Hello and welcome back!

Again, I picture the characters from the movies, but picture them however you'd like! This story is inspired by the movies, as well as some of the original stories: The Sign of the Four, The Adventure of the Red Circle, The Adventure of the Six Napoleons, and The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual.

Here is a Full Summary:

Sequel to 'A Trail of Treasure'! The hunt continues - there are more treasures to be found... And is there marriage in the future for Caroline and Sherlock, or were they doomed from the start? (SherlockXOC)

I do not own - I only own Caroline and anything else I make up!

Thanks and enjoy! :)

Chapter One - A Reasonable Request

He wasn't going to show.

They had set the date long before and she had reminded him constantly leading up to it. And still, he wasn't a no show. She really shouldn't be all that surprised.

She had been sitting there sipping her tea as slowly as possible for close to an hour and there was still no sign of him.

He had forgotten - again - of that she was certain.

She had felt him pulling away, growing steadily distant - and for what reason she did not know, wasn't aware of the cause. For a man of mysteries, he was certainly full of mystery himself.

"Excuse me madam, but are you waiting for someone?" the waiter came over and politely asked, even though it was quite obvious she had come with the intention of meeting with someone, only to be left alone.

"Oh, no thank you. I'm just finishing."

She paid for the tea, sandwiches and pastries and left the tea room heading down the street in the direction of 221B Baker Street, an address she had become very well acquainted with over the past several months.

Six months previous, Sherlock and John had helped her solve a mystery - well, a part of a mystery - concerning her late father, who turned out not to be her father by blood, but had still raised her as his own daughter. Harold Westin had been involved or had some dealings with, they didn't know for certain quite yet, a criminal organization known as the Red Circle, that much they did know. Now, many months later, the Red Circle part was still as much a mystery as before, and she knew that frustrated Sherlock.

Her beau hated when he was stumped - yes, her beau. The two had begun courting shortly after Christmas following the closing of the first part of the case, but now, unfortunately, much to her dismay, she found things were dwindling between them.

"Oh that man!"

Caroline couldn't help but chuckle when she arrived at the house - it certainly wouldn't be a visit to 221B without hearing the landlady, Mrs. Hudson's grumblings about Sherlock. This time the landlady was grumbling as she furiously swept the floor with a broom. The floor was covered in dirt.

"Good afternoon Mrs. Hudson."

"Oh, good afternoon Miss Westin. That man of yours - I haven't the faintest idea of what he's gotten himself into now, and I shouldn't like to know! Look at the mess he's made of my foyer - he should be cleaning it up, not me!"

Caroline was inclined to agree. Honestly, she was surprised Mrs. Hudson had let Sherlock live here for so long. "We were supposed to be having tea this afternoon, but I believe he forgot - again."

"Oh, I am sorry to hear that, dear. Oh, but some good news - I think I've finally found a new tenant for the doctor's old room. At last, at long last!"

"That's wonderful, Mrs. Hudson." Caroline could only guess how difficult it would be to rent a room with Sherlock as the neighbour. Apparently Mrs. Hudson had rented out John's room shortly after he left once he and Mary were married, only the new man didn't stay long, just a month or so, claiming he 'just couldn't stand it any longer!' She didn't blame him.

She could attest to that. She herself had lived in 221B briefly while working on their case, and Sherlock had driven her absolutely mad, and still he had found a way into her heart as well, and she his.

"Well, you know where to find him." Mrs. Hudson went back to her sweeping.

Oh, I certainly do. The splattering of dirt led all the way up the stairs like a trail leading her to him and stopped just outside the doors to Sherlock's room.

She sighed and knocked. "Sherlock, may I come in?"

"Entrer my darling!"

She rolled her eyes and pushed the door open. "Oh my-"

When dealing with Sherlock Holmes you never knew what you were going to get, especially when entering his lodgings. Today she found it had been filled with flowers - lots and lots and lots of flowers.

"Ah, Caroline, perfect timing! I'm trying to see if I can grow what can be grown outside inside as well."

"I see.."

"That corner over there is my very own personal vegetable garden!"

"Because who better to test it than you?" she said with no enthusiasm.

"Exactly!" He did not remove the giant goggles over his eyes.

"Sherlock, are you aware of what time it is?"

"Well the clock just chimed - half-past three."

"Yes - and we were scheduled to meet for tea at two."

"Oh, were we? I have no recollection of arranging such an outing."

Again, she rolled her eyes. "Well I very much wish you had made an appearance - there was something I was hoping to discuss with you, something very important."

"Oh, do pray tell."

"Well, this wasn't exactly how I pictured it, but we're both here now and so here goes: We have been courting for six months now."

"A fact of which I am very aware."

She sighed. "Most couples are engaged by this time."

"Oh, very subtle Miss Westin."

"Sherlock-"

"Very subtle indeed!"

"Sherlock, will you just hear me out-"

"No! No, I have heard quite enough-"

"I thought I made my wants very clear to you right from the beginning."

"As I am sure I had made mine."

"Then what the hell are we doing?"

"I haven't a clue, why don't you tell me?"

"You want to hear what I think?"

"Oh yes, please, do enlighten me."

"Very well then: I think you're afraid." He scoffed, more of a snort. "You are! You've been pulling away, growing distant the longer we spend together - you're nervous, and there's nothing wrong with that. I wish you'd realize that."

"And have you considered even for one moment that not everyone shares your wants for the future?"

"I want love, marriage and family. I didn't think it was such an unreasonable request."

He just grumbled, back to his 'vegetable garden'.

Furious, she grabbed the potted plant closest to her and hurled it at him, it smashing against the wall next to his head, plant, dirt, vase and all.

"Good God woman!" he roared. But she didn't respond - she was already on her way storming out the door.

And here we go! Very different than where we last left them...

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this first chapter! :)