Hello my lovely readers :) This is my first multi-chapter Sherlock Holmes fanfic so please go easy on me! I'd like to point out quickly, that I am no expert on the film (despite seeing it about 10 times) and am not an expert on the language used, nor the time Sherlock Holmes was set. So I am sorry if something appears out of context, or just doesn't make sense!

Unfortunately I do not own Sherlock Holmes, nor any of the other characters in my story. All credit goes to both Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Guy Ritchie for making the film. This story will be set after the first (2009) film, but before Game of Shadows (2011)

Lastly, Enjoy :)

Once upon a time…

The rain slashed against the windows, and alongside the howling wind it created a horrible noise. The sound of dreadful weather and objects being battered about. Not the usual weather to go out for a walk in but then this was no ordinary man.

As the clouds darkened to ready the world for night a long figure strolled through the park as if the wind and the rain couldn't touch him. His coat was worn loosely, not protecting him from the elements as it should and his hair was plastered to his face, no strand escaping the water. Yet, he continued walking at a regular pace, not speeding in the hope of getting home soon. No you see, this man had chosen to step outside, even in these conditions, for it was the only weather that would ensure his privacy.

For the past few weeks Sherlock Holmes had kept himself, to himself, holed up in his room at 221b Baker street. His housekeeper, Mrs Hudson would carry him a tray thrice daily in order to keep him alive, rather much like caring for a plant. His former colleague, Dr John Watson was away with his newly blushing bride in the hope of a peaceful honeymoon period away from the polluted streets of London. Now they were sunning themselves and glancing into culture in a small town in Italy. So Sherlock had been a little more bored than he liked and no new cases were bringing themselves to light. He had checked the papers and letters over and over but it was fruitless and this led to him now stopping in the middle of the street and staring helplessly at the sky.

That is, until something caught his attention.

It was nothing, something that could easily have been a trick of the light for any average passer-by but Sherlock Holmes was anything but average. Upon closer examination he soon discovered that the movement had been a flickering of a flame going out. A previously lit piece of paper flew towards his feet, caught in a gust of wind until Sherlock's shoe stopped it from progressing. The corner was charred but the rain had extinguished the flame so quickly that none of the words had vanished. Sherlock snatched up the paper and took to the main road, flagging down a coach with ease and returning home.

"It appears to be the page of a children's fairy-tale." Sherlock held the page under a light and addressed the dog. Gladstone was back in his care while John and Mary holidayed and the poor animal had been subjected to a various amount of drugs and 'tricks' since its arrival.

"Snow White and the seven dwarves if I remember correctly. This is the page in which the wicked queen allows the young Lady to bite into the poisoned apple, causing her supposed death." Sherlock could not see the importance in setting fire to the page and shortly after reading the extract, all hope of a case was lost. After one last smoke of his pipe the detective returned to his bedroom.

The following morning the weather had calmed down considerably. Rain still continued to tap at the windows but this time with a gentle touch, nothing like the rough beating they took the previous evening. A tousled Holmes awoke to the sound of a metal tray being placed on the table in the main living room.

"Don't touch anything nanny!" His voice carried through to the woman who jumped and sighed at his reaction, even after just waking he was grumpy. She scolded herself for spilling a little tea on her sleeve, bit back the urge to mumble under her breath and departed the room.

This was when Holmes emerged. Dressed still in a shirt and trousers from his evening walk the man padded barefoot to the window and then back to his armchair, lighting a pipe and grabbing the newspaper sitting by breakfast. Once again, to no avail, the paper did not bring any new cases to light.

"This,' the detective mused to himself as he tossed the paper aside once more, 'suggests another quiet day by all accounts. What do you think Gladstone?" He looked across at the dog who was sitting in the corner, a wary eye on the gentleman. Sherlock, out of kindness tossed the pet some scraps of breakfast which the dog happily snatched up in his mouth. It took all of two minutes before Gladstone fell back into a drug addled sleep.

"It's as if you have no recollection of previous experiences." Sherlock smirked at the sleeping animal before eating the rest of the breakfast, the bits he hadn't laced with his new experiment.

"Inspector I really must insist! You cannot just-" Mrs Hudson was cut off mid-sentence as Inspector Lestrade made his own way into Sherlock's quarters followed closely by Constable Clark. Naturally, Sherlock had heard the commotion in the hallway and had put the letters to one side, relighting his pipe as he awaited the explanation for the uninvited intrusion.

"Mr Holmes, we have a potential case for you sir." The Inspector greeted not with formalities as one would expect, but straight to the point, as Sherlock liked. Taking a drag on his pipe the detective studied the two gentlemen.

"Tell me the facts." He stated.

"A young woman, a market trader has been found dead in an alleyway Mr Holmes. From the looks of the scene she choked or was poisoned."

"You think poisoned otherwise you wouldn't have consulted me, interesting. But nothing for me. Death is a common act in London I need different."

"The fruit was an apple sir."

"Not helpful Clarky."

"She was found with a potentially poisoned apple and a copy of Snow White and the seven dwarves, in which the main character was also-"

"Poisoned by an apple." Sherlock fumbled amongst his possessions and brought out the sheet of paper he had discovered in the park yesterday evening.

"Gentlemen. I'm interested." And grabbing his coat Sherlock led the way back out the door.

Only short I know but I didn't want everything to happen in the first chapter! Please read&&review, any thoughts are appreciated :D