That's all I meant." For once he sounded so sincere, mature.

She pursed her lips. "Very well." She headed toward the bedroom, she had a splitting headache and was exhausted.

"I won't share your bed tonight." He said to her back.

She froze, if looks could kill, he'd be in a coffin. She had a whole vocabulary of shrill insults and protests but upon seeing his expression apologetic, she simply shook her head. "It's for the best." He said.

"We've laid next to each other, every night we traveled. It was not intimate, simply," she paused to think of the right word, "Comforting."

"I've been alone ten years or more, I never want to feel that again." She continued. "Please share my bed." She reached out her hand to him. "You have to, we're married now."

"You didn't sleep last night. All the baking and thinking about your new shop was a distraction. If that's how you'll choose to cope then so be it, I will support you in this endeavor, but a man's touch will not help you recover." He said approaching her.

"A man's yes, but not yours." She looked into his dark eyes. "I love you." She spoke softly. He sighed, picking up the bait. He blew out the candle in the parlor and took her hand. They changed facing each other and slipped under the covers. Laying in their preferred sleep wear, they held each other close till sleep drifted them apart.

Days passed and the baker and former barber found immense success in running a stall, selling bread and pastries in Grimsby's marketplace. The town's people ate them up happily. Who didn't love a good bite of fruit pie or sponge cake? Especially during a nice afternoon. A different recipe each time was a great change Nellie had come to realize. Each delicacy sold felt more rewarding somehow. The newlywed's demeanor towards each other at home had changed. They were much more distant than before, but at peace and content. Focusing their energy on their newly found business, as if their conversation that last few days hadn't occurred.

In the start, Sweeney simply helped her carry things. She never planned on him remaining by her side. Their customers seemed to appreciate more, knowing that a happy married couple was responsible for their daily treats. On Sundays they would spend their days by having lunch on the sand by the ocean, which was technically their backyard. When they didn't run a stall on Thursdays or making preparations for work, they'd laze around the house, reading together or playing card games.

Sweeney had come to noticed that his thoughts had revolved to nothing but his baker. He didn't fully mind to be honest; he only wished his trousers wouldn't become so tight when she popped into his head. It was impossible not to think about her as of late. She was now with him every second even when they're bodies were apart. Her sent lingered on everything as well as her hair. He'd find those read curly strands absolutely everywhere. In places he didn't think they could reach.

Finally, the summer had passed and the weather was turning colder. Sweeney was out getting the groceries for the day. Things he needed besides food. The market was closed and Nellie was spending the afternoon cleaning up around the house. She finished in every room except for one.

They had a small room hanging off the right of the parlor, when Sweeney first saw it, he teased that it could be a child's room. The room held nothing but an old writing desk, to Nellie's knowledge, Sweeney had taken over and made the space a quiet escape for himself. For a while she thought against going inside, getting the same chills down her spine of being around danger that she felt on Fleet Street. She shook her head; this was her bloody house as well. She opened the door and stepped inside.

She stood transfixed in the doorway for a moment, taking in the aroma of the room. He managed to make the space smell just like him in mere couple of months since they first moved in. Besides the old desk and wooden chair, Sweeney did manage to clutter the space with a few of his belongings. Clothes mainly, which explained the smell. Well, Nellie had planned on taking care of some laundry. "Doesn't he know we can share a wardrobe." She muttered to herself, snatching up his shirts. She grabbed the trousers hanging off of the wooden chair. Hearing something solid fall to the ground with a loud, clank, made her spin around in alarm. Something had flown from his pocket and landed just under the desk.

The silver gleamed in her eye and she nearly fell over. "Bastard," she bent down her fingers gently grasping the silver handle. It was one of his friends all right, although something was odd. The blade was missing, a sharp, chipped silver tip in its place. Mesmerized, Nellie touched the tip, drawing her finger back as the broken blade was still capable of tearing through flesh. She stuck her bleeding finger to her tongue.

A drop of blood landed softly on the wooden floor boards. She used her other hand to wipe up the red. The wood creaked under her touch; they were more secrets in her than she was anticipating. Intrigued by this new discovery she tucked the broken razor back into his trousers. She removed the floor board. A book laid underneath, she picked it up and opened to a random page. She closed it just as quickly. It was a sketch book, she remembers now seeing Benjamin draw from time to time but had no idea that he'd… she looked at the page again, her cheeks growing red. It was a nude sketch of Lucy, from memory or posed… she didn't know, and was sure she wouldn't be finding out. Nellie was itching to look through the other pages, was a drawing of her in there? She stopped herself, Sweeney could walk through the door at any moment. "It's none of my business," she placed the sketch book back under the floor. "None of my business." She secured the wood and stood up, leaving the room, forgetting to wash his clothes.

She opted for preparing dinner instead. She decided to go for something simple, a chicken, cheesy potato, and vegetable savory pie. While standing at the countertop kneading the dough, she couldn't stop thinking about that bloody sketch book. She looked over her shoulder, he should be back by now. Perhaps this would be her only chance… she shook her head, directing her attention to cooking. "No Nellie, don't even think it."

She smacked the dough down on the cutting board and ran into his secret room, removing the floor board, her fingers brushing along the sketch book, almost in grasp. The front door opened. His footsteps clicked against the wood. Her breath caught in her throat and she stood up, kicking the loose floor board back in place.

"Nell? Making dinner already?" His voice sounded. Their eyes met through the open doorway. He put the groceries down slowly.

"Love, back so soon." She swallowed.

"What are you doing?"

"I was just," she looked behind her at all his shirts. "Going to do some laundry dear."

"I see."

"How was the market?" she frantically grabbed at his clothes even the trousers. Her heart fell into her stomach as the razor slide across the floor to his feet. He bent down to pick it up and she sighed, squeezing her eyes shut. "I found the razor, I'm sorry love. I wasn't snooping, I was only cleaning was all and happened to come across it."

"It's alright." He muttered, staring at the blade.

"It's sharp to the touch, it is." She let out a nervous laugh, holding up her finger. He came closer taking her hand for a closer look. "How did it break love, if you don't mind me asking?"

He sighed leading her over to the couch. "You wouldn't remember since you were drifting in and out of conscious." He fumbled with the silver handle, rolling it between his fingers. "After the bounty hunter…" he stopped deciding to choose his words carefully, he could feel her tensing up next to him. "After… what happened to you. I was carrying you to the train. There were guards, ten maybe less, I can't recall now, threatening to shoot us. I set you down on the train and one of them fired his pistol. The bullet went over you, a mere inch from your nose. I snapped, I killed all of them and my razor, split in two." He said the last part holding it up to the light, as if he could see his reflection if the blade were still there. "I don't know why I decided to keep it. I'm sorry I didn't throw it off the cliff side with the others. I couldn't bring myself to. This was the one that killed the Judge, the beadle." He paused frowning.

"Toby," Nellie said. "And Lucy." He frowned even more. "I'm not mad that you kept it love. It's a memento of yours. That razor has done some terrible things and it has done some good things… in a way I suppose. Depends on how you look at it really."

He placed the razor on the table, looking up at her. "You're a bloody wonder, you are, Nellie."

She smiled, he leaned in closer to her. "You've mentioned that before." She leaned closer, closing the space between them. They kissed for the first time in months. They broke apart after a while, coming up for air. "I'll finish getting dinner on then," Nellie smiled, wiping his slobber off her lower lip. She left the settee. Sweeney stood to follow her but froze, frowning and letting loose an aggravated sigh. "Everything alright love?"

"I'm going for a walk." He said quickly heading towards the door.

"It's getting cold out dear." Then she noticed the bulged. He followed her eyes and turned to leave, his complexion turning redder by the second. Nellie placed a hand over her mouth to stifle the laugh from escaping her lips.

"Not one word," Sweeney warned.

She removed her hand managing to keep her snickers at bay, for now. "Are you sure there isn't another blade in your trousers?" With that she lost it.

"Glad you find this so amusing," he said over her cackling laugh.

"Be sure to come back after you take a dip in the cold water." She laughed.

About thirty minutes later, he returned. "Ah, just in time, dinner is ready." She greeted him. He took his seat at the table with a grunt. "Take care of your problem, love?" Nellie said on the verge of another outburst of laughter. He ignored her, tucking in to his chicken pie. "Well if it happens again," Nellie went on, poking around her own meal with her fork. "I could lend you a hand."

"What are you saying exactly pet?"

"I'd like to try," she popped a potato in her mouth. "I'd like to give it a go again." Sweeney didn't answer her, he just watched her eat. "It's been a few months and…"

"Are you sure?" he asked sweetly.

She nodded, smiling softly.

Once their meal was eaten, they wasted no time to getting to bed. Sweeney asked her again if this was alright, again she nodded. Nellie leaned up to kiss him as he pulled her nightgown up to her navel, positioning himself between her legs. They kept foreplay sweet and simply. "Nell, you're shaking like a leaf." He kissed her again, trying to relax her somehow. "We don't have to…"

"No, I want to. I do." He kissed her once more. He guided himself into her and she willed herself to relax. Her tensing up wasn't doing him any favors as well. Just as she eased into the feeling, having confidence that she could manage this without having another break down, a drop of blood landed on her cheek. She frowned, and lifted herself up on her elbows. "Love?" She placed a hand to his nostrils. "Your nose is bleeding."

He removed himself from her, clutching his nose and cursing. She left and returned with a rag, dabbing his nose, keeping it pinched and making sure he titled his head forward while sitting down. "I haven't had a nosebleed in eight years." He said.

"You'd get them in the prison?" she asked, concerned for him.

"Rarely. I got them often as a boy." After around five minutes the bleeding had stopped. "We have rotten luck I fear."

"You're only discovering that now love?" Nellie said with a small chuckle. He dabbed at his nose, making sure the bleeding had truly stopped. "There's something I need to tell you dear." Nellie bit her lip. His eyes darted to hers. "I found your sketch book." She stared waiting for the anger to explode out of him. He looked down, remaining silent for a while. "I'm sorry love, truly I am. I had no right to be snooping around I know. I found it by accident and…" He placed his fingers over her lips to silence her.

"How much did you see?"

"Just one drawing. It was very good." He continued to be silent for a bit. "You're not upset with me?"

"No," he sighed. "I've been meaning to show it to you anyway."

"In that case love," she paused for a bit, "Could you draw me sometime?"

There is a fanfic called Impressions by AngelofDarkness1605, it's wholesome and gave me the inspiration for giving Sweeney this drawing hobby. I think it's such a cute idea. Go read their fic haha it's good.