'Boys, you're getting a new neighbour!'

Mrs Hudson appeared up the stairs into the living room where John and Sherlock sat.

'Oh? Someone moving into 221c?' John looked up from his paper as he spoke. Sherlock, as usual, appeared not to hear her.

Mrs Hudson was her usual bubbly self, 'Yes, finally got round to fixing the damp and got it rented out. Lovely girl, moving in tomorrow. Emily she's called.'

'A girl?' John's ear's pricked up at this.

'John, Mrs Hudson won't want to find a new lodger within a week, so please don't even imagine that you can impress this new woman.' Sherlock didn't even move when he spoke.

John's incredulous face turned to Sherlock, 'I..'

'Oh boy's, play nice. And make her feel welcome!' With that, Mrs Hudson walked through to the kitchen and started clearing the sink. 'You know, I'm still not your housekeeper dears?'

Emily stood and smiled at her new front door before she inserted the key in the lock and swung it open. She'd finally made it to London. Turning round she hoisted the backpack over her shoulder and grabbed the suitcase, dumping them in the living space. Retracing her steps she lifted the two smallish boxes from the hall and brought them into the flat as well. In those four pieces of luggage, was the entirety of her belongs that she had brought to London. Smiling to herself, I travel light, she thought.

Mrs Hudson had shown her round the flat the other day, but this time Emily took her time exploring. The living room cum kitchen was compact but with more than enough space for one person. Mrs Hudson had told her about the damp that had previously been there and that it had been sorted. The kitchen area was retiled, the walls with plain white splash backs and the floor with large grey granite style tiles. New cupboards had been added with white doors and a faux granite worktop. A new cooker and fridge freezer had been installed and a small pine table and 2 chairs sat in the corner.

Turning to look at the living room, Emily took in the grey two seater sofa, sure she had seen one similar in Ikea. In one corner was a matching grey armchair while in the other was a small tv table. Emily didn't have a TV, she was never in enough to watch it. Instead she had a small CD player which allowed her to listen to the radio or music from her Ipod and that was fine with her. Thinking of this, Emily reached into one of the boxes and lifted out the CD player. Plugging it into the corner and setting it on the table, she slotted her Ipod into the dock and started her Favourites play list. Sounds of Eagle Eyed Cherry's Save Tonight swam around her. Completing the room was a waist height bookcase, which she knew would be filled soon with all the books she planned to pick up from the markets and second hand bookshops.

Leaving the living room, Emily carried her back pack and suitcase through to the small double bedroom. It was lightly furnished with a metal double bed, pine wardrobe with mirrored door, a pine bedside table and a matching chest of drawers. The mattress was bare on the bed and Emily put bedclothes and a duvet set onto her mental shopping list. Placing the bags onto the bed, she opened them and started unpacking. She didn't have much, never felt the need to have more clothes than were required. Within five minutes, everything was placed into the drawers or wardrobe. A small alarm clock was placed on the bedside table along with a picture of Emily with two other girls smiling at the camera.

Grabbing her cosmetics bag, she walked into the bathroom, a toilet, shower cubicle and hand basin greeted her. The entire bathroom was white, although stark, it was clean and Emily knew she could brighten it up with some towels and colourful bottles of shampoo. Quickly emptying her bag of her shower gel, hairbrush and other essentials, she sighed contentedly.

She'd always loved London since visiting several times since she was a young girl. The sights, sounds, the fast pace always intrigued her. The last time she had visited, with a group on friends on a hen weekend, she had made up her mind she wanted to live there and feel the excitement everyday. Of course she knew it wouldn't always be as great as she thought, but at least she wouldn't regret never having done it.

Emily decided it would be a good time, before it got dark, to explore some of the streets around her and also pick up some essentials and food. She grabbed her new keys, made sure all the lights were out and walked out of the flat.

So that's chapter one, just a bit of OC introduction. I have a vague plan of what I want to do with this story, but how I get there may change over time. Whatever you're thinking, please let me know, all comments graciously accepted :)