I writhed in agony, not knowing quite where I was after the first few hours passed. All that I could remember was Anthony's hands smoothing my hair and laying a cold towel upon my forehead every so often.

"Anthony," I murmured, my eyes almost rolling into the back of my head. The pain had become immense, and I could not concentrate. "What's happening? It-"

"Hush, now, hush," he whispered into my ear. "It'll be alright. Just save your energy."

I winced, feeling that same pain in my stomach again. I clutched at Anthony's hand, and he held mine tightly. Perhaps it was to reassure me, but the desperate way he held me foretold the pain yet to come.

Papa was nowhere in sight. My voice finally found its way to plead for his appearance, but neither Anthony nor Mrs Lovett- who had been rushing about the room with different assortments of towels and such- could answer me.

"How long can it be?" Anthony finally asked frenziedly, almost moaning the words in distain. Mrs Lovett shook her head.

"'eaven knows! I've 'eard it can go on for 'ours if I'm honest."

I groaned, at least understanding her. Another pain flashed through me, causing me to utter a single scream, but it had delivered no release, just as it had not done before. Anthony whimpered slightly, clenching my hand tightly. The moment I drew breath again, he stroked my hair again, hushing me.

"Where's Papa?" I whispered, still faint from the pain. "Please, where is he?"

I repeated my question over and over, still not receiving any answer. Finally, Anthony placed a gentle finger upon my lips.

"Do not fret, Johanna, I'm sure- I'm sure he will be here soon."

"But I need him here now," I told him, gaining a small amount of my voice back before screaming out again.

"We will get him, I promise you," he said firmly, then looked at Mrs Lovett desperately. She shook her head.

"I can't leave now," she said quietly. "The pains are coming quicker, love. If I leave now…"

"Toby!" he called, and within moments he appeared by my head. "Please, take Johanna's hand for a moment, I must find-"

"No!" I said quickly, clinging to his arm. "You can not leave me now, Anthony, I won't allow it!"

"Only a moment, I promise you, Johanna," he told me firmly, shaking my hand away.

I quickly tried to grab at his arm before he could leave me, but it did not work. Too hasty for me, Anthony had disappeared from my sight before I could blink.

For once, though, Toby could not calm me, nor did he satisfy my need for a companion. I did not wish for the young boy who I called brother. I wanted- no, needed- my Papa, and my dearest companion holding my hands.

"Breathe carefully," Mrs Lovett told me, finally staying put at the end of my bed. I squirmed, annoyed she must sit there of all places.

"I can't breathe at all!" I gasped. My spare hand clutched my throat in distress. "Mrs Lovett, please, make it stop!"

Mrs Lovett stared into my eyes for a moment, her expression pained.

All of a sudden, the door opened, and there came Anthony again, followed by Papa. I cried out for him, reaching forward as if a child waiting for a teddy. Both of them sat either side of me, clutching my hand.

"Where were you?" I murmured, the pain having ripped through me again.

"That does not matter now," he told me, placing a cool hand on my cheek. "All that matters is now."

"I don't like now."

Anthony laughed forcefully, nervously even. Toby retreated against the wall, confused and wary. Mrs Lovett was beginning to sweat slightly under some effort, and her eyes caught Toby's for a moment.

"Toby," she said suddenly, beckoning him. "It won't be long, fetch the water, quickly. And a towel."

There was a slight pause in the room- one where I felt suddenly painless, where there was pure silence. But this moment was so fleeting that I myself did not notice it, and nor did anyone else. Toby set to the task, his face less traumatised than it had been seconds ago.

"It's time, love," Mrs Lovett said quietly, although her voice seemed to strike both Papa and Anthony harshly. At once, they both clenched my hand, and a pain more immense than before took hold of me.

The next few minutes were a daze to me. My head rolled as I lost myself in the agony, and I tried only to concentrate on Mrs Lovett's command for me to push. I barely knew what to do, but somehow I managed. Anthony kissed my cheek once every so often, whispering words into my ear.

Papa, however, said nothing. I wished dearly that he would have spoken to me, given me a kind word. Without even knowing it, my head had turned from him. I seemed barely to be able to stand to look at him.

Suddenly, I gasped silently, in far too much pain to even make a sound. All breath had been taken from me, and I felt ready to die. I almost begged for it in my own mind, and most likely would have done so out loud if I had been able to.

"Just keep breathing," Anthony whispered into my ear frantically. "Just do that for me, please, just keep breathing steadily."

I forced the air down my throat, gulping as if I were a fish of some sort. However much pain I was in, Anthony's plea was to be obeyed.

Then, as quickly as any of that pain had appeared to me, it had gone.

All that I could hear through the room now was the sound of my breath, and a shrill screaming from where Mrs Lovett sat. Toby picked up one of the towels lain beside him and the two of them fumbled, finally finishing whatever it was they were doing. Mrs Lovett stood tall again, smiling brightly. I looked at her, my eyes out of focus.

"'ere," she said softly, handing the blankets that she had in her arms to Anthony. "A girl. A pretty, little girl."

Anthony held out one of his arms in an awkward way, where Mrs Lovett then placed the bundle of blankets and towels. I blinked twice at it, confused, and then towards Anthony's face where a soft smile lay.

"Oh," he said breathily, quite excited and yet forcibly calm.

There, amongst the blankets, sat a small little thing. A child. A small, pink, whimpering and flailing child. I wrinkled my nose, knowing not what this child had to be so excited over.

Yet, I could not help but love it.

This child had not been there moments ago, and suddenly there she lay in front of me, and I was condemned to love her. I had no reason to, and knew there was no plausible reason, but despite this, I loved her.

I sucked in my breath, snatching back my hands from the two men beside me. Both of them stared at me, slightly alarmed.

"Johanna?" Anthony said warily, his eyes wide in what seemed to be fear. I looked at my hands, trembling.

At the sight of the child, I had loved, but there was something else. I took in my surroundings, and thought back quickly. Yes, I could think back. And I hated it.

"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."

All of those memories.

"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 detested all of the last things I could remember.

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

I did not like it.

I had finally gone mad.

And yet, despite it all…I remembered them.

I stared at my hands still, and quickly brought my ring finger to my lips, touching the cold ring once. I took hold of Anthony's hand, and kissed the ring he wore, the one that signed our bond to each other. Almost forgetting the child in his arms, he wrapped his arm around me desperately, our child held in between us. He let out a sob.

"It can not be…"

"It is! It is!" I cried, knowing exactly now what he meant. "Anthony, it is true!"

"Dear God, I had thought you lost to us, Johanna!"

Anthony kissed me feverishly, his lips passing each inch of my face until they found my own. I kissed him back, having missed that same, familiar feeling of him kissing me. Quickly, Anthony pulled away, presenting me with our child. Trembling, I embraced the child, tears pouring down my cheeks. It was a wonder I had not lost my mind a second time- everything happened in such a blur that it was enough to overwhelm anyone else.

"She's…she's so-"

"She's ours," Anthony muttered, drawing my closely to him. We were lost to everyone else now. To Mrs Lovett, to Toby, to Papa- then I shuddered.

"What is it?" Anthony asked me, concerned. My face turned to see Mr Todd, having backed away to the wall. I pressed my lips into a tight line, thinking.

"Mr Todd?" I whispered. "Papa? What name must I call you now, sir?" He did not answer me, but I could see that he shook as much as I had. I looked at him desperately, then turned back to my daughter, who was now calm in my arms. She no longer whimpered, but instead looked at me with curiosity.

"She has your eyes," Anthony told me, smiling. I brushed a finger across her head, seeing the same thin hair that covered each newborn baby's head.

"She had your hair," I told him, smiling. I kissed our daughters forehead lovingly, unsure and yet completely certain.

Both I and Anthony looked at each other again, smiling. Such a moment had not been often for us. We had for so long been lost to each other, and there we were, together at last.

Quickly, my stomach started with such a pain that our daughter almost flew from my arms. I groaned, clutching her to my chest.

"Anthony!" I cried out, confused yet again. "T-take her, please!"

He did so, but very reluctantly, and after giving the child to Mr Todd, he returned to my side. Mrs Lovett leapt to her feet, her face pale.

"Dear God!" she said, her voice shrill. "It can not be…"

"Mrs Lovett, do not be so vague with your words," Anthony pleaded, speaking out on my behalf.

"What can not be?" I asked, gasping.

"Another child," she whispered, ordering Toby to get another jug of water and more towels.

"But, it can't be!"

"I'm afraid it is," she said clearly. I groaned again, feeling the same exact pain I had felt the moment before my daughter was born.

"It's going too quick," I murmured, writhing again in agony.

"I know," Mrs Lovett agreed, unable to deny the fact. Her voice was pained, but she seemed determined. I could not help but be as determined as she was.

A second child…the room was spinning with the amount of pressure upon my head. I had not even thought until a small while ago that I even had a child within me, and now my second was attempting to free itself. My love had proven to be immediate with my daughter, and I did not wish to lose a second of that love with her brother or sister.

My heart pounded fiercely in my chest, and again I could not breathe.

"Johanna," Anthony said fretfully, gripping my hand in both of his own. "Johanna, breathe, now!"

"I-can't-" I gasped, unable to even force the air to my lungs. "Anthony-"

"Don't speak," he commanded me. "You'll only make it harder on yourself."

I shook my head, not exactly disagreeing, but not knowing what to do. My head became light, and I could feel myself ready to faint. My heart still beat quickly, even when Mrs Lovett gasped aloud as the child was born.

"A boy!" she trilled, ecstatic that the deed was done. "Johanna, yeh've got a son!"

I nodded weakly, still catching my breath.

I could not.

"Johanna?" Anthony said softly, still entranced with the child. Suddenly, his tone became hesitant. "Johanna?"

"Anthony- I-"

I uttered a silent scream of pain and terror, clutching my throat, trying to breathe.

"Johanna, it is done! Calm yourself!"

"I-"

"Johanna!"

The perspiration on my forehead was evident still, and all I could hear was Anthony's voice fading to a soft murmur in my ear, as if he was disappearing from me entirely, although still calling my name.

I could not listen to the voice, however much I concentrated on it. I was looking ahead, being pushed into the one place I had once wished I was, but now tried to turn from.

Home.