Anthony rolled over onto his side, looking at me with a strangely heavenly smile on his lips. How could I blame him? The same smile was on my own.

"'Morning," he said with a yawn.

"Actually, it's evening."

"Evening?"

"You slept through the day."

"Oh," he said simply, blushing. I giggled at this.

"You're blushing."

"I'm not."

"You are, Anthony."

His hand gently reached out to my cheek, caressing it softly.

"Either way, good awakenings."

"I should think you've gone mad, Anthony. No one says 'good awakenings'."

"No one's ever been as elated as I am now."

It was my turn to blush now.

"You have had a week to become used to us waking together, Anthony. Yet you are still so easily surprised. It is quite strange."

"Very."

With that, his lips pressed upon mine again, kissing me lovingly. However occupied I was, I still could not suppress my smile. I had to admit, I was still easily surprised with seeing Anthony- my husband- laying beside me when I awoke. I had only ever seen birds before when I looked around my room, or even worse a mad man. Most often than not, the mad man would not be as composed as Anthony was at this moment in time.

"You have not yet taken your time about London," I said quietly at the first chance I had to free myself from him. Anthony.

"I don't suppose I've wanted to take the risk."

"What risk?"

"Well, Mr Todd. I should think he's still out there, waiting for you."

"Waiting implies a return."

"Then he is still out there, waiting for himself to find you." I shook my head. My hands placed themselves gently on either side of his face, allowing my to stare into his eyes.

"He shan't find me. Even if he did, what would we care? We have the papers, and we have the rings. I am yours, not his. No matter what he says."

Anthony chuckled darkly.

"It was Mr Todd who taught me that life isn't always fair. Most men would simply tear that piece of paper. It means nothing to anyone but us, and to any noble man who should pass by it."

"You yourself said that this marriage would save us."

"I was hopelessly happy," he said almost guiltily. "At least we are now married, and we can only hope."

"Hope does me no good," I said indignantly. "I hoped I should have been away with you months ago, but here we are in October, only a week into our lives together."

"You mustn't think in such a way. We are together now."

"After so long."

I was soon enveloped in Anthony's arms, being cradled as if I were a child.

"There's no need to worry. All that matters is the present."

"And the future."

"Yes. So don't dwell in the past, please, Johanna." He kissed my forehead lovingly. "I wouldn't want to see a single frown in France if I could help it. We shan't start before we've even arrived."

I nodded determinedly.

"Might I remind you this is our last night in London? I think it is time we stepped outside for at least once before the week if over."

Anthony paused, not entirely sure on what to do, but then nodded. His arms moved from around me and reached for his shirt on the floor by the bedside. I could not help but stare as he dressed. To tell the truth, I had not seen him do so in the past week.

"You're staring," he pointed out as he put on his shoes. I blushed violently again.

"I'm sorry."

"Why?" he asked, his grin still lighting his face. I held my breath as I dressed tentatively. Anthony seemed to stare at me as I had, only I assume it was more out of the fact that I had done so. He chuckled as he did so, and I could not help but laugh as well.

Yet it didn't seem that this day could be any different than the others of the week. We had laughed and smiled for all of them.

"M'lady," he said gentlemanly, offering his arm to me. I placed my arm around his.

"Kind sir."

Anthony led me out the door, never once dropping the façade he had begun. We were still chuckling even after the door had been closed. I breathed in the air, savouring it.

Abruptly, Anthony's chuckling stopped.

"What is the matter, Anthony?"

"I…" He trailed off, looking straight in front of us. I looked to where he was staring.

It became clear.

There before us, only about 100 metres away, he stood.

Anthony held my arm tightly, backing up slowly. It was almost as if we were young children evading a beating.

"Just go back inside, Johanna," Anthony said quietly. "Now."

"Not without you."

"This is not time to-"

"I'm not going to sit there while you confront him. I'm not leaving you again."

Quicker than a blink, Anthony had reached for the door behind us and thrust me inside. Sensing he would do so, I pulled him in after me.

"I told you," I said loudly, without need to hide my voice any longer, "I am not going to leave you out there by yourself."

He gritted his teeth, seeming angrier than I had seen him before, but pushed past that and locked the door from the inside.

"Help me with this," he ordered, pushing against the door with his back, barricading it. I automatically went to his side, pressing against it. I closed my eyes firmly, holding my breath.

"It can't be happening," I whispered under my breath. "It can't be happening, it can't be happening."

"Don't worry," Anthony said firmly, his hand reaching for mine. "He'll leave. He has to. If not…the police will come soon enough."

"What if the police are already looking for me?"

Anthony did not answer that, making me all the more frightened. Mr Todd's fists began to beat at the door. My fear grew because the door was so thin that I could feel where the fists hit.

"Give her back to me! Give me back my daughter!"

I winced at the word. Anthony squeezed my hand in strained comfort.

"Someone's going to hear you, Mr Todd," Anthony said shakily.

"The police are coming any minute now, boy. Your time's up!"

Tears started to pour down my cheeks. I wished to scream at this man to leave us be, but the words would not come to me. I could hear the lock on the door clicking again and again, and soon enough I knew it would break. No longer would there be a barrier between us. This time, I would not be able to leave again.

"They're coming now, boy! You can make this that much easier by just turning yourself in now! I'm sure you'd only get, say, fifteen years for kidnapping."

"She came of her own free will," Anthony said strongly.

I nodded fiercely, even though I knew very well that I could not be seen. Anthony's hand moved slightly, but I kept it firmly in my grasp. My mind told me never to let go of his hand, lest that meant we should not be able to keep the door closed.

Finally, the click became stronger. The door was unlocked.

"They're here now, boy!" Mr Todd yelled, banging on the door even harder. I yelped in surprise at the abrupt brutality of his force.

Quickly, Anthony pulled me into his arms and dived away from the door. I understood why a second later when The door was flung open, the centre of it started to crack. We landed at the foot of the bed, my body guarded by Anthony's. Footsteps were immediately heard marching towards us, and in moments Anthony was lifted from on top of me.

"This would have been so much easier," I heard Mr Todd grumble, "if you had just come out in the first place."

There was a large thud- a sound, I assume, came from Mr Todd dropping Anthony to the floor. I was pulled to my own feet by a pair of strong hands lifting me by my shoulders. I could not tell whether the shaking between us was my trembling or his.

"Never…" I looked up at him finally through my tears. Although his face was distorted, I could see he was much paler than he had been before- if such were possible. His eyes were darker, and he seemed much colder.

"Please," I said chokingly, trying to move from him. I could not. Mr Todd's hands stayed on me firmly.

"Never again will you leave me. I am not going to let you out of my sight."

He let out a loud, choked sob. I could not understand it at first, but it only took a moment or so to see a tear drop from the corner of his eye. As I was pulled towards his breast, I wondered.

I had never before see a demon cry.

Over Mr Todd's shoulder, I saw Anthony being held by two police officers. Each of them had one of his arms, pulling him away from me. I gasped out loud with the shock of the scene.

"Anthony!"

"Johanna, show them! Show them your ring."

I scrambled quickly from Mr Todd's grasp, holding my hand up to him.

"Yes! Yes, Mr Todd, please, I am his now. We have the marriage certificates."

There was silence in the room for a few minutes. It was torturing. Mr Todd simply looked at my hand, as if inspecting the ring. Finally, he sneered.

"What does that matter? Your husband is going to jail, and I'm afraid it is up to me to house you."

I looked towards the police officers. Before there was a chance to be kept in my place again, I ran up to them.

"Please, sirs, you have to understand. We are married! I was here of my own will!"

"I'm afraid yeh'll 'ave to take that up with the court, lass," said one of them. Without thinking, I flung my arms around Anthony's neck, holding him even if he could not hold me. His tears stained the top of my head, mine soaking his shirt.

"Don't be long," I whispered into his ear. "Please, you'll be out soon enough."

Anthony didn't say a word on the subject, but I don't suppose he had the chance. At that moment, he was dragged away by the police officers, yet refused to look me in the eye. I collapsed to my knees, the tears disabling my thought. Mr Todd came quickly to my side.

"Come," he said, his voice as it had been so long before, evidence of tears erased. "It's far too late for you to be here now."

I was shaking at this point. Even if I had wanted to, I would not have been able to stand on my own two feet. Realising this, Mr Todd hooked an arm under my legs and picked me up as if I were light as a feather. Against my most superior instincts, I wrapped my arms around his neck, crying into his chest. It could not be helped. I was left again with nothing to hold.

I don't remember us at all sitting in a coach, and was almost surprised at the fact Mr Todd had walked the whole way. Yet, when I thought about it, I honestly did not care.

"Didn't I tell yeh!" Mrs Lovett cried the moment we stepped into the pie shop. "I told yeh! By the end of the week!"

I was placed again on my feet, but Mr Todd still kept a hold on me. Whether it was because I would fall, or rather I would try to run again, I do not know. I looked up to Mrs Lovett's warm smile again, and felt slightly more at peace, no matter how loyal she was to Mr Todd.

Her hazel eyes gleamed, turning a dark shade of amber. It was more intense than I had first seen it to be. It was almost frightening.

"Yeh really 'ave to get some rest now, Mr T," she said, placing a hand on Mr Todd's back and guiding him from the room. "I'll sort Johanna out for yeh."

Mr Todd looked at me once, then sighed in submission. He did not say a word, and simply left. There was a soft look in the way that Mrs Lovett bid him goodnight, and one which I found far too soft to be natural. I had never even looked at Anthony in such a possessive way.

"Johanna?" she said quietly, not turning to look at me at this moment in time.

"Yes, ma'am?" My voice trembled, and I could not keep my hands still. Mrs Lovett sighed. Without warning, her hand shot out as she turned, hitting me across the face. I yelped, flying off my feet and onto the floor. When I opened my eyes, Mrs Lovett was towering over me, her face red with resentment.

"You," she said, her voice shaking, her finger pointing at me accusingly. "How dare yeh do this to us? Mr T's been waiting years for yeh. And yeh know what? I've been waiting fifteen years for 'im."

"M-m-ma'am, I-"

"No!" she said breathlessly. "I'm not listening to any of those excuses! I want yeh to understand this. Yeh better make sure yeh're listening, little missy. Yeh're gonna call Mr T papa. Yeh can call me ma'am or mama, I don't care which. But yeh're gonna be part of this little family if it kills yeh."

I backed away slightly, not stopping until I hit a chair.

"W-w-why?"

"Like I said. I've been waiting fifteen years for this. Now 'e's finally mine, and that good-for-nothing mother of yehrs is out of the way. All that 'e needs now if for yeh to be 'appy. Well, if that's all it takes before we finally move from 'ere, then that's what yeh're gonna do."

I shook my head in disbelief, barely comprehending the situation. Mrs Lovett still glowered over me, her face serious and shocking. I started to hyperventilate, unable to catch my breath. I raised my hand up to my neck, my mind racing. Almost to the point of bursting.

My eyes widened, and then it was as if I were suddenly fresh.

I did not like it.

I had finally gone mad.