,,Good evening Mrs. Lovett.''
,,Oh fer bloody….I mean good evening Judge Turpin. You frightened me…'' Nellie twitched as her shop entered judge.
,,My greatest apologies,'' he smiled wickedly.
,,You know, tis is not the first time, when you entered my shop without warning…frightening me up,'' she looked deep in his eyes.
,,Oh, yes. That night. Already 15 years ago. You have not aged a day, dear Mrs. Lovett,'' still smiling he stepped closely.
,,Thank you Mr. Turpin. I think Mr. Todd is awaiting you,'' she said backing away, not realizing what she just said.
,,Anthony with Johanna are already here, you're saying,'' he asked slowly, looking around.
,,Oh no. Me silly head, fer me bakin' I forgot 'bout this. Yes Mr. Todd said 'e is going somewhere and I shall watch till' Anthony arrives…'' she said her hands trembling slightly.
,,Alright so we have some time, right ?'' he smiled stepping closely again.
,,Yes Mr. Turpin,'' she nodded, knowing what comes.
,,I think Mr. Bamford had announced to you , you shall wait for my company ?''
,,'E announced,'' she nodded again her head slightly folding down, not meeting his eyes.
,,You are a very beautiful woman Mrs. Lovett. I realized that, that night when I came for my Johanna. You always were a very beautiful woman. I wanted to tell you after Lucy Barker, but she disappeared. You always were something more than she was !'' he was right in front of her now, his index finger pushing her chin up, forcing her to face him.
This really aback Mrs. Lovett. He said she was something more than Lucy…but immediately she get back to reality, because for this man was every woman who allowed him-even those who allowed not-to get under their skirts, something more for a moment of pleasure.
,,How you were…guiding Johanna. Your figure protecting me from taking her from you, your fighting body, your strong grip on my forearms when I ripped her from you. Your screams haunting my dreams for 15 years. And now, finally I get the best circumstances to invite your shop again. In good this time-'' he was eyeing her from head to toe during all his long monolog until his lips get closest to hers.
She looked in his eyes full of lust and desire. And she knew what she must do to get him where Sweeney wanted him. And she wanted him to suffer, for everything what he was talking about and thinking about.
,,So you are sain' you were dreaming of me , hmm ?'' she pressed herself roughly to him, surprising him that much he cocked his head up in shock. Her body pressing to his, she could feel his desire for her. Looking up innocently in his eyes.
,,Yes…'' he breathed looking down at small woman.
,,You were theoretical sleeping with me , right ?'' she continued a slight grin coming to her face, as she shifted her body on his making him growl.
,,Yes,'' he choked a little. ,,And I want to practiced it !'' his lips going down on her, but she skillfully avoid his kiss, teasingly breathing to his ear.
,,Want to practiced it, right now ?'' her grin get wilder.
,,Yes Mrs. Lovett, where is your parlor ?'' he pressed her to her counter.
Her eyes widening ,,N-no…not parlor !''
,,Why ?'' Judge asked confusedly and suspiciously.
She couldn't figure out any other answer than ,,Beadle Bamford…is sleeping there…I couldn't get 'im away, so I let 'im ta sleep in me parlor.''
Judge growled angrily ,,then I shall get him away, he has no business to be still here !''
,,Hush love, no anger is need,'' she continued in her game, petting his cheek. ,, As I said, Mr. T. is gone , so we could 'ave some nice time in 'is shop, until Beadle is sleeping in me parlor, you can throw 'im out later…'' she winked wickedly.
,,That's a marvelous idea Mrs. Lovett, you always been a clever woman I was saying that all the time !'' he smiled trying to kiss her again, this time he managed it. She squeezed her eyes when his rough tongue fought its way in her mouth. He tasted like tobacco with some spicy alcohol. Almost choking her he let her mouth and breaking the kiss, she gasped for breath. When he was about to try it again she quickly stopped him.
,,Then let's go up there until Anthony comes with Johanna,'' moving her hips further to his, making him growl more loudly this time.
,,Yes,'' he followed her and she knew from now she's saved.
They rushed upstairs, she tried to do the most loud sounds she could to let Sweeney know about it. She opened his shop and saw him swiftly turning to her.
,,Mr. Todd, you're 'ere ?!'' she pretend her surprise, winking at him before judge stepped behind her. She turned to him ,,I'm sorry Mr. Turpin.''
,,Nothing my dear, well, I'll wait for Johanna right here then with Mr. Todd, can I ?'' he asked politely in Todd's direction. Pretending like nothing happened.
Sweeney grinned with delight. ,,Of course sir, good evening sir. What about…a shave , until Johanna arrives ?''
,,I'd love that…'' judge stepped into his shop.
Nellie closed the door, taking a deep breath. From now she knew , it's in Sweeney's hands and she is free…She rushed back downstairs to her shop.
,,Mrs. Lovett-'' shouted Anthony, and when Nellie heard him sooner then saw him, she quickly hushed him.
,,-Anthony, fer bloody Lord ! Hush ! You want ta ruin everythin' ?'' she saw a little man beside him. She very well recognized after few looks, that it's not a man, but Johanna.
,,Come with me in me parlor, quick !'' she pushed them away from her shop.
When they were sitting beside her table in her parlor she finally did what she was asked to from Sweeney. She gently woke up sweetly sleeping Toby and letting him to hear everything from the beginning until now.
,,So it was you ?'' Johanna smiled at weeping Mrs. Lovett. She brought back all the pain so she could bury it more deeper and for forever. And tears just washed it from her heart.
,,'Ow do you mean me, love ?'' she smiled confused, tears sparkling in her eyes.
,,That woman who judge was still talking about, and I thought your voice is familiar to me…''
,,But , that is impossible deary, you were one and half year old baby when-''
,,-but I do remember on you. I thought you were my mother…but now I know who my mother was, and how much she loved me. But she's …'' she start weeping too.
,,That's okay sweet Johanna, your aunt Nellie is 'ere fer ya,'' she smiled and held Johanna's hand.
,,I remember on your voice…you were guiding me on those nights I was the most scared and you don't even know it…''
,,How ?'' Nellie looked more confused.
She understood in moment Johanna start humming a lullaby with closed eyes.
In that moment Toby looked at her start singing ,, Nothing's gonna harm you. Not while I'm around…Demons are prowling everywhere nowadays. No one's gonna hurt you , no one's gonna dare. Other can desert you. Not to worry whistle I'll be there ! Demons'll charm you with a smile for a while, but in time, nothing can harm you…''
,,Not while I'm around,'' sang Nellie with Toby and Johanna together. A tears filling her eyes again.
,,Oh me sweet children,'' she quickly stepped to them hugging them close.
,,Now everything make sense !'' Johanna contentedly smiled hugging Mrs. Lovett tighter.
,,Now ya all 'ave family !'' Nellie looked at all three. ,,And if you will agree, your father want us ta escape…to the seaside. All. As a family. If you will forgive 'im.''
,,If I forgive him ? He is my father…until now I haven't father. I had a demon ! Who tried many times to rape me !'' Johanna sniffed in the memory.
,,Tried ?'' Nellie pet her cheek.
,,Yes, but I always spoiled it and he end up angry on himself…'' Johanna nodded.
,,But your father was one time a demon too by killing-''
,,But he always loved me even when he couldn't see me or tell it to me. I love him, and I love you,'' Johanna hugged Nellie again. ,, And he had a good reasons for killing those people…Thank God, he will finish with Judge too. And from now…I have a family…and I don't want to leave my family ever again !''
,,I'd love to stay with you…in family,'' Anthony finally get to word.
,,Ah thank Lord,'' Nellie sighed. ,,Alright alright. Now listen closely. Everything's gonna be alright. We will be happy together, by the sea…but first…you stay 'ere. I'll go check Sweeney. It's an awful long time. You must stay 'ere. Don't open the doors to anyone except me or Mr. Todd yes ? Lock yourself and wait fer me !'' she smiled at them and then closed doors.
Alright Nellie, you did it. And they reacted better then you expected. Now just…look for Sweeney…she stepped upstairs. Gently knocking on the door of his shop.
,,It's me love, Nellie…'' door quickly open and hand tugged her in before closing again.
,,Where are they ? Are they already there ? How-'' Sweeney hurriedly asked.
,,Yes, love, everything is done. Johanna said she loves you…and me too…I told them everything as you wished. They want to go by the sea with us… Wh-where is judge ?''
,,Done,'' Sweeney collapsed exhausted on the floor. Nellie followed him.
,,Done ? In the bakehouse ?'' she stroked his cheek.
,,Yes. Oh Nellie. I'm so happy,'' he tugged her closer even when he was all from blood, he kissed her lovingly.
,,Now all will be well dear,'' she kissed him back.
,,Yes !'' Sweeney nuzzled to his Nellie.
,,Johanna said, you had a good reasons fer killing those strangers. And she said you are not demon. She was facing real demon for 15 years. Judge…'e tried ta rape her,'' she was stroking his cheek while his face was half buried in her neck.
,,And he failed ?'' looking worriedly in Nellies eyes.
,,Yes. Your daughter is much more clever than you think,'' she smiled at him as he breathed in relief and cuddled again to her neck.
,,Thank you Nellie…for everything. For my shop, for telling them, for helping me, for…you. You are what I need now, to be happy…to be complete,'' he kissed her lovingly.
,,Oh Sweeney…'' she sighed happily into their kiss.
,,You don't even know how that bastard was talking about you, until I end his monologue !''
,,'Ow ? 'E was talking 'bout me ?''
,,Yes…he was melting under your picture…he was sighing when he was telling me, about those 15 years, dreaming of you. About your figure, as he know you perfectly , every time he saw you on market, he eyed you many times, until you disappeared. He said how he heard your voice always when Johanna cried at night…reminding him your cries. He was talking about you for a long while, until he said ''It's very rare to came upon man with same taste…about women'' and at that moment I couldn't take more…''
Nellie watched him shocked. ,,And what did you do ?''
,,I told him…told him, you are not another trophy for his block of skirt of London…told him you are loving woman, who loved me, even when I was blind, and I'm glad I finally found my vision…told him, I'm not going to repeat that awful mistake…told him I WAS Benjamin Barker. And then he get what he deserved for everything…'' Sweeney collapsed more to Nellie's arms.
,,Love…'' she breathed, scooting him closer.
,,Nellie ? I really love you. And I'm so sorry, that it took so long for me to finally realize it and tell it to you…'' he looked deep in her eyes, holding her cheeks, forcing her to look at him.
,,Love, you don't have to be…I love you…come 'ere my sweet barber,'' she kissed him lovingly, caringly. ,,Everything is done now,'' she pet his back as she hugged him closer and he cuddled to her.
,,I'll never let you go I promise !''
,,I know, Sweeney,'' she closed her eyes smiling.
They sat on floor in his barber shop for a long while, hugging together. Nellie broke the silence.
,,Johanna remember on me…one could think it's impossible since she was only one year old, but she does…''
,,How ?'' Sweeney smiled at her.
,,She remember my lullaby that I used to sang to 'er, that lullaby I sing to Toby now. My rich aunt Nettie…from the seaside…she taught it to me,'' Nellie smiled dreamily.
,,And Johanna remember on that ?''
,,Mhmm…I was guiding her when she was the most scared during those 15 years…as she told me,'' Nellie watched pleased Sweeney.
,,You should teach me this lullaby too…or sing it right now, because I don't have that courage to go down and meet them,'' his head fell down in her lap helplessly.
She thought for a while ,,you're a strong man. You defeated more than judge and beadle…you defeated your past and your inner demons…than you are strong enough to face your 16 year old daughter who loves you,'' she pushed him back up, holding his shoulders to avoid his fall.
Sweeney looked deep in her eyes, finding his strength there, right there in her smile. He stood up helping her too.
,,Where are they ?'' he smiled in relief.
,,Locked in me parlor. I told them to lock themselves for sure,'' she rubbed his chest.
,,So, she said she forgives me ?''
,,She said there is nothing to forgive, and that she loves you !''
,,Alright. And Anthony ? Toby ?''
,,All of them want to go away from London. With us. As a family ,'' her smile comforting him.
,,Then we should quickly get out of here. But first let's burn those two rats in your bakehouse hmm,'' he chuckled.
Nellie's eyes sparkled as he kissed her lovingly. Now all will be well.