Disclaimer: I do not own Sherlock.
Chapter 1:
John fiddled nervously with his bowtie as he looked around, waiting for someone. Irene smiled as she purred into Sherlock's ear. 'My, my, doesn't our army doctor look dashing?'
Sherlock smirked at her, and then turned back to John, though he still spoke to her. 'And he's safe?'
Irene nodded. 'The most trustworthy person I know, Sherlock darling.' Sherlock smiled at her as her features also softened and she smiled. She was taking a huge risk coming without disguising herself, but Sherlock had Mycroft's promise that he would keep her safe.
Both of them headed over to a table near John's, with both watching John closely as he looked around, miraculously not seeing Irene nor Sherlock. A woman came down with short blond hair, dressed in a beautiful dress.
'Mary.' Irene murmured to Sherlock.
Sherlock nodded, having already deduced it, and wondered about how he would actually approach John. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt Irene's leg, under the table and covered by the long tablecloth, making it's way up the middle of both his legs.
He frowned at her, but she only let out a smirk.
'Irene.' He growled in a low voice. He knew without looking that his pupils had dilated, and could see the same thing happen to her.
She smirked at him again, and then turned her attention back on the couple, letting her leg move higher up still, before Sherlock acted, trapping it in between his legs. Irene turned and raised an eyebrow, before both of them regained their composure as a waiter came over.
Both ordered some wine, before turning back to John and Mary. Sherlock took out his phone, and Irene raised an eyebrow, gesturing to John.
Sherlock nodded.
John was having the time of his life. He was about to open the ring and ask, before his phone beeped. Mary grinned at it, and John mentally cursed his phone as he took it out, and quickly apologised to Mary as he opened the text.
Look to the table on your right – SH
John froze, and dropped his phone on the table.
Mary frowned. 'John?' John was still staring at his phone, before he inhaled shakily, and turned to his right. Sherlock and Irene were staring right back at him.
Without even thinking, John stood up, dinner forgotten as Mary followed him, worried.
She was right to.
As soon as John was within arm's length distance of Sherlock, he tried to strangle him, throwing him to the floor. Irene stood up, unperturbed, as the glass of wine toppled on where she had previously been sitting.
With Mary's help, she tried to pry John off Sherlock, but she also started conversation with Mary. 'You are Mary?'
Mary nodded. 'Do I know you?'
'I suppose that I am on John's blog.' Irene said.
It only took a few seconds for Mary to realise who she was talking to. 'Irene Adler.' Irene smiled at Mary, but backed away in time as John turned to try and corner her.
After being kicked out of a fancy restaurant (John had grabbed his ring in time), they were now sitting at a small cafe in the corner, somewhere away from Baker Street.
John was fuming, with Mary wrapped up in Sherlock's coat, having been forced to leave her own coat behind. Irene was also wearing a thick coat that reminded Mary of Sherlock's own one, though she was certain that they were not the same.
'Who knew?' John growled out.
Sherlock frowned, but answered anyway. Mary noted that Irene was the one giving him instructions; little signs whether or not to say or stop. 'Molly Hooper. Mycroft. Irene.' John scowled at the Woman beside Sherlock, her arm over his. 'And a few of my Homeless Network.'
John snarled out his reply. 'Oh, so Mycroft, Molly, Irene.' He frowned. 'And a few hundred tramps.'
Sherlock frowned again. 'No. Only about 25.' John lunged at him across the table, with Irene only pulling Sherlock out of the way in time, or else will have hurt him severely.
Now at a small sandwich bar, they were talking again, with Sherlock pointing at John's moustache. 'You're really going to keep that?'
John nodded, arms crossed, ignoring Sherlock's split lip, which Irene was dabbing carefully with a paper towel. 'Yeah. Mary likes it.'
'Mm...' Irene hummed. 'No, she doesn't.'
'Yes she does.' John turned to Mary, who looked down sheepishly. 'Oh, great!'
Mary was trying hard not to laugh. 'God. I'm so sorry, I-I didn't know how to tell you-' A person leaned over to them, and whispered to them whether or not they could take their argument outside. All of them left, with Mary looking at Sherlock in amusement.
'You don't know much about human nature at all, do you?'
Sherlock frowned. 'Nature? No. Human? No.'
Irene laughed. 'I'm still tutoring him.' Mary smiled at Irene.
'It's nice to meet the both of you. I'll talk him round.' Sherlock narrowed his eyes at her, but nodded. When both of them left in a cab, Irene turned to Sherlock and pulled him down for a kiss.
'Should we return to Baker Street?'
'Can't forget about Nero.' Sherlock pointed out.
Irene smirked. 'I had the caretaker send him back home.'