First Sherlock fic, set after Series 3 but ignoring Moriarty's return. Enjoy!

These are a selection of stories concerning Sherlock meeting someone new. I can't write cases at the moment so imagine the spaces between the chapters are Sherlock and John working as usual. Thanks!

[Just updated for the paragraph breaks as couldn't work out how to use the enter on here! I'm new, bear with!]


2pm Thursday

'Sherlock, for the last time, the ocean is called saltwater because it tastes like salt. How did you not, in your 'incredibly remarkable brain', realise that?'

'I knew the term, I just didn't know it was an accurate term. The beach? Do I really look like a beach person to you?!'

Sherlock Holmes stopped on the pavement and gestured incredulously to himself. Doctor John Watson took a second to look at his friend; shined shoes, wool coat down past his knees, scarf French-knotted at his neck.

'I suppose not, no. But surely you went on some sort of seaside holiday? You didn't necessarily have to stick your head into the water…'

They continued to walk down the London streets, past town houses with neat cut hedges and black painted gates.

'I stayed in the amusements, working out who would win and who was wasting their money.'

'You should have charged for your services, I'm sure you could have made a fortune.'

'I did. Mycroft got jealous so I had to stop…'

They rounded a corner towards a park, couples out for a stroll, stressed businessmen and women carrying briefcases and talking animatedly on mobile phones.

'That somehow doesn't surprise me…'

They stepped out of the way to let a woman with a twin buggy pass. Well, John stepped out of the way, Sherlock merely turned sideways and then continued walking.

'Where are we headed?'

'South Kensington, man apparently has a haunting in his attic that is wreaking havoc with the water…'

'So we're ghost hunters now?' John asked, amusedly.

'No, it's his sister. Trying to get him to move out so they don't have any more awkward encounters with him and her boyfriend's- AWWWW!'

The sound that came out of Sherlock's mouth was such a shock that it caused John to jump. He found his partner in solving crimes bent down next to a young woman's dog, a furry thing, which seemed very pleased with attention.

'Aw, you're lovely,' John heard him say, smiling at the canine. He paid no mind to the woman, though, being a dog owner, she was grateful someone liked her companion.

John stood looking at his watch until Sherlock finally, after making some ridiculous noises at the poor thing, let them continue with their walk and joined John again.

'We should have this sorted in an hour or less,' said Sherlock back to his usual deep voiced tone.

John could not fathom how he could switch so easily but paid it no mind, since he recalled how Sherlock had once, drunkenly, spoke of his love of his childhood dog Redbeard, a red setter.

They continued through the park and on to their client.

Sherlock was right again.

Forty minutes.


One Month Later

She turned up the digital radio as it started to blare out 'Friday, I'm In Love' by The Cure and danced in her pyjamas around the room. Sitting down in front of her mirror, with make up spread out, she started to apply black eyeliner above her lashes.

Carefully.

Carefully.

Carrrreeeeeefullyyyyy.

Shit.

She put the eyeliner down on the desk and reached for a cotton bud to removed the obscure flick of black making it's way up her eyelid and reapplied.

Half an hour later, make up done, she was standing in front of the full length mirror, checking the reflection of her dress at all angles. It was a-line skirted and came to just above her knees, with a tiny white flowered pattern on a peach background. Satisfied, she slipped on a pair of peach-coloured heeled pumps and picked up her evening bag.


7.30pm.

Any minute now.


7.40pm.

The doorbell rang once, sharply.

She walked calmly to the door and unlocked it.

Upon pulling it open, she looked at the dark figure on the other side and simply said, 'You're late,' with a smirk.

Sherlock's mouth twitched into a brief smile, 'My apologies, Miss Aria,' and offered his arm.

She stepped out and locked her front door before talking his arm and climbing into the back of the black taxi.

'So…'

'So.'

'….Dinner,' she smiled.


Please review!

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