"Alright Karolyn, your eyes should be back to normal in 5-6 hours."
Karolyn nods, using her hands to shield her eyes from the light in the room.
"Holmes to the rescue." Sherlock says, walking in the room, holding up a pair of sunglasses. He moved her hands off of her face, and slips them over her eyes.
"Thanks, Sherlock." she says, adjusting them. "What do we do about dinner if I can't see?"
"What do you mean?"
"We're meeting John and Mary, remember?" she says, and he smiles.
"I've got it taken care of."
"This is awesome, Sherlock!" Karolyn exclaims, adjusting her sunglasses. Sherlock got a reservation for 4 at a restaurant that is known for having dim lighting.
"You should still keep the glasses on, though." he says.
"I know. But it still hurts less this way." she says.
"That's why I did it." he tells her with a smile.
"What do you think John and Mary will say once I get my frames?" Karolyn asks.
"That they like them, probably." Sherlock replies. He spots John and Mary across the restaurant. "Come on." he says, taking her hand and leading her through the dim restaurant.
John and Mary grin when they see Sherlock and Karolyn coming towards them.
"How did it go?" Mary asks.
"Well, I'm wearing sunglasses because they dilated my eyes." Karolyn replies. "But other than the stinging right now, it went well."
"She picked out some frames." Sherlock adds.
"I took a picture, do you want see them?" she asks.
"Of course! Let's seem them!" John says. Karolyn takes out her phone and pulls up the picture.
"Oh, they're nice Karolyn!" Mary says with a grin.
"Thanks." she says. "You'll get the full idea of it once I get them."
"So, let's eat, shall we?" Sherlock says.
3 DAYS LATER
Karolyn adjusts her glasses as she texts her Aunt back. Her aunt travels the world, and she had these crazy fancy parties. She's like a traveling version of a female Jay Gatsby. (bold= Karolyn)
I don't know...
Oh, please. You must be tired of doing nothing but solving murders.
I'll never get tired of it and that's not the only thing I do.
You must come!
Her Aunt Helen didn't want to take her in while she was put in social services.
She sighs.
I'll be there. Can I bring someone with me?
Bring as many people as you'd like!
She sighs.
"Sherlock!" she calls.
"Yes?"
"Can you come in here for a moment, please?"
He walks into her room.
"What's going on?" he asks when he sees her expression.
"My Aunt invited me to some big party and I don't wanna go alone." She says.
"You have an Aunt?" Sherlock asks, sounding surprised.
"Yeah, but she didn't want me." she replies, knowing he's wondering why she didn't go with her. He doesn't continue.
"And she wants you to come to her party?" He asks, and she nods.
"Will you go with me?" she asks. Sherlock smiles.
"So, you need a dress."
"Yeah."
"I'm on my way."
Molly hangs up the phone, making Karolyn laugh.
After trying on about 7 dresses, Molly finally helped Karolyn find the perfect dress.
When Karolyn walks back into the flat, she sees Sherlock lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, looking perplexed.
"Sherlock?" she asks.
"Hmm?"
"You okay?"
He sighs.
"I'm pondering the repercussions of doing something." he replies.
"Well, can I help?" she asks, and he shakes his head. "Okay, well... Maybe you should think differently."
He looks at her.
"What?"
"Think differently." she repeats. "Sometimes, you can't think about the repercussions of the consequences. If that's all you do, you're never gonna take action. Sometimes you just have to go for it, ya know? Don't psyche yourself out."
He gives her a small smile.
"It's different." He says. "It's a life changing move, for both people involved. And the other person might not want to take part in it."
She gives him a look.
"Are you planning a murder or something?" she asks, and he chuckles. He sits up.
"Sit." he says. "I wanna talk to you."
"What's this all about?" she asks, taking a seat next to him.
"I was in the shop today, when I saw Mrs. Pinn." he says.
"The one we helped with the Homicidal In-Laws Case?" she asks, and he nods.
"She asked me where my daughter was, assuming you were my daughter. She said 'Karolyn must enjoy having a father like you; she must never be bored'."
"I'm sorry if that bothered you, Sherlock." she says, knowing he's still new at the whole family thing.
"It didn't bother me at all, Karolyn." he says. "But it got me thinking."
"About what?" she says. He shifts.
"I want to adopt you, Karolyn." he says.
Karolyn's jaw hits the ground.
"You...what?"
"I want to adopt you." he repeats. She just stares at him.
"You…"
She stands up from the couch, her right hand by her face. She's facing away from him, so he can't see her face. He stands.
"I understand if you don't want me to-"
"It's not that." she says, facing him, and he sees she's crying. "I'm just surprised." She smiles through her tears. "This is the best day of my life." She throws her arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you." she whispers.
2 WEEKS LATER
"Holmes."
"Holmes."
"Holmes!"
Karolyn snaps out of her trance and looks up from her drink.
"Huh?"
"Yeesh, Holmes." Spade says with a smile. "Something's taking up a lot of space in that big brain of yours." She smiles slightly.
"Sorry." she says. "Just thinking."
"Is everything okay?" he asks, and she shrugs. "Do you wanna talk about it?"
"Well, I have this thing with my Aunt I have to go to, and there's a lot of tension with her, so I'm just nervous." she replies.
"Is Sherlock going with you?" he asks and she nods. "Does he know about this tension?"
"Kinda." she replies. "I didn't really wanna go into details." He nods. She blinks a few times when the contact lens in her right eye gets a little dry.
"Maybe you should talk to him about it." he says, and she nods. He stands up, putting the money for the coffees down on the table. "C'mon." he says, holding a hand out to her. "There's something I wanna show you."
It's dark now, and it's nearly Christmas; in about 3 weeks. Spade leads Karolyn down a sidewalk, his hands over her eyes.
"Spade, would you please tell me where you're taking me?" she says.
"Hang on, we're nearly there." he tells her. "Okay, stop." He turns her a bit, and then uncovers her eyes. She sees a dark street, only lit by the dim shop lights.
"This is what you wanted to show me?" she asks.
"Just hold on." he says. Suddenly, the street springs to life with beautiful Christmas lights.
"Oh my god!" she exclaims. "Spade!" She turns to him, and he cheekily grins.
"See?"
She chuckles.
"You're such a dork." she says, but she hugs him.
"Sherlock-"
"She said she was going to the coffee shop, what's taking her so long?"
"She's probably just taking her time, Sherlock."
Mary and John are at the flat, and Sherlock is freaking out.
"Why hasn't she come back yet?"
"Ah, here she comes!" Mary says from the window. "Oh my god."
"What?" Sherlock says, stumbling over the stuff on the floor to get to the other window. He sees Karolyn standing outside with a boy.
Spade smiles at Karolyn when they stop outside the flat.
"You didn't have to walk me home, Spade." she tells him.
"I know." he says. "I wanted to."
"Well, thanks." she says. "I had a great time."
"Me too." he says.
"Do you know who that is?" John asks, looking out the window with Sherlock, who shakes his head.
"Do you think she likes him?" Sherlock asks Mary.
"Hmm…" she says.
Spade leans in and gently places his lips on Karolyn's. She kisses him back, butterflies going rampant in her stomach.
"Oh my god!" Mary squeals, and Sherlock pales.
Spade pulls away and smiles at her.
"See you soon." he says.
"See you."
He walks off down the street.
"Wait for it…" Mary says.
Once Spade is gone, Karolyn's grin creeps onto her face. She squeals and starts doing a little happy dance (more like happy flail), and then she just stands there, grinning like an idiot.
"She definitely likes him." Mary informs the Boys, who both look at her, looking horrified.