5

"Only a dress?!" Mrs. Lovett pulled herself away from Sweeney, stumbling a few paces back from the counter. "Only?" Her voice became dangerously high pitched.

He inwardly winced at the sound, though he tried to keep his face passive.

"Tha' was- Tha' was my weddin' dress!"

"I was under the impression you had hawked everything from that time Mrs. Lovett. Besides, those frills-"

"It was a dress!" She snapped at him angrily. "An' don' you go tryin' to change tha' fact."

Sweeney gritted his teeth, trying to keep his temper under control. "I wasn't changin' anything."

She gave him a contemptible sniff, hands on her hips. "Oh?"

"Something was bound to happen to that thing anyway Mrs. Lovett."

"Was not!" Glaring at him, she moved around the counter so she could stand next to him. " It was safe away wit' where I was keepin' it. An' it would 'ave stayed there 'ad ya not taken it out!"

Turning to face the livid baker, Sweeney sighed. Glass crunched underfoot and they both ignored it. "Had I known it was a dress I wouldn' 'ave even touched it."

"It wasn't an' it!" She poked him roughly in the chest. "I got married to my Albert in tha' I did!"

Before she could poke him again Sweeney grabbed her wrists, pulling her closer. "Dearest in your heart, is he?" He growled, leaning dangerously close to her.

Mrs. Lovett swallowed, paling noticeably. "I wasn' implyin' nothing' 'bout nothin' Mr. T. Jus' sentimental value an' all."

"Your husband was nothing?" He raised his brow quizzically.

"Not sayin' tha', jus' wot I 'ad wif Albert was dif'ren'. Ya?" Head bowed, she pulled her arms away from him weakly, but he continued to hold onto her.

"Different than wot, Mrs. Lovett?" Sweeney whispered.

"Jus' dif'ren'." She mumbled, leaning ever-so slightly towards him.

Instead of sighing, pushing her away or asking more questions, he watched her. Sweeney took notice of the subtle shifts her body made, loosening his grip slightly from her wrists. She moved slightly closer to him, a piece of glass crunching under her slipper. They ignored the sound, Mrs. Lovett keen on getting closer to him, and Sweeney paying rapt attention.

He let go of her wrists when several of her disarrayed curls brushed his vest.

"Time for bed, I think…" He cut himself off before he could add 'Mrs. Lovett'.

"S'ppose s'late."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Sweeney wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up. Her arms immediately wrapped around his neck, fearful of being dropped. Muttering curses about her voluminous dress, he finally managed to lay her across his arms.

That is much simpler withou' the dress. A tiny smile flickered across his face.

"There ya go Mr. T." Mrs. Lovett sighed, settling herself comfortably in his arms. "Ya don' try ta smile, ya jus' do." She closed her eyes, unable to see his surprised face.

Shaking his head, he slowly began to walk towards her room. She muttered something on the way, and he simply told her to hush.

Laying her on her bed and positive she was actually asleep, Sweeney simply watched her, unsure of what to do next. She had been up late mourning the silly dress's loss, and apparently drinking rather heavily. He found that oddly uncharacteristic of her, after all, it was only a dress. Wasn't she the practical one? When did dressed make the world go 'round?

Sweeney held back his sigh once more and sat on the edge of her bed. "Don't think about that dress while you sleep." He gave a soft snort of amusement. "No doubt you'll be getting another soon enough."


A/N Sweeney just hinted at marrying Nellie.. I finally went there. Also, since you'll probably be very mad at me if I don't tell you, Sweeney ripped up Mrs. Lovett's old wedding dress to make rags to clean his razors. In his defense, it was an ugly dress. New story up Monday- ta for now.