Chapter 21

When dawn came, the residents at 221B 1/2 Baker Street were nestled in their beds, especially Basil and Olivia. The detective developed a habit of holding Olivia in his arms while they slept, but neither didn't mind. For Basil, he wanted to be sure Olivia was safe during the night as he still had a fear that someone would hurt her, the fear having developed on the night Olivia was almost raped.

He remembered his brother's words saying he would kill anyone who laid a finger on his family. Basil did remember that he and Olivia were discussing about having children, although it did scare him a bit, but the real fear was that some criminal would hurt them, too.

Olivia was the first to wake, but she rubs Basil's chest, causing him to rouse from a deep sleep. "I'm getting use to you being a pillow," she said and he chuckles, "But why do you hold me while we sleep?"

"For protection," Basil answers, but Olivia shakes her head.

"Elliott, I think you're being paranoid," she said. Basil begins to think about what she said, but she begins to regret to what she said.

"I suppose you're right, although I think it's habit now," he replies and they dress for the day. Basil would have to figure out what to take when he moves into Mrs. Silverman's place.

"What am I going to do while you two are gone?" Mrs. Judson asks, but Basil was quick to answer.

"The school will be hosting a masque ball on Guy Fawkes Night, why not make her a spectacular dress?" he replies and the housekeeper scratches her chin. She then disappears for a few minutes and returns with a book of pictures of female mice dressed in elegant gowns. Olivia realizes that these were foreign mice and they were wearing traditional dresses.

She looks through the book, but nothing seemed to appeal to her, despite the fact they were beautiful. "I don't know Mrs. Judson, the point of a masque is to fool people and not give away your identity. I am thinking something mysterious and maybe beautiful at the same time," Olivia said to the housekeeper.

Mrs. Judson begins to think and says, "Hmmmm, Gothic perhaps? But black is a depressing color."

"It doesn't have to be black. Red perhaps or maybe dark blue," Basil suggests and Olivia agrees to those color choices.

"All right, I'll see what I can do," Mrs. Hudson replies and Basil was prepared to go, but his housekeeper stops him. "Now hold on Mr. Basil, I need to look you over," she adds.

"What? I have plenty of disguises," he said, but she shakes her head.

"Those are when you have to venture into dangerous territory," Mrs. Judson replies, "You don't have a party disguise."

"But really I-" "Please Elliott," Olivia cuts in and he looks at her. "Let her create a great one, I'm sure it'll put the other disguises to shame," she insists. Basil looks at her and back at Mrs. Judson.

"Well, I do want to have a good time with Olivia while at the masque," Basil said and gives her a pat on her shoulder. "All right Mrs. Judson, I'll let you surprise me, but nothing that would make me look stupid," he adds and she smiles.

"I would never want you to stupid in front of your fiancée. I will make sure yours is just as mysterious as hers," Mrs. Judson replies and she looks at her sewing machine, she was deep in thought.

Basil and Olivia decided to spend most of the day outdoors, the weather would soon get cold and depressing, so this was the day to take it in. There were, of course, prying eyes on the couple, but they did their best to ignore them.

They went to the park, taking in the autumn scenery and begin to discuss about a wedding destination. Before they could make an agreement, a voice calls out to them, "MR. BASIL!"

They turn to see a male mouse with a big stomach, but he had a cheerful personality. Then they recognize him, "Your Majesty!" both of them exclaim and bow their heads to the mouse king.

"Basil old chap! I saw the papers! Is this the lucky lady?!" Edward asks and Olivia gives a nod. "Oh pardon me for my manners, but since you and Basil saved my mother, I am just grateful to you two every day," the king adds and the crowd of onlookers grow big. "Why don't you join me for tea? I would like to hear any new details on your upcoming wedding," he asks and they nod.

They settle in a nice, shady spot by a pond and the king listens to their plans. "I like you Lady Flaversham," the king said, "Brave, determined, I have a feeling that you will be a great detective."

"Thank you Your Majesty," Olivia replies and takes a sip of her tea.

"I understand you don't have a place to take your vows?" he asks and they give an uneasy nod.

"Olivia wants to be here in London," Basil said, "But the one thing I'm worried about is that many chapels will not have the time, seeing that it will be Christmas afterward. We're just so looking forward to fulfill our vows, but it looks like-" the king places a hand up to the detective.

"Oh Mr. Basil, I like it that you want to make this commitment," Edward said and then, his face brightens, "I have the solution! You come to the palace's chapel! Fulfill your vows there!"

"Oh Your Majesty, we certainly can't-" "My dear," the king said to Olivia, "You went through so much and I hate to see you postpone such a joyous occasion. I know! I will have the staff make the chapel look something like out of a winter wonderland!"

Basil and Olivia look at one another, they weren't sure of taking up the king's chapel, but since the king was always thankful to them, they should pay it back in gratitude.

"Your Majesty, we accept, we can't thank you enough," Basil replies and the king smiles.

"Very good! Then we can have a ball afterward!" Edward exclaims, "You leave everything to me, seeing that you two will be busy in the foreseeable future."

"Oh Your Majesty, you don't have to go to such great lengths," Olivia said, hoping the king would back out a little.

"Nonsense, Mr. Basil is the greatest mouse detective and you are a young lady eager for an education. Besides, Mr. Basil will have to handle some cases while you are finishing this school semester. Who knows, he might have to leave for another country to pursue a lead," the king said.

The mood dampens, both of them failed to realize that Basil would need to handle some cases as there was no greater mind then him. "Oh dear, did I say too much?" the king asks.

"Maybe," Olivia begins, "It would be okay for us to be apart." Basil looks at her in shock, he was confused as to why she would say that. First, she told him she never wanted them to be apart and now she was saying it was all right to be separated.

"Usually being apart does grow the urge to be together," the king said, but Basil doesn't say a word. "So, the date? Which one do you think works?" he asks.

Olivia looks at Basil, he had a look on his face that told her something was not right. "Elliott?" she asks and he looks at the king.

"We'll settle for the 18th, for now, but we'll tell you if something changes," Basil answers, his voice changed a bit.

"Excellent!" the king exclaims and the two mice bid him farewell. Basil did not take Olivia by the arm, which confuses her and she does her best to keep up with him.

"Elliott, is something wrong?" she asks, but he doesn't say a word. "Elliott!" she calls out. She notices that he was leading her away from any crowds and they came upon a deserted part of the park.

"Answer me this," he begins, his voice was teething, "You told me yesterday you don't want us to be apart, but you say in front of the king that being separated is fine?!"

"Elliott, we will be separated during school days, but when you have a case, they must take-" "I don't give a damn about working on a case!" Basil shouts, which startled her.

"The only thing I'm interested in making up all the lost time we had!" he adds.

"Elliott, I think you're overreacting," Olivia said, but it only fueled his anger.

"You think that?! You said this morning I was being paranoid! What else do you think I am?!" Basil shouts were getting louder, but Olivia could not keep him down. "Why not tell the king that you are no longer interested in me?!" he adds, but that took Olivia by surprise.

"Elliott, you know that's not true!" Olivia pleads and adds, "You heard the king, being apart-" "I heard what he said!" he snaps, his anger was at its peak again.

"Why don't you use that big brain of yours?! See how we work this out?!" he asks, but Olivia steps away from him. This was not the Great Mouse Detective she met ten years ago, nor was he the mouse that she fell in love with. He was using the rude behavior he displayed when they first met and it hurt her.

Basil takes a minute to register as to what just occurred. Olivia was hurt by what he said and he realizes that his anger consumed him, like on the night she was almost raped.

Olivia turns to go, she wanted to be away from this mouse, who took pride in his work and obviously didn't like to be around her, like he did ten years ago. "Olivia, wait!" Basil calls after her, but she was gone.

He sits at the base of a big tree, he covered his eyes with his hands. He had blown it. His selfishness had spoken for him. The memories of him meeting Olivia ten years before were replaying in his mind. He was rude and selfish to her then, and he had hurt her this time.

He was never going to forgive himself, Olivia had changed his behavior and with her back in his life, he wanted to be with her. Even if the world was going to end tomorrow, spending a second with her would not be enough.

Basil gains his composure, he knew he had no excuse to explain his behavior, but right now, he was hoping Olivia would forgive him.

He returns to his home at Baker Street, the afternoon was almost drawing to a close and the clouds were starting to block the sun. As soon as he steps in, he sees both Dr. Dawson and Mrs. Judson staring at him with angry eyes.

"Care to explain what happened?!" Dawson shouts. Basil suspected that Olivia didn't tell them of what occurred, she was upset to say anything.

"My God, Mr. Elliott Basil!" the housekeeper yells, "I should've known that your rude behavior would ruin such a romantic time for Olivia!"

"I know, I know," Basil said, trying to calm them. "My selfish pride came back to me and I have no excuse for it," he adds and looks up the stairs to the bedrooms. "Is she up there?" he asks.

"In the guest bedroom," Mrs. Judson answers, "Poor thing has been crying since she got home."

"You best apologize to her," Dawson said and he urges his partner to go. Basil does not delay, he ascends the stairs and stands in front of the door to the guest bedroom. He tries to turn the knob, but it was locked.

"Olivia," he said, but no answer. "Olivia, I'm...I'm sorry, what I did is inexcusable and I don't blame you for being mad at me," he adds, hoping that she was listening. He hears footsteps, but they stop at the door. Nothing else happens.

"Olivia, ten years ago, I was this impudent and insecure living being. I let my selfish pride do all the work, but...but when you came, I realized that I shouldn't ignore the help of others," he stops to breathe in and continues, "But now...now you're here again. I want us to show the world that not only a male could do all the work, I want you to show your talents."

He pauses, wondering if Olivia was listening, but for some reason, he thought she was not accepting. "Olivia, you don't have to forgive me, because..." he struggles to hold back his tears, "Because I was a horrible friend and I hurt you. But...I want you to know that I am just a dumb, spineless mouse who will be lost without you!"

Basil lets the tears flow from his eyes as he turns his back to the door and leans against it. Then, the door unlocks and opens, but Basil lets himself fall on the floor. Staring down at him was Olivia, with a smile on her face. "Oh Elliott, you're so dramatic," she teases him and takes him into his arms. They cry together for a minute and do a little breathing session.

They notice that both Dawson and Mrs. Judson had been watching, but Basil decides to turn his attention back to Olivia. "I am really sorry," he said, "Maybe what the king said might do us some good."

"In what way?" Olivia asks.

"Have the urgency to be with you," he replies, but she gives a look of uncertainty. "I know what you're thinking. Yes, I will go through some obstacles that will blind me from seeing the truth in a case," he said.

"You're starting to scare me when you read my mind," she replies and they chuckle. "What's that saying I heard? Great minds think alike?" she asks, "But Elliott, I don't want you to make any mistakes. I mean maybe some little mistakes and that's normal, but I don't want you to do something that might cost you your career and maybe your reputation," she said.

"I'm not worried of my reputation, although I would be devastated if I were to lose my occupation as a detective," Basil replies and Olivia kisses his forehead.

"Elliott," she whispers, "Try not to take the most dangerous ones, if you can."

"Can't make any promises on that," he said and she accepts it. Basil then remembers the conversation they had with the king on the wedding date. "Oh my dear, I should've let you choose on the date," he said, but she shakes her head.

"The 18th is good. It'll give us time to rest, but it's an even number. I always thought even number days give good omens," she replies and lets him snuggle up against her neck.

Once the atmosphere was calm, the two join Dawson and Mrs. Judson downstairs, and they explain of what happened in the park. Both were surprised that the king was making the arrangements.

"Oh I might as well make you a wedding dress," Mrs. Judson said, but Olivia shakes her head.

"What about the dress Elliott's mother wore? Do you still have it?" she asks and the three look at her.

"Olivia, are you sure? It's your wedding gown, why not-" "Can I see it?" she asks, again, this time more persistent. Mrs. Judson goes into the spare room where the mementos were and brings out a ballgown type of dress.

Olivia looks it over, lifting the bottom of it and feeling the material, it was made of silky cotton, but it felt cool on her fingers. "Would it be all right if some altercations were done? Maybe make it seem something of this era? That is if you don't mind," Olivia asks both Mrs. Hudson and Basil.

"I would certainly not mind at all. It'll be put to good use again," the housekeeper replies and Basil takes out a newspaper, showing some advertisements on wedding dresses.

"Like this one perhaps?" he asks, pointing to a thinner looking dress that seemed smaller then the ballgown sized dress.

"I'll see what I can do," Mrs. Judson replies and places the gown back in the room. "Now I believe you two need to pack some things," she adds and they look at time, it was getting close to evening. Tomorrow was when they'll starting to live in temporary, but separate quarters.

Olivia didn't have much to pack, but Basil certainly needed to pack his clothes, including his robe, and he needed his smoking pipe. "I am going to miss this place," Olivia said, looking around the house.

"Me too," Basil replies and they snuggle up against each other. Tomorrow was going to be different, they knew they will face separation come Monday, but they were determined to set things in the right direction.


From the author: I thought of speeding things up, but as I mentioned in the last chapter, there's no such thing as a perfect relationship. Hence why Basil and Olivia had an argument that did go out of hand. However, it was resolved, but who knows if they'll have more arguments in the future.

No worries though, things will be all right for them. See you soon!