Lies

Lucy Barker (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street)

Lucy was a good girl, and like any good girl she did as he parents told her. She grew up not far from Fleet Street – in a slightly more wealthy area, but not truly wealthy by any means, not like the Turpin family who sent their son to law school.

Lucy was raised to mind her elders, pay respect to those in higher positions, and that when she was married to always listen and do exactly as her husband said, and if possible make a good match.

Her family was thrilled when she eloped with her barber's apprentice, Benjamin Barker.

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Lucy didn't miss her family those months living in no distinct place in London. She was overjoyed that she got to be away from them, and the weeks went by quickly. And she was absolutely the perfect little wife back to Benjamin – always waiting with a meal for him after he'd spent the day working (earning the money so that he could open his own shop) and the stew was never, ever burnt.

And above all things – Lucy wasn't shocked when their wedding night came. It was just lovely of her mother to let her know what was going to happen.

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When they move into the shop on Fleet Street, Lucy does not stare at the bold redhead who keeps the pie shop downstairs. She's not intrigued by her, instead sniffing as she walks past and then cooing in delight as Benjamin showed her everything of their flat. There's a glorious window to see out of, and Lucy sees all. She loves the view and tells her grinning husband so, and he lays a hand on her stomach, gently, but protectively.

Lucy therefore notices that when Mrs. Lovett visits, she's far more interested in Benjamin than she is in Lucy herself.

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Lucy was a wonder during childbirth – got through labor so quickly, barely felt things at all. She had Mrs. Lovett (Nellie, as she was asked to call her) by her side the entire time, while Benjamin, sweet Benjamin waited the delivery at her swollen feet. She did not ask for anything, instead letting the soon-to-be named Johanna enter the world on her sweet time.

Mrs. Barker was a wonderful woman, and did not scream that she would kill her husband if he ever came near her again, she'd take his razor and slice a certain valuable thing off of him.

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Lucy loves Johanna the moment she lays eyes on her, and she cuddles her warmly and cooing at her. She kisses her, even though she's covered in mucus, and disgusting stuff, and looks at her husband saying, "She has your eyes." Lucy then passed the baby to him, smiling as he looked at the little girl for the first time. As this progresses, she mouths a thank-you to Nellie, kissing her cheek.

She did not shove the baby into Nellie's strong arms, weeping at how shriveled and red Johanna was, and not believing that the child came from her womb.

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When Benjamin is so suddenly taken from Lucy's arms, she weeps inconsolably for days. Nellie, who has lost her husband within the year, must take care of Johanna and the poor mother too. Lucy does nothing but sit at her big window and weep, even as the Judge is far below, signaling to her. She sews, and sings to Johanna when she feels like it, but otherwise weeps more.

Lucy did not act as if nothing different had happened, day after day, and most definitely does not break down at night only, ending up in Nellie's arms and bed afterwards.

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Lucy listens to Nellie when the redhead says that they have to find a way to make money – and that Lucy is the only way to take care of the sudden family of three women. Lucy then swallows her pride and goes to Judge Turpin, begging his apologies, and giving him permission to court her. She then puts aside her devoted feelings to Benjamin, and after a short (respectable) period, consents to being the Judge's wife.

She did not smack Nellie across the face and leave the other woman downstairs for days and days while Lucy sewed and embroidered – and then sold it for a measly amount.

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When the Beadle comes to say that the Judge wants her forgiveness, Lucy believes it immediately. She runs upstairs to grab her frock, kissing Johanna and Nellie's cheeks while skipping to the Judge's house with Beadle Bamford, hand in hand at the thought of so easily saving her family.

Lucy did not run screaming to her flat, and was not pulled from under her bed hours later by Nellie pulling her hair – and Lucy did not only go to the Judge's house because Nellie kissed her so thoroughly that she would have done anything just to feel that warmth again.

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Lucy does not scream when the Judge approaches her. Lucy does not drink the wine she was given. She does whatever is possible to alleviate the situation without putting herself in danger. She acts like a proper lady and accepts all his offers afterwards to make her an honest (somewhat honest) woman.

She does not loose every bit of sanity that was left in her because she bites at him and kicks and pulls – and he throws her back at the doorstep of her home while Nellie Lovett towers over her, glaring and passing Johanna to the Beadle's waiting arms.

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Lucy does not lie in bed incoherently for days. Nellie does not hurt her, only muttering calm soothing words of the poor thing she was, and how sad it was that Johanna had been taken and how Lucy's reputation was gone. As gone as Benjamin was. Lucy is not covered with bruises from two sets of hands – a man's and a woman's. Lucy is not confused about the feeling she gets when Nellie raises her hand at her.

She did not scream until her voice was scratchy and unrecognizable once she had found out what was happening all around her.

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Lucy gets up one day, and walks to the apothecary, wearing a veil to not be recognized. She hears everyone around her gossiping, and her name doesn't come up once. The apothecary assistant is nice and pats her veiled cheek saying that she understands exactly why a young girl in such a situation would want the goods. Lucy lets her believe that she is horribly pockmarked and walks back to the store, drinking there.

She did not take the 'medicine' Nellie had bought her and was not thrown out on the streets as the arsenic ate away at her mind.

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Lucy does not haunt the same street for years and years, looking for home but not being able to find it. She did not hunt for money on the streets like a magpie did. She does not turn to filthy acts to pay for the little food and shelter she needed. She finds ways to charm people with her beauty and wit like her mother taught her too.

She did not use whatever money she got (by all sorts of means) to head down to where the Judge lived, and to stare upwards for hours upon hours of precious time.

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Lucy does not remember anything. She never does. She never wakes up half-asleep with a name on her lips 'Benjamin!' – or a howl escaping her 'Baby!'. She does not think see people who are not there, but who used to be. She does not miss anyone, or find herself arching her back into nothingness. Lucy does not scratch her head until she bled, for hope that something would make sense if she could just get inside.

She did not go and start haunting Fleet Street more often when she saw the crazy red haired baker witch woman in her dreams.

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Lucy does not know who the girl is up there. Lucy does not know her name. Lucy does not know her routine. Lucy does not memorize her face every chance she gets. Lucy does not wait in the shadows to hear her girly voice. Lucy does not spend her money she got for being a bit cleaner than usual for a birdy that doesn't sing for the pretty little girly. Lucy does not chase the girl and the Beadle, Beadle, Beadle.

She did not cry when the girl screamed when she saw her – even when she didn't understand things after.

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Lucy does not believe in wishes. Lucy does not believe in dreams. Lucy does not believe in witches. Lucy doesn't know what a nightmare is. Lucy knows what a demon is. Lucy believes in love. Lucy does not like to eat. Lucy does not know what she likes. Lucy thinks the sky is pretty some days. Lucy knows that the evil woman with the crazy man are bad, bad, bad, and that Beadle is good, good, good – especially since that's what a Beadle is for. Lucy thinks she knows quite a bit.

She even knew what a husband was once.

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Lucy likes to tell lies.

She didn't like them at all.

A/N: Not one review? Sheesh, maybe I should have labeled this differently. Anyway, I've had the idea for awhile of a Lucy/Lovett pairing and I just had to try it out here.

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