He nodded slightly and ended the call. He then walked over to Irene, who stared at her lover with an emotionless expression. He started smiling a bit.
She blinked. "What. What's so funny?" He took her hand and pulled her up into his arms, spinning her around. "The chemo worked. I'm going to defeat the cancer." He gave her a bright smile. She looked at him puzzled, not quite getting the great news. "It...worked?" He laughed quietly. "That's what I just said. I'd like to take you out for dinner somewhere. To celebrate."
Irene looked down at herself. She hadn't eaten in days and the shirt she was wearing was showing her collarbones. "I don't think that's..." "Hey," Sherlock interrupted her and cupped her face. "You look absolutely beautiful." She tried a weak smile and pecked his lips. "Fine. Let's have dinner." She pulled away and started smiling, finally realising the amazing news. "What should I wear?" She started rummaging in her wardrobe. Sherlock wrapped his arms around her from behind and nibbled her earlobe playfully. "I don't care. You look stunning in anything." She closed her eyes for a second and grabbed a tight black dress.
He suddenly frowned and grabbed his wallet. "I haven't got any cash, I'll be back in a moment." He pecked her hair and grabbed his coat, heading out. She nodded absentmindedly and tried several dresses on before she decided on the tight black one from the beginning and started applying matching make up.
Sherlock returned after approximately one hour, Irene didn't think about why he had taken so long and greeted him with a tender kiss.
"Are you ready?" Sherlock slipped into a decent looking suit and was even wearing a tie. "You look amazingly attractive." Irene smiled and took his hand. "Says you," Sherlock laughed and led her outside, getting a cab. After a while, they arrived at the restaurant and Sherlock led Irene to a nice table in the back corner of the place he had chosen. He pulled a chair out for her and took a bow. "Mademoiselle." She let out a soft giggle and sat down, waiting for him to sit opposite her. He did so and waved at a waiter who handed two menus to them. Irene scanned through it and looked up at Sherlock. "I'd like a glass of red wine and a salad. What about you?"
Sherlock frowned slightly at how little food she was eating but he couldn't force her. "I'll go with red wine as well, but I'll try some pasta along with it." The waiter nodded and hurried off. Sherlock lit the candle on the table and looked at Irene. "So...uh..." He blushed and suddenly seemed rather uncomfortable. His heart was racing and he stared over at Irene for support.
She was really skinny and her face was sharply outlined by her jawbones and cheekbones but now, in this candlelight, she had never looked more beautiful to him.
And suddenly he was sure of what to do. This was the right decision.
He pulled a small box out of his jacket and opened it. Watching Irene's facial expression, which changed from puzzled to disbelieving to happy in a matter of seconds, he gave her an encouraging smile and got on his knees.
"Irene Adler. Will you marry me?"
