Chapter 7: Explanations and Attraction

Note: Explanations is Sweeney's half of the chapter, Attraction is Lovett's. So let's start the chapter with Johanna being told things and end with an officer's attraction to a baker. Any bold will be flashbacks

We arrived late at night. After we made arrangements for Johanna to sleep, I told her I would explain things to her. I would try to keep killing people a secret for now. I woke up and turned to the stand next to my bed. I grabbed my picture of my family and got out of bed. I pulled on my trousers and made sure my razors were secure.

I saved her my angle, I thought as I stroked her face in my picture. I can't wait for her to be able to meet you too. She looks so much like you my love. Everyone deserves to die, but you two are an exception. But first there are things our baby must know. I smiled at the picture and put it under my arm.

I walked out into the living room to see Anthony and Johanna holding each other on the couch. "So when your friend wakes up, he has something to tell me?" "Yes Johanna he does." They both leaned toward each other and brushed their lips against each other. I didn't really want to see Anthony and my daughter kissing on the couch. "Good morning Anthony" I said, sending him a glare.

He and Johanna pulled apart quickly. "Good morning," they both said, turning red. "Johanna," I began, "I have something I must explain to you." I motioned for Anthony to get off the couch, and he complied. I sat down next to her. "What is it Mr?" she asked me.

"What do you know about your parents?" I began. "My father was arrested for breaking into the judge's home, and my mother went insane afterwards and became a beggar." I sighed expecting that answer. I knew how I should begin this. "Those things are somewhat true but not in the way you believe" I said. "What do you mean sir?"

"Your father was sentenced on a false charge because your caretaker wanted your mother for himself. He is innocent of the crime he is accused of, Johanna." "But how do you know this sir?" I sighed and gave her my picture. "That's a picture of my mother," she told me. "I know because Turpin has one of her."

My fist clenched at her saying that. "But how do you have a picture of mum and me as a baby?" She looked at me and noticed the sad look on my face. "You, you are my father aren't you?" "Yes Johanna, my baby, I am Benjamin Barker." "Daddy" her eyes started to water.

"What about my mother then?" "She tried to take care of you after I was sent away," I continued. "But the judge refused to stop trying to court her. One night he tricked her into coming to a party where he would apologize, only to drug her and force himself upon her. And his fellow rich bastards did NOTHING to help her, NOTHING!" Johanna looked at me horrified.

"Her mind broke that day" I continued. "Her mind could no longer handle everything and she became suicidal. She took Arsenic from the apothecary and couldn't overpower the suicidal thoughts and tried to poison herself." "And that led to my adoption by Turpin?" I nodded to her fantasizing of the judges last breath. My girl began to cry.

I held her to comfort her, finally holding my girl to me again. "She survived, but it shattered the last of her sanity and she became a beggar." She tightened her grip on me. "Can we help her somehow?" she sobbed. "I don't know my flower, but we will try." I turned to Anthony and he nodded.

"We need to lay low again for a while" He told us. "They will be searching for Johanna now too. "I agree," Johanna said. "But when the time is right, we will find her," I said. (Meanwhile, with Robert.) I was heading to Fleet street, as I was told the pies there were quite good.

Once I arrived I entered the emporium and saw Mrs Lovett. She, I couldn't help but notice, was an attractive woman. She wore a black dress that really fit her body well, her hips were wide, and she filled out the dress well in other aspects too. We were alone at the time. She looked up as she lifted a bag of flour on the table. I was impressed she had the strength to lift it so easily.

Though she probably had gotten used to lifting heavy bags of flour as a baker who seemed to work alone. (Mrs Lovett's POV.) I noticed a handsome officer, one of the ones that took Benjamin away, staring at me. He looked good in his uniform, and looked like he had some muscle underneath. I leaned forward lifting my rear in the air, pushing my cleavage up on the table. I saw his jaw drop at this, and I smirked.

"Do you want a pie sir?" I asked. He nodded and I brought one out to him. "So you knew Benjamin Barker?" he asked me. "I did, I was in love with him actually, but he married Lucy" I answered. "Must be hard to have fallen for a criminal," He told me. "It actually surprised me what he became" I lied.

"He seemed like such a nice man before he broke into the judge's home. This was a man who could barely hold his liquor and I overpowered once, though he was pretty drunk then. But Sweeney Todd seemed so much tougher than Benjamin, so finding out they were one in the same was bizarre." "Did he try to do something to you when you claimed you overpowered him once." "Oh no" I said. I was on my way to the bar for some Gin.

Not a lot of women drink, but I was always more of a tomboy even as a girl anyway. I'd rather outdrink a sailor than sew. I saw my beloved Benjamin as I entered the bar. He was at a table drunk out of his mind. I reasoned he must be worried about the wedding to that Lucy woman. I sat at the table with him.

"Mr Barker, you know you can't hold your liquor" I laughed. "Oh no!" He slurred, smiling at me. "Nope I can outdrink you even." "I'm a man aren't I, I can hold it" he joked. "Well maybe I'm more of a man then you" I smirked. "Want to test that theory" he said still with that happy drunk smirk."

He put his elbow on the table. He was clearly drunk as he wouldn't normally challenge anyone to arm wrestle. I'd better warn you, I said clasping hands with him, I'm not a dainty woman like your Lucy. Our arms battled for about a minute before his arm moved back some. He managed to push back to that start but I upped the pressure. Unfortunately for him being a barber wasn't that full of hard labor, while I had to carry heavy bags of flour.

He moaned as I pushed his arm back. With a grunt I slammed his arm down. We both laughed. "Ok you're more of a man" he giggled. "So I could overpower him at some point, I've always been a strong woman, but he is so much stronger now." "That was a funny story. My name is Robert by the way."

"Eleanor Lovett." "When you close, could I come back to see you?" "We'll have dinner love" call it a date." I walked over to him swaying my hips seductively as I agreed. "Oh and sweetheart be ready, because I will make you drool." "I better go make my patrols" he stuttered.

I smirked as he left. He wasn't as sexy as Sweeney, but still. If she could get him on my side, he would be a great help at dealing with Sweeney, that is if Sweeney didn't come by to find Lucy and be killed by me. I will avenge you Toby, I guarantee.

Note: I know, I know I had them arm wrestle in Sweeney vs Nellie, I'm sorry. And it's not like there aren't dozens of fics that depict her as a physically strong woman right. I promise they won't arm wrestle again in this fic ok. Next will be another time skip, as Sweeney and the others wait for things to slow down. Lucy is coming in the next chapter, and Sweeney and Lovett will have their first clash since she forced him and Anthony to flee.