Chapter 6: My flat, my rules

"Bell, honey, can we talk to you?" Mary asked with her warm smile.

She saw them with certain nerves and the three adults kept their eyes on her. Mary with that smile she could not refuse, John folded his arms giving a fatherly air and Sherlock with his hands behind him and that frivolous and serious look. The girl had no choice but to nod gently, leave the biscuits on the table and turn her attention to them. Mary rubbed her hands and widened her smile a little more.

"Bell, John and I want to ask you something." She slowly moved her head up and down. "Well. Would you like to live with us? As far as Sherlock solves your case." Bell looked at her strangely, almost looking as if she had not understood the words Mary Watson had said. At the awkward moment, the only thing that came out of her mouth was: "No."

The three opened their eyes wide. Sherlock tried to cover it up, but it was inevitable, Mary shook her head, somewhat bewildered, and looked at Bell again. "Honey, why not?" she questioned strangely. "I want to stay here," she replied quickly and seriously. John raised his eyebrows in surprise at the child's response and moved his eyes to Sherlock who, at those words, had one of his eyebrows arched, hinting at his confusion at the girl's response.

"Oh!" Mary exclaimed with her smile. "Would you like to live here with Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock?" Bell smiled softly and nodded. "Are you sure?" John questioned strangely and again Bell nod. "Really?" he insisted, doubtful this time.

"Yes," she confessed with a pleasant smile.

"Really, I mean, very seriously?" the Doctor repeated without believing it.

"Oh, John!" his wife exclaimed as she hit his chest slightly.

Sherlock, who still did not understand why she wanted to stay here, changed his expression to his typical seriousness and looked at Isabelle firmly. "Perfect," he responded. "You can stay here."

Mary and John turned to see surprised at Sherlock at his affirmative. They really expected a negative response like some classic excuse coming from him, however, he himself had said before, he needed the girl to solve the piece of the case, the piece about Magnussen.

"Sherlock," John called, "are you sure Bell stays here?" The detective turned with his friend and firmly nodded. "Are you serious?" he insisted, without believing it and Mary gave him another slight hit to the chest.

Upon hearing Sherlock's affirmative, Bell could not hide her happiness, her smile had come from ear to ear and her sudden action was to go and hug him. Feeling the little girl on his body, Sherlock shook confuse his head and observed as the girl detonated an uncontrollable happiness. Mary and John looked that moment without believing it.

"Ah, Sherlock," John spoke, and he looked at him. "Can we talk for a moment? Privately."

Frowning, he looked at his friend and then extended his arms to take the child's shoulders and, not knowing how to act, tried to move her out of his living space, but it was useless. Sherlock Holmes did not know how to behave before a small human being. Noticing the detective's behaviour, Mary approached them and took the arms of Bell who, feeling those soft hands, moved her eyes to see the blonde with her maternal smile.

"Come honey, these two adults need to talk."

Without opposing it, Bell released Sherlock and took one of Mary's hands and then they sat on the sofa and began eating Hudson's biscuits next to the bread John had bought.

John beckoned to Sherlock to follow him and he obeyed him, they left the living room, to stay on the stairs, and John crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall. Instead, Sherlock placed his hands behind him and looked at him with some hesitation.

"Sherlock..." spoke very seriously.

"I know what you think, John," he interrupted. "I don't know how to take care of a child."

"Well, you save me words. You know what it means to take care of a child, Sherlock?" And he lifted his head as he pressed his lips, seeking an answer. "You have no idea," John sighed bitterly. "Sherlock," he continued earnestly, "Bell will need the necessities of food, care, attention..."

"Like a dog," he interrupted again. Hearing that answer, John opened his eyes with a strange mixture of seriousness and surprise. "A dog?!" he gasped. "That is Bell for you, a dog? I see, I see..."

"I once had a dog," he continued as if nothing, "I know how to take care of one, feed him... I just won't be able to pay attention to her, even play with her, so I have Mrs. Hudson..."

"Sherlock," the Doctor stopped him with a peculiar smile and Sherlock was curious at the expression on John's face. "Bell, she's not a dog!" he shouted. "Bell is a human being, a person! You assimilate it, right? If you grasp the fact that Bell is a human?" Sherlock looked surprised. " You know what a human being is, right?" he continued to be upset.

"I'm not stupid, John."

"Well, that's what you're implying to me!" he exasperated. "Sherlock, Bell is a responsibility very would be. Beyond what I just told you, she is going to need clothes, because did you notice she's wearing a Mrs. Hudson dress?" The detective put on a thoughtful expression. "She will also need to study; she was probably in school before her mother's incident. What if she gets sick? Or if she has an accident? What will you do? You won't take her to a vet."

Sherlock was in absolute silence and with a serious look, almost worried. Discovering his expression, John did nothing but put his hand on his face and sigh with a smile.

"Oh, Sherlock! See? Bell is a serious responsibility, not like a dog."

"I can handle the responsibilities," he replied quickly. John laughed again at this irony.

"Oh, Sherlock!" he sighed. "And what will you do with child services? You know Mycroft is going to send them."

"I will know what to do with them," he replied very seriously.

"This is serious, Sherlock. No offense, but you do not have the skills to take care of Bell. You know Mary and I can take her to our house, she won't lack for anything."

"She won't go with you," he objected. John sighed again. "Will you take her, against her will?" the detective asked as he bowed his head and frowned softly.

Surprised at that question, John saw his friend who seemed to have a half smile on his face, it was like a touché to everything he had just said to him. This time John Watson did not sigh, he snorted at the point in favour of the detective.

"Fine," he replied angrily. "But that doesn't mean I will not be aware of how you take care for her, Sherlock Holmes."

John turned around to return to the living room when, from Sherlock's mouth, a few words came out, almost in the form of a whisper that made him stop in his tracks.

"I can take care of her." John turned to look him face to face, returning to the position he was in. "We'll see about that."

Without further ado, John went upstairs, and Sherlock saw him until he entered the living room. He sighed with some bitterness, adjusted the buttons of his coat, and enlisted to went upstairs.

Bell and Mary ate those desserts with great joy when John came in, and behind him appeared a quiet Sherlock. They both looked at them curiously, hoping that someone would say a word, yet they remained silent.

"Why so serious?" Mary asked, while eating a biscuit.

"Nothing," John replied very calmly. "So, Sherlock, is Bell staying here?"

Upon hearing that question the little one looked up at him, and he appreciated the way she had the corners of her lips and her chocolate-covered fingers from the donuts John had bought her.

"Yes," he said earnestly and went to take a seat at the table where he had his laptop to continue reading the files.

Perceiving the frivolity surrounding the two of them, Mary glanced at the girl who showed a big smile and took a napkin to wipe her chocolate-covered fingers.

"Honey, can you go to Mrs Hudson and tell her you're staying here?"

She nodded with emotion and Mary finished cleaning her hands to get up and off to the ground floor. The girl ran out and everyone could hear her coming down the stairs at an accelerated pace.

"Careful, Bell!" Mary shouted, but seemed to ignore her. Hearing how she got to the ground floor, Mary cleaned her mouth to get up from the couch and look at both men. "What happened?"

"Ah!" John sighed, but before continuing he was interrupted.

"John thinks I can't take care of another human being," he responded, Mary just raised her eyebrows and saw her husband. Hearing no reply from her friend, Sherlock moved his eyes at them. "Why that expression?" he asked angrily.

"Well, don't take this the wrong way, Sherlock, but John's got a bit of a point."

"You too?!" he exclaimed. "I thought you, Mary Watson, were the most aware of this!" The couple sighed wearily.

"Sherlock, I don't know what you and John would say exactly, but what I'm trying to say is..."

"I can't take care of someone else?" he disputed.

"Listen, Sherlock," Mary continued, "that's not what I'm trying to tell you, it's just, are you sure you want Bell here?"

"Mary, John already gave me the speech about Bell being a responsibility and blah blah blah."

"Alright!" Mary shouted and Sherlock stopped. "Alright. For starters, we are not telling you this by teasing you or making you understand that yours is not this, but..."

"It is what you have been doing, you have yourselves become entangled in your hints," he looked at them seriously. "In fact, you told of me the responsibility that a child carries when you will be able to take care of your own baby?"

"Sherlock," John stepped in, "First of all, no one is born knowing how to be a parent. When the baby arrived, Mary and I will learn how to care our baby."

Upon hearing that answer, Sherlock raised an eyebrow that stood beside a victorious half-smile. the Watsons' looked at him strangely and then realized that they had fallen for a bad move. "So?" he insisted on not getting an answer from them. Both remained silent and looked at each other accepting the trap they had fallen into.

"Sherlock, the things my wife tells you is the same thing I told you a moment ago. Are you sure about this?"

"Yes Sherlock, we know she doesn't want to go with us, we're not going to force her, but do you really accept Bell stays here?" The detective continued to see them with that half smile and put his hands behind him. "I've made my decision."

John and Mary saw him amazed at the confidence of his response. Sherlock Holmes was certain to take care of a little girl, when it was well known, children were not his knowledge. The moment was interrupted when Mrs. Hudson entered the living room with the girl.

"Are will you take care of Bell?!" she exclaimed.

Everyone turned to Mrs. Hudson and an exasperated Sherlock rolled his eyes and without giving him an answer the detective returned to his workplace, took a seat, put his fingers on his temples and reread the files. Everyone followed him with their eyes and noticed how upset he was.

"Get out," he growled, "you don't let me concentrate." Nobody listened to him, they just looked at each other. "Now!" he shouted.

In response, they left the living room as fast as they could, to leaving the detective with his solitude in that room.

They descended the stairs and ahead Bell was holding Mrs. Hudson's hand, Mary was holding on to the railing and at the same time put her hand on her belly and John was a little upset by what happened.

"John," Mrs. Hudson spoke, "how is it that Sherlock will take care of Bell?"

"Well, I think Sherlock felt like babysitting," he replied with a bitter sigh.

"But where will she sleep? And where will we give her more clothes? I gave her this dress because I no longer had any left."

"Well, Leave it to Sherlock. He wants responsibilities, that he adheres to them," Mary hit him on the chest, but this was not a soft hit.

"What was that?!" he asked in surprise and his wife saw him with murderous eyes.

"Mrs. Hudson," Mary continued, shifting her anger to harmony, "regarding the clothes, John and I will try to get it and we would like not only Sherlock to take care of her, but you as well."

"Oh, of course!" she exclaimed. "You don't worry about anything, I'll take care of Bell, too."

"Thank you very much, Mrs Hudson," she said with that sweet smile, giving another hit to John chest who only complained. "Say it."

"Oh, I'm coming...! Thanks for the help, Mrs Hudson."

"Don't thank me, darling".

Bell looks confused at the adults, sometimes it was difficult to understand their conversations, and, above all, they were very stressful. After that talk, John and Mary announced that they were retiring, hugged Mrs. Hudson and again thanked her for helping with Bell. Then they looked at the girl and Mary's warm smile re-emerged.

"Bell, we got to go."

"Now?" she asked sadly.

"Yes, honey, but we'll be back soon. Uncle John and I will bring you some presents," when he heard the word uncle, John looked at his wife in surprise.

"Really?"

"Sure! And let us hope you like them."Bell went to hug Mary with immense affection, John looked confused at his wife and she noticed it. "I told her he could call us uncle and aunt," she replied quietly to the confusion on his face. "Take good care of yourself, Bell, and also take care of Sherlock," she smiled.

"Yes, Auntie Mary."

Mary let Bell go to get close to John, they looked at each other for a few seconds and, without warning, she hugged him. John was somewhat surprised, but did not refuse to hug the girl, stroked her chestnut hair, and smiled at her. They ended their embrace and Bell discovered that soft smile on him.

"Take care, Bell, we'll be back soon."

"Yes, Uncle John."

A final smile was the official farewell by the Watsons' and they both left 221B. At the door, Bell and Mrs. Hudson saw them leave and with a smile the girl thanked them for this day.

"Well, Bell," Mrs. Hudson called as she held her shoulders, "we need to know where you'll sleep." She turned to look at her with that smile, nodding her head and walked into her new home. Mrs Hudson saw her go upstairs and then she closes the door of her building.

Sherlock was still in the same position he was left in a while ago, with his fingers pressed against his temples, but this time his eyes were closed and the screen on his laptop had been suspended.

"What?" out of nowhere, he asked annoyingly. Bell, standing at the doorstep, looked at the detective with some fear. "Have John and Mary left?" Failing to get an answer, Sherlock opened his eyes. "I don't bite," he continued, seeing the little one a little nervous. Before those words, Bell swallowed and began to walk towards him. Arriving at the small table, she did not fail to observe Sherlock, and neither did he move his greyish green eyes from her. "Why did you decide to stay here?" he questioned, although deep down he gave him an idea. She did not answer, she just analysed him. "Do you want me to say it?" he challenged.

Bell squeezed her lips and slowly nodded. Sherlock removed his fingers from his temples and rested his arms on the table.

"Beyond the fact of wanting me to help you figure out who killed your mother," he put his hands close to his lips, "there's something that catches your eye from me. It's not the fact that we both make the deduction, it matters little to you, it's something else..."

Sherlock analysed the girl, and several words were revolving around, implying more deductions about her, and making the detective feel a kind of... confusion? How was it possible for a simple little girl to turn her world upside down? It was already a chaos, and she comes to tear it apart more.

"?"

Those signs were the last that appeared around the girl. Sherlock closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

"There are rules in this flat," he spoke suddenly, "first, it is forbidden to interrupt me when I am working, either alone or when John is here," Bell nodded quickly. " That includes no games, no yelling, no crying or any kind of thing kids do that gets me off track of what I'm doing. Second, avoids bursting into my living space, that makes me feel hysterical," she just blinked quickly, "anything that involves food, cleaning and all that stuff, talk to Mrs Hudson. I just take responsibility for her taking care of you and solving your case, you understand?" And she nodded again, this time softly and with her frown. Sherlock opened his eyes to look at her, it was amazing how the child was obeying him without any buts. "Anything to object to?"

"Ah..." mumbled. "Where will I sleep?"

Sherlock opened his eyes enormously to the question, so he quickly thought of the room that used to be John's. That would be where she would stay, however, there was no bed, he had disposed of its months ago because of a case.

"Mrs. Hudson!" he screamed as he rose from the chair. A few moments later, poor Mrs Hudson arrived in the living room and she seemed a little upset. "What is this?!"

"Mrs Hudson, we have a problem," he said as he approached her.

"Do we?" she asked strangely.

"Where will Isabelle sleep?" he asked something altered.

When the girl heard her complete name, she seriously observed the detective, but Mrs. Hudson took one of her hands to her chest and looked curiously at Sherlock and then began to laugh. Faced with the laugh attack of the lady, the detective observed her confused.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Oh, Sherlock!" she exclaimed with laughter as she put her hand on his arm. "Oh, don't make me laugh!"

"I'm not making you laugh," he huffed, "so what's funny?"

"Sherlock!" she continued. "You know perfectly well we don't have another bed anymore, the one John used, you destroyed for that case, remember?"

"Yes, I remember," he grumbled.

"Well, honey," she continued more calmly, "Bell can't sleep in my bed, it's a single bed and last night we were uncomfortable, even though she slept like a log. I would suggest your bed," Sherlock looked at her surprisingly, "It's a double bed, isn't it?"

"Oh, yes! But where do you suggest I sleep, Mrs Hudson?" he asked with a false smile.

"On your couch," she replied with another smile.

"Of course!" he exclaimed sarcastically. "Let the child sleep in my bed and I sleep on the couch! Of course!"

"Sherlock," Mrs. Hudson spoke annoyingly, "we well know that it is rare for you to sleep in your bed, I almost always see you sleeping on your couch. So, there's nothing wrong with Bell sleeping in it while we get another one."

"I can sleep on the couch," the little girl spoke nervous.

"No Bell!" exclaimed Mrs. Hudson. "Both Sherlock and I are going to make sure you're okay, aren't we, Sherlock?"

In the face of that warning-filled demand, and that was the reminder of the responsibility he decided to take, he rolled his eyes annoyed and approached his huge couch.

"I hope there are cheap beds in the market," he said angrily as he threw himself into the furniture.

A/N:

Thanks so much for reading. I will be deeply grateful with any comments, constructive criticism, opinions and / or suggestions :3