"Let's grab something to eat," Sherlock suggested as if John was going to follow him anyways. He hadn't eaten in 3 days trying to process the Lannister case before resorting to Mycroft's help, and the stomach pain was starting to hit him especially with the nicotine patches wearing off.

"I can't. I'm meeting someone for lunch."

"Briar Rose?"

"Yeah. I'll see you later at home, Sherlock." John quickly left Sherlock before the man could've protested. Sherlock just decided to walk back home, and his pace quickened when he saw Speedy's from the block.

Inside Speedy's, Belle and Ella were eating a quick lunch together. "Has Sherlock found anything on your grandfather's case?" Belle asked.

"He hasn't said anything to me yet. I hope he does before grandfather's birthday party."

"Have you asked him yet to the party?"

"Yes, I already have. But I'm really worried about it, Belle."

"Don't be," Belle said holding Ella's hand. "You'll be fine."

"I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried for grandfather. He'll be walking with a cane, and he'll be an easy target for another attempt on his life."

"Do you really think someone would try to kill your grandfather on his birthday?"

"Why wouldn't someone? He's assured me the Tyrell family will protect us, but I don't trust them."

"Loras Tyrell is a great soldier. He is more than able to protect your grandfather." Ella was quiet. She knew Belle was just trying to cheer her up, but it wasn't helping. Belle couldn't understand Ella's worries. The bell rang and Ella looked to the front door to see Sherlock there.

"Hello, Sherlock," Ella greeted with a weak smile.

"Ella. Belle," Sherlock nodded.

"I'll see you tonight for dinner," Belle said and gave a smile to Ella. She walked past Sherlock and left to work, leaving Sherlock with Ella.

"What's bothering you?" Sherlock asked and sat in Belle's spot.

"Nothing. I'm fine," Ella said pretending to be strong.

"You don't need to pretend."

"I'm not."

"But you are. You look to the right when you lie, and you can't stop playing with your fingers. Are you worried about your grandfather?"

"Yes."

"He's recovering well?"

"And quickly. I'm just worried about his birthday party. What if...what if someone tries to kill him there? He'll be walking with a cane, enemies will think he's an easy target. The Tyrell's offered their protection but...I just don't trust them. By the by, have you found anything new?"

"I'm waiting for some security tapes to be sent so I can see if anyone suspicious was there." Sherlock's stomach growled loudly at that moment, and the two made eye contact. Ella's face glowed from the humor, and Sherlock felt his cheeks burning from embarrassment. Ella got up and prepared a hot sandwich for Sherlock. He thanked her and gulped it down in less than 5 minutes.

"When was the last time you ate?" she asked.

"Oh...about 3 days ago."

"...I'm sorry, did you just say 3 days ago?"

"Yes. I don't eat when I'm working. Digesting slows me down."

"But for 3 days..." Sherlock looked at Ella and could see she was thinking. Her eyes lit up, and a big smile crossed her face. She jumped on her feet and brought Sherlock onto his feet. Ella grabbed her coat and put it on. She linked arms with Sherlock and grabbed a taxi.

"Where are we going?" Sherlock asked.

"Trust me. You'll enjoy it very much," Ella answered with a big smile. They arrived at a large street market in the poorer part of town. Ella linked arms with Sherlock still as they walked across the marketplace. People left and right were shouting, advertising their products, and there were stands and stands of all sorts of different food. Ella stopped at a stand that sold oriental bakery, and the stand owner looked happy to see her.

"Oh, Ella, it's so good to see you again," the stand owner greeted. "And who's this handsome fellow, eh?"

"This is Sherlock Holmes, Fiona," Ella said introducing Sherlock.

"Sherlock Holmes? Yeh, I heard about you. The greatest detective in all of England they say. Didn't know he was this handsome, too. Nice catch, Ella." Fiona winked to Ella and Ella just laughed it off. "Choose whichever pastry you want, laddy. It's on the house." Sherlock looked at Ella with a pleasantly surprised look. He chose the most delicious pastries, and he couldn't believe the taste. It was something completely different than what Ella made at Speedy's, and this was just as delicious.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Ella asked with a smile, eating her own pastry which was for free as well.

"It's absolutely delicious. I've never tasted a pastry like this before," Sherlock raved. When the two were finished eating, they thanked Fiona for the food and walked on to the other stands. They went to a fruit stand and the store owner was cutting the fresh fruit to make fruit kabobs. The owner, Gus, also greeted Ella and offered kabobs on the house. They thanked the owner and walked on arm in arm, enjoying the fruit kabobs and each other's company.

They visited a few more stands selling different sorts of food from around the world. Sherlock couldn't remember the last time he felt full, and it was a great feeling in his stomach. The two were walking arm in arm through the marketplace and Ella asked Sherlock about his other cases. He told her of one he just solved with the help of John, a Study in Pink. He also mentioned briefly about a big case he was working on now about The Blind Banker. Ella was fascinated by the adventure the two experienced just to solve a case, and she was still fascinated by the way Sherlock deduced things. By the time Sherlock finished his story, the two were at a quaint restaurant drinking wine. "Well, enough about me," Sherlock said actually tired of talking about himself. "What about you? What did you do before you came to Speedy's Bakery?"

"I finished law school." Sherlock was surprised. A girl who finished law school ends up working at a bakery?

"And you didn't become a lawyer because..."

"I thought you were the master of deducing," Ella smiled. Sherlock smiled and Ella said, "Let's play a game. You make observations about me. If it's correct, I'll drink. If it's not, you drink." Sherlock smiled, clasped his hands together, and rubbed them warming up to the challenge.

"Alright. You didn't become a lawyer because you didn't enjoy the career of becoming the world's biggest liars."

"Drink."

Sherlock looked surprised as if he was so confident he was correct. He took a sip of his wine and examined Ella. "You disliked the fact that your grandfather pushed you to become a lawyer."

"Drink."

"There's no cheating in this game."

"Drink," Ella said firmly with a smile at the corner of her lip.

Sherlock groaned to himself and took another sip. He took a longer look at Ella, and she was looking right back into his eyes with a smirk. "You wanted to become a lawyer with your grandfather's support, but you didn't choose that career in the end because of your family's business. You don't want to get involved in family business, so you left your home to work at Speedy's because making food is your passion."

"Third time's the charm," Ella smiled and raised her glass to Sherlock. She drank and put the glass down. By the end of the night, Sherlock and Ella were having the night of their lives drunk. They walked back home arm in arm, laughing and enjoying each other's company. "Oh, I've been meaning to ask you, Sherlock," Ella said slurring her words, "but you do know how to waltz?"

"Well, I might be a little rusty," Sherlock admitted slurring his words too.

"Then I must teach you! You need to learn for the party." Ella led Sherlock up past his flat towards hers, and she let him into her home. Sherlock looked at the family photos hanging on Ella's wall, and he heard waltz music playing from her stereo. Ella hopped to Sherlock's side and reminded him the positions of waltz and the steps. "Alright, now, 1 2 step." The two started moving their feet to the music and it was a bad idea to be dancing the waltz drunk.

Sherlock and Ella's feet tangled and they fell over onto the couch laughing their asses off. He fell on top, and he couldn't take his eyes off of Ella. Her smile, her eyes, she was radiantly beautiful. Ella looked back into Sherlock's icy blue eyes, and she felt him leaning in closer slowly. Their breathes were uneven, and they could feel it. Sherlock and Ella's lips were about to touch when Sherlock's phone vibrated for a text. There were multiple messages and he sighed. Ella smiled and put her hand on Sherlock's shoulder, reassuring him that it was alright.

Sherlock got off of Ella and they both sat on the couch while Sherlock pulled out his phone seeing texts from John and Belle.

John : Tapes r here. But heading out. Won't be back till late.

Belle : R u busy?

Belle : Want to get a beer?

"It's fine if you need to go," Ella said to Sherlock going into the kitchen to boil water for her tea.

"I don't," Sherlock answered putting his phone away. "Oh before I forget, I've got 2 tickets for the Chinese circus tomorrow tonight. Would you like to join me?"

"Of course I would, Sherlock," Ella smiled.

"Well, I suppose I should be on my way," Sherlock said standing up.

"Oh, already?" Ella asked disappointed.

"Yes, this Chinese smuggler case must be solved."

"Can't it wait one night?"

Sherlock looked at Ella and could see she really wanted him to stay with her longer. Ella could see in Sherlock's eyes that his mind was telling him to stay, but his body was leaning towards the door. Ella nodded and opened the door for him. "I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"I suppose," she shrugged lightly. Sherlock was upset that he was leaving, but the man was still married to his work.

"John!" Briar Rose happily greeted seeing him walking her way.

"Hello, Rose," he greeted just as happily and ran to her side. She happily linked arms with John, making him blush. They walked off together to a small Italian restaurant for dinner together. They drank and ate together, having a great time. John noticed Ariel Stark entering the restaurant with her date, and she quickly noticed John as well. She waved happily to John, and John waved back. Briar Rose turned around to see who John was waving at, and her eyes widened seeing Ariel there. Ariel's smile quickly faded into a frown seeing Aurora Targaryen there with John.

"How do you know her?" Briar Rose asked watching Ariel and her date being seated for dinner across the room.

"Ah, well I haven't told you the full story about myself but I also help the police solve a few special cases with my flatmate."

"Oh? So...you must meet Ariel Stark quite often."

"Yes, quite. You know her as well?"

"No."

"But...you knew her name."

"Oh, well...I-I know about her family, like the rest of England. She's not so difficult to spot out," Briar Rose said covering up the truth as best she could. "Looks just like her mother, doesn't she?"

"I don't really pay attention to the whole family feud between them all. Who is it? The Lannisters, Starks, Baratheons, and..."

"And Targaryens."

"Ah right, the Targaryens. It's all just a load of bull to me. All they're fighting for is power and wealth. As if that will bring anyone true happiness."

"What do you think brings true happiness, John?"

"A companion. Someone you can be yourself with, can be truthful with. Someone who won't judge you for the things you do or say, but rather accepts you as who you are. Someone who you think about the minute you wake up and the moment you close your eyes for sleep. I believe that's what true happiness is all about."

"That was very beautiful, John," Briar Rose smiled, touched by John's words. John turned slightly red, and he continued being the world's best gentleman throughout the night to the beautiful Targaryen.