A Wife for Sherlock Holmes
Chapter 3 – An Ordinary Day, Almost…
After collecting her clothing, Mari had taken a cab home. She had not said goodbye to her intended since he and John had apparently left suddenly after getting a call. She got Sherlock's number from Mrs. Hudson as well as John's.
She would text them later to find out how they were. For now she had other things on her mind.
She had dressed and packed a bag for Krav Maga practice after work and her new costume for her tribal belly dancing. Her friends, Lizzy and Bethany, wished to get together and work on some bending , and she was happy to accept.
She made her sure her hijab was sitting right as she walked into the museum. She was only five minutes late, a miracle considering, and today, blessedly, was her late day. She wore walked to her desk and began to read through the emails she had.
However, before that, she texted to her dear intended. Will be late today. Hope your case is fun. Cheers. MB
Her phone chimed and she looked down. It had already been two hours since she had been there and she had been answering her email, seeing to the project at hand, and speaking to the board. Where had the time gone?
She leaned back and looked at the text. Dinner at 7? SH
She smiled a little. So he had not forgotten her. She sighed and shook her head then. I have Krav Maga at 5:30 and plans after. 8?
There was a long pause and then. Should you be doing Krav Maga pregnant? SH
She shook her head. I am meeting with two other masters for a bout. Will be fine. Tomorrow I am fencing. Thanks for your concern.
Dinner at 7:30 then? SH
She rolled her eyes. 8:30.
7:30. SH
The man could be so infuriating. Fine. 7:30. Where?
There is a lovely Indian restaurant just up Baker Street. SH
Sounds lovely. See you there then.
Dress in that lovely dress I saw in your closet. I am sure you will be stunning. SH
You are telling me what to wear now?
Not at all, but I am sure you will look lovely. SH
She sighed. All right. See you then Mr. Holmes.
Indeed, Dr. Holmes. SH
She finished her work at the museum and headed to the dojo where her master friends were. They spoke together and then had a bout. Mari was a higher black belt than either of them, and won both matches, but not without some bruises. One was just below her breasts from a foot. Another was on her thigh from a staff. They hurt, but it was nothing a warm soak in a bath with Epsom salts wouldn't cure.
She traveled to Lizzy's studio where she taught both yoga and belly dancing. Being half Turkish and half Syrian, dancing like this was in her blood, but it was a woman's dance. Only in western European countries was it a dance for everyone to enjoy. There were two styles as well. The first was traditional and the second, the type Marion participated in, was tribal fusion.
Using very industrial tones and often wearing more elaborate costumes, tribal was a phenomenon born from the United States from a lady in Seattle named Rachel Brice. In the UK it was still budding, but Bethany, being American had studied the style. It was a great deal of work and fun.
As Mari was arching backwards in a back bend, the door opened. She ignored it and then shifted dropping to the floor in a spin and arching her back upwards as she moved to the music, her stomach muscles rippling.
Sherlock and John froze. Dressed in one of his best shirts, coat, and scarf, he stood in the room watching the three women move to the music with sensuous movements of their bodies. John stood mouth gapping as Mari shifted and spun around.
Sherlock stepped forward and caught her to him. She looked startled as he shifted moving with her rather than interrupting her movements. She bent back and his hand was flat on her back supporting her as she arched to the floor. She planted her hands and brought her legs over handing in a split looking up at him.
He smiled realizing she was flirting with him. She looked up at him and the music ended as she bent backwards over her back leg. Sherlock smirked. She would not be doing that in six months time. He walked to her and offered her a hand. She took it and rose to her feet hissing a bit as her hand went to her chest.
His eyes flashed concern and she waved it off. She walked, barefooted to her friends. "Apparently I must be leaving."
"Who is your handsome friend?" Bethany asked.
"My fiancé." Mari said.
Their eyes widened as he turned back. "I said I would be there at 7:30." She said.
"It is seven now. If we arrive at your flat, you will have time to dress and get to dinner at that time. On our way." Sherlock smiled.
"Dr. Watson." Mari said.
He blinked and looked at her. "Ummm yes?"
"Stop staring. It is not as though we are naked."
His mouth clapped shut and the other two women giggled as he turned to follow Sherlock and Mari out to the taxi that was waiting. Sherlock, Mari, and John all got into the back. Sherlock told the driver the address without looking up and they were on their way.
It was cooler and Mari shivered a little in spite of the fact she was sandwiched between two men and in a warm car. Sherlock seemed not to notice as he looked on his phone as they went. She leaned back letting her body settle.
Once at her flat she opened the door and they men followed her up into her flat. It was small, but oddly fit her. She was already pulling clothing off as she went to the shower while Sherlock moved to her kitchen.
John sat down in a chair admiring all the small figurines she had and interesting bowls. "She said she works at a museum. It looks like one in here."
"She has an impressive collection, yes." Sherlock said finding his aim. He lifted a small candy bar. "She also knows a really good chocolatier." He broke off a piece and handed it to John. "You really must try this."
"Shouldn't you ask her before you eat her chocolate?" John asked putting it in his mouth. Sherlock was right, it was likely the best chocolate he had ever tasted, but he was not about to allow Sherlock to know that.
Sherlock smiled. "Perhaps, but you have no idea where I was eating them."
John whipped his head around to look at Sherlock's smirking face. "Pardon?!"
"Why is it such a surprise when I make any kind of sexual reference?"
"I um…well…"
"I would think it quite clear that I have some experience in this regard. I have a woman who has never said anything negative about my…skill, and she is pregnant because of it."
"You are so modest even in that." John said.
"What?" Mari asked stepping out of the bathroom. Her body was wrapped in a towel that went to her mid thigh and clung to her ample bosom. Her long hair was wrapped in another towel on her head.
"Nothing. Come on we are running late." Sherlock hissed at her, his hands behind him, his mouth holding the piece he had in his mouth to the side so he could speak freely.
She rolled her eyes. "Help yourself to the chocolate you are so fond of Sherlock. Perhaps Doctor Watson would like some." She said turning away.
Sherlock coughed a little as she shut the door. Little minx knew full well he had had some. What an adventure it would be to be married to her. However, he was a little concerned. Her thigh was starting to color in a line across it. Perhaps it was nothing, but still.
She came out only a few moments later holding a handbag, wearing a light jacket, and wearing a rather beautiful dress of black and silver that hit her at her lower thigh. She wore wedges that made her a couple inches taller, so she now was nearly looking John in the eye. She wore a beautifully embroidered headscarf of black with silver thread that added to the beautiful of her olive skin. "Shall we then."
John rose to his feet. "You look stunning." He said. He smiled and kissed her cheek.
Sherlock stepped forward and offered his arm. "Are you ready, Mari?"
"For what?" She asked as they stepped outside.
"The greatest adventure of our lives." He said his green eyes flashing. John called a taxi as a little bit of snow began to fall. Sherlock opened the door for her and she got in. John got in the front and Sherlock settled in the back beside his fiancée. She looked out the window as John told the address to the driver.
She then realized something was amiss as they drove to the Eye. "Wait why are we here?"
"Seemed like a good place to make an impression." Sherlock said as he got out and opened the door.
"You can't be serious…" She whispered as he took her hand and walked with her to the entry. It was almost completely deserted.
He smiled at her and bent pressing a kiss to the bridge of her nose. "Come on then unless you are afraid of heights." He taunted.
"I am not…" She said lifting her chin.
"Well there you go then." He ushered her up. Inside the lit capsule were Mrs. Hudson, a man she did not know in black wearing the collar of an Anglican vicar, and two men with suits on.
"Well, well, so this is the lovely bride then." One said rising to his feet and smiling as he walked to her. He kissed her cheek. "DI Greg Lestrade." He said.
"Marion Bayezid." She said.
"Soon Holmes." He smiled. "Come here dear, let me speak to you while the guests arrive."
"Guests?" She blinked. Her future husband was hardly social, but perhaps for a limited time he could tolerate people in his presence.
"Actually this is everyone." Sherlock said. He looked about as three people in serving uniforms came in. The capsule was locked shut and then started to move. It was smooth and Sherlock walked to where Mari was seated. He offered his hand and she rose to join him.
She looked out. "So beautiful." She whispered.
"The people here are people who have some meaning to my life." Sherlock said. He looked back at John and Mrs. Hudson together. "So I felt it would be that you were all part of being here while I take my wedding vows."
Mari turned back to look at him. "I…we…what? Here?"
The vicar rose to his feet. "If the bride and groom would step forward."
Mari was still startled as Sherlock walked her forward. He lifted her hand and held it in his as he watched her. She was a little unnerved to be under his scrutiny so. The vicar began to speak about the important of marriage, but the bride and groom paid little attention.
There was a pause and Sherlock took the signal. He lifted her cool hand to his lips and kissed it before speaking. "I, William Sherlock Scott Holmes, take you, Al Zahra Miriam Bayezid, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law, and this is my solemn vow."
She blinked up at him. The vicar cleared his throat. "Your vows, Miss."
She blinked as a tear fell and then she took a breath. "I, Al Zahra Miriam Bayezid, take you, William Sherlock Scott Holmes, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law, and this is my solemn vow." She ended, her voice cracking at a whisper.
He nodded a little. "Just a little longer, don't faint." He said softly so only she could hear. He then cleared his throat and lifted a single, but elegant ring. "With this Ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." He said firmly watching her as he placed it on her finger. It fit perfectly. Where had he had time to know that?
John coughed lightly and lifted a ring to Mari. She gazed at it and then up at her husband. "With this Ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." She pressed it onto his ring finger. It also fit perfectly. Well , well, Mr. Holmes had been busy. She blinked. And she had never heard his full name before. Not that it mattered. Clearly he preferred Sherlock than his formal full name.
"By the power vested in my by the City of London and the United Kingdom, I pronounce these two to be Mr. and Doctor Holmes." The vicar said.
Mari looked up startled, but then her eyes misted and she blinked rapidly.
Sherlock smiled a little and then the vicar smiled at him. "You may kiss your bride, Sherlock Holmes."
Sherlock nodded and pulled his wife to him. It had a dual purpose. She was looking faint, but also to bring her closer. He kissed her mouth softly and pulled back looking at him. "Hello." He said. People were clapping in the background.
"How…how did you know my real name?"
"Your full name? It was quite easy. I was able to look at your driver's license while you slept." He smiled. "And I got some help in pronunciation from John since he has lived in Afghanistan." He closed his eyes. "The illuminated." He said. "But why do you go by Marion and not Miriam?"
"It is easier for my friends to say." She smiled laughing lightly through her tears. She pulled him down and kissed him again, but this time he straightened them both and snaked his arm about her. He was smiling too, the lines on his face showing.
Together they spoke to their guests and sipped champagne. Apple juice was poured for the lovely bride. She sipped it and ate the crackers and cheese provided. Sherlock stood looking out over the city. She looked behind her as the snow fell about the city. "It is beautiful."
ZzZ
The small group disbanded after many well wishes as the Eye capsule returned to earth. Sherlock called a cab. He pulled off his coat and offered it to his wife who was shivering a little in the snow. She looked at him startled. "But you will freeze."
"Hardly, my dear. You, however, are turning a frightful shade of blue." He touched her lip which was turning a bluish tinge.
She sighed and pulled the coat on. It nearly went to her ankles, but it was warm from his body heat and she wrapped it about herself looking up at the snow. It smelled deliciously like him as well and she snuggled in it a moment enjoying the feel of being safe and warm.
A large flake of snow landed on her nose and she giggled and looked up. She then opened her mouth and let the snow fall into her mouth.
"What on earth are you doing?" He asked watching her.
"Catching snow." She smiled. "It tastes sweet."
"With all the pollution in this city? I doubt that." He said watching her antics.
She looked back, snow had collected on her hijab and she smiled. "You certainly know how to show a girl a good time, Mr. Holmes."
He chuckled. The cab stopped before him and he opened the door. "Shall we retire, my dear?" He asked.
She looked at him and smiled before walking passed him and getting into the cab. He smiled and got in as well. Shutting the door he relaxed and looked at the cabbie. "221 B Baker Street." He said calmly.
She looked at him. "What about Dr. Watson and Mrs. Hudson?"
"I took the liberty of seeing Mrs. Hudson got to be at a hotel and she will have a full day at the spa tomorrow. As for John, he is going to see his sister as I recall." He said nonchalantly.
She looked at him and nodded. She looked up at the snow falling and smiled. "I do not think I have ever seen snow in September here."
"It is rare." He agreed looking up. "But it can happen." He smiled at her as she watched, captivated by the large flakes falling outside the window. "It will all melt before we get the snow that will come and stay for Christmas."
He relaxed reaching for his cell phone to look at the weather and news before he turned his phone off for the evening. His free hand dropped and rested on her thigh. Her skin was bare there and his hand was just below the place where the linear bruise was.
They arrived at the home. He got out and walked around opening the door for his wife as she stepped out into the cold again. He paid the driver and then walked to the door. One order of business was to get his new bride her own key. He opened the door and she stepped in, knocking the snow from her shoes. He did likewise and he watched her move up the stairs after removing them. He had taken note of her round bottom as she had dropped to removed them.
Barefoot she paused on the landing. "I am going to take a shower to warm up." She said.
He looked up at her smiling playfully. "Do try not to use All the hot water darling."
She shook her head and laughed tossing something at him as he came up the stairs after her. He caught the fabric in his fingers and watched her retreating form as she dropped his coat down on the chair and was unzipping the back of the dress as she went.
He opened his palm and looked at the bit of cloth and held it up as he came into the light of the room where the fireplace cracked. John had seen that done before he had left for his sister's house. What would Sherlock do without him…? He then focused again on the cloth.
She swallowed hard. They were her panties. The little minx had thrown her panties at him and they were still warm from her body. Groaning he shook his head and set them down realizing she had gotten her desired rise out of him.
He leaned down and lifted his violin and began to play a soft tune as he looked out the window. He did not notice until her small hands were on his arms lightly and her body was pressed to him that he realized she was there. She did not constrict his playing at all. He felt her warmth against his back as she pressed her forward to his shoulder blade.
He paused a moment to look back over his shoulder at her hair that looked like molten copper in the firelight. She stepped around him and he realized she was wearing his dressing gown and nothing else.
He looked at her a moment and then she looked at the violin. She touched the strings delicately. "Can you teach me?" She asked softly. Her voice was soft like a prayer. He sighed realizing she was curious and want to learn.
He smiled a little and turned her in his embrace. He pressed the chin rest under her chin. He gently took her fingers and arranged them and placed them on the fingerboard. Holding his fingers around hers he then lifted the bow and gently formed her hand over it. Her hand on the bow, he moved it over the strings moving her fingers on the fingerboard by pressing them.
He did a combination three times and then let his hands drop watching her. She nibbled her lip and drew the bow moving her fingers on the board as he stood behind her, breathing in her scent and listening as she hesitantly played the chords. She was doing very well. She repeated them a second time and his hands grazed up from her waist, up her sides to her shoulders. He brushed her hair aside and pressed his lips to her ear.
"I could ravish you here." He murmured and she shivered and he took her ear between his teeth, lightly, playfully.
"How am I to learn if you keep distracting me?" She asked trying to play a chord and she drew too quickly as his hand shifted to cup her breast even as he licked her ear.
"Oh the things I could teach you." He murmured.
"Sherlock keep it up and I will drop this." She gasped her head dropping back and his lips on her throat.
"Well we can't have that can we?" he whispered taking it from her and setting it down as she turned to him.
She let the dressing gown fall and pool at her feet as she looked up at him smiling playfully. "Now what things are you planning to teach me, husband?"
"A great many things." He said looking at her, his green eyes narrowing with arousal.
"Is that a threat?"
"No it is a promise." He said dipping down and lifting her in his arms and charging for the bedroom. She let out a cry of surprise and then smiled as he kissed her. As he crossed the threshold into his room, his lips moved to the base of her ear, a very sensitive spot and she gasped.
"Oh Sherlock…" She whispered.