Kate brushed her high-waisted skirt down. Again. She stared intently at her reflection. She pulled out her hair from her pony tail. Then retied it again. She bit her lip. Her eyes got lost in the mirror resting above the polished mantelpiece of 221B. She saw all the signs of bachelor life. Mugs everywhere, newspapers piled up and just a general mess. It made her smile that she was stood in a living room belonging to two men who judging by the view were perfectly ordinary. She herself blended in as visitor waiting to go out, perhaps a date, a girlfriend, a relative.
Then she saw his dark shape on the sofa.
They were anything but ordinary - especially in the life they lead, it could never be an ordinary visit. She was waiting here to go to court not a date and she doubted she would ever stand before the mirror as something as trivial as a girlfriend.
"It makes no difference you know."
She turned regaining her composure, "What doesn't?"
"The skirt. The hair is better tied back, for this instance."
"And what other instances would you be thinking of?" She grinned mischievously, curling her toes only clad in the thin material of tights into the rug. She couldn't bare to be serious, she could not afford to break down again.
She was not granted a response, only another stare from his frozen eyes.
"C'mon then young lady." John came back from the kitchen, he straightened his tie and sorted out his jacket. He was the only one who wanted to see the case through to the end. Plus Kate doubted she would be able to give any evidence with Sherlock's eyes staring down at her. Lestrade and his team had caught the gang - though of course it would never lead back to the very top.
She glanced one more time in the mirror.
Mrs. Hudson rushed in. "Are you sure you won't be wanting the sandwiches?"
Kate laughed, "Auntie, it's a court case not a bloody picnic!" John sniggered.
"Oh, I don't know how you can laugh in your situation."
"Well, it's better-"
"Than crying." Sherlock finished her sentence for her. She hummed a laugh through tight lips and he returned it with a twitch from his mouth. Mrs. Hudson oblivious continued fretting, but John got caught in the moment the two individuals seemed unaware they were having. Feeling an intruder he hurried Kate along again.
"Right, yes." She moved backwards to retrieve her bag from the leather chair, hands bumbling. She shrugged it over her shoulder along with a new black coat, glanced once more in the mirror and walked to the door.
"Shoes."
"Oh God!" In an instant her cool compsure was gone. John rolled his eyes, "I will be two minutes!"
Sherlock rose and picked up a box on the side, he held it out to her.
"Is this really the time?" sighed John. Sherlock took Kate's bag and place the box in her hands, his eyes never leaving hers. She held it in her hands and delicately removed the lid tucking it underneath. With one hand she brushed aside the tissue paper.
And then she laughed.
Not a small giggle or a hum as she had been providing them with over the past month, but a proper face-crinkling, echoing laugh.
"What? What?"
Then Sherlock joined in with his deep throaty chuckle. Kate lifted a pantent red shoe from the box and shrugged her shoulders, still laughing.
"I told him he owed me a new pair of shoes." She met his a eyes again. Mrs Hudson took the shoe, "Well put them on then!" She took the box from Kate and handed her each shoe as she slipped them on.
"A perfect fit."
"Of course." Kate clicked her heels then locked eyes again and grinned.
"Not that there suitable for court." That had slipped everyone's mind.
"I'll go find you a black court shoe." And with that Mrs Hudson was gone.
"I'll go get a bloody cab." And John was gone too.
Kate slipped off the shoes and started to wrap them back up carefully in the tissue paper. Taking her time, deliberating over each fold. "You didn't have to that you know." She said as she worked. She received no reply, though she could feel his eyes on her. She slowly picked up her things.
"Well, thank you." He nodded his acceptance. She left 221B charging down the stairs to deposit the shoes and pick up another pair. Sherlock heard her and Mrs Hudson talking in the hallway and a clanging as she slipped the new pair on her feet. He heard Mrs Hudson's door click after a brief hug goodbye. He moved back to his chair and closed his eyes.
She knew he would hear her footsteps as she walked back into the room. She knew he would hear her breathing.
Kate lent over Sherlock sat in his chair, with his eyes closed, with his brain ticking and kissed his cheek. Then ran to her cab.
Sherlock clicked his eyes open, but she was gone. Still, he couldn't help but smirk.
So there you are! The promised Epilogue! I am sorry it took me so long to put up - it has for some reason been slow going and I have been so busy! Well, that is the end of my first story! Thank you so much for all your lovely reviews and favourites, even sticking with it till the end! I have loved writing this so I plan to write a couple more stories with these same characters, so if you enjoyed please keep your eyes peeled! As always please review! :)
