I don't own Sherlock!

Sorry this Chapter is a bit short, Had a bit of writers block. I hope you like it and please review it, I would like to know what needs changing or how you like the story. Thank you and Enjoy.

Chapter 2

"

So what is a nice young woman like you doing in London?" John asked giving Alice a cup of tea whom he had sit on the couch across the room.
"Oh, I'm studying abroad."
"Really?" John sat back down in his chair with Sherlock in his staring very openly at her "And what are you studying."
Alice laughed and looked at Sherlock. "Would you like to tell Dr. Watson? I'm sure by now you have me all figured out seeing how you haven't taken your eyes off me since I came in."
He smiled crookedly and without looking at John, started. "She was born and raised in America and went to a very prestigious school, seeing how she acts and talks no normal college would do. She studies culinary, judging by the scarring on her hands from the thin clean cuts indicating a sharp knife and small burns on the wrist and finger tips. Also she has a slight aroma about her of baked sweets along with cooking oil, and the little flour residue under her nails indicate she preferred baking over likes to use her hands as much as she does her mind. She is studying different kinds of culinary professions and technique from different countries, seeing how her sweat pants are Italian made and shirt is French, and that kind of eyeliner is from Japan. How many have you been to, five?"
"Nine actually." She said with an amused smile.
"Ah, so she is fluent in nine or more languages, very smart and quick to understanding." Sherlock squinted at her."And for some reason she has come here, London, not very famous for it's cuisine, aside from the classic fish and chips. So she could be here for sightseeing..."
"Or I could be here for a job. Traveling takes a lot of money." she interrupted
"No, you come from a wealthy background, that shirt is over a hundred pounds and the way you wear it is as if it is normal attire for you. Also, why work where your talent won't really be appreciated? Besides, you came to our flat almost directly I would bet and seeing how much you know of me, I wonder why you didn't come before now."
"Sherlock!" John interrupted. "You've had your fun, not stop showing off." Sherlock made a face at John but kept quiet.
Alice started to laugh. "Oh my dear John, I did ask for it. And as I expected, he has it mostly correct." She set her teacup down on the desk and looked at John. "Yes, I am studying in the Culinary world. It's a marvelous kind of science, I mostly make up my own recipes. I am more...acquainted with baking than cooking, but I enjoy them both."
She stopped and suddenly beamed. "Maybe I could cook for you sometime, I'd like to see if Sherlock's tongue is as keen as his mind."
Alice looked to Sherlock with a mocking smile.
"As for your wondering, I'm not telling you anything.
Sherlock raised his eyebrow.
You're bored, you have nothing to do as much as I can tell, and seeing you have just come back from the dead and Moriarty pretty much destroyed your reputation, people still aren't ready to rely on you again. And considering that you have entertain me for so long, you must be dying for a puzzle." She leaned in slightly as did Sherlock. "So what do you say?"
Sherlock scanned over her face again, something was nagging at him from the back of his mind. Frustration of not knowing her but feeling familiar was starting to get out of hand.
"What's in it for you? He asked finally.
Alice shrugged. "I'll get to spend time with the famous Sherlock Holmes and wonderful John Watson!"
~
John watched his comrade pacing around their flat, lost in thought like he always did when he was excited. Alice had left, for a brief moment giving Sherlock a chance to 'think it over'

"

So," John said finally breaking the silence, "What do you think of her?" he asked, trying to get Sherlock to share his thoughts.
He stopped pacing and looked a John with a small gleam in his eyes. "I think I like the idea. As you said before, I have nothing else to do." He added
"But that isn't all, is it?"
Sherlock smiled slightly at the man who knew him so well, then frowned. "I know her, or at least she looks familiar, but know that I have never met her."
"Randomly bumped into her on the street?" John shrugged
Sherlock scratched his head "No, because she said she had never been here before. I would remember, one would think, if I had met her."
John got up and took the tea cups over to the kitchen and started to clean them as Sherlock continued to walk around the living room while tearing through his mind for answers.

"

I don't know, Sherlock. She doesn't look all that familiar to me. But she is very pretty." he mumbled the last part mostly to himself.
Sherlock turned slightly to briefly look at his flat mate, shook his head and returned to his thoughts. a half an hour later there was another knock. Sherlock hurried to the door as John was finishing cleaning up the mess in the kitchen.
Ms. Hudson stood at the door with Alice right behind her. "Are you boys busy?" she asked slightly startled by how fast the door was answered.
Alice smiled to herself when seeing the glimmer of excitement in Sherlock's eyes.
"No, please come in ." he looked at Alice and nodded slightly "you as well Alice."
"Oh dear, not again!" exclaimed slightly when seeing the wall and the new holes in it. then turned to Sherlock a little surprised. "You have met her already?"
"Briefly, yes." John said coming around the corner.
"Oh good! Then it shouldn't be a problem!" She said delighted.
"What shouldn't be?" John asked coming closer to the group.
Alice smiled "I just moved into 221c!"
Sherlock raised his eyebrow slightly. "I don't remember accepting your offer-"
"-Yet," She said holding up a finger, "but I know you will." She said smugly. John looked between his friends face and their new apartment mate's. He could see the frustration Sherlock had, his eyes darted back and forth scanning Alice's features, hoping for some kind of clue to her identity. While Alice calmly, with a smile playing on her lips, looked back at Sherlock.
John looked at the stranger a little more closely, trying to see things the way Sherlock did. In the end it didn't do him much good, he may have spent a year and a half with him, but he could never be able to see things exactly like his brilliant partner.

"Well," Alice chirped, breaking the silence, " I need to go get settled, once again it was marvelous to finally meet you, Mr Holmes and Mr. Watson." She shook their hands and turned to Ms. Hudson. "I'll be downstairs, if you want to come talk later." With a smile and a glance at Sherlock, she walked out the room and happily bounced down the stairs.

"Oh, she is such a darling. I'm glad she took that room down there, been starting to think on making it a storage place. But I wish there was someplace nicer for a gal like her." Ms. Hudson said turning to the boys who both looked after where she had left.
"I think she'll be fine, besides, you will get to have a neighbor so you won't have to strain your hip to come up here for company." John reassured her.
Sherlock remained silent, receding into his mind again to think over her offer. There wasn't much he could do now, she was now in the same living complex, and seeing how she acted, he wouldn't get rid of her easily, even if he wanted to.
~
Alice looked around the small little run down flat, which now she would call home. Aside from the table, a few chairs, the couch, bed and bathroom and the kitchen appliances, it was quite empty. She didn't mind too much, she had been in worse. Sighing she started to unpack her two suitcases she had taken with her all around the world. Tags and stickers covered the slightly worn dark green fabric. She looked at them fondly then her eyes stopped on the British flag.. 'This may be the last place I stay' She thought to she had put away her clothes in the closet and set everything in order she stepped back to admire her work.
"It will do I guess, for now."
There was a knock at the door. "Come in!" she called.
Ms. Hudson came into the room. "Hello love, oh I see you have got your self all situated."
"Yes, what do you think?" Alice asked
"I think it could do with a make over, the walls that is, but as placement with everything it actually looks more like a livable flat."
Alice smiled fondly at the old woman. Then almost without thinking slipped her arm around Ms. Hudson's elbow in a friendly manner. "Say, I need to go out and get some things, you want to come with me? While we are out we could find a good color to redo the walls with as well!"
Ms. Hudson looked at her with slight shock as to how suddenly Alice had moved, then smiled. "Sure! why not? I don't have anything else to do today, a day out would be very nice. I'll just go get ready."
"Wonderful!" Alice let go of her and clapped her hands in excitement. "And we can get to know each other better!"
"My you are full of energy. And yes, it would be fantastic to get to know my new neighbor." Ms. Hudson winked "I'll be back in a few!" she said excitedly and left.
Alice went into her new room and grabbed her wallet, stopped to look in the mirror and smiled to herself. "Perfect"

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