Sherlock laughed, almost a little to inappropriate as he heard what just escaped Irene's mouth. How awful could circumstances be? Coming here to warn her away from him only to end up in her bed and be woken by the sound of her fiancé ringing the doorbell-Sherlock had never imagined himself in such a situation. Irene stared back at him, her eyebrows raising.
"You actually think this is funny?" Irene asked as she picked up her lingerie from the floor.
"Would you ask me to hide in the closet and watch you shag him next?" Sherlock mused as he stood up to re-dress.
Irene rolled her eyes at him as she headed out the bedroom, gathering pieces of the clothes they had thrown off a few moments ago. "We haven't- I never did- with him." she hissed, strapping on her dress hastily as the ringing grew more impatient.
Sherlock eyed her, almost smiling. "Waiting until after the wedding?"
Irene helped him put on his shirt and shoved his hat and jacket in his arms. "Oh shut up! Just use the back door. Leave quietly."
Both of them almost jumped surprisingly as Irene's phone rang, Godfrey's name appearing on the screen.
"Just tell him you fell asleep." Sherlock said, his voice deadpan.
Irene studied him, his hair rumpled and flushed face sending heat to her skin. "We need to talk about happened-erm-and our plan. I'll meet you in Baker Street tonight."
Sherlock nodded. "Be careful." he whispered as turned away, disappearing behind the backdoor.
/
Sherlock's fingers plucked over his violin as he stared into nothingness. A heavy weight has been lifted off his chest as he recalled the taste of Irene's mouth, the feel of her body against him, the way her dark hair splayed behind her like a dark curtain of desire. But then, the worry of another impending goodbye broke from the happy memory. Irene was to be wed, inevitable indeed and utterly annoying considering that this was Mycroft's grand plan.
"Told you we shouldn't have come. He would just go on like that for hours. It's like we visited no one!" John exclaimed, eyeing Mary as if to say 'I told you so.'
Mary rolled her eyes at her husband. Lizzie walked over to Sherlock, her little hands tapping his arm.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked, her big green eyes staring at him in amusement. For four years, Lizzie grew advanced for her age, smart and inquisitive like her mother and kind and understanding like her father. Sherlock picked her up to his lap, holding her awkwardly with affection.
"Just a case Elizabeth. Nothing to worry about." he said, studying the little Watson. She leaned her head to his chest, reaching for his violin which he handed to her without hesitation.
Plucking the strings with her tiny fingers, Sherlock found himself thinking about how curious a child could be. He was actually afraid that too much curiosity would lead to too much intelligence which could make someone wary or even a bit sociopathic like him. He eyed John and Mary who smiled at him and thought that little Lizzie would turn out just fine. This is why he never pictured himself as a parent-he would be too critical and possibly be horrible at it.
Plus, he was still also a child most of the time.
Again lost in thought, he didn't notice Lizzie facing him and nuzzling him with a hug. "You smell funny." she mused and John hissed from a distant.
"Please tell me he's not taking 'you-know-what' again." John told Mary as she walked over to picked up Lizzie. Sherlock snapped out from his trance and noticed Mary leaning in to smell him, an amused smirk forming in her face.
"Not drugs or alcohol, John." Mary said, laughing.
"What're you talking about?" Sherlock asked as Mary leaned to John to whisper in order for Lizzie not to hear.
John's face twisted with an amused smile as Mary nodded, both of them staring at him wide eyed.
"I'll take Lizzie to Mrs. Hudson before we get chatty." Mary said, giggling as she headed for the door.
"I wanna join you too!" They heard Lizzie muse from the stairs.
Sherlock eyed John, the doctor's face still contorted in amusement. "Mary said you smell like women's perfume. Casmir, to be exact."
The detective just stared at his friend, finding the right response.
"I was outside earlier. Must've caught the scent in the air." Sherlock said simply.
"It smells so strongly, though. Like the wearer... I dunno... Brushed skin with you." Mary offered as she popped back. "And the only person I know who 'loves' Casmir is...Irene."
"Come to think of it, Sherlock, you do look different." John mused, laughing.
"After sex glow, do they call it?" Mary added, still giggling.
Sherlock rolled his eyes at them, still a smile forming in his face. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Just say you did it." Mary insisted, nudging John.
"John, control your wife." Sherlock mused. "Her CIA is showing."
John dismissed him. "So you're seeing her again? Good to know you had it all sorted out."
"She's getting married." Sherlock replied.
"Didn't stop you from shagging her." John snapped back.
Sherlock stared at him. "Why are you insisting that..."
Mary laughed. "It's written all over your face, Sherlock. I bet this excites you... Secret rendezvous and all..."
Sherlock sighed. He went on to explain the current situation to Mary and John-from Mycroft's play to Mr. Norton threatening him about Irene.
"She's coming here tonight to discuss matters with me." Sherlock ended.
The entire time, a goofy smile was plastered on John's face. "Discuss matters... Bet you forgot that part when you saw her today."
Mary hit her husband's arm. "Stop teasing him. We have to be serious about this." she said, biting her lip to prevent a giggle to escape.
Sherlock rolled his eyes at them. "Why did you send Elizabeth away?"
"Because we thought we're gonna have a mature conversation." Mary teased.
"How is this mature?" Sherlock replied.
"Lizzie likes you very much, Sherlock." Mary said.
"I know. She's your daughter. Liking me is sort of a requirement." Sherlock answered.
"Or could be genetic." Mary mused.
With that, all of them laughed.
"But seriously Sherlock. What're you gonna do? Irene's still going to get married." John asked.
Sherlock grew silent for a moment. Mary nudged John, her eyes narrowing.
"You really have to ruin it, don't you?" Mary hissed.
"Well... We're gonna talk about it sooner or later so..." John replied shrugging.
"Still..." Mary mused.
Sherlock stared at them, his eyes burning. "No. John's right. I... I still don't know what to do about that. That's why I'm meeting her tonight."
"That says something-Irene really is the one." Mary said, grinning from ear to ear.
/
Mrs. Hudson almost shrieked in delight upon seeing Irene on the door that night. Sherlock stood up to welcome her, watching closely as she took of her hat and coat.
As she sat in the chair across his, Sherlock noticed something that made his insides turn.
"Why is your face bruised?"