Chapter two

Meeting the CT guys

Raven woke up, blushing furiously. She got out, toweled off, redressed, and decided to take a nap. Allison was dead asleep on her bed. Raven cracked the balcony doors open for some fresh, salty air. She finally curled up on her bed. It had been a long 24 hour day.

When she woke up again, she noticed that Allison and Jen were already awake and chatting softly, being mindful of their exhausted friend. She rubbed her eyes and sat up. "Hey, did I miss anything?"

"Uh yeah, Sargent Donovan stopped by to check in and see if we got here okay, I'm assuming by Sherlock's orders. We told her that we were fine and that you were asleep. She said to come by anytime of the day, even at 5 in the morning. She also said that if any of us were somehow getting hassled for any reason, especially for being treated special and getting to hang out with the guys, to inform her immediately," Allison explained.

Raven giggled. "I guess Sally wants to be on Father's good side."

"Thank god for Donovan and Anderson, though," Jen started.

"What do you mean?" Ally asked, unsure. But Raven knew exactly what Jen meant.

"We're going to be making a lot of girl fans madly jealous, by getting to hang out with the guys, without getting hassled by their guards," Raye finished seriously. Both Ally and Jen agreed. "So what's the plan? I'm assuming lunch has already passed."

"Let's go to the pool," Jen suggested. "I hear there are four pools. According to the brochure, the Sirens' pool is used for the lads and their band. So they wouldn't get harassed so much. Also it's where the Pizzeria is. We could get a bite there."

"Sounds like a plan to me."

So with that said, the girls got into their bathing suits. By the time they pulled on their bathrobes on, there was a knock on their door. The girls gave each other confused looks. Raven just shrugged and went to the door. She opened the door to reveal Sharon Browne, the creator of the Celtic Thunder shows.

"Hello dear, I'm assuming you are Miss Raven Watson-Holmes, correct?"

"Yes I am. Wow, I actually wasn't expecting to see you guys so soon," Raven said with a smile. Jen and Allison appeared by her side. "Ah, this is Allison Everheart and Jen Hawes, my friends."

"Pleasure," Sharon said.

"So where are the guys?" Allison asked. Raven smiled. She doesn't waste time, does she? She thought to herself.

"They're at the Sirens' pool. The pool's been reserved for them and the band of course," Sharon confirmed.

"Do the guys actually have guards?" Jen asked. Raven rolled her eyes good naturedly. Of course they did, that's what the guy at the desk said.

"Yes, they do. Although they'd rather not, they're just barely putting up with it," Sharon said with a hint of amusement.

"I bet they don't have guards in their hometowns," Raven pointed out. Sharon just nodded. "Well I can relate to them. I'm also famous due to my parents being John Watson and Sherlock Holmes. I have security cameras at my school (linked to my Uncle Mycroft's security system) and a couple of policemen are from Scotland Yard are here on my Father's orders," Raye explained. "Sargent Sally Donovan and Mike Anderson," she answered the unspoken question.

"Ah yes, well I might be able to meet them later. Now, I do believe that you girls are headed to the pool?"

"Yep!" the girls said.

"Well David's probably wondering where I ran off too, so I'll take you girls and introduce you to the boys."

"Oh there's no need too. We know who they are," Jen said, as they closed their door and started to follow Sharon two decks up to the Lido Deck.

"Yeah, but they don't know us. That's what Ms. Browne was saying," Raven replied.

Jen blushed. "Oh right, I knew that."

"You know you can call me Sharon, I don't mind. We're all going to be on first-name bases soon enough."

"Then you can call me Raye, if you want too," Raven agreed.

Comet

It took them a few minutes to reach the Sirens' pool, but it was enough for Raven to think. She started to feel a little nervous. What if the guys didn't want her to hang out with them? They would easily be drawn to Allison and Jen; but Raye knew she wasn't the easiest person to get along at first. She had her Father's aura surrounding her, making her seem dark and mysterious sometimes and she definitely was a bit sociopathic, especially when someone close to her gets hurt.

"You alright, Raye?" Ally asked her, somehow knowing her friend's sudden uneasiness.

"I'm fine, just thinking." Ally rolled her eyes.

"You think too much. I'm sure the boys will love you just as well. It's not like you'll be wanting to date them…in fact you'd rather see Emmet and Colm date each other," Allison said, trying to cheer her friend up, and said the last part in a low voice so that Sharon wouldn't hear her.

"That's just it. It's hard to explain it, but somehow it'll make me feel even more guilty for all that I put them through in my stories, now that I'm going to meet them," Raye sighed.

"Just don't be so obvious about it, and it's not like they can read minds," Allison pointed out. Raye had to smirk at that.

"Yeah, you're right. This isn't science fiction. And I don't put my stories about them on the web either. Let's just forget about this convo and have some fun with the lads. I bet we'll get picture opportunities later." Allison snapped her fingers.

"Crap, I knew I forgot my camera, and I'm going to not only meet Keith, but to get to hang out with him too. Damn," Ally cursed. Raye just giggled.

As Raye and Allison were talking, they made it to the pool in no time. "Here we are, girls," Sharon announced.

An older gentleman with white hair and glasses that wore a simple white t-shirt and a pair of black shorts walked up to Sharon. Raven could only assume it was David Munro, the recent director who took over Phil Coulter.

"Where did you run off too, Shar'?" Munro asked.

"Yes, the man at the main lobby check-in desk asked me to retrieve these young ladies and take them under my wing, since their parents are not with them and also for extra protection," Sharon explained. Munro was obviously confused.

"Extra protection? Are these girls famous?" Raven stepped up.

"I am, Mr. Munro. My name is Raven Watson-Holmes, and before you ask, my fathers are John Watson and Sherlock Holmes. And my two friends are Allison Everheart and Jen Hawes." Munro nodded understandingly.

"Ah yes, the famous London Detective and his partner, I've heard of them. Should I be telling the lads to behave themselves?" Raye smirked.

"No, you don't have too."

Emmet Cahill was in the pool playing with Colm, Ryan, and Keith when he spotted three young girls next to Sharon. He frowned. They weren't supposed to be bothered by fans, but as he continued to watch Sharon talking to David, he felt relaxed. Sharon and David obviously knew these girls, and as David brought them over to the pool, he saw Sharon talking to one of the guards. The guard glanced at the girls and nodded to Sharon's explanation. Emmet was still a little confused. Were these girls famous or something?

"Gentlemen, may I have your attention?" Munro asked, as the boys stopped horsing around and turned their attention to their director. George and Neil sat up in their chairs. "These girls are going to spend the remainder of the cruise with us. They are Allison Everheart, Jen Hawes, and their leader is Raven Watson-Holmes," Munro explained.

Colm's eyes widened. "Watson-Holmes, as in John Watson and Sherlock Holmes?" he guessed.

"Yep," Jen answered. She thought that Raye was probably tired of having to repeat herself. "Oh and be careful, she does tend to act like Sherlock…as in deducing and talking fast," Jen explained, seeing the lads' confused faces.

"Sometimes, but not all the time. You guys can call me Raye," Raven corrected Jen.

"Well it's nice to meet you girls," said Keith. "We could use some more company."

"Yeah, we tend to get tired of each other," Ryan smirked. Raven knew that he had set that up somehow…

"Oh that's not true. I think we have the best company," Emmet pointed out. …And that Emmet had taken the bait. Raven smirked.

"Only because you don't get to hang out with Keegan at home," Ryan teased. Raven smiled as she caught Emmet's blush.

"Oh shut up, Ry," Emmet muttered. "And you can't tell me you spend your days off with Neil," Emmet said, smiling in triumph when he saw Ryan flush deep red. Colm and Keith just laughed at their friend's obvious embarrassment.

After their little exchange, and Jen and Allison told Ryan and Keith that they were their favorite lads; the lads immediately accepted the three girls into their group. Raye was lucky she brought her beach ball. Neil decided to join Raye's team with Emmet and Colm, to make the playing field more even.

It was around four pm, when Sharon announced that the lads should relax and get themselves ready for dinner. She explained to the girls that they had to eat a little early so they could get ready for their first evening concert.

Raye wasn't surprised that they had a couple of tables reserved for them on the second floor of the Atlantic Restaurant, usually one with the lads and their director and creator, and the other smaller one for the band. But with the girls and of course Raye had texted Donovan and Anderson and asked her if they wanted to join to them as well. It also meant that the policemen could introduce themselves to Sharon and David.