A New Mystery at 221 Baker Street

Chapter 26: Date Night

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Alice sat at the piano in her living room. It was one of her first major purchases when she officially moved to London. Mycroft had pulled some strings and was able to get her a baby grand piano from Steinway & Sons. Her fingers graced the keys as she played 'Divenire' by Ludovico Einaudi. Her emotions poured out with every note. She sighed as the final note resonated throughout the room.

"When were you going to tell me that you played the piano?" Sherlock said from the doorway.

Alice turned around to face him and smiled. "I figured you knew. Care to sit?"

Sherlock sat down on her sofa. "So, how fast did you figure out the airline ticket?"

"About the same time as you. Irene knew what she was doing; I'll give her that," Alice shrugged and stood up to close the lid of her piano.

"Do you want to go to dinner?" Sherlock asked, looking straight at Alice.

"What?" She asked, almost slamming the lid.

"Would you like to have dinner with me, just the two of us?"

Alice looked at him in shock, not knowing exactly what to say.

"Did I do it wrong?" Sherlock asked, walking closer to Alice. "John?" John? I think I did it wrong!" He yelled in hopes his flatmate would hear.

"Sherlock," Alice said, walking up to him and placing her hands on his arms. "I would love to go to dinner with you. Give me twenty minutes and we can head out,"

Sherlock paced in the living room of 221b. "Was I to forward John? She seemed shocked. I know she's smarter than me, but..."

John sat in his chair, watching his best friend get flustered over a girl. "Sherlock, don't worry. You like her, she likes you, it will be all right," John had contemplated calling Mycroft and Lestrade so the three could spy on the two geniuses.

"Sorry I took so long," Alice said as she knocked on the door. Alice wore a navy a-line dress; her makeup was natural, yet alluring; Alice's dark black hair was curled and rested halfway down her back. Both men stood in awe of the woman in front of them. "I'm not overdressed, am I? Mrs. Hudson helped," She nervously adjust her dress.

"You look wonderful, Alice," John said, "Doesn't she, Sherlock?"

"You look stunning," Sherlock confirmed.

Alice blushed and gave a slight curtsey. "Thank you, boys," she smiled.

John felt like a proud parent as Sherlock and Alice left for their date. As soon as they were out of sight, John phoned Lestrade.

"John? Is everything alright?" Lestrade's worried voice asked when he answered the call.

"Everything's fine. I thought you should know that Sherlock's going on a date right now,"

"What! With Who? Where? How?" Lestrade exclaimed.

John laughed at Lestrade's reaction. "I have to make another call, but can you meet me here at Baker Street in five minutes?"

*

Sherlock and Alice sat at a small table in The Landmark Hotel's dining room.

Alice sipped her wine and smiled. "John and Lestrade; upper level; two o'clock," She said, looking straight ahead. "I wonder how they managed to do that,"

"Mycroft, no doubt," Sherlock said, looking in that direction from the corner of his eye. "John must've alerted him about our date,"

"So this is a date, I hoped it would be," Alice smiled at the detective in front of her.

"Alice," Sherlock began as he pulled out a small velvet box from his jacket. "I forgot to give you this on Christmas,"

"Sherlock, you didn't have to give me anything," Alice said as she opened the box. Inside was a delicate sapphire necklace. "It's beautiful, thank you,"

Sherlock took her hand in his and squeezed it. "I want you to know that I will always be there for you,"

John and Lestrade looked at the two geniuses from above.

"He's holding her hand!" Lestrade exclaimed as he took a photo on his phone. Lestrade was enjoying their spy mission too much. "I can't believe that they finally got together,"

"They were made for each other alright," John joked. "He even admitted that she was smarter than him earlier,"

"That's true love right there,"

*

Alice and Sherlock arrived back at 221 Baker Street hand in hand. "Goodnight, Sherlock, I had a wonderful time," Alice stood up on her tiptoes and kissed Sherlock on the cheek before retreating to her flat. "We should do it again sometime,"

Alone in his living room, Sherlock placed his hand to his cheek, touching the exact spot that Alice had kissed. He couldn't help but smile and blush. Irene Adler was intriguing, yes, but Alice was intoxicating. How had he not seen it before? 

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AN: I'm sorry that it's so short. I was also debating on when I should begin to introduce the romance between Alice and Sherlock.