title Girl Anachronism

author pinkeop

summary Behold the world's worst accident, I am the girl anachronism. ( AU )

authors note Awww, you people are completely sweet! Thanks for your kind reviews on chapter eight- I was really hesitant about posting that chapter. Origionally, I had the last chapters take place on the same night, but now I'm streching it out over another three chapters- nine, ten, and the epiloge. Anyway, I was very hesitant about posting chapter eight. I've done MUCH more graphic scenes before, but never for the viewing pleasure of the whole internet, and I was worried about making Mr. Todd act too out of character, but obviously I didn't do too bad of a job. But your respones were kind and I'm glad I managed to keep Mr. Todd in character as far as acting out of character goes. I almost didn't have the erm.. final scene in there, but my darling Finny kept asking ( -blowkiss- ) and well, who am I do deny my writing buddy?

Shall we get on with chapter nine, you silly little buggers? This one takes place during "Not While I'm Around" and a small part of "Final Scene" because uhm, final scene has to be the final chapter, no? Yes.

Let's just get on wiv it!

Wivout further ado, chapter nine!

Love!

Pink Elephants on Parade

--

chapter nine Not While I'm Around

Nothing's gonna harm you,

not while I'm around.

Nothing's gonna harm you,

no sir, not while I'm around.

Sleeping together on the small, creaky cot was not a particularly enjoyable experience. Every few minutes they would shift and wake each other. All together, they'd only slept perhaps a solid hour without waking awkwardly to an elbow in the gut or a knee to the groin. Ana had tried to crawl out of the cot for a final time when Mr. Todd had finally fixed their situation by dragging her back to bed and laying her across his chest, her head on his heart, which lulled her back to sleep with it's dragging slow thumps. They both seemed to sleep soundly after that.

The first gray rays of light hadn't even touched the sky yet when Ana was reawakened by an insistive, sharp prodding in her side. Her eyes fluttered open to darkness and sulkily she burried her face into the warm skin of her breathing pillow. She felt him sigh beneath her and another hard prod was delivered to her rib cage. Not at all happy, Ana lifted her head to glare at the shadow that was his face. The candles had long burned out, leaving the upstairs flat completely dark. She reached on hand around and grabbed the nudging hand and tossed it away from her. "Quit it," she snarled.

"Get out, pet," the man said in a quiet tone, an underlying annoyance in his voice. Ana looked around, her hair falling over her shoulders and creating a curtain around their faces. She pulled back her lip in distaste. It was so early. If she stayed very still, she couldn't even ear the morning lark sing.

"MistaT..." she mumbled sleepily, resting her head back on his chest. "S'not even light out yet. S'not even time to move." Ana could feel herself slipping back into sleep yet again when a swooping sensation entered her belly and her back was pressed against the rough cot. Her eyes snapped open and Mr. Todd was hovering over her, a devilish glint probably in his eyes. He growled an animalistic growl, one hand pressing against her hip, the other holding himself up over her. His lips brushed her forehead just barely.

"Get out," Mr. Todd growled, pulling away from her completely. The sudden command was so harsh and rudely spoken that Ana sat up abruptly, smacking her forehead against Mr. Todd's. The two bothed groaned in a comical way at the impact. Ana laughed and Mr. Todd snorted in distaste. Rubbing her forehead, Ana's brows furrowed.

"Ah... Mr. T, it's still dark out..." She said quietly. Mr. Todd was off the cot and pulling on his clothes in the dark room. She watched his naked figure cloth istself in the shadows. The air felt oddly warm on her bare skin, yet awfully chilled. She hated missing having him by her side. The man picked up her discarded night gown and tossed it lightly towards her, draping it over her head. The snorted at him and pulled it off. In the dark, she could she saw a whicked smile warm his lips, but she couldn't be sure. Everything got lost in translation.

"I'll be light soon enough," Mr. Todd muttered. "And when it is, you need to be out." He moved towards her, his shirt half burroned, and carefully helped her on with her night gown. He grabbed her by the warm when he head popped through the hole and roughly heaved her to her feet. Ana winced- between her legs hurt slightly and her body was bruised -her wasn't very tender. She shrugged away from him, perfectly able to leave on her own.

"You should have let me leave when I tried the first twenty times," Ana snapped. She wasn't expecting a whole lot to change... Not really. But still she couldn't much help the small, betrayed feeling in the pit of her stomach. It wasn't like what she'd given him last night was very special just because he was the first to take it. It wasn't like she wanted it to be special. It wasn't like she regaurded him any higher than before... not really... not entirely. Perhaps only a little, small part of her that had yet to be crushed. Maybe it was just the way he was so damn infuriating and darkly nonchalant. And the guilt that ate at her insides, building as she stalked towards the door. She was already thinking of lies to tell Nelle, should the woman wake when she was sneaking back into bed. As her hand grabbed the knob, Ana felt a sharp grip on her wrist. Mr. Todd pulled her a half step towards him and leanred down. He kissed her clumsil, and a bit lack luster, but the effort was obviously there. Ana felt his grasp tighten around her wrist and yelped in surprise when the man bit down sharply on her lower lip. She could feel a few droplets of blood trickle into her mouth. He released her and growled threateningly,

"Now get out!" He reached around her to open the door and pushed her out into the cool, very early morning air, leaving her light headed. The door shut very lightly behind her. Her stomach sank. Touching her lower lip, coming away with a few drops of blood, Ana started down the steps, on her tip toes to keep quiet. Her body was suddenly wired, finding herself unwilling to return back to Nellie. But the woman wasn't as stupid as the customers that ate their friends and family everyday. Quietly, stumbling through the dark parlor, Ana made her way back to bed. She closed the bedroom door behind her, tip-toeing back to bed. Nellie was as asleep as when she'd left her. From the window, Ana could see the dull gray sky just beginning to lighten. Ana lifted the blankets and slid back into bed. Nellie stirred, but didn't wake. Relived she'd gotten away with her sin, Ana closed her eyes and tried to calm her frazzled nerves. The guilt was crushing, now. Ana knew that betraying Nellie like this would be just like stopping time and slapping the woman in the face, over and over and over- she would be blissfully ignorant, but the moment she was aware it would hurt ten fold. But feeling the urge to protect Nellie- even from herself -prevailed and Ana fell into a fitful slumber.

Morning came sooner than Ana wanted. She awoke to a bright light streaming in the window and Nellie tugging her out of bed, a particularly bright dress lain out on the sheets for her- it looked almost new, all baby pinks and creams. Nellie explained absently she wanted Ana looking her best to bring in men for tonight. They needed lots of customers for lots of cover. Ana tried not to feel accountable for the baker's giddy distant distraction. She waited for the baker to leave the room to undress- for when she peeled away her night gown her hips were marked with bruises that fit the contours of the bakers large hands. Ana winced, ignoring her sore body as she turned to the dress lain out on the bed. It was so pretty, not something she'd seen in the back of Nellie's closet before. her stomach sank even further as she fingered the soft fabric. When she pulled it on over the tight corset and pink leggings, the skirt hit the very top of her feet and hugged her body tighter than any of Nellie's old dresses. The creams and pinks weren't at all blaring against her hair color, the firey red locks thrown in a mess over one shoulder. Sighing, ANa turned away from the mirror and slipped on her trainers, lacing them up. Nellie wouldn't mind too much if she wore them again, just for today- they matched the dress, after all.

Toby was helping Nellie make some bread when Ana walked into the shop. They were chattering happily amoungst themselves. Ana's face lit into a smile at the sight- what a great mother Nellie would make for young Toby. She needed someone to look after. And after she helped Johanna and Antony, she would work to find her way back home, least she catch her death sneaking back and forth from the barber shop to bed every night.

Nellie looked up and her smile was bright and warm. "Oh..." she breathed, stepping around the counter. Toby looked up as well, his eyes growing wide as saucers.

"Wow, Miss Ana!" he said shyly. "You look pretty!"

"Beautiful, love," Nellie said, taking her by the hands and looking her over fondly. Ana's smile was weak. It didn't hit her how much thought Nellie must've put into picking out the dress for her. Overwhelmed, Ana wrapped her arms around the baker and pulled her into a tight hug. She squeezed her close.

"Thank you, Nellie," she murmured.

"Now, now!" the baker fretted, pulling away and holding her by the shoulders. "Don't go acting like yeh're saying a goodbye! 'Ere, take this tray up to Mr. T, I'm sure 'e'll be wanting some breakfast by this time, then come back down prompt-like. Always work to be done, spick 'an span, tha's my motto!" Nellie turned and picked up a tray with a bowl of steaming oatmeal and some bread. Ana, hesitantly, took the tray. She caught Nellie giving her a curious look as she turned to take the food upstairs. It'd only been a few hours since she last saw him, but god only knew that man had been awake since she retreated from his bed. At the top of her stairs, she didn't bother to knock, as per usualy, and instead just held the tray against her hip and opened the door. The bell jingled. Mr. Todd stood with his back to her, facing the window. A razor hung limply in one hand by his side, the other resting on the sill. She moved quietly to place the tray on the small table by the vanity.

"Brought you up some breakfest, Mr. Todd," Ana announced, aware tat her voice was strangely flat. The man turned to look at her, then, a vaugely surprised look on his face. He raised a single brow. Ana shrugged and let out a shakey breath before turning to exit the room.

"Wot?" the man grunted, almost sounding insulted. "Not going to give me twenty question about eatin' it?"

Ana frowned, turning half way to look at him.

Mr. Todd looked curiously down at the tray. "The force at which you attack any task and challenge given to you is... admirable, if not a been frightening. No young lady should be so malevolent." His lips gave way to the ghost of a smile. "For some reason, that's not present today."

Ana frowned deeper. She wished he would make up his mind. Was he drawn to her or repelled by her? He couldn't have it both ways, and either way she was tired of this yo-yo game. She wasn't sure if she had the energy for much more of it- even if she knew that he knew that she could take it. Her shoulders lifted and dropped once more. Mr. Todd raised his brows lightly, tilting his head to the side as he regaurded her, as if seeing her for the first time. She realized the warm colors of her dress must've caught his attention. It made her feel slightly powerful.

"Mrs. Lovett get you that, did she?" he questioned dryly. Ana nodded.

"She's a real lady," Ana replied, hugging her arms around her waist as if hugging the dress. Mr. Todd grunted. His brows knit together.

"Leave me," he commanded. Ana's eyes flashed- really, the mood swinging had to stop.

"You're aboslutely infuriating!" Ana snapped. She turned on her heel. To her surprised and irritation, a satisfied cackle followed her out of the shop as she stormed away.

The rush that was supposed to start at dinner time, started a bit earlier. Too early. Like at noon. Of course, there were plenty of pies to go around and Nellie was up and down those bakehouse steps so quickly that you would have thought she'd jumped them! Ana was thankful for her trainers then as she ran back and forth from the shop to the court, waiting on customers and collecting pennies in her bodice, which began to feel heavy and lumpy, thus resulted in her handing the coins off to Toby whenever she would pass him, and he would shove them in the pocket of his apron. Men went up at random intervals to visit Sweeney Todd, and as always, every third man stayed up for some tea and crumpets. And, as always, no one took notice.

He stood up there on that landing every once in a while when there was a lull in customers, but unlike the other times she knew he was watching over her now. She could feel his eyes and every time she glanced up as she walked across the court, his dark eyes were on her, looking amused at something she wouldn't understand or didn't know. Of course, these moments were fleeting, as everyone in London knew of Mr. Todd and oh you just have to do business with him! And yet, no one noticed, ever, that poor unlucky third man.

Once, as the lunch rush was dying down and Ana was sitting at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the parlor, a nice young man made his way towards her. He had peach skin and warm blue eyes under a mess of brown hair. He had stubble upon his cheek and chin and he looked down at her sheepishly, as if he wanted to pass. "'Is the barber wiv summon, miss?" he asked kindly. He wasn't with a customer, no. The second had just come down, and this young man would be the third. He looked down at her, not like the other men had throughout the afternoon, but more the way Antony looked upon her, with childish fascination and a bit of timid respect. When she stood and straightened her skirts, she saw him glance away from her politely. Ana's brows furrowed, and for whatever reason, she interviened with fate.

"He is," Ana said, taking the boy by the arm and setting him down at the end of a table. As Toby marched by with a tray of pies, Ana swiped one and shoved it into the man's hands. "Have a pie while you wait, sir?"

"Thank yeh, miss," the man said. "I 'ope the barber is free soon- I plan on proposing to me love today. I want to look especially nice for her."

Ana's heart thundered in her throat and she pushed away whatever remaints of conscience she had left. Which was almost nothing, now. "How sweet," she said absently.

"Thank yeh, miss," the man said again, his eyes bright as he tucked into his pie. It was her luck that he didn't notice the portly man climb the stairs and enter the parlor. Breathing a sigh of relief, Ana waited a good count before she grabbed the man by the arm, yanking him from his pie.

"Barber's free!" she crooned. "Pie on the house. Good look with your woman, sir!"

The man stuttered another thank you as he stumbled up to the shop. Only when he came back down, clean shaven and jubilant, did Ana return to her trumping about the court and shop with pies and ale and pennies in her bodice.

Needless to say, she didn't sit at the bottom of the stairs again.

There was only a momentary lull when Ana could sit and rest her legs, an hour or two when the sun began to hide behind the horizon and the clouds. She was sitting in the shop, her legs up on the seat beside her as she sat in the booth, when she heard Mr. Todd's voice below of the court.

"TO-BY!"

The boy went wheeling up the stairs so fast that Ana was sure the poor boy would trip and fall all the way back down. But he came back down, fit as a fiddle, carrying a peice of paper in his hand, wheeling down the steps and off into the street, disappearing in the distance. She had a half of mind to go up and demand what that was all about, but she was sure he wasn't going to be very too happy if she imposed on his pacing.

Nellie popped up from the bakehouse with another three dozen pies, looking very proud of herself. Ana lept up to help her.

Dinner rush came as soon as night fell. Ana was anxiously staring out into the street for signs of Toby's return, or Antony and Johanna, but she saw none of either. Ana had to work double to keep up with the orders and the pennies and the ale. Nellie was manning the stairs, making sure that no other man walked in on Mr. Todd during his... work, and trying to go quickly to get more pies from the oven when needed.

She saw no sign of Antony and Johanna all through dinner, and she kept a hard look out, staying along the gate and only traveling further into the court when absolutely beckoned. It worried her. Something had to have gone wrong, then, if they weren't there by now. A hard knot formed in her stomach. Soon, people began to disperse. Mr. Todd stood and paced on his landing, watching over her. When the last customer left, Mr. Todd returned into his shop, and Nellie beckoned Ana to follow her into the parlor, forgetting the clean up for the time being.

The two women collapsed, Ana on a warm, red arm chair and Nellie on the chaise lounge, her arms thrown over the sides tiredly. Both gladly put their feet up. It was silence for a while, the two getting some well needed relaxation, at least until the rest of the night played out.

The silence was broken by the baker's tired voice coated with a smile. "You're in love."

Ana looked over from the fire to Nellie, her brows knit together and a looked of obsurdity on her face. "What?"

"Don't deny it," the baker said, smiling to herself as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. "You've been sighing aaall day. 'Ho is 'e, love?"

Ana blinked stupidly before looking down in her lap. She didn't believe in love, much less feel the emotion herself as the baker was describing. The girl shook her head, her hair falling out of the tie she had twisted it in, a few locks falling against her pale throat.

"I'm not in love, Nellie," she said. "Just been distracted, that's all. I'm far too young to be in love."

Nellie laughed her warm hearted laugh. "Ah, deary- yeh never too young to be in love. An' tha's when it's greatest. Young, niave love. Before yeh know much better. Take the sailor boy- only reason Mr. T is going along wiv this as well 'as 'e is an' not takin' 'is Johanna all for 'imself when 'e gets 'ere, is cos 'e been in the boys boots. Knows all about young love, Mr. T does."

Ana looked up at the ceiling. As if he'd known they were talking about him, he began pacing, his footsteps light and lithe.

"I don't know anything about love," Ana said.

"Wot's there to know?" the baker asked. "Yeh feel it, it's there, yeh enjoy it. Even if it's unrequited."

A dagger lodged into Ana's heart. "You ever been in love, Nellie?"

"Oh, of course," the woman sighed. "Once... wiv a nice young man. 'Ad the prettiest smile, 'e did. Come into me shop every mornin' for a nice big pie. 'Ad the brightest brown eyes I ever did see. Devoted an' loyal. 'E always regaurded me 'as lit'le more than a friend, yeh see... an' I was already wiv me dear Albert then. Lovely man, but 'e wasn't much for conversations, or love... Took care of me, 'e did, though, me Albert."

Ana's brow wrinkled. "You didn't love Albert?"

"We're not all as lucky as the pretty ones," Nellie said calmly. "No, me 'eart belonged to the gentleman that lived about me all them years ago. Not much left of 'im now... poor bugger."

A silence lulled between them for a while as Ana let it all sink slowly in. A meat cleaver joined the dagger in her heart. Nellie loved, still did, Mr. Todd. It wasn't hard to tell with the way the woman doted on him. The stop between her legs throbbed and suddenly her bruises under her dress felt scaldingly obvious. She opened her mouth to speak to confess her sins and her lies and to get on her knees and beg the kind baker to forgive her, but out of the corner of her eye she caught Toby slipping around the corner of the parlor. Her breath caught in her throat and she changed her sentance just in time.

"There you are, boy!" Ana said brightly. Nellie opened her eyes to gaze at Toby. "Where've you been all day? Could have used you during rush hour."

"Aye, me bones is ready to drop," Nellie agreed.

"Mr. Todd sent me on an errand," he explained, coming towards them, looking anxious. "An' I stopped by the work 'ouse, on the way back, just to take a look... an' I thought.. if it weren't for you, I'd be there now. Seems like the good lord sent you for me." He knelt by Nellie's chair and Ana watched fondly, the scene tugging at her snipped heart strings.

"I feel the same way, love," Nellie said tiredly, closing her eyes again.

"Listen to me, please..." The boy said. Urgency was in his voice. Ana sat up a bit, as did Nellie. "What if there was summon bad... only... you didn't know it."

"Wot's this? Wot you talkin' about?" the baker asked.

"Nothin's gonna harm you, not while I'm around. Nothin's gonna harm you, no sir... not while I'm around..." Toby said passionately, grabbing Nellie's hand and holding it in both of his. Ana could see his knuckles turn white with the effort.

"What do you mean someone bad?" Ana spoke up, his eyes narrowing slightly- but she knew exactly who. He was pacing up above right then.

"Demons are prowling everwhere, nowadays. I'll send 'em howlin', I don't care! I've got ways!" The boy glanced at Ana, his face almost miserably concerned. "No one's gonna hurt you, no one's gonna day. Others can desert you, not to worry, whistle I'll be there." His eyes bored into Ana's, and her stomach did a flip, and another dagger joined the first and the cleaver in her heart. "Demons'll charm you, wiv a smile, for a while. But in time... nothin's gonna harm you. Not while I'm around."

Nellie didn't give the boy time to continue on, as she stood and pat him on the head. "Now, Toby dear... what are you talkin' about?"

The boy grabbed the edge of her skirt. "Bein' close and bein' clever, ain't like being true! I don't need to, I will never, hide a thing from you. Like some..." His eyes darted upward and both Ana and Nellie caught it- then turned their eyes onto each other. Sighing, Nellie moved away towards the piano where she reached into her bodice and pulled out a bright red purse. Ana watched with mild eyes.

"Now, Toby dear... that's enough of this foolish chatter... 'ere, why don't I give you a nice... shiney new penny," she turned and held out the coin to him. "An' you take Ana an' you get us some toffees?"

The boy looked elated at the sight of the coin, and Ana relaxed, sure that it would distract him from his purpose. But then something dawned across his face and he looked frightened for the first time since she'd known him. "That's Signor Pirelli's purse!" He exclaimed.

"No it's not!" Nellie defended, tucking the purse away. "Just somethin' Mr. T gave me for me birfday!"

"That proves it!" Toby cried, grabbing her hand and motioning to Ana. "We've gotta go Mum, miss Ana! We've gotta find the Beadle and get the law 'ere an---"

"Hush, now," Ana reprimanded, standing and swiftly grabbing the boy by the arms. Nellie looked wildly greatful. "Hush now, you're not going anywhere. Why do you sit here, nice and quiet, next to me?" She pulled him to the couch and she sat down, tugging him against her. "There, that's right..."

Nellie sat on his other side and her shaking fingers stroked his messy brown hair as the boy leaned his head into Ana's throat.

"Nothin's gonna harm you," Nellie murmured. "Not while I'm around... Nothing's gonna harm you, darling... not while I'm around..."

The three sat there in stunned silence, the two women looking at each other with wide, fearful eyes. Finally, Nellie pulled Toby over to her side, looking down at him warmly. "Funny we should be 'aving this little chat right now... cos I was just thinkin'... You know 'ow you always fancy comin' into the bake 'ouse wiv me to make the pies?" she asked. Ana could hear the first signs of tears in her voice. The boy nodded numbly. "Well... no time like the present, eh?"

Nellie smiled, warm and motherly, but the devestated look in her eyes couldn't be masked by a smile. She stood and took Toby by the hand. She could hear the creaking of the bake house stair doors behind pried open, and the echos of their footsteps as they descended the stairs.

"I feel sorry for you 'aving to go up and down all these stairs!" Toby echoed.

"Well," Nellie said from further down the steps. "That'll be your job, now."

"Yes, Mum!"

Ana sat in numb silence as she listened to their voices fade as they escaped under the shop. Above her, Mr. Todd's pacing had become frantic. Her stomach churned and she placed her chin in her hands, staring at the dying fire, her legs tucked up underneath her body. She squeezed her eyes shut tight, but still, she couldn't stop it.

A tear rolled down her cheek, dropping into her lap and leaving a wet salty spot on the once cheery baby pink of her dress.