Old Friends

Can't you just die already

Sherlock smiled as he felt the soft touch of Pips' hand sweeping his brown curls away from his eyes.

"Good morning" she whispered gently.  He opened his eyes and smiled even more.  She was perched on the edge of  his bed next to him, her soft black hair pinned back and a gentle, motherly smile delecately dancing on her radient face.

"Morning Pips'" he uttered as he sat up. "It's been years since i've been woken up like this" he motioned to the tea and plate of biscuits sitting of his nightstand. She shrugged and smiled again.

"Well, you did let me stay for a while. Might aswell earn my keep" that sentance should have been simple. Emotionless. It shouldn't have meant a thing, but it meant everything. The smile on her face faded to a darker shade of fake. A change so fine and delicate that no other person, besides Sherlock, would notice it. Not because he was a 'genius', per say, but because he was her best friend and he could tell the difference. His hand instantly flew up to the side of her neck, his large hand cradling part of her scar, reminding them both of the sacrifice she made for the Holmes family.

"You" he muttered sternly "Will. Never. Have. To. Earn. Your. Keep. Ever" she looked into his eyes and saw the desperation spilling out in the form of a single tear. "You are the best thing that happened to me. You gave up so much for me and my family. Please, don't EVER think that you're not welcome" She could see him getting worked up and knew the only way to calm him down was to get him to sleep again. So she pulled his head into her, stroking his hair and gently laying him back down and singing the old lulliby Mrs Holmes would often sing to her to calm her down after a nightmare.

"I'm not leaving, i promise" she shushed him, continuing to sing until she was sure he was asleep. Once he was snoring lightly, she stood up, leaning back down to place a gentle kiss to the detectives forehead. Taking his, still full, cup of tea and the plate of biscuits back to the kitchen.

"Morning, Piper" John spoke cheerily. He was sat at the kitchen table with his daugter in his arms. He was quite shocked when she had waltzed out of the bathroom in nothing but an unbuttoned dress shirt and her underwear. Rosie giggled at the sight of the black haired, pretty woman. Piper spun round at the sound of the little chiming bells that sounded from the little girl. She hadn't had the chance to meet her yesterday and was quite alarmed at first, but soon realised who she was.

"Good morning, John" she smiled warmly, sitting oposite to the Dr. "This must be little Rosie" she reached over and held the babys' hand, gently running her thumb over the back of her hand.

"Why yes, yes it is" John noticed the maternal smile she bore and the loving glow in her eyes. "Would you like to hold her?" He raised an eyebrow, noting how her eyes lit up at the mention of holding the small child. They were all tell tale signs that she has, or had, a child herself. She nodded eagerly. John stood and carried the girl around the table and stood over Piper, as he bent to give her the child, Rosie squealed and threw her arms around the womans neck. That's when he remembered the scar. His eyes instantly went to her neck and he noticed that her hair was pinned back this morning. Maybe she'd forgotten about it. It shined a dull grey-purple colour and wrapped all the way around her throat and neck. Once Rosie had settled and nuzzled herself into Pipers' chest, John took his place in his seat and decided it was time to meet the real Piper and not the perfectly stable and collected woman she portrayed.

"Piper" he asked, pulling her attention away from his daughter. "Can i ask you a question?"

"You just did" she smirked, her eyes floating back to the child in her lap.

"Wow ok. I can see why Sherlock likes you so much" he chuckled before falling serious again. "But the question i wanted to ask you is: How did you get that scar?" He saw her face drop, her eyes go dead, her smile faulter. The only emotion left on her face was the warmth she felt towards Rosie.