Chapter twenty-five: Life is full of possibilities

"I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious," I opened my eyes, to see that I was reclining on Sherlock's chest and he was sitting up in bed. He had one hand on my shoulder and the other hand held a book. "your heart, your soul. Beauty, one could get to know and fall in love with in one hour and cease to love it as speedily; but the soul one must learn to know. Believe me, nothing on earth is given without labour, even love, the most beautiful and natural feelings." He closed the book with a snap and smiled down at me. "Good morning."

I smiled. "Good morning. What a beautiful way to wake up. Was I asleep long?"

He shrugged. "Not very long, I woke up earlier and got a book from downstairs."

"Love letters, you mean. You walk like a cat Sherlock."

"Comes in my line of work." He rubbed my shoulder fondly as he looked down at me. "You really look lovely in this position," I flush in pleasure. "you feel nice, warm and soft."

"Sherlock," I croak. "are you trying to seduce me?"

"Not intentionally," he grabbed me around the waist and sat up, running his hands up and down my waist. "but, it sounds lovely."

I grew flustered as he pulled me into his lap, so I was straddling him. "Sherlock."

"Hey, relax." He ran his hands down my shoulders. "You're so jumpy." At my glower he added. "But, it's sweet to see."

"You know just what to say to get what you want."

"And what is it I want?"

I gulp. "I'm not saying."

"For now, I'm just content with holding you," he leans forward to kiss me. "kissing you, and touching you."

I smile and wrap my arms around his neck. As he kisses me, I promise myself that I won't allow him anything else like this again. As if reading my mind, Sherlock's hands grip my hips, pulling me deeper into his lap. I jump instinctively as his hands creep up my sides and he runs his thumbs over my breasts.

"Whoa!" I yelp as I break the kiss and look at him, finding him smirking at me. "That was not," he shoots forward, kissing me on the neck, nibbling at my skin like he did down in the library. "Sherlock!" I cling to Sherlock's shoulders as he continues attacking my neck. "Sherlock, please!" His phone goes off and he groans. I laugh shakily as he grabs his phone and glowers at it. "Thank goodness."

"It's John. There's a case waiting for me when we return." I blinked and jumped out of bed, going for my overnight bag. "There's no rush!"

"Yes there is, if I stay in bed with you, I won't want to get out!"

"And would that be such a crime?"

"For me, yes. For you, no." I head straight to the bathroom. "Now, you go kick Mycroft out of bed and get dressed in his room."

"Tammy."

"And see if anyone can have breakfast ready for us to eat on the way back. I want complete details explained to me once in the car."

Sherlock began protesting, but I closed the door on him. I jumped into a white dress suit that I'd brought with me, it was solid white and in spite of Sherlock claims that I was the perfect weight for my age and height. I still felt as if I were carrying a pound or two extra. I then brushed my hair and my teeth. I hate brushing my teeth early in the morning. The water was too cold and the toothpaste, which tastes terrible most of the time, positively curled the blood in my veins.

I trotted out of the bedroom whistling Sondheim's 'you could drive a person crazy' brightly. I then began pulling on my shoes and stood up. I then bent over and began tucking my clothes into the overnight case.

"You might want to straighten up." I spun around to see Mycroft standing there in his robe. "Sherlock might get the wrong impression if he can in and found me addressing your ….posterior."

I straightened and frowned at him. "This is Sherlock's room and I am Sherlock's girlfriend, therefore, your presence and words are uncalled for."

He shrugged as he stepped forward towards me. "Tell me," he asked. "how long are you and Sherlock holding up this façade of being girlfriend and boyfriend? I know already that the two of you are going to break up."

"We were going to, but Sherlock and I decided that we'd get back together again."

I enjoyed the look of shocked surprise on his face. "Why on earth would you two do that?"

"Because we need each other Mycroft, he needs me. I heard it from his own mouth Mycroft, and that was enough to convince me."

"I'm simply here to advise you against dating my brother."

"He needs me and I love him. How could I possibly leave him when I feel the way I feel, especially when I know how hard it is for him to make admissions about his feelings for me?"

"Oh, it'll be easy, like peeling a Band-Aid off a cut."

"That's easy for you to say because you want me for yourself." His eyebrows rose in surprise at my words. "I may not be a Holmes Mycroft, but I am observant. I noticed that you've been watching me. It also explains why you've been picking on Sherlock quite a bit. You're jealous that your younger 'scored' over you."

"I hadn't meant to be so transparent." He said. "I thought I was hiding it rather well."

"Not well enough, Sherlock has noticed." I pointed out. "I told him he didn't have to worry about it because nothing would ever happen between us."

"You won't give me a chance?"

"No."

"I could protect you," he said. "your brother would never find you."

"I'm not worried about my brother finding me." I stated. "If you want me to be happy, ensure that he'll never put his hands on Sherlock again."

"Sherlock can take care of himself."

"I know, the thing is," I crossed my arms and held his gaze. "I just plain love the guy. If you want to keep me safe and happy, keep your brother safe. He should be your first obligation, not me."

"If my brother needs my help he'll ask for it. You've…humanized him a little bit. Whether or not it's for better or worse, that remains yet to be seen. You must be careful with him; emotions are dangerous in his line of work. He needs to be careful that he won't get distracted by you."

"Sherlock and I are partners and we're going to stay that way."

"If it'll last."

"It'll last." I said with a defiant tilt of my chin. "You just watch Mycroft Holmes, because it is going to last."

"Indeed." Sherlock said as he rounded the corner, pushing Mycroft. "You really should listen to Tammy when she talks in that tone, she means what she says." He wrapped his arm around me and kissed my forehead. "Ready?" I nodded. "Good," he turned and walked out of the door. "let's go."

"Her overnight case Sherlock." Mycroft pointed out.

"Oh, it's not that heavy Mycroft." Sherlock stated. "She can do it herself."

I groaned and grabbed my suitcase. "I don't mind Mycroft; it falls right along the lines of Sherlock buying me roses."

Sherlock stopped and frowned. "I haven't bought you roses."

"That's exactly what I meant." Sherlock frowned. "I don't expect you to buy me roses and I don't expect you to carry my suitcase. But I do expect you to have something for me to eat in the car when I get down there."

Sherlock took ahold of my arm. "Taken care of. Shall we?"

"In a moment." I turned towards Mycroft. "See? As Sherlock stated, I don't ask for much and frankly it doesn't take much to please me. Goodbye. Thank you for the advice and I hope you won't think too ill of me for avoiding it."

"It seems a shame," he comments. "that someone, as kind as you, should waste your life an affections on someone like my brother."

I nodded. "I've wasted it on others before him and none of them were anything like him. Maybe this time, I've found the perfect man to waste my affection on."

Sherlock takes ahold of my arm and guides me out of the room. "Let's go." Once outside the door, he picks up a prepacked picnic basket with a look of extreme distaste. "Mother had the staff pack something and leave it downstairs for us. Really romantic."

"How can picnic basket be romantic?"

"It's like something out of a French movie. Bread, cheese, crackers, grapes, and sparkling grape juice."

I smile as we descend the stairs. "Sherlock, it's really sweet of her. Where are they?"

"Still asleep, come on, let's go right." I shake my head as he herds me into the waiting limousine. He actually helps me inside the car this time. He slams the door and immediately puts the privacy screen up between us and the drive.

I open up the basket and reach for the grapes. They're sweet and I smile. I hold one out to Sherlock, he frowns slightly at me, but he opens his mouth. "Don't make me feel like I have to eat this whole thing by myself. She packed it for both of us."

He shrugs as I hand him the bottle of the sparkling juice. "I'm not hungry."

"We can't have a proper picnic unless you eat something."

Sherlock reaches for the two wine glasses and pours the juice inside. "This is ridiculous."

"I think it's sweet of her, it's the thought that counts." I lean over and kiss him on the cheek. I then pop a grape into my mouth, smiling as the flavor bursts in my mouth. "Delicious."

"Don't move." I pause where I am as he sets the glasses aside inside the cup holders. He grips ahold of my shoulders and says. "Open your mouth."

My eyes widen and I ask. "Why?"

"You'll see." He places his thumb and index finger on my jaw. "Please, open your mouth, just a little."

I hesitate, but I do as he asks. He leans forward and kisses me, his mouth open and his tongue seeking mine. I tremble and jump as his tongue touches mine. I let out a moan as he experiments, gently probing his tongue against mine. Tentatively, I begin to mimic his movement and heat clouds my senses as desire clenches my stomach.

Slowly, we pull away, breathing hard, not daring to look each other in the eye. I shake my head and reach for my full glass and take a good long drink. Sherlock follows my example. I have no words, but as always, Sherlock does. "Well, that was interesting."

I nod. "Yep. Can't have a French picnic without a proper French kiss? Is that what you were thinking Sherlock Holmes?"

He shrugs. "Something like that." I look at him and he looks at me. Suddenly this whole moment just becomes ridiculous. We both start laughing madly at each other. Sherlock wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. "Now, I can't promise things aren't going to get hot between us, because, obviously they are." I nodded in agreement. "But, I can promise you that I won't go too far."

"You're just going to test the ropes and see how far you can go?"

"Yep." He pop's the 'P' and nods his head. "Keep in mind, this is new for me."

"New for me too Sherlock. Robert wanted me but...not in a...sexual way." I flush and clear my throat. "Sherlock? Could you," I lick my lips and ask. "promise me that...no matter what happens, you won't...make love to me-

"Unless there's a wedding ring on your hand and you name is," his voice softens to a tender light. "Tammy Holmes?"

Just hearing my first name attached to his caused me to shiver slightly as I nodded. "Yes Sherlock."

"I promise you." He studies me for a second. "Did you mean what you said to Mycroft? That we're going to make it?"

"I did Sherlock. We're going to make it. I think it's a dive off of a hundred story building into a sponge, but I think we can do it."

Sherlock tilts his head to the side. "Well, technically no one can-

I shove two grapes in his mouth, laughing at his expression. "Stop talking for one minute."

"If I don't," he says around the grapes. "I'm going to kiss you again."

I exhale as I straighten up and look inside the basket. "Ok, tell me what's waiting for us when we get there. Murder?"

"Kidnapping, supposedly."

"Any ideas?"

"Eight ideas."

"That leaves open a lot of possibilities."

"Life is full of possibilities."