[COMPLETE] ??? ???? ?? ??? ??????「Sherlock」

023; Marvellous

His violin let out an awkward, earsplitting note, the first error she had ever heard him make, and the song came to an abrupt stop. Julia straightened, chest swelling with pride. There was not a word as she drank in the attention the man gave her, eyes washing up and down her frame, his face expressing something close to astonishment. Sherlock's intelligent mind was swallowing the ambient picture of her whole, pinning her to where she stood, devouring her. It was overwhelming to say the least. She could understand why Molly got so weak in the knees at the mere sight of him.

"Oh, Julia," gushed her aunt, the woman rising to her feet and then coming to stand beside Sherlock, a dainty hand resting upon his arm. Her touch seemed to draw him from his thoughts, his dark lashes flickering ever so faintly. "Doesn't she look gorgeous, Sherlock?"

He did not move an inch. Julia's smile only grew.

"Yes," he uttered, the word so small and simple within his throat, as if he were afraid that it would burn him on its way out. Her breath caught in her lungs and she hung upon each and every move he made, no matter how small. His laryngeal prominence stirred and his partially parted lips opened once more. "Marvellous."

"Thank you," Julia murmured, only for the moment to quickly end as Elliot rose and crossed over to her with his arms open wide. She just caught a glimpse as the detective lowered his eyes away with an almost indecipherable expression upon his face. Before she could really understand what he could possibly be feeling at that moment, she looked away.

The scientist held her close. "I was starting to think you wouldn't be joining us," he admitted. He drew away, beaming from ear to ear down at her attire. "Gosh, you look fantastic."

"Sherlock picked it out for her," John piped up, shooting his friend a glance. The sleuth was leaning over onto the arm of his chair, rubbing rosin upon his bow without a care in the world. He slanted over at the doctor, then looked back at his instrument. "It was supposed to be his secret gift for you."

"Not much of a secret now!" Sarah trilled, earning a soft laugh from the posse.

Julia frowned, a thought coming to her as she attempted to keep her bruised side from pressing against Elliot's. "Wait..." she began, realisation dawning on her. She shot Sherlock a wary glance. "So... so when we went out shopping together and you bought a gift for-- wh-why?"

"Simple," he intoned. "To keep you from finding out." He shot her a side-glance and she bit back a shiver. Her mind drifted back to how close they had sat together, side-by-side upon the piano bench, plunking out Mozart as fast as their hands could carry them through the duet. The laughter, oh, the fun they had had that day! "You are easy to fool, Ms. Fuller."

Her fingers laced into Elliot's for a moment before she pulled him away, quickly attempting to coax the man to join them all. She knelt upon the carpet and allowed her skirts to splay out around her, resting her hands within her lap. "Well, I appreciate the effort, but that means you've doubled up, now doesn't it?" she tutted. Julia playfully arched a brow in his direction, to which he simply turned his head away from. A bit hurt, she cleared her throat and looked away.

"Why don't we move onto gifts now?" Mrs. Hudson suggested, trying to lighten the mood. "Sherlock, no telling either. You'll ruin the fun!"

"I won't," he claimed.

"Promise?" Sarah badgered, only for him to raise his hands after returning his violin to the table. This earned a few soft giggles from the girls, John chuckling deep in his chest as he rose, exiting to the kitchen. He returned with the bottles and glasses, laying them out on the coffee table and allowing everyone to help themselves. Julia was still working on her champagne, so she simply sat back as the party settled in. She had to admit, she had never really seen Sherlock drink, and yet here he was, pouring himself a glass of sherry like it was lemonade. It both intrigued her and made her wary.