Disclaimer I DO NOT OWN Sherlock, just my OC(S)!

After finally getting an outfit, which was a simple shirt and jeans, I left the flat. I didn't get a taxi, it was just a little ways down the street. When the restaurant came into sight, I saw him standing there. I felt my cheeks heat up, when he noticed me.

I took a deep breath and exhaled as I walked across the street to get to the restaurant.

"Maria! It's great to see you again!" James said with his thick Irish accent as he hugged me tightly.

"James, I've missed you." I told him as I hugged him back, "What are you doing here?"

"Eh, my Aunt's getting married again." James told me.

"Ellen? Or Joanna?" I asked him.

"Ellen. She can't keep a man longer than I could keep a gold fish, and you know how I am with those." James said and I laughed a bit as we let go of each other.

"Yeah, your longest is what five hours?" I asked him.

"No, it was a day and half. It would've been longer if your cat hadn't ate him." James told me.

"Oh blame Mr. Tux for that. It was already dead when he ate it." I told him.

"Okay, he was dead. You win." he said, "So are you hungry?"

"Yeah, starving. Been running all over London today." I told him as we walked inside.

"Really? Why?" he asked me.

"Chasing after my boss and stuff." I told him.

"Your boss is he treating you well? He's doesn't tries to do anything to you, does he?" James asked in a whisper so others wouldn't over hear us.

"No, Sherlock is a wonderful boss. He might be crazy, but he's great." I told him as Angelo came over to us.

"Ah! You're Sherlock's girlfriend aren't you?" Angelo asked.

"No, no, no, I'm his assistant." I told him, "Nothing like that."

"Ah, my apology. Well since you're friend of Sherlock, you and your date eat for free." Angelo said.

"Thank you, Angelo." I told him as a waiter escorted us over to the seat by the big window.

"You didn't correct him when he said date." James said with a small hopeful smile.

"James," I said frowning, "I know I told you I needed some time. I still do. It's been six months I know, but I'm still not ready."

"When will you then? I've been waiting and hoping you would come back. We could be together again." he said and placed his hands over mine.

I let out a sigh and looked down at our hands.

"I know, but I just need some more time, James. I still have those dreams of being in that forest." I told him as tears came to my eyes, "Almost every night I see those red eyes and I hear her screams."

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't know." he said frowning as he removed his hand.

I wiped a tear away.

"It's fine, you didn't know." I told him as our waiter came to get our orders.

Like last time I order the chicken Alfredo.

"So, how is home?" I asked James.

"Good, it's not the same with you gone." James told me.

"I miss it there, but I like London. It's a wonderful city. Exciting and beautiful." I told him.

"Mm, I don't think I'd like staying in London. It's to big and crowded, unlike home." James said.

"Well you do hate changes." I told him.

"A little." he said and I smiled.

It was good to have James around. I almost forgot what it felt like to be around him.

"I see you let your hair grow out a bit." I told him,"It's more curly too."

(Imagine Aidan Turner.)

"Well you always did like men with curly hair, I figured why not let grow out a bit." he said.

"You didn't grow it out just for me did you?" I asked him frowning a bit.

"Nah, I just been to lazy to get it cut and I'm kind of use to it now." he said.

"Mm, thank you." I told the waiter who had placed the plate of food that I had ordered in front of me.

I grabbed my fork as the waiter placed James food in front of him.

"Thanks." James told the waiter, before he left.

"They have the best food here." I told him.

"Smells like it." James said with a smile on his face.

We ate in silence and when we were done, we left the restaurant.

"Do you want to go somewhere else?" James asked me and I looked down at my phone to see the time.

It was getting late, and I had no clue if Sherlock had found anything out about the bomber and the five pips. For all I know Sherlock and John could be dead in flat! Hopefully they weren't. I wouldn't know what I would do if I lost Sherlock. I mean them! Yeah, John and Sherlock, wouldn't know what I would do without them.

"It's getting late," I told him frowning, "I should get back to the flat. Sherlock might burn it down."

"You live with your boss!?" James asked clearly surprised by it.

"Yeah, he's a detective and I'm his assistant. We also have a doctor living with us, who is Sherlock's partner, I guess you could say." I told him.

"Oh, he's gay." James said and I giggled a bit shaking my head.

"No, he's ... I don't really know what he is, but John just keeps him in line, and I keep them both in line, while Mrs. Hudson keeps all three of us in line." I told him.

"Mrs. Hudson?" he asked me confused.

"Landlady." I told him, "Sorry, I'm rambling."

"It's fine, I miss your ramblings." he told me and grabbed my hand gently.

I pulled it away from him slowly and apologized to him.

"I better get going. We should meet again before you go back home." I told him and he nodded his head.

"Yeah, that would be great. How about tomorrow? 2:00 at the art museum? I heard they have some good stuff there." he said and I bit my bottom lip.

I did not want to go back there anytime soon. What with that assassin still on the loose and that mean woman working there. Though she's probably fired now, due to that painting being a fake.

"I really don't feel like going to a museum." I told him, "But we could go to a park or something."

"Okay, I'll call you tomorrow then." he said and kissed me on the cheek before walking away.

I let out a sigh shaking my head. I liked James and everything, but it didn't feel right. My heart was trying to tell me something, but I don't have a clue as to what it could be.

I let out a sigh and turned around bumping into a man. I let out a gasp and began to apologize to him quickly.

"It's all right. I should have watched where I was going." the man told me and I looked up at him.

He wasn't more than a few inches taller than me and he seemed to be familiar. I thought back to where I had seen him before and then it came to me. It was Jim! That one guy that Molly was dating.

"You're Jim, right?" I asked him and he nodded his head looking a bit confused.

"Yes, I am. Have I me... You're Maria! Molly's friend from the hospital!" he said a bit excited as he noticed who I was.

"Yeah, how is Molly doing? It's been a while since I last saw her." I told him.

"She's doing fine. So what are you doing out here all alone this late at night?" he asked me.

"Getting some dinner. I should be getting home." I told him.

"I could give you a ride." he offered.

"That's very kind of you, but it's not a far walk from here." I told him and let out a sigh with a annoyed look on his face.

"I tried to be kind, but you leave me no choice." he said with a annoyed tone, " Show him to her."

I looked at him confused. What was he going on about? And what was with the whole mood changing thing. A car pulled up and the window rolled down revealing John with a gun to his head while he was wearing a vest strapped with explosive. I gulped fearing both of our lives.

"Y-You're the bomber!" I said and he rolled his eyes.

"Of course I am, now get into the car, or your friend will be dead." he said and I glared at him as I got into the vehicle seeing no other choice, but to listen to him.

"You okay John?" I asked him.

"Be quiet." Jim told me.

I glared at him and then turned my attention to the window. I watched as the buildings went by us. When the car stopped Jim got out then John, and me.

"You do as I say or the bombs will go off and I'll kill your friends." he told John who was now wearing a think coat over the vest.

John nodded his head as he was escorted into the building we were standing in front of. I looked up at the building to see that it was some sort of pool. I felt a tight grip on my upper arm and was soon being dragged into the place by Jim.

"Be quiet, do as I say and no one will die." Jim told me as we stood behind a set of door.

I nodded my head and looked down at the ground in anger. A few minutes later, I heard Sherlock and soon Jim was talking into his phone. I bit my bottom lip in anger at his words.

"Who are you?" Sherlock asked and Jim walked through the door, after telling me to stay where I was as a red dot appeared above my heart.

A few minutes went by as I stood there worrying about John and Sherlock, when I heard Jim shout something I looked up shocked by the echos from behind the door. A few seconds after the shout the red dot went away. I looked around confused and frozen. Could I go now?

I waited there for a moment, before running through the door. I froze when I saw both John and Sherlock. I felt tears come to my eyes as saw that they were safe. I ran to Sherlock and wrapped my arms around tightly glad that he was safe.

"It's alright, Maria. You're safe." Sherlock told me, "No need to cry."

Cry? That's when I noticed I was crying.

"I was so worried you..." I told him and then added, "And John."

I let go of Sherlock and took a step back wiping the tears away.

"I'll get a cab." John said and left the pool.

I looked up at Sherlock to see that he had a concerned look on his face.

"I was worried about you too." he said and looked away from me.

I was shocked by his words. He was worried about me? I blushed a bit and looked down at my feet.

"He didn't hurt you did he?" Sherlock asked me and shook my head looking up at him.

"No, he threatened me, but nothing other than that happened." I told him.

"Hm, we should get going. John has gotten a cab most likely." he said and I nodded my head as Sherlock put his hand over mine as we made our way out of the pool with him lightly dragging me behind him.

In the cab John and Sherlock told me what had went on with them and Jim. I hadn't a clue what was going on, while I was behind the door.

"And that's when you came out." Sherlock told me and I nodded my head blushing a bit as I noticed his eyes were pretty blue.

Oh God! I can't believe I just thought that!

I bet no one suspected JM to be somebody else. Anyway, it seems that some feelings between two certain people are beginning to form! Plus what will Maria do with James? Only time will tell...