The Science of Starting Again//Book Five

Chapter 13~Third Time Lucky

Third Person P.O.V

This far away from the city, the stars shone brighter than ever. In the distance the glow of London was a beacon in the night, a city alive and pumping but so very far away.  For a moment the pair took in this sight in silence, their mission on hold for now.

"This reminds me of the night I flew in all those weeks ago," Teddy murmured from Greg's side. The older man looked down at her with a small smile.

"Was it beautiful?" He asked. Teddy tilted her head, staring towards the city with a slight frown.

"I wasn't in the best mindset when I returned. I didn't really appreciate it. But... it was welcoming. It was a relief.  It felt like coming home," Teddy replied, before looking up at Greg with a smile. "I'm appreciating it now, though. It's beautiful."

Although Greg was a forty-two year old man, he couldn't help but blush like a thirteen year old girl. Quickly clearing his throat and looking away, he suggested that the pair begin their search for Sherlock. With a chuckle Teddy agreed, and the pair walked down the stone pavement and towards the garden.

The garden path was lit by small solar lights, illuminating their way through the dense hedges, trees, and flowers. In the garden Greg couldn't help but watch as Teddy moved before him. The way she moved reminded him of some mythical creature: she walked as though she floated across the ground, like she levitated on a higher plane than him. The solar lights made her dress look a dusty blue colour, as soft as candyfloss, the material as light as air. It moved with her, a floating ripple of blue cotton. Greg stared at the lace detailing on the bodice of the dress, how it clung to her curves, enhancing her natural features. Her perfectly curled hair fell over one side of her shoulder, exposing the back of Teddy's neck. It was pale and soft and part of Greg wanted to reach out and touch it, to lean in close and whisper in her ear-

"Sherlock?"

The pair came to a stop, Greg looking at Teddy in confusion. The younger woman tilted her head as she stared through the greenery. After a moment she rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"What is it? Is it Sherlock?"

"No, it's a sculpture," she replied with a grin. "I think there's an opening further ahead."

As the pair began to walk through the maze of a garden, Teddy spoke.

"Greg?"

"Hmm?"

"I don't think Sherly's around. I actually think he has gone home," she told him. Greg frowned.

"It's John's wedding, though. Why..." Greg trailed off, fine lines appearing between his eyebrows as he scrunched up his face in thought. Teddy sighed, trailing a hand across some leaves before replying.

"He gets it too. Everyone's growing up. I guess it's too much for him to bear."

Silence fell over the pair as both thought about Sherlock, Greg trying to see the wedding through the Consulting Detective's eyes, Teddy seeing it clearly already. For a moment they were silent as they walked, both thinking about the future, both thinking about what it would bring. However, this silence was soon broken as soon as they stepped into the center of the garden's maze. 

"Oh my God," Teddy exclaimed, eyes widening at the sight before her. Even Greg couldn't help but let out a gasp. 

It was as though they had stepped into the garden of Eden itself. The heart of the maze was lit up with fairy lights of all kinds of colours hanging off branches and hedges. The ground was paved with tiles, some cracked or dirty, but that just added character to the whole place. Marble benches outlined the courtyard while- right in the center of this heaven on earth- was a large, marble fountain. Light blue lights shone upon it, the trickling of water the only noise the pair could hear.