DISCLAIMER: The song "Breathe In" and all its lyrics belong to The Loved Ones.

A/N: the song I used in this chapter is one of my favorites, but I imagine that when Sweeney sings it, it would sound more like a lullabye and less like a punk rock song!

As she heard him sigh, she couldn't help wondering what was going on in that mind of his. She knew it was ridiculous to hope that he would be dreaming of a future with her, and yet somehow that was what she hoped he was doing.

She felt so safe and warm here in his arms like this, but if he was brooding about his bloody revenge again then she was likely to end up with her back against the wall and his "friend" at her throat any minute now...

She sighed and started to pull out of the embrace, but Sweeney kept his arms locked tightly around her and she was startled to find herself suddenly pressed quite firmly against his chest with little chance of escape. (Not that she was complaining.)

Her head snapped up in surprise and she saw that he was looking down at her, his eyes clear and alert.

She let out a shaky breath and allowed her body to relax against his once more. Or perhaps more so than before... As he felt the tension leave her body, he eased his grip so that the embrace was merely comfortably close instead of crushing.

Still looking into her eyes, smiling slightly, he began to sing:

"Hey angel, can we dance on the edge of this disaster?
Can we move on in spite of what we miss?
We're gasping, suffocating, trying to exist.
The escape, it's all a lie, the agony persists.

The trauma's led to a bottomless despair,
But I'd rather feel the heartache,
Than act like I don't care.

So breathe in.
If I'm supposed to feel this,
I'll breathe in,
And taste this sweet disaster.

I'm building calluses where I'm supposed to feel,
And I'm betting all that's left on the chance there's something real.
Forgive me, I've sewn shut the crater in my chest.
Can you help me to unleash the stitches and untie the mess?

The trauma's led to a bottomless despair,
But I'd rather feel the heartache,
Than act like I don't care.

So breathe in.
If I'm supposed to feel this,
I'll breathe in,
And taste this sweet disaster.

Oh, I've been here before,
All balled up on the floor.
If I can keep my arms 'round you,
Maybe you can help me through.

So breathe in.
If I'm supposed to feel this,
I'll breathe in,
And taste my sweet disaster."