Toby didn't know whether to go to Sweeney to help or to yank the long wooden pipe out of Mrs. Lovett's grasp first; he could only stand there in horror, his feet glue to the spot by his shock. The baker had always been a strong woman to him; She never gave up on anything: she stuck by Mr. Todd's side when he was always at his worst, always became wonderfully resourceful when business became slow, and she never gave up on their family.

Seeing her lay there in her bed, blank eyes glassy with long wisps of smoke slipping past her chapped lips, Toby felt his resolution to be strong shatter; if his Mum, the most resilient woman he'd ever known, gave up on something, then he sure as he'll didn't stand a chance of even trying.

For a split second he thought of joining her, of joining in the calm unawareness of the drug and forget. But he quickly dismissed the idea, not knowing how he'd be able to afford such things. He had Half a mind to run away, to leave the baker in her state of forgetfulness, and crawl away in a hole to another world.

But after standing in the door way for a few minuets, watching her stare off into another time, unmoving, save for her chest rising and falling in deep, shuttering breathes, as though he weren't there at all, Toby knew he couldn't leave her. Taking slowly steps towards her, Toby softly placed a warm hand on her cold shoulder.

"Don' worry, Mum," he whispered. "I'll go get Mr. Todd and he'll fix you righ' up, 'e will." When she showed no sign of acknowledging his presence at all, the teen took long strides out the door.

After leaving the flower shops with handfuls of colorful purchases, Kagome and Turpin strolled leisurely down the cobblestone roads of London. Turpin planned to get the girl fitted for a dress for the ball later on in the day when he felt she was comfortable with physical contact from strangers. Perhaps a deep Maroon, he mused over the gown he thought to suggest to the dress maker.

Then he decided he would just leave all the fashionable decisions to the dress maker himself; he wanted the girl looking her best, after all.

Kagome, unaware of the Judge's plans for her dress, eyed a stray Calico cat rummaging through trash cans. She stopped in he tracks, her heart aching fiercely for her Leroy; she hadn't given the feline much thought, too consumed by the grief of losing her whole family.

Now, however, the teen wonders what became of her loyal companion. Turpin stopped as she had and, following her unwavering gaze, snarled at the animal.

"I know how it is, seeing wild vermin all over the city." Kagome looked at him, shocked. "Shame there's little I can do about them." he sighed, disappointed. "You could build an animal shelter for them all!" she said loudly, looking appalled.

"You could make laws against cruel abandonment for them!" He looked surprisingly at her. "Kagome, girl, you know nothing of the political complications of what you're saying-", "What complications? The streets would be free of their... Wastes, the animal friendly laws would make a good imagine for the town, and people wouldn't dare to try and use them as meat for their goods." she added the last part with a shudder, remembering what her mother had said about that Mrs. Mooney.

Turpin gaped at her, both shocked and awed by her argument and reasoning. Kagome, sensing as if she had gone too far with disagreeing with the judge, dropped her steely stare to the ground and once again assumed the air of a frightened child awaiting their parents' punishment.

"I-I'm s-sorry, sir, I-I meant n-no disrespect," she stuttered nervously. The Judge stare at her almost confusedly. Was this the same girl who was spurting intelligent suggestions? The very same girl who dared to challenge him and his reasons? Shaking his head slightly, he smiled softly at her. "No, it's perfectly fine," he assured her as he continued walking, leaving her to trail behind him. "I only wondered why it caught your attention so." she kept her eyes on the ground and gripped the bouquet of Lillies and Daises in her hands. "I... had a cat... back at the shop..." she muttered gloomily.

Turpin stiffened slightly, hating that something had reminded her of her old life. "Well then," he sighed thoughtfully. "We will just have to buy you a new one." Kagome's head shot up. "You really mean it?" He nodded. "Of course, why would I say so otherwise?" he glanced at her to see her face contorted in serious thought and apprehension. Turpin swallowed nervously. " You know," he sighed tiredly. "It brings me no pleasure whatsoever getting your hopes up or lying to you in any way. I hope you know that." Kagome looked up at his wounded look and felt her face flush. "O-Of course, I-I just-", "it's fine." he silenced her.

"We will find you the purest of any breed f feline you wish." she shook her head and stopped. "If it's all the same to you, sir," she turned and walked back to the alley they had past. "I'd much rather give that cat a home then upgrade a cat's already given luxuries." Kagome came back with the cat slim over her arm lazily, it's dirtied orange, black and white fur wet and balding. Nonetheless it licked her face and purred gratefully.

He was about to protest, saying that it probably had diseases and flees, but one look at how she eyed the cat and Turpin knew better than to speak. They walked home together in silence.

"Mr. Todd!" Toby yelled as he burst into the shop. He saw the barber passed out i none of the booths and rushed over. "Mr. T, wake UP!" he shouted in his ear, shaking the dark man's shoulders. Sweeney groaned and turned over. "Go away, boy." he moaned, swatting at him like an irritating fly.

"It's Mrs. Lovett, sir!" Toby yelled as he continued to shake him. The barber cracked open an eye and stared tiredly at him. "What's the matter?" Without a word, he ran off to the baker's room, leaving Sweeney to follow begrudgingly.

When he saw her through the thick fog of smoke that filled the room, he froze and his face hardened. "How long has she been like this?" he asked quietly. "Found 'er like this when I woke up just a few minuets ago," he glanced at Mrs. Lovett worriedly. "bu' I think she's been at it longer then tha'."

Sweeney jerked his head in a nod and walked over to sit next to her on her bed. He propped her upper body up with pillows and took off her boots. "Wot are we gonna do, sir?" Toby asked as he watched the man was concern. Sweeney shook his head. "Not much we can do now besides wait for her to come back." he answered in a low voice. "When she does come back, you'll want to fix her something easy to eat."

Toby nodded and walked out. The barber turned his attention back to Mrs. Lovett. He caressed her cheek with the back of her hand and she turned ever so slowly to stare blankly at him. He leaned in to touch foreheads. "You're better than this." he whispered.

She looked through him and replied with labored breathes. Sweeney planted a light kiss on her cheek and stayed with her.

A/N: Sorry its so short, but its all I could come with while trying to think of how to go about updating my other story. Reviews are love!