Warnings at the bottom of the chapter.


Chapter Sixteen:

City on Fire


They didn't fall back asleep after. Johanna listened to Mrs. Lovett's footsteps as she scurried around the shop, preparing for the day. Toby soon joined her. The white noise was enough. She and Anthony didn't have to talk. The silence was comfortable.

Even if danger surrounded them, surrounded by war or ghosts, she would feel safe with Anthony.

"Anthony," Johanna said, her voice weak, "What is it like to feel safe?"

"It feels like this," he replied.

"Do you feel afraid when you're out at sea?"

He hesitated "Sometimes." He paused. "I worry that there'll be a storm we can't overpower. But mostly I worry I'll wake up the next day to an empty purse."

He chuckled. Johanna adjusted herself. A lot more to worry about, indeed.

"On the few, I worried about you and the baby." Anthony's tone lowered. He traced a hand on her belly. "I wondered about your welfare. Both of yours."

"I worried about you, too."

Anthony hesitated. "Jo, did anything else happen?'

She hesitated. "No . . ." She paused. "At least, nothing I can think of."

"Are you completely sure?"

"I am."

Johanna sat herself up. Anthony scrambled out of the covers before she could get up. He offered a hand helped helped her out of bed. Johanna took his hand, giggling. "What?" He laughed. "You're a lady. A beautiful, fair lady, and I am a gentleman. I think the most polite thing is to assist you in any way possible."

"Why thank you, gentleman," she teased.

Johanna's stockings had fallen around her ankles. She kicked them off, relishing in the moments she had without wearing them. Behind the closet door, she undressed and threw on a fresh chemise. She poked her head around the door, finding Anthony.

"Would you mind helping me with my corset?" she asked.

She didn't need help with the garment. Johanna only called for assistance because she liked the way his hands felt, slightly grazing her back. When Anthony adjusted her hair, a shiver of delight sore through her. He helped her finish dressing.

"Thank you, darling," Johanna said as Anthony finished buttoning her dress, "It's gotten harder with this baby and all."

"Of course."

They kissed before he escorted her downstairs. Johanna relied on the bannister. At Anthony's concerned glance, she smiled.

"I'm fine, darling."

Darling came out smoothly now. At first, Johanna could barely stutter out a nickname. Now it was as natural as breath.

Mrs. Lovett flipped over the "open" sign. She glanced over her shoulder and ran towards Johanna with a plate. Johanna took it, although Anthony also reached out for it.

"I was beginning to think you weren't going to come down!" Mrs. Lovett exclaimed, passing through the door to the baking house, "Finish settin' those tables."

"I'll get right on it, ma'am."

"Do you need any help?" Anthony asked.

Most of the tables were already set. Toby dragged a rag across the top of the table.

"I'm all right."

"Are you sure?"

She smiled at him. "Perfectly positive."

Once the first few customers strolled in, Mrs. Lovett got distracted. Allowing Johanna to sneak a few conversations in with Anthony. On one visit, she noticed a beggar outside, bent-over from years of strain. Mrs. Lovett warned her not to give her pies, but she never said Johanna shouldn't talk to her. Besides, Anthony should meet her. Johanna marched over to his table and grabbed his hand. She pulled him to the entrance.

"There's someone I want you to meet," she explained over her shoulder.

Johanna led him to the woman. Anthony crossed his eyebrows.

"Ma'am?" she said to the beggar.

The beggar didn't answer. She looked up slowly. She blinked. That was all right. It usually took her a moment.

"Young miss?" the beggar recognized, "It's you."

Johanna broke into a smile. "It is. I'm afraid I don't have a pie today."

The beggar took her free hand and patted it. "That's no worries at all, young miss." She looked up and noticed Anthony drawing out a dirtied finger from her cloak. "Who's this?"

"This is my husband, Anthony."

"Ack. I used to 'ave a husband. He's gone now, but it'll come around. I used to 'ave a child, too."

"I'm sorry to hear that, ma'am."

"Miss them, I do. Miss them a lot."

Johanna gave her croaked hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm sure you do, ma'am. I hope they come back soon."

"Johanna!"

She turned around. Mrs. Lovett stood upright in the doorway with her chest thrust out.

"Get away from 'er!"

"Hi! says the little mourning dove, I'll tell you how to gain her love; Court her at night and court her at day, never give her time to say 'O`nay!'"

The beggar shook Johanna's hand and released it. Johanna stepped away. The beggar never acted like this before. She was homeless, but not mad. Or she was mistaken. Her eyebrows furrowed as she watched the beggar practice her own song and dance.

"Johanna!" Mrs. Lovett called again.

She hesitated. But Johanna neared her. Anthony's hand supported her waist. Though she couldn't look away from the beggar. Around her was a crowd, mocking and jeering. Someone called a police officer over. He clubbed the beggar. She kicked and released shrill screams as they knocked her down. Johanna's heart hurt at the sight. She almost turned back.

Mrs. Lovett grabbed her arm, flipping her around to face her.

"You don't ever go talking to that woman again. Don't even talk about 'er. Understand?"

"Yes, but-" Johanna arched her neck in time to see more officers joined with their clubs in the air, "-I should help-"

"What did I just say?"

She looked down. "Sorry, ma'am."

Through the windows, Johanna caught glimpses of the action. Eventually, the beggar was carried away, waving her arms in the air and shrilling to the tune of an unknown song. Mrs. Lovett kept an unwavering eye on her.

"Who was that?" Anthony asked later that day, "The beggar?"

"I have no idea. I gave her a pie one day and I've seen her a few times ever since. She claimed to have been a mother; I suppose I believed her. She was just . . . a comfort. Something that was the same." Johanna took his hands and played with his fingers. "There used to be a beggar near Hyde Park. I heard her outside my window sometimes. I suppose that beggar reminded me of her."

"I met her once," Anthony said.

"You did?"

"That's how I learned your name. She told me."

Johanna smiled. "I remember the rhyme she sang. Turpin caught me humming it sometimes. I couldn't help myself; it just got stuck in my mind. He was furious with me."

"Singing the songs of a prostitute?" Turpin shook his head. "You were not raised as the common woman."

Her heartstrings twigged with guilt at the memory. That was in the past now. She should forget.

After a pause, Johanna said,

"I should meet with Mrs. Thomas. I'm about midway through and she told me to meet with her around now."

Last time she saw Mrs. Thomas was after, well, that. She would apologize then.

"Half way?" Anthony took a breath. "It feels like only yesterday we found out."

"That's my fault, sorry, I didn't actually seek Mrs. Thomas until I was a few weeks in."

"And in a few weeks, we'll have a baby."

"I think they're more excited than you are with all this kicking."

"Does it bother you?"

Johanna thought. "A bit. I'm sure other women have had it worse, I can get through it." She chuckled. "At first, I was so excited about it. But it's getting a tad old now. I hope that doesn't make me a careless mother."

They laughed.

Anthony moved her hair away from her face. "I wouldn't think so."

"Sometimes I wonder if I'll be able to make it through four more months of this. Apparently, it gets worse at six months. Got one more month to enjoy-"

"Stay away from her!"

"You told me to bring her down 'ere! You told me to give 'er something to do. So I'm putting 'er to work!"

"I didn't mean like this. She's exhausted! I can tell. I know she hides it from all of us, but I can tell. You, too, Mrs. Lovett. Only you don't care because she reminded you of Lucy!"

At her mother's name, Johanna perked. Without a word, she stepped toward the door where the shoutings of Mr. Todd and Mrs. Lovett were coming from. Anthony opened his mouth, features written in questions, but she cupped her mouth over his mouth and gestured for him to be quiet.

"Yeah, she reminds me of Lucy. Both of 'em get approached by men and go mad!"

Anthony's jaw tightened. Johanna put a hand on his chest. Certainly Mr. Todd had done the same inside with Mrs. Lovett.

"You don't talk about Lucy that way," Mr. Todd warned, "Or Johanna."

"You keep hanging onto that life, Mr. T. You keep pulling on it, like it's goin' catch up to you one day. It isn't. Never! Johanna despises you. She's goin' 'ave her own baby and leave you forever. She'll have her own life. And you'll be stuck pulling that one life behind you."

"Johanna-"

"-Doesn't even call you 'Da' or 'Pa' or 'Father' or any other name of that sort. She calls you 'Mr. Todd' the way a factory worker would call her boss."

Mr. Todd didn't reply. Mrs. Lovett continued.

"Stop pulling on that life. You can let go. Just come with me, we'll go to the-"

"If you say 'sea', Mrs. Lovett, I will not hesitate to push you-"

"But what's keeping ya? Everything bad that's ever happened to ya happened here. It's not worth it to stay to me."

"Johanna's here and I'm not leaving her."

Despite herself, Johanna's chest filled with warmth.

"Bloody Johanna. To Hell with Johanna! Let her rot. She's weak. She'll barely last a few more years in this pit!"

There was a pause.

"Mrs. Lovett, I swore to Johanna that I wouldn't kill once Turpin was gone, but I will make an exception for you."

"Kill me then! Let's rot together. We'll end up at together in Hell, at least. Lucy was a good soul. She's made Heaven in God's eyes. Johanna, too. We'll be alone together burning for eternity."

"I may go to Hell, but I'm not going with you."

"And all those souls you k-"

Dread filled her chest. She knew what was coming next. Anthony. Johanna glanced at him. He wasn't supposed to know. Never. She pushed on him. A slight distraction. It was hardly anything, but Anthony averted his gaze back to her.

Should she go in?

No.

But it was so loud. Her head was pounding.

She had to stop it.

Johanna turned around. The chairs. All stacked neatly on the tables. Perfect. She ran over, with Anthony reaching out to stop her. He joined her, but couldn't stop her. Johanna threw the chairs on the ground. She didn't stop to think and hoped the banging would be enough.

She tripped over one of the chair's legs.

The world swirled around her. Until she was on her back, staring up at the ceiling.

Her hands contacted the ground. Her knees scraped the floor.

The door swung open. Mr. Todd ran to her side. Johanna clenched her stomach. The baby. He reached out, taking her fingertips. He lifted her. Only for Johanna to fall on her back. A soft groan escaped her. Anthony grabbed her other hand and placed his hand on her back. Pain soared through her. Their mouths were moving, she couldn't understand them. She couldn't hear.

Please help me.

Anthony hoisted her up. His lips were moving a mile a minute. Johanna fell into Mr. Todd's hold. Her knees buckled, causing her to collapse again.

Sound returned in the form of buzzing in her ear. Like bees.

Mr. Todd lifted her legs, carrying her bridal style. He brought her up the stairs.

Her two men helped her into the bed upstairs. Mr. Todd said something to Anthony. He shook his head in response. Mr. Todd was shouting now, she was all but certain. Anthony squeezed her hand for a moment before Mr. Todd screamed something at him and he dashed out the door.

Johanna could feel herself gripping Mr. Todd's hand, but couldn't feel his skin. She reached up to pinch herself. But Mr. Todd blocked her hand.

The ringing was louder. Dots blocked her vision. Filling and filling. Until they crowded her entire sight.

She was aware. Even as she faded into darkness. She felt Mr. Todd hovering. Another touch. She recognized the texture of hands. Large hands.


Warnings: A pregnant woman falls resulting in minor injuries, mentions of pregnancy complications