Illusions that Confine Us

Chapter Ten

For the next week and a half things at the Todd residence seemed to have cooled down since their accident on that fateful day. With Mrs. Lovett nursing her husband back to health and all.

Mr. Todd and Mrs. Lovett spoke nothing of what happened the day she accidentally stabbed him, both found it best not to. Especially being that Mrs. Lovett was embarrassed that her husband had actually witnessed her crying and he actually attempted to comfort her, something he never wanted to find himself doing.

Mrs. Lovett hummed quietly to herself as she took her time scrubbing her bedding that she had neglected to do since her beloved Mr. Todd slept on them. Nothing happened between them, no, but it was nice to know that he cared enough to let her at least sleep in the same bed with him, even if it was just for one night.

Some might have found the fact that she found an odd amount of pleasure in sleeping in the sheets that he slept in for a night strange, but she just called it love.

When she was satisfied with her work, Mrs. Lovett tried her best to squeeze as much of the water out of the sheets as she could and proceeded on taking them outside to hang on the line.

On her way to her clothing line, she chuckled when she saw Alfred follow behind her, his fur waving in the warm breeze.

Secretly she was glad he walked into her kitchen knife. It showed her that there was still hope that someday he would grow to love her. Because looking out into the sea, her dreams didn't look too far away. And she hoped that maybe, just maybe, it was fate's way of telling her not to give up and that all good things come to those who can wait.

After she was finished with hanging her sheets on the line Mrs. Lovett picked up her small wicker laundry basket and made her way back inside to make Mr. Todd his breakfast.

"Good morning dear." Mrs. Lovett said as she entered his room, his breakfast tray in hand and Alfred leading her up to him like he was the and she was the caboose.

Sweeney grimly ran a hand through his hair and sat up to swing his legs over the side of his bed.

Mrs. Lovett opened up his curtains causing him to wince and let out a frustrated sigh.

"Must you open the curtains?" He grumbled.

"Oh hush now, a little sunlight never hurt anybody." Mrs. Lovett replied cheeringly.

"I think the light's gotten to your head." He mumbled as he attempted to get to his feet.

Mrs. Lovett ignored him and frowned sympathetically when she saw him wince from his wound.

"How are you feeling love?" She asked, going over to help him up.

He rolled his eyes before grumbling, "How do you think?"

"I'm sorry…" She whispered.

He paused, suddenly feeling like an ass for even saying anything.

"Don't worry about it." He said quickly.

Mrs. Lovett nodded and continued to help him to his desk.

When he was seated and had his food in front of him Mrs. Lovett asked him if he needed anything, naturally and replied no and she left him to pick at his food.

Later on in the day Mrs. Lovett came in with a warm bucket of water and a cloth and sat it down beside his bed, ignoring the way he was sitting there eyeing her curiously.

"What is that for?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow at her.

Mrs. Lovett popped up from kneeling on the floor and put her hands on her hips. "For you. Now help me take your shirt off." She replied.

His eyes widened, "What for?!"

Mrs. Lovett rolled her eyes, "To clean up your bandages, ya silly nit, what else?"

"Oh… alright." He answered back quietly, still unsure.

She sat down on the edge of the bed beside him and turned on her side, carefully unbuttoning his shirt.

Mr. Todd couldn't imagine what was going on in her head as she continued to unbutton his shirt, he could see the way her eyes seemed to glitter each time one button was undone.

"Alright, sit up now." Mrs. Lovett said after undoing the last button.

He complied and lifted himself up by his elbows as she lifted his arm and pulled his arm out of the first sleeve and went on to the other.

Her eyes ran up and down his bare chest, amazed at how perfect he looked…

"Uh, Mrs. Lovett?" Mr. Todd said, dragging her out of her little stare fest.

"Oh… Yes." Mrs. Lovett shook her head before carefully unwrapping his bandages to reveal his wound, which luckily had been starting to look much better the last couple of days.

"You know I been thinking…" Mrs. Lovett began as she leant down to soak the cloth in the warm water.

"What?" He inquired gruffly.

"That maybe when you get better we could fix up the back porch, ya know? An- And we could possibly get a few chairs out there so maybe we could sit out there some nights-"

"Mrs. Lovett." He interrupted, not wanting to hear anymore of her ideas, "I don't think now is the time to discuss the future."

"Oh." She replied quietly, trying to hide the disappointment in her eyes by putting her head down more.

When she was finished and had him wrapped back up again she proceeded on getting him a clean shirt and as soon as she was done with that, she picked up the bucket of now cold water and went to cook supper.

Evening came and shortly after supper Mrs. Lovett was making her way down the hall to Mr. Todd's room collect his dinner tray.

He heard her boots click against the wood and the light emanating from her candle glow beneath the doorway, and as they grew closer to his room, he felt Alfred hop off the end of the bed and go over to the doorway.

Mrs. Lovett opened the door and smiled when she saw Alfred's shadow in her candlelight. She then greeted Alfred by smiling and kneeling down next to him, petting down his neck as she did so. "There ya are Alfie, I was beginnin' to wonder where ya went off too."

When Mrs. Lovett stood up and turned to get the tray she was stopped when meeting dark eyes with Mr. Todd. "Oh, sorry love, I thought you was asleep." She said as she placed the candle beside him on his nightstand.

"That's fine." He replied before sitting up.

"Ya don't need to get up for my benefit." Mrs. Lovett said as she walked over to him and fluffed his pillow, pushing him back down onto the bed gently, "Ya need ya rest. The sooner ya get better, the better."

Which reminded him about earlier, how he snapped at her when she started talking about when he got well. He hated to admit it but, he really did feel kind of bad about it.

"Mrs. Lovett." He said when she was about to leave.

She paused sharply before answering, "Yes?"

"When I-" He hesitated, he wasn't sure as to what he was supposed to say.

"When you what, dear?"

He sighed, "Earlier, when you were changing my bandages you were talking about things that you wanted to do when I got better and-"

"Think nothing of it." She suddenly said, bowing her head down, "It was silly of me to go on like that, and I.."

There was silence before Mr. Todd abruptly grabbed his wound and closed his eyes in pain.

Mrs. Lovett immediately rushed to his aid, "Are you alright?" She asked worriedly.

"Yes." He breathed, still closing his eyes and shifting uncomfortably, "Don't worry about it."

"Oh love…" Mrs. Lovett sat beside him on the bed and lifted up his shirt to reveal his bandages, "Is it too tight?"

"No." He answered back quietly, relieved that the pain had stopped somewhat.

"Are you sure?" She asked sympathetically.

He then batted her hand away from his wound and pulled his shirt back down grumbling, "Yes, I'm sure."

They sat in silence for a while before Mrs. Lovett hesitantly lifted her hand to pull some stray hair out of his face.

He watched as she sat and petted his hair as if he was merely Alfred, but there was something different about the way she looked at him when she did it. The expression on her face looked so sad yet at the same time her eyes shined with nothing but affection.

She didn't know why he was even letting her be this affectionate with him, perhaps it was his way of thanking her for caring for him.

Mrs. Lovett removed her eyes from her gaze on her hand and looked him straight in the eyes as if asking for approval as to what she was going to do next.

He did nothing when she leant down and softly kissed his cheek, pausing for a second as she proceeded onto kissing him lightly on the lips.

While all this was happening, Mr. Todd merely stood frozen as she thawed him with her love.

Mrs. Lovett then moved her lips just above his ear and whispered, "Just because you don't love me, doesn't mean I can't love you."

And with that, she got up, took his dinner tray and picked up the candle as she headed for the door. Her voice was soft yet laced with hurt when she whispered, "Goodnight," before leaving his room.

Awwyaa(: I love how Mrs. Lovett wuvvles him x3333

Thanks for all of your support on this story so far, I really appreciate it!

Yerrr sooo vaiiinnnn… You prolly think this chapter's about yewww…

&btw I would like Miss. Melissa (Neon Blaqk) to know that this is dedicated to her xD (Lmao, she knows why xDDD)

I had my 8th grade farewell dance on Friday, and I would have you know that I boogie real hardcore xDDD Yeah, I just thought everyone should know that… :D

Sorry if my insanity frightens some :)

And the reason why it has been taking me forever to update is because it is heading towards the end of the school year and I have been swamped with tests and finals, you know all that crap... Have I mentioned that I hate IB? Well anyways, have a lovely day/night/whatever!