36. Timing

The novelty of having L as a houseguest was wearing off very quickly for Liam.

"God!" he remarked bleary eyed at breakfast two mornings later. "It's just type type type all night long. And then I ask him about …you know…work and such, and he says he's not at liberty to talk about it. What kind of fun is that?"

"I don't know cuz." Jamie contentedly reached for a piece of toast and began slathering it with Marmite. "I'm finding the sofa quite comfy myself."

"Yeah well, I don't see why I have to be in with...them." Jude turned red as he dug into a plate of baked beans on toast.

I shared a glance with Anne, knowing we hadn't wanted Jude to be by himself the last few days, which had been our argument why he needed to share the room with us. Obviously, he wasn't as comfortable with our choice.

"Oh Jude, c'mon, we haven't been leaving our bras out or anything. And you only come in at night and crash on the floor." Anne rolled her eyes and gave him a playful push. "There are several men who would kill to be in your place."

"Yep, I'm one of them." Jamie noted, receiving a glare from Liam.

"I'm going to assume that you are still waking up, and didn't mean to say that out loud." Liam warned his cousin, interrupting himself with a wide yawn. "Lord, I feel like I could sleep for days!"

"Being around L has that effect." I smirked, buttering my piece of toast.

"Where is he anyway?" Anne asked, opening a box of cereal. "I feel like I've hardly seen him!"

"Working." I explained. "A lot of research at the British Museum." L was working, it wasn't a lie. Lord knows where he would go. I'd gotten tired of the coming and going but really didn't know what to say about it. Do stop saving the world as often as you do, the people can fend for themselves for once? I shuddered imagining the look I would get after a comment like that.

"I think all he does is work!" Liam groaned, dropping his weary head on the table. "And eat…Lord does he eat."

"Maybe you should join him in that." Jamie teased tossing Liam an apple that just missed his head.

Anne picked up the bruised fruit that had rolled to a stop in front of her exhausted fiancé. "If he's going to start eating like L, he would skip this stuff entirely."

"Yeah but he needs to eat up so Cay can make a few bob." Jamie answered. "After all, the sweets shop down the way and Averill's Bakery have been making a pretty penny this week so far, haven't they?"

"He still won't sell tomatoes." Jude grumbled. "Said the vegetable dealer's cornered the market on them."

"That's the trouble with Caleb." Liam's cousin sighed. "He won't try to be competitive with the other traders in the market. It's probably why he's still as poor as a church mouse."

"Hey, at least he's honest." Anne defended him. "He doesn't want to cheat anyone. That's something to admire, you know."

Their talk of Caleb made me feel awful again. He still hadn't been by the house and he was proving impossible to catch at his stall. I couldn't see why he was so offended by L. It seemed that he had lost respect for me for remaining friends with him which if true was quite unfortunate because it wasn't like it was going to change.

"Where the hell has Caleb been anyway?" Liam lifted his head up, exasperated. "You used to be able to time the exact second he'd roll in here for lunchtime every day. Now he's bloody disappeared!"

"He's around." Jude spoke up then, setting down his fork. "Just doesn't want to really come here right now."

The guilt overrode my sensibilities as I quickly stood up to take my dish and glass to the sink while my best friend asked Jude why that was even though I was certain she knew.

I turned to meet Jude's green eyes which he quickly shifted away from mine. "I dunno. He just doesn't."

"Well that's no excuse. Caleb Templeton has been coming in and out of this house for twenty-five years!" Jamie thundered, smacking his massive hand down on the table. "What would make him stop?"

Anne's face took on a look of regret. "Maybe it's gotten too crowded for him."

This was too much. I strode toward the doorway quietly while my friends debated over reasons why Caleb had abandoned them all. I couldn't have it. I didn't want to be the reason that he was avoiding his lifelong friends and hoped I could fix the rift that I had inadvertently caused. How I would achieve such a lofty task I still didn't know but held hope that the right words would come in the heat of the moment. That, or I would just stammer and look like a fool. Obviously, I held out the most hope for the first option.

My heart jumped when I saw Caleb was actually at the stall. He definitely wasn't wearing his happy look as he negotiated with an older woman about his prices. Of course, with what she was saying to him, no one could expect him to look cheerful.

"So, if your fruits cost the same as they do in Sainsbury's, tell me why I should even bother!" the woman was red in the face as I approached.

Caleb ran a hand through his beard and controlled his speech. "Madam, my goods are freshly delivered every day and I have no doubt of their quality. For that reason alone, you should shop here. It's not like you're losing any money doing so, is it?"

I stepped up giving her an encouraging smile. "They are also delicious."

She scrutinized me from under her white crocheted beret. "I don't fancy this sort of pushy salesmanship. Good day!" And then she stalked off. I wished the ground would swallow me where I stood. This was absolutely not the way I wanted to make things right again between us, causing him to lose business and such.

As the lost customer disappeared into the market, Caleb gave me a cursory glance. "Oh, hi." He greeted carefully. "Doing the shopping for that crowd you got at Liam's?"

"Er, no." I felt embarrassed. "I-I just want to say that I'm sorry...about everything."

"Ah, that woman delights in arguing, don't worry about it."

"No…not just the patron…" I struggled to find the perfect words. "I wish you and I could be friends again. I feel awful about it."

He didn't seem moved by my speech. "Why now? Does that odd Elliott person have no time for you?"

"No, …Elliott is still my friend, but listen, Cay. Your dislike of him should have nothing to do with our friendship. Of course people will dislike him. He puts others off, he's not very tactful and he can definitely be self-centered. It took me a long time to like him as a person and it was the same amount of time it took him to finally like me."

"Why wouldn't he like you?" Caleb huffed. "Is he really that dim?"

"I'm not perfect. We know a million ways to rile each other up which truly never helped a friendship grow. Believe me, I can be rather hard to get along with."

He was deep in thought as he crossed his arms. "I don't know, I thought you were brilliant until he showed up. Grace, don't you remember what we talked about at the pub?" his face became downcast and I floundered to respond.

What had we talked about at the pub? I could only remember several moments of that night: Jamie carrying me in, the singing, partly the drinking, the news report, and …Caleb's sympathetic expression as we talked together at the table. I flushed knowing I must have said something terrible for him to look that way.

He seemed eager to remind me. "You talked about wishing to be free, not be weighed down by responsibility, to not be so confused. I told you that you needed to let go of the people and things in your life that were causing you unnecessary pain because they just added to the overall strain. You agreed with me, Grace. You said if that Elliott showed up here you'd tell him to clear off. You told me that he was the one causing you the most pain. I was really proud of you for realizing that." His blue eyes grew dark with stormy feeling. "Then he waltzes in here, demands you to go back to that house and you completely forgive him! No lengthy discussion, no pleading and begging on his part, as it should have been. You just broke that quickly. It ain't like he's handsome or personable, Grace, he's neither of those things! He seems like an arrogant prat who wants things to fall in place for himself without making any true effort. And you did just what he wanted!"

"With all due respect, Caleb," I began slowly, knowing infuriating him even more wouldn't help matters. "It doesn't matter how he looks and L is famous for giving a bad first impression. Believe me, I know. I didn't break quickly as you say since I'm still here. If I had did what he wanted, I would have been back in Winchester forty-eight hours ago, wouldn't I?"

"Well, he's nothing much." Caleb snapped then. "Accusing the lot of us of abducting you. Just who does he think he is?"

"Someone important." I tried not to smile. "He's overprotective, he knows now that that wasn't even close to what you had done."

"Whatever." He shrugged, vigorously spraying his apples and pears with a filled water bottle. "You haven't convinced me that he's a worthwhile person, Gracie."

"I wasn't trying to. Like I said, our friendship shouldn't be affected by him. So um, look, I was wondering, later, if you'd care to spend time together, just you and me. To help our friendship grow a bit."

Caleb stopped his busy work as he turned to look at me, the storms receding from his gaze. "Oh yeah? Really? Just us?"

I shyly looked down at the ground. "Er, yes. If you'd like to."

I lifted my head up to see him grinning at me. "Sure! That would be fun! I've got the best idea. Tell me you haven't been on the Eye yet."

His smiling was contagious. "Oh, the observation attraction on the river? No, I haven't ridden it."

"Well you will today. Wait till you see the city from the tippy top! It'll take your breath away." His grin faded a little as his eyes softened. "I really appreciate you wanting to still be near me, Gracie. Especially with how ratty I was acting."

"Think none of it. Just come by Liam's house more. Your mates are complaining that they haven't seen you."

Caleb nodded, reddening a little. "Oh, yeah I'll be there at lunch like usual. And then I'll come by at five for you. I'll close up early."

"Wonderful. Five it is." I left the stall waving back to him. "See you then!"

"It's a date!" he called to me waving energetically back.

I turned forward and my face fell. A date? That hadn't been my intention!

"Damn and blast." I muttered heading back to Liam's house. Why was it that I always encouraged the thing I wanted least?

A few hours later I was sitting with Nan watching a sewing program, my mind full of worrying thoughts when Anne strolled in holding her mobile phone and beaming.

"It appears the elusive L has made contact." She teased tossing the phone in my lap. "Check out the message I just got."

I flipped open the device to read.

14:13 from L

G,

Meet me at Scotland Yard.

Please.

L

"Scotland Yard?" I repeated quizzically. "Is this for work?"

Anne shrugged. "I don't think so. He did write "please."

"Yes, that is shocking I'll admit."

I glanced up at the clock above the television. 2:15. "I suppose I could go for a little bit."

"Yes, dear, you don't want to be late for your date with Caleb now." Nan's eyes twinkled, and Anne laughed.

"Nan, she doesn't want to call it a date."

"Well with a boy and girl out on the town together, what else could it be called, Annie?" Nan chuckled giving me a wry smile.

"If you put it that way, Grace going to Scotland Yard to meet Elliot could be considered a date too!" They both dissolved into a gale of giggles.

I gave the both of them a hard look. "Now we're being really loose with the term, don't you think? Annie, I'm going to take this with me in case I get lost."

"Sure, girl." Anne took the seat beside Nan I had just vacated. "Just make sure to be back soon."

"Er, right." I pulled on my coat and threw my purse over my shoulder. "I'm going to go get a cab. I will return."

"Have fun!" Anne called after me as I stepped outside. I rolled my eyes at her gaiety but felt a little excited at the prospect. Had L finally come to his senses and asked for my help with one of his cases? I held my head up high with pride as I made my way to the taxi stand. It was about time.

A bit of time later, my taxi had reached the tall mirrored windowed building that was known worldwide as New Scotland Yard. "What have you got to go to here for, Missy? Wanting to turn yourself in for a crime?" the cab driver joked as he pulled over to the side of Broadway and I found enough for double the fare in my purse.

"Not yet anyway. Please keep the change. Thank you for getting me here safely."

"Wouldn't be much of a driver if I couldn't do that!" he laughed and tipped his cap as he pulled back out into traffic. I looked across the street toward the small park to see L sitting in his odd crouched way on a bench with two pigeons pecking the ground in front of him for company. Passersby couldn't help but stare as they walked past, giving a wide berth.

I waved with a smile and cautiously crossed the bustling street to where he sat. The pigeons flew a few feet away and resumed their pecking.

"Did you seriously call me out here to play statue?"

He relaxed a little and smiled up at me. "You wouldn't have come if I had suggested that."

"You're right." I agreed and sat next to him, crossing my legs. "So why did you ask me to meet you here anyway?"

"I suppose I just wanted to make sure you aren't feeling neglected with all the work I've been handed recently. I've hardly seen you."

I sighed. "L, you were the one who focused on London. When you solve three cases in less than a day, of course they will ask for more help, but no, I haven't felt neglected. I am a big girl."

He pouted a little. "I thought you would have missed me."

I giggled. "Well Liam certainly doesn't. Maybe you should keep the computer use to a minimum at half three in the morning. The man's got to sleep, you know."

L thought on this for a moment. "Yes, I suppose I have been rather overdoing that. I will apologize."

"I think he's more annoyed that you can't tell him what you're working on." I explained as a brisk cold breeze rushed down the street and caused me to shiver.

"He wouldn't understand even if I did." L sighed, sliding closer to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "You look cold." He informed me casually and I could barely breathe. Now the pedestrians were staring at the both of us. I looked forward at the famous building trying to make my smile less apparent.

"Just think." L commented, oblivious to my plight. "The people in Scotland Yard contact us in desperation and would never in a million years guess that the Detectives L and G that they seek are you and I sitting here on this bench."

"Yes," I answered him quietly. "I think most authorities believe I'm male. I've been called Sir on more than one occasion during communication."

"That's beneficial to keeping you safe." He pointed out, tightening his hold. The rush of blood to my cheeks was warming me just as much as his embrace.

"Er, true. Doesn't mean I have to like it. There are far too few famous female detectives. Well apart from Nancy Drew and the like. It's like the best ones are fictional or something."

"You're not fictional."

It was ridiculous how happy that comment made me.

I watched the traffic pass and sighed contented.

"What is it?" he asked with a curious smile.

"Nothing really. I just feel completely at peace for the first time since I was a child. I feel free you know? Without a care." I settled back against his shoulder, closing my eyes.

"That, that is wonderful." L remarked softly. "You've really shone in this environment. You fit in so well. I was afraid you'd want to stay."

"I could never leave everyone. They need me as much as I need them." I opened my eyes to see L watching me with interest.

"This is true. You are needed. More than you know."

Touched, I smiled. "L, that's very sweet. Thank you."

He colored and looked ahead. "So, what are you doing this evening? I feel I can hold off on work for a little bit if you'd care to do something."

"Oh, well…I'm sorry, but I have other plans already."

Instantly, his at ease demeanor shifted and he went rigid. "Oh? With whom?"

I dropped my eyes. "Cay. I thought it would be nice to spend time with him. It's just some touristy stuff but I didn't want to be neglectful either."

"Yes." His tone was completely disaffected now as he removed his arm. "Can't have that."

I sat up disappointed. "L…"

"So this evening is Cay's, eh? Working your way through the alphabet then?" he stood up purposefully. "No matter. Let's go back. You don't want to be late for your beau."

I sank inside. "You're making too much of it, as usual."

"Oh am I? I'm sorry. I for one can't flit my way around London when there is work to be done." He shoved his hands forcefully into his pockets and briskly walked off, and I had no choice but to follow him to Peter's car idling at the curb.

He stood impatiently aside so I could step in first, then followed m, sitting in the far corner of the opposite seat. I groaned.

"So, it's going to be like that then, is it? L's Famous Silent Treatment?"

He didn't deign to respond and turned his gaze toward the window. Oh, very mature.

"Ah! Gracie! What a surprise! Where to, kids?"

"Back to the Cornell residence, if you would please, Peter. Then I would like to check into the Savoy." L answered coolly. "The living arrangement doesn't seem to be working."

"That's where I wanted to stay!" I protested as our driver started down the street.

"Well Grace," L leaned forward, his expression cold. "To that I say, hard luck. We don't always get what we want, do we?"

I glared out the window thinking he was being absolutely everything Caleb had said about him and then some. "I believe I preferred you better when you were being silent."

Written listening to Dream - Priscilla Ahn

New chapter song - Samsonite Man - Alicia Keys

As always , thanks for reading!