Hey Guys! what's up?
I know I haven't updated in a long time. When I should be writing this chapter, I was playing tetris. So yeah, I blame tetris. XD
I hope you all enjoy this chapter. :D
Mrs. Lovett is standing in front of the mirror, looking at her swollen belly. She is three months far now into her pregnancy, and is starting to show. Soon, people will start to notice and will start asking questions. She is quite scared on how will people react about her condition- Londoners love to gossip. She already knows what to tell them, for she and Benjamin has talked about it already, yet, she does not know if they will believe her.
Also adding to her concern is David. Over the few weeks, she can tell that they have gotten considerably close. They are always in each other's company- going out for a walk, picnic, or just buying things in the market. There is something about him that makes her happy and makes her forget about Ben- which is good. That's why she is afraid to tell him of her pregnancy, because there's a big chance that he will not want anything to do with her when he finds out that she is with child.
Sighing, Mrs. Lovett walks out of her bedroom on the way to the kitchen. It will not do her good to start her day with such thoughts; she should be positive. Putting a smile on her face, she sets out the things that she will use for making her pies. She starts working on the dough- mixing the ingredients she needs to create it. She will work on the fillings later, for it is easier to do.
As she becomes engrossed with her pie making, Mrs. Lovett does not notice the person who just walks in her shop; she has the tendency to tune out her surroundings when cooking. So, she jumps from being startled, and gasps as someone encircles her waist and covers her eyes. Her hear beat is fast racing- from the shock and nervousness.
She tries to remove the hand from her eyes to see her attacker, but her attempts are in vain. Flailing also is not in the option for the person has a firm held of her on her waist. "Who's this?"
The mystery person leans towards her- her back pressed against its chest. Then, it whispers in her ears, sending shivers down her spine. "Guess who."
The baker laughs in relief and leans her head back, so it is resting on her attacker's muscular chest. "David, you scared me. I'll get you for that."
Mr. Harris laughs then removes his hand that is covering her eyes. He puts his chin on Mrs. Lovett's shoulder as he fiddles with the strings of the apron the she is wearing. "What would be my punishment, Milady?"
The baker turns around so that she is facing David. They are so close to each other that their faces are almost touching. She raises an eyebrow and lifts her hand to caress his soft hair. The way he closes his eyes and smile charmingly whenever she does this always makes her stomach do somersaults. "Well, there'll be no breakfast for you."
Both of them started eating together when the baker one day told David that she doesn't like it when she eats alone. Mr. Harris noticed the hints that Mrs. Lovett are dropping, so he asked her if she wants, he will drop by every morning to eat with her. Of course, she gladly accepted his offer. From then on, he would always go to her shop very early before he took off for work.
"No breakfast… even if I gave you these?" David grabs something from his pocket behind, and reveals to Mrs. Lovett three red roses. They are still freshly looking, except for the stems that are slightly chipped- due from being put in his pocket.
The baker beams, but quickly masks her expression by putting on a disinterested look on her face. She will not let what David did go that easily- he scared her! She shakes her head in negative, as she looks at the roses then back to Mr. Harris repeatedly with a sneer.
David sighs, looking crestfallen. He steps away from the baker; holding the roses in his hand, he starts walking towards the door, without even looking at Mrs. Lovett. "Well, if you don't want these, I guess I'll just give these to the lady down the street who wanted to go and have dinner with me. Maybe, she'll let me have one of her pies too. I heard she's a good cook too, that widow- Mrs. Mooney."
Mrs. Lovett gasps loudly- her eyes bulge and her mouth hangs open in shock. She crosses her arm, her eyebrows furrowing and soon, her face is changing into one look of anger. "Fine, give it to her! But don't you dare come back here!"
David stops in his tracks and slowly whirls around to face the baker. He is trying so hard to prevent himself from laughing out loud. He always finds Mrs. Lovett so adorable when she is angry- like now. With that pout on her face, and her arms crossed, she makes him want to kiss her. He walks towards her, stopping just a foot away. He holds out the flowers that he is carrying, smiles, and waits for her to accept it.
The baker grumpily takes the roses from David- which causes his smile to become even bigger. She is engulfed in a hug, followed by a kiss on the forehead.
"You're not yet forgiven." Mrs. Lovett murmurs, but David only embraces her even tighter.
Benjamin's day is not particularly a happy one. He wakes up late today and is welcomed by his wife who is throwing a tantrum for he has not been able to cook breakfast. And while preparing their food, he manages to drop the expensive teacup that is a gift from their wedding by Lucy's mother; he receives some shouting from his wife by this. Then, while cleaning the shards of broken glasses, he forgets the food that he is cooking, and eventually burning it. Lucy, who is really furious now, just goes to work saying she'll just eat outside.
Now, Ben is sitting on his barber chair, with no customers to attend to. He is nursing a glass of gin in his hand. He seldom drinks, but he badly needs it right now. Before, when in times like this, he will just go directly to his best friend. But now that Nellie spends her time more with David than him, he does not have anyone to talk to.
Adding to his stress, he remembers again of how a failure he is. When instead of stopping David's relationship with his best friend- by telling the man false information when he asks for advice, so that Mrs. Lovett will get annoyed with the man and just forget about him- they have become more closer than ever. In fact, he feels like Nellie forgot about him, not David.
Ben feels like he is losing the people he loves most one by one- first his wife, now his best friend. He feels so alone and lonely, now. Maybe, this is the karma that he is receiving from his infidelity. Yes, that will explain all of what's happening to him. His problems have only started arising since finding out that he impregnated Mrs. Lovett.
He sighs, slumping in his seat. He does not want to think of any negativity, it only puts his mood down. He will just visit Nellie to see how she is today. He just hopes that she is not busy at the moment; when he says busy, he means busy… with David.
He stands up, places the shot glass on the table near him, and puts on his jacket. He checks his appearance on the mirror before he finally goes down Mrs. Lovett's shop.
Once he enters the shop, he immediately sees Mrs. Lovett with David. They are both eating happily, not even noticing him. Sighing dejectedly, he makes his way to the two, making his presence known. "Good Morning."
Mrs. Lovett looks up at him, beaming. He does not know what is there to be so happy about; maybe she is having a great day. But of course, with David at her side, she's always happy.
"Ben! Come, sit here." The baker tugs at the sulking barber's shirt, making him stumble towards the seat next to her. "Me and David are just discussing going on a picnic today. Would you like to come with us?"
Ben thinks for a moment. Sure he wants to, but not with David. His day is bad enough, and he does not want to make it worse by spending it entirely with that man. So, he just has to make an excuse about not being able to come. And when it comes to making alibis, he's already an expert.
Ben puts on his best pout and puppy dog eyes, looking like a child who has lost his toy. "I'm sorry, but I am not feeling well." He coughs- for special effects. "Enjoy your day at the park." with that, he stands up ready to take a leave, but Mrs. Lovett prevents him.
"Wait, Ben! Are you alright? What's wrong with you" she is checking him for his temperature- which is normal- and is looking sickly worried. For this, Ben feels slightly guilty.
She takes the baker's hand from his forehead and holds it. He feels something in his stomach as he holds her hand- his heart also skipping a beat. He cannot explain what that feeling is, but he is sure he felt that before- when he first saw his wife, that is. "I think I'm fine. Don't let me hinder you from your plans."
"You think you're fine!? Ben, stop this nonsense. We can always go any other day. Right, David?" Mrs. Lovett looks at Mr. Harris for his approval, and he just nods. She turns back her attention to Benjamin. "Just stay here and I'll take care of you. Go to the parlor and rest there. Have you eaten yet?"
Ben, without meaning to do it, accidentally takes a glance at David. He sees that the man looks annoyed, and he guesses that it's because of the attention that the baker is giving him. He bolts upright, frightening Mrs. Lovett. He suddenly has an idea. If David does not want it when Nellie gives him more attention than him, then they will just have to fight for her attention. But for now, he is winning, so he's got to put his best act.
"No, I haven't. I burned our food and I was just too tired to cook again." he says, coughing a little bit more. He puts his hands around himself and rubs on his arms, making the baker think that he is cold- which he is not.
Mrs. Lovett, buying the act, stands up and takes Ben's hand. She pulls him up and drags him towards the parlor. She pushes Ben to the sofa and disappears for a moment, only to come back with a pile of blanket. "Lay down, Ben. These will keep you warm."
Benjamin follows what the baker has told him. He lies down on the sofa, making himself comfortable. Then, when he finds the perfect position, he nods to Mrs. Lovett and she starts putting the blankets over him. Once she is done, she tells him to wait and she will just prepare some soup for him. He only smiles in response.
Ben is grinning. When just a while ago he is feeling sad and alone, now it is the exact opposite. It is good to know that Nellie will still choose him over David. It really makes him happy to know that she has not forgotten about him. At least he has not lost the baker, unlike his wife, whom he is sure has given up on him.
He wonders if Lucy will fuss about him if he is really sick right now. Will she take care of him like Nellie does? He bets she will not. Even before, all his wife can do when he is sick is to tell him that he will be okay. She cannot even bring herself to cook him soup- for she does not know how to. She only sits at his side and waits for him to feel better- though he appreciates all of this, of course.
Mrs. Lovett comes back holding a tray of food. She sets it down to the table across the sofa and asks David to move it near Benjamin. "Here you go, dear. Finish this, okay?"
Ben goes in a sitting position to eat. He smiles shyly at Mrs. Lovett, twirling his hands together. His eyes are cast downward; he looks ashamed. He does not reach for his food immediately, just sit there looking like that.
The baker notices Ben's odd behavior and becomes more worried. Her brows furrows. She takes a seat beside him and asks. "What is it? What's wrong? Don't you want it?"
Ben shakes his head- no. biting the bottom of his lip, he makes a request. "Will you… feed me? I'm too cold, I cannot-"
He is cut off by what he is saying by the baker's finger on his lips- effectively shutting his mouth. She is chuckling while she reaches for the bowl of soup. Once she gets it, she takes a scoop and softly blows on the food, making sure that it will not burn Ben's tongue. Ben opens his mouth as Mrs. Lovett lifts the spoon, ready to devour the soup. They proceed to do this repeatedly until there is no more left of the food.
Both the barber and the baker have been engrossed with the company of each other that they have forgotten of the other person in the room. Well actually, Ben takes a glance at David once in a while as Mrs. Lovett is feeding him. He is glad to see the brooding man across the room, watching them with jealousy in his eyes.
He is back on the top of the game, and he thinks he knows just how he will win.
TilenaForever - Hey girl! thank you for your kind words. I must admit that I was fangirling when I read your review. haha... :P
xfoundmyselfinwonderlandx - hope you enjoyed this chapter! :D
Madamelestrange - Thank you for pointing out my mistakes. I already fixed them XD
Reviews are L.O.V.E.