Disadvantageous

Chapter 32

"How'd it go?" Sherlock asked as Lydia came back to the flat after her audition.

She tossed her stuff onto the couch and shrugged, "well my current show is closing and by the looks of it, I'm going to be unemployed for a bit."

"It didn't go well, then?"

"It wasn't terrible, but the role itself is a long shot. Haven't been able to find much lately that fits my voice and would be a reasonable role for me to take on," Lydia explained, going over to the kitchen to make a cup of tea.

"I, for one, think they would be a fool not to cast you as Elphaba. You may never had had such a demanding role before, but you have proven yourself capable," Sherlock spoke, resting his chin on her shoulder while he snaked his arm around her waist.

As Sherlock placed a kiss on her cheek, Lydia let out a contented hum. She knew that Sherlock's words were only a result of the love that he felt for her, but she had grown so used to him speaking the cold truth that it always warmed her heart to hear such praise. Because she knew he actually believed what he was saying.

"Is Willow down for her nap?" Lydia finally asked, knowing that she couldn't just stand in Sherlock's arms all afternoon.

She could feel him nod against her and he spoke in her ear, "finally got her to sleep about two minutes before you arrived home. She was being stubborn today."

"She's stubborn every day, you're her father after all."

"Hmm, yes I may need to apologise to my parents for everything I must've put them through. I am starting to understand just how difficult I was as a child."

"You apologising? I never thought I'd see the day," Lydia teased, turning around in Sherlock's arms so that she was facing him.

"Well I may actually need to apologise to you as well."

A sudden wave of anxiety washed over Lydia as she tensed slightly, "why, what've you done?"

"I've not done anything, yet. But a client reached out today, wants me to travel out to Ireland to find their missing bride. Found her wedding dress floating in a river the morning after their marriage. I'm tempted not to take on the case as it will mean that I'll have to be away from you for a bit, besides it's certainly not the most interesting case that's landed at my feet."

"Sherlock, you know how I feel about you judging cases based on how much it piques your interest. If you feel compelled to help this person, then you should go. Besides, I doubt it will take you all that long to solve the case and then you'll be right back home with me and Willow before we even have a chance to miss you," Lydia assured him, running her fingers through his curls.

"I'd imagine the woman just got cold feet, that's what people tend to do around the day of the wedding, isn't it? Though I don't really understand why."

"Marriage is a big step for a lot of couples and often times it's a stressful road that finally leads to their wedding day. Though it is unusual for a member of the wedding party disappear after the marriage, after they have had to deal with controlling in-laws or caterers cancelling on them last minute."

Sherlock's nose scrunched in disgust, "is that really what people have to deal with when they get married?"

"Not all the time," Lydia laughed, finding it humorous how seriously Sherlock was talking her words. "Besides, you should know. I heard that you basically planned John's wedding. But I have to confess that Mary then brought all of your decisions to me for a second opinion."

"And was there anything you vetoed?"

"No there wasn't, you'd actually make a fair wedding planner, Sherlock," Lydia praised, causing Sherlock's heart to flutter erratically.