Habits

Questions

Sweeney was recovering, he spent his days in his shop staring out the window thinking.  After he had awoken Nellie had him seeing a therapist, she paid for their visits frequently.  Even though it was quite expensive it was worth it seeing Todd getting better and better as the days went by.  It had been over three months since Todd's "accident" and he started eating and drinking more.  He was beginning to show a more cheerful side of himself.  Obviously not constantly as he would never be Benjamin again but to Nellie it didnt matter.  Unfortunately he hadn't talked to her all day, for the past week he seemed to be growing colder and more confused.  If it was that damn therapist she would fire him on the spot.  Of course she didn't know what was going on upstairs in his shop.

Todd stood in his shop fiddling with his tie.  He felt uncomfortable dressed so fashionably but he ignored it.  He had been talking to his therapist about his feelings for Mrs. Lovett during the past week and Doctor Gale suggested he talk to her.  Sweeney was resistant at first as he had never been the romantic type but he eventually caved.

His feelings for the baker had gotten stronger and though he hid it well it scared him.  He hadn't cared for anyone else like this since Lucy.

Therapy had been helping however.  Doctor Gale or James as Sweeney addressed him was slowly helping him get over Lucy.  When James had suggested that Sweeney take Eleanore to dinner the barber was skeptical.  He was still grieving his wife and Anthony had left London with Johanna just a few days after Todd had killed the judge, which James of course didn't know so Sweeney was dealing with it alone.  But after a few days of encouragement Sweeney had given in and was now upstairs eyeing himself in the cracked mirror.  A bouquet of gilly flowers and daisies laid on the desk near his hand.

Sweeney growled when he yet again saw his tie move out of place.  He straightened it cursing under his breath when he same hr was wearing one of his bloodstained shirts.  He ripped off the tie and began angrily unbuttoning the shirt he was frustrated enough that he didn't hear the bell ring behind him.  He turned to throw the shirt over his chair and froze when he saw who was standing in the doorway holding a pile of clean shirts.

"S-sir?"

"Yes Toby?" Sweeney asked trying to hide his fear that the boy had seen the blood, whislt coming up with an excuse if he had.

"Ya got blood on ya sleeve." The boy said a look if horror plastered on his face.

Shit he had seen.

"Don't worry lad I just cut my arm." Sweeney said, hesitantly showing the scars on his arm to the boy who looked at him still worried.

"Mum told me to give ya these shirts."  Tobg said, to Todd's relief not asking any questions.

Sweeney nodded and took the shirts from him quickly pulling one on and buttoning it as quickly as he could.  Toby turned to leave but Todd place his hand on the boy's shoulder.  He turned around and Sweeney started talking.

"Before you leave lad why don't you tell me how your trip with Anthony and Johanna was."

Mentioning this Toby's eyes lit up and he started talking about it all.  Todd was annoyed hearing all the fun Toby had had with his daughter in France but he pushed through it knowing he had to take the boys mind off of what he'd just seen.

The boy had finally left and Sweeney fumbled with his tie yet again.  Once he had figured out his clothes he looked exasperatedly at his hair.  He flattened it out with his hands and walked backwards to view himself fully in the mirror.  He accepted the finished look and reached for the flowers.

Nellie sat in a booth next to Toby who was begging her for a sip of gin.  She shook her head, giving in and sliding her glass over to the young boy.  He grinned and took a sip savoring it with his eyes closed.

"Alrighty mister time for ya to go to bed." Mrs. Lovett's said grabbing the nearly empty glass from him.

Disappointed he didn't get to finish the gin Toby whined.

"Do I 'avta mum?"

"Yes dear, now go on to bed with you."

He dragged his feet towards his room with his arms crossed and just as she heard the lock on his door slide into place the door opened and Sweeney walked in.

He was wearing one of his new shirts, a black tie, which Nellke immediately noticed wasn't tied correctly, and a pair of black trousers.  He looked at her awkwardly his hands behind his back, debating what to say.

"Nellie," he started only then realizing he didn't have anymore of his speech planned.  Blushing slightly he continued.  "I don't... well I don't normally do this but, I've been talking to James about... a topic I hadn't thought of in a while and he suggested I do this.  As I've said before I have," he coughed awkwardly making Nellie giggle.

"You have?" She asked encouraging him to continue.

"I have feelings for you," his face was flushed, "And I figured it only made sense to you out to dinner."

Nellie looked at him surprised, she hadn't expected to be asked out.  Her eyes widened as he removed his hands from behind his back revealing a beautiful bouquet of gilly flowers and daisies.

"So?" Sweeney said as she gasped happily.

"Yes!" She breathed running towards him and throwing her arms around his neck.