Oh man, we're getting closer and closer to the end…which is sad because I really like writing this. It's chapter 11 already! Fear not, this is where the story really gets really interesting. I have three and a half hours to kill and only two more people to check in..so I decided to dedicate most of it to this chapter and then post BOTH of my stories at once. The other is a parody, which is more just for fun and random as any fic could ever be. Basicly, it's a biproduct of far too much caffiene. Well, here goes Chapter 11. Enjoy!
Ben and Nellie had no idea that Judge Turpin and Lucy were plotting against them. In fact, it seemed like any other day at the shop for Nellie. The crowds were as boisterious and numerous as ever and the pies were selling quickly. Some of the teenage and younger adult men would try to act smooth and charming in order to get Nellie's attention and perhaps her heart. However, it was becoming more and more clear that it was dedicated to someone else. They were not sure who and some didn't even try to figure it out. Despite the love she had for the 'mystery man', Nellie liked some of the men and enjoyed casually conversing with them as good friends would. A frequent visitor was a happily married man in his mid twenties with sandy blond hair, blue eyes with specticles, tall and lean, and always seemed to dress well. He had a three year old daughter named Emily, whom he raved about and a lovely wife named Alana who was expecting another child in a couple months. He liked to converse with Nellie and absolutely adored her meat pies.
"Alana and I are trying to figure out a name for our child." The man said.
"Do you know what it is yet?" Nellie asked.
"No, I personally want a boy, Emily wants a girl, of course and Alana doesn't really care." The man said.
"Do you have any ideas yet?" Nellie asked making the pies, yet managing to hold a conversation.
"For a boy, I was thinking either Andrew or Johnny. And for a girl, either Susan or Christina, but that's my opinion. Alana has all these odd names in mind like Iris if it were a girl or Quincy if it were a boy." The man said.
"Iris is a very pretty name. I'd name my daughter that to. I also like Johnny. That's a very nice name." Nellie said.
"We have time to decide, I guess." The man said with a sigh.
"You will both choose the right name, when the time is right." Nellie said.
"Thank you again for the delicious pie, Nellie. It was nice talking to you. I'm sure you'll make a good wife when the time is right." The man said getting up and leaving with a smile.
"Thank you Mr. Carter." Nellie called to him with a smile, then continued serving pies to her customers.
About an hour later, Ben came into the shop causing Nellie's face to light up. She smiled brightly at him as he approached her.
"Good afternoon Miss, I would like you're finest peach pie please." Ben said faking an Irish accent.
"As you wish, Mr Barker." Nellie answered with a giggle.
"So tell me, how do you make such wonderful pies?" he asked leaning against the counter in a swave way.
"Magic." Nellie answered.
"I'm sure it is a creation of magic or perhaps work of angels." Ben responded.
"How dare you flatter me during work..do you honestly want me blushing in front of all these people?" Nellie asked.
"Of course I do, angel. For these people would enjoy seeing their charming hostess turning pink with flattery. Simular to pink roses blooming upon your cheek." Ben said making her giggle.
"You speak in poetry. My heart feels as if it were melted into a bowl of gravity or soup." Nellie said softly unaware that she was saying this outloud.
"Very well then, Miss Nellie, you must keep an eye on that heart of yours before it gets stolen right out from under you." Ben said.
"I see that having a wife doesn't mean a thing to you." Nellie said.
"I don't anymore." Ben answered.
"What are you saying exacly?" Nellie asked looking at him closely.
"I…encountered her this morning after I walked you back to your flat.." he started.
"She saw us didn't she?" Nellie asked.
"No, she didn't actually. But she was angry that I've chosen shaving over a life of luxury. She's convinced that I've chosen shaving over her. I guess I did. It's over between us. " Ben explained.
"Oh dear, I'm really sorry Ben. Someone who made you choose between her and your passion isn't meant to be with you in the long run. I am really sorry." Nellie said sympathicly.
"Don't feel so bad, luv. Now we can be together without worrying about her." Ben said.
"Perhaps that's true." Nellie answered unable to ward off the smile that took over her face.
"It looks like you have a lot of customers, I'll let you get back to work." Ben said.
"Nonsense, you're keeping me entertained." Nellie said.
"But the customers are starting to wonder why their charming young hostess isn't conversing with them. We wouldn't want to make them mad or allow them suspect anything, would we?" Ben asked.
"No we wouldn't." Nellie answered.
"That's right, all these young blokes would want to beat me up." Ben said.
"Oh gosh no, we wouldn't want that to happen." Nellie said.
"Then we wouldn't go on our date." Ben said.
"What date?" Nellie asked.
"Dinner, after work, at one of my favorite places Restaraunt De Roe" Ben said.
"Restaurant De Roe? But that's such a grand place. Oh Ben, I couldn't possibly afford that." Nellie said.
"Who said that you were paying? My treat, in celebration in all that we've been through and our new hopefully long lasting relationship." Ben said.
"Ben..I would love to." Nellie said pressing her lips into his not caring that customers could have seen this. She was just so overwhelmed by happiness and flattery that she had no choice other than to kiss him.
Just then, Judge Turpin and his minons walked into the shop causing the little bell to ring and for the couple to stop kissing quickly. Nellie stared at Ben breathlessly as he sat down at his table. Judge Turpin however noticed this small exchange and approached her quickly.
"I want a blueberry pie." He said coldly.
"Sure, please take a seat and it'll be right up." Nellie said.
"No, I think I'll stand." Judge Turpin said.
"Very well then, away from the counter if you please, I do have other customers, who need to place their orders. Can I help you sir?" Nellie asked a gentleman from behind Judge Turpin. However the Beadle gave him a menacing look causing the poor gentleman to escort himself out of the shop.
"I'm sensing an air of boldness." Judge Turpin said.
"With all do respect Sir, I do not tolerate rudeness in my shop." Nellie answered.
"Feeling rather brash today, Miss Sunner?" Judge Turpin asked coming closer to her.
"I-I have customers." She said picking up a cherry pie and approaching one of her seated customers who were talking quietly to one another. Judge Turpin watched her closely.
"Excuse me, sir, the lady advised you to take a seat." Ben said standing up.
"Ah Mr Barker, protecting her as always aren't you?" Judge Turpin asked.
"Of course." Ben answered.
"I'd advise you to be careful then, you'll never know when things can just slip out from under your fingers." Judge Turpin said causing a chill to rush up Ben's spine. He looked at both of them closely then took a seat at a table from across the shop.
"Here's your pie." Nellie said handing Ben his pie.
"Thank you, smells great." Ben said winking at her.
"Such a charmer, Mr Barker, such a charmer." She said quietly as she walked away from his table. A few minites later, she approached the Judge with his blueberry pie. He looks her up and down.
"I expect an apology, Miss Sunner. You often forget who you are talking to." Judge Turpin said.
"I'm sorry for being brash towards you." Nellie said in a not so enthusiastic voice.
"Your attitude got you into trouble the last time, Miss Sunner. I'd hate for anything like that to happen to you again." Judge Turpin said dangerously.
"It won't happen again, I won't let it." Nellie said coldly walking away.
"I doubt that very much, my dear." He said after her making his minions laugh as he cut his pie and ate his pie.
"What is THAT?" Beadle asked pointing to his pie.
"Excuse me?" Judge Turpin asked looking down and spotting a small black spider with a tiny body and eight short legs.
"It looks like a spider." Beadle pointed out.
"Heh, the little tramp, is trying to punish me, isn't she?" Judge Turpin said peeling back the crust and spotting eight more little spiders.
"That's really disguisting." Beadle said making a face.
"It's all good fun. She thinks she's winning and paying me back for all this." Turpin said finding this situation more amusing than aggrievating.
"What are you going to do about this? Expose her?" Beadle asked.
"Eventually, oh look and this one is alive." Turpin said scooping a quivering spider onto his fork and studying it.
"Eww." Beadle said.
"Notice how it quivers in my presence. I have to power to give life and to take it away. Yet it's so fun to leave them bordering life and death." Turpin said peeling off the spider's legs and watching it's little body struggle. "Notice how it fights for life, yet he comes to realize that it's useless and gives up. That's how we're going to deal with this situation. Force them to give up on everything…life, this shop, their relationship, their loved ones…everything."
"Them?" Beadle asked.
"Nellie Sunner and Benjamin Barker." Turpin said dangerously watching them.
Ooh man that's sending chills down my spine. Okay so, I'm aware that it may seem alittle strange that Turpin did not freak out about spiders in his pie. But lets not forget his a very creepily tricky man and doesn't have to instantly expose Nellie to ruin everything. Everything in this fic happens for a reason. Apart from saying that, I hope you enjoyed it. It's going to start getting really dark now people…some romance will be thrown in, but not nearly enough to make people squee about it. Or maybe it will. I'm not really sure yet, but it's going dark. Coming up next: Lucy and Turpin's plan is in motion. (evil laughs)