Chapter 22

Erika woke up slowly the next morning, to content and warm to move. She felt and arm around her middle with a hand now resting on her back. She smiled slightly and opened her eyes to see Sherlock Holmes staring at her with grey eyes. She closed her eyes a little ad smiled wider. "Good morning."

"Good Morning," he answered, moving his arm to rub her shoulder through the fabric. "John and Mary are in the kitchen."

"Oh," Erika said, still not wanting to move.

"They've been there for over half an hour. I think they're waiting for us."

"Bugger," Erika said as she peeled herself away from Sherlock and stood up, getting out of bed and pulling his dressing gown around her. She turned to face the dark haired man still lying there. "Come on. Don't make them wait. I want to hear what they have to say that's so important."

"I already now." The sadness in his voice made her double-take and she sighed, sitting back down on the bed.

"So do I but we have to let them tell us."

"Now?" Sherlock whined childishly and Erika giggled.

"Yes now. Get up."

"But it's warm here." Before he could react, he found his red dressing gown hurled at his head, covering his face. He pulled it off and found Erika grinning at him like an idiot. He couldn't hold back a smirk as he stood up and put it on before mock-glaring at her. She laughed and they walked out into the kitchen.

John and Mary were sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee in front of each of them, neither had been touched. John was tapping his foot nervously and Mary was staring down at the coffee in her hands. Despite the clear anxiety present in each of them, neither could hide the giddy smile across their faces. When Sherlock and Erika walked out, both looked up at them.

"Good morning John, Mary," Erika said pouring herself and Sherlock some coffee before sitting down. Sherlock merely did a gruff nod as a greeting. John and Mary glanced anxiously at each other. "How did last night go?"

Mary burst into a fit of giggles and John grinned widely. Sherlock glanced between the pair, unimpressed but Erika smiled a little. "You know conversations tend to work better if both sides talk."

"Oh, Erika!" Mary said, standing up. "We're engaged!"

Sherlock rolled his eyes as Erika and Mary embraced. John smiled, watching the pair before meeting Sherlock's eye. Sherlock's face was impassive but seemed just the slightest bit sad. However, before John could confirm it, he hid it behind his mask perfected over years.

"You haven't even known each other a year," Sherlock said, his voice a monotone. Erika turned o glare at him but Mary and John couldn't be swayed. They were both still grinning widely and they all sat down.

"Well, I think it's fantastic news. Congratulations!" Erika said, turning to Sherlock who said nothing. Covering as best she could, she spoke for him. "From both of us."

"Thank-you," Mary said before shooting a look at John. He hesitated and she motioned her head slightly towards the pair, urging him to talk. Finally, he did.

"Uhm, well on the subject of both of you, we'd obviously like you both to come."

"Obviously," Sherlock interrupted. Erika nudged him violently in the ribs and he hissed slightly. She glared at him before turning back to John.

"Well…we'd like you to…I mean if you want…well…"

"Oh for the love of God," Mary said with an exasperated sigh. John blushed and smiled sheepishly. "Sherlock, John wants you to be his best man and I'd like you, Erika, to be my Maid of Honour."

There was silence around the table for a good five seconds before Sherlock spoke. "Why?"

This was a question that no-one else around the table had anticipated and they all turned to look at him, confused, so he elaborated. "You've got other friends. Friends you've known longer than me and probably a lot nicer than me. Why me?"

"Because you're my best friend." Sherlock recoiled a little at that, seemingly unsure what to say. Mary and Erika both smiled at each other, biting back laughter at the situation. Finally Sherlock answered.

"Fine." John breathed a visible sigh of relief and leant back in his chair before turning to Erika. All eyes were on her and she visibly shrunk away. Mary looked at her confused and Erika stuttered an scared response to all their question.

"You've only known me for a little while, just a week longer than John. And…I don't know if I could…I mean…are you sure this isn't just because Sherlock…"

"Don't be ridiculous," Mary said leaning forward and putting her hand over Erika's. "I wouldn't ask you if I didn't want you. And you introduced us, which makes you one of the most important women in my life."

Erika smiled and laughed a little. "Alright then."

Mary clapped a little and they both caught a glimpse of the ring on her finger. Erika grabbed her hand so she could look at it. It was gold with a single, large diamond raised up on it. The woman both looked down at it admiringly before Erika looked up at John, a warning in her eyes. "You hurt her, and I will hurt you."

Mary laughed a little and John nodded before a smiled crossed his face. Soon they were all laughing with the exception of one high-functioning sociopath. Erika then turned to him. "So where's my ring?"

Sherlock raised an eyebrow at her and Mary and John watched them both closely. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well they've known each other less time than us and they're engaged."

"What, you want to get married?" Sherlock said, amused. Erika let out a laugh.

"No, but I want a ring." The meaning was lost on the other couple but Sherlock and Erika both smirked at each other before laughing. John looked between them, confused but didn't get an answer. Erika turned to Mary. "So have you made any arrangements?"

"No," Mary said with a sigh. "But we probably should. I just don't know where to start?"

John nodded in silent agreement and Erika thought for a moment before speaking. "What about venue?"

"I'm not sure. Something reasonably small, we only want a small ceremony, but bright; a big, open space with mirrors on the wall." Mary's eyes then went from the dreamy state they had been in to one of reality as she sunk back into her seat. "At least that's the dream I had when I was a kid. Where would you find a room like that now days?"

Sherlock and Erika both looked at each other, coming to the same conclusion. Sherlock raised an eyebrow and Erika nodded. "I think I know a place."

"Really?" Mary's voice was so filled with hope that Erika couldn't supress her smile.

"Yes. I can show you now if you like."

The soon-to-be newlyweds look at each other and John nodded. Mary turned back to Erika and nodded as well. Erika smiled widely at them. "Great. Give us a few minutes to get changed."

She dragged Sherlock away from the table and the pair got dressed hastily before going back out to find John and Mary kissing intensely. Sherlock cleared his throat loudly and the two shot apart. Mary blushed crimson and Erika giggled. "Come on, it's not a long walk."

The four made to leave when John turned to look at Sherlock, quizzical, he asked, "where's your coat."

"Scotland Yard," Sherlock answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Why?"

"Because I left it there. Can we just go?"

"Sherlock, you'll catch your death out there without your coat."

"I think I'll survive."

"Oh, come on. You're not super human. You'll get sick if history's anything to go by."

"I'll be fine."

"Sherlock just-"

"I'll be fine."

"Sherlock-"

"Shut up, the pair of you," Erika said. The two men had been so absorbed in their conversation that they hadn't noticed Erika go back into Sherlock's room and retrieve his coat and scarf. She held them out to him. "You two argue like a pair of old Queens. Could we go now?"

"When did you-?" Sherlock started.

"I texted Lestrade while you were in the shower yesterday and he sent it over. Did I ask if we could go?"

Sherlock begrudgingly put on his coat and scarf and the four headed out. They walked for about twenty minutes, Erika in front, John and Mary holding hands behind her and Sherlock behind them, following slowly. Finally, they reached a rather run down, old Victorian style building. Mary looked at it in awe and sadness.

"What's this?" John said, his voice laced with distaste.

"It's my home," Erika said bitterly. John bit his tongue and looked down at the ground. Erika sighed. "It's much nice inside, I swear."

They walked in and found the same thing that Sherlock had seen when he'd first come here, but now it was all in the light, everything was so much clearer. The walls of the room were in fact covered with large mirrors. The boxes were still everywhere but now he noticed a small cot in the corner of the room. It saddened him to know she had lived her for a very long time. Mary and John both looked around the room in awe. Above them, a dusty, old chandelier hung by three chains from the ceiling. Mary walked forward and stood just beneath it, a grin on her face.

"This place is perfect." Erika smiled happily as Mary continued. "We'll have to clean it up a bit and fix a few things but I think it's wonderful. What do you think John?"

"Perfect," John spluttered out and Erika smiled. Sherlock walked over and hugged her to his side. Mary continued to circle the room, talking an endless list of ideas to John who seemed to be taking it all in by Sherlock and Erika were elsewhere. Neither of them were listening to the couple because all their focus was on the warmth radiating from the other.