Five and a Half Months

The day after they broke into Naisa's home, Sherlock went to St Bart's to have a look at the birth records there.

Staring at the screen, Sherlock slumped in his seat.

"What is it?" asked John, entering the room with a coffee in each hand. He puts one next to Sherlock and sips at his, peering at the screen.

Birth Certificate

Name: Jessica Amy Adler

Mother: Irene Adler

Father: N/A

John smiled. "Well, we figured out that she actually is Irene's daughter." He took another look at his friend's face. "You're not happy, why?"

"One mystery solved, another begins," Sherlock muttered, poking at the offending N/A on the screen. "I want to find out her father."

"Well, I doubt she'd be happy if we asked her," said John. "After all, we broke into her home, invaded her personal privacy and uncovered what must obviously be a secret. Why else would she change her name?"

Sherlock shrugged. John sighed – he'd returned to the silent, depressive state that he so favoured since Gina's disappearance. In his mind, pigs would fly before Sherlock would see her again.

Six Months

Sherlock's phone went off, making him jump. It wasn't that his phone went off; it was because of the noise it made. Usually, it made a normal bloop noise, but this time it sounded out a fanfare – the one from Final Fantasy 7, the one that indicated that a text from Gina had been received.

Apprehensive, Sherlock picked up the phone.

1 New Message

He opened it.

From: Gina M

Cup and Saucer. One hour. Be there.
GM

He hadn't dared hope.

He was there early, he knew, sitting at a table for two in the window. He was in the furthest corner from the door – he'd be able to see her when she entered.

Sherlock was on his second coffee when the door swung open and admitted the one person he wished to see.

Her skin was as pale as ever, but she'd dyed her hair purple. She displayed her legs proudly in a short dress, a pair of sunglasses hooked on the neckline. Her brown eyes fixed on him, and he felt something inside him melt.

She walked over to him, focusing on nothing else. Gina sat in the chair opposite.

"Gina…" Sherlock couldn't help it, he'd waited so long to see her again, and now he felt as if he was in a dream. Casually, Gina reached over and pinched his arm. "Ow!" He jerked back, rubbing where she'd hurt him.

Gina smiled a little. "Just so you're sure."

"I've missed you," he admitted, and the smile disappeared from her face. "Where have you been?"

She didn't answer.

Sherlock tried a different approach. "Why now? You make me wait six months and now you choose to turn up out of nowhere?"

Gina still didn't answer.

They sat in silence until she ordered a coffee. Eventually, she spoke. "Sherlock…"

The way she said his name nearly made him shudder. He'd missed it.

For the first time, she looked him in the eye. "There's a reason I left. One that you probably won't understand unless I explain it."

He waited for her to continue.

Gina sighed, looking back to her coffee. "A Miss Irene Adler came to my attention on John's blog. And that you weren't fine with her lack of presence, but that you were hiding it."

Sherlock stared. A sad smile formed on her lips.

"I'm a smart girl, I could read the subtext." She paused, taking a sip from her coffee. "I also did a bit of research, and came upon something I didn't expect to find… evidence that she had a daughter."

Sherlock tried to speak, but Gina's finger was suddenly on his lips, her manicured nail pressing against his philtrum. Since when did she get manicures? he found himself wondering.

"I couldn't live with the idea that you may have fathered a child, even if you didn't know about it. I couldn't live with it, so I left."

Gina stood and made her way around the table, her finger never leaving his lips. She nudged the chair with her foot, moving it enough so that she could slide herself onto Sherlock's lap.

"Don't get me wrong, Sherlock," she said quietly, removing her finger. "I do miss you."

Sherlock opened his mouth, but wasn't sure whether he was going to attempt to tell her who Irene's daughter was, or ask if she still loved him. He didn't get to find out either, as she suddenly covered his lips with hers.

Not one to complain when Gina wanted him, he abandoned thought and left everything to instinct. Their lips locked, he felt her arms wrap around his neck, and he pulled her closer, his arms around her waist.

He felt a tug, which turned into pain, which turned into relief. Pulling away from Gina's lips, his hand flew to the back of his neck.

Gina slid out of his grasp, a few strands of his hair in her hand. "I'm sorry," she said, before running out the door. Sherlock hastily left a five pound note on the table and ran after her, but it was too late.

She had disappeared once more, without a trace.