My Father's Daughter: The Life of Alexis Moriarty

Chapter 15

Alexis pumped her arms and her legs as fast as she could. She passed a few people on the sidewalk, and they gave her some odd looks, but she didn't care. She zoomed past them as she hurdled herself along.

She had never felt so free.

She ran all the way to Clissold park, and then ran some more. She weaved in and out of trees, holding her hands out as she ran. She laughed a bit to herself, until the wind was knocked out of her. She fell back on her bum and was a bit dizzy from the sudden stop in motion. She had run into something.

Make that someone.

"Oh god, I am so sorry, sir-.... Sherlock?" Alexis collected herself and looked up at the tall man. He offered her a hand and a small smile. She wasn't sure which one was sincere. She took his hand and stood up, brushing herself off. She winced a bit when her hand touched her hip. She had landed pretty hard on the apple in her pocket, and could feel a bruise forming. She shoved her hands into her pockets and looked up at Sherlock. "What are you doing here..?"

Sherlock shrugged and looked away from her, his eyes locking on a cluster of trees. "Just going out for a stroll. It's a rather nice day. Cold, but nice."

"You're lying." Alexis replied. Sherlock turned back to look at her. "You get this tone in your voice when you're lying. Like you know exactly what your story is -- like reading lines from a play. People don't actually talk like that."

Sherlock sighed and grinned at her. "You're very clever. Molly called me after you left. She told me you were going out, and I figured you would come here. You seem to enjoy it."

"Why would she tell you I went out?" Alexis asked, sitting down on a park bench. "I go out all the time."

"Yes, but you haven't left your room in two weeks. She was very worried about you." Sherlock lowered himself onto the bench beside her and placed a hand on her knee. "I was very worried about you..."

"Well... You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine." She didn't look at him. She twiddled her thumbs and bit her lip until Sherlock eventually pulled her hands apart.

"Look at me." He stated softly. He held her hands in his, looking into her eyes. "It's alright to not be fine. It's okay to feel upset, but don't shy away from us..." He reached a hand up and caressed her cheek in his hand. "Please don't push me away. Let me help you."

Alexis looked at him for a moment before leaning into him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest, but she didn't cry. She was done crying.

Sherlock stroked her hair, playing with the ends of her curls for a second each time before stroking it again.

They sat like this for a long time before Alexis finally pulled away. She took a deep breath and looked at him, a smirk on her face. "Do you know how disappointed my father would be if he saw us right now?"

Sherlock laughed and grinned, taking her hand and intertwining their fingers. "Do you know how dissapointed my older brother would be if he saw us right now?"

Alexis grinned and laughter bubbled up from her stomach. It really did feel good for her to laugh, and it felt even better to have her hand in Sherlock's.

Sherlock's face softened when he heard her laugh and he let out a warm sigh. "It's so great to hear you laugh again, Alexis. I was starting to miss it."

"You know," Alexis leaned in close to Sherlock and shut her eyes, her lips centimeters from his. "I was starting to miss it too." Alexis tugged on Sherlock's scarf, pulling him closer to her. She threaded one hand through his hair and kissed him, breathing in his scent through her nose.

Sherlock relaxed against her and cupped the back of her neck gently, his thumb stroking the soft spot behind her ear. He smiled against her lips and whispered against them. "I was also starting to miss this."

Alexis opened her eyes and looked at Sherlock. Before, their closeness was a little too much, but now she couldn't get enough of him. She nudged his nose with hers and grinned. "Me too."