Fully Alive

Chapter Twenty-Two

Sherlock walked into his flat to see Vivienne lying on the couch watching television. "How are you, darling?" He asked as he walked by, quickly bending over as he passed her to kiss her on the forehead.

"How do you think? I'm bored. Gran and your mother won't even let me walk up the stairs to get a change of scenery." Vivienne sat up and watched Sherlock drop a stack of files on the kitchen table.

"It's only a few more days until your appointment. You'll be fine. How much longer is my mother going to be here?" Sherlock asked, walking back into the living room.

"At least until my appointment. If they let me off house arrest, she's going to go home."

"Hmm." Sherlock replied, holding his hand out to Vivienne.

She accepted his hand on hers and he pulled her up off of the couch, placing his free hand on her hip. He pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers. Vivienne wrapped her arms around Sherlock's waist as their lips moved in unison.

Vivienne broke the kiss and pressed her forehead to his. "I want to suck your dick." She whispered bluntly.

"Well, that's a bit vulgar." Sherlock pulled his head away from her.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow. "You didn't think it was 'vulgar' the last time I did it."

"You didn't exactly express the sentiments out loud last time. You just... did it."

"Fine." Vivienne started to untuck Sherlock's shirt.

Sherlock chuckled and grabbed her wrists, stopping her. "Mm, no."

"Oh, come on. It's the least strenuous sexual thing I can do. The most trouble I'll have is getting up off my knees afterwards."

"My answer isn't going to change. The doctor said no sex. I'm assuming he meant every kind." Sherlock ran his hand through Vivienne's hair.

"Yes, because giving head is going to kill me." Vivienne sighed. "I know I haven't been very interested in sex lately, but it's like when your mom makes brownies and you're just like 'oh okay brownies' and then she tells you not to eat them because they're for after dinner. And then it's like you need a fucking brownie right then and it's only because she told you no. The doctor said no sex, so now all I want is sex."

Sherlock grinned as he listened to his wife rant. He waited for a moment to make sure she was done. "It might not kill you, even just giving in once, but with two lives at stake, I can't do it."

"Give your heart back to the Wizard, Tin Man." Vivienne glared at him playfully.

"As soon as the doctor clears you, I will let you have your way with me. Within reason."

Vivienne pouted. "I'm holding you to that."

"Come look over these case files with me. Lestrade must think I'm going soft. He's given me the easy ones. Let's see how much you really have learned from me."

"Actually, I have something for you first."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes." Vivienne grinned. "I went and got something for you. Well, I had your mom pick it up. I paid for it weeks ago and I've been trying to keep a secret."

"I knew it. I knew you were keeping something from me."

"Just hold on." Vivienne walked out the door and called to Mrs. Holmes up the stairs. Sherlock heard Mrs. Holmes meet her on the landing and then go back up. Bicker walked back in holding a small...something...under her cardigan. "I wanted to surprise you. He won't take the place of Redbeard, but I saw him online and he was so cute and I didn't know if you liked any other breeds and..." She opened her sweater to reveal that she was holding an eight week old red Irish setter. "I've named him Toby. I hope you don't mind."

"Vivienne... why-?"

"I know you're nervous about the baby. So, I thought maybe taking care of a puppy might help you prepare a little." Vivienne bit her lip nervously. "Your mom thought it was a good idea. Mycroft came over to tell me just what a terrible idea it was. Side note, I don't think your mom told him about it, so I'm pretty sure he's spying on me. Or us, really. But, um, anyways... what do you think?"

"I think... that you are a very thoughtful wife." Sherlock stepped forward and took the puppy from Vivienne. He held Toby up to eye level and the small dog started wagging his tail. "Hello, Toby. Welcome home."

Vivienne grinned. "Let's look at those case files."

Vivienne and Sherlock say down at the table, with Toby curling up in Sherlock's lap, and he passed the first file over to Vivienne. "We'll start with the easiest."

Vivienne read over the file for a minute before declaring "It was the maid. Easy."

"Why was it the maid?" Sherlock asked.

"Because she said she was getting the mail. It was a Sunday. And the first thing I learned from Harry Potter is that there's no post on Sundays."

Sherlock looked impressed. He passed over the next one. "What about this?"

She scanned through the pages. "Butler."

"Why?"

"Because it's always the butler. Obviously." Vivienne gave Sherlock a cheeky grin. "This amateur detective I know taught me that one."

"I'm not an amateur." Sherlock growled.

"Never said I was talking about you." Vivienne winked.

"Oh, so you've known a lot of amateur detectives, have you?"

"What can I say? I know what I like."

Sherlock just grinned and gave Vivienne a loving look.

"What's that face for?"

"Nothing." Sherlock shook his head, still grinning.

"You know, you could have any woman in the world if you wanted them. Why me?"

Sherlock shrugged. "I know what I like." He replied, mirroring Vivienne's words. "Can you tell me how you know it was the butler?"

"Wait, it really was the butler? I was just trying to fuck with you." Vivienne laughed. "I have absolutely no idea."

"Mm, I'll give you a hint. Look at the photographs of the shoe prints found by the husband."

"Oh. Okay, so..." Vivienne flipped through the file. "The prints were made by the husband's shoes. Size eleven. But..." She took a closer look. "They look like they were being worn by someone with smaller feet."

"What tells you that?" Sherlock smirked a little.

"There looks to be a little slippage in the print. Like the foot of the person wearing the shoe was sliding around inside of it. The only person in the house with smaller feet, besides the wife who had already been dead for an hour, was..." Vivienne scanned the page. "The butler. He's a size nine." Vivienne liked very proud of herself as she beamed at Sherlock.

Sherlock looked very proud as well. "Very good job. I could make a detective out of you yet."

"Well, my teacher is pretty good at what he does."

"This amateur detective you know?" Sherlock gave a low chuckle.

"Yep, that's the one."

"Well, if he's so good at his job, he might take offense to being called an amateur." Sherlock replied.

"Nah, I don't think so. He kind of has a thing for me." Vivienne grinned.

Sherlock gave Vivienne a confused look. "We are talking about me, aren't we?"

Vivienne laughed. "Of course we are. You're the only detective I like."

Sherlock smiled slyly as he tossed over another case file. "Here. Do this one before one of the grownups comes down and you get in trouble for being off the couch."

Vivienne reached out for her husband's hand. "Thank you. I needed this."

Sherlock winked. "You're welcome."

Xxxxx

A/N: Sorry this has taken so long! I got a little stuck on this one, sorry if it's not the greatest. Review, follow, favorite! Xoxo