Her father

Seven words

Arrabella held her breath as she turned the key in the door to her home.  She opened the door slowly, hearing the creak.  In the week she'd been away she'd missed the sounds native to her quaint apartment.  She closed the door behind her and made her way through the flat as quietly as possibly to her father's office, where she knew he would be waiting. 

She lifted her hand to knock but the door opened before she had the chance, revealing the not overly impressed face of Jim Moriarty. The consulting criminal. The arch enemy of Sherlock Holmes. Above all else, however, James Moriarty was a loving father.
He threw his arms around the shoulders of his daughter, barely shorter than he was. Bella took a deep breath before she held him back. She felt a tear fall from her eye, though she didn't know why she was so sad.

They eventually broke away and the two Moriartys looked into each others eyes, much pain shared between them. After a deep breath Arrabella breathed out, "I'm sorry" to her father. He nodded and indicated toward the kitchen for them to sit.

Bella sat down at her seat of the breakfast bar as her father flicked the switch on the already full kettle to make the two of them tea.  They sat in silence as Bella watched her father go through the methodical process of making tea, a process tattooed into the memory of all good brits. 

Jim sat across from his daughter, sliding her her cup of tea. She took a sip and smiled to herself. Almost as good as Mrs. Hudson's, she thought. Jim took a deep breath before he started talking.

"Look, Bella, you know I love you and I understand that you're young and in love and want to spend time with your girlfriend but I haven't seen you in a week. A week, Arrabella! You weren't replying to my texts. I called you everyday and only today you decided to answer. You have no idea what I went through." He rambled. His voice rose in places but he brought it down because he didn't want to be angry at his daughter. He was just scared that he was going to loose her.
More than anything else he was scared of what he had to say next. He took a deep breath. Bella opened her mouth to say something but he held up his hand to stop her. Tears began to well in Moriarty's eyes as he whispered, "
Arrabella, you can't see Ellie anymore."

- - -

Ellie unlocked the door to 221b, straightening the knocker as she walked through. She called up the stairs "I'm home" before walking into the kitchen to say hello to her landlady, Mrs. Hudson. They hugged and smiled but then Mrs. Hudson's face went very serious.  "You probably want to be heading upstairs, love.  You're father isn't in the best of moods," she explained.  Ellie laughed, "that's why I'm down here!" She giggled.  Mrs. Hudson shook her head disapprovingly.  Footsteps came down the stairs and Ellie turned to see a scared looking John standing in the doorway.  "Hiya unc!"  Ellie said happily as she went over to hug her short uncle John.  Hesitantly, he hugged her back. 

"Ellie, you need to come upstairs and talk to your father.  There's something we need to discuss." John explained.  Ellie began to panic inside.  John was supposed to be her fun care free uncle, not this serious second father figure.  She nodded slowly and they walked upstairs. 

The door was open, as it usually was, and Ellie's father was sitting in his chair. Staring forward, hands in prayer position. "Sit" he stated simply. Ellie was now terrified. Shaking, she sat opposite her father in John's chair. John sat back on the sofa. An uncomfortable silence fell over the room that stretched out for minutes that felt like hours.

Sherlock spoke first.
"Why didn't you tell me" he stated again, in the same monotone as before. Ellie was confused, it showed on her face.
"About Arrabella, why didn't you tell me?" He began to sound angry now. Ellie looked over at John for help but h avoided her gaze. He looked uncomfortable and, scared? The other thing that struck Ellie as odd was that her father had referred to Bella using her full name. They'd always called her Bella before. Ellie tried desperately to read her father's expression in order to understand what he was talking about and why he was angry but she couldn't. She didn't understand people as well as her father did.

Realising now that she hadn't spoken for a while Ellie cleared her throat and stuttered out, "I uh don't know what you are um talking about d-dad."
"Don't play dumb with me Ellie you know it won't work" Sherlock spay, trying to keep his voice calm. Ellie took a deep breath, she knew this day would come. She sat up straight, gaining confidence.

"What do you know?" She asked.
"Her name" Sherlock replied.
"You already knew her name." She responded, somewhat smug.
"Yes, Arrabella. Arrabella Moriarty" Sherlock shot back in disgust.

Ellie tried hard to stay calm. "How." She choked out. She hadn't realised Sherlock moved from his chair and was now standing by the window. Part of him had hoped that it weren't true. That they'd made a mistake. Of course it wasn't a mistake.

John now stood and walked over to sit by Ellie. He had loved her as his own from the moment he met her. He had been by her side since her mother died. John was the only person who could make this any easier for Ellie.

"Moriarty, Bella's father, came to see us today. Saying that his daughter hadn't been home in a week and hadn't been responding to his attempts to contact her. He showed us a picture." John recounted. Ellie's eyes widened. So he'd been here. Despite her and Bella's long term relationship she had never met the man himself as he would recognise her on sight and everything Ellie and Arrabella had held onto would be taken away. Much like it was being now.

"I see," Ellie replied finally, "I'm sure you understand why I didn't tell you." She said, we voice barely a whisper now. Neither John nor Sherlock said a word. Sherlock broke the silence once more,

"Ellie, you can't see Arrabella anymore."