A Viola's Song

I Love You

Sherlock took off his shirt and got back into the bed, trying carefully not to wake Irene.

"Where were you?" he heard the soft, silky voice say beside him.

Sherlock smiled. There just was no sneaking past this woman. "With the Doctor. Just asking some questions."

Irene hummed with understanding.

"You know, Moriarty was half right. Viola was a lie. But she was so like us that she could have been my daughter-our daughter because, really, she had no reason not to be," Sherlock said suddenly.

Irene rested her head on his chest. "I love you when your sentimental."

Sherlock's eyes widened at those words. "I love you."

He remembered his talk with the Doctor and was going to say something when Irene said something instead. "They're a nice couple, aren't they?"

"Who?" Sherlock asked.

"The Doctor and River." Irene replied.

"Oh, I suppose."

"We should be more like them."

"I hardly think our relationship would allow that, Irene."

"Oh, really, Mr. Holmes?"

A silence interrupted the conversation.

"You know, you always do that." Sherlock said, again, breaking the silence.

"Do what?" Irene asked.

"Call me 'Mr. Holmes' and not Sherlock."

"I thought you liked it." Irene insisted.

"You thought I like keeping our relationship on a professional level even though you know it's so much deeper?" Sherlock said, as if making a deduction.

"I never thought you'd be the one to say that sentence."

Another silence cut through.

Irene broke it this time. "Admit it."

"Admit what?"

"That you're in love with me."

"I am not in love with you!"

"Aren't you, though.........Sherlock?"

Sherlock didn't know how to respond and tried to quickly come up with something. If he only knew what he would come up with.

"Irene Adler, the only woman.....that I have ever loved......because, oh, do I love you. I love you, Irene Adler," he paused, "Remember....that night....when I deduced you had feelings for me?"

"I remember everything from that night, Sherlock," Irene said with a sudden pain clear in her voice as she remembered the worst night of her life.

"And remember...when I said 'sentiment is a chemical defect found in the loosing side?'" Sherlock continued.

"Clearly," Irene said, still hurt.

"I.....I think.....I think we're both loosing," he finished.

Irene smiled, the pain clearing.

"You know your name? It's not the best name you could have." Sherlock said, drastically changing the subject.

"No? Why not?" Irene said in disbelief.

"Especially your last name, completely ridiculous." Sherlock continued.

"What's wrong with my last name?" Irene scoffed.

"I just think you should change it is all."

"Change it? To what?" Irene smirked.

"Holmes," Sherlock said.

They both smiled.

"Gladly," Irene said, still smiling, "but before doing so, you have to do me a favour."

"Anything," Sherlock laughed.

"Dinner?" Irene said, stroking his arm.

Sherlock couldn't help let his sentiment get to him. "Starving."