Sorry this took so long... i was stuck on vacation and the computer was non compatible with fanfic... hope you like it just as much as the others...
Humming quietly Mrs. Lovett closed the shop.
"Mum?" Asked Toby
"Yes dear?" She replied
"What do you want to for your birthday?" he asked rather excited
It was true, with all the rush of the shop Mrs. Lovett had completely forgotten her upcoming birthday.
"Mum?" Toby asked slightly concerned
"Oh, um… there's no need for a gift luv, your help round the shop is good enough for me" she replied
They started walking to the shops further in town.
"Mum please I insist" Toby pleaded
She turned towards the boy, he had grown so much in the past two years, he was nearly as tall as her.
She held his face in her hands.
"You're the greatest gift anyone could have" she said
She loved Toby dearly, like her own. She couldn't imagine what her life would have been like without him. She was glad that she didn't let Mr. T kill him all those years ago.
A warm tear ran down her face, she quickly brushed it away and continued walking.
"Your really miss 'im don't you…" Toby sad, his voice quite sad
"More than anything" she said "Its more because I know he's never coming back" her voice broke from holding back the tears.
"But enough of that" she tried to say cheerfully wiping her eyes. "Let get to the shops"
She quickened her pace, Toby did a quick jog to catch up to her.
"I still want to know what you want for your birthday mum" Toby insisted
"All right luv, I'll agree to a gift but I don't want to know what it is"
Toby nodded then smiled lightly at her.
She returned the smile as best as she could.
--
Sweeney had no idea were to look for Mrs. Lovett so he started with her shop on Fleet Street.
He had wandered into London a couple times before but never dared to go anywhere near Fleet Street.
As he walked down the street he saw Mrs. Lovett's shop, it hadn't changed a bit, the only difference was that there was no longer the same liveliness as he remembered.
He walked up to the good and gently nudged it opened. He had decided to make this trip during the night, mainly because he hadn't bothered to change his appearance over the years, so he was sure someone would recognize him.
Only shortly after he arrived outside of London he started to hear people talking about the Demon Barber and the Devil's Baker of Fleet Street.
The stories varied from them being dead to him killing the baker, which was his intention at the time.
Sweeney stood in the doorway, his thoughts flooding his mind.
He remembered Mrs. Lovett's face that night. He remembered the pain and sorrow in her eyes.
He shook the image from his mind and continued into the shop.
The was a thick layer of dust on everything in the shop. He made his way over to the living room, searching for something that might show him were she had gone.
He walked into the living room, it was the same as the front room, covered in a thick layer of dust, none of which was disturbed except for were he had walked, a set of footsteps followed him to where he was standing.
Seeing nothing he continued to look, he walked into Mrs. Lovett's room. Rage rose in his chest as he saw the mess of her room, the drawers of her dresser were pulled out and dropped on the floor, their contents spilled out beside them.
Clearly the authorities came looking the them after they realized that the Judge and the Beedle had been missing.
The anger continued to rise the more he looked around the room, whoever had come into this room and raided the chest in the corner clearly looking for money or other kinds of valuables.
Once he saw that there was nothing of any help to him in the room, he walked into the front of the shop pausing at the stairs that went up to his shop.
He climbed the stairs slowly, finally reaching the top he looked around at the mess of the room. The people who had raided the downstairs didn't seem to have touched this room, although it looked as if someone had tried to get the blood stains out of the wood floor.
The mirror he had smashed was still in pieces as well as the bottle he had thrown, he turned to go back down the stairs when something caught his eye, he turned to see what is was and saw the picture frame of his wife and child. He walked over to the table and picked up the small frame, he ran his fingers across the cold glass. Silent tears ran down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry" he whispered, then he got up and pulled out the drawer in the table and placed the picture inside.
He turned and walked down the stairs. Once downstairs he realize that it had gotten light out so he decided it would be best if he waited again for the night to leave, he dropped his back onto the bench by the table and lay down using it as a pillow.
--
Once Toby had finished finding Mrs. Lovett a gift they started walking back to the shop, Toby humming quietly, clearly satisfied with his purchase.
They reached the shop and Mrs. Lovett unlocked the door, she opened it quietly and walked into the shop, it was no different than how she left it.
"I think I'm gonna go get me some rest luv" she said to Toby rubbing her eyes
Toby nodded once then skipped off to his room, still humming quietly.
Mrs. Lovett walked into her room taking off her shoes, she started to work on her corset. She really was exhausted, about halfway down the corset she gave up and lay down onto her bed, dosing off into a light sleep.
--
Sweeney woke, he sat up only to feel a sharp pain in his back. The bench probably wasn't the best choice for a sleeping surface.
He got up slowly, stretching out the kinks he had received from the horrible sleep.
Looking out the window he saw that it was once again dark out so he decided to continue his search.
He looked around the shop one last time for any sort of clue of were Mrs. Lovett might be, just before he left his eyes came across a small painting of the sea.
He remembered about how Mrs. Lovett always wanted to live by the sea, the time she took him there and sang to him about what their life could be like.
He decided that going to the sea would be his best bet for finding her. He walked out of the shop, closing the door behind him
--
Mrs. Lovett woke to the sun shining, she could hear Toby working in the kitchen.
She got up slowly and walked into the kitchen.
"Morning mum!" Toby said enthusiastically
"Morning luv" She replied still rather sleepy.
"Are you all right mum?" he asked
"Toby I think we aren't going to open the shop today, I'm rather exhausted and I think we could bolth use a day off" she explained.
"Alight mum" he said " And besides, its Sunday and every other shop in town will be closed"
She nodded and walked back into her room, she could hear Toby's humming.
She lay back down on her bead and closed her eyes.
Sweeney stood up from beside his wife.
Mrs. Lovett watched him, eyes filled with horror. She watched his eyes change from hatred and loathing to kindness.
He swept her up in his arms as they started to spin around the bake house, she forgot all of the worries she had earlier and focused only on the fact that her beloved barber had forgiven her.
All of a sudden his eyes switched back to the loathing they were before, she realized were they were dancing.
She tried to latch onto him as he threw her into the bake oven.
She grabbed at the air and then hit the scorching pans in the oven, burning her flesh with impact.
Her eyes snapped open.
She was shaking slightly from the nightmare she got up and rubbed her eyes, she looked out of the window.
"Still light out, damn" she said to herself.
She could hear Toby singing quietly in his room, she walked into the kitchen and grabbed a cookie sitting on the counter, she started to nibble on it.
She sat down at the window, looking out towards the sea.
Just a dream she reminded herself, still shaking.
A tear ran down her face, it was just a dream but the reality was so much worse.
--
Sweeney finally reached a small town by the sea, it was night now. He had spent the entire day asking people were he might find a Mrs. Lovett, he finally came across a young man who told him that there was a Mrs. Lovett's bake shop in a small town down by the sea.
He walked into the town, a few couples were taking a late night stroll. He walked up and down the streets until he came across another young man.
"You wouldn't happen to know if there's a Mrs. Lovett's bake shop anywhere near by?" he asked.
"Actually yes there is, its about 5 streets down, you turn left and its on the end of the road" he replied
Sweeney shook his hand gratefully
"Thank you lad" he said enthusiastically.
He started walking at a very quick pace, almost a run.
1, 2, 3, 4. He got to the 4th street and stopped dead in his tracks. In all the excitement of finding Mrs. Lovett he had forgotten to think of something to say. What if she hated him for what he had done to her, what if he had lost his chance.
He slowly started walking to the 5th street and turned left, he continued to walk slowly keeping his pace even.
There were so many shops, which one was her's?
--
Mrs. Lovett decided she couldn't sleep any longer she decided to go out for an evening stroll.
"Toby!" she called "I'm going to go for a stroll, care to join me?"
"Sure mum!" he said enthusiastically running down the stairs.
"I made us a small picnic" she added holding up a rather large basket
"Sounds good" He smiled at her.
The walked out the front door and into the patio.
"Oh I forgot to lock up" She said turning to go lock the door
"S'all right mum, I got it" Toby answered taking the keys from her and running to the door "I'll catch up in a minute"
She opened the small gate to the court yard and stepped out.
--
Sweeney was almost at the end of the road now, he could see two people leaving a shop.
A woman and a man… No a boy. He looked up at the name of she shop, Mrs. Lovett's bakery. This was it, he had found her.
"Mrs. Lovett?" He called to the woman by the gate.
She didn't seem to notice him, he walked a little closer.
"Mrs. Lovett?" He called once again.
Head snapped up, she seemed to not be able to see who he was.
He quickened his pace, he could see her squinting in the dark.
She gasped loudly, dropping her basket. Toby turned his head to see what had happened. She was standing there, frozen in place, he could see a man in the distance walking towards her.
She couldn't move, she knew that he was going to come back and kill her. He approached her cautiously, oddly enough he did not seem angry, she saw no hatred in his eyes.
She took one step back.
"Mrs. Lovett?" he spoke gently.
What was happening, she didn't understand, if he wasn't here to kill her then why had he come?
Completely lost in her thoughts she didn't notice how close he had gotten, he was inches away now.
She looked up at him eyes full of confusion and horror. He thought for a moment, it clicked, she thought he was here to kill her.
He moved a little closer. Her eyes still watching him intently.
Toby realized who the man was and darted from the door, jumping the fence and running towards them.
He ran full tilt at the man, knocking him backwards slightly. He stumbled regaining his footing. Toby started punching him.
"HOW DARE YOU COME BACK!!" he yelled at Sweeney,
"HOW DARE YOU HURT MY MUM AGAIN!!"
Sweeney grabbed his hands holding them together, Toby was strong for his age but still not as strong as him.
"I'm not here to hurt her" He said gently, his voice clear.
Toby struggled against him, Sweeney tightened his grip.
"Please, I swear I will not hurt her." He said letting go of the boy.
He stood up, Toby didn't seem to try and attack again so he turned towards Mrs. Lovett.
Her eyes still full of shock.
He couldn't stand it any longer, he pulled her into a tight hug. She didn't reply at first but then wrapping her arms around his torso she pressed her face against his chest, silent tears flowing from her eyes.
His arms loosened around her, he pulled her away from him.
She knew this was to good to be true, she looked up at him expecting to see disgust on his face but he was smiling brightly at her.
"W…why are you here?" she asked in a small voice, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Sweeney was confused, he thought she would be happy to see him.
"I... i…" he mumbled "I came to find you" he said, her eyes widened in shock.
"I, well… I … missed you"
She couldn't believe the words she was hearing, this cant be real this must be a dream, he hated her, how could he miss her.
"How can you miss me? You hate me" she said, now looking at her feet.
She felt his warm hand under he chin, he lifted her face up to look at him
This was it, he had to pour his heart out to her to get her to understand. Sweeney was never one to show or tell people his emotions so this was rather hard for him.
"I'm sorry" he said, her face still in his hands. "I'm sorry for everything I have done to you, I was so obsessed over the past, but the past is done… I've moved on, you were the one who helped me realize that there really is happiness out in this cold world. I don't hate you, I could never hate you" he explained "All this time I've been gone I could only think of you, it has been driving me mad. I love you Mrs. Lovett, I always have" he had nothing more to say, he just hoped that was enough to convince her that he meant everything. That he really did love her.
She stared at the man who she had loved for years, she studied his face looking for some kind of flaw in this perfect moment. She found none, only happiness and sincerity in his eyes.
"Do you truly mean all of that?" she asked
"Yes" he replied "every word"
"I love you to" she said hugging him tightly, feeling his warm body against hers. This moment could not get any better, she did not want it to end.
He figured she had accepted his apology, and figured that he was forgiven. He held her in his arms for what seemed like ages.
She pulled away from him, looking up at his face, eyes filled with joy. He stroked her cheek lightly and kissed her, at first she hesitated but then she let him deepen the kiss. Holding her close to him, he never wanted to let go. The kiss ended, he looked at her face, she was smiling brightly at him,
"Oh! Mr. T!!" she squealed throwing her arms around his neck.
He swung her up into his arms, she was very light. He heard Toby scoff in the background.
He kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"You seem like you have plans" He said, looking at the basket on the ground.
He placed her gently onto her feet.
"I wouldn't want to impose on your evening"
She looked at him, eyes full of disappointment.
"Don't leave" she pleaded.
He pulled her into a tight hug. He chuckled lightly.
"I will never leave you" he said looking into her eyes "not as long as I live" he kissed the top of her head.
She smiled, and hugged him then went to go pick up the basket.
"We were on our way to 'ave a picnic" she said picking up the basket "care to join us?"
"I'd love to" he replied, taking the basket from her and putting his arm securely around her waist.
After the picnic they arrived back to the shop, Toby ran ahead to go open the door, he did not like Mr. Todd but he loved his mum dearly and she has happier than ever so this made him happy.
Sweeney dropped the basket onto the table, swinging Mrs. Lovett into his arms he walked to her room and placed her gently onto the bed.
He started to stand up but she pulled him close, kissing him passionately. He felt her hands working on the buttons on his vest.
He slid his hands down her back, unlacing her corset. Once she got through his vest, he pulled it off quickly then yanked off his shirt, kissing her again she ran her hands down his chest. He pulled her on top of him, he felt the warmth of her body against his, the smooth texture of her skin. He couldn't believe he had found her.