Old Friends

Reunited

She walked up the steps silently, one of her handy tricks she'd picked up living in the Holmes household. If you wasn't quiet you'd get your whole life story laid back to you by the poshest person you'd ever meet in the space of 30 seconds. It was rather annoying when it was anyone else other than the man she cherished with all her heart. Her best friend. Her only friend. Sherlock Holmes.

As she made her way to his front door she noticed it was opened slightly and Sherlock was talking to someone. Piper silently slid through the gap in the door. No one noticed her. Until she spoke.

"I was, and still am, an angel, John. I have no idea what you could possibly be talking about" Sherlock smirked smugly.

"Thats not enirely true now is it, Sherlock?" She teased. The pasty skinned man turned his curl covered head quickly at the sound of her velvet coated voice. He rushed towards her, scooping her up into his arms and slowly whispering into her hair.

"I missed you so much Pi-" his voice broke off as tears threatened to escape his usually masked face. Sherlock Holmes prefered to hide his feelings and hide behind the mask of a sociopath instead of dealing with whats going on inside his head. When it came to Piper, his emotions were everywhere. The façade soon fell.

"Hey, shh, it's ok, i'm here now. I'm here to stay. No more leaving. I promise" she whispered soothingly into his shoulder as she gently ran her fingers through his hair and traced soothing patterns over his back. This time it was her voice breaking. She always had a weak spot for the youngest Holmes brother. Mycroft said he would be the death of her. Maybe he would be maybe he wouldn't be. They wouldn't know until it happened.

"Why did you leave? I thought you didn't need me anymore. Mycroft said you wanted to leave. W-why did you go?" he sobbed into her neck. Her whole body felt numb. She'd caused the man she cared for so much pain in order to save him even more pain. It was horrible. Either way he got hurt. She just had to decide what was more important. His life or his heart.

"I'll explain soon. I promise. I-just not right now." She smiled gently, pulling away. And wiping away his tears.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but whos this" a shorter, grey haired man asked. Sherlock quickly composed himself and straightened out his suit jacket, giving up and taking it off when he failed to get it the way he liked it.

"Sorry, John. Um this i-is Piper" Sherlock smiled widely at the man. "Piper this is Dr John Watson. My best friend."

"Sherlock i'm your only friend" John teased, smirking at the lanky man to my right. "Well, i was your only friend" he smiled offering me his hand as sherlock dissapeared into the kitchen. I took it politely and shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Piper" he smiled kindly. The look in his eyes said otherwise. He looked sad. As if a huge part of him was missing. Maybe he lost someone close to him? The wedding ring that had been transfered to his right hand suggested that it had been his partner, leaving him widowed.

"You too, Dr-" she started to speak but was soon interrupted

"He preferes John. He says Dr Watson makes him feel old" Sherlocks voice echoed from the kitchen.

"I was quite capable of telling her myself" John shouted back. Sherlock popped his head around the corner.

"Oh i know. I just like to piss you off" he gave his signature 'you're welcome' sarcastic smile which made Piper giggle. That sound took Sherlock back to when they were kids and he would out wit Mycroft just to make her happy. She hadn't exactly had the easiest life and he'd do anything to make his Piper smile. John looked at him and rolled his eyes.

"Just go make your tea and shut up" John smirked at him slightly.

"Piper please, have a seat, please. You don't have to stand up the whole time. Make yourself comfy and Sherlock will most definately wait on you hand and foot" John joked sarcastically, not realising that he just described the Sherlock from Piper's past.

"He used to do that all the time when we were kids. I'd get the smallest of colds and i'd be bed ridden and he wouldn't let me leave until i was completely better" She explained, the whole while a small smile tugging at the corners of her plum coloured lips, as she took a spot on the sofa. Johns eyebrows furrowed together as he took his seat.

"That doesn't sound like Sherlock at all, are you sure we're on about the same person here" he smiled playfully.

"How many people do you know called Sherlock?" Piper laughed. Even John, by this point, thought that her laugh was the most beautiful sound to caress anyones ears.

"Pips, would you like anything to eat?" Sherlock pulled them both from their previous conversation.

"Lunch wouldn't be too bad. Train food isn't exaxtly the most appetising" she remarked. Sherlock nodded and made his way back into the kitchen. John looked from the spot at which Sherlock had just stood and back to Piper.

"Pips?" He questioned raising his eyebrow. Piper tucked her hair behind her ear at the mention of the nickname. She was fond of it. As she did this is revealed a long scar that ran around her neck. Obvously unaware that is was out, piper spoke up.

"It was a childhood nickname. He probably doesn't realise he used it" she smiled, looking at the floor. There was a long silence. Just as John opened his mouth to ask about the scar Sherlock burst into the livingroom holding a tray containing three cups of tea and three cheese and cucumber sandwhches. He handed them all out and sat on the sofa next to Piper. When he thought John wasn't looking he untucked Pipers hiar to cover her scar. But John noticed and now he was more curious than ever.