"So that was a useless trip," I commented as Sherlock and I left the company.
"They clearly know something but are refusing to say anything. The man got really nervous when I mentioned the company in France, so he is suspicious of us now. If this is an international crime organization then we might want to watch our backs from now on."
My brows frowned. "But, he doesn't know we know all that. For all he knows we are only trying to find my brother."
Sherlock nodded in agreement. "Let's hope so."
We walked in silence for a while until I decided to break it. "So, what exactly are we going to tell my parents? My father is going to question you on every little detail, so I say we need to talk about it."
"Alright, tell me about your family so I'm not walking in blindly," he said as we got into a cab.
"My mother's name is Helen and my father's is Charlie. My father is the CEO of a lumber company, and my mother is a home baker. Outside of that, we don't really associate with anyone else. All my grandparents died before I was born except for my Nanna, but she died five years ago. James got to know my grandfather a bit when he was little, but he died about three months before I was born."
"I estimate that your brother is four years older than you," Sherlock said.
I smiled to him. "Nearly, yes. He is about four and a half years older than me." We arrived at 221B and started heading upstairs. "What about you? How much older is Mycroft than you?"
"Seven years. My mother's name, as you know, is Wanda, and my father's name is Timothy," he told me. "We can simply say we didn't talk much of family so that neither one of us are expected to know anything."
We got to 221B to see that John and Mary already went home. It was already late anyway, so Sherlock didn't seem surprised. "You can sleep in John's old room upstairs," Sherlock told me. "If you are hungry we can order take out," he added.
I hummed in response as I sat in John's chair. "Pizza sounds amazing right now." Sherlock nodded and started typing on his computer. "We should leave early tomorrow, or my parents will complain… Sorry for dragging you into this."
"It was my idea, so I should be the one apologizing." Sherlock said, still typing. "Do you like pepperoni?" he asked.
"Sure, we can get whatever you want," I told him. I sighed as I looked to him. I sort of feel bad for dragging him into this, especially dealing with my parents. I guess I'll see tomorrow.
.
So, today didn't go as I expected, but it ended up being great. I parents, believe it or not, loved Sherlock. He acted very charming and respectable; even when my mother asked about children. I freaked out a little when she asked, but Sherlock kept a cool head and told her that we had a while until then.
"Well it was a pleasure to finally meet you Sherlock. You seem like a very fine man to be with our Bethany," my mother told him as we were leaving.
"Thank you, ma'am. I love your daughter, and promise to be good to her," Sherlock told her.
I was sort of surprised by his response, but then again wasn't. He was a good actor and proved it today. As soon as my parents shut the door, Sherlock returned to his usual frown. "Well, I thought that would never end." He said as we headed away from the house. "Nothing personal against your parents of course, I'm just not a people person."
I giggled at his statement and nodded. "I know but thank you for coming. I didn't know you could act so well."
"When I have to," he simply stated.
"I still didn't like lying to them though. My mother seemed happy now that she got to know you… Well the you that you showed her." I sighed with a frown. "I really don't want to tell them the truth because I know they will be extremely disappointed in me. I don't want to tell your parents either because they seemed so happy that you got married… I don't want to shatter the happiness they had…"
Sherlock and I got in the rental car we had, Sherlock driving. Sherlock didn't say anything about my comment but seemed to meditate on it. I knew he didn't like the fact that he was lying to his parents, especially when it's something his mother has been dreaming that he would do. I looked to Sherlock for a long time, studying every feature. He really was a gorgeous man, and nobody could convince me otherwise on that. He has a very sharp jawline that seemed to match the rest of his features. His hair wasn't super curly today like it was when I first met him, but he looked good either way. In all honesty, Sherlock was a good man. Yes, he was a bit odd, but I sort of liked that about him. He was different than any other man I have met, and it seemed life was never boring around him.
"You're staring," he stated.
"What if we actually got married?" I suddenly asked, and Sherlock nearly slammed on the breaks.
"What?" He asked, bewiled.
I spoke slower as if to make my point. "What if we actually got married? We wouldn't be lying to our parents, and we don't have to break your mother's heart. You're probably thinking I'm crazy and that I would rather marry someone for love, but in a sense I am. I love my parents and I would assume you love your parents. So, in a sense we are marrying for love."
"You're serious?" Sherlock stated more than asked.
"Yes, why would I joke about this? Think about it Sherlock; we already know that we can get past a fight, and we get along fine now, so what's the worst that could happen? I'm already sort of given up on finding someone I loved, and I do care about you in some sort of sense, so it's a very logical solution to a problem."
Sherlock looked at me a few times, still paying attention to the road of course, before speaking. "You? You are really willing to give up on finding someone to love to marry me? Just to make our parents happy?"
"Yes," I said as if we were having a normal conversation. "Are you?"
"Well, I never planned on getting married or finding someone to love. I don't think or feel like that."
I sat sideways so I was fully facing Sherlock. "Yes, but you are still sacrificing something. I mean, I would be there all the time and I would try not to get in the way of your cases or everyday life, but I will. I know I wouldn't really get involved in your cases, I would stay out of that, but your everyday life would be different."
"My everyday life started being different when John moved in and out, so I doubt it would be that much of a change," he told me.
"So, is that a yes?" I asked.
"Yes to which question?"
I gave a small smile along with a short sigh. "Sherlock Holmes, will you marry me to make our parents happy?" I asked.
Sherlock looked at me for a long while, debating. "What the hell, why not…" I smiled, happy that he was willing to do this to make our parents, mainly his mother, happy. "But," he added. "Not much is going to change. Do NOT try to change who I am."
"Of course, I won't…Sorry for before… except if you do drugs again, I will try to help and stop you from doing that," I said, leaving no room for debate. "John told me."
Sherlock rolled his eyes. "That's fair enough, you wouldn't be the first. But my food and sleeping habits will not change just because we get married. You will move in eventually, I presume."
"Yes, I can move all my things when we get back. My monthly contract for my flat is almost up anyway."
.
"WHAT?!" John, Mary, and Ms. Hudson screamed once we said that we were actually going to get married.
"It's to make our parents happy," I informed.
Ms. Hudson seemed to be glowing with joy. "Oh, happy day! This is wonderful!"
John looked to Sherlock, raising an eyebrow. "And? You're okay with this?"
Sherlock gave a simple shrug. "In all honesty, it won't be much different from when you lived here."
John looked to him for a while, then sighed. "Fair enough, but don't you dare hurt Bethany. Try to act how a husband should… And vise versa for you Bethany."
I smiled to John. "Of course." I smiled to Sherlock. "Sherlock is a good man, so I believe he would be a great husband."
Sherlock seemed sort of surprised, and even blushed a little, by my comment, but his face went to it's usual position after a few seconds. "Right… We'll get that squared away after your case…"
