-1Hooray, I'm on Spring break now! Unfortunatly, Im not exacly going anywhere exciting, so I'll have plenty of time to write. Im really sorry for the hiatus and I apologize profusely for it. But I'm really bored at work today so here's Chapter 12. Lets just hope I can get some writing done and not be interrupted every five minites. So we left off with Turpin finding the spiders in the pie…right? Well lets pick up from around there.

Judge Turpin watched as the spider fell limp on his fork and smiled at it mysteriously. The Beadle was much too disgusted by the display that he had cover his eyes with a grimace. Nellie had no idea that he had found out about her secret recipe and continued to serve her customers in her usual upbeat manner. Judge Turpin watch her dangerously pacing around the shop and charming the other customers. Then, a middle aged man with balding blond hair, brown eyes, tall and slightly round joined the judge. He could have been handsome, but it seemed time had taken it's toll on him, showing various life lines upon his face. Judge Turpin gave him a smile and shook his hand.

"Right on time, Mr Lovett." Judge Turpin greeted.

"Twelve o clock sharp." The man answered.

"You have always been a good friend to me." Judge Turpin began.

"I'm sorry to interrupt mi lord but, what is that?" the man asked indicting the pie.

"Just good fun, I suppose." Judge Turpin said in a aloof manner.

"Spiders? In a pie?" the man asked.

"My friend you have been divorced from that insufferable woman for several months already. Its about time you moved on. There are pretty woman all around us." Judge Turpin said.

"That may be true, old friend, but unlike you I am much to old and worn out to be attracting women. They take one look at me and turn their faces in disgust. I'm rounding fifty five now. The chances of me marrying again are slim to none." The man said.

"You mustn't pity yourself, Albert. We shall find you a new bride." Judge Turpin said.

"I appreciate you're service, but not many middle aged women are currently single and looking to remarry. Divorce is highly rare in these parts." The man said.

"Who said anything about you remarrying to a middle aged women. You are correct in saying that they are hard to come by. But why not marry someone young..whom could bear you heirs." Judge Turpin answered.

"You and I both know that I have already tried that, but it ended up in divorce." The man said.

"Lisa wasn't all that young." Judge Turpin said.

"She was thirty..how young were you thinking?" the man asked.

"I was thinking around twenty or perhaps younger." Judge Turpin said.

"You must have seen some that you like." Beadle added.

"Yes, very pretty ones, but that's not the point." The man answered.

"What about her?" Judge Turpin asked indicating Nellie.

"Who? Nellie Sunner? I've known her father for quite some time." The man said.

"Do you find her attractive?" Beadle asked.

"Very much, but there isn't a single bloke in London who doesn't think that." The man said.

"True, but you are at a slight advantage, knowing her father and all." Judge Turpin said.

"The point also being that I am old enough to be her father." The man said.

"Perhaps that's what she needs." Judge Turpin added.

"I'm confused, doesn't she have one already? I know her mother passed away, but she still has dear Charlie." The man said.

"Good point, I nearly forgot that Charlie Sunnerwas still alive. He no longer works here. I often think that he passed away too." Judge Turpin thought.

"Then perhaps, after he passes away, she'll need someone like you to keep her in line. Afterall, she tried to seduce my friend here Beadle, several nights ago." Judge Turpin said.

"She did what?" the man asked in shock.

"Oh yes, she tried desperately to get me into bed with her, even threw some blows and threatened me. I would have never suspected such a young girl to be that vicious, but she is." Beadle lied.

"That's why we thought you marrying her would keep her out of trouble." Judge Turpin said.

"Most likely it would. I did a good job with Lisa until she met that younger son of a-" the man started.

"I suggest we go and talk to Charlie Sunner about an arrangement. Certainly he would want his daughter betrothed to a good man." Judge Turpin said.

"Very well." The man agreed.

"Let us go then." Judge Turpin said as he and his minions got up and left the shop.

While Judge Turpin plotted against Nellie, Benjamin Barker had eaten two peach pies already and was preparing to order a third. Nellie found this whole situation to be amusing and casually strolled up to him.

"Welcome to Nellie Sunner's Pie shop, what can I get for you?" she asked.

"Tell me, hostess, what is the best kind you have?" Ben asked also in character.

"I personally enjoy the cherry pie, yet the peach and strawberry pie is quite good this season as well." Nellie answered.

"Which will take the longest to eat?" he asked then broke character by laughing.

"You were doing well for a moment there." Nellie commented.

"I don't think it would fool anyone, for I've been here longer than any of these fine customers." Ben said.

"Are you planning on staying here until I get off?" Nellie asked.

"That was the original plan, yes." Ben answered.

"That's completely nutter, you know that?" Nellie said with a giggle.

"I have an odd feeling about the judge. I don't like the way he was looking at you." Ben said.

"But he's gone now. Do you think he or the Beadle will try to attack me again?" Nellie whisphered.

"Possibly, that is why I insist on staying here until you get off." Ben said.

"That's very sweet of you." Nellie said kissing his forehead.

"Nothings going to harm you again." Ben whisphered into her ear. "I promise you that."

"You are very good with promises, Mr. Barker." Nellie responded forgetting about all of the customers around him and kissed him passionately. It seemed like a magical moment, in which the world around them completely disappeared and it was just them together. As if they were flying in the air, fearless and weigh less, needing nothing of the world except for eachother. The magic was rudely interuptedby a loud rowdy call. They stopped to find one of the customers clapping and cheering causing others to join in. He pointed at the two of them and gave a rowdy laugh causing the couple to break. Nellie blushed profusely trying not to let it show.

"Way to go Bennyboy!" One of the guys said patting Ben on the back.

"Uh, I should just um get back to work." Nellie said nervously.

"No need to stop on my behalf, we're enjoying the show." The rowdy customer said.

"Just finish your pie, Mr McNiccan." Nellie said calmly.

"So, that's your secret, you've been seeing Mr. Barker. He's a fine lad sweetheart, he'll treat you really well." An older woman said.

"I-um-thanks." Nellie said.

The rest of the night couldn't have been anymore rowdy and chaotic. Not only were there a lot of customers, but some liked to tease her and Ben about their new discovered relationship. What's more was that none of them seemed to know or even care about what happened to his relationship with Lucy. After work, Nellie closed the shop and walked with Ben.

"I think you should talk to my father." Nellie said.

"Why do you say that?" Ben asked.

"Because, maybe if he talks to you, he'll start you like and accept you. I hate it that he thinks you are a bad guy." Nellie said.

"Perhaps while you get ready for dinner, I can talk to him alittle." Ben said.

"Great, it would mean the world to me, if you two got along." Nellie answered going into her flat.

"This is where the Sunner's reside. It's a nice place." Ben said looking around the flat.

"It may not be that large, but it's very nice and cozy. Don't you think so?" Nellie asked as he sat down. "I'll be right back."

"Take your time." He said looking at the photos and trinkets.

A couple minites later, there was a loud scream. Ben stood up quickly and hurried in the direction of it. Nellie was found in one of the rooms, with a look of sheer horror upon her face.

"What is it?" Ben asked. Nellie burst into tears and pointed at something in front of her. Ben crept closer and nearly did the same when he saw what she was pointing at. Charlie Sunner laid dead on the floor in front of them, ghostly white and blood flowing from his chest. His eyes were still open, locked in a look of pure terror and hatred. A knife was plunged into his chest where the blood continuously flowed like a river into a massive puddle next to him. They seemed to have been mere minites, seconds, too late. He was dead now, his breathing and heart beat had slowed to a stop and left his cold, dead body on the ground before them.

"NO." Nellie screamed kneeling beside him and crying hystericly. Ben wasn't sure what to say or how to calm her down. He knew he couldn't say 'it's alright' for he knew in his heart that it wasn't. Nothing could compare to the pain in losing a close family member. Ben knelt down next to her and hugged her to him gently.

"I'm so sorry love." He said.

"My…father…he…can't…be dead." She cried even harder.

"Nel-" he started, but wasn't exacly sure what to say.

"Please leave me." Nellie said in between sobs.

"As you wish, I'll be right out here in you need me." Ben said leaving slowly.

"Ben..he was murdered….who did this?" Nellie yelled just before he left.

"I'm not really sure." Ben said.

"Why? What did my father do to them?" Nellie asked.

"He was a good man. Perhaps it was an accident, but I'll help you find out what happened to him if you wish." Ben said rejoining Nellie's side.

"Please..don't you die too, you're the only one I have left." Nellie cried grabbing ahold of his leg and sobbing.

"I won't, I won't, hush love, come here now." Ben said holding her tightly into his embrace as she cried into his shoulder.

"Take me out of here, please." Nellie muttered.

"Sure." He said lifting her gently and bringing her into the 'living room' of her flat and sat down with her in one of the couches.

"I never thought anyone would hate him so much that they had to kill him." Nellie said.

"Neither did I, you're father seemed like a well liked man." Ben answered.

"I suppose he's with my mother now." Nellie muttered.

"That's true, they're probably young and beautiful just like the day they met and holding hands and embracing each other happily. They're at a place that is beautiful and with no pain or suffering or hatred. Now, they can look upon the living and watch over you." Ben said.

"I guess you're right." Nellie said gently.

"That's what my mother said to me after my father died." Ben said.

"I just never really imagined that this sort of thing would happen." Nellie said.

"I'll help you find out who did that to him." Ben said.

"How could somebody be so cruel?" Nellie asked.

"Not sure exacly, love, but don't you worry, I won't let anything hurt you." Ben said. Nellie nodded yet couldn't help, but burst into tears. This whole ordeal seemed almost dreamlike or surreal. Charlie Sunner couldn't have been murdered. Who would have the nerve to do such a thing? Nellie eventually cried herself to sleep in Ben's arms and used him as a human pillow. He didn't mind, he continued to watch the poor eighteen year old as she lost herself in a world all to her own. He, too, ended up falling asleep only to be woken up by a nightmare. For this was only the beginning of the strange, horrible events that were to follow the very next day.

For all those who liked Charlie Sunner, I'm really sorry for his tragic death, but it unfortunatlywas his time. Who killed him? I'll give you three guesses..(whisphers):I hinted upon it already in the first scene of this chapter. Yes, Albert Lovett is an old chum of Judge Turpin..I figured that may be a good reason why in the real Sweeney Todd story Nellie/Alberts relationship did not work out. Whats next on their series of unfortunate events? HINT: It involves Lucy and Ben..that's all I'm saying. Will Nellie and Ben be able to withstand all obsticles? Stay tuned!