"Don't you worry dear boy" Said Holmes' mother as he collapsed into a chair "I'll make sure you get her back, you just sit here a moment and I'll go get things ready" Holmes looked at her with an expression that said quite clearly 'I wouldn't need to get her back if it weren't for you'. In her age however, she appeared not to notice.

I could tell he was finding the whole fake relationship very trying upon his patience, and I walked past him to my chair, patting him on the shoulder as I went as if to say 'it will all be over soon'. He understood, and rewarded my efforts with a quick smile. A few moments later his mother came hurrying back into the room, now carrying a bunch of flowers (that looked strangely like those from the vase in the hall). She marched over to her son and thrust them into his hands, seemingly retrieving him from his stupor as he now had several large roses pressed against his face.

"You give her these and she'll be right as rain. Though that doesn't mean that what you did was ok!" she said in a sudden stern voice. Her piercing eyes causing Holmes to look away. He got up and moved over towards the fire place, still holding the roses, and with a expression like he was being made to put on a clown suit.

"Of course this picture will have to go" she said, once again pulling the photo out of nowhere and holding it up. "Watson!" She said, so suddenly that I jumped, my previous isolation from the conversation had lead me to believe that I was not there at all.

"y..yes?" I stuttered coming too.

"You will take this downstairs and throw it away" she commanded, handing me the picture.

"Of course" I said, and taking the item I removed myself from the room, as I left It appeared she had started to give Holmes instructions, and he looked at me as if pleading that I would stay. I shrugged and left. Instead taking the door to my right and silently placing the picture under his pillow, I then walked downstairs encase she was listening, coming back a few moments later.

However, no sooner had I opened the door then I was being given new instructions.

"Doctor, you will go and get Mary, Sherlock is ready now" 'Sherlock' appeared to be on the brink of jumping out the window, and without even letting go of the handle I left once more.

On my return I briefly explained to Mary what Holmes had meant to say earlier on, she seemed not to entirely believe me but still agreed to come.

On entering I noticed that Holmes appeared to have combed down his hair. He strode forwards and, rather mechanically, pecked Mary on the cheek before straiting out once more. I observed that his muscles would go rigid when ever he did this.

"My dear Mary" he said, managing somehow to use not a drop of emotion in his voice, instead sounding like he was reading an extract from an extremely boring speech. "I apologise for with-holding the knowledge of the photo, of she who... I shall not speak" At this point he shot his mother an annoyed look, but she smiled and prompted him to go on. "I promise it will not happen again, and from this moment onward I will be the most attentive husband in all England" He concluded his speech by thrusting the flowers into her hands.

Mary was evidently having to force herself not to laugh, both she and I knew that what he had promised was as unlikely as men going into space. Holmes had gone red but seemed to be waiting for something.

"Oh!" said Mary trying to look serious "I forgive you Sherlock"

"That's... good, now if you will excuse me" he said bowing slightly and heading for his room, apparently suppressing the urge to run.

Mary, Mrs. Holmes and myself ate dinner and spent a tolerable evening in each others presence. I was finding talking to Mary only as a friend hard, and dearly looked forward to the next day when our act could be dropped. Mary left for bed an hour later, leaving Mrs.Holmes and myself reading our books in a somewhat uncomfortable silence. I was relieved therefore when Holmes made an appearance. He did not talk, but instead sat down at his chemistry table, starting to get out numerous vials of strangely colored liquid and mix them together.

I became more relaxed with him there, and soon after found my eyelids sagging, and my head rolling on to my shoulders. My mind began to wonder in and out of its subconscious thoughts: Mrs. Holmes, Mary, keys; a women's photo, oysters...then darkness began to fall upon me. I was drifting...drifting...

BANG!!!!

I woke with a start, my eyes darted around trying to remember where I was. After a few moments I remembered, and looking over at Holmes I could clearly see what had happened. He was sitting, his hair slightly askew, and his white shirt now a green one. He had a slight graze on his cheek. Threw it all though he seemed more annoyed at his experiment having gone wrong, then at his own state.

"I thought that might happen" he said, more to himself then us "I was rather hoping it would just change colour though" he sank into contemplation before taking the cork of a different bottle. "This time I will just have to add..."

"Oh no you don't!" came Mrs.Holmes voice, she had brought up an old rag and started to mop up around him "Far to dangerous!! I will have no more of it!"

"Mother you can not confiscate..."

"I can do what I wish!" she shot him a look as if challenging him to argue. Instead he gave a sigh and walked over to his bedroom door.

"I'm going to bed"

To be continued...

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