I knew very well I should have ran down those steps the moment I had heard Johanna scream. Yet it was so abrupt, and stopped so suddenly, that I barely thought it had happened. What a fool I had been. Forgetting completely my priorities- I detested the word, thinking of it- I had missed my grandchild's fist movements. I shouldn't think I would have forgiven myself if I had missed Johanna's in my dear Lucy's stomach.

Anthony seemed so happy that he was there that I could barely stand it. He did not speak out about the fact, but his smile told me far more than enough.

I took comfort in the fact knowing that smile was not long to last.

There were only a matter of small months left until my grandchild was to be born. When Lucy had begun to feel the small kicking, it was only three months until Johanna was born. It was almost frightening how close the time was.

Mrs Lovett attempted to ease my restlessness, but it was much in vain. I wished dearly to know how she would ever think it was in her word I would find solace.

Perhaps weeks had gone by since I had last seen my daughter. My patience was beginning to wear, and it showed. I shuddered when I thought of this, feeling almost open to fire. To say the least, it was not pleasant. As my impatience grew, so did Mrs Lovett's. She seemed disillusioned into thinking that I had been visiting my daughter every day, giving my wife- damn the title- very little attention.

"She'll barely notice yeh were even in there, love," she said, her voice far too close to my ear.

"If it were so, then at least I would notice."

"But-"

"Your way simply doesn't make sense, pet," I told her firmly. "I think it's about time you stopped trying."

Bearing her teeth as threateningly as she could muster, Mrs Lovett folded her arms, irate. In a strange way, it was quite funny. In others, I could not find a thing to laugh about.

Johanna was quite giddy when I found her. Her excitement was not what I expected it to be. In truth, she most likely had forgotten the idea of me even seeing her again. In haste, I tried to clear the room of Anthony and Toby, but they refused to move an inch. Once upon a time I suppose I would have resorted to violence.

They knew very well I would not do so now.

"We've heard so little from you," Johanna said to me bluntly, blinking rapidly.

"Two weeks and three days, if I am to be exact on how long it has taken you to come," Anthony said sharply, his eyes staring at me. I lifted my chin, looking down on him.

"If you ever find it in your will to be half as mature as you think you are, you would see that it is not all in my power to chose my routine."

"As the husband I shouldn't think it too hard."

Scowling, I reached towards my daughter, yet she seemed to cower away from me, pressing herself closer to Anthony's breast. I paused, unable to fathom why she would do such. Quickly, it passed, and my brow furrowed, ticked off almost immediately.

"You have been speaking against me," I said brusquely, looking at Anthony. He smiled slightly, gently shaking his head.

"I would never dream of it."

"Then why does she look away from me with such distress?"

"Ask her if you wish for an answer. I can see no more into her mind than you can."

At his words, Anthony himself frowned slightly, regretting them instantaneously. Toby froze slightly, straightening up. The atmosphere was cold, and everyone had all but stopped breathing. Slowly, and in a hushed whisper, Anthony began to read from the book he had been holding, and Johanna listened intently.

Every so often, I would reach out to her again, but Johanna would only move closer towards Anthony. I do not even think that she knew she was doing so. The way that she moved was almost subconsciously. Far too much so.

Yet, as this went by, she did not even look at me. Anthony's eyes could not evade mine, and so his gaze settled on me once or twice. Each time, he was almost fearful. Toby could not stop watching me, as if waiting for me to become furious, to become violent.

If I had not promised myself, I should think I would have.

Finally, someone was angry. Angry enough to finally speak.

"Why are you here?" Toby said, his voice impatient.

"Toby!" hissed Anthony, sharply facing the boy.

"What does it matter why I am here? I am."

"Why now? Why not two weeks ago?"

"I suppose you could ask your mother," I said bitterly, putting emphasis on the last word. Both of the two boys gasped, scarcely believing my words. I did not say anything else, nor regretted what I had already said, even as all eyes were lain on me in anger- or, in Johanna's case, terror.

Toby bit his lower lip, and without anther word, rushed from the room, his pace quicker than I had seen before, and with as much fervent attention as I had imagined he had when he had discovered the mystery of Mrs Lovett's meat.

"Toby?" Johanna called, her voice small and weak. Anthony placed a hand on her head, turning her gaze away from the door.

"He's just going to…"

No one could really finish that sentence.

"When's he coming back?" she murmured, barely audible now.

"Toby can come and go as he chooses," I reminded her. "We can not tell when he will come back."

"But I want him back now."

I sniffed contemptuously, irate that she should have become so attached to the boy. Anthony weakly tried to stare at me as darkly as he could muster, but it was of no use. Even after so much torture, he was far too innocent to do so.

"Perhaps you should leave," he told me in a small voice.

"You said yourself how rarely I see my daughter."

"Toby hasn't left this room until you came back."

"I can not think of what that has to do with it."

"Johanna's become very attached," he said, looking down at my daughter, who seemed to be shivering slightly.

"He is neither her blood nor kin," I said bitterly. "Should you not have been one of these, I doubt you would still be alive."

"Alive?" Both I and Anthony jumped slightly, looking at Johanna who had suddenly straightened up, and was staring at me, her lips quivering.

"Johanna-"

"Alive, Papa? What do you mean?"

"Please, let it lie, Johanna," Anthony pleaded, his voice breaking slightly.

"What do you mean," she repeated, emphasising each individual word.

I stared at her, searching for words. I could barely find them.

"I'm sure it was just an empty threat," Anthony told her, stroking her hair soothingly, trying to tame her. It was quite impossible by this point.

"Such as you had given Toby?"

"I don't think that is at all to do with-" I was cut off by a low snarl.

"Anthony's right. Toby didn't leave us until you came!"

I opened my mouth, but closed it sharply. Anthony seemed quite as shocked as I was. Johanna had shown nothing but devotion to me each time she saw me. We both knew very well why things had changed. We simply did not want to think it.

"Johanna, please, calm yourself for a moment," I told her, my voice as controlled as I could make it.

"Stop telling me to be calm," she said -ordered- her voice trembling. "There is nothing to be calm about!"

"I do mean it, I don't want you at all stressed. It's no good for-"

"For me?"

I held my tongue, regretting ever having spoken to such an extent.

"You must try to be more patient," I said through gritted teeth. "It is no good for anyone's health, I shouldn't think."

"Perhaps I don't care," she said defiantly, burying her face into Anthony's chest.

"It is for the best you leave now, Mr Todd." Anthony looked at me with pleading eyes. I could barely stand that fact of the matter; Anthony felt no anger, nor did he seem smug of his victory. He was…dare I say it?

Sympathetic.