How Much
Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd or the associated characters.
Nellie was always questioned. Well, not always. It just seemed that way. Today was no different. In fact, there were many more questions than a single day should have on average.
It started this morning, too early to be stressed, but she was. Toby was a sweet boy, but sometimes the things he asked never had answers, which annoyed Nellie because she didn't know them. It all ended with her fingers massaging her temples.
"Mum?"
"Yes, Toby?"
"How much you love me?"
"Well that's a silly question. Like my own, Toby."
"Why doesn't Mr. Todd love you?"
Nellie said nothing, just held back tears. A bad start and the day had barely started.
That afternoon, just after she had calmed down and answered more questions, her daughter decided now was the best time to talk to her mother.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, dear?"
"How much do you love me?"
"Enough that I'd walk to the ends of the earth to find you. I love you more that everything in the universe combined and more."
Nellie held her daughter's hands and kissed her cheek affectionately. They were all her life. Nellie had to take care of their child while Sweeney sat up in his shop and brooded, thought, revisited memories.
Sweeney didn't listen. Not like she wanted him to. How much she yearned for his simplest attention. How much she wanted him to interact with their daughter. Every so often, he would come down the steps in the dark to give her a night visit. He was always gone in the morning.
After a long day, it was finally time to bring the man his dinner- which he never ate. Her fuse was short after all the questions earlier. She walked into his shop as he stared out the window, then set his plate down on the desk.
"Eleanor?"
"What is it, Love?"
"How much do you love me?"
There was a pause as she tried to push her emotions out of the way.
"Enough to serve you and care for your child and deal with the fact that you will never love me back. Sweeney Todd, I love you so much I would still sacrifice myself for you." With that, Nellie stepped out of the shop and slammed the door behind her.
"How much does anyone love me?" She whispered to herself quietly, tidying up the shop and heading to bed.
"How much?"
Author's Note: How was this story? Did you enjoy it? Please leave a review, it always helps me out! Special thanks to Lilly Lovett Todd for being such an awesome reviewer and person!