I'm Your Friend Too, Mr. Todd

An awkward reunion

They all stared at each other not knowing what to say, Sweeney mainly was the one who was speechless but eventually Nellie went up and greeted the young couple.

"Ello dears! What a surprise to see ya" she said, it really was a surprise. She expected them to be some place farther like America or something that wasn't too close to England.

"Hello ma'am, surprised to see you too" Anthony replied politely, Johanna staying behind him and clutching his arm tightly as she made eye contact with the barber.

Catherine and Audrey looked at them curious to know who they are, "are these friends of yours?" Audrey asked and Nellie nodded.

Anthony stuck out his hand, "a pleasure to meet you ladies" he said politely and Audrey was the first to stick her hand out and shake it. "I'm Audrey and this is my friend Catherine" she said sweetly.

"Are you from here?" Catherine asks. Sweeney and Nellie could see Johanna mutter something to Anthony who quickly says, "yes, we just returned from vacation" an obvious lie, though it was probably for the best if they didn't actually say the truth. News has probably spread quickly about the disappearance of Judge Turpin's ward, let alone his death and if she was involved in it.

"Oh that's lovely!" Audrey exclaimed.

"How are you to doing?" Nellie asks them, she was curious to know how Johanna was feeling, Sweeney was probably curious as well though he has said nothing during this whole time since they got off the ship.

"We're doing fine, we're about to return to one of the inns. Perhaps you would like to join us for lunch later on if you have the time," the sailor asks the former barber and baker but before they could answer, Johanna muttered something to him. She looked terrified and was squeezing his arm. Anthony looked at her with confusion and asked her what's wrong and she whispered something in his ear that made everyone raise their brows.

Anthony turned to the group after a few moments of his small talk with the girl, "uh we must be on our, she's tired from the trip. Um, I hope to see you later" and the young couple left.

"They seem nice, lovely man he is although that girl is a bit strange. She looks as if she's never met a person in her life," Audrey retorted and Sweeney gave a silent glare at her, how dare that filthy whore say such things about his daughter. If only she knew where she came from. Although something twitched inside of him, seeing his daughter's face for the first time in fifteen years, he feels like he's seen that face before. He thought hard, ignoring whatever conversation the baker and women were having and suddenly it hit him and he fell to the ground, his hands covering his face while his knees hit the pavement.

He couldn't believe what he almost did before he fled London. That young 'boy' that entered his shop, was not a boy at all but his own daughter.

Nellie and the ladies were startled seeing Sweeney suddenly collapse onto the ground, breathing heavily slightly as if he had no oxygen.

"Mr. Todd? What's wrong?" Nellie asked worryingly, the two women beside her weren't sure what to do but Catherine asked if she should call a doctor but Nellie refused and told them to leave them be.

"Are you sure? Do you need any help to calm him?" Audrey queried but Nellie assured her they will be alright. After all, this wasn't the first time Sweeney has broken down. She just hopes he'll allow her to get close to him and ask him what's wrong and the two women reluctantly left them.

At this point the barber was making a scene as pedestrians stared at him as they walked by. Sweeney was now mumbling words and rocking himself as if he was some lunatic from an asylum. Nellie crouched down to his level and asked him what was wrong but the only words she got were, "I almost killed her!" "My little lamb, what have I done!" "I didn't know it was her..."