A/N: Hello dearies hope you enjoyed Sweeney's return and his declaration of revenge! I'm hear to tell you all that in this chapter we see the darker side to our favorite little demon baker, but that's all you'll get from me don't want to spoil it now do I? And who please sit back, relax and enjoy!

Chapter 8,

Before long the black night gave way to the pale gray and murky morning but the sight wasn't what made the barber pause in his pacing, what brought him to a halt was the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs. He kept his back to the door as it opened letting in a rush of cool air.

"I need to got to the market, I'm takin' Toby with me, is there anythin' you need Mr. T?"

Sweeney glanced over his shoulder to find Nellie looking around the room then to him while behind her Toby looked at anything but him. Sweeney shook his head turning back to face the window as people began fill the streets below. Nellie sighed placing her hands on her hips, it had been two days since Benjamin had returned to her as Sweeney Todd and one thing she had learned over those two days was that he wouldn't talk to her more than needed when ever anyone else was around them, even if it was just the last customer in her shop before she closed. Seeing she was getting no farther answer she tugged her fingerless lace gloves more securely onto her hands turning to leave but pausing looking back at him.

"Course you're more than welcome to come along."

There was an undertone of hopefulness in her voice that at one point in his life he would have yielded to just to see her happy but as he met her reflections eyes it was clear that wasn't going to happen. Nellie shook her head upon not getting a straight answer and turned once more to follow Toby who was half way down the steps waiting.

"There's some pies in me shop if you get 'ungry, 'elp yourself if you like, we shouldn't be more than an 'our."

The only response she received was a slight nod of his head but it was enough to make her leave the shop and follow Toby to the market chiding him about watching out for carriages before he got hit. Once they reached the already busy market she sent Toby to find the ingredients she'd need to make her pie crust while she looked around for spices and herbs to put into the filling. She was in the process of collecting the rosemary and coriander supply she needed when someone tapped her shoulder making her spin around, she instantly regretted the action as she found herself face to face with none other than Lucy. Feeling her stomach drop Nellie swallowed thickly hoping against everything that her own sister wouldn't recognize her.

"Excuse me but could you hand me one of those lavender bunches?"

Nellie looked over her shoulder at the neatly tied bunches of lavender, she nodded and grabbed one of the bundles being sure the sleeve of her dress didn't move back to revile the birthmark on her forearm as she handed the flowers to Lucy. Lucy smiled not a hint of recognition in her blue eyes as she looked Nellie over before cocking her head to the side confused.

"Do I Know you?"

Nellie's head was reeling as she shook it managing a small smile.

"Fraid not dearie, I'd remember a pretty lil' flower like ya if I ever met ya."

Nellie did her best to thicken her inherited cockney accent while her eyes watched Lucy carefully as she pursed her lips as if thinking before shrugging and walking off. Nellie turned away heaving a great sigh that she hadn't been caught but she whirled around at the sound of Lucy's scream and had to bite back a laugh at seeing her looking shocked at the mud that now covered the front of her skirts. Nellie was unaware of the source of the splash until Lucy to face her but her angry blue eyes were focused on something behind her, she looked over her shoulder to see Toby hiding behind her his eyes wide with fear, suddenly the cool razor in the bodice of her dress was red hot as Lucy stalked back to her making her put a hand protectively on the boy's back while she squared her shoulders.

"I'm terribly sorry dearie, 'e's just a lad, don't know no better 'e don't."

She paused looking down at Toby before returning her eyes to Lucy, who finally met her eyes.

"Apologize to the lady Toby."

Toby stepped around her looking at his shoes while he wrung his hands his whole body shaking more from fear than from the chilled air blowing against his mud soaked pant legs. Nellie brought her eyes back to Lucy who was waiting a little less angry upon seeing Toby, it was then Nellie saw the gold band on her sister's left hand and a plan formed in her mind.

"I'm sorry ma'am I was only rushin' ta tell me mum that they was out of eggs for the day."

Toby bowed his head waiting for Lucy's response which was only to turn her eyes to Nellie who gave a soft, yet forced, smile patting Toby on the back.

"There's a good lad, now go an' see about the rest o' the things alright?"

Toby nodded and hurried away without looking back making Nellie shake her head before looking at Lucy who finally spoke.

"Energetic isn't he?"

Nellie nodded looking in the way Toby had gone.

"I'm sorry but I didn't catch your name, I'm Lucy, Lucy Turpin."

It took every ounce of self control Nellie had to not smirk or shudder at her sister's new name.

"Ellie, Ellie Lovett, I own the meat pie shop down in Fleet Street."

She said being sure to avoid the two names Lucy would recognize but the blue eyes watching her narrowed making her worry she'd slipped up.

"Ellie? Is that short for something?"

Nellie fumbled in her mind for an answer before shaking her head.

"No, it were me grandmother's name."

She paused watching Lucy try and brush mud from her skirt before planting her best sympathetic smile on her lips.

"I'm terribly sorry 'bout that dearie, tell ya what ta make up for me boy ruinin' your skirt if you and your 'usband come by me shop I'll give ya a free pie and your 'usband can get a shave from the best barber in London above me shop in Sweeney Todd's Tonsorial Parlor."

Lucy smiled and nodded once and began to walk away.

"I may take you up on that Mrs. Lovett. Good day to you."

Nellie watched as Lucy walked away and out of sight making her sigh then smirked to herself as she got what she needed before walking off to find Toby. After finding him and finishing their shopping, with Nellie spoiling toby a bit in his mind by buying him a bag of toffees for himself, they quickly returned to the shop. Nellie smiled seeing Sweeney sat at one of the booths a half eaten pie before him on a plate.

"Toby why don't you go and play with your friends in the park?"

Toby smiled at her and after kissing her cheek was gone from the shop. Nellie smiled and sat down across from Sweeney who was examining the pie as though it was foreign to him now that it was half gone.

"What's the matter love?"

He looked up at her a bit worried to see her smirking.

"It doesn't taste right, you've changed the recipe."

Nellie was temporarily surprised he remembered the time she'd brought him one of her mother's meat pies to him when they were younger, but she shook her head as she stood taking the plate from the table and walking to the counter setting it down.

"A different kinda meat love, can't exactly afford the good meat like I used to, least it aint pussy cat unlike Mrs. Mooney down the street."

Sweeney wrinkled his nose before looking at her.

"Then what are you using old horse meat?"

Nellie bit her lip dropping her eyes to the counter, would he think her insane if she told him what it was he'd eaten. She took a deep breath forcing the words out.

"No love, its barber, Italian barber."

Sweeney looked at her baffled for a moment before his pale cheeks tinged green and he swallowed thickly looking at her.

"Nellie that's completely….genius!"

Nellie's head snapped up confused by his words, genous was hardly what she'd call the idea of luring a man into her bed, killing him, chopping his body up and making it into pies to feed to her customers, but it was what kept her shop open for now but one man could only provid so much meat and she was nearly out. Seeing her confusion Sweeney stood and crossed the room in three strides putting his hands on her shoulders.

"What better way to hide evidence of missing people and attract the attention of that damned judge?! A sudden spike in popularity of a business in this street is bound to bring him here before long!"

Nellie allowed herself a smile as his hands slid down her arms to her wrists then her waist drawing her closer until he paused seeing her smirk again.

"And I've set the bait, Toby splashed 'is pretty lil' wife with mud and I told 'er to make up for it if she and 'er 'usband came by 'e could get the closest shave of 'is life."

Sweeney seen a gleam similar to the feeling in his chest light up her eyes.

"You can 'ave your revenge on 'im and I can 'ave mine on my dear sister."

Realization hit Sweeney and he smiled a twisted smile finally pulling her against him.

"You, Nellie Walker, are a bloody wonder my bloody wonder."

Nellie smiled but it faded as she slowly closed the distance between their lips until less than an inch separated them as her eyes fluttered closed.

Across town Lucy arrived home setting her basket of groceries in the kitchen before stomping up the stairs to her husband's study throwing open the door looking at him with anger flushed cheeks as she stalked over and put her hands on the desk between them drawing Turpin's eyes up from the paper he was looking over.

"SHE'S ALIVE?! YOU TOLD ME ELEANOR DIED IN THE MAD HOUSE A YEAR AGO!"

Turpin made sure she was through shouting before he looked back at the paper on the desk.

"Because she did, you must be confusing some beggar woman for her-"

"Don't tell me what I saw cause I know what I saw and it was Eleanor alive and breathing as sure as I'm standing here!"

Turpin looked up at her narrowing his eyes.

"If she is alive then why has she never set foot back into that house you shut up? Surely that is where she would go she'd have no where else."

Lucy rolled her eyes crossing her arms.

"She isn't that stupid Andrew, she's running a pie shop in Fleet Street with some little street rat that calls her 'mum' and a Sweeney Todd, she extended an invitation to both shops after the brat splashed me with mud, if you think im lieing then send the Beadle down there or go down yourself I don't care all I know is she isn't dead."

Before he could get a word in Lucy turned away and walked to the door stopping the maid walking down the hall telling her to bring her tea to the library along with Joanna before she left the study slamming the door behind her. Andrew watched his wife leave before he stood and went to the window behind his desk looking out over the rooftops toward where Fleet Street lay his mind wandering to the tiny auburn haired spit fire that was the exact opposite of his wife. He narrowed his eyes at the memory of seeing Nellie walk down the streets on Benjamin Barker's arm, rage bubbled up knowing the other man had stolen Nellie from him before he could even try to get close to her. If what Lucy said was true then he would see to it that Eleanor Walker was his even if it meant taking her from Fleet Street with his own hands.