"Twice in one week Mycroft, has someone passed?" Sherlock asked from the kitchen were he was preparing Mia's breakfast.
"Brother mine I would greatly appreciate that you turn off the sarcasm, it is the lowest form of humour." He said walking into the kitchen observing the two cups of tea from the night before. "Had company over last night?"
"I would greatly appreciate you leaving me to do as I please, but seeing as you cant do that you have to put up with it." Plating up some pancakes. "Do try to not steal anymore lollies from the bowl, they are for Mia and you have gained another 2 pounds since the last I saw you."
"1 and half"
"No, 2 you snuck a few whilst I was talking."
"Anyway, the reason as to why I'm here is to inquire weather or not you have gotten a new flatmate yet, you cannot afford this flat on your own." Mycroft said, Pinching the bridge of his nose feeling the impending headache.
"Yes I have, moving in 2 weeks time. Has to wait for the lease to finish." Walking through the corridor to get Mia from bed. "Well good morning! your actually up." Sherlock said picking her up form her crib.
"Mornin! dat Uncle My."
Sherlock put the child down as she raced into the kitchen. hyper this morning
"Mornin Uncle My!" came Mia's shout from the kitchen.
"Good morning poppet." Mycroft greeted giving the child a kiss on the forehead and helping her into her chair. "How have you been lately?"
"Me and Daddy, made friends with Ria." She said as Sherlock put her breakfast in front of her.
Mycroft gave Sherlock a confused glance "Ria?"
"Her names Maria."
"You don't have any friends." Mycroft drawled.
"She's not my friend, she is Mia's friend." Sherlock stated grabbing his Newspaper, looking to see if there were any new cases as of late.
"Ria and Daddy go date at night." She said whilst Sherlock gave her a lighthearted glare.
"Caring is not an advantage brother mine." Looking seriously at the younger Holmes.
"How would you know, from what I recall you have never tried… please leave Mycroft I don't want your terrible sugar habits to rub of on my daughter." Sherlock said ending the conversation.
"Just warning you Sherlock." Tucking the chair back into the table.
"Do try to not start a war, you know what it does to the traffic." Hearing the door slam shut and the retreating footsteps, Sherlock turned to Mia. "How do you feel about Maria darling?" Cleaning some of the mess she made.
"She petty and nice, I like her, can we go see her?"
Sherlock looked at his watch. "Sorry my darling, I'm afraid she would of left for work already."
"It ok, Im gonna be like Ria when I get old." Sherlock chuckled. She must really like her.
"I like her too." He told his daughter who smiled in response. "Maria's not old, she is quite young."
"How old?"
"22, im 27. How much of a difference is that?"
"5" Amelia responded straight away. Sherlock ruffled her hair mumbling 'clever girl' and went back to his newspaper.
Meanwhile with Maria
"Ok class, that concludes this lesson, but for homework I want you to answer 'How effective was trench warfare was for World War I and how it effected the Stalemate'… everyone got that down?" once gaining nods from all the students. "Good your free to go." waiting for all the kids to exit the room and answering the students questions who were to shy to speak up in class.
Once this was all done Maria stepped out of the classroom making sure to lock the door behind her and made her way to her office to grade some papers. Once there she set down her work and sat back on a large black office chair, that made her feel even smaller than what she was.
After about thirty minutes there came a knock. "Come in." she said and was greeted by two men in suits, suspicious Maria sneakily pressed the security button that was under her desk. "May I help you?"
"Our boss has instructed us to come get you." One of the men said.
"Im afraid I can't. If you cant tell at the moment I am working." She said sarcastically leaning back in her chair.
"Im afraid you have no choice in the matter." Maria listened to the footsteps approaching.
Giving the men a smile "Im afraid I actually do have a choice in matter." she said as 4 security guards had opened the office door.
"There was an Issue Miss Palermo?" Said one of them.
"Yes please escort these men out of the premisses… and you." She said turning to the two men. "Tell your boss if he would like to see me to do so himself…thats all." She said going back to work while security grabbed hold of the struggling men were taken out of her office.
20 Minutes later
"Get out and put that umbrella back into your car." Maria said. Said man had barely even stepped in the room, and was utterly confused.
"Pardon me?"
"Get out and put that umbrella back into your car." Maria repeated looking at the man straight in his eyes.
"Its just an umbrella."
"No it's not." Came Maria's sing song voice spoke. "I know a gun when I see it no matter how badly disguised." Looking at the man, leaning her head in one hand looking quite bored. He looked quite offended "Now, get out and put that umbrella back into your car." She said happily, watching the man retreat.
A few moments later the man returned without his umbrella.
"Maria Palermo, How do you do?" She greeted the man shaking his hand.
"Mycroft Holmes." He replied looking at the woman, she was quite beautiful, young, confident and obviously very clever.
"Yes, Sherlocks elder brother."
"He has told you about me?" He said mildly surprised.
"No, you told me…Just then." She stated offering the man a smile.
"How did you know I was older then?"
Maria gave the man a look that could be expressed as do you really want me to say it. Mycroft winced.
"And what about the umbrella? I had one of the best makers in the country create it for me."
"Yes, you did…However, it's not raining and it's summer. There is no need for an umbrella, might I suggest you get walking stick next time, it would make the trigger less noticeable and you wouldn't get caught the way you did just now." She explained.
"How did you know I wouldn't of shot you?"
"Then I would of been killed by those two men who walked into my office earlier."
"You're clever."
"I am." she replied. "Now, you still haven't answered my question." She smiled.
"I came here to ask what your business is with my brother?"
"You do have a flare for the dramatic don't you?" she said making Mycroft wince again with embarrassment "I'm afraid you have to clarify what you mean by business, last time I checked I was not a parcel to be traded."
"Why are you meeting with my brother?" He said pinching the bridge of his nose. Now I know why he is so interested in her. She's the female version of him, except doesn't get as bored as easily.
"Because he interests me, I thought you would of gathered that as you probably know about our date tonight." Bored of the conversation she once again picked up her pen, grading the paper in front of her.
"I have a deal for you. Give me regular updates about his welfare and I will pay you handsomely."
"Do you regularly try to buy women? I've been told a story were you tried to do so in 10th grade" she inquired
"Oh God." He exclaimed. "How"-
"Mycroft, if you don't think I have to ability to embarrass you… I would like you to remind you I am a high school teacher, and teachers like to talk. Did you know Mrs Fatama works here, she told me she use to teach the Holmes brothers." She said faking innocence. "Now if you will excuse me I have to go to my next class." She said packing away her things and leaving the office, turning to him once more. "I also called security to escort you out, we are not meant to have people come in this section of the building. Good Day." she said leaving Mycroft with the security guards.
Back at 221C
Putting on a tight fitting black dress that showed off her curves along with some black heels. Maria only had her hair and makeup to do left. Walking into the bathroom she lightly applied some brown eyeshadow to create a smokey eye along with some black winged eyeliner and a few coats of mascara to make her eyes pop. She applied some red lipstick and some blush for colour and was done.
Going onto her hair she quickly styled the brown locks, creating some romantic curls and volume. Once finished she exited the bathroom in order to attempt to find her purse. Just as she found it a knock came to her door. She opened the door to be greeted by Sherlock in one of his many suits.
"You… You look beautiful." causing the woman to blush.
"Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself."
"May I" Sherlock said offering his arm. Maria grabs hold of it as Sherlock leads the way out of the building and into the street.
"So where are you taking me?" She inquired
"Theres an Italian restaurant a few blocks from here, I remembered how you said you missed your mothers cooking, best Italian in London."
"I do and thank you, that would lovely." She said looking at Sherlock. Sherlock swore he felt butterflies.
Maria and Sherlock continued to chat until they reached the restaurant.
"Hello, Mr. Holmes." said a young waiter.
"Thank you, Billy" Sherlock said leading Maria to a large picture window, looking out on the busy London St as Billy whisks away the reserved sign.
"Sherlock!" said a rather greasy little man "Anything on the menu, whatever you want, free! All on the house, you and your date."
"Thank you but that would not be needed." Said Sherlock.
Throwing his arm around Sherlocks shoulders "This man! Got me off a murder charge!"
"Really!" Maria said genuinely interested.
"This is Angelo." Introducing the two "Three years ago I successfully proved to Lestrade that at the time of a particularly vicious triple-murder, Angelo was in a completely different part of town, house-breaking." He explained to which Maria eyes widened slightly.
"He cleared my name."
"I cleared it a bit."
"Ill get you a candle for the table, more romantic." Returning a few moments later with a lit candle.
Looking down at the menu Maria quickly scanned what she wanted, picking the Pene in Pink Sauce.
"So… You're a private investigator." she said smiling at Sherlock.
"I prefer the term consulting detective." He spoke "However,"Sherlock said holding her hand "We are out to have a nice dinner, not to talk about work."
"What would you like to know?" She asked.
"Why did you move to London, why not stay in Australia?" something he was unable to get his head around.
"I wanted an adventure." She said simply.
"So you moved half way across the world, leaving behind your family and friends for an adventure?" he chuckled.
"Yep" she whispered taking a sip of her wine "After a while everything started to look the same, so I packed up my things and moved… mum went ballistic and here I am, plus its always been my dream to live in London."
"I know exactly how you feel." Squeezing her hand as the waiter came and took orders. "Mycroft called me today." He stated. Both Maria and Sherlock trying to hold there smiles before erupting in laughter.
"what did he say?" she asked
"He was quite impressed by you actually, said something about you knowing his umbrella was a gun."
"Really, thought he would hate me."
"You are quite hard to dislike Maria." He said and chuckled. The food arrived and they ate, continuing to chat about work, life and Mia.
Once they were done Sherlock lead them back to the their flats.
"Mia has been dying to see you by the way."
"Really?"
"Yes, asked if we could see you this morning but I assumed you would be at work… keeps complaining that I cant do her hair the way you do." At this she laughed.
"She's a very sweet girl." Maria responded. Sherlock had taken her to her flat still arm in arm.
"If you don't mind, I would very much do this again, I quite enjoyed myself tonight." Sherlock said.
"I would love to." Maria said looking up at him, smile in place
Sherlock leaned down and his lips met with hers, both closing there eyes, lost in the moment. His arms went around her small waist while hers wrapped around his neck. Both thinking this was perfect.