Hades promise to Persephone

After the upset of the previous night, Jim woke even earlier than normal. He sat up in bed and looked down at the sleeping woman beside him, she looked exhausted but less troubled now sleep had taken her. Seeing her so distraught had made his heart break, she didn't deserve pain or suffering, only joy and love. He thought back to threat he'd issued to Sherlock, knowing that he'd brush it off, but he did worry what Percy would do if the Holmes brothers tried to interfere with her life. There was a side, a dark side to Percy he'd only seen once. It was when he realised she was the purgatory between the angels and the devils. Jim leaned forward ad kissed Percy's hair before getting up getting ready for the day ahead. As he pulled in his shirt he picked up his phone, 12 new e-mails, each more desperate than the last. Finally one sounded promising. As he padded quietly into the kitchen, still only half dressed, he put the kettle on. Making black coffee for himself he also made Percy a cup of tea, and left her to sleep before he left he wrote her a note and left it on his pillow. He decided to treat Percy, bring a smile back to her face. He scrolled through his contacts reaching the Savoy and booked a table.

I booked a table at the Savoy for 8; I'll meet you there. Have fun today. JM x

Jim finished getting dressed; choosing his favourite Westwood suit, one chosen by Percy. He was dressed to kill, no pun intended, but the meeting he was now attending required the theatrics of a maniac. He sent Seb a text; he needed some muscle and a decent gun hand. As he tied his tie he gave a final look at Percy. He walked over to the bed and placed a final kiss on the top of her head. Glancing at the clock on the bedside table he noticed it was time to leave. Putting his phone in his pocket and picking up his keys, he went downstairs, locked the front door and got into his car. As he drove he let his masks fall into place, one by one, readying himself for the day to come.

I woke up alone. A feeling I really wasn't pleased with. I rolled over and heard the paper rustle, and picked it up. The note was from Jim. The contents of the note made me smile, he knew the Savoy was my favourite restaurant. Have fun, fun doing what? Just as that thought popped into my head, the doorbell rang. I pushed off the duvet and got up, finding my slippers and dressing gown, I wondered downstairs. I turned the lock and opened the door, meeting the gaze of a deliveryman.

"Persephone Holmes?" Inquired the man.

"Yes, can I help you?"

"A delivery for you, sign here please." I took the pen and clipboard and signed my name.

"Where would you like it ma'am?"

"Like what?" I asked confused, thinking I was just accepting a parcel.

"The piano." I'm sure I heard the man say piano, but I still blurted out the word.

"Piano?!" Shock filling my voice.

"Yes ma'am. The baby grand that was ordered by Mr. Moriarty."

"Yes, I'm his fiancé. Come in, up the stairs, down the hall and the through the double doors on your left."

"Congratulations ma'am. Thank you, we'll get it sorted for you."

"Right, yes, just shout if you need me." My mind was whirling, a piano, my own piano. A wide grin filled my face. I looked down at my pajamas and realised I'd better get dressed if there were to work men wondering round the house.

After 3 hours of maneuvering and moving, the piano had been installed, the piano tuner had been and I could now play to my heart's content. It was magical. I started with Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and moved into Claire de Lune by Debussy. I was just melting into Mozart when my phone went off. I looked at the text I'd just received.

"Miss Percy, I thought you'd like to know I dropped Sir off at the old offices. G."

Oh George, you are marvelous. I needed to go and keep an eye of James. Who knows what mess he's got himself into this time. I went upstairs and put on the outfit I would be wearing to dinner, not knowing who I'd be dealing with, I had to look the part of Mrs. Moriarty, not just act it.

As I finished getting dressed, I pulled out a pair of killer black heels and phoned Sebastian.

"Seb, I need you to drop me off at the old offices, I have some cleaning to do."

"Okay, I'll be there in five."

"Thank you."

Five minutes later the doorbell rang and Seb greeted me. He could be awfully useful at times. I got into the car and he drove me to where Jim was.

"You can go Seb, I'll be here for a while. Thank you for your help." I smiled as he drove away. I didn't need more bodies to deal with. I walked into the building and saw George sitting behind the front desk on the computer.

"Hello George. What's happening?"

"Ah, Miss Percy, I'm not sure, but I saw a young woman run in here about fifteen minutes ago, looking ready to kill. A tall dark haired man followed her not long after."

"Thank you George, you have been invaluable as ever." I walked over to the lift and I had feeling the 6th floor was still empty, undecorated. If he was in the kind of mood I assumed, that's where I'd have to be, and soon.

The lift door opened and I slipped my heels of as to not make any noise, I walked up to the door and peered through the glass, I could see Jim's back and a person, no a woman kneeling on the floor in front of him. If this had anything to do with Sherlock and Angie, then I needed to stop this, Jim was so angry with Sherlock especially, I wouldn't out it past him to kill him. I waited as long as I possibly could before entering the room, but when I saw Jim reach into his holster, I knew I had to act. As quietly as possible I opened the door and stood in the shadows so I was able to hear the conversation.

"Trying to rescue your best friend?" A note of derision in Jim's voice.

"I just wanted to talk to her." I knew that voice, my heart sank, it was Angie.

"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." Jim was angry on my behalf. I needed to wait I couldn't rush in. "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."

Angie gave him a look. "I just came to talk to my best friend."

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." Oh God, it was true, he'd admitted so much, but to hear it verified, was hard to swallow.

"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." I started to edge forward, I was going to have to do something bold to make him stop.

"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."

Angie 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." His was my cue, the moment to act, I let myself come into Angie's eye-line, my heels still in hand. I stepped between Angie and the gun and said, in a calm but firm voice.

"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." We stood there looking at each other, each testing the other's nerve.

Angie looked between them. "Percy…"

"Angie, there's a door behind you. There's a car parked out there, and the main road's out there."

Jim sighed. "I didn't say she could go."

"Well, I did. Angie, go." I ordered.

Angie stared at me. "I'm not leaving you."

"Angie, I'm staying. Please, just go." I made my decision, I had had to choose, Jim or my friends, and it would always be Jim. Angie looked at me for a minute, glanced at Jim nervously, and went out the door.

"What was that Jim? Really?"

"They hurt you Percy, I've never seen you cry so much. They don't want you to be happy. No-one gets away with hurting you."

"You honestly think that I would be happy if you killed my best friend, my family?"

"No, I…no you wouldn't." He sounded dejected; I could see he was only trying to help, in his own special way.

"I love you Jim, so much. I've made my choice; you." I dropped my shoes on the floor and stepped closer to Jim; I took the gun, and put I back in the holster under his jacket. I took his right hand in mine and rested my left on his cheek. "I want to spend my life with you until the day I die. Think of this as a wedding present, promise me that you'll stop trying to kill Angie and Sherlock and John they are precious to me. They are part of my life, just as you are. You will have me forever and a day, but let me keep my friends." Before he could answer I pressed my lips to his in a sweet kiss.

"I promise. You only have to ask and the world would be yours. I love you Percy."

"I know you do, I love you too. Now I was promised dinner, are we going on a date or not?" I wanted to lighten the mood, but I was safe in the knowledge that my friends were alive and well. Jim grinned and nodded, I picked up my shoes, but before I could put them on, Jim picked me bridal style and carried me down the car.