Thank you to Piper Lestrange, obsessivelyfanaticgw09 and Undergargle for reviewing!

Sorry it's taken so long - the internet died at my house and I'm currently camping out at my dad's to use his laptop XD I don't know when the next update will be, as the chance of getting our internet back doesn't seem to be in the near future. But I hope you all had a nice christmas!

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

I stared at the Beadle silently. We all did. Anna shrunk behind Ben and me fearfully, but the Beadle didn't notice.

"What?" Sweeney suddenly demanded. "What does he want?"

The Beadle smirked as he turned towards me, his narrow eyes running down my body. I shivered, but glared straight back at him.

"Well...I knew this was where you would be, Miss Johanna," He said in he thought to be a seductive manner. "It's just a shame..."

I stared at him, my eyes widening as I realized what he was saying.

"Why, you - "

I cut myself off as I let out an angry noise and launched forwards.

"MUM!"

Ben grabbed my arms, holding me back as I struggled, my arms reaching out, desperate to claw and hit the disgusting pig that was a poor excuse of a man standing in front of me.

The Beadle smirked triumphantly as he turned away and faced Sweeney.

"Mum, calm down," Ben whispered in my ear. "Don't let him win."

"What do you want?" Sweeney demanded again, lurching forwards with his razor in one hand. Mrs Lovett put her hand on his arm, trying to restrain him.

"The Judge has a proposal."

"We know that, for God's sake. Stop acting like the big man and just tell what you're doing here." Ben surprised me by saying. The Beadle glared at him, his nose screwed up as if Ben were something on the bottom of his shoe, before turning back to Sweeney.

"Judge Turpin has agreed to release the girl as long as she," The Beadle looked pointedly at me. "Returns before the week is finished."

"What?" Nellie demanded incredulously. "You are joking." She spun around to face me. "He is joking, isn't he?"

I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I could barely breathe.

The Beadle's smirk grew as he eyed me up again.

"We hope to see you soon, Miss Johanna."

I watched silently as he spun around with flourish and left the shop, allowing the door to swing shut at its own accord.

"Mum."

I looked down at Nellie, who was staring at with wide eyes. I swallowed as I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, hugging her close to me. I had just found my children, and I wasn't going to loose them.

"Mum, what are we gonna do?" Nellie asked, her voice wavering.

"I...don't know..." I answered truthfully, hating myself for saying it. I couldn't lie though. Not now.

"We have to do something, Mum," Ben said. "She's our little sister."

I nodded shakily. My daughter...my baby girl...

"I don't know what to do."

Nellie wrapped her arms around my waist as Ben wrapped his around my shoulders.

"Well? Any bright ideas from you?" He demanded from Mrs Lovett and Sweeney. "You too are always coming up with these bright ideas."

"Ben," I said weakly. "Don't."

"We want to help her, love," Mrs Lovett assured us. Me. "We love Amy like a daughter, don't we, Mr T?"

I stared at Sweeney. My eyes didn't waver from his as I stared at him silently. Would he admit it? Would he, Sweeney Todd, finally admit he cared for someone?

Sweeney stared back at me and, with one swift movement, nodded.

Untangling myself from my children's arms, I walked forwards and stood in front of him, my neck tilted so I could look up at him, straight into his eyes.

"Do you?" I asked. "Do you want to help my daughter?"

Sweeney nodded again. A small smile came to my lips.

"You're not as hard as you pretend to be," I murmured. "Benjamin Barker."

Sweeney returned the small smile hesitantly.

"And you're not as brave as you pretend to be," He muttered. "Joey."

I smiled and, without really thinking, hugged Sweeney.

"So what are we going to do?" Nellie asked the moment mine and Sweeney's hug broke. I didn't move from his side, though.

"We have until the end of the week," Mrs Lovett said in a hopeful tone. "We have plenty of time to think of something."

"End of the week..." I whispered.

I looked up at Sweeney, then at Mrs Lovett, then at Anna, then at Ben and finally at Nellie. They were all staring at me, their expressions varying from anxiety to hopefulness.

"Why wait? We need to go now."

"J-Johanna...?" Anna whispered questioningly. I looked at her.

"You know all the back entrances and secret passageways, don't you?"

Anna grinned. "I know the entrances, but the latter does not exist."

I blushed. "You know what I mean." I said impatiently.

"Yes, I know the house very well."

"Let's go."

"What?"

"Now. Let's go."

"Joey, love," Mrs Lovett placed her hand on my arm. "Please, think about it."

"NO!"

Everyone jumped at my sudden outburst. I took in a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

"Please. We need to go."

I looked up at Sweeney hopefully.

"Please."

Sweeney stared down at me before nodding once.

"Fine."

My heart pounded as we approached Turpin's home, lingering in the shadows so not to be seen.

"Mum," Nellie whispered, taking my hand. I smiled at her.

"Come on."

Much to my annoyance, Ben, Nellie and Mrs Lovett insisted on coming with us. I only wanted it to be Sweeney, Anna and I. The others didn't need to come. It was too dangerous.

When I expressed my views, Ben laughed and claimed he was a legal adult, therefore I couldn't tell him what to do anymore. Nellie simply ignored me and Mrs Lovett said that she wasn't sitting in the shop on her own, wondering when we would come back.

"This way." Anna whispered. She was leading the group, with Sweeney close behind.

We crept along quietly, finally reaching the back door. Anna reached out and gently pushed it open, all of us wincing as it creaked.

I couldn't help but reach out and grab Sweeney's hand as we entered the mansion. Not only was it hard for me, it must've been extremely hard for him.

After a moment, Sweeney squeezed my hand.

"Where will she be?" I asked Anna, dodging round Sweeney to ask her.

"I don't know..."

I thought about it long and hard. Where? Where would he leave her?

"My room."

Without waiting, I rushed forwards.

"Mum!"

"Joey!"

I could hear quick footsteps running after me, Ben and Nellie begging me to slow down while Anna, Sweeney and Mrs Lovett pleaded for me to be more quiet.

I was just thankful when I got to the door.

Flinging it open, I froze as I saw a small figure lying on the ground.

"Amy!"

Running forwards, I fell to the ground and pulled her onto her back, brushing her hair out of her face. My girl...my little girl...

I gasped as I saw a large bruise on the side of her face, as well as a few on her neck and collarbone.

My eyes widened as I saw a tiny bite mark on her neck.

"No..."

"Mum,"

I looked up at Nellie and Ben, both of whom were knelt next to me. Nellie was staring at Amy while Ben stared at me in horror.

"Mum, what has he done?"

I swallowed and opened my mouth, but no words came out. They were trapped in my throat.

"Ah, Johanna, how lovely to see you again."

I gently transferred Amy from my arm's to Ben's, whispering quickly for him to look after her, before standing up and turning around.

"You."

Anna quickly scuttled to my side, hiding behind me slightly. Sweeney came to stand by my side while Mrs Lovett began fussing over Amy.

"You sneaky, evil, treacherous old - "

Sweeney grabbed my arm, yanking me back before I could lunge forwards and attack Turpin. Ben quickly jumped, having given Amy to Mrs Lovett. He and Anna grabbed my arms, holding me back, restraining me.

"You're not content in ruining Lucy's life, so you have to ruin an innocent child's as well!" Sweeney shouted. Turpin smirked.

"Now, now, Mr Todd, you may want to watch that temper of yours. You never know when it'll get you...into trouble."

I lunged forwards, but Ben and Anna yanked me back again. Why couldn't they understand that this was my daughter?

"You have ruined too many people's lives." Sweeney muttered, walking forwards slowly. Turpin raised an eyebrow.

"And what do you propose on doing about it?"

No one stopped Sweeney as he flew forwards, his razor brandished.

It was all over before it even started.

There was a lot of blood. Some of it even splattered on me. But I didn't care.

All I cared about was the fact that Turpin fell to the floor.

Dead.

I glared at his body, wishing he was alive so I could have the pleasure of killing him. But I didn't care about him. All I cared about was Amy. My daughter.

Holding back the tears that had sprung to my eyes, I spun around and knelt down, taking Amy from Mrs Lovett. Cradling her close to me, I kissed the top of her head.

"It's ok, baby, it's ok," I whispered. "You're safe now, Amy."

"Mum,"

"No." I didn't want to move. I couldn't move. I wanted to sit here and hold my daughter for as long as I could.

"Joey,"

"No!"

"Joey."

"NO!" I screamed as a hand touched my shoulder. Sweeney sighed as he knelt down next to me, his hand still on my shoulder.

"Joey, we need to leave. Now."

I stared up at him, tears trickling down my cheeks.

"I can't..."

Silently, Sweeney reached forwards and took Amy out of my arms.

"No..."

Sweeney ignored me and, gently cradling Amy as I had done just moments ago, stood up. I looked up at him, frowning.

"We need to leave."

We walked home in silence, our walk having dwindled down into a stroll. I couldn't help but feel like I was in a daze as we walked, staying close to Sweeney's side so I could stay close to Amy. She didn't even stir in his arms. She was barely breathing.

Nellie clung onto my hand on the way back, while Ben stayed on her side with his arm around her. Mrs Lovett was on Sweeney's other side, Anna next to her.

When we finally got back to Fleet Street, Sweeney took Amy into the back room. I followed him silently, Ben and Nellie trailing after me anxiously.

After Sweeney put Amy down on the sofa, lying her there. I sat down by her side, taking her limp hand in my own.

"Please, Amy, be ok." I whispered.

And I didn't leave her side for the whole night.