Later that night, after phoning Dawson's home to say goodnight to her father, Olivia lied in bed wide awake. She couldn't sleep as she had so much to think about, with mixed feelings about everything. They were so cramped inside her head she tried to arrange them into some sort of order, as if they were files needing to be put away in boxes.
Firstly, she thought about her father and what they had been through recently. She was glad Hiram was safe and sound at Dawson's, she trusted both the doctor and Pauline to look after him, but at the same time she wished he was there with her, so she could keep an eye on him. Hiram was feisty, like she was, and could take care of himself, but she couldn't help worrying for his welfare. Ever since his kidnapping nine years ago, she had developed this fear of losing him. She had become very protective of him, as if she was the parent and he was her child. She wanted him to be here for when she had actual children of her own, for she wanted them to have at least one grandparent, and to see Hiram's delighted smile on his face as he made toys to spoil them with, the one thing he wanted more than anything. The picture of that made her smile.
The smile was replaced with a dark scowl as she then thought about the Viper and Butch Mitchell, the two people who nearly took Hiram from her again. When Mitchell had attacked him the other night at the toyshop, Olivia had had flashbacks to the night Fidget did a similar thing. Mitchell had hurt her beloved father and the Viper had instigated the whole thing. Why? She wanted to track them both down and find out the answer, and to give them a piece of her mind. She wasn't afraid of the Viper, even if he was just as evil and menacing as Ratigan was.
And there was also the matter of Basil, who Olivia had missed for the last nine years. It was Basil that had been her main source of inspiration to study and prove womens' intelligence. Yes, their relationship didn't exactly have the best of starts with him being rude and dismissive toward her, but that attitude had changed and by the end they had developed a sort of special friendship. Ever since the case, she had hoped to see him again one day, and the moment she saw his face once more the other night, it was as if she had never left. And this time, Basil had not ignored her plea for help, even offering her and Hiram his home as a place of safety, and that had touched her.
Throughout the years, Olivia had often considered turning up at Baker Street for a visit, but she didn't want it to appear she was there on a sudden whim; she wanted to meet Basil, Dawson and Mrs Judson again for a legitimate reason, and that reason had finally come. And that was another thing: her feelings for the detective. When a little girl, she had simply looked up to Basil as a second father-figure and hero who had saved her and Hiram from that ugly monster Ratigan, but as she grew older those feelings gradually began it change, and when she had matured into her teens, she had realised the truth: she loved Basil of Baker Street.
Across the hall, Basil was also lying awake dwelling on things. That fiendish scoundrel the Viper! Basil had been waiting for twelve years for his return and this time, he was not going to evade Basil's grasp, the detective vowed. For six years the Viper was just as sick and twisted and heartless as Ratigan, committing such atrocities across London and frightening the rodents of Mousedom, and this time he was not going to get away with committing anything. Whatever his reason was for returning, Basil was determined to finally apprehend him and learn his true identity, even if it was the last thing he would do, especially since that villain had had the audacity to send Butch Mitchell to do harm to the Flavershams and cause Olivia distress.
Olivia. The detective felt his heart skip a beat as he thought about her. She was the only one who could calm him down after a meltdown. He thought back to their first meeting nine years ago. He had always deeply regretted at how rude he was to her back then, it was beyond deplorable, and was never going to forgive himself. But things were different now. Their relationship had become more amiable after the case, and now they had become closer, almost as if … as if …
No! It can't be true! The voice inside his head shouted. I'm not … I'm not …
But Basil couldn't deny it. He had been trying to avoid facing it the moment he saw her again but it was now futile. The fact was that now that Olivia was no longer a little girl, his innocent father-like feelings for her had changed; he loved her as a woman.
The detective had broken the very vow he had made after that fateful night years ago, after his father and aunt Violet had died and Beatrice had been left traumatised. His heart had turned cold and he had vowed to avoid all emotional involvement with anyone, yet Olivia had broken down that wall. Yes, Dawson had breached the wall as well when he became his assistant and good friend, but there was a big difference between the two.
After collecting all these thoughts, Basil got out of the bed, put on his robe and made his way to the guest bedroom door. ''Olivia?'' he asked, quietly, for he did not want to wake Mrs Judson. ''It's me.''
''Come in,'' he heard Olivia say, and he opened the door and stepped inside, carefully shutting it behind him.
Olivia was sitting up in bed, looking surprised but happy to see him. ''I guess you couldn't sleep either.''
''No,'' Basil admitted. ''Things on my mind.''
''Such as the Viper?''
''Well, yes, as well as other things …''
''Like what?''
Basil didn't answer. He took a deep breath and sat down on the bed, staring at the young woman.
Olivia stared back. Basil was looking at her as though he was seeing her for the first time. ''Is everything alright, William?''
''Olivia,'' Basil said seriously, ''we need to talk.''
''About what?''
Basil swallowed. How was he going to put this? ''Nine years ago, I treated you with the utmost arrogance and rudeness and I have ever since wished I could take it back.''
''You don't need to apologise for that, William, it's in the past.''
''I know … but …'' Basil said awkwardly. ''By the end of the case I didn't want you to go for you had become a very special, important friend and … um … Olivia … you are now grown-up and –''
Olivia put a finger on Basil's lips. She knew what he was trying to say and smiled longingly. ''I love you too, you mad, brilliant detective.''
Basil stared at her. ''You – I mean – how did – ?'' he spluttered.
Olivia giggled. ''I think it was obvious ever since we met again. At first, I was a little embarrassed, but now I'm not.''
There was a long, tense pause that seemed like forever, as though time had stopped. Time resumed when Basil took Oliva's face into his hands and kissed her, softly and gently. ''I love you, Olivia Flaversham,'' he whispered.
The detective removed his robe but before he could start on his shirt, Olivia stopped him and shook her head. Basil smiled as he understood: simply being with him was enough for now. Basil would never force her into something she wasn't ready for. He smiled and they resumed their heated, passionate kissing. They relinquished their kissing after minutes and lay in bed, Basil holding his beautiful Olivia in his arms.
''Are you alright?'' he asked, stroking her head.
''Aye. The one man I have always wanted feels the same. But, William, why me?'' she added curiously. ''Being a famous and handsome detective, surely you will have had thousands of women fawning over you?''
''Indeed, I have. Many of my female clients had shown that sort of interest in me, but it was only because of my looks and intelligence. You, Olivia, were always different. Not only did you have the bravery to actually seek out my help on your own, but your dared to stand up to Ratigan, who was twice your size. Also, you accept me for who I am. In other words, you understand me.''
''I'm glad to hear that. But you're such a good kisser.''
''Before you, there was only one other girl, a long time ago. I met her when I entered university, at the age of just fifteen due to my intelligence.''
''I'm not surprised,'' Olivia said, reaching up a hand and caressing the top of Basil's head. ''Even as an adolescent you were smart.''
''Her name was Camilla Anderson. She was very bright and I thought we could have had something serious, but when she realised the dangers of my family's profession, she backed out.''
Olivia smiled sympathetically. ''She was just too scared, and you were both so young.''
Basil agreed.
''You know something, William? When I realised I loved you when I was fourteen, I pictured how we would meet again when I was of age and I always heard you being all: 'I'm too old for you' and 'My profession will put you in danger'.''
''Those things were on my mind all the time,'' Basil admitted, ''but when I actually saw you again the other night all those nagging doubts vanished.''
''Evidently, since you made it a clear point that you were afraid of having a relationship with anyone in case of anything befalling them, hence why you don't seer Roger and Beatrice.''
''My desire for you overpowered the vow I made. I tried to fight it but, as I have learnt, the heart is not to be underestimated.'' Basil smiled sadly. ''I'm still hesitant about becoming close with anyone outside of my household, but perhaps that will change overtime. After all, Olivia, you opened up my heart nine years ago and continue to do so.''
Olivia grinned. ''I will open up your heart until you stop being scared. Besides, you know from my fight with Butch Mitchell, that I can handle myself against crooks.''
''Indeed, you can. Also, I would never let some vulgar creature lay a finger on you anyway,'' Basil added.
Basil held her tight as he said this. The strong, emotional bond they had was clear. There was no other woman Basil would rather have by his side than Olivia.
''William, what did you mean by: 'the dangers of my family's profession?' ''
Basil hesitated.
''It's okay,'' Olivia said quickly, ''you don't have to answer. You can tell me when you're ready.''
''No, Livy, you deserve to know. My father was also a detective, you see, and I wanted to help him. That's why I went to university in the first place. Ever since I was a child, I aspired to be like him and Sherlock Homes.''
''Ah, so being a detective runs in the family,'' Olivia said, in a voice of interest.
''Yes ...'' He hesitated. ''As well as ...'' Basil trailed off, quietly, so Olivia wouldn't hear. He could not tell the big secret concerning his family. Not just yet.
''Speaking of fathers,'' Basil said, changing the subject, ''how are we going to tell Hiram about us?''
''Don't worry, William, it will be fine. Daddy will understand.''
''I sure hope so. The last thing I want to do is create a rift between you.''
''That won't happen. Father has been wanting me to find someone he can trust to care for me, and given you saved us that should be enough to secure his approval. If a rift is created between anyone, it will be you and Mrs Judson. You know how protective she is of me.''
''Very true,'' Basil agreed. ''I'll just have to brace myself for her wrath.''
Basil and Olivia laughed, shared one last kiss before drifting off to sleep. Basil smiled as he held Olivia in his arms, feeling happier than he could remember being in a long time.
Bit of a short chapter, but the moment we've all been waiting for has finally happened – Basil and Olivia have finally confessed their true feelings! But how will everyone react? Will Hiram accept Basil as his son-in-law?
I'm not sure what the exact age of entering university was in Victorian times, but I figured, being super-intelligent, Basil would have been accepted at a young age.
Time to answer some reviews:
stephshelb: Thank you for your comment! Glad you like my story! There's plenty more to come.
duchessofbooks: Yep, Fidget is alive. And it seems that, like Ratigan, the Viper does not treat him very well. Poor Fidget.
See you soon!
