They arrived at a Chinese restaurant and stepped inside. John held Annie's hand and Sherlock asked her to find them a table.

John shot him a look. "Oh, please don't-"

But, Annie had already hurried off. Sherlock smiled to himself as they were next to order. John walked over and sat down with Annie. She rested her elbows on the table and examined the restaurant. There were Chinese paintings and tiles flooring.

"This is a nice place. I've never been to a Chinese restaurant before," she said.

John raised his eyebrows. "Well, let this be one of many new experiences."

They shared a smile as Sherlock sat down with them, next to John. "So, Annie, how does it feel to have a new father?"

John closed his eyes and nudged Sherlock's leg under the table. "Don't answer that if you don't-"

"Oh, it feels amazing! I've never felt so happy. Everyone at the orphanage was so jealous because most kids our age don't get adopted. Everyone suually goes for the babies and toddlers, you know."

Sherlock smiled. "Fantastic."

"Sherlock Holmes?"

They all turned as John and Sherlock saw a familiar face. Henry Knight. His blue eyes smiled at them as he shook John's hand.

"It's great to see you two again! I've been keeping up with you in the papers! Who's this?'

He glanced at Annie and she smiled. "I'm Annie. You are?"

Henry shook her hand, quickly. "I-I'm Henry! Henry Knight. I'm from another part of London. You a friend of these two?"

"John's my dad. He adopted me."

Henry raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Well, that's exciting. I've just moved into town. I thought getting away from Baskerville would do me more good. I live near Baker Street in a quiet apartment. Small but cozy."

John nodded. "Well, congratulations on the move, Henry."

Sherlock didn't speak at all. He was staring at Annie. Her hair was short and brown and her skin was a bit pale. Her smile was nice and genuine, and her eyes were big and bright. Henry kept talking with her as they realized they shared several interests.

"You like to read? Read anything lately?' Henry asked.

"I just finished 'The Book Thief', ever heard of it? Very good story," Annie replied.

Henry thought for a moment and his eyes brightened. "With the German girl and the Jew in her family's basement?'

Annie gasped. "That one! Yes, so have read it?"

"Yeah, it was recommended to me by a friend. I've never cried while reading a book before."

"I cried too! Have you read 'The Catcher in the Rye'?"

Henry's smile fell. "Oh, no. I've never heard of it."

"You have to read it! I own it. I could let you borrow it, if you'd like. You said you lived near Baker Street, didn't you?"

Henry stuttered. "Oh, I-I...yes. Yes, that would good. I mean, that'd be good."

John smiled the whole time. Annie had already made a friend. He felt as if he had watched her grow up. She and Henry shared their addresses and he left, hoping to get a hold of her book.

"I'll try to bring it this week. I promise."

He nodded. "Okay, okay. Sounds good. Great. Excellent."

Annie nodded. "Yeah, good."

There was a pause. "Well, I better go. I need to...go. I better go, I have to go. Bye."

"Bye," Annie said, giving him a small wave.

Henry walked away and looked back a few times to wave at them. Annie waved back until he was out of her sight. John looked at Sherlock who was reading the menu for the fifth time. He glanced at Annie who was still smiling to herself. Sherlock cleared his throat.

"Plan on eating, Annie?"

She blinked. "Huh?"

"You've barely touched your food."

John closed his eyes in annoyance and shot Sherlock another look. Annie gasped, as she didn't realize their food had come. She started eating with Henry on her mind.

"So, Annie, I don't know if John mentioned this...but I solve cases."

Annie looked up from her food. "Cases? You mean, like a detective?"

"Consulting detective," Sherlock corrected.

Smiling humorously, she shrugged. "Same thing."

Sherlock grimaced. "They are not-"

"What he means is that he's usually going to be in and out of the flat, so try not to disturb him. But, don't fret, Annie. I'll be there," John said, reassuringly.

Annie was still curious. "You solve cases? What kind?"

"Oh, very dangerous. One time, John-"

"Okay, I'm full,. Let's get home," John said, standing up.

"But, I want to hear about your cases."

Sherlock spoke in a whiny tone. "She wants to hear about the case, John!"

John shook his head as he wrote the check. "No, no time for stories. Annie, we need to get home and unpack, okay? I'll tell the story later."

She got up, along with Sherlock. "Promise?"

John held her hand and sighed. "Yes. I promise. Come on, let's get a taxi."

Sherlock followed behind them with a smile on his face. John ignored him on the entire trip home. He and Annie hurried upstairs to unpack her things. After a few hours, John went downstairs to put on the kettle for tea. Annie was exhausted from such a long day, so she went to sleep. She slept in John's bed while he volunteered to sleep on the couch.

Sherlock played his violin as the kettle heated up. John glared at him with his arms folded. "I'll bet you think that was very funny."

"She'll need to get used to it sooner or later, John. I can't help being myself."

"No, Sherlock. You're not being yourself. You're acting like a child."

"Don't talk to me like that, John. I get enough of it from Lestrade."

"Well, that should tell you something."

"She's a girl in love, John. Be careful with that."

John grimaced. "In love? She's barely moved in. Who's she in love with?"

Sherlock stopped playing and smirked. "Oh, young love. How interesting. Isn't it just hateful?'

"If you think Annie is in love with Henry Knight, Sherlock, you're out of your mind. I usually trust your instincts, but this is just stupid. She's only just met him."

"She has the mind of a child, John. What do you expect?"

"How can you know she's in-no. No, I'd rather not know-"

"Simple, the way she smiled and kept her eyes focused on him while he spoke. Her hands were shaking a bit and she wouldn't stop smiling."

John shrugged in annoyance. "She's always smiling."

"Not like this. Her smile twitched a few times, which means she was holding it without really meaning it. Does that mean she wasn't happy? No, it simply means that she was too excited for his and her own good. She offered to let him borrow a book and they exchanged addresses without even asking your permission."

John sighed. "So?"

"She doesn't seem to be the type of girl to do that sort of thing. Had this been another situation, she would've asked your permission. However, she was too excited and just gave a man she just met her address. What sort of person gives their address to someone they just met? The type of person that has feelings for that person and/or wants to see them again and soon."

John rolled his eyes. "You don't know anything about love, Sherlock. You've always told me you're against it. How could you possibly read all that?"

Sherlock shrugged. "Elementary, John. Simple as that."