A/N: Sorry for all my reader. I have not updated since like March. Shit. Time flies I have been doing other fics since then and never had an idea. So this is it very last chapter. I hope you like. Appreciate whoever reads this and thank you to my loyal readers if you are still out there.
Chapter 8
The next morning I woke up before Albert. He was still snoring loudly and I quietly snuck out of bed. I tiptoed to the closet and got dressed. I quietly went to the kitchen and sat down. I sighed and covered my face. What have I done? I thought. Then I heard some loud noise outside and decided to look. I saw Ben carrying a draws and went upstairs. Then I saw Lucy. She was carrying some bags and went upstairs. I watched them go back and forth for half an hour before they finished. They were officially moved in now.
I went outside to try and see if I could talk to Ben but Lucy saw me instead.
"Why were spying on us?" Lucy asked, coming down the stairs. I glared at her.
"I wasn't spying," I replied.
"Yeah, right I know what you want," Lucy scoffed at me.
"Oh, yeah. What do ya think I want?" I challenged. Lucy laughed.
"Don't pull that dirt out again," she sneered at me. I glared at her angrily.
"Yeah but –"
"Nell?" Ben interrupted. "Hey I was just about to find yer," he said, grinned and came down the stairs and stopped in between Lucy and me.
"She was just leaving," Lucy said, firmly.
"Nellie, I'll show you my place," Ben said, grabbing my hand. My breath caught in my throat as I saw Lucy's expression. He pulled me along and I followed. I could feel Lucy's eyes on my back as I went upstairs. I grinned to myself. I feel like a child again, I thought to myself. He pulled me up and went into the room. I could see he started setting up his barber shop. I saw the razors that he would use to shave the men's hair. Then I could see another door. I remember the door that lead to the sitting room and then across the room there would be another door which I figured it would their room.
"You like?"
"Yer," I answered, looking around the room. I saw pictures of Ben's parents on the wall and one lonely picture of Lucy's parents on the opposite wall. I studied the picture to try to figure out why he fell for her in the first place. I could picture Ben and me at the sea side with a child with us. I couldn't help but smile at my thought as I studied another picture my eyes drifted to. It was picture of a little boy, the boy that I fell in love with when we met.
"Nell," Ben said, pulling me out of my thoughts and back into reality. "What's wrong?" he asked, with a look of confusion and concern.
"Nothin' just thinkin'" I replied with a smile. He returned the smile and was about to say something when we were rudely interrupted by the one and only Lucy. Her yellow hair seemed to flow down her back as she glided in.
"Benny!" she squealed. I winced at her stupid pet name she gave Ben and rolled my eyes.
"Lucy, what's wrong?" he asked in concern. I was tempted to roll my eyes again.
"Nothing, love but I just wanted to see how long you would be," she smiled and made circles around his shoulder she spoke. I let out a small soft growl to myself. I tried to calm myself by turning away from the sickening scene in front of me.
"So, Nelda, how do you like the house?" Lucy asked. I was surprised she even acknowledged me in the first place. I turned back to them and put on the best smile I could.
"It's lovely," I replied. Lucy smirked back at me.
"So, have you said anything about our surprise?" she asked Ben, kissing his neck. I felt the urge to scream. It was disgusting she flaunted Ben in front of me.
"No, dear, not yet," Ben said, looking embarrassed.
"C'mon, tell her," she urged him.
"Tell me wot?" I finally asked, without even realizing. I would rather not know at all.
"I think I'm with child," Lucy said excitedly and placed Ben's hand on her stomach. I felt my heart stop for a moment. With child? I thought angrily.
"Is it Ben's?" I asked, immediately.
"Of course it is, Nelda," Lucy shrieked angrily at me.
"Nellie," I corrected angrily.
"What's wrong, Nellie?" she smirked. I felt my face growing red with anger and embarrassment. "I think we need some time alone, now," she said firmly and squeezing Ben's hand.
I took a deep breath and brushed past both of them. I slammed the door on the way out and wiped the tears that were starting to trickle down my face. I went downstairs not even realizing I was walking in the street. I was looking down at the ground until I ran into someone. I looked up to apologize until I saw who I was facing. Judge Turpin. I quickly took a step back he grabbed my arm in a tight vise before I could get any further away.
"Mrs. Lovett," he said in a firm tone. I tried to pull away but he kept gripping me tighter. "Don't struggle," he said, pulling me towards his chest. I turned my head away I was got thrown into his chest.
"Turpin," I managed to say.
"Now, now," he said, I felt him stroke my hair. I felt a shiver creep up my spine.
"You shouldn't cry over split milk," he said softly. I felt his hand travel down my back and near my waist. I felt sick and angry and pulled away fiercely. As I did pull away he threw me to the wall of the building pinning me. I wanted to scream but no sound came out.
"Nellie, my dear," he said to me, he carefully wiped a tear from my face.
"Please Judge Turpin, let me go," I said firmly. "Or else…" Turpin laughed in my face.
"Or else what my dear?" he sneered at me.
"Or else…" I racked my brain for anything I could threaten him with. He laughed again.
"Funny," he smiled. "That's exactly what your father said before I killed him" he laughed at me.
"DON'T YOU DARE TALK 'BOUT MY FATHER YOU BASTARD!" I screamed at and tried to kick him. He suddenly had his hand around my throat and squeezing it. I felt my throat burn and my stomach heave. I tried to scratch his face but I couldn't reach him. His eyes burned into mine as he learned in towards me.
"I know what you need," he whispered to me.
"No," I choked out. It was getting harder to breathe. I was hoping someone would come along and help me but most people just kept walking away from us. "No, yer don't 'ave a clue wot I need," I said, as loud as I could. I was praying someone would come along and get the Judge off me but no one seem to care. He suddenly let go of me and caught my breath. I felt his hand under my chin and forced me to look at him.
"We can help each other you know," he whispered to me. I shook my heard in response. Why in hell would I want to help him? He ruined my life all those years ago, he doesn't deserve to be helped, I thought angrily and glared at him.
"No, I will not help yer," I hissed at him. Before I could even think he slapped me across the face, causing me to fall to my knees. I didn't scream or cry in pain. I didn't want to him to know that it hurt.
"We can get what we both want," he said, petting me on the head. I shook his hand away and stood up, looking straight into his eyes.
"NO!" I yelled at him.
"You can get Ben and I will have his wife," Turpin offered, ignoring my protests.
"No," I screamed. "You don't need my help, you can whoever you want, when you want," I exclaimed.
"Yes, missy. I know that but I need your help."
"NO!"
"I will gut you if don't help me," he threatened me.
"Try me," I replied. Judge Turpin grabbed my throat again and heaved me against the wall.
"Tell me what is happening above that pie shop of yours,"
"Ben and his wife are with child," I finally blurted.
"Excellent," he murmured, releasing me for the second time. I couldn't believe I just told him what was happening. He leaned in and kissed my on the lips before I could even protest.
"Please, don't hurt Ben," I pleaded to him. He smirked at me.
"You sound like your father before he died," he laughed at me. I glared at him angrily. "I won't hurt him, that much," he snickered and left me alone in the alley. I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I tried to think of ways I could stop the Judge but I knew he would definitely win in whatever he was planning. I took a breath and headed home.
Just as I arrived back Ben was waiting for me. I didn't know what to do but say congratulations for him and the baby.
"Nell, wait," Ben said, he placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Ben," I said softly. "Please, something's is goin' to –" before I could finish Albert stormed out of the house and stood between Ben and me.
"Nellie, where have you been?"
"Nowhere, I just took a walk," I replied.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he said, angrily, suddenly grabbing me by the arm hard.
"Because-"
"Leave Nellie alone, Al she was with me," Ben said, cutting in. Albert released me then turned to Ben. I shook my head at him worriedly.
"Why?"
"Because I asked her if she wanted to see upstairs," Ben answered. "I showed her around and then we took a walk to St. Dustan's Markets." Albert looked from me to Ben, suspiciously. I was afraid he was going to lunge at Ben and kill him for it.
"Your mother is in the kitchen, Nellie. She needs help," Albert said, staring at Ben. I hesitated before I answered.
"Okay," I replied and gave Ben a small wave then left. I turned away and went inside. I glanced back to see they were still talking, both glaring at each other like enemies. I sighed and waited until Albert came back inside. He finally came inside a few minutes later with a scowl on his face.
"Albert –" I tried to say but he cut me off with his glare.
"Don't start with me," he said angrily.
"What's wrong, dears," a voice came from the back room.
"Nothing Marie," Albert answered in his best husband voice. He smiled at me stiffly and went to the back. I rubbed my eyes and tried to pretend nothing had happened back then. I had emotions running through as fast blood could seep through a wound.
"I'm going to lie down," I told Albert. He nodded and let me pass. I shut the door and closed my eyes.
9 months later….
For nine months now I have seen Lucy stomach grew and I have seen Ben gazing at her stomach with great affection. Every time I saw him he was touch her perfectly round stomach with a life inside of her. I know he loved Lucy in some way but I had started to get jealous of the life that was growing inside her. I loved children, every time I saw some come past the shop I gave them a free sample of the particular pie I was baking that day. They loved my cooking and they loved me. I have thought about having children with Albert but he has been rough lately in bed. I am beginning to feel like it isn't love that his making our marriage anymore, it's more like money is now. Ben has now been with Lucy since they arrived back. I have kind of accepted that I may not be in his life anymore since. One night I heard them arrive home and with something screaming. I needed to look and watched as I saw Lucy and Ben get out of a carriage with a bundle of blankets. I felt tears in my eyes. I wiped them away with defeat and sorrow. I know now I definitely wasn't Ben's anymore even though we shared something so long ago.
"Goodbye Ben," I whispered into the night as I saw them go upstairs. Ben got halfway up the stars and looked straight at me. We only stared at each other not a second before I heard Lucy call to Ben. I thought of what Judge Turpin offered only hours before. I didn't want to do anything to Ben, no not to Ben. But to Lucy he could do whatever he pleased. I couldn't care less about Lucy now. She took my Ben away from me, she had to leave. She needed to go back to where she belonged, away from here. Away from us.
As the months went by I didn't see Ben much at all. I only heard the shrieks and cried of an infant. Every time I heard it I felt my heart beat faster. I really wanted children but Albert never had any interest what so ever. When summer settled in I was walking towards the markets when a black carriage came up beside me. The door opened and I saw The Beadle and Judge Turpin inside. I shook my head but Beadle pulled me in. I sat across from the Judge Turpin, he looked the same as he usually did. Grey and with a sour smirk on his face.
"Judge," I said.
"Mrs. Lovett," he replied, slyly. "Have you thought about that proposition I gave you?"
I looked from Beadle to the Judge Turpin eyes. They were both eager to know. I thought about Ben and I. we did have something but it will never happen now unless I did something drastic. I thought about Lucy and her golden yellow hair, of how it hurt me so much that she was with Ben and not me. I thought about the beautiful daughter they had a created, I heard her name once. Johanna. It was flawless and perfect. I couldn't stand seeing Lucy anymore. I hated her. I hated her so much I needed to do something, even if that meant Judge Turpin and Beadle taking her away. They would mean the world to me. I smiled crept along my face.
"Let's do it," I told him. Judge Turpin grinned and the Beadle smiled mischievously.
"Would you like to watch?" He asked me. I nodded. We went through the city and we finally managed to spot the two lovebirds.
"Get him," He shouted and then suddenly I saw them grab Ben roughly. I saw them caring Ben away, towards the prison.
"What are you doing?" I shouted at him. Judge Turpin smiled at me.
"Doing my job," He laughed and pushed me out of the carriage. I saw them carry Ben away, Lucy crying and Johanna crying. I saw Judge Turpin get out of the carriage and take Lucy and Johanna away. The Beadle opened the door and I glared.
"You won't Mr. Barker for a long time, sweetheart," He chuckled and closed the door. I started to cry and realize I just made a massive mistake. They lied to me and now I would never see Ben again until fifteen years later.
End