A/N: So sorry for the long lapse of updating here. To be honest, I'm quite the lazy person. -grin-
One thing I'd like to say to those who haven't already noticed: I firmly dislike time-skips. Truly and passionately. I believe so much can happen even in the smallest amounts of time, and I hate when people skip to hours, weeks, months later without any other description. Not saying that I haven't used them before, but I will rarely pass by moments that can be described and developed. I say this now only because I realized that not even a full day has passed within these five chapters. Hahaa.
Hope the double flashbacks don't throw anyone off!
Enjoy, my lovelies.
Chapter Five
How appropriate, Nellie Lovett mused peevishly, standing rigidly in the center of her bedroom. She stared out the window with wide eyes, a horrible anxiousness arising from within her. Why now, why did she have to come now? Nellie quickly shifted her gaze to her feet, not really knowing how to react. So many thoughts of this crazed beggar had crawled into her mind the night before when Judge Turpin hovered over her. How guilty Nellie had felt, wanting to bat away Turpin's fingers that had been tangled in her curls. How ashamed she became, realizing that before she had felt hardly any sympathy toward Lucy.
Nellie had underestimated the horror and pain Lucy had gone through fifteen years ago, and now understood some of the motivation behind her attempt of suicide. Oh, how awful it was to have a perverse, sweaty man groping and exploring your body with greedy fingers. How revolting to feel rough, wet lips be pressed to yours without any consent. How sickening to feel lustful eyes take in your body like you were nothing more than today's plaything.
Sick, shaken thoughts now entering her head again, Nellie felt herself sway on the spot. Right on cue, a pair of dirty fists began to pound on her bedroom window and her head shot upward.
Lucy Barker was so broken now, mumbling, trembling, sucking her teeth in. Her misty hazel eyes jumped around and she seemed to be taking in her surroundings for the first time. She paused and stopped pounding on the glass, muttering something and shuddering. After a few moments of recollecting herself in a hasty manner, Lucy let out a high chuckle and shot her gaze up through the window again. She glared daggers at the frail baker inside and began to beat at the window again, desperately, trying to get Nellie's attention.
Mrs. Lovett, snapping out of her misfortune, padded over to the window, feeling woozy. She crinkled her nose as Lucy's form was even more clear of an image, and if it wasn't for the muddy smears and the loud banging on the glass, Nellie probably wouldn't of opened the window. A cold gust of air swirling into her room, Mrs. Lovett let out a startled yelp to feel the hunched beggar clutching her bathrobe.
"You, Nellie," Lucy shrieked, her grubby fists tightly grasping the thin material of the robe, pulling Nellie closer to her. "You're a liar, a naughty liar! You told my Benjamin lies!" She shook Nellie a bit and the baker began to tremble in her maniacal clasp. "Lies, lies, lies, lies, lies!"
Her heart pounding loudly in her ears and chest, Mrs. Lovett struggled to push herself away from Lucy's grasp. Once she was finally released, Nellie gave her a stubborn, frightened stare, though a moment later the fear had vanished. Regaining her composure, an irritated, revolted gaze now lingered on Lucy's filthy figure.
Her once beautiful, flowing yellow hair was matted and tangled and greasy, covering half of her face. Her face, too, was filthy and smeared with dirt and other things. She wore a tattered beige dress that was scattered with careless rips and tears. Over it were many assorted smocks and scarfs, all coming apart and stained. On her feet were a pair of thin, scuffed boots with holes near the toes and heels.
"Go away, beggar," Nellie snapped firmly with fake ignorance, "I don't have time for this." She lifted her chin and tried to stop shaking. How did this nightmare of a woman comprehend that she lied to Mr. Todd? No--wait, she never lied, that wasn't true. She just left out some frivolous, unimportant information, that wasn't lying, not at all.
The former virtuous Mrs. Barker erupted in hysterical laughter, shaking her head wildly and pointing an accusing finger. "You're funny, acting as if you don't know what you did to my husband!" Her voice shook with both amusement and anger.
Nellie shivered but didn't falter, folding her arms over her chest. Raising an eyebrow, she remained silent.
Lucy tilted her head, her eyes flashing with an eerie innocence. "Oh, but you've always had your silly little eyes on him, haven't you?" Placing her dirtied fingers on the window pane, she leaned a bit into the bedroom. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I remember, you know, you may not think I can but oh, I remember. How you would brighten the moment he walked in the room, or how you blushed whenever he would so much as pass by you." Lucy took in a slow, shaking breath. "But the truth is, Mrs. Lovett. He never saw you as anything other than his useless landlady. You were nothing more."
Nellie shook her head now, not wanting to listen to this madwoman's whispers. She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling suddenly vulnerable and helpless. "I wasn't just a useless landlady," she retorted in a small voice.
A wicked smile slowly crept onto Lucy's lips. "Ah, but you were," she responded quickly, cackling, becoming more confident in Mrs. Lovett's weak despair. "Useless, useless, useless you are! Why would he pay attention to you when I was there, filling his every desire and need. He was holding me, loving me."
Mrs. Lovett whimpered, shaking her head again. She opened her eyes, looking back at this suddenly bold Lucy Barker. She despised her sudden control over her emotions. "I-I am not useless, he appreciated me!" she shot back, but she swayed again, old memories reminding her of how her life used to be those years ago.
Seventeen Years Earlier
"No, not again, not again..." Nellie whispered, shooting up from the arm chair she had found herself dozing in before. She dashed around the corner and quickly placed her hands into the soapy dishwater that filled the kitchen sink. She groped around for a rag and grasped it before feverishly scrubbing at whatever dish seemed the least bit dirty.
The stomping grew louder and the curses grew harsher as Albert descended the stairs in a hurried, angry rush. "Woman! How many times do I have to tell you--!" His voice was booming into their small quarters and Nellie shuddered, biting her lip and scrubbing harder. She need to be working, she needed to be doing something.
Albert entered the kitchen, his face and ears a bright shade of red. His bulky frame heaved from traveling so quickly down the stairs and he clenched the side of the counter with one pudgy hand. In the other fist he tightly grasped a thin piece of cloth. Sweaty and frustrated, he caught his breath and narrowed his eyes. "You're lucky I found this now, Nellie," he growled, lifting his hand to shake the material in her face.
Turning slowly to look at him, Nellie's eyes flashed with something resembling regret. Now gazing upon the expensive tie dangling in front of her face, she fought back a whimper and instead gasped. "Love, I'm so sorry," she insisted sincerely, desperately, now drying her hands. Her heart sunk to realize the cloth had shrunk down to half its size, understanding why he was so upset. It was his favorite tie. The most important tie. It was a lush silk, a rich maroon. And he had spent most of last week's earnings on it.
Wringing her hands together, she looked up, feeling very small. "I just haven't been sleeping a lot lately and..." she trailed off suddenly, immediately regretting her words.
Albert hated when she complained. He saw it as selfish whining and nothing more, not being able to understand that such a transparent woman would actually need attention. He shook the tie again, now with more force. "You did this on purpose!" he accused in outrage, stepping closer to her.
Nellie really didn't mean to ruin the bloody thing. She thought back now on how she could of ruined his tie, trying to remember what could of caused her to make such a foolish mistake. Then, it dawned on her.
She had been doing his laundry late yesterday evening basement's washroom, as she usually did on Thursdays, but something was distracting her. A lovely, deep, entrancing distraction. Directly above her, bathing in the bathroom, was a singing Benjamin Barker. The baritone softness of his voice echoed pleasantly in her ears and her eyes fluttered. She noticed that he sung from deep within his person and it came forth as a growl. It was, Nellie decided, positively the sexiest thing that ever graced the air. The song he sung was old but one of her dear favorites. Closing her eyes fully now, she had absently scrubbed at one of Albert's working shirts that was stained harshly with blood. Being married to a butcher wasn't all that great. Fortunately, the low voice of her Benjamin traveled to her ears once more.
"The fragrant wreaths my eyes invite
Thy beauties smile around,
In roses red, in roses white,
Thy blooming sweets are found."
A small smile pulled at her lips as his voice hypnotized her into a dream-like bliss. Quietly, softly, Nellie sang along with him.
"And o' there's charms my mem' can cheer
Alike all seem ta' me.
For ah! my love, my only dear
I leave my heart wi' thee."
She was gone now, letting go of the bundle of clothes in her hands, and they landed with a watery thunk! into the basin's hot water. Her eyes still closed, she bowed to an invisible Benjamin and grasped the air elegantly, pretending to waltz with him around the washroom. She hummed along with the actual Benjamin bathing upstairs, though in her mind he was dancing closely, singing only to her.
"At my return ah! may I find,
Thy strength defy auld time.
I'll bring thee self that rules mankind,
E'er yet I've lost my prime.
Thy vows of truth alone can cheer,
Alone give bliss to me;
For ah! my love, my only dear,
I leave my heart wi' thee."
She supposed it was then, once the music stopped and her fantasy shattered, that she hadn't realized the expensive tie floating in the hot water.
Now, looking back hesitantly into the impatient eyes of Albert Lovett, Nellie swallowed. A light blush had formed on her cheeks at her foolishness earlier, and she reached out weakly to her husband. "Please forgive me, dear," she murmured, but a hand was slapped hotly against her cheek and she fell to the ground.
"Do not speak to me with such little respect!" Albert demanded in a loud husky bellow, looking down at her with disgust.
The normally stubborn, strong Nellie Lovett found herself tremble under his frightening gaze. "I'm sorry, love- sir, please, sir, I'm sorry," she blurted shakily with desperation, her bowing her head so she wouldn't make eye contact with the large man.
Albert let out a deep grunt and his fist rose quickly. Mrs. Lovett saw him reach back in the reflection of a small pool of water on the floor that had spilled from the sink. Nellie let out a small noise, bracing herself.
The fist shot back in her direction, only a foot away, ready to clash brutally with her other cheek, when a strong hand stopped it.
"Stop this!" The familiar voice was dangerously low and Albert, irritated, turned to see a disheveled Benjamin Barker behind him. He was firmly grasping his arm that was aimed for Nellie, a new, angry look in his eye.
Albert hastily pulled away from Benjamin's grasp and threw him a sharp look of repugnance. The butcher didn't speak, nor did the barber, and they continued to stare at each other with distaste. He lowered his arm slowly, and after an intense moment, he averted his gaze down to his slender wife on the ground. Shaking his head, Albert bent a little and spit largely in her direction before loudly retreating back up the stairs.
Nellie, mortified to have Benjamin seeing herself in such a state, hastily rose to her feet turned from him. She grabbed a dish cloth and gingerly swiped the saliva from her bodice, cringing a little.
"Are you alright?" His voice was so warm, so sincere, and she heard him take a step closer to her.
How she wanted to break down right now, rush into his arms, and confess her passionate love for him. He would embrace her and confess himself, telling her that she was beautiful, even more virtuous than Lucy, and that he adored Nellie with equal passion. They would then leave his twit of a wife and the large butcher, perhaps move to the seaside, and raise their own children. It would be just Benjamin and herself, and maybe a little boy, and they would watch the sun set on their wrap-around porch.
But no, it wouldn't ever happen.
"I'm fine, don't you worry," Nellie insisted, "Albert just has a bit of a temper, poor thing, always being pushed around in his workplace to work twice hard, he deserves more than what he gets." She said this all very quickly, and she bent down to soak up the puddle of dishwater on the wooden floor.
Nellie felt his hand being placed lightly, carefully onto her shoulder, and she was surprised that she hadn't melted on the spot. He spoke then, seeming to choose his words carefully. "You shouldn't have to deal with his anger. You do so much for him every day, he should realize what a complete ass he is making of himself," his words cut sharply, and he softened his tone. "Excuse my language, it's just hard for me to stand by and watch him take advantage of you."
Nellie's heart did a back flip and she slowly stood, placing the rag by the sink. "Times is hard, Mr. Barker." She turned a little to meet his gaze, his hand still resting gently on her shoulder.
Benjamin opened his mouth to protest, but all very suddenly, her tender moment was pulled away.
A young woman with black tight curls bounded noisily down the opposite stairs, rushing to them. Out of breath, the thin woman placed a hand on her bosom and she held herself up on the side of the kitchen's counter. Nellie recognized her instantly as Lucy's close friend, Sophia Gardens.
Benjamin turned and gave the heaving lady a look of concern. "What is it? Is Lucy alright?" he asked quickly, already heading toward the stairs.
Sophia gave him a weary smile turning to follow him. "Her water-- it just broke, Mr. Barker. She's--going into--labor," she responded between gasps of breath.
Benjamin let out a laugh of excitement and ran up the stairs two at a time.
Within a few short minutes, the three of them were all on a fast carriage to the nearest midwife, and Nellie was again left alone. She stood with her hands at her sides, idly, and quietly looked out of the window, her cheek stinging.
Seventeen cold years later, the widow baker stood staring at her bedroom's wooden floor, overwhelmed with emotion. Nellie slowly looked up to see Lucy shaking with giddy amusement, giving her a toothy smile. "You realize your emptiness only now, Nellie?" she questioned, sounding much wiser than insane.
Angry and hurt, Mrs. Lovett let out a yell. Getting ready to throw an outraged tantrum, she inhaled, pointing a finger, to only have Lucy's head snap to the left in surprise.
"Benny," the beggar whispered, and to Mrs. Lovett's horror, she, too, saw a very bloody Sweeney Todd dash toward the pie shoppe from the back streets.
"No!" Nellie yelped, but Lucy was already running full-speed to her long lost husband, calling his name.
A/N: Hehehe. Well, here's something to hold you for a little while. Please review! It will make me update so much faster, I promise. :)