A/N - This actually isn't that fantastic of a chapter. Simon's more inquisitive than I would've liked him to be, but I had lots that I wanted to get into the chapter and him asking a million questions ended up being how that happened. Oh, by the way, meet Simon. He's a classmate of Terra's.

Seven: Terra shouldn't date because...

"You read John Watson's blog?" Terra asked her friend Simon, looking over his shoulder.

"Yeah," replied Simon.

"But… why?"

"It's very –" he began. "Wait, you're not one of them are you?"

"One of who, exactly?"

"The idiots who believe that Sherlock Holmes was a fraud."

Terra flinched almost imperceptibly when he said Sherlock's name (or maybe it was when he said fraud). "Of course not, Sherlock Holmes was a genius. It's just that since Sherlock … fell, John's blog has been rather dull."

"I've found his accounts of recent cases quite interesting! And I'm quite curious about this new flatmate of his. Why hasn't he mentioned her name?"

Terra was about to answer, but her phone buzzed. She unlocked it to find a text from her older brother.

"Molly thinks Anderson screwed up. Come check his work when convenient. –GL"

She chuckled. "My brother needs my help with something, I'll have to leave as soon as this is finished."

Simon read over his notes. "Well, I think the rest of the project can wait 'till tomorrow."

"Well then I ought to head over there now," Terra said.

"Hey Terra, d'you want to go out for dinner with me later?" Simon blurted.

"Sure," replied Terra, giggling. "You can pick me up at six."

Simon grinned. "Where?"

"Here, let me write it down," Terra said. She picked up her pen and scrawled her address on his hand. "See ya later, Simon!"

"Wait a minute, you live at 221b Baker Street?" he called.

She smirked and waved as she walked out the door. "Afternoon!"


She had been staying at Baker Street for a few weeks so far while she was studying in London.

Sherlock was living in a flat rented under the name 'Luke Adler'. It was close enough to Baker Street that he and Terra could monitor each other, but far enough away that he was unlikely to run into his former flatmate on the street.

Terra pretended not to notice that John had long ago switched bedrooms. In reality, she had noticed it the day that she'd moved in and been directed to the upstairs room with her things. And she noticed it every evening when John walked into the room that she had such clear memories of Sherlock not sleeping in even though he was told to.

She was in her room when Simon arrived.

"Terra, there's a boy here looking for you!" John shouted.

"I'll be there in a minute," Terra yelled back. She paused momentarily before adding, "Don't you dare Sherlock him, John! I don't want you scaring him off!"

She heard John laugh and Simon inquire about what she'd meant.

Where is that stupid scarf? she wondered, crawling under the bed. If I left it at Sherlock's – Oh. There it is.

It had been a present from Sherlock for her 19th birthday, and was without a doubt her favourite scarf. It was soft and green and it had somehow wrapped itself around the back leg of the dresser.

When she walked into the sitting room, John was explaining what she'd meant by telling him not to 'Sherlock' Simon.

"…and if she's telling me not to do that, she must really –" John said.

"John Watson, shut up," interrupted Terra. "Come on, Simon, let's go."

"Okay, how did you end up living with John Watson?" Simon asked while they were at dinner.

"John offered me the empty room when I told him that I'd be studying here," Terra replied. "But I suppose your meaning was more along the lines of how did I meet him?"

"Well, yeah," said Simon.

"I met John and his former flatmate about four years ago. I was 18 at the time," Terra answered.

"You knew Sherlock Holmes, too?"

Terra rolled her eyes. "Brilliant. Good to know that your studies in Forensics are going to good use. How did you work that out, Simon?" He stared at her for a moment. "Wow, sorry, Sherlock moment. Yes, I knew him."

"That's really cool," Simon commented.

"Sometimes," responded Terra. "Sometimes I think he'd forget that other people were in possession of brains and were therefore capable of understand what was going on."

"His website was part of what got me interested in solving crimes. That's why I'm studying what I'm studying," Simon said.

"Good for you. I was already working in this field, but I figured it'd be best to get a better understanding of the science behind it all," Terra shared. "I met the world's only consulting detective and his blogger on a case."

"At 18? Did you know the victim or something?"

"Well, yes, but that's irrelevant. I was working on the case."

They continued talking about cases and Sherlock for a while, then they talked about Simon's family, then each of their favourite books. Then Terra's phone buzzed. She glanced down at the screen.

1 new text from Luke Adler

She sighed and hit the button to read the text.

"Bored –SH"

"I'm not even answering that," Terra said.

"Who's it from?" inquired Simon.

"My uncle Luke. He's –"

"Where did you hide my gun? –SH"

"Uh-oh."

"What?"

"Uh… nothing."

"Not telling. Not all landlords are as forgiving as Mrs Hudson –TF"

"What'd he say?"

"He seems to enjoy torturing building owners."

"Then come home. Find me a case. Find something else to amuse me. I'm so BORED. –SH"

"Sherlock Holmes, I'm on a kind-of date. Entertain YOURSELF, I probably won't even visit your flat tonight –TF"

"I told him I'm on a sort-of date. That'll either shut him up or make it worse."

"Why would that make it worse?" asked Simon nervously.

"He might well just show up," Terra replied.

"How long have you had a boyfriend? Why have you not mentioned him? –SH"

Terra rolled her eyes. "Really, he's like an over-protective father sometimes."

"He's not officially my boyfriend yet. And you know that, you'd have deduced otherwise –TF"

"Who? –SH"

"Simon –TF"

"Is he?" inquired Simon.

"That boy from your classes? –SH"

"That's the one –TF"

"No –SH"

"Very much so," Terra answered. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Two reasons. One, I'm curious about your family. You don't talk about them much besides your mysterious older brother who occasionally needs your help midday. Two, I need to know who I'm supposed to impress."

"No what? –TF"

"I don't have much of a family to talk about, to be honest."

"Him? He's so ordinary –SH"

"Glad you approve –TF"

"Sarcasm doesn't work over text –SH"

"But your brother and uncle are family, aren't they?" insisted Simon.

"Greg – my brother – is much older than me. Works for Scotland Yard. Occasionally calls John and I in for help on cases," Terra told him.

"I don't care. Your opinion of him is irrelevant –TF"

"Really?"

"Why would I lie?"

"That's really cool, Ter." He paused. "And your uncle?"

"Not actually related to me," she admitted. "But it's easier to introduce him as my uncle than as a father-figure, which I guess would be a more accurate term for him. It's more straightforward. And people believe it, 'cause with my hair done right he and I look a lot a like."

"No it is not –SH"

"How do you figure? –TF"

"And that's it? Just a big brother and a not-uncle-who-is-actually-more-like-a-father?"

"Because you care enough about my opinion to listen to me –SH"

"I've got John and Mrs H, too," Terra said. Not to mention a mess of other half-siblings, she added mentally.

"No parents?"

"Just John and –"

"John seemed to like him –TF"

"And this Luke guy, right? Do they know each other?"

Terra wasn't really sure how to respond. She went with: "Ah… no."

"I suspect he was lying to you. Letting you make your own decisions. I see no reason to do so, myself –SH"

"Of course you don't –TF"


"I don't like him."

"You've never even met him, Sherlock!"

"Still don't like him."

"Why?"

"He's so… ordinary."

"Hate to break it to you, 'Lock, but so am I!"

Sherlock raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you, though?" he asked skeptically.

"Not everyone's as bright as you, Holmes," replied Terra.

"True," said Sherlock. "But that doesn't make you ordinary." He took the knife that she always had concealed at her side.

If it had been almost anyone else, she wouldn't have let them disarm her. "Big compliment coming from you, that is," commented Terra. She held her hand out. "Give me my knife back. I'm going home soon. What if something happens and I don't have a weapon."

Sherlock smirked and handed the knife back to her. "Plenty of ordinary people walk the streets of London unarmed."

Terra rolled her eyes. "I get it, 'Lock. You're right, okay? Fine, I'm not ordinary. But godly blood aside –"

"- you're still not ordinary."

Terra smiled. "You think so?"

"I know so."

"Well… uh… thanks, then, 'Lock." She hugged him awkwardly. "I'll visit after class tomorrow."

"Good-bye, Terra."

A/N- Awkward hugs are a good way to end chapters, methinks. And also awkward half-compliments like "You're not ordinary". So I hope you liked this chapter. Review, maybe? Please and thank you! less-than-three!