Here's the next chapter guys! Thanks for reading and reviewing or fav/following! This is a bit of a filler chapter before we get into the excitement. Hope you enjoy it none-the-less!
Chapter 11
All was quiet at 221B Baker Street which was a rare occurrence. The occupants were thoroughly exhausted given the fact that they hadn't had a "proper" rest in a few days. Mrs. not-the-housekeeper Hudson quietly entered the kitchen holding a tray looking a little confused by the lack of noise and lack of disturbing objects on the table. She set her tray down and decided to investigate, if only to make sure everyone was still alive.
She stopped short when she entered the sitting room and saw John sleeping awkwardly in his armchair, Sherlock on the floor with his hand gripping Addie's, who was sleeping on the couch. Sherlock's violin was sitting abandoned on his armchair.
She smiled to herself and was about to step out of the room when she heard a sleepy voice whisper, "Mrs. Hudson?"
She turned to see Addie slowly and carefully getting off the couch and letting go of Sherlock's hand. Addie walked over to her rubbing her eyes.
"Well hello there Miss Addie. How are you this morning?" she asked.
Addie yawned, "Mmm'k."
"And what exactly are all of you doing sleeping in the living room? Is it a slumber party?" Mrs. Hudson asked, laughingly.
"No…" Addie said looking at the ground as her eyes filled with tears.
"Oh dear, what's the matter?"
"I kept having bad dreams so we slept out here and cuz we couldn't sleep in Sherlock's bed no more," Addie whispered. "And Mr. John's here cuz he was trying to help me feel better when I was scared."
"Come into the kitchen darling, so we can talk a little louder. These old ears aren't as they used to be."
Mrs. Hudson and Addie walked into the kitchen and took their seats at the table.
Mrs. Hudson turned to her. "Now then, what happened?"
"I'm sorry Mrs. Hudson! I'll pay for it! I swear!" Addie was rambling on.
"Shhh, dear, calm down. What do you need to pay for?" Mrs. Hudson said.
"Sherlock's bed."
"Sherlock's bed? Why? What happened to Sherlock's bed?"
"I ruined it!" Addie said.
"Oh love, I'm sure whatever happened can be easily fixed. No need to get so upset," Mrs. Hudson said patting her arm.
"But it's all ruined! He's gonna need a new one!" Addie was crying softly now.
"Why will he need a new one, Addie?"
Addie let out a small sob as she said, "Because I wet his bed!" She was now quietly crying into her sleeve.
Mrs. Hudson put her arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close. "Sweetheart, that's nothing to get so upset about. These things happen. And Sherlock is most definitely not going to need a new bed."
"He's not….?" Addie said peeking up at her with her head ducked down.
"No Addie," she said. "And you don't have to pay for anything. I know a way to fix it without it costing a single penny."
Mrs. Hudson took Addie by the hand and took her to Sherlock's room down the hall. They entered the room and Mrs. Hudson had Addie stand against the wall. Addie grimaced and looked away when she saw the clear outline of the stain from her accident on his mattress. She sniffled and wiped her eyes.
"Watch this Addie," Mrs. Hudson said as she gripped the ends of the mattress. "Just flip it like so," she turned the mattress over, showing impressive strength for someone her age, "And there you are, good as new!"
Addie watched her with wide eyes and stared at the clean side of the mattress now facing her. "Wow!" she said looking completely awestruck.
Mrs. Hudson smiled and started replacing the sheets John had washed during the night. She felt a small body collide with her side and looked down to see Addie hugging her close.
"Thanks Mrs. Hudson! Thanks for fixing Sherlock's bed! That was brilliant!"
Mrs. Hudson laughed and patted her back. "Well thank you dear. And you are very welcome."
She bent down to look Addie in the eye. "Now what do you say we head to the kitchen for some breakfast? I can make you a cuppa and I brought over some homemade raspberry scones. Fresh from the oven!"
Addie enthusiastically nodded her head, "Yes please!"
Once they were in the kitchen and Addie was sipping on her very small cup of tea and munching on her scone, Mrs. Hudson decided to broach another subject Addie had mentioned earlier.
"Addie?" she asked. "You told me you had some bad dreams last night, right?"
Addie nodded, "Uh huh. They were real scary and I kept waking up crying. So Sherlock played the violin for me and I felt better," she said with a smile.
"How nice," she smiled. "What were these dreams about, dear?"
Addie got quiet and put her scone down. "There was a really mean man. And he was doing really bad stuff."
"What kind of stuff?" Mrs. Hudson prompted.
"I don't 'member. But I didn't like it and I was really scared," Addie said.
Mrs. Hudson was aware of John and Sherlock quietly listening in on their conversation as they'd just woken up.
"Do you remember what the man looked like? Or maybe his name?"
"Umm, I couldn't really see his face. I only heard him talk. His voice was really loud and very deep. Which probably means he was overcomersating for his unpressive and untimerdating apeerince. At least that's what Sherlock says about deep voices," she said.
"I'm sure he does," Mrs. Hudson smiled sweetly, watching John and Sherlock start to move towards the kitchen.
"Do you remember his name?"
"Something that starts wif an "M" but I don't 'member 'xactly what it was," she replied. "I'm sorry."
"No, no, don't be sorry. It's alright. You've talked about it enough now. Another scone?" she asked holding the tray out to her.
Addie nodded her head and took another one as Sherlock and John entered the kitchen.
"Mr. John! Sherlock! Mrs. Hudson made us some homemade scones! Try some! They're delicious!" Addie said excitedly.
She held out the tray to them. Sherlock and John took one and tried them.
"They are marvelous! Thank you Mrs. Hudson," John said nodding to her. Sherlock agreed and nodded also.
"Well, you are welcome dears. I'm glad you like them."
"Sherlock! Mrs. Hudson did a magic trick wif your bed so I don't have to pay for a new one!" Addie said.
"It's hardly a magic trick, I just flipped the mattress over to the clean side," Mrs. Hudson explained.
"And it was all gone! My accident was all gone!"
Sherlock and John looked to each other and stifled a laugh. "That's great Addie," Sherlock said as he sat down with the paper.
"I must be going," Mrs. Hudson said looking at her watch. "I have an appointment at half past and I can't be late. Goodbye dears. Take care."
"Bye Mrs. Hudson! Thank you!" Addie said as she left the room. "I love Mrs. Hudson," she stated simply.
"So, anything exciting on the agenda today?" John asked.
"Oh god I hope so! I've been going crazy for days! I need a case!" Sherlock said.
Suddenly Sherlock's phone started ringing and he felt around in his pocket for it. It must have fallen out in the sitting room. He got up to go get it when he heard Addie talking.
"Hello? Yes, this is Sherlock's phone. He's having breakfast right now. Who are you?"
Sherlock jumped up and ran into the sitting room to grab the phone from her.
"Oh hi Mr. 'Strade! How are you doing? Did you sleep good? I didn't sleep too good, but I feel better this morning and I-" Addie stopped mid-sentence and listened. "Oh, ok. Uh huh, he's right here. What does hom-i-side mean?"
Sherlock quickly scooped up the phone and held it to his ear. "Lestrade? Yes. Right. Sorry about that, she got hold of my phone. Alright. Yes, we'll be right there," he said then hung up.
"Addie, don't answer my phone."
"But it was ringing, and I was right there."
"Ok, but next time, just bring it to me, alright?"
"Alright Sherlock. Should I go get ready now so we can go help Mr. 'Strade wif his hom-i-side?"
"Yes, go on and get dressed and brush your teeth, John will clean up breakfast," Sherlock said volunteering John as the housemaid. "And don't forget to use the loo!" Sherlock added, not wanting anymore accidents in the near future.
John wasn't even surprised Sherlock shirked cleaning duties again It's not like he ever had cleaning duties in the first place. He finished the dishes then went to get himself ready.
Ten minutes later they all met up in the living room putting on their coats and boots. John was zipping up Addie's jacket for her when Sherlock walked over. He turned and addressed Addie. "Teeth brushed?" he asked.
"Check," she answered.
"Hair combed?"
"Check."
"Face washed?"
"Check."
"Used the loo?"
"Check!"
"Ok, we're good to go. Come on." He said leading the way out of the flat, ready to finally get some excitement.