Fic for vernets: A Quiet Corner of the World; R

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Title: A Quiet Corner of the World
Recipient: vernets
Author: alafaye
Rating: R
Characters: Holmes/Watson, unidentified OFC (Watson's wife)
Warnings: (sort of consenual) infidelity
Summary: During the week, Watson is happily married. His week-ends, however, belong to Holmes.
Disclaimer: public domain (pretty much), but if you want to put up a witty homage to ACD, be our guest.


The day was beautiful and my shoulder wasn't bothering me much as I walked down the path to Holmes' cottage, the groceries swinging with my steps. Spring had finally settled into our part of the world and I was grateful to no longer be stepping in quite so much mud. I didn't understand how Holmes managed during the winter, when I didn't bring him any groceries, but as the former detective had not yet perished, I wasn't worried. Much.

But Holmes was doing well on his own. A young girl came around once a week to tidy up and dust, sweep, all the domestic chores that even escaped myself at times. Holmes had grown to be a passable cook, provided there was something at hand, and he had a small garden. He continued to gather newspapers like a magpie with shiny toys and made notes about it all. Journals on medical advancements in the investigative field were scattered throughout the rooms and my books were hidden away.

It was different from our days in London, but we had settled into separate lives now as easily as we had then. I missed it at times, missed the chemical smells and the sulking fits and his sudden bursts of mood. Yet I was happy. I had married again and was quite content spending my weeks with my wife and my weekends with Holmes. She never complained about it, my days away, though I suspected that she had some similar arrangement. (I detected a note of perfume that she did not wear when I came home on many a Sunday.)

Holmes, I suspected, knew that this sort of arrangement suited me perfectly. I am, by nature, a man who prefers to be married and Holmes is not. Not that we ever could be married, but we could have settled into something similar here in this cottage. As I said, though, Holmes is not such a man. He has learned self sufficiency over the years and much as he values our relationship in any form, I've noticed a definite improvement in his mood since he began living on his own.

It bothers me none as he always welcomes me with open arms and a warm bed.

As I near the front door, he walks around from the back writing in a new journal. It is one I gave him this past winter for Christmas. A rush of warmth came over me, seeing him use it. "Holmes," I called, with more affection than is appropriate for the open air.

He looked up, startled. "Watson. Is it that day already?"

I couldn't stop the fond smile that spread across my lips.

~~~

I woke to the sensation of being watched and shortly after heard what sounded like pencil on paper. I groaned and yet resisted the urge to cover myself. "Again? My dear, I am far past my prime and should not be recorded. I fear future generations will be shocked."

Holmes chuckled. "If anyone should pry into my journals when I am gone, they deserve to be shocked."

I opened my eyes and sighed. "Come back down here."

Holmes rolled his eyes, but set aside his pencil and paper. I greeted him with a kiss. "Evening."

"Evening," he whispered back. He traced my lips with his finger and sighed. "I wonder sometimes how I can go from missing you so much to wanting my privacy at the end of our weekends."

I touched my nose to his. "Your mercurial moods, Holmes. It is how you are chemicaly built."

He wrinkled his nose in distaste though if it was from words or my touching it, I was unsure. He left the bed and called over his shoulder, "Stay there. I wish to eat our supper in bed."

How could I say no? There was something decadent about it and there was something erotic about sharing a meal in sheets so thoroughly ruined as these were. Besides, it was more efficient than having to stop and move from the downstairs to the upstairs.

~~~

I leaned back and hummed as the sun warmed my face. "Your garden is much better than mine."

"It is not my fault that you and your wife did not pick out your home in this weather," Holmes replied, the words muffled by his hat. It wasn't the usual type, but was an improved model that he had, of course, designed himself. "No, you had to pick a cottage in the autumn."

I shrugged and settled more firmly in the chair. "It simply gives me more incentive to visit."

There was a decided pause and I opened one eye to see him. He smirked. "Am I not enough?"

I pretended to consider it, staring off into the woods behind the garden. "No."

He growled and set aside his work to storm over to me. Flipping up the veil, he leaned into my space. "Perhaps we should retire for a long lunch, then? Convince you otherwise?"

I smirked and dared a kiss to his lips. "A very long one, yes. I think that will do."

~~~

Holmes' study was as ever cluttered and stained with chemicals. It was clear that the maid was not allowed in the room, but I did what I could to keep Holmes from succumbing to a fallen stack of books or choking on dust. I examined the chemicals, laid out against a back wall. He needed some resupplying, but he would tell me if he needed me to pick them up.

The man himself was at a desk cluttered with notebooks, scribbling away at something. I rubbed his shoulders. "I'm off."

He sighed and half turned, putting his hand over mine. "I will miss you."

I smiled and kissed his brow. "I'll be back next week-end. I assure you."

"I need no assurance," he replied, pulling me down for a proper kiss. "I know you'll be back. You never could resist me."

I smirked. "I rather thought that was mutual."

He huffed and shoved me away. "Off with you. I've had enough sentiment for the week. Bring some biscuits next time. I believe your wife makes some excellent butter ones."

I shook my head fondly. "I'll pass on the request."

In the front hall, I pulled on my jacket and checked my pockets, making sure I had everything I needed. I popped my head back around the study door. "I love you, Holmes."

He waved his hand over his shoulder, but the feeling, I knew, was returned. Whistling, I made my way home.

Comments

[monkeybard]

This is charming and lovely! I really like this "weekend in the country" arrangement they have, and I'm pleased that it seems to work just as amiably for Watson's wife.

[alafaye]

Thank you! It does seem to have worked out for everyone well, doesn't it? :)

[tripleransom.livejournal.com]

I love the cozy domesticity of their arrangement. Watson really is pretty long-suffering, but looks like the rewards are worth it.
I'm glad also that his wife seems to have her own "weekends off" as well.

[alafaye]

Even Holmes can be persuaded to do domestic ;) Provided Watson is the man asking, of course!

Thank you.

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

I think this is my favorite line of the whole story:
He continued to gather newspapers like a magpie with shiny toys and made notes about it all.

☺️❤️

[alafaye]

That's our Holmes ;)

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

A satisfactory arrangement for all concerned!

I especially love that Holmes still cherishes his solitude, love Watson though he does, and is pleased to return to his eremitic existence when the weekend is over.

And I always wondered about the exact nature of the relationship between Mary Morstan and Mrs. Forrester...

[alafaye]

They have settled things quite well ;)

Thanks.

[hardboiledbaby]

Aww, the end has me grinning! This is very sweet, thank you!

[alafaye]

Thank you for enjoying it!

[shadowycat.livejournal.com]

A thoroughly charming story! It's so nice that they've fallen into an arrangement that works perfectly for them all, Watson's wife included. :D

[alafaye]

A very excellent arrangement for all :)

Thank you!

[winryweiss.livejournal.com]

Ah, it's wonderful to see them reaching an agreement profitable to all parties. ^^

Though I have to admit I was sort of put off by the infidelity warning, this came out quite lovely.

[alafaye]

It was rather tricky working it all together, but in the end, it worked out.

Thank you for reading it :)

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

What strikes me about this is the casual agreement. Mrs. Watson clearly knew what she was getting into, but Watson never explicitly told her, and her own weekend arrangement he had to deduce -- good detective work by the doctor there, incidentally. I'm so curious to learn more about this setup from her (or perhaps her companion's!) perspective!

[alafaye]

Yes, somehow without all parties talking about it, it worked out well :)

Thank you.

[methylviolet10b]

What a delightful story, and such an interesting interpretation of the retirement years! Very charming and cozy, and the 'infidelity' is definitely in name only, as all parties are quite happy with the arrangement, it seems.

[alafaye]

Thank you! Yes, all things worked out despite the oddness of it :)

[mistyzeo.livejournal.com]

I'm glad they have an arrangement like this. :)

[alafaye]

They could do nothing else, but work it out well :)

Thank you!

[fleetwood-mouse.livejournal.com]

What a happy little snapshot! So cozy and sweet.

[alafaye]

Thank you!

[vernets.livejournal.com]

Thank you for writing me this!!! I love retirement stories and it is a lovely unspoken arrangement that works well with the whole 2nd wife/holmes alone conundrum. Old men in love, aw.

[alafaye]

Yay, I'm glad you liked it! Thank you for a wonderful sign up :)