Never Gone: A Study in Suitors Part Two ⭐

3 - Night Terrors & Ghosts

It was a few days after visiting Emilia and I was down having tea with my mother.

"So I heard Sherlock still shooting holes in the wall..." Beatrice said and I groaned.

"Yes, I know. I have tried getting him to stop." I said and she sighed.

"He out following another lead today?" Beatrice asked as I sipped my tea.

"Yes, he may not be home tonight. Can I stay here?" I asked and she nodded.

"Of course you can, don't want to stay alone?" Beatrice asked and I shook my head.

"Not particularly." I answered.

"You still having night terrors?"

"Not as many now...they have kind of diminished. I may have one tonight without Sherlock here." I said and Beatrice sighed.

"Do you think you should go see someone?" Beatrice asked and I shook my head.

"No, I don't want to see anyone. I'm getting better. It's been a year, I mean I think I have made great progress in the year." I said and she sighed.

"Well I wanted to talk to you anyway. I was going through the attic crawl space the other day and I found all of your old baby things. I was wondering if you were wanting to keep them for you and Sherlock?" Beatrice asked and I shook my head.

"No, I think I'm okay..." I said.

"What do you mean you think you're okay?!" Beatrice asked. "Aren't you and Sherlock having children?!"

"Mom, stop...please." I said.

"Portia!" She demanded.

"What?! Sherlock and I decided that until the threat of Irene is gone children are not in the cards. It's what we want." I said and she just looked at me as I refused to make eye contact with her.

"No, it's what Sherlock wants."

"It's what we both want!" I protested hoping I sounded sure of myself.

"Whatever you say Portia." Beatrice said clearly not believing anything I was saying.

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I was fast asleep in the spare room, my old room at my mothers when there was an excessive banging on the door the middle of the night. I panicked as I got out of bed. Before I went to my mom's place I grabbed and hid Sherlocks gun in my things I brought down with me. I grabbed the gun from where I left and walked out of my room. My mom was coming from her room and she looked panicked.

"Go back to your room and stay there until I tell you it's safe." I demanded and she seemed worried about me but walked into her room shutting the door. Once I knew she was secure I walked to the door, pointed the gun and swung open the door. I found a disheveled Sherlock looking back at me.

"What the fuck Portia?!"

"What the fuck Sherlock?!" I asked putting the gun door and taking a deep, calm breath.

"Sherlock?! That was Sherlock banging on my door like that in the middle of the night?!" Beatrice said upset coming from her room.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten either of you but I was worried. I got home, I wanted to spend the night with my wife. When I get home, she is gone as well as some of her clothing...I panicked." Sherlock said.

"Scared I left you?" I asked and he sighed hanging his head but nodding.

"I was, I know you arent happy with me right now -..."

"Because you wont let her have a baby." Beatrice stated and I whipped my head back to look at my mother.

"That is not what I said! Stop." I said and Beatrice just crossed her arms. I turned back to Sherlock. "Go to the apartment, I will get my stuff and be up in a minute." I said and he shook his head.

"I'll wait for you." Sherlock said with a smiled and I half nodded.

"Fine." I said as he came in to stand by the door. I went to walk away to get my stuff.

"Portia..." Sherlock said and held out his hand and I looked down at the gun in my hand. I sighed and handed it over.

"Sorry, I don't have a husband here, I need protection." I said and walked back to my room.

***BEATRICE POV***

"Sherlock, we need to talk."

"If it about the baby situation..."

"No it not. I mean I would love to have a grandchild but that's not it." I said.

"Then what?" Sherlock asked.

"Did you know she is still having night terrors?" I asked him and he looked genuinely confused.

"She never said. I knew she was a restless sleeper..."

"Not restless Sherlock, night terrors." I said and Sherlock hung his head.

"She refuses to get help..." Sherlock said.

"So be home Sherlock! Stay with her! She needs to know her husband is safe and sound and not out searching for a ghost."

"She isn't a ghost Beatrice!" Sherlock said aggravated.

"She may as well be!" They both heard a voice say loudly to see Portia standing there.

***PORTIA POV***

I was getting everything gathered up when I heard Sherlock and my mother talking about my night terrors and I groaned that she was spilling my secrets, I never told Sherlock, I didn't need him to worry. He had enough on his plate, he didn't need a mental wife.

"So be home Sherlock! Stay with her! She needs to know her husband is safe and sound and not out search for a ghost." I heard my mother say and I couldn't help but love that. Irene was a ghost.

"She isn't a ghost Beatrice!" Sherlock replied and just shook my head. I heard the words coming out of my mouth before I could stop.

"She may as well be!" I stood in the living room as they both looked at me.

"Portia..."

"Don't Portia me Sherlock! She is a ghost, she is in the wind, she is gone! She knows you picked me and she knows its over for her. All she wanted was you and you didn't give her that satisfaction, she is gone!" I yelled and Sherlock looked at me and sighed.

"Maybe you're right, but there is a chance she could be lurking around every corner too."

"Then that's a chance we have to take. I cant take much more Sherlock." I said and walked up to him. I grabbing his hands and held them. "Do I love you? Yes, I do. I think I loved you even when you were grumpy towards me when we first met. I just can't live like this anymore, I need my husband, not Detective Sherlock Holmes." I said. He looked at me, leaned in and kissed me gently.

"You have me, your husband, your everything. I will drop searching for her." Sherlock said and I smiled.

"Really?" I asked and he nodded.

"You're right, she is upset I picked you and knows she means nothing. I love you Portia and I refuse to lose you." Sherlock said and placed a hand on my cheek, I leaned into his touch.

"I love you." I said. I wrapped my arms around his neck and just hugged him, holding on to him.