A/N: I'm really sorry. I was planning on getting this to yesterday but I ended up pretty much passing out around 7:00. Anyway I have another note to add to the end of this chapter thats important so please read it. Anyway enjoy the story.
Eleanore gasped as Toby and Johanna entered the room supporting a limping man. She stared at him with a mix of concern, fear, and confusion until she saw it. Through the blood and scars the man in front of her was Sweeney. He didn't meet her gaze, instead staring at the ground.
"He said he wouldn't tell us what happened unless we let him talk to you." Johanna said quietly, obviously shocked by her fathers appearance.
No words escaped Nellie's mouth as Toby and Johanna helped Sweeney into the chair that sat next to her bed. Finally looking up he stared at Johann's expectantly and the two were left alone. It was a moment before they turned to each other, neither daring to speak. The uncomfortable silence that filled the room was finally interrupted by Sweeney's deep, quiet voice.
"I know what you say is true. I am a fool. I'm the biggest fool I know. I started a fight I knew I would lose and look at me now. God, Nellie I had a life. A family, one I care about more that anything and I left that behind because of a stupid argument. And look at my past. Look at what I've done to you. I would react badly to the slightest hint of hesitance, you'd bend awkwardly to suit my mood no wired from your defense. I'd yell knowing that it felt like acid burning through your skin. I pushed evert single button but the right one that let me in. I know now why its impossible to forgive a monster like me." His voice was cracked and he looked back to the ground, "I can no longer blame you for hating me."
Nellie stayed quiet, she couldn't think of what to say. She knew his apology was sincere but that didn't make up for everything he'd done. It didn't make anything hurt less. He'd made her cry so many times without caring. Maybe he truly loved her but she found no answer to the question she had asked herself so many times. Do you love him? For years on end the answer had so easily been yes, but now she didn't know, "Thank you," she whispered turning away from him, "but please leave me alone."
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"Started a stupid fight and they took it further than it had to go. I was on my way back here and they were there. In sure you know the rest."
Johanna looked at him sadly, some people could be so cruel. She could understand a black eye but her father had a lot more than that. Before he'd changed his shirt was splattered in blood and torn to shreds. He had bruises in his legs, chest, neck, face, and his lip had a deep gash. Johanna had helped wash off the blood and clean the cuts and her father looked far better than he had an hour ago when he'd shown up.
She'd noticed how quiet he'd been when he stumbled out of Mrs. Lovett's room and she knew something must've happened but she couldn't leave her father alone in his condition. The room was now silent beside their quiet breathing. Her father was staring up at the ceiling his hands folded on his stomach, lost in thought. Minutes began to drag by slowly... Silently.
A loud crash followed by a "DAMN IT!" had Johanna on her feet and Sweeney stiffening.
"Toby must've dropped a glass. I'll be right back."
Johanna hurried out of the room and Sweeney slipped back into a different world. He tried to push away his thoughts of Eleanore but his fighting seemed ineffective. Why couldn't all the pain go away? He didn't want to disappear but what was his purpose if Nellie wasnt by his side? They could've been happy. They could've had a life together but instead he had to fuck things up.
Why couldn't he be happy? Why couldn't he keep things good instead of ruining everything? Maybe it was his punishment. Maybe he didn't deserve happiness because of what he'd done. He could start another life. Change yet again, new name, new lover but he couldn't bring himself to do so. Something told him to stay. Something whispered in his mind that this pain wouldn't remain forever.
God he wished he could get her out of his mind but he thought about her all the time. He wished he just couldn't think for once in his life. Sweeney understood. Eleanore had trust issues, every man she'd ever loved had left her. Sweeney had done the same thing everyone had done to her. He'd hurt her like everyone else had. He was the same as all the other bastards who'd broken her heart.
All he was was a monster. One who'd cheated, killed, and broken the same heart countless times. His ways of coping with anything was to try and escape it. There was no way for his to properly handle his anger. After 15 years of living beside hatred and cruelty he now carried both along. with him.
Nellie wasn't the only one who couldn't simply forgive and forget. Both of them, being the way they were, all they did was fight their desires but when would they stop making fires? They'd had so many small fights that took days to get over. Neither of them ever wanted to back down because they both had to keep a strong image to hide how broken they truly were. Now they were in a much more serious fight, one neither knew how to get out of.
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It had taken only a few days for Nellie to begin climbing out of bed in the morning. The small but of activity had been helping and, according to Johanna, her fever had gone down. She now spent quite a bit of her time out of the house as being around Sweeney made her quite uncomfortable. No matter where she went it seemed his eyes were always on her.
It was quite a lovely day in the market. Even with the strong wind and the light snow it was beautiful. Toby had kindly gotten her a beautiful necklace of which she wore. She looked rather rich at the moment which was a dangerous thing. Nellie wasn't nessecarily worried about the attention, quite the opposite actually. The idea of people viewing her as more than she truly was was enjoyable to her. Unfortunately the attention she had attracted wasn't anything to enjoy.
It was while she was on her way home that she was suddenly pulled into a dark alleyway. A hand flew to her mouth to prevent her from screaming. She couldn't see the face of the person holding her but she knew she was in danger by the feel of something sharp against her neck.
"Hand over everything you have or I'll take it myself." A voice hissed in her ear.
She nodded, tears already dripping down her cheeks. Removing her necklace she then reached for her purse which the man snatched from her hands. She could hear him fumbling with hiding the items in his coat when a shadow cast over them both.
"Drop the knife and let the woman go."
Eleanore looked up in surprise.
"And why would I do that?"
"Because I have just a bit more power than you," Sweeney grinned pulling a pistol from inside his coat, "Now, you can listen to me or you can get a bullet through the head. I suggest the first option."
The mans grip on her loosened and the second she managed to get free Sweeney pulled her close to his chest. Sweeney still didn't lower the gun, "Return everything you took."
His eyes were merely slits and his anger filled eyes were black. He could see the the if backing away slowly. There would be blood drawn soon, "Don't. Take. Another. Step." His words were slow but full of danger.
"You wouldn't kill me."
Sweeney smirked, "Oh I would."It was then the man turned and ran, "Take back the would. I am going to kill you."
The sound of a gunshot had Eleanore squeezing her eyes shut, tears continued to fall and she felt Sweeney wrap his arms around her, "You're okay pet. You're safe now."
She dared to open her eyes and stood staring at the bloodied mass on the ground while Sweeney walked over to the body. He searched the coat quickly and handed Nellie her things. His eyes were no longer full of anger. She noticed his gaze flicker to her lips before he took a step towards her. Her breathing hitched in her throat as his chest pressed against hers.
Their lips met for a short moment before she pushed him away. He looked at Nellie who didn't meet his eyes, "I'm sorry."
Those were the only words she spoke before walking away leaving Sweeney alone in the shadowed alleyway with his own guilt.
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It wasn't hard for Johanna to notice the awkward, saddened glances her father and Mrs. Lovett's had been exchanging. Something had happened between them, something Johanna was unable to know.
All thoughts in the room were different. Johanna desperately wanting to know what had happened. Eleanore trying to figure out her emotions and how she truly felt about Sweeney. Toby, oblivious to everything around him sat thinking about dinner. Sweeney himself was debating between life and death and his pain was close to winning.
The sun had fully set by now and Sweeney suddenly stood up, "I'm going out for a walk. I'll be back soon... maybe." His last word was quiet enough that no one heard it.
The door closed and Eleanore broke away from her thoughts. Something told her Sweeney wasn't okay. Something told her he wasn't planning on returning home... ever. That something had her on her feet in moments. She had no idea where he planned on going, she had enough of a search ahead of her. She couldn't waste anymore time.
"Johanna, prepare dinner for Toby." She rushed drawing Toby's attention, "I'm going after yer father."
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Nothing moved except the waves underneath him. The wind was cold but he felt nothing. His eyes were closed as he didng want to see what awaited him. The gun in his hand was cold and brought back memories from when he first held a gun to his head. When Nellie still cared about him. Memories of Eleanore, Johanna, Toby, his life came flooding back and he shut them out.
This was best for everyone, no one should have to live with him. Years ago he had told a woman he had no idea he loved that everyone deserved to die, even him... and it was high time he did.
Sweeney took a deep breath trying to block out everything around him. It was then he felt someone grab his hand. His eyes opened and he turned to look down at Eleanore.
"Don't do this Sweeney," her voice was choked and she wiped her eyes.
"Why? Give me one fucking reason why I shouldnt just end it all now! You said it yourself! I'm a monster!" His voice was full of pain, "Are you insane like me? Been in pain like me? I've tried and failed. I have no reason to live!"
"Yes ya do!" Nellie shouted, bursting into tears.
"Then what?!"
"Sweeney I love ya! I'll never stop! I never did stop. I told myself I did because I wasn't ready to hurt again but I can accept it now. I know you've made the biggest mistakes, ones I thought were unforgivable but I've done the same. Maybe not the same mistakes you've made but I've hurt ya too. I see that now."
"But why? I'm ripped at every edge--"
"But year a masterpiece. Sweeney don't leave me, don't leave year daughter, or yer future child. Don't leave Toby or James. Pay attention. People love ya. I love ya."
Her words were truthful. She wished she could've realized it sooner. Stars scattered the night sky and the moon shown brightly down on the barber and his wife, and they were beautiful.
A/N: Cheesy I know but I figured it was a great ending. I'm ending this story but I will add a time skip for you guys if you want me to. It would only be one more chapter and it would be short but I'd enjoy writing it if you're interested. I also made quite a few references to songs in this chapter so if you're interested...
"Took Me By Surprise" Maria Mena
"Escape My Mind" Grace Vanderwaal
"In For The Kill" La Roux
"Gasoline" Halsey
"Colors" Halsey
Hope you liked this chapter. If you want me to add on more chapter tell me, I gladly do so. ❤