Chapter 4: Confessions And Discoveries

Note 1: OK, so as I said Johanna and Anthony will get in this and they and Toby will find out about Sweeney and Nellie duking it out. I'm also really nervous about Mrs Lovett's motivations to not let Sweeney know his wife was dead will go down. I don't feel it was purely selfless and do think a lot of it was just seeing a chance to get the man she loved to herself.

Note 2: It's a Sweetnett now, but it wasn't supposed to be. When this is done I might also include an alternate version in this fic that stays closer to my original vision.

It had been three months since the chess game between Sweeney and Nellie. Both of them were contemplating the contest between them. Sweeney found himself studying to expand his knowledge of things and doing physical activities to try to return to the strength he had when he had first arrived. Nellie of course tried to keep her knowledge up, and was also getting stronger from carrying the corpses. They both realized they would eventually want to settle their contest. Even if the dominance part was beginning to fall out.

But during the three months, Lovett began to contemplate other important things. She needed to confess to Sweeney why she didn't tell him about his wife. She was not afraid of this man anymore, but she was nervous about how he would take her confession. She decided she would talk to him after business hours. Thankfully business was getting better than ever. She hoped nobody ever found what was in the pies.

Toby ran up to Lovett holding a letter. "I need to give this to Mr Todd" he told her. He turned and rushed up to Sweeney's parlor. Sweeney sighed in relief he had disposed of his victim before Toby rushed in. "What did I tell you about knocking boy" the barber snarled. Toby gulped and showed him the letter.

"It's for you sir" he stuttered. Sweeney snatched it from his hand and read the envelope. A smile, a genuine smile, crossed the barber's face. It was Anthony's handwriting. He pulled open the letter and began to read. Dear Mr Todd. Me and my wife plan to come over to visit for a while, and will arrive during sunset.

She wanted to visit her father for a while and I couldn't refuse. Sweeney was glad he would finally get to see her again after four years. He remembered the plan to lure the judge to him. Unfortunately Toby was mugged before he had given the letter to the judge. Luckily Anthony succeeded on his part of the plan. Johanna was finally able to meet her father.

He had explained to her about the barber and his wife. And explained to them both, including Toby, of what had happened to them. He did not tell them about the pies, or his plans to kill the judge. When his daughter hugged him it felt like bliss. He thought he'd never hold her to him again. Anthony had promised he would take care of her.

When she had left Anthony and Sweeney alone, the barber threatened the boy with his razors if anything ever happened to her. He had swallowed hard and vigorously nodded his head. They had left together shortly after. And now he would get to see her again. "Boy, I want you to head to the docks during sundown and help my daughter and son in-law make their way back to the emporium. "Very well sir" the boy answered nervously.

Several hours later after closing there was a knock on his parlor door. "It's me Mr T" he heard Lovett say. "Come in" he had told her. She entered the room and saw him put down his razor. At least he is unarmed for now. "Toby is about to head to the docks as you wanted."

"I can't wait to see her again." "Before they arrive there is something we need to talk about. "What is it?" he asked. "It's about Lucy. specifically why I hid the truth from you." She saw the familiar cold glint come to his eye.

"And tell you some things I neglected." Sweeney sat down in his chair and motioned her to continue. Mrs Lovett sighed and began her story. "I told you she took arsenic after what happened to her. That is what happened and I did try to stop her, but I made it sound like she abandoned her daughter without a second thought. But she did try to stay strong for Johanna.

And that's why she called me the devil's wife, and claimed I had no pity. You see when I found out she was fighting with suicidal thoughts I got angry at her for giving up on you. So I began to treat her cruelly in response. She had a daughter and I couldn't believe what she was contemplating. I let my anger with her cloud my judgment. But she was already mentally damaged, and wasn't herself anymore.

She had convinced herself that she wasn't fit to be your daughter's mother, calling herself weak. And in a moment of weakness, I agreed." She saw Sweeney stand up. She saw that he was seething as he glared at her. "Are you saying?" he snarled through gritted teeth. "You helped drive her to try to kill herself?"

"I realized what I had done and rushed out to stop her. But I was too late, and she was on the floor, a shadow of her former self. I found a letter by the crib that told me that she was a weak, poor excuse for a mother and that I would be more equipped to raise her daughter. I helped her on her bed and begged forgiveness for driving her over the edge. She did spend months in bed like I told you. But she began trying to self-harm.

I sent her to bedlam, hoping they would help her get better mentally. And the judge came for your daughter." She could see the pain in the barber's eyes. "I love you Mr T. And when you returned and thought she was dead. I knew that it would hurt you, yes. But I also saw an opportunity to have you to myself.

And as you know with the pie thing, when I see an opportunity, I take it. I was being selfish and I'm sorry." Sweeney glared at her enraged. Lovett realized he would attack her, and if she wanted to stay alive she would have to meet him in battle. She's strong enough to fight me now. If I am going to make her regret this, I must give her all I can summon. Sweeney screamed in rage tantamount to a battle cry. And so the barber and the baker did battle. Pinning each other to walls, knocking each other down, and eventually grappling with each other. After a bit they wrestled each other to the floor. After rolling around for a few minutes they collapsed to their sides.

He had her arms pinned to her side with his. She had his legs held together by hers. They were panting, and Sweeney had calmed down. "You are so damned strong," Sweeney told her. "Thanks for giving me the ability to work out" she chuckled. "I'm sorry for attacking you," Sweeney told her.

"I figured you would," she told him. "If I was you I'd have done the same." "I think it's out of my system now" he told her. They both rose to their feet. "They'll be here soon," Lovett told him. Sweeney nodded and they headed down stairs.

They sat at the table and downstairs just as they arrived. "Daddy" Johanna cried as they threw their arms around each other. "Mr Todd, Mrs Lovett, why are you sweating?" Anthony asked. "They were probably wrestling," Toby said. Sweeney and Lovett gaped at him. "You were wrestling?" Johanna asked, confused.

"I woke up one night and saw them arm wrestling" Toby informed them. Anthony and Johanna stared at the duo. "Who won?" Johanna asked, intrigued. "I won two out of three," Sweeney informed them. "Mum's gotten pretty strong," Toby said. "How do you know?" Lovett asked.

Mrs Lovett crossed her arms, causing her biceps to visibly bulge. "That's how" Toby said motioning to her arms. Mrs Lovett began to turn red. "I've been carrying the pig bodies" she lied. "I bet you're stronger now" Toby told her. "Your arms are probably stronger than Mr Todd's now."

"I bet a pound that my daddy's arms are still stronger." Toby nodded. Sweeney dropped his jacket revealing his white overalls. Sweeney flexed his arm, the bicep pushing through his sleeve. "You're still sure she can beat my arm boy," he said. Mrs Lovett placed her elbow on the table.

"I'm winning my boy a pound," the baker said. Sweeney pulled up a chair and clasped Lovetts hand. "We'll see about that," the barber challenged. "I've refereed arm wrestles between other sailors" Anthony stated. He clasped his hands around theirs. "3, 2, 1, go" he said letting go.

They all could hear the table vibrating as their strong arms began their battle. Toby upped the ante with a penny. Johanna agreed to this. "I KNOW YOU ARE STRONGER THAN HIM MUM!" "PIN HER DOWN DADDY, YOU CAN DO IT!" Sweeney and Lovett smirked as they both knew their arms were going to get a good workout.

Note: There's going to be childish next chapter lol. The arm wrestle will lead into the final contest of strength in this story lol. I foreshadowed the strength contest already lol. So now they have an audience for their last two battles. Next chapter will come after a little break. Until next chapter.