Hooray Chapter 4! You all have me hooked on writing Sweeney Todd fics. Now I'm currently working on two at once. I've been thinking about this chapter all yesterday, so I really hope this works out. Oh yeah and I recently read a "Sweeney Todd" book in which some of the first paragraph is based on. Oh yeah and Sunner's Pie shop does not only serve meat pies, it also serves fruit pies. Enjoy!

Three Years Later…

It was a warm summer day in July, so warm that Nellie regretted running the pie shop by herself. She was eighteen and was now able to run "Margaret Sunner's Pie Shop" on her own. Sadly, the reason being that her mother was struck ill and was unable to slave around the kitchen any longer. Charlie, Nellie's father, took care of his wife and also tried to keep a watch and assist his daughter when needed. Customers loved coming to the pie shop in the summer, especially teenagers whom gathered with their friends to chat or hang out. Men liked coming to the shop, not particularly for the pies, but to see Nellie. They knew that if they bought a pie that she was to smile graciously at them. Some believed that the smile was false, while others came back again and again. Unfortunatly for her, Judge Turpin and his minons, were frequent visitors. Whether it was the pies or Nellie that brought customers, one thing for sure was that the Sunner's profited greatly during the summer season. That day in July was no exception, Nellie rushed around the shop serving pies to customer, taking orders, and sometimes chatting up with people she knew. As she hurried around, something suddently caught her eyes causing her to nearly run into the wall. It was Benjamin Barker and his new wife Lucy seated at the table directly across from her. Nellie gasped alittle. It had been three years since the day he had broken her heart. She hadn't seen him a lot, yet knew of his marriage to Lucy. She took a deep breath and painted a smile on her face as she approached him.

"Benjamin Barker, it has been quite some time." She addressed. Ben looked at her for a moment and smiled.

"Well well, Nellie Sunner, running her own pie shop. Isn't that wonderful." Ben responded.

"Yes, I told you I would." She said then turned to Lucy. "You must be Mrs Barker."
"Yes, I am. Who are you again?" Lucy asked.

"Lucy, this is a good friend of mine Nellie Sunner." Ben said.

"Oh yes, I remember you..the little twit that ruined my dress. I must say you've changed quite a bit. I'm still waiting on the money for a new dress." Lucy said.

"Whatever…can I take your order please?" Nellie asked.

"I'd like your finest cherry pie, please." Ben said in a charming manner.

"You shall have it. And for you?" Nellie asked forcing a smile at Lucy.

"Apple pie." Lucy said.

"Very well, I'll be right back with those." Nellie said.

"Oh and Nellie dear, be sure not to spill them." Lucy said making Nellie glare at her and continue walking away. She couldn't help but feel Ben's eyes on her the entire time. She returned with the pies and gave Ben the prettiest smile she could only causing him to stare at her even more. She hoped and prayed that he would stop. The pain that he was bringing back to her was becoming worse and worse with every moment. Finally, she watched them get up and leave out of the corner of her eye and sighed with relief.

The relief however did not last long and was interupted by Judge Turpin and two of his 'friends' entering causing the bell on the door to ring. She scowled alittle then painted another smile on her face and approached them.

"Good day Judge Turpin." Nellie said politely feeling his eyes scanning her up and down.

"Ms Sunner, we would like a blueberry pie please." Judge Turpin said in his creepy voice causing chills to go down her spine.

"I'm sorry sir, but we are all out of blueberry." Nellie said.

"Then why don't you make one special for us?" Judge Turpin asked.

"Well sir, it takes too long and I'm far to busy..and.." Nellie started then spotted Ben reentering the shop. "I'll be right back."

"Nellie, uh, I want to apologise for Lucy. She was very rude to you and I just can't accept that. Please accept my apology in her behalf." Ben said handing her a red lollipop.

"A red lollipop?" Nellie asked.

"You know, for old time sake." Ben said.

"Oh, well thank you." Nellie said.

"Nice to see you again." Ben said kissing her cheek.

"Well, well, well, Benjamin Barker." Judge Turpin said interupting Nellie's moment of happiness.

"Judge Turpin." Ben said with a curt nod.

"How is the world famous barber these days?" Turpin practically spat.

"Fine, never better, just catching up with some friends." Ben said.

"Ah yes, figures the world famous celebrity barber would have "friends" here." Turpin said.

"Well I best be off, see you Nellie. Turpin." Ben said nodding to Turpin and left.

"You're supposed to be serving me." Turpin said to Nellie losing his patience.

"Look I'm sorry, but we don't have any blueberry pies." Nellie said.

"Then move your pretty ass behind that counter and make me one or…I'll.." Turpin started.

"I can't do that, I'm sorry." Nellie said and walked off. Turpin glared at her then guestered to his 'friends".

"We're leaving, I've suddenly lost my appetite." Turpin said and left hastily.

After the lunch rush, business seemed to die down alittle and remained rather pleasant during the dinner hours. Nellie could not ward off the kiss that Ben had given her. Why? She hadn't seen him in three years, yet he felt the need to kiss her? It was so odd, yet so wonderful. Nellie couldn't help doing a couple victory dances in the bakehouse while the pies were cooling off. It had been so wonderful to see him again. Yet this time she wouldn't let herself fall in love with him all over again. They were going to be friends…good friends and that was it. Or was it?

That night, after closing the shop, Nellie walked a couple blocks to the hospital where her mother was being cared for. She felt that it was proper to visit her mother every so often just to check on her. She may have not liked her mother all that much, but she felt the obligation to care about her mother's condition and provide any assistance to her necessary. She was afterall eightteen and the three years have indeed changed her. She had not only matured physically and mentally, but also emotionally and trained herself not to dwell on any unnecessary and unrealistic dreams such as marrying Benjamin Barker. He was married now and there was nothing that she could do about it. Over time she had learned to accept that and moved on with her life. As she walked back from the hospital she spotted Turpin's ugly assistant Beadle Banforth blocking her from passing.

"Hello Nellie Sunner." Beadle said with a werid smile.

"Let me pass." Nellie said with hatrid in her voice.

"You were very rude to the judge. You know that right?" Beadle asked.

"Of course, he deserved it." Nellie said then tried to move passed him.

"Sorry, I was given strict orders to make sure it never happens again." He said then shoved her into the wall and pinned her there.

"Oh get off me you ruddy bastard!" Nellie yelled trying to push him off her.

"Now now, that's no language a lady should be using." Beadle scolded covering her mouth and felt her up. Nellie managed to bite at his hand causing him to shove her even harder against the wall making sure her head bashed against it. A sick smile took over his face as he watched her struggle against him then tore her dress down the back. He was about to do same with her midnight black corset and started to undo his belt, when the world around her suddently became black, dangerously black.

Later, much later, Nellie's eyes shot open allowing herself to nearly be blinded by the light from the outside. She found herself on a bed with brown velvet sheets in a very unfamilar room. All at once, her mind recalled the events of the past night causing her to scream loudly and cry at the same time. There was a sound of loud footsteps coming down the hall, then the door squeaked open revealing a figure. She backed up and squeezed her eyes closed as the figure grew closer and closer. Warm hands took her by the shoulders attempting to calm her down. The voice, she knew that voice. She opened her eyes to find Benjamin Barker sitting in front of her and holding her gently by her shoulders.

"It's alright, shhh, calm down luv. You're alright now." Ben said gently.

"Ben? Why did you? How did you? Where am I?" Nellie asked.

"Well you're actually in the flat above my barber shop. It was the closest place that I could bring you. It was pretty bad for a while there." Ben said.

"Is this your home?" Nellie asked.

"No, I didn't think it would be wise to bring you home with Lucy there and all." Ben said.

"Was I really attacked by.." Nellie started.

"Yeah." Ben said.

"And you saved me? I mean found me?" Nellie asked.

"Yeah, I heard commontion outside my flat and saw him…well…attacking you, so I beat the shit out of him and brought you here." Ben said.

"Oh." Nellie said.

"Don't worry, the doc said you'll be good as new in a couple days." Ben said.

"You called a doc here?" Nellie asked.

"Good thing I did, luckily you didn't get pregnant. But you broke your wrist, you have a dislocated shoulder, a black eye, and several scratches and bruises." Ben said.

"Oh..no wonder my wrist hurts." Nellie said sadly.

"It'll be alright, I'll take care of you, you can trust in me Nell." Ben said kissing her forehead.

That's it for Chapter four! Sorry that this Chapter seemed alittle rushed and the attack seen alittle vague…I'm typing this live from work, so I have to be alittle discreet. So please just use your imagination in regards to what Beadle did. Oooh will this spark a new relationship between Benjamin and Nellie? What will come of it? Here a preview of chapter 5: How much has Nellie changed in three years? Why is it that Ben can no longer take his eyes off her? Who wants to have a relationship now? Stay tuned and find out in Chapter 5!!