I'm Your Friend Too, Mr. Todd

Baby steps

Johanna had her arm wrapped around her lover's, admiring the many old castle-like buildings. In her opinion, Deauville was a much nicer place than London, the air was fresh and she felt free from the fancy prison she was kept in for fifteen years. She couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief as she embraced the city around her.

She turned around and saw Mrs. Lovett not too far away from her who was also looking at her surroundings but she had more of a sad look. She also spotted her father who was way behind of them and she feared he would get lost.

"Maybe we should stop to eat somewhere. I'm sure there's a nice restaurant we can eat somewhere" Anthony piped up. Johanna nodded, she was starting to feel hungry. She could only guess her father and Mrs. Lovett were hungry too, especially with how skinny they look as if they haven't eaten anything in months.

***

Lunch was slightly awkward, it was mainly Johanna, Anthony and Nellie that were talking. Sweeney remained silent with occasional grunts if either Johanna or Anthony asked him anything. Meanwhile Nellie did her best to keep her distance from the barber and have no contact with him. But with him being so close to her (although he only sat across from her in the seats they were placed in) they were close enough, and she wasn't sure if she was comfortable with it or not.

"We should be settled in soon and have our wedding in a month, how's that my love?" Anthony asked Johanna.

Sweeney almost choked on his soup at the sailor's words. Marriage?!

Everyone turned their attention to the barber. "Father, is everything alright?" Johanna asked him.

He could only nod as he cleared his throat. Nellie couldn't help but be a little concerned, and she knew why he reacted that way.

"I need to go," was all Sweeney could say and he stepped out of the restaurant. Johanna turned to the remaining group, "I hope he's okay" she said worryingly.

"He should be fine. I think he's just a lil shocked that the two of you are engaged," Nellie replied. Johanna's eyes suddenly grew wide and she placed her head down as if she was guilty of something. "Oh how foolish of me, I should have told him earlier" she was about to get up from her seat when both Nellie and Anthony stood up.

"It's okay, darling. I'm sure he'll understand," Anthony soothed.

"I'll talk to him," the baker suggested. She really didn't feel like talking to Sweeney, and he probably doesn't want to talk to her either but someone needs to talk to him and she would rather have the barber yell at her than his daughter.

"You really don't have to. I know you're not on good terms with him," the blonde answered but Nellie stood up and left the restaurant to confront the barber.

It didn't take her long to find him leaning against a brick wall in an alleyway not too far from the restaurant they were dining in, so she slowly approached him, and as she got closer she could hear him muttering to himself. Nellie made a mental note to be careful when confronting him as he might pounce on her since he doesn't seem to be himself.

"Mr. Todd..." she said quietly and Sweeney turned around angrily. "How many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone!" He roared. Nellie stepped back a little.

"She's going to leave me again! I'm going to lose her again! I should have killed that damn sailor the moment he mentioned her name!" Sweeney crouched to the floor and placed his hands on his face as he let out a low frustrated growl. Nellie turned to the exit of the alley to make sure no one was eavesdropping on what Sweeney just shouted and then dropped to the floor next to the barber.

"Don't say that. If it weren't for the lad, who would have rescued Johanna from that horrid asylum?" She asked.

"I would have done it myself if that boy didn't get in the way of my plans! He already ruined my first attempt at murdering the judge and now he's taking away my only child! The only family I have left alive!" Nellie turned to the exit of the alley again to check for a second time no one was listening to them and then faced Sweeney again. "I'm sure Johanna would let you visit. It's not like it's the end of the world, and she did say she wants to connect with you. Besides..."