Johanna seemed not to enjoy her new home. It was strange, as she had had no trouble at all staying in a rented flat. If it were not for Mrs Lovett's constant pestering I should not have bothered. Though, it was for my own sake as well. With more rooms than we were used to, finally I would have a moment in piece with my daughter.

That is, as soon as she could calm herself.

I could only be grateful that her madness was now limited to twitching and the occasional burst of anger. More often than not it was Mrs Lovett who would say the smallest thing to agitate her. For this, I did not detest her, but kept a sharp eye on her words. There was little chance of this, though, as she forever spent her time on the deck that sat at the back of the house, holding Toby as if he would run off again.

Toby still could not stand me. It was not much different for me either. I still could not see the reason why she loved him so dearly. The thing looked like a sewer rat that had been shaved of all hair but that on the top of it's head. Johanna did not seem to fond of him either, but then again did not seem to notice him. To her, the world simply faded away softly.

Except for me.

If life could not become any worse, then at least I had Johanna to ease that emptiness. It was sad to say that I had become almost used to her finally by my side, yet each day she lifted my spirits until I could finally feel the warmth of life within me. Though it came at a price.

Any pleasure I gained was almost torn from me with the guilt and pain that was received as Johanna would look into my eyes desperately.

"It's too frightening," she would repeat, over and over again. She would often repeat it so fervently that I would have to carry her to her room as she thrashed in my arms. I never once found out what was too frightening for her, and by God I wished I knew. That same, pained face she cast in my direction tortured me.

Yet I still found the will to carry on looking back into those eyes. It was as if I had been placed back in my prison cell. You had only a few painful moments to pass through before you could safely say that you could face anything. It had not taken me as long as I had before to become used to this.

How horrific must my life have been to compare my own daughter- my flesh and blood- to a prison cell where I had once lost sanity myself in some ways. It was a mystery how I dared think in such ways.

I must admit, I was quite relieved when Johanna had finally fallen into a slumber from which I prayed she should be able to calm herself. A week had gone by, and she had not gained the peace I hoped she would. For a while, I would watch her after her eyes had shut. She twitched constantly, muttering to herself even in her sleep. All of it was absolute nonsense, of course.

Although, I truly smiled when I heard her address me even in her dreams. The way she spoke was pitiful, and left little more than a true remorse in my breast. It was all I could do not to wake her in search for her awakened insanity, a much less distressing sight.

Somehow, my wishes for her to open here eyes again were always less enjoyable than I had hoped they were. Her immediate smile directed towards me lived a very short life, and soon dithered into an anxious frown. Once again, my day of tired soothing would pursue, and it would only end in bitter disappointment as well.

Johanna still refused to calm herself as the days went by. If anything, her conditions became worse. My rising vexation only soared as Mrs Lovett spoke freely of the madhouse.

"Yeh know she'd barely notice, love," she said as sweetly as she could muster as she attempted to force breakfast upon me. A near-growling sound emitted through my throat.

"She's right here," I said, nodding towards her sharply. Mrs Lovett sighed, walked towards my daughter and waved a hand in front of her eyes.

Nothing.

"I don't think she knows even I'm 'ere."

"I know very well you're here."

"Don't fuss against me, love, I'm only telling yeh what yeh already know."

"She is not going back there," I said firmly, reaching forward and holding Johanna's hand. It was limp and lifeless, but the fingers gripped me ever so lightly that only I could sense it.

"Times are changing, love. She might find somewhere nice."

"Times never change, Mrs Lovett."

"'ow do yeh suppose we got 'ere then?" she asked.

"Personal matters," I replied simply.

"And 'ow about you?"

"What about me?"

"Yeh've gotten 'ere somehow, 'aven't yeh? Times change," she finished firmly.

"She still isn't going," I said again, firmer than I had before. Johanna flinched slightly as my own hand gripped hers tightly. I loosened it quickly, moving to her side and cradling her in my arms. Mrs Lovett watched over us for a moment, her hands on her hips.

"We've gotten past the point of arguing."

"Would you do it to Toby?" I asked severely, not even looking up.

There was an echoing silence about the room. The only thing to be heard was the soft murmuring that came from Johanna's unmoving lips. I watched Mrs Lovett carefully, watching as her face went pale. She cleared her throat and then spun on her heel, leaving the room without another word.

I nodded contentedly, rocking Johanna slightly more. Again, there was a moment of silence. I almost jumped out of my skin when the silence was broken.

"What's a madhouse?"

"I thought you were sleeping," I lied flawlessly, looking at her. She smiled slightly as she looked up at me.

"No. What's a madhouse?"

"I couldn't possibly explain that all now, dear."

"We have all the time in the world."

"How I wish that were so."

Johanna only looked at me with a deep curiosity in her eyes, and so I was reduced to a sigh and a nod of the head.

"A madhouse is where those without hearts send people without sanity."

"Sanity being?"

"A right of mind."

Johanna twitched slightly in my embrace. I expected her to start becoming quite frustrated, but she seemed content with the reasoning I had given to her. Her curiosity was not satisfied though.

"What would that ever have to do with me, Papa?"

I said nothing, and Johanna soon started to become restless.

"You aren't answering me," she reminded me.

"There really is nothing to say."

"Why was Mrs Lovett asking to send me there, Papa?" She seemed in earnest for the information, but it was unbearable to think about giving her it.

"You must understand that Mrs Lovett can be quite nonsensical."

"Then what did she mean?"

"Johanna," I began, and then bit my tongue. Breathing out quietly, I rose. All of a sudden, the questioning had become too much for me and I needed the freedom of solitude again. Johanna held my arm hopefully, but I was forced to shake it away.

"Papa?"

"Mrs Lovett will take care of you for a short while, Johanna."

"Papa, where are you going?"

I said not another word, and instead closed the door behind me, regretting every step as I took it. It took little time before I could persuade Mrs Lovett to stay by Johanna. She seemed repentant for her speech beforehand, and was quick to do anything I wished.

I did not wander far. Although, I made very sure it was far enough that I was nowhere near the sandy beach that backed onto the house. That was a ground for Mrs Lovett and her little Toby. I refused to go near it. Instead, I sought my thoughts in the marketplace. There was little to think about, but it was the only place that I was sure not to be hassled.

However I tried, I would always think back to Johanna. I had hoped to reminisce about my Lucy, but no matter how I tried I could not find anything to think of.

"Mr T, tell me. What did yehr Lucy look like?"

"She had…yellow hair."

Those words still rang clear in my ears.

"Time to move on, Mr T. We could 'ave a 'ome together. You and me."

I uttered a low growl.

I remembered looking at her clearly at that point. Dear God, how blind I had been. For a moment, I had considered her proposals. Yet I could not have done so. I would never have been able to find my daughter again if I hadn't.

The moment Anthony- I cursed his name as I thought it- had returned to the shop, though, I was glad to have been distracted. I cursed my own name for letting my mind wander from my dear Lucy, my own little Johanna. My family.

I sighed, stopping still in the place I had said this in my mind. It was all I could think about.

I turned, looking back at the path I had just taken. There was no question in my mind that I should turn back. Who knew how much time had passed? Time became next to nothing after fifteen years. I spun on my heel and turned back towards the house. I dared not call it my house. It would never be so.

My pace was considerably slower than it had been when I ran from the house. I was in no rush at all to get back. All that awaited me was yet another cry of despair from my daughter's lips. I clenched my fists simply thinking about it.

There was a sound about the air before I had even reached the door. It did not trouble me severely. I knew very well that the small crashes I heard were created by Johanna, and that she did not dare harm herself. Lord knows I had seen her try, and she had failed without much of my coercing.

I almost smiled to myself as I thought of Mrs Lovett in the room. It very well served her right. If she wished to be rid of madness then she should not act it herself. As I opened the door, the noise was almost horrendous.

"Mr T?" Mrs Lovett called above the noise.

All of a sudden, there was silence.

Mrs Lovett came rushing out of one of the room further down the hallway, closing the door behind her.

"Mr T, yeh're finally 'ere!"

"Is Johanna in there?"

"Yes, love, but I need to-"

"Why would you lock her in there?" I asked, pushing her aside as I made my way towards the room.

"Listen to me, love-"

"Not now, I need to see her."

"No, yeh-"

"What is the matter, Mrs Lovett?" I finally asked, turning sharply so that she tumbled towards me slightly. She straightened herself out, looking at me with teary eyes.

"There's something…wrong with 'er."

"You only complained this morning about that," I said sourly, attempting to turn again. Mrs Lovett grabbed my arm, forcing me to look at her. Her eyes were brimmed with tears.

"I promise, Mr T, I didn't do anything to 'er. Never could, never will. I only tried to change 'er from that 'orrid gown she's been wearing. She tore it in one of 'er fits while you were gone. As I tried to, it was inescapable."

"What was, Mrs Lovett?"

She tried to speak, but could not. Her tears were now framing her face. I grabbed her shoulder, shaking her slightly.

"What happened, Mrs Lovett?"

Shakily, she moved my hands from her shoulders, and opened the door carefully. She entered the room where Johanna had only just been shut in. I followed after her, my mind racing. At first, I did not understand what the fuss had been about. There was a mark on the wall where I assume Johanna had thrown something, and she was crouching on the floor in a thick, woollen nightgown.

"I don't understand," I whispered.

Johanna looked up quickly, and upon seeing me smiled.

"Papa!" she cried, jumping to her feet to embrace me. She was stopped, though, by Mrs Lovett, who held her firmly at the shoulders.

Mrs Lovett held her breath, biting her lower lip. Johanna only looked confused.

"I'm sorry, love," she said to me, and then lowered the shoulders of Johanna's nightgown. The clothing fell to the floor lightly, and for a moment I scowled. What on earth was the woman doing?

Then I understood.

I looked over my daughter's pale, naked body, and gasped in shock.

There lay the evident signs of a swollen stomach.

It was not much, but it was enough.

Johanna was with child.