Sweetness And Bitterness

A/N: Okay, I've decided that it would be better to put my next Sweeney/Lovett fics into one place, since they're all (somewhat) connected. Each Oneshot will have its own chapter, and please bear in mind they might not be in chronological order, so if times seem somewhat messed up, that's why.

A Bit Of Jam

Summary: Mr Todd can't abide how Mrs Lovett always misses a spot when she's cleaning up. Sweeney/Lovett fluff, short and sweet.

Mrs Lovett finished the fruit pie and stood back, proud at how well her first non-meat pie on months had come out. Summer was in the air, and she'd wanted to try something different for tea. Of course, she and Toby would eat most of it, though she would take a slice up for Mr Todd later. But first she had to bake it. Picking up her masterpiece, the baker descended into the bake house and set the pie baking, the smell of cooking fruit sending her nose twitching, and making her realise that she was rather hungry now.

I'll have a nice bit o' bread an' jam. She decided. Good chance to use up that strawberry jam before it goes bad.

Once back in the kitchen, the baker cut herself a couple of slices of bread and slathered them in strawberry jam, a luxury she'd never have been able to afford before Mr Todd arrived. She'd appreciated being able to buy things like jam so much, she'd tried to eke it out, but between herself and Toby – Heavens forbid Mr Todd would have something so sweet – the jar had ended up empty rather quickly. Biting into the first slice, Mrs Lovett remembered when she used to eat her mam's homemade strawberry jam in the summer, back when she was a little girl. She quickly finished her snack and, dusting crumbs off herself, set about cleaning up after her baking session.

Just as she'd finished sweeping up the last crumb, Mrs Lovett looked up as the bell rang to signal someone entering the shop. Mr Todd was stood a little awkwardly at the doorway.

"You can come in, you know." She told him teasingly. "Closed up early, 'ave you?"

"No customers." He replied shortly, sitting down on the wooden bench. After a few moments he looked up at her properly, and something twitched in his face, almost as if something was irritating him. Mrs Lovett just restrained herself from rolling her eyes. What had she done now?

"What's wrong?" She asked, some of her exasperation showing in her voice, as she wiped down an already clean plate, watching the barber out of the corner of her eye.

"Nothing." The word was short and tight. He was stopping himself saying something.

"Yes there is." Mrs Lovett disagreed, her curiosity sparked. Normally Mr Todd wasn't one to suffer in silence as it were. "You've got that look on your face."

For a fleeting second, an extremely crafty expression flickered in his eyes, and then it was gone so quickly that Mrs Lovett wondered if she'd imagined it.

"Maybe I should just show you, my dear." He said, standing, and making his way over to the baker. With a quick movement, he snaked a hand around her slim waist and pulled her – not all that un-gently – forwards, quickly kissing her jawbone.

"Just a bit of jam, my dear Mrs Lovett." He whispered in her ear, his breath tickling the skin. "I can't stand it when you miss a spot."