*Slight time jump*
XXXXX
I blinked awake. Sherlock was already up, little to my surprise. The sound of his violin floated round our flat, interrupted occasionally by the scratching of pencil on paper. He was composing. I stretched and got out of bed, padding down the corridor on bare feet. In the living room Sherlock was standing by the window, music stand to his right, violin in hand, playing.
He turned slightly and flashed me a smile in acknowledgement, never stopping playing. I crossed the room to Sherlock's chair where I curled up and listened to the new melody. I'd missed waking up to the sound of Sherlock's violin. After a while Sherlock turned to me, he said "Tell me how this sounds Charlie" before playing through the piece. I listened attentively.
"It sounds great Sherlock." I smiled, "it's for the wedding, isn't it? The first dance?"
He smiled with all the modestly he possessed, "Yes"
"Then it works well, I think you just need to quicken the tempo up a little though"
He nodded, "Thank you" After playing it through several more times Sherlock was happy with it, and recorded it. Coming to my side, he said, "Up you get"
"Why?" I raised an eyebrow.
"It's the first dance." He stated, "I need to choreograph it"
I sighed, "Oh alright then" I stood then looked down at Sherlock's shoes next to my bare feet,
"Shoes off, I'm not getting bruised toes again" He rolled his eyes but kicked his shoes off anyway. Taking my hand he led me to the centre of the floor, quickly switching on the recording and gently pulled me into hold. "Have you got an idea for this one?"
"Yes" he smiled happily. He began counting us in, "One, two, three; two, two, three; three, two, three…" It wasn't the first time I had danced with Sherlock. I knew how to let him guide me until I got to grips with it. He was hopeless at explaining his choreography; his mind could process it and put it into action, but allow an explanation to leave his mouth? Not possible.
Sometime later I began to understand what Sherlock wanted and I fell into step with him quite easily. Maybe an hour or so after we'd begun we could complete the sequence without trodding on each other's feet. By 12:30 I was good enough for him to actually compliment me, "Brilliant, excellent - that's good, very good"
I opened my mouth to reply but my stomach interrupted with a loud growl, "Hm, I think I'm hungry" I muttered.
"Once more through?" He asked hopefully. Sherlock was always so happy dancing.
"Once" I agreed firmly.
He beamed, waiting for the music to repeat itself again. Sherlock held my hand and placed his other hand on the small of my back. Reaching up I put my hand on his shoulder. I counted in my head - one, two, three; one, two, three; back, two, three; forward, two, three… I leant my head against Sherlock's chest, closing my eyes.
"Charlie" he said softly, "are you tired?"
"Mm, a little" we kept on dancing.
"Aww, poor little girl"
"Hey - I'm not little; well I'm not that little. And I'm a woman, not a girl"
"Yes Charlie, of course" he mocked kindly.
"Shut up"
He pouted and then smiled. The finale of the song was approaching. Sherlock carefully tipped me backwards. He smiled, "I missed you"
"I missed you too Sherlock"
"Sorry" he repeated sincerely.
"'s okay"
He pulled me upright and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. "Take me to the kitchen" I mumbled into his chest.
"Charlie" he moaned.
"I've had to get your phone out of the jacket you were wearing - take me to the kitchen, damn it"
He rolled his eyes but picked me up anyway, scooping me up in his arms and carrying me through to the kitchen. "You're such a child" he said, a laugh in his voice. He sat me up on the counter, "What do you want?"
"Toast?"
"Yeah"
"Two slices?"
"Please"
"Okay"
"Thank you" I swung my legs back and forth, watching Sherlock make my food. He was better at that kind of thing now, since he'd come back. I was getting to the point of forgiving him, nearly. I could sleep comfortably at night now, knowing he'd still be there when I woke up. And he was trying, he really was. There was no leaving the flat without telling me, he wouldn't raise his voice, he wouldn't shoot the wall when he got bored. I knew it was difficult for him, but he put all his effort into staying calm around me, knowing how jumpy I'd become.
"We need to teach the dance to John and Mary" Sherlock said.
"Yeah"
"I'll text them" he said as the toast popped.
"I could teach them the basics then you could perfect it" I suggested for their sake.
"Yes, that would work" he opened the cupboard, "Jam?"
"Yes please" He spread the strawberry jam over my toast and handed it to me on a plate.
"Thanks" I smiled, "Have you had anything to eat recently?"
"How recently?"
"Yesterday, at least"
"Then no"
"Sherlock!"
"I'm not hungry"
"No, but believe it or not, you're still human"
"Hmph"
I put the plate down and hopped down off the counter, "Eat that, I'll make some more"
"Charlie-"
"It's fine"
"Well why don't we share this then I'll take you out for lunch"
I stared at him, eyebrows raised, "Take me out for lunch? What's got into you?"
"Nothing. I don't know what you're talking about" he tried to dismiss it.
But I laughed, "Sherlock?"
"What?"
"Is this about yesterday?"
"No"
"Just because Mycroft bought me lunch doesn't mean you have to - he's just in the habit now" He didn't answer, busying himself with tidying up. I couldn't help but laugh, "Sherlock, you wouldn't be jealous of Mycroft would you?"
"Mycroft?" Sherlock knew I'd worked it out, and now he was playing along.
"Well, I spent the majority of last year living with him, he paid the mortgage for 221B, bought me food, everything"
"I've got nothing to be jealous of when it comes to Mycroft" he spat, and I knew I'd hit a nerve.
"It's okay Sherlock."
"I'm not jealous"
I hopped down, "Of course, whatever you say"
"I'm not jealous of Mycroft"
"Alright" I said, leaning against the counter beside him.
"I'm not"
"If you say so"
"Charlie, I am not jealous of my brother"
I tilted my head as I looked up at him, "Okay." He huffed, still trying to remain stern. I tiptoed up and hugged him, placing a quick kiss on his cheek. "So where are we going for lunch?"