TC Stark: Hello, hello! So, recently I have gotten into Sherlock and I must say, I understand why this show is so popular and why its fandom is so large. It hooked me in within the first ten minutes and I was not at all preparing to be hooked in as much as I was. Of course, being the good friend I am, I hooked in my friend Brittany who now is obsessed xD So, we decided to collaborate. We each pulled OCs we have from different stories. So, the names are the same, but background story is different. We know some people are iffy about OCs, but she and I are true writers and we want to make sure we write the BBC characters true to form. This story doesn't really have a specific timeline, but I guess I would say somewhere within the second season. There will be time jumps, just like in the show, but I hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: This story contains graphic and mature content, as well as humorous moments. We really tried to retain the characters and as you all know, there is some comedic gold there amongst all the drama. Neither Brittany nor I believe in censorship, this is a free world and we put the rating M there for a reason. So, references to drug use, spousal abuse, childhood abuse, non-con, con lemons, hetero and homosexual lemons, vulgar language, etc. You get the point. This story is half written by me and half written by IttyBittyBrittany who owns Colette, while I own Lexi. Thank you!

Chapter One

Lexi ran a hand through her black hair as she checked her emails. It was hard enough moving from America to the cold, wet city of London. It was even harder trying to find a roommate that she thought she could bear living with for the coming time. The young woman had music playing in the background and she hummed along as she went through the candidates.

There was a forty-something year old man that had applied, but she didn't like the feel of him. He was pompous, even in the email he had sent her. Lexi wanted someone that she could halfway stand being around. They didn't need to be friends, but they didn't need to be enemies. There was no telling how long she would be staying.

She rubbed the bridge of her nose as she closed her blue eyes. Leaning back, she stretched her back over her chair, hands reaching upwards. Her shirt stretched over her flat stomach as she took a deep breath. It wasn't like she didn't have enough going on. Closing her eyes, she remembered the strange man. Sherlock Holmes was his name. A lot said he got off on his work, but she figured the man was just dedicated or addicted.

It was good that someone found so much pleasure in their work. Honestly, she found the same pleasure in her forensic photography and her stripping. It kept her body in shape and was a good source of income. Apparently not enough though, for these outrageously priced apartments. Scrolling down, she looked at the next application.

Colette Faust.

Now that did not sound British. Smokey eyes gazed at the words and a smile grew on her lips. American. Down on her luck. No pets, no children. That was exactly what she was looking for in a roommate. The young woman was about twenty-one and said that some things had fallen through with her accommodations and needed a place very quickly.

That was someone she could live with. It would be fun having someone else around. At least this girl would get most of the references to American culture and Lexi wouldn't have to decipher what Colette was saying. She wished there was a picture added. It was in her nature to want to know exactly who she was dealing with.

Typing at the computer, she spoke to herself, "Alright, Colette. Let's see you tomorrow."

Lexi had been trying to straighten up a bit when she heard a knock at the door. Looking at the clock, she realized it was the other girl turning up. She really hoped it worked out. It was a pain going through all the applicants and she was done with it. Stressing was not in her list of skills.

"One moment. I'm coming." Lexi called out, straightening her black cut shirt. It came to her midriff and showed her toned stomach. London was stunning and she wasn't exactly missing home, but she was missing the sun. Wearing a heavy coat everywhere she went was not her ideal style.

Lexi winked an eye as she looked through the door's peephole. The person she saw was not quite what she expected. Colette was a small girl, petite and short. Blonde curls framed her face as her blue eyes darted around nervously as she waited for Lexi to open the door. She was wearing a blue babydoll dress with white tights and flats. Most of the outfit was covered, though, by a peacoat.

"You're right on time. Actually I think you're a little early." Lexi smiled, opening the door to finally get a good look at the other girl. Colette seemed stunned for words as she looked at the older woman. Lexi was not exactly what the blonde was expecting either. Her blue eyes looked from Lexi's purple pumps, to her tight jeans, and finally to her bare belly button.

Or maybe she was curious how the dark haired woman was so tan.

"I'm sorry if I'm early. I can come back later if you like." Colette offered, eyes focused on Lexi's necklace but not quite looking at the woman's face.

Beckoning her in, Lexi waved it off, "No, not at all. Come on in. I like early. Did you find the place alright? You said you haven't been in London for very long. I'm still not used to it either."

Colette followed after the woman but her eyes were still drawn to the woman's heels. She wasn't even sure how Lexi managed to balance on them and it made her nervous. It would be terrible if the lady fell. But Lexi walked like a pro in them and took herself to a seat.

"I found it alright, Miss Sincerbeaux. A nice man pointed me in the right direction. Your apartment is so nice. Did you furnish it?" Colette asked, taking a seat that was offered.

"Nope. Most of this was already here when I moved in. Good thing too since I just came with my clothes. Much nicer than my studio apartment back home." Lexi smiled, "Would you like some coffee? Oh, and just call me Lexi."

"No, thank you, Mis-... I mean, Lexi. I'm okay. Have you been here long?" Colette asked, eyes looking around the room but never quite into the other woman's eyes.

"A few months. Long enough to get everything settled and get adjusted at work. If you moved in, would you care hearing me come in late at night? I'm up at all times of the day. Work kind of calls when I'm needed. Depends on if they suspect foul play." Lexi explained, her eyes taking the girl in.

Colette quickly shook her head, "I don't mind at all. I'm up mostly at night anyways. Do you have any animals?"

Lexi smiled as she saw the girl look around curiously. There was something childlike about her but the vixen was sure there was something more to her. Twenty-one was Colette age, rather young for running off from home. Though, Lexi was never one to judge. She was just happy to have someone living with her.

"Not right now. Maybe later. Our landlord said that he allowed animals as long as they are trained and don't make a mess." Lexi shrugged.

"O-Our landlord…?"

Lexi felt her lips tug as she chuckled, "Well, you're going to move in with me, aren't you? Or did someone else already snatch you up?"

"You really mean that?" Colette gasped, "Already? Are you sure that's okay?"

"Of course. I'm a pretty good judge of character and you're clean. I don't think you'll be trying to kill me in my sleep. So we're all good to go. I'll get that extra key for you so you can start moving in if I'm not home." Lexi agreed, holding her hand out to shake on it. Colette quickly took it as she thanked the woman, noticing acrylic nails as she did so.

"Oh, one more thing though." Lexi quickly piped up, releasing her hand.

Nervously, Colette asked, "Is something the matter?"

"No, I just wanted to let you know if two strange men come around that they're harmless. Strange, but harmless. So don't let them scare you off. Alright?" the older woman winked.

"O-Okay. Are they safe…?" Colette asked timidly.

"Don't worry about them. Most British people are harmless, even though they're a little odd. You'll be fine." Lexi promised, starting to draw out a cigarette. Noticing the way Colette was eying it the woman answered, "I don't do it inside. I use the window. Is that a problem?"

Shaking her head, Colette responded quickly, "No, ma'am. Not at all. If it's not too much trouble, could I possibly move in tonight? I don't have much."

"That won't be a problem at all. I'm off today anyways. I could help you if you want. Probably a lot easier with two people." Lexi offered. She couldn't imagine a girl like that try to lug her stuff around London all day.

Colette grew quiet and it threw Lexi off. Was it something she said? If anything, it was a nice offer, "Are you okay?"

"You're… Just really nice. Thank you s-so much." the girl slightly sniffed, brushing at an eye. Lexi thought it was a bit odd that Colette found the offer so endearing but then again, it was England and the people were a bit more blunt with their actions and words.

"Why don't we get you moved in?" Lexi smiled.

Colette had not been kidding when she said she didn't have much. The essentials were bare except for mostly clothing and a few other things. All items fit fairly easily into two bags of luggage. It was still much easier with each of them pulling one. Luckily, Lexi already had cooking utensils that she gave full permission to the other girl to use.

The two had been hardly living with one another for a week, but the arrangement was working better than Lexi could have hoped. It was becoming a habit for her come home at odd times to find a plate of food in the fridge for her. They offered one another a symbiotic relationship that was greatly beneficial for both.

"Colette?" Lexi called from the bathroom, just hopping out of the shower, "If you hear someone just let themselves in, don't worry. It's just those men I told you about. They just kind of do that. Well, at least one of them."

Colette's head popped up from the couch as she looked toward the open bathroom door, "W-What?"

"You remember, don't you? Those men I said that pop in randomly? They're on their way. I left the door unlocked so he wouldn't kick it this time. He's kind of a dick, so just ignore him." Lexi spoke casually, drying her hair into a towel. There was one also wrapped around her body and her makeup was already fully done.

"Are you… going on a date… with both?" Colette asked, still staring at Lexi over the top of the couch.

Lexi gave her a funny look as she stopped what she was doing, "No, I don't do that anymore."

Colette could not see Lexi's smirk as she turned away from her. Teasing the girl was becoming a hobby of hers and often Colette did not get when she was making a joke, instead of telling the truth. Instead, the actual truth was that the men were coming to look over some forensic photos she had taken.

"Are they big?" the girl asked timidly.

Big? That was an odd question, Lexi thought to herself, but she merely shrugged, "I wouldn't say big, just pretty tall. Well, one of them is, the other is fairly short. I'm probably taller than him with tall enough heels."

That seemed to soothe Colette as she sunk back down into the couch. Lexi figured the younger woman was just shy. Afterall, she didn't say a lot to Lexi either. They would chat and the blonde would smile and be happy. But, she was just not much of a talker.

"Colette, you don't have to talk to them if you don't want to." Lexi spoke up, "They shouldn't be around for too long if you want to go in my room or yours."

"Do you think they'll think that's rude though…?" Colette asked wearily, but warming up to the idea.

Lexi shook her head as finished up with her hair, "No, not at all. Sherlock is probably one of the rudest people I know. And even if they thought it was rude, who cares? You don't owe them anything."

Colette nodded and was heading for her bedroom when the front door was suddenly flung open, causing her to duck quickly into the room. Lexi was still in her towel as she turned to see the intruder. Sherlock was already well into the room as Watson carefully shut the door much more gentle than the other man had opened it.

"Sherlock, you could have at least knocked." Lexi smirked, looking the tall man up and down.

"If you had not wanted me to come in without introduction, you would not have left the door unlocked." Sherlock stated simply, his eyes already sweeping over the room, "Good, you found yourself a roommate. Now I don't have to find you after you've been thrown out on the street."

"Sherlock." Watson chided, furrowing his brows.

"You have such a way with words." Lexi rolled her eyes and gently shook her head. It took Watson staring at the tightly wound towel around her to realize she still was not dressed. Not that she minded, she was used to being nude in front of others.

"I take it you just got off work." Sherlock replied, looking her body up and down, "And I'm not talking about the forensics occupation."

Lexi's lips turned up with a smirk as she cooed, "You tell me, world's most observant man. We both know I haven't done that in a few weeks. Murders keep a girl busy, you know. And lately there has been more than a year's worth packed into one month."

"I know, hasn't it been wonderful?" Sherlock sighed, sounding completely content, "I have not had this much fun since the Sailor incident."

"The Sailor?" Lexi asked, quirking a brow.

"Oh, a serial killer that tied his victims up with an old sailor's knot." Sherlock waved off, still taking in the room.

"That's… lovely. Now do you want to look at those pictures or are you going to tell me my apartment is dirty?" Lexi asked, arms crossed over her chest.

"Actually, no, it's clean for once. It seems you got a roommate and a housemaid. Lucky you, I got Watson and he just berates me." Sherlock rolled his eyes.

Watson worked his jaw as he pointed out, "Your apartment was so messy I thought you had just moved in when I showed up, you arse."

"That's besides the point. We are focusing on Lexi, not me." Sherlock waved him off, "Now, I need those photos. What are you waiting for?"

Lexi could feel the need to strangle the man coming up inside of her but she ignored it as she went to her room for the pictures. She was a crime scene photographer mostly - it was time to start getting away from her night job and if all she had to do was snap a few photos, she didn't mind Even if there were of dead people.

As she moved away she heard Sherlock call out, "If you insist on watching from the crack of your door, I highly suggest you either come out or shut it completely."

It took Lexi a moment to realize he was talking to Colette and she quickly grabbed the photos off of her desk. She came out quick enough to hear the girl's door clicking shut and Sherlock staring at it. Watson, who had not been paying attention, looked between the taller man and the door.

"What are you going on about?" Watson asked, looking back at the door.

Sherlock's eyes narrowed at the door as he admitted, "I expected her to be, well, bigger."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lexi asked, handing over the photos.

"There's a shocking increase of sweets laying around." Sherlock pointed out, but turned back to the tan woman, "And your tan has not faded in the least, so I'm assuming you have found a place to bake yourself."

"With the incredible lack of sun your country has, it's the least I could do to make sure I did not get a vitamin D deficiency." Lexi retorted, a smile on her lips.

Watson sighed, this was their normal first encounter whenever they made their visits to the apartment. If he didn't know better, he would have thought that Sherlock actually enjoyed bickering with the vixen in high heels.

"Could you stop stomping around? You'll wake up everyone underneath us." Lexi lightly scolded, watching the man still parading around her apartment, "And leave my roommate alone. It took forever finding her, I don't need you chasing her off."

"She won't leave. She's in just as bad a situation as you are." Sherlock responded, not even looking back, "This girl owes you just as much for allowing her to split such a nice apartment."

"Just come over here and look at these photos so I can get you out of here." Lexi teased, setting them down on the coffee table, "John, there's some coffee on the pot if you want any."

"I'm fine. Thank you, Lexi." Watson spoke, smiling as he sat down next to her. He couldn't help but look back at the door. The man was curious why she would not want to come out but he waved it off as he noticed Lexi's form once more, "Would you like to get dressed? We can wait on you."

"No, thank you. I'm perfectly fine." Lexi smiled, crossing her legs.

The woman did not expect them to stay quite so long. Three hours flew by and it was already half past nine when Sherlock began to get up and arch his back. Watson was getting rather sore himself. Somewhere past the first hour Lexi had decided to get dressed since she was bored of the towel and wanted to be comfortable.

"Thank you for letting us stay so long, Lexi. Hopefully you didn't have anywhere to be." Watson apologized, slipping his coat back on since it had started raining again.

Lexi shook her head as she began to pull out a cigarette, "Not at all. I've been a sloth lately. No going out for me tonight. And you're more than welcome to come over again. It doesn't always have to be about business."

"That would be nice. Tell your friend we said hello and that we didn't mean to give her a fright." Watson apologized, giving the door one last glance before going to the door.

"Goodbye, roommate. Maybe next time you will not hide in your room like a dormouse afraid of being eaten by the cat." Sherlock chided, wrapping his scarf before exiting the door with Watson right after him.

Lexi rolled her eyes as she went to the window and lit her cigarette. She always seemed to need one after dealing with that man for more than thirty minutes at the time. It was nice to have someone to banter freely without fear of insulting.

"You can come out now, Colette."