Disadvantageous

Chapter 41

"Are you ready?" Lydia asked Sherlock, picking up her mobile and hovering over John's contact.

"I really don't see the point in this, I'm sure they will all find out on their own time," Sherlock groaned, scrolling through his own phone, no doubt looking for a case that would get him out of the rounds of announcements.

Lydia frowned, "you know how it was like when people found out we were dating, it's best to get it over with now so we don't have people randomly finding out when you're spotted going to a cake testing or someone noticing my ring at the stage door. Besides, it's John and Mary, they'll be cross if we don't tell them immediately."

"Fine, let's just get it over with."

The truth was Sherlock was a bit afraid of how John would react. After all, he hadn't told his best friend of his plans, something that he realised John most likely would have expected. In fact he had purposefully lied to John a while back when he had asked if he had any plans to marry Lydia. Certainly he couldn't just claim that he had a change of heart and asked her on a whim, Lydia would be the first to correct him on that.

But Sherlock wouldn't have more time to think of a better lie he could tell John as the loud ringing stopped and John's voice cut through, "Lydia, how are you?"

"Oh, I'm wonderful, John. And you?"

"I'm alright, I suppose. This call isn't telling me that I have to come quickly because Sherlock's got a case, is it?"

"No, though I think he is getting quite desperate for one," she teased, taking Sherlock's mobile from his grasp. "I was actually wondering if Mary was there? There was something we wanted to tell you both about."

"Yeah, she's just with Rosie, one minute- hang on, you're not pregnant again are you?"

"Pregnant? Oh no it's nothing like that. Just get Mary and we'll tell you," Lydia quickly replied, her cheeks flushing a bit.

Sherlock frowned, not understanding why having another kid would be a source of embarrassment for her. Perhaps it had been when she found out about Willow, after all they had been unmarried and she had been left alone. She may not have even intended on having kids at all. But surely that didn't matter now, Sherlock had returned to help parent, though it had been a bit tumultuous, and she was quite the extraordinary mother.

"Lydia, what's going on? John said there was something you needed to tell us?" Mary's voice came through the mobile. She sounded tired, her voice strained a bit. So last night had been a sleepless one for Rosie, then.

While Sherlock was trying to distract himself with small deductions, Lydia replied, "yeah, are we on speaker?"

After getting confirmation, Lydia turned to Sherlock, placing her hand on his. "Sherlock, did you want to tell them?"

His eyes widened as they went to meet hers, not expecting that she would drop this on him. She was, after all, the better person when it came to communication and emotions. His expertise lay in deductions that always seemed to insult and blunt statements in regards to murder.

But looking into her tender gaze, he felt himself relax a bit and he wrapped his fingers around hers. "I've, er, I've asked Lydia to marry me."

"Oh, I knew it! John, you owe me five quid," Mary immediately exclaimed, her enthusiasm a bit overwhelming.

John was less certain, "seriously? I thought- Sherlock, didn't you say you had no interest in marriage like a month ago? I'm fairly certain your exact words were 'marriage is nothing but a waste of money wherein you have to pretend that you actually want to see the people in your life and share it with them when in reality you want them all gone.'"