An Affair with the Enemy (A Sherlock Fanfic)

Chapter 1

Tanya

15 years. That's how long I've lived here in Richmond. Not the one in London. The one in North Yorkshire. People tell me they've never heard of it before but this is my home; this is where my heart belongs. This house is ageing but so am I. I'm 18 for Christ's sake. Mum always gets emotional when speaking about my childhood. I never knew someone could get so attached to someone who isn't their own flesh and blood but I'm a living example. They adopted me when I was 3 but they tell me not to think too much about it because the past doesn't matter. However much I'd like to agree with them, there's a part of me that yearns to know more about past, where I came from and what my actual parents were like. I...

"Tanya! Breakfast! Come on, you're supposed to be excited, it's your birthday!"

"Alright, alright. Give me one sec mum!"

As I was saying, I want to know more about my life before Yorkshire but for now, I suppose it'll have to wait.

I sign out of my diary with the signature "love, Tan" before grabbing my scarf and heading downstairs. Waiting for me on the dining room table is a neat spread of breakfast foods ranging from pancakes to granola. Rolling my eyes and letting out a playful sigh, I hug my mum for her efforts and the delicious foods.

"This wasn't necessary you know?"

"I know love, but it's not everyday your little girl turns 18..."

She trails off sounding as though she's about to cry. Giving her a sympathetic smile, I bite into a piece of buttery toast and sip my coffee. Today I'm filled with a different energy. I can feel fire flooding my veins with excitement. Not because it's my birthday but because I was going to see my dad after three months! He works almost 250 miles away and it hadn't been easy seeing him leave almost as soon as he came home every three months.

Today happened to be the day I could move into my new apartment in London, only a few streets away from my university. Hannah, my flatmate, told me she met a lovely old woman who gave her the flat. I told Hannah that as soon as I had dumped my things in my flat I would go and surprise my dad at work! He didn't know that I was going to live in London but I suppose that'd be another surprise for him. My mum offered to stay with me for my first year of uni but I turned it down; after 15 years, I thought it was about time I got my own independence.

Finishing breakfast, I realise that I can't seem to contain myself as I keep telling myself to stop smiling like a lunatic. Half past nine came quickly and I found myself by the door of my beloved house kissing my mother goodbye. I marched down the driveway with a coat in hand and a bag on my back.

"Make sure you Skype me when you get there!"

I turn around and shout "yes" to my mother and watch her grow smaller and smaller as I walk away from the home I lived in for 15 years.

~~~

The train jerked to a stop and I opened my eyes in shock. I'd been asleep for almost 2 hours. I squint to see a sign which told me I had arrived at St Pancras. I stepped out of the train and looked around trying to find the familiar blonde. Failing to find her, I pull my phone out of my pocket to give her a text when out of the blue, I see a blur of blonde rush to me and hug me. I almost drop my phone from the shock but laugh and ease into the hug.

"Tan", she says. "I missed you, I missed you, I missed you!" releasing me from her death grip, she continues to blabber on in her typical fast way of speaking. "It's going to be so exciting and the movers put the furniture in and I looked up an Italian place nearby. Oh, it'll be so perfect Tan!"

Another train ride later, we arrive at Baker Street Station. Hannah tugs me to the exit and she drags me down the street and stops in front of the flat. I look up and take a smell of the London air. It was a lot more polluted than the air back at home but I suppose this is what excitement smells like. I look at the door and memorise our flat number, 221b. Hannah hands me the keys and I open the door and step inside. Small, but comfy. I smile to myself as I walk through the corridor and into the living area. I had only had a Skype tour of the area but felt like I had lived here forever. I see an old lady sitting inside, Mrs Hudson I assumed, and I made my way towards her.

"Thank you so much for this. We really appreciate it."

"Oh don't be silly. It's not too small is it? You see, I'm off to my sister's for a while so we did have it extended a month ago to fit two bedrooms downstairs. Oh my, have I forgotten to dust the windows? Ah, and love, be careful if you're going upstairs. John's alright but Sherlock can be..."

I put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and smile at her. I look up at the clock and realised it was already 5.30.

"Oh shoot. Hannah, I'm late. I need to meet dad. I'll be back by 8 latest."

I leave Mrs Hudson and Hannah back at the flat as I make my way towards my dad's office.