Sophia Holmes and the Sign of Three (Sherlock's Daughter Fanfic) *Completed*

Chapter Eight - The Mayfly Man Part II

When we get back, dad goes upstairs to sleep while John and I go to Mrs Hudson for our headaches.

"How are you feeling?" she asks as we drink from the water fizzing from an effervescent pill.

"Mmm," John nods, in the midst of taking a sip and I smile my thanks as I nurse the glass in my hand and take another sip.

"It's just like old times, having you all back here." John sets down the glass and smiles at her as she brings two plates over to us. "Thought I'd make your favourite, one last time." She nods to me. "And there's nothing better than a full English to soothe a hangover."

"Thank you," I say gratefully, tucking in immediately. I'm starving.

"Don't sound so ... final about it," John says. "I will be visiting, you know."

"Ooh, I've heard that one before!"

I smile sadly as John picks up his cutlery and starts cutting into his breakfast. "Mm, no, it's different now, though, isn't it? It's different to when we thought we'd lost him."

"Well, marriage changes everything, John."

Everyone keeps saying that, and I'm confused as to how. They're already living together, and after the wedding they're only going to continue living together. So what will change? Hopefully nothing if I can sort the Magnussen problem.

John stops just before he takes a bite out of his first forkful. "Does it?"

"Yeah," she says, sitting down opposite us. "You might not think it, but it does." John starts to move the fork closer to his mouth again, then thinks better of it and puts it back on the plate, groaning quietly as I continue to eat. "It's a different phase in your life." John pushes the plate away from him a little, unable to stomach the food. "You meet new people 'cause you're a couple ..."

"Mmm," John agrees.

" ... and then you just ... let your old friends slip away."

"It won't be like that."

"Well, if you've found the right one – the person that you click with – it's the best thing in the world."

"Well, I have. I know I have."

"Oh, I'm sure," Mrs Hudson smiles. "She's lovely!"

"Yeah. I think so. What about you?"

"Me?"

"Did you think you'd found the right one when you married Mr Hudson?" I look up, already knowing the answer.

"No!" she smiles. "It was just a whirlwind thing for us. I knew it wouldn't work, but I just got sort of swept along."

"Right."

"And then we moved to Florida. We had a fantastic time, but of course I didn't know what he was up to." She drops her voice to a whisper. "The drugs."

I crack a smile. "Drugs?" John laughs, then instantly regrets it as he grimaces against the pain in his head.

"He was running ... um, oh God, what d'you call it?"

"A cartel," I remind her.

"Mm? Yes, that's right," she nods, and John props up his head with his fingers. "Got in with a really bad crowd."

"Right."

"And then I found out about all the other women. I didn't have a clue! So, when he was actually arrested for blowing someone's head off ..." I notice John's eyes widen slightly in confusion by the matter-of-fact way she just put that, but I just chuckle quietly into my sausage, "... it was quite a relief, to be honest."

"... Right." John says, possibly rethinking his desire to get married and he lowers his head, cringing.

"It was purely physical between me and Frank. We couldn't keep our hands off each other. I know there was one night ..."

She stops as John holds up a finger then turns the finger to point upwards. "Hang on – was that ... Sherlock?" I listen and hear movement upstairs.

"Is it?" Mrs Hudson frowns, not hearing anything.

John listens for a moment, then raises a finger on his other hand to his lips. Dad must have slept his hangover off already, as he definitely sounds as though he's up and about up there. "That's Sherlock." He gets up and painfully walks towards the kitchen door, groaning quietly, but I stay behind for a few more minutes as I finish my own breakfast, before tucking into John's.