Illusions That Confine Us

Chapter Four

After he got up and moved away from her he exhaled and shook his head, leaving off of the porch and down to the beach.

She supposed it could have been worse, of course he could have killed her instead.

Although she was a tad bit worried that he just got up and left, angrily as she thought, without a word; she knew he would be back within the next few hours like he always did.

So she waited.

Fifteen minutes went by and she was still sitting on the bench shocked that she had actually kissed Sweeney Todd.

Although it wasn't a real kiss…

It amazed her how he showed no interest in her whatsoever and suddenly she felt him kiss her back. His lips actually attempted to press against hers. It was a shame that there was actually no movement besides that, any average person would have said it was a terrible kiss, that it showed no emotion other than intense confusion and awkwardness.

But this was the love of her life, this was Sweeney Todd, and it only gave her more hope that someday he would grow to love her.

Wishful thinking. She thought.

Forty-five minutes passed and it had been an hour and he still wasn't back yet, nor was Alfred.

Would they even come back? Secretly she would rather have the cat come back rather than her husband at the moment, at least that would give her something to love and actually be loved in return. Unlike Mr. Todd who couldn't recognize love even if it at the tip of his nose.

Hours later, the supper she cooked was still sitting on the table and was now cold. The saucer of milk she set outside on the porch in hopes that Alfred would come back and drink it, was still untouched.

She now sat in the parlor, sitting on the settee reading one of the only books she managed to bring with her when they fled from Fleet Street, she hadn't heard anyone come in and was surprised when she felt something drop onto her lap.

Mrs. Lovett looked down from her book and her eyes met Alfred's and when she looked up over the book she saw no one other than Sweeney Todd.

He was back and he had apparently brought Alfred back to her.

Mr. Todd stood in front of her long enough for her to acknowledge his presence and before she could thank him for bringing Alfred back he fled from the room.

She sat back and exhaled for a moment, annoyed that he was obviously in another one of his pissy moods, and pet Alfred that was now purring in her lap.

"Did Mista T bring ya back to me love?" Mrs. Lovett mumbled happily to the cat as she thought about the day's events, "Ya shouldn't run away from me like 'e does though…"

Thinking about the expression on his face when she looked up at him she felt sort of, well, touched that he cared enough to actually bring the cat back to her.

And after a few seconds of sitting with Alfred she picked him up and put him on the spot next to her, getting up and following behind her stubborn husband.

She looked in the backroom for him before realizing that he wasn't there so she walked back up through the halls and stopped when she saw the washroom door ajar, she peeked through it before walking in, his back facing her.

"Love?" Mrs. Lovett said as she stepped in, walking up behind him.

There was no reply, just silence.

"Thank you for bringin' Alfie back to me before Mrs. Mooney got to 'im." Mrs. Lovett began as she placed a hand on his shoulder causing him to swiftly turn around revealing a crimson scratch going down his cheek.

Mrs. Lovett gasped, suddenly feeling bad, "Oh Mista T! What happened?" She asked, already knowing it was probably Alfred.

His brows furrowed together before replying, "That sodding cat."

Mrs. Lovett tried to ignore his comment as she went over and got a wet cloth she immediately started dabbing the cloth over the scratch and saying, "Ya know, 'e didn't mean it love, 'e was probably just scared is s'all."

He sighed, he supposed she was right. After all he did chase the cat like a hungry lion, not to mention when he finally had it in his grasp he dropped it in a puddle of water by mistake.

"I really do appreciate that ya brought 'im back though." She said again, pausing for a second.

Mrs. Lovett flicked her eyes up to glance at him and looked back down when she saw that he was staring at her, which was odd because she has had the scratch cleaned up for moments now. Wasn't he aware that all she was doing now was pretending to be looking at the scratch when in reality her eyes were fixed on his lips? His perfect lips…

Shouldn't he be pushing her away now?

He stood standing there, he thought about slapping her hand away from him when he saw that all she was doing was staring at him… But wait, was he staring at her too?

Seconds passed and he found himself moving slightly down, her eyes shut up and their lips were so close that all she would have to do was move forward a few inches and-

Suddenly he stopped himself, he grabbed her wrist and put it down to her side, causing her to cast an awkward glance up at him.

"Thank you." He mumbled before putting his hand over the wetness on his cheek.

"I, I had a plate ready for ya on the table, it's probably cold now but I could warm it back up for ya if ya like." Mrs. Lovett said, trying to get over the fact that she was so close to kissing him again.

"That's alright, Mrs. Lovett." Replied Mr. todd.

"Ya know it's not Mrs. Lovett anymore, really." She gestured.

He frowned, "I am not going to call you Nellie and I am most certainly not going to call you Mrs. Todd." He spat angrily.

"Well why not? It doesn't 'urt anybody." Mrs. Lovett snapped in annoyance.

Truth be told, it kind of hurt him, but he wasn't willing to admit that. Not to mention he didn't like being reminded that he was married to her. "Why does it bother you so much anyways?"

"Because I'm your wife!" She yelled. "An;… an' I…" She stuttered.

"What? I have no idea why you are making such a big deal out nothing, now what is it?" Sometimes he wondered why he didn't just kill her and then himself, for if he did he would be put of his misery and she would no longer annoy him. Then again he was pretty sure they were going to hell so she would probably annoy him there too.

"I…I…"

"Spit it out woman!"

"I love you."

He knew it! He knew that that was why she was always acting weird around him… Why she kissed him, why she was almost always insisting that they did things together… Deep down he supposed he knew all along but he would never bring himself to see it.

"Well I don't love you." He said harshly, too annoyed to even think about sparring her feelings.

She bit her lip, why did she even tell him?!

When she did nothing and continued to stand there he started pacing back and forth before stopping and turning back in front of her, "You married me with the knowledge that I don't love you."

"That doesn't mean you never could." She choked out.

"I would," He began, ignoring the pain he saw in her eyes. "I could," He corrected, "I could never ever love you."

And with those words said, Mrs. Lovett turned and left to her room.

When she got to her bedroom, she turned and shut her door silently, resting her forehead on it.

Their argument reminded her too much of the one's they always had about their relationship, only this one was worse.

He actually told her that he didn't love her. Mrs. Lovett may have already known that hurtful fact, but it didn't mean that she wanted to hear it, hearing it only brought her crashing back to the reality that she was trapped in a loveless marriage.

Tuneparg xD Such a funny word…

Thanks so much for reading, reviewing, favoriting and alerting!

I intended on updating earlier but I had a busy week, not to mention I have been kinda sick. There are times where I just want to pull a Red Forman and shove my foot up Sweeney's ass… ha ha.

Feel free to suggest anything and what-not, have a nice day/night!