The Return To Fleets Street

The threat

Mrs Lovett sat sitting at the wooden dinning table beside her daughter in silence. Mae was busy playing with her new dolls Sweeney had brought her on yet another market trip they took earlier today. It had been two days now since Sweeney had presented her with her new dress and nightwear. As grateful as she was that still didn't change matters between them. They didn't talk much and when they did it was already awkward.

Nellie was feeling a lot better now. She was holding down meals and had been sleeping so much more peacefully now. Mae had moved back into her room with her mother while Sweeney was back to sleeping on the settee. He didn't mind, in fact he was happy Nellie felt comfortable in his bed and that his daughter could share the large bed with her.

It seemed Mae had built up a loving relationship with her father. So much so that it was almost like she preferred spending time with him then her, at least that's how Nellie saw it. Mrs Lovett had to admit she was feeling rather left out almost hurt that Mae wanted Sweeney to read her a bed time story and not her or cuddle up with him when it should be her. In fact she didn't like it at all....

Cooking their dinner Sweeney threw a dirty towel over his shoulder and picked up two plates of food. He walked over and placed their dinner in front of them and smiled toward little Mae as her face lit up in delight. She always loved dinner time, she had never experienced food like this and he certainly was a good cook.

"Thank you Daddy" She gleamed at him which Mrs Lovett was quick to notice.

Nellie gulped and met Sweeney's eyes before thanking him too quietly.

"You look lovely Eleanore" he said softly noticing she was wearing her new dress for the first time. He then collected his own plate of food and joined them at the table.

"Just when did ya learn to cook like this? Ya never were much of a cook" She asked changing the subjected before stabbing her fork into a potato.

He sensed she seemed a little upset, why he didn't know.

"I taught myself, brought some cook books and practiced" Sweeney explained watching closely as Mrs Lovett pouted as she pushed her food around the plate. So that's what he had been doing while she had been crawling about the dirty streets of London trying to keep herself and Mae alive....

"It's yummy daddy, thank you for my dolls I love them" Mae smiled brightly cutting into her food with her knife and fork.

"Anything for you my sweet" he replied.

This had Mrs Lovett seething. It was all very well him spoiling her with gifts and new clothes acting like he is the perfect father. Well it was her that had to sleep with horrible perverted men just to keep Mae alive. She had suffered so much and yet she was the one feeling cast aside while 'daddy' spoils her with toys that she could never afford. She felt suddenly sick again.

"Mummy are you okay?" Mae whispered to her noticing how she hadn't touched her food. Sweeney looked up too seeing her eyes filling up with tears.

"Fine" she said bluntly keeping her eyes on her plate.

"Do you want to hear what me and Daddy did today? We went to the park...played games..."

"STOP!" Nellie snapped banging her fist hard on the table that all the cutlery clattered loudly making Mae cower in fright.

Sweeney frowned deeply towards her as she stood from the table and walked out of the kitchen back towards her bedroom. Mae chewed nervously on her bottom lip as she looked towards her daddy who watched Mrs Lovett storm off.

As soon as she closed the door behind her she collapsed into tears her shoulders shaking violently. She hated yelling at Mae but her hatred for Sweeney was making her go crazy. Mae loved him when in reality she didn't know the truth of what a monster he actually was. At least that was Nellies opinion.