First of all, I am SO sorry this took so long to get posted. I've been working a ton, and I didn't have time to think about this. Finally some inspiration hit me though, and I hope you guys are still interested in reading this! Shit, I've gotta be at work in 30 minutes... But I also hope more people than my usual readers (much as I love you guys, which is a lot) decide to check this out and review. Here it is!

He firmly closed the door to his barber shop, closing themselves away from the outside world.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Sweeney growled, rapidly turning away from the door to face Mrs. Lovett. He glanced briefly at her chest before bringing his gaze, full of hostility, back up to meet hers. Those brown, smouldering eyes…

"Running around, dressed like… like some common prostitute… Stupid woman, can you even fucking breathe with that bloody corset tied so tight?" His rage and lust towards her grew as she showed no offense to his words; but instead just stood there, staring at him with those eyes… He swallowed, moving his face inches away from hers. He opened his mouth with every intention to hurt her. Even for her, this behavior was ridiculous, unacceptable… And couldn't slide by without a punishment.

"You look like a whore."

To his great surprise, she laughed within her throat. In one swift movement, she brought one hand up to roughly grasp at the back of his head, the other clutching at the front of his pants. He could hear her parting her lips to speak; her chin lightly grazing his ear. "Mmm… on'y fo' you, Mr. T."

She pulled her head away from his to look into his cold, black eyes. He looked down, his mouth hanging open with a loss for words. "And… thank you for saving me down there, love," she whispered, her voice lower than her normal register. "I owe you one," she added seductively. And with one final glance and a small smile upon her pale lips she turned away, walking through the doorway at the opposite side of the parlor and down the stairs.

Sweeney continued to stand there, all sense of time forgotten; his eyes fixed on the floor as the heat within him began to rise to its boiling point. Unbelievable. He knew now this had all been simply a silly scheme of hers to bait him into sleeping with her. But, in true "Nellie Lovett" style, she had gotten a lot more than she had bargained for; getting herself into a mess of trouble. And still, after she had desperately relied on him to get her out of that situation downstairs, she obviously expected him to follow after her.

He closed his eyes. The straining rigidity at the front of his pants gave away his inner struggle. But he continued to stand there, completely frozen until the moon had arisen. His lust finally won over his anger, and after one of his longest internal debates ever, he finally took a breath and descended the stairs to the living room.

Mrs. Lovett practically danced down the staircase, smiling to herself as she sat down in front of the roaring fire she had started in the hearth of the living room. Her devious plot had worked far more to her advantage than she had anticipated. Though her little encounter with Allen sent shivers down her spine, the fact that Sweeney had saved her like that made her heart swell within her chest. Her eyes fluttered closed as the warmth of the fire lightly played across her face.

'No. It's so obvious… He doesn't really care about me. E's just so… so bloody jealous…' She exhaled with disgust. 'He doesn't care at all… I's pathetic, really. He's so possessive, I'll bet 'e only did wot he did 'cause he can't stand anyone even looking at the woman he's sleeping with. Pathetic,' she thought. She hated herself for destroying her own happiness about this, but she knew it was all true. 'But… having some of him is better than not having him at all.' Those were the words she repeated to herself every day. She sighed, coaxing herself down off that too-familiar ledge. He was paying her more attention now than he ever had before…

Suddenly, the realization settled over her that there were still customers sitting outside on the patio, and she had left Toby to deal with them all on his own. She stood up, straightening her dress and muttering profanities underneath her breath. She didn't want to go back out there and have to face all of them again… and, God, what if Allen was still out there, waiting for her? The mere thought of him made her stop dead in her tracks. Well, that solidified it. She couldn't go back out there.

"Mum! Are ya alrigh'?" Mrs. Lovett looked up from the floor and into the face of Toby; which was drawn up with concern. "Wos tha' man back there botherin' ya?" he asked, more quietly this time.

"Yeah, a bit…" she replied, her voice quivering slightly.

"Well, don' worry mum. I'll send 'im and everyone else straigh' home, if ya like. I'm gonna make sure no one else is gonna bother you tonigh'," Toby said, his voice defiant and sure.

Mrs. Lovett smiled warmly at the boy. "Aw, love," she muttered, her voice sugar-coated with affection for the boy. "That would be terrific. An'… I'm really sorry to ask you this, bu'… I'm jus' so tired, an' there's no way I can stand on my feet for two mo' seconds… D'ya think you could 'andle cleanin' the patio by yourself?" She felt terrible asking him to do it all himself; there was so much to be done. And she knew he would, just because she asked him to.

"O' course, mum. You know I'd do anythin' fo' ya," he said, smiling and pleased that he could make her a little happier. Mrs. Lovett then immediately leaned over and scooped Toby into her arms. He threw his narrow arms around her neck, and the two remained in their embrace for a while. Mrs. Lovett finally pulled away, planting a small kiss on the boy's forehead.

"Thank you so much, Toby. Fo' everything," she whispered, her brown eyes quivering with tears.

"I'm the one who should be thankin' ya…" Toby said, looking down at his shoes before bringing his gaze back up to meet hers. "I love you, mum," he said, his voice extremely small and quiet.

Mrs. Lovett was pushed to the brink of tears at his words. "I love you too, son." She smiled warmly down at him. She inhaled and exhaled very loudly. "Well…" she yawned for the effect. "I ought to be getting some sleep. Me poor bones is ready to drop,"she said, breaking the delicate mood. Toby nodded with a smile before going back out onto the patio.

Mrs. Lovett smiled after him. She was unbelievably thankful in that moment that Toby had been brought into her life. It would have been dreadful if, all this time, it had just been her and Mr. Todd. How unhappy every waking moment would have been…

She sighed, collecting her thoughts from "what could have been" and into what had really happened. Without thinking about it, she grabbed a nearly full bottle of gin and two glasses before walking back into the living room. She looked forlornly up at the staircase that led to his shop. He would come. It would take time, but he would have to come to her eventually. She then wandered into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. The vanity made a perfect resting place for the glasswear, and she paused to study her reflection in the mirror. It changed nearly every day now…

She took a step back, slowly unlacing her dress before tossing it near her amoire. She continued removing her clothes until she was down to her black-lace corset with matching panties and her black boots. She slowly unlaced the boots, placing them next to her dress, which was lying exhausted on the floor. She sighed, going back to the mirror to study her reflection again. Her auburn curls were moderately cooperating with her today.

'Are you sure about this?' the nagging voice in the back of her head was asking her. 'You're only going to get hurt again…'Mrs. Lovett rose a hand up to her ear and brushed the air, as if that would make it go away. She had never been more sure of anything in her entire life. She then decided to lay down on her bed, resting her head on her pillow. She realized now just how difficult getting through to him was going to be. But he would be completely lost if she didn't try… And so she lay there in her dark bedroom, the silence slowly surrounding her as she waited patiently for his arrival.

Sweeney Todd's footsteps were heavy and slow as he descended the staircase into the living room. The only light was coming from the fireplace; the dying embers that resided there giving off an eerie orange glow upon the walls. He stepped closer to the hot remnants of the fire, getting lost in their constant flickering and the images they played across his eyes.

Finally he jerked his gaze away from them, noticing Toby fast asleep on the love seat. Sweeney then quickly turned his back to the sleeping boy, facing the hallway which led to the closed door of Mrs. Lovett's bedroom. He slowly made his way towards it; the black hallway looming before him seeming to get longer with every step he took. However, he did reach the door eventually; his fingertips lightly brushing the faded gold doorknob. He hesitated for a moment before realizing he had waited long enough. He needed her now.

He slowly opened the door, which creaked as it gradually revealed the moonlit room before him. His eyes immediately found her, deeply asleep on her bed, wearing nothing but her underwear… The straining in the front of his pants returned; happening more often ever since they had first slept together. He slowly walked closer to her, his lips slightly parted at the sight of her. She looked unbelievably beautiful in the moonlight like this; her skin unnaturally pale… She almost looked as though she weren't human. More like a goddess…

He immediately clenched his eyes shut as this thought ran through his mind. He could notthink of her that way! What about Lucy? This was the conflict within himself every time he even thought about Mrs. Lovett. His thoughts were a betrayal to his perfect wife, and everything they had ever shared… His eyes slowly opened again; Mrs. Lovett still breathing slowly in her slumber. However, her eyes suddenly snapped open, her brown irises black and shining in the dim lighting. A small smile slid across her pale pink lips.

"I wos beginning to wonder if you'd show up." Mrs. Lovett sat up, stretching out her arms as he remained standing there, seemingly frozen in spot. Her lips parted slightly as she looked at him. Even though they lived together, and even though she saw Sweeney every day, she could never get over how incredible he looked. So unbelievably handsome…

Finally, the anticipation between them grew to its boiling point. Neither of them could wait any longer. Sweeney rushed over to her, throwing his arms around her narrow waist as he kissed her angrily and passionately. She returned his ferocity back to him as she ran her hands through his dark hair, leaning back onto the bed as they both deepened their kiss. However, Mrs. Lovett broke away, smiling playfully up at Sweeney.

"'S been a long day, love." She broke away from him fully, standing up and walking over to the vanity where she poured two tumblers of gin. She returned to him, handing him a glass. "Nice tot o' gin'll do ya some good, eh?" They sat next to each other in silence, Mrs. Lovett slowly sipping hers as Mr. Todd downed his glass in one gulp. He suddenly stood up, quickly crossing to the vanity where he proceeded to down two more glasses.

Mrs. Lovett finished her first glass and lightly laughed. "Take it easy there, Mr. T. It'll go straigh' to your 'ead."

He whipped his head around, glaring at her and instantly changing the mood in the room. Mrs. Lovett sensed the change within him; he was rapidly becoming drunk… She swallowed, knowing what he was capable of in this state. She gasped as he threw his glass to the floor, shattering it into pieces on the wooden floor. He stormed back over to her, forcing her to lay beneath him as he resumed their lustful kiss. He could taste the gin on her breath, which masked the slightly cinnamon taste of her beneath. Sweeney pulled away from her, lingering inches away from her face; his vision clouded with alcohol.

"You really are a whore, aren't you, Mrs. Lovett?" His voice was gravely and low; his words slurring together slightly.

She froze, her heart nearly splitting in two. Did he really think that of her? Her eyes quivered with tears shining up at him. She was unbelievably offended that he insisted on calling her that… drunk or not, she couldn't handle being called that ever again. She shook her head, lightly pushing him away from her. She clenched her eyes shut, sending a tear streaming down her cheek and soaking into her sheets.

"No. I… am not…" she swallowed, opening her eyes again as she turned her head back to face him, "a whore."

Sweeney squinted, glaring at her before impatiently getting up onto his knees and nearly ripping off her underwear. Before Mrs. Lovett could protest, he shoved three fingers inside her, causing her to arch her back and tip her head into her pillow. Her mouth opened to emit an involuntary moan.

"Ah… see, Nellie Lovett? You are a whore," Sweeney sneered. Her heart sank as he resumed moving his fingers in and out of her; her eyes closed with pleasure and disgust for herself. He's drunk, he doesn't mean it, he's so drunk…

Sweeney suddenly stopped, pulling away from Mrs. Lovett before clumsily taking off his pants. She shakily exhaled, trying her hardest not to cry. He stumbled over to the vanity, taking another large swig of gin before staggering back to Mrs. Lovett. He clambered back onto the bed and wasted no time before he straddled her hips and ruthlessly slammed himself into her.

She clenched her eyes shut and bit her lips together, not wanting to let any noise escape her. But even under the circumstances, it was so good… He continued to thrust, just violent enough to be pleasurable. Finally, Mrs. Lovett couldn't restrain herself anymore; she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him in deeper as she allowed a moan to fall from her lips.

Her eyes snapped open, however, when Sweeney clenched a hand over her mouth. "Shut up," he growled; his voice low and demanding beneath the slurred speech. "I want to see you come beneath me without making a sound." Mrs. Lovett was completely immobilized. She couldn't do anything but stare up into his face, terrified at his uncontrolled power. But still, part of her was extremely intrigued and turned on at his request. And yet another part of her was willing to do anything he said; scared of making him angry. She nodded in agreement, her eyes wide.

Sweeney then took his hand away from her mouth and quickly picked up where he had left off. However, he quickly became exceedingly violent to her; almost to the point of cruelty. She clenched her eyes shut, turning her head to viciously bite down on his arm to avoid screaming in pain. She couldn't make a sound…

Despite the intense pain Mrs. Lovett was in, she could feel that heat still rising between them; knowing they were both close… She was again filled with that immense disgust for herself.

Sweeney spoke again, his voice coated with lust. "Look at me when I make you come, my little whore." Mrs. Lovett winced, hurt both physically and mentally by him. Still, she found strength within herself to turn her head, looking straight up into his black eyes. He thrust extremely deep inside her, deeper than he had been before; pushing them both to their climax.

Her eyes smouldered up at him, noiselessly mouthing 'Sweeney…' as a few more tears streamed down her cheek. Even though everything about them that evening had been so totally wrong, that moment seemed to freeze in time, the two melded painfully together; changing everything in that one instant as he came inside her.

Sweeney sat up with a slightly dazed expression on his face; almost as if he didn't know exactly what was going on. As she watched him, Mrs. Lovett felt that now-familiar rage explode from her heart, spreading throught her veins.

"I am not a whore, you heartless bastard. Get out," she said, her voice demanding, low and murderous. He hesitated, obviously not sure of what was going on. Her anger flared, rapidly bringing her hand up to slap him visciously across the face. She immediately started crying more heavily as he finally stood up, glaring angrily at her. He then drunkenly pulled on his pants before stumbling out of her bedroom.

Mrs. Lovett crawled out of her bed, painstakingly avoiding her reflection in the mirror. She didn't want to see what it thought of her now. She slipped into a nightgown before collapsing back into bed, sobbing uncontrollably. 'That bastard… I hate him, I hate him for ever coming back here, I hate him… I hate him for making me love him.' She had never felt conflicted about wanting to salvage what was left of Sweeney's heart before that night. Because, the thought had never occurred to her that she just might have to completely break her own heart to save Sweeney's. And she wasn't sure anymore that was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

So, I'm pretty happy with this chapter, but I hope all of you are too! And some of you have been saying that Sweeney's being a total jerk. Well, he is. But it's just 'cause he's really conflicted about Mrs. Lovett, and he's dealing with it in the only way he knows how: anger. See, here's how it is. Sweeney's conflicted because he just might love her. Mrs. Lovett's conflicted because she's convinced he only wants her for her body. XD Those crazy kids... Anyways, yeah, I'd love for more people to review, so tell all your Sweeney obsessed friends about this fic, if ya like! That'd be sweet. :) I'm trying to think of an amusing anecdote to share with you all, but it's not working out too well... ah well.