Wedding plans

Toby was downstairs waiting for Mrs. Lovett to return from the market. Mrs. Lovett was always so kind to Toby, keeping his secrets safe, his fears and his sorrows. He told her everything but she didn't tell him everything. He thought that she should tell him everything, he does because he loves her. Truly.

Not far down the street Anthony and Johanna both raced to see who can find Mrs. Lovett's pie shop first. Johanna beat him and flung the front door wide open and Anthony ran in after her. Anthony slammed the door shut and bent over to catch his breath while Johanna looked around.

"Not much of a place," Johanna said looking at the bar.

"It's...all...good," Anthony said between breaths, "I...trust...Mr. Todd,"

Johanna helped Anthony stand straight and he regained his breath. He was the first one to see Toby's confused and surprised face.

"Hi Toby," Anthony said giving the surprised boy a small wave.

Johanna looked over at Anthony in curiosity and Anthony immediately backed away.

"He's not mine," Anthony said holding up his hands, "He's Mrs. Lovett's,"

Johanna looked at Anthony and Toby and nodded, Anthony relaxed. Just then the door flung open and there stood Mrs. Lovett.

"There's some strange things going on out there dearies," Mrs. Lovett said placing down the small bag. Then she saw Anthony and Johanna.

"Oh hello," Mrs. Lovett said cheerfully, "Who's this?"

"This is Johanna," Anthony said putting his arm around Johanna's waist.

Mrs. Lovett was polite enough to give both of them a drink on the house. Anthony told Mrs. Lovett of his doings to set Johanna free and that Mr. Fogg was dead.

"Mr. Fogg?" Mrs. Lovett asked, "Well finally, he's as old as the rotten meat downstairs,"

Everyone pretended not to hear her last sentence.

Upstairs in the room Sweeney listened carefully, he could hear the conversation that was going on downstairs and he took in a breath.

So she is here, Sweeney thought to himself twirling the razor in the air, my daughter is here.

He got up and looked in the across the room to the mirror that hung on the wall. He wanted to look good when he is going to see his daughter. He wanted to look clean and kind instead of a vengeful barber. He wanted to look fatherly.

Back downstairs Toby was again out of the conversation. He just listen like usual and sat there taking small sips of gin fro the small glass Mrs. Lovett gave him.

"Of isn't that just lovely," Mrs. Lovett said clapping her hands together, "Don't you think?"

"What?" Toby said looking up at the three adults that looked down at him.

"Anthony and Johanna here are thinking of getting married,"

"When?"

"Tomorrow,"

"Congratulations,"

Anthony and Johanna snuggled at a table near the back. Sipping brandy from one tall glass and sharing one of Lovett's pies. Toby was half asleep on the table and Mrs. Lovett went upstairs to check on Sweeney who met her half way. Sweeney caught Mrs. Lovett's breath. He had his hair combed back and he looked a little cleaner than usual. His razor was strapped to his side and his eyes gave out a strong message.

"How do I look?" Sweeney asked the shocked Mrs. Lovett.

"Um...fine dearie," Mrs. Lovett managed, "Just fine,"

Sweeney passed her and walked down the stairs to meet Johanna.

Sweeney passed the sleeping Toby and walked over to the back table. Anthony looked up to see Sweeney approach them.

"Johanna," Anthony said, "This is Mr. Todd,"

Johanna looked at the well dressed barber and was impressed. Sweeney managed to smile at her.

"How are you miss?" Sweeney asked dangerously calm.

"Fine," Johanna replied.

Sweeney looked at Mrs. Lovett, "Why don't you get this lovely girl some better clothes dear?"

Mrs. Lovett smiled and nodded as she took Johanna's hand and led her upstairs.

"Might have a couple nice things for you dearie," Mrs. Lovett's voice echoed as they climbed the steps. Once they were gone Sweeney turned to Anthony who was in a daze. Sweeney could see the boy's love for his daughter but he didn't know how to say that Johanna was his daughter. He didn't think the boy would understand one bit. He wanted to shave the boy so bad although he didn't see any chin hair, just to slide the blade across the boy's throat but then he would have to make up an excuse. And he couldn't do that to Johanna, not know not ever.

"So Mr. Todd," Anthony started, "Are you thinking of keeping business?"

Sweeney turned, "As long as there are customers,"

"Have you ever loved?"

The question struck Sweeney.

Of course, Sweeney thought to himself, I have.

"It was along time ago,"

Anthony left it there not daring to go further for he had seen Sweeney's fury and it was something that shouldn't be messed with.

Upstairs Mrs. Lovett had taken Johanna into her room to change her.

"Let's get rid of these ugly rags," Mrs. Lovett said picking up the asylum clothes.

Johanna tried on a grey and black dress that had frills on the bottom in a design of flowers. It fit her perfectly and she was happy with it.

"It looks lovely dearie," Mrs. Lovett said doing up the zipper at the back.

"I'll give it back to you after I'm done with it," Johanna promised looking at herself in the mirror. Mrs. Lovett made a tsk-tsk noise.

"Keep it dearie, it never did do me any good,"

Johanna's eyes widened, "Really?"

"As a wedding gift,"

"Oh thank you Mrs. Lovett, thank you!"

Mrs. Lovett smiled, "Don't think it would still fit me any way,"

Johanna smiled as well. Mrs. Lovett led Johanna out of the room and down the stairs. She took the empty glass off Toby's table and stacked it with the empty dishes. While she was doing that Johanna showed off her new dress to Anthony and Sweeney.

"Mrs. Lovett gave it to me for a wedding gift,"

Sweeney's stomach took a lurch. Wedding?!

"Isn't it great Anthony?" Johanna added.

"It is Johanna," Anthony replied looking up and down Johanna.

Sweeney threw a dark look at Mrs. Lovett who gave him a strong look back.

Don't you dare, Mrs. Lovett thought.

Sweeney started to smile mischievously as his mind worked.

"So Anthony," Sweeney said, "When's the wedding?"

"Tomorrow Mr. Todd," Anthony replied.

"Where?"

Anthony was about to answer but he didn't know where neither did Johanna.

'Why don't you have it here?" Sweeney replied.

Johanna looked at Anthony and nodded eagerly.

"Oh yes can we Anthony?"

"Of course my love, anything for you,"

Sweeney tried to hold in the temptation of moving his hand to his razor and cutting the boy's throat. The would have the wedding tomorrow and then Sweeney would have his chance with the boy.

Upstairs Toby crawled on the ground towards the door. No one realized that he had woken from his sleep and left while everyone was making wedding plans. He crawled to make little or no noise if possible.

All most there, Toby thought to himself.

The polished oak door stood in front of his view and Toby smiled slyly. He got up to quickly and the floor creaked loudly under his weight. Toby froze. He waited to hear if anyone was coming up to check but no one was. Toby thought to himself that they were to loud to hear anything. He opened the door and peered inside. Light drifted into the room from the slanted windows and a desk was pushed to the far corner. Toby walked right in and locked the door behind him. The room hypnotized him, he quietly walked along the floor to the desk. Curiosity got the best of him. The desk was also a polished oak and it looked quite expensive. Swirling designs were carved into the desk that only held a couple of papers and a small money pouch that held five quid. But it wasn't the money that made his think hard, no it was the pouch. Its colours brought back memories, bad memories he tried so hard to get rid of. He looked at the papers and saw a letter for Judge Turpin. He looked up to see the barber's chair. It had a design head and a red cushioned seat. There was some sort of lever thing that Toby walked up to, he grasped the lever and pulled. He jumped back and shrieked as the seat of the chair disappeared. Then a horrible thought came into his mind.

No, Toby thought with fear so great, no it's not possible!

Downstairs Sweeney heard this noise and looked up.

"What's wrong dearie?" Mrs. Lovett asked.

"I'll be back," Sweeney growled and whipped out his razor and marched upstairs.

In the room Toby threw up down the chute, he shuddered as he saw small specks of blood on the floor. He tried to think of something happy but all he could see was darkness. He gave little whimpers here and there but then he got angry.

So this is what mum has been hiding from me, Toby thought angrily, how could she? I spilled my life to her.

Suddenly the door knob rattle and Toby whipped his head around to see the door give a violent shake.

"Who's in there?!" a strong angry voice cried.

Toby's heart leapt with fear, he knew that voice all to well.

The door handle rattled again and this time a fist pounded the door as well.

"Open up I say" Sweeney shouted.

Toby scrambled to his feet and looked around the place, despite it natural beauty, Toby had no where to hide. His mind went a hundred miles per hour trying to figure something out, he had never been so scared in his life. Suddenly the door flung open...