"Yes Sherlock, it will make a fine invention." Charlotte sighed into the darkness of her brother's room in 221B, Baker Street. She could hear the faint chime of the clock's bell outside. The normal chatter and clang of carriages rang out in the air. A paper boy was shouting, "Blackwood hangs tomorrow! Read all about it!"

Charlotte sighed and smoothed out the folds in her trousers as her brother aimed his gun and shot three times. She was seated as far from him as the room allowed and was sitting by the fire. She shook her head and went back to reading her adventure novel. She wished in her head that he would marry one day, but she knew that would never happen, the same as her marrying anyone. In her peripheral vision, she say him fiddle with a part of the gun and shoot it again. She winced at the shot, the contraption not doing anything to suppress the noise. She didn't bother looking up from her book as there was a knock at the door. There was no use since it would be either or Watson.

The door cracked open and sure enough, John popped his head in. "Permission to enter the armory?" he asked, annoyed.

"Granted." her brother answered, shooting again. He had now formed a large VR in the wall out of bullet holes.

"Watson, I am in the process of inventing a devise that suppresses the sound of a gunshot." he said to his friend.

Watson threw open one of the closed drapes, letting light pour in blindingly. Holmes shouted out as it hit him. Charlotte ignored her brother and daintily sipped her tea, turning the page of the novel.

"It's not working." Watson told her brother, earning a giggle from her. "Can I see that?" the doctor held out his hand. Holmes handed him the gun and put a hand over his eyes. Watson placed the gun on a nearby table and shuffled papers around and moving misplaced objects. He threw two pages to the ground and brought the rest with him towards the fire.

"You know it's been three months." he continued, "since your last case." He walked around Charlotte and hastily moved the whistling pot away from the fire with his foot. He then sniffed a bottle on the table and wrinkled his nose, dowsing the fire with it.

"Yes, yes. Gently, gently, Watson. Be gentle with me-" he yelled out again as Watson pulled back another drape.

"Don't you think it's time you found another one?" Watson said, looking at the papers. Holmes had thrown himself onto the floor and was now crawling towards his friend.

"I can't but agree. My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems. Give me work. The sooner the better."

Watson put his hand down. "Paper." he gave it to Holmes.

"Thank you." he said and sat up on the stool.

"Let's see then. There's a letter here... from Mrs. Ramsey of Queen's Park." Watson said as Holmes looked at the paper's front page.

"Her husband's disappeared."

" He's in Belgium with the scullery maid." Holmes said. "Is it November?"

"Yes, Holmes. Alright. Lady Radford reports...Oh, her emerald bracelet has disappeared." Watson said.

"Insurance swindle. Lord Radford likes fast women and slow ponies. Oh, I see you're the attending physician at Blackwood's hanging."

"Yes. It was our last case together and I wanted to see it through to the end."

It was quiet as Holmes didn't respond. Watson cleared his throat before there was another knock at the door. It opened and walked in with a tray of tea.

"A Mr. Lewis is seeking-" Watson continued but was interrupted.

"There is only one case that intrigues me at present: The curious case of , the absentee landlady. I've been studying her comings and goings. They appear most sinister." he said, practically glaring at her.

"Tea? ?" the landlady asked, holding the tray forward slightly.

"Is it poisoned, nanny?"

"There's enough of that in you already." she replied smugly. She went down pick something up after laying the tray down.

"Don't touch! Everything is in it's proper place...as per usual, nanny."

She walked by and happened look at the ground.

"He's killed the dog. Again." she remarked.

"What have you done to Gladstone now?" Watson asked angrily, rushing over to the comatose bulldog.

"I was simply testing a new anesthetic. He doesn't mind." Holmes protested. Watson stood after checking the dog's pulse ans faced his friend.

"Holmes, as your doctor-"

"He'll be as right as a trivet in no time."

"As your friend! You've been in this room for two weeks. I insist, you have to get out."

Holmes sat in his armchair in boredom. "There's nothing of interest for me, out there, on earth, at all." he replied. Charlotte put down her tea after taking a drink.

"Mmm...I agree." she said.

" So, you're free this evening?" Watson asked after taking in a deep breath.

"Absolutely."

"Dinner?"

"Wonderful?"

"The Royale?"

"Our favorite." Holmes said, winking at his sister.

"Mary's coming."

Holmes looked at his sister, who had stopped her cup on her lips, just after she had sipped. She calming swallowed and eyes her brother sadly.

"Not available." he responded for the both of them.

"You two are meeting her!" Watson shouted at them.

"Have you proposed yet?"

"No. I haven't found the right ring."

"Then it's not official."

"It's happening, whether you like it or not. 8:30. The Royale. And wear a jacket. You." he said turning and pointing at Charlotte.

"Please wear something suitable of a lady please." He then turned and left.

"You wear a jacket." Holmes retaliated as the door shut.

Both of the Holmes' eyes were covered in a thin veil of saline. "I suppose I'll get ready now. We might as well be early." Charlotte muttered, he voice on the verge of breaking.


The two sat side by side at the white clothed table. Holmes was checking his silver pocket watch and Charlotte was laying her head delicately on his shoulder. He had his hair neat and Charlotte had forced him to take a bath and do as Watson instructed, wear a jacket. Charlotte was in a beautiful silk sapphire gown that make her eyes and hair seem all the darker. Her hair was softly curled and pulled to the side by a ribbon. They closed their eyes and listened to the din around them. Over all, they heard the clock ticking most loudly.

"Holmes. Charlotte."

"Mmm?" they hummed in unison.

"You're early." Watson said. The two opened their eyes and to the couple in front of them. John was in blue and green uniform with a woman with blonde hair wearing a violet dress.

"Fashionably." Holmes said, pasting on a fake smile. Charlotte smiled slightly and stood as well as her brother.

"Miss Mary Morstan." Watson introduced.

"My goodness. What a pleasure." Holmes said and kissed her knuckles. "For the life of me, I don't know why it's taken him so long to introduce us properly."

Charlotte smiled and loosely shook the woman's hand. The two women sat first. "The pleasure is mine." Mary said. The men then followed, Watson looking fairly uncomfortable.

"It really is quite a thrill to meet you, Mr. Holmes. You as well Miss Holmes." Mary said sweetly. Charlotte nodded and tensed since Watson was seated close to her.

"I've heard so much about you. I have a pile of detective novels at home. Wilkie Collins, Poe."

"It's true." Watson said.

"It can seem a little far-fetched though sometimes...making these grand assumptions out of tiny details."

"That's not quite right,is it?" Holmes asked. Charlotte held back a smile as her brother looked at Mary.

"In fact, the little details are by far the most important. Take Watson." he said, about to give an example. Charlotte scooted her chair back to give him room.

"I intend to." Mary said. Holmes fake laughed and rolled his eyes as he looked at his sister. Charlotte looked down and fiddled with the silver bracelet on her wrist.

"See his walking stick? A rare African snakewood..." he pulled the end of the stick and pulled forth a blade, "hiding a blade of high-tensile steel. A few were awarded to veterans of the Afghan war." he said and slid it back into place.

"So I can assume he's a decorated soldier. Strong, brave, born to be a man of action. And neat like all military men. Now, I check his pockets." he reached forward and Watson didn't have time to stop him as he slid his fingers into the cloth, pulling a slip forth. He then unfolded it with his fingers.

"Ah. A stub from a boxing match. Now I can infer he's a bit of a gambler. I'd keep an eye on that dowry if I were you."

" Those days are behind me." Watson said.

"Right behind you. He's cost us the rent more than once." he smiled.

"Now take my sister for example." he said. Charlotte cleared her throat.

"Sherlock-"

"You can see that she is quite beautiful and delicate. What you can't tell is, that she has killed a man on occasion." he said.

Charlotte cleared her throat at the look of shock Mary gave her. "It was self defense. You can also tell that I bathe regularly, unlike my twin." she said.

"So you are twins?" Mary asked. Holmes grunted and Charlotte nodded.

"Well, with all due respect Mr. Holmes, you know John and your sister very well. What about a complete stranger? What can you tell about me?" Mary asked.

"You?"

"I don't think-"

"I don't know that-" Watson said.

"Not at dinner."

"Perhaps some other time."

"I insist." Mary said.

"You insist?"

"You remember we discussed this."

"The lady insists." he moved his chair closer to his new victim, unable to give up this opportunity. Charlotte shot John an apologetic looked and thanked him for the glass of wine he handed her. She stared down at it as he began studying the other woman.

"You're a governess."

"Well done."

"Yes well done. Shall we? Waiter." John tried to get their attention.

"Your student is a boy of 8."

" Charlie is 7 actually."

"Charlie huh? Then he's tall for his age. He flicked ink at you today." he said.

" Is there ink on my face?" she asked Watson.

"There's nothing wrong with you face." he replied.

"There are two drops on your ear in fact. India blue's nearly impossible to wash off. Anyway, a very impetuous act by the boy. But you're too experienced to act rashly..."

Charlotte and John glanced nervously at each other as he took a drink.

"...which is why the lady for whom you work lent you that necklace. Oriental pearls, diamonds, a flawless ruby. Hardly the gems of a governess. The jewels you are not wearing tell us more."

"Holmes!" Watson warned and Charlotte put a hand on his shoulder.

" You were engaged. The ring is gone, but the lighter skin where it once sat suggests that you spent some time abroad wearing it proudly..."

Charlotte's eye caught the movement of Mary covering her left ring finger with her hand.

"...that is until you were informed of its true, modest worth." he said as she took the offered wine from Watson. Charlotte sighed and sat hers down, knowing all too well what Mary was going to do.

" At which point you broke off the engagement and returned to England for better prospects. A doctor, perhaps." he finished. Mary threw her wine onto his face and Charlotte gasped.

"I'm so so so sorry John!" Charlotte whispered to him. He placed his hand on hers briefly.

"It's not your fault." he murmured back.

"Right on all counts, Mr. Holmes. Apart from one. I didn't leave him. He died." She looked at John and then picked up her purse and left.

"I'm taking the carriage home. Find your own way back, Sherlock." Charlotte said and left as well.

John and Sherlock sat there in silence.

"Well done old boy." John said, leaving Holmes to dine alone.