A/N: Thank you to alovelycupofcoffee for pointing out my editing mistake. It's been fixed. Also a huge shout out to naturerocs author of 'Didn't Expect That' and creator of Angie, she inspired me and helps me write this story...Sweetie you are AWESOME!
Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own 'Sherlock' or have any affiliation with the BBC. No copyright infringement intended. I own Percy.
The Line Drawn
The sensation of waking up in the warm embrace of the man I loved would never get old. I slowly let my eyes get used through the sunshine pouring in through the balcony windows. I felt a kiss on my shoulder and turned to face Jim.
"Morning." I said smiling.
"Morning beautiful."
"How long have you been awake?" I asked Jim, knowing he was an early riser, I on the other hand am the total opposite.
"Not long, you looked like an angel in the sunlight, I didn't want to wake you." His words making me feel warm form the inside out. I still didn't know how I'd gotten so lucky, and yes that is a dreadful cliché, but it was true. I had a wonderful man who adored me and I him in return.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Asked Jim.
"Nothing much, just how much I love you." I giggled as I felt Jim pull me closer at my words.
"Do we have to go back to reality Jim, can't we stay here forever, just us?" He pressed more kisses to my bare shoulder.
"We could, it could be us, just you and me, forever, if that's what you want?"
"I want to spend my life with you James Moriarty."
"Are you sure, even after, you know everything now, and you still want to be with me?"
"I love you utterly and unconditionally." For the a moment that could have been a second or a lifetime we locked eyes and felt then that nothing would ever part us, I'd found my soul mate. The spell broke by Jim leaning in and kissing me, he kissed me with so much passion and fire I felt my heart skip a beat. As we broke to breathe, he looked at me with a mischievous glint in his eye. He leaned over me to the cabinet on my side of the bed making me laugh as he squished me; he opened the draw and pulled out a small box. He settled back on his side of the bed, sitting up. I looked up at him and asked.
"What are you up to?"
"Nothing." He replied.
"Jim, come on, what are you hiding?" His naughty smirk reappeared as he tried to feign innocence.
"Nothing dear, but you like surprises right?"
"Yes." I replied hesitantly.
"Are you sure? You don't sound sure."
"I am sure! Jim come on, tell me, and please stop teasing." With a slight pause, I sat up and looked him in the eyes, pulling the full power of the puppy pout. "Please?"
"Pulling out the pout, oh Percy how do I resist that?" I giggled as Jim pulled me close.
"Persephone Elizabeth Holmes."
"Yes, James Edward Moriarty." I smiled using his full name, for which I received an amused grin.
"I promise to love you, cherish you, protect you, care for you and make you smile everyday for the rest of time. Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" Asked Jim. For the briefest second my mind and heart totally stopped, I was so...happy, and that realisation broke the dam of blissful emotions.
"Yes, yes for eternity." The smile that lit up Jim's face was worth every argument and every bad moment, it erased all the darkness and left only light. Taking my left hand Jim put on the most beautiful white gold ring, with two clear diamonds on both side and a black diamond in the centre, throwing sunbeams across us as it caught the sunlight. I couldn't stop smiling, I laced our hand and brought them up to my mouth and kissed each of his knuckles. Catching Jim's eye I tried to voice the feelings of happiness whirring about my body.
"I don't think life gets better than this, I love you James, more than I can express in words."
"Then don't use words, show me." He rolled us, so he was now atop of me and kissed me again with such intensity it took my breath away. The rest of the morning was forgotten as we showed our love to each other truly becoming one.
The whole way home I'd been nervous, but the happiness I felt was outweighing the fear. I was engaged, I never thought this would happen in my life, but it had and I couldn't stop smiling. I looked down to my left hand at the black diamond ring that now took centre stage; it gleamed in the dying rays of the evening sun. We pulled into the village and my smile faltered, as we stopped in front of Angie and Sherlock's cottage, I stopped smiling all together, I felt nervous. I looked at Jim, he smiled and brought his hand to my face cupping my cheek.
"Don't worry love, they'll understand when they see how happy you are, how happy we are. I'll wait out here, it might make the news easier for them to hear and all you have to do is call and I'll be by your side." As Jim gave me the courage to face Sherlock and Angie, he leaned in and kissed me, so sweetly, a kiss filled with love and belief.
"Alright, I won't be long, then we can head home and relax. I love you." I said as I left the car.
"Love you too." Replied Jim, flashing me a grin. I'd texted Angie that I was coming over, so she was expecting me. I knocked on the door, and luckily Angie answered. I couldn't help looking and feeling nervous as I entered the cottage. I felt as though I was on trial.
Angie looked at me. "Hi. You're back earlier than I thought"
I gave a small smile. "Yeah, I just got in."
Sherlock walked out, holding his laptop. "Angie," he stopped when he saw me shock and horror dancing across his eyes. "Oh."
I smiled, hoping this wasn't going to be too unpleasant. "Hello."
Sherlock stared at me, trying to dissect the answer before he asked the question. "What is this?" He held up the laptop, showing my Facebook page. Jim had posted a picture he'd taken of me that morning, and had posted it as our engagement announcement. The thought made me smile inside, we were so happy together. Sherlock frowned, ignoring my reverie. "Is this supposed to be a joke?" He spat out, acid lacing his tone.
I stared back at him, slightly shocked by his tone. "A surprise, yes. A joke, no."
Angie stared at it, realisation dawning in her eyes. "Wait, what?!
I smiled at Angie, hoping she'd be as happy as me. "I'm getting married!"
"To Moriarty?" Not the reaction I was hoping for.
Sherlock just stared at Me. "I thought surprises were supposed to be good."
I frowned at him, so maybe it wasn't perfect news to him, but he could at least try and be somewhat happy for us. "It is good. I'm happy. Is that a problem? Or is happiness too much for you, seeing as you have the emotional remit of a tea spoon." I said getting more irritated by the second.
Sherlock kept a blank mask, just staring at me. "You're engaged to a dangerous criminal mastermind. How is that good? And it's not just me and my 'emotional remit'. I know that Angie has a problem with this, too."
Angie looked at him. "Don't drag me into this, Sherlock."
I crossed my arms defensively, I was not going to have today ruined. "Yes, don't drag Angie into this. This is your problem, not mine. Maybe if you wised up and finally got married to Angie, you'd understand. I love him, he loves me."
Angie stared at me, appearing to not know what to do.
Sherlock looked at me confused by my ire. "What does my relationship with Angie have to do with this? It doesn't matter. He's a dangerous criminal. Think of it as brotherly concern."
Wow, I thought, he doesn't even get that if he committed himself to Angie, then maybe he would feel differently about me getting married, he would understand the emotional side of the argument, but no, not Sherlock, bloody, Holmes, it has to be about fact and his need to be right. What brotherly concern? My brain was racing a mile a minute, a part of me needed to stay and fight and the other wanted to run away, run out to Jim and be safe and happy in our little bubble.
I glared at him. "All of a sudden, you're concerned for my well-being? This is the most we've spoken since we met! At least Mycroft has been there for most of my life. He has a right to be concerned. And anyway, it doesn't really matter what you think because you're dead."
Sherlock sighed. "A bit childish to be bringing that up, isn't it? And I'm sure Mycroft wouldn't approve, either. The one thing I'd agree with him on."
"It's not childish it's true. And I am a grown woman; I can choose what I do with my life. I'm not asking permission. Or would you rather me be miserable and alone? That's how I ended up in rehab, so no I'll take love. And Mycroft is so oblivious to most things about me; he has no idea I'm dating. Engaged."
He gave me a look, a look filled with condescension and irritation. He wasn't used to having his subjects argue back. "Just because you're a grown woman doesn't mean that you're making the right decision. It's better to be alone than to be with a criminal. And I'm sure that wasn't the only contributing factor to your breakdown."
That comment was the final straw. He was basically calling me hysterical. Alone, the word echoed in my head, I was never going to be alone again. "No, it isn't better to be alone. I am never sinking that low again. But, no, of course, I loved being called a freak and having no friends, it was wonderful! Being bullied and beaten up because I was different, having my clothes and school books burnt! I wanted my brain to just stop! I met James when I was 18, and suddenly, I wasn't the only clever one in the room. He was lonely and so was I. He made me smiled again. He made me believe I was a person again. Do you understand any of that at all, or is it just all about the deduction and solving the puzzle, proving you're right?"
As I finished my rant I could see the pain in his eyes, I knew all about his drug habits, in a sick way I was hoping he would empathise over our shared experience, but no, his opinion is the important factor, his need to be heard.
"This is about how you're dealing with a dangerous criminal. It's not about any of that. And dealing with that persecution is just part of being intelligent. I had to go through that, too. But that doesn't give you an excuse to marry him."
At least he admits he went through something and felt something in his life, but he shut out the world. I am getting fed up of repeating myself, why won't he let this go?
"I don't need an excuse, I love him! He made me better, and I make him better. You have no idea how many things have been stopped. I've had to do some dangerous things, but it saved lives."
My mind flashed to all of the times I diverted plans and distracted Jim and meetings with the most unsavoury characters, all in the name of love.
"Yet he continues to do those things. How is that making him better? Most likely, you're fooling yourself into that thinking."
Sherlock received my coldest stare; I was so close to losing my temper. "Can you not get into your thick skull that I am in love with him?! He took a bullet for me, he has kept me safe. I can't stop everything; I wasn't there for all of it. I do what I can." If my strength of conviction wasn't enough then what would be?!
"Well, obviously, you're being fooled. He's using you. Can't you see that?! He's using you to get to me. That's the only possible reason for why he would date you."
I stared at him. My mind went blank for a second as those words were processed, and that was it, he pushed me too far. "Wow. Thank you. Glad to know that I'm nothing more than his whore, because obviously, the universe revolves around you and your insufferable ego!"
"I know Moriarty, and I know how he operates. Nothing he does is genuine. And it's not all about me, he's been doing this long before I met him."
With that comment I let out a derisive laugh.
"I've been with him for seven years, I know him. I don't know you."
"That doesn't matter. You obviously don't know him well enough, either that or he's been very good at hiding that side of himself from you. But I've seen it, John's seen it, Mycroft's seen it, and Angie's seen it. You'd think you'd actually listen to her."
Angie frowned as she watched the two of us, I could tell this was hurting her seeing us fight. I really felt awful for hurting her. "Seriously, don't drag me into this. I told you, I've already talked to her, it's her decision."
Sherlock looked at her, stunned by her honesty. She held her hands up. "But I'm not taking sides. This goes for both of you, I'm removing myself from this whole thing."
I turned back to look at Sherlock. "It does matter, Sherlock. It matters a lot. You're supposed to be my family, but you pretend I don't exist till your obsession arises and then you become the cold detective. I have listened to Angie, but she understands better than anyone."
Sherlock looked back at me, aggravation filling his face. "Then why won't you listen to her? She's seen some of the worst of Moriarty. If she's your best friend, why are you ignoring what she's saying?"
Using Angie to win an argument, that's just cruel.
"I am not ignoring her, we have an understanding." I shook my head. "You know, today has been one of the happiest days of my life, and you've ruined it." Tears were beginning to form in my eyes, I just wanted to be with Jim, I didn't need any of this stress and negativity.
"Honestly, Angie doesn't understand why you could possibly be in love with that man."
Angie frowned and looked away.
"And you're going to have worst days if you go through with this."
I sighed, trying to suppress the tears. "I love him for the person he is under the persona, just like Angie sees through you and your front. It's not rational or calculated, it's love and it's random and painful and wonderful, but you have absolutely no concept of this." I steeled my nerve and said the one thing I knew would hurt him. "James was right about you."
Angie closed her eyes. "Seriously, please don't drag me into this."
"Sorry, Angie." I had to apologise this wasn't her fight. Percy came in, looking a little nervous.
Sherlock frowned. "Wait, wait, wait, wait. What do you mean he was right about me?" I could hear the thirst for answers in his voice, the obsession ruling his outburst.
I laughed bitterly. "It's funny, I was so intrigued with the idea of who you were before I knew you. But you turned out to be so disappointing, so sure you have the right answer that any other evidence is circumstantial and can be ignored. Your version of events is true, and only your version."
That had struck a nerve, but the venomous look on his face. "I take into account all evidence. And this isn't about my deducing skills, this is about the fact that you're planning on committing your life to the most dangerous man in the world."
I shook my head in disbelief. "It is. You think because of fifteen minutes exposure, you know all about him. Well, what's his favourite colour? Where does he come from in Ireland? What's his pet peeve? What's his favourite food? You know nothing but the superficial!"
"I know enough. I know how dangerous he is, and somehow, probably because of love, you can't see that!"
If he wanted proof, evidence of how much I cared for Jim and how me he cared for me, then I'd show him. In that moment hatred won out. "Try and stop me, Sherlock, and you'll just fail. I will prove to you how wrong you are. Just leave us alone. It's none of your business." I turned on me heel and headed for the door. Sherlock watched me. "Fine, don't listen to me, he's only tried to kill me how many times?"
I slammed the door behind me, so angry. He just has to have to have the last word. Now outside in the cool air, it hit me, I was being rejected all over again, my family pushing me away because I didn't meet their opinion of normal. My shoulders slumped and I couldn't stop the sob that escaped my lips. Before I knew it I was engulfed in strong arms.
"Hey, shh, it's all right Percy, we're going to be alright. Nothing can hurt you, I've got you and I'm never letting go. Come on love, let's go back to London, we'll go home, yeah?" Jim lifted my chin so I was looking into his eyes and I could see the love shining back at me. "I promised you nothing would harm you again, and I stick by that." I leaned up and pressed my lips to him. He kept me close as we walked back to the car, he opened my door and helped me in, and gently closing the door Jim walked round to the drives side. As he turned the key in the ignition, he took my hand and kissed it, I smiled weakly, and we drove off into the darkness, silent tears still falling. I couldn't help but feel I'd lost any chance of having Sherlock as my brother and that I many never see Angie again.
We got back to our new flat at around 10 that night. I couldn't leave things the way they were with Angie, I had to know she was ok. I picked up my mobile and pressed call.
Angie answered it. "Hello?"
"Hey, Angie. Um, listen, I'm going back to London for a day or two. Or more, I don't know. I just can't be anywhere near Sherlock right now, or else I'm gonna end up doing something stupid."
Angie replied, sounded dismayed. "Alright. I understand."
"Yeah. I probably won't even be able to sleep because of the crying."
There was a pause form us both.
"And, um, if...when I come back, Jim's coming with me. Just...keep Sherlock away from us." It was a weird way of protecting Sherlock for, us both.
"Alright. It's probably time we get back home anyway. I'll talk to you later, okay?" Replied Angie, so they were coming back to London. Maybe they will tell John that Sherlock's alive I wondered.
"Yeah." Jim came into our room, and mouthed 'who's that?' 'Angie' I mouthed back. That seemed to set something off, he started muttering about unfeeling gits, he motioned for the phone, I looked at him warily. "Um, Angie, put Sherlock on."
"What, really? If you two are just going to start arguing again, it's just as bad as in person."
"No, just...put him on. Please."
"Alright." I passed the phone to Jim and walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower, I didn't want to hear threats, not tonight.
A few hours later, Angie's phone rang. Angie answered it.
"Hello?"
It was Percy. "Hey, Angie. Um, listen, I'm going back to London for a day or two. Or more, I don't know. I just can't be anywhere near Sherlock right now, or else I'm gonna end up doing something stupid."
Angie nodded. "Alright. I understand."
"Yeah. I probably won't even be able to sleep because of the crying."
Angie frowned.
"And, um, if...when I come back, Jim's coming with me. Just...keep Sherlock away from us."
Angie glanced at Sherlock. "Alright. It's probably time we get back home anyway. I'll talk to you later, okay?"
"Yeah." There was silence for a minute. "Um, Angie, put Sherlock on."
"What, really? If you two are just going to start arguing again, it's just as bad as in person."
"No, just...put him on. Please."
She sighed. "Alright." She looked at Sherlock and held the phone up. "She wants to talk to you."
Sherlock walked over and took the phone. "Hello?"
Moriarty's voice came over. "Hurt Percy like this again, and nothing in this world will protect you."
Sherlock frowned.
"You're lucky you have her watching out for you. She's very persuasive in getting what she wants. Don't make her, or me, regret our decisions. Percy is staying another day in London. You've been warned."
"Is that supposed to frighten me?"
Angie looked at him confused.
"I've seen your worst, and I've survived it. I am not changing my mind about this. But that goes for you, too. If you ever hurt Percy, you will have to answer to me. And remember, I'm no angel."
"Just remember my warning. Although, the real danger lies with your little sister."
Sherlock stared straight ahead of him as the phone went dead.
Angie looked at him, getting more and more worried.
He sighed. "That's that, then." He started towards his room. "And don't try to go after her, Angie." He shot her a look. "Just leave it."
She frowned as he closed the door, and crossed her arms. "Try and stop me." Whispered Angie as she made to leave.
Angie picked the lock to the door and went in. Percy had said that Moriarty had to do some business there before they went out to dinner.
Angie looked around in the dark, trying to figure out where Percy might be. She frowned as she thought that Sherlock was probably going to kill her for doing this.
She glanced in one room, which was empty, when the lights came on. She spun around as Moriarty walked towards her.
He smirked. "Trying to rescue your best friend?"
"I just wanted to talk to her."
"You really expect me to believe that?"
She just looked at him.
"I know what you think about me. You can't possibly be okay with our engagement. Not that it matters."
Moriarty smiled. "You know, I told Sherlock that I would burn the heart out of him. And that's exactly what I'd be doing if something happened to his dear, angelic girlfriend."
She gave him a look. "I just came to talk to my best friend."
He smiled.
She crossed her arms. "You know, if you do anything to hurt me or Sherlock or John or anyone, especially someone she cares about, Percy will never speak to you again."
He frowned. "I've hurt you before. She didn't have to know then, she doesn't have to know now."
"You can't keep her protected from what you do forever. She's clever, she's a Holmes. She's brilliant, she will find out. I've heard she's already stopped you doing a few things."
He frowned. "Of course she would put it like that. But I hadn't really thought about that yet. She's the sister of my mortal enemy." He took out a gun and aimed it at Angie and smiled. "First time I'm getting my hands dirty. I'm honored that it's you."
She gave a fake smile. "You're welcome."
"Any last requests? Begs? Pleads? You seem more like the type to threaten. 'My brother was a soldier, don't want to hurt his little sister. You really don't want to mess with my boyfriend.'" He laughed.
"Percy will never forgive you."
"Like I said, she doesn't have to know." He smiled. "Go ahead. Last requests, whatever. Take your time."
She just looked at him calmly. "Why does it always take you so long to kill someone? Having some trouble with guilt? Have to talk yourself into it?"
He frowned. "I don't have a problem with killing someone."
"But you never get your hands dirty. You always have someone else do the killing. I reckon it's because you can't."
He laughed a little. "That's not it."
She smirked. "You can't bring yourself to kill, so you hire someone else to do it while you turn your back. You couldn't even watch when Sherlock 'died'. You 'killed yourself', removing yourself from the situation. Like you always do." She laughed. "The great monster is squeamish."
He glared at her and cocked the gun. He smiled. "Sorry, but you're not as good as Sherlock."
"I know that. But I have an intuition that men don't have."
"Fine. Die thinking you're right. Probably better for you."
"You think I'm scared of you? All the times we've been face to face, when have I ever shown the slightest glimpse of fear?"
He smiled. "Every time, angel. The eyes are the windows to the soul. Look deep enough, you can see it."
"You were dating my best friend when you started dating me, and you told me you worked in I.T. at the hospital, and you acted like you were gay. I don't have any reason to believe anything you say."
"Believe this. I'm going to kill you now."
Suddenly, Percy appeared and stepped between Angie and the gun. "Put the gun down, Jim."
He closed his eyes and sighed. "Percy, get out of the way."
"All this time, you'd think you'd know me better. No. There is no way in hell that I am going to let you kill my best friend, who also happens to be my brother's girlfriend. You'll have to kill me first."
They stood there looking at each other.
Angie looked between them. "Percy…"
"Angie, there's a door behind you. There's a car park out there, and the main road's out there."
Moriarty sighed. "I didn't say she could go."
"Well, I did. Angie, go."
Angie stared at her. "I'm not leaving you."
"Angie, I'm staying. Please, just go."
Angie looked at her for a minute, glanced at Moriarty, and went out the door. She looked back at the building for a minute.
Someone came up behind her.
Angie sighed and turned to Sherlock.
He looked at her.
She crossed her arms. "I know what you're gonna say, so don't bother."
He shrugged. "I wasn't going to say anything." He glanced at the building behind her. "Where's Percy?"
Angie frowned. "She's staying."
He nodded.
She sighed.
He looked at her. "I'm sorry."
She shook her head. "It's her choice. And I honestly don't think he'll hurt her."
He nodded.
She sighed. "I feel like I'm never going to see her again."
Sherlock glanced around and held his hand out towards her.
She looked at his hand and looked at him. She smiled a little and took his hand, and they headed back, packed up, and went back to London.
Sherlock frowned. "Wait, wait, wait, wait. What do you mean he was right about me?"
Percy laughed bitterly. "It's funny, I was so intrigued with the idea of who you were before I knew you. But you turned out to be so disappointing, so sure you have the right answer that any other evidence is circumstantial and can be ignored. Your version of events is true, and only your version."
He glared at her. "I take into account all evidence. And this isn't about my deducing skills, this is about the fact that you're planning on committing your life to the most dangerous man in the world."
She shook her head. "It is. You think because of fifteen minutes exposure, you know all about him. Well, what's his favourite colour? Where does he come from in Ireland? What's his pet peeve? What's his favourite food? You know nothing but the superficial!"
"I know enough. I know how dangerous he is, and somehow, probably because of love, you can't see that!"
She glared at him. "Try and stop me, Sherlock, and you'll just fail. I will prove to you how wrong you are. Just leave us alone. It's none of your business." She headed for the door.
Sherlock watched her. "Fine, don't listen to me, he's only tried to kill me how many times?"
Percy slammed the door behind her.
He sighed. "I still don't understand why she isn't listening to you about this. You know exactly what I'm talking about. And you're her best friend."
Angie sighed. "Just leave it, Sherlock."
He stared at her. "Leave it? You're giving up?!"
"It's her decision, her life, not ours. I know that she shouldn't, but if this is what she wants to do, she'll just have to find out the hard way."
He sighed and they walked away.