Fallen Stars & Healing

Chapter 2: That's the dead guy

"Oh my god, are you serious?!" Sibley asked, admiring the ring John had just given to her. Willamina walked over to see what all the fuss was about and got an excited smile.

"You going to marry Mary?" she squealed, climbing not very gracefully into her mother's lap.

"Well, that is if she says yes tonight," he said, pocketing the ring. Willamina clapped her hands.

"Can I be the flowa girl? I would make a good flowa girl!" she cheered. John laughed as Sibley smoothed down some of Willamina's wild blonde curls.

"Probably, love, but let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet." he said. Willamina laid her head on her mother's chest and began to fiddle with some of Sibley's bracelets.

"Well I know Mary loves you so she'll say yes and I know she loves me so I know I'll be the flowa girl." she said. Both adults laughed.

"So I'm guessing you both approve."

"Of course we do, John! Mary is wonderful and I agree with Willamina, I think she's guaranteed to say yes. So when are you going to propose?" Sibley asked.

"Well, I was thinking tonight, actually." he said.

"Wow! I'm so excited! I'll need an update as soon as you two are apart." Sibley said. John laughed.

"I will let you know how it goes. For now I have errands to run so I will see you girls later." and with that he was out the door. Sibley looked down at her daughter and thought aloud.

"Why do I feel like something's gonna go wrong?"

~~~

A freshly shaven and stitched up Sherlock Holmes stood in his elder brother's dark office, straightening the new belstaff.

"Where's my old one?" he asked.

"Sibley has it. I didn't have the energy to try and wrestle it from her when I could just buy a new one," he stated.

"Speaking of, I think I'll surprise her, and John, they'll be delighted," he said.

"You think?" Mycroft asked, his lizard-like smile spreading across his face.

"I'll pop into Baker Street. Who knows- jump out of a cake!" he exclaimed.

"Baker Street? They're not there anymore," his brother replied. Sherlock frowned. "Why would they be? It's been four years. Sibley is twenty-one and John's moved on by now. They've gotten on with their lives." he said.

"What life? I've been away.... Where will they be tonight?" he asked.

"How should I know?"

"You always know."

"John has a dinner reservation in Marylebone Road. Sibley will most likely be home eating chicken nuggets and watching children's cartoons," Mycroft said smugly. Sherlock raised an eyebrow.

"Cartoons?" he asked. Mycroft just smirked at him.

"Well, I'll go by the restaurant first then John can show me to her flat." he said.

"You know it's possible you might not be welcome." Mycroft said.

"No it isn't. Well then, goodbye, brother-mine," and with that Mycroft watched as his brother left, probably to walk into his own doom. What a show it would be.

~~~

Sherlock sat at the diner table bruised from John's attack at the restaurant. Mary sat next to John, watching their exchange. He began to explain how he faked his death, but John stopped him.