Set in Mrs. Lovett's dream home by the sea

Sweeney reclined in his deckchair, sighing quietly and closing his eyes. He breathed in the air around him; warm, salty and a hint of ladies' perfume. He watched the lights flicker on his eyelids, a dazzling array of reds and pinks filtering through from the fading sunlight.

"Open your eyes, Mr. Todd." Mrs. Lovett had appeared with a glass of wine in each hand. He left it a few seconds, and then opened his eyes wide to gaze up at her. She smiled knowingly at him, and bent to place the glass on the floorboards next to his chair. She slowly moved to straighten up, and caught his watchful eye. As if snagged on an invisible connection, she held the look for longer than normal. It reached deeper than normal… It felt like he was analysing her thoughts, and for a second, her instinct threatened to force her to drop the gaze. To look away.

Mr. Todd ignored the fresh glass of wine which began to warm in its new, more temperate environment. Beads of condensation twisted round the curved edge, and slipped rapidly down the stem. A darkened patch below the delicate glass leached across the wood, cool and damp on the dusty surface. In a single, controlled movement, Todd revolved on his seat. Swinging his legs to his right, he placed his boots in front of Nellie, just either side of her hips. She remained crouched as Sweeney took her face in his hands and unhurriedly slid his fingers along her defined jawbone. Mr. Todd was taken aback by her beauty; not typically attractive, but something about her enchanted him. Something united him with her, and something in that made him feel complete. As he reached her chin, he lifted her face to his and leant towards her. He closed his eyes to match hers, and kissed her softly on the cheek. Not pulling away, and keeping their faces in close contact, he slowly kissed her again on her forehead. And again on the tip of her nose… and finally, after a letting his mouth curl into a small smile, Sweeney kissed her on her lips; just waiting for her to kiss him back.

Mrs. Lovett became hesitant. Her own glass of wine remained clutched in her right hand, almost holding too tight. She rapidly bowed her head, losing the connection with Mr. Todd's lips. She turned her head away, so that she could avoid looking him in the eye. Something had just then, caught her unawares. Made her nervous, frightened… even shy? Noticing she was still crouched at Mr. Todd's side, she promptly stood to her full height, giving a small, apologetic nod in his direction. Desperate for something neutral to look at, she stared down at her glass, and stepped back a few feet.

"I-" she stammered, unintelligible. She grimaced at the awkwardness of the situation and shook her head at little at her own behaviour. Subsequently after her effort to speak, Nellie turned quickly and shuffled back towards the doorway in shame. Sweeney remained sat in the same position, his arm slumped in his lap from where it had fallen from Mrs. Lovett's cheek. He watched her tenderly, wishing her not to leave his presence, regretting scaring her away with his actions. He may already have pushed her too far. She might not ever let him close to her again. Oh and how he longed to be next to her again, to embrace her, to kiss her, to touch her. She had almost reached the door, a single free hand smoothing her dress nervously, conscious of his gaze.

"Nellie." Sweeney spoke in his normal deep voice, its tone standing out from the wash of the sea in the distance. Mrs. Lovett stopped dead in her tracks and looked up. She stared wistfully out towards the ocean, the water barely visible over sand dunes. Their home by the sea was set back into the beach. It was a remote spot, which was rarely visited except for a few friends arriving by strict invitation only. The sun glinted on the strands of hair, turning it a glossy copper colour as it floated around her face. His voice, so rich, so… beautiful. She almost turned to meet his eyes, but refrained; preferring rather to continue to walk calmly into their home. The fear had not completely left her, although something started to replace it. Was it trust? Mrs. Lovett couldn't tell.

Nearly reaching the kitchen, Nellie placed the wine glass on the side table in the small hallway. Forgetting it, she moved to the worktop and leant her palms against its flat, cool surface; willing it to steady her trembling nerves. She inhaled. Her breathing was still a little ragged, but after a few more seconds, she stood without assistance. Backing up a few steps, Nellie observed her kitchen. She was never sure where she actually kept everything; how she even managed to cook a meal successfully, she'd never know. Mrs. Lovett crouched and rummaged through the cupboards near the floor. Still not finding what she was looking for, and becoming somewhat frustrated, she sighed loudly and pulled herself into a standing position once more.

Then, she saw something glinting out of the corner of her eye. Turning on the balls of her feet, she eventually recognised what she looked at and strode confidently towards it. This would help, surely?.. and God, even if it didn't help matters, then at least she'd enjoy it. She'd savour every moment of it and then, perhaps, if she was lucky, Nellie would have made up her mind.

Mrs. Lovett grasped the overfilled wine glass off the side table and supported its weight lovingly with both palms. She took a great mouthful and swilled it around her mouth; her face losing some of its stress and calming slightly. Why did she leave it out here anyway? It's not quite as chilled as it was a while ago, and she could have done with its smooth aroma to help soothe her nerves. Mrs. Lovett's face broke into the best smile she could manage with a mouthful of wine, her eyes blinking slower than normal, and the wine glass slipping into a single hand by her side. She gazed tenderly at the glass in her hand; the glass in the foreground, an inexplicable symbol of ecstasy. The background being the floor in polished wood, decorated with shadows- Mrs. Lovett hastily swallowed her wine with a noisy gulp.

Her eyes, filled with embarrassment, slowly followed the shadowy outline of Mr. Todd. She reached his shoes, and her vision continued up the body of the real Mr. Todd, standing propped up against the door jam in the entrance to the hallway. He gripped the wine glass in his hand, and looked seriously at her. He was still frightened that he'd been too forward and scared her; lost her forever and pushed her away. He couldn't work out her mood even now, after he had watched her for at least two minutes without her knowing. She seemed so complex, and yet so fragile. But Sweeney knew what she was like… he knew, even when she tried to hide it. Appearances can be deceiving.

The alcohol in Todd's bloodstream continued to rise, thankfully taking the edge off the nerves that swamped his body as well as hers. He reached towards Nellie and placed his nearly empty wine glass on the side table next to her. Her, now tentative eyes darted from his face, to his glass, to his hand and away again. She liked his proximity. It made her heart pound and her palms perspire… but it too, made her body pulse like electric and she felt so alive. Sweeney had backed away again, his heart yearning to make contact with her. It was almost impossible not to let his emotions run away with him, and to do something he might regret.

And then Mrs. Lovett's look caught Mr. Todd's eye... Somewhere a connection was linked, the current flowed like an unstoppable energy. He let out a breath of exasperation, his shoulders shrugging powerfully under his waistcoat and shirt. He took three single large strides towards Nellie, and once again took her face in his hands. He wasn't going to let go this time, and neither was she. He lowered his head to her height and their lips made contact again, only this time with Mrs. Lovett returning the kiss. Hurrying, they each tried to gain control over the moment; every second growing gradually stronger and more forceful. Mrs. Lovett's hand fell weak, and the delicate wine glass slipped onto the floor with a crack.

Mr. Todd's hands grasped her waist, manoeuvring her closer to his body so their torsos touched. Nellie almost felt as if she meant to say something as Sweeney nuzzled her ear, caressing her hips with his hands. She steadied her breathing, meaning to begin to speak; however, her voice only seemed to manage a louder pant. She didn't bother again, and reached to Mr. Todd's shirt collar. The thin material was warm from his neck, buttoned loosely at the throat. She rapidly undid the fiddly clothing and plunged her hands into his shirt. Her touch surprised Sweeney, and he pulled away from her hair for a moment. He wrenched the double layer of tucked in material out from the waist of his trousers, and tossed it off his shoulders completely. After throwing himself back into the tussle, Mrs. Lovett gladly ran her hands over his arms and chest, astonished at what she'd been missing. She smiled hungrily to herself, as her palms slid across his skin and he began the same to her throat.

Sweeney's fingertips tugged at the shoulders of her dress, and after a little shrug by Nellie, one of them fell slack across her upper arm. Mr. Todd placed slow kisses on the recently revealed flesh, and his palm gently pushed the alternate strap off her body. As more cleavage was revealed, the pace slowed, and Mr. Todd began to push Nellie out of the hallway towards the staircase… and their house by the beach only had one room upstairs. As they both reached the foot of the stairs, Mrs. Lovett brought her hands down and grasped the button on Sweeney's trousers. A second later, it popped open and Nellie continued her movements down his stomach and below his waist. Distracting him with a new and vigorous kiss, she reached what she had been searching for. At the contact, Mr. Todd moaned softly into her mouth. His hands began working too; tangling in the various skirts in her dress, their length shortening rapidly into a bunch at her hips.

"Mum?", a voice. "I've got you something, Mum!", Toby's voice. Nellie's stomach flipped, and the immense pleasure was replaced with absolute and unrelenting terror.

Mr. Todd hadn't heard Toby over the rush of blood in his ears, and took to stroking her inner thigh as he uncovered the final layer in her dress. Mrs. Lovett wrenched her hands from Mr. Todd and pushed his hands away from her, smoothing her dress down. Mr. Todd stared around as Nellie skittered across the floor, running towards Sweeney's abandoned shirt and waistcoat. She snatched it from the floor just as Toby entered from outside.

Toby had an ice cream in each hand, and he wore a expression of mixed happiness and confusion. He glanced from Mrs. Lovett, and then slowly to a topless Mr. Todd. He stared at him as he fumbled with the waistband of his trousers, and then ran a single hand through his hair. Toby scanned the hallway, Mrs. Lovett hitched her dress further up over her shoulders, ensuring that she remained decent. She cleared her throat.

"That's nice, love." She squeaked. She wrung her hands underneath Mr. Todd's empty shirt, desperate for an explanation to hit her. There was too long of a silence… she piped up again. "Although you know I shouldn't… they're very unhealthy for a woman like me." He voice remained joking, but Toby's face fell, and he stared forlornly at the spare ice cream in his hand. Its white curl of cream began melting down the cone in the evening air. "But you know how much I love them, don't you darlin'?" She said quickly, Toby's face regaining some of its delight at pleasing Mrs. Lovett.

Nellie became all of a sudden very aware of Mr. Todd's presence in the hallway. He stood, looking expectantly at her… waiting for her to do something. She feigned an exasperated sigh.

"Right, well – I'll be with you in just a second, Toby." She moved towards Sweeney. "You don't have to worry about a thing, Mr. T. I'll get that washed and dried in time for tomorrow, no problem…" she waved the shirt casually in front of her "No worries, then?" She glanced over her shoulder. Toby was outside again. She flung the shirt at Mr. Todd, and leaned up to whisper in his ear. "When it's just you and me…" She gave Sweeney a smug nod and a short kiss and as she turned, she murmured "Oh, Mr. Todd… I'm so happy".