I had returned to my flat after picking up groceries. Liam was gone, and the flat felt pretty empty. I grabbed a broom that was leaning against the closet door, and swept across the living room, dust collecting underneath it with each swish of the broom.

"Y/N?" I heard John at the door.

"Y-yes, come in!" I cried from across the room, shoving the dirt into a dustpan and proceeding to toss it in the trash.

"I just came down to check on you!" He smiled brightly. I smiled back faintly, he knew I had been through a lot and made no comment on this.

"That's very kind of you John, but I really am alright.." I spoke quickly as I leaned the broom against the closet door again.

"I don't know how much I believe that, but I won't pry." John nodded. I shot him a grateful glance.

"Sherlock was wondering if you wanted to come up to our flat for supper?" John's words surprised me, I knew Sherlock wouldn't do that.

"Sherlock or you?" I chuckled partly as I turned the TV down.

"Right, you know Sherlock." John laughed. "Well I think it's a good idea, and he didn't disagree!" He explained.

"Alright I guess I'm not doing anything tonight, sure! I'll stop by around 6?" I looked at John for approval.

"Sounds great! See you then." John smiled before backing out of the doorway and walking upstairs. I sighed and closed the door slowly. I gripped the doorknob as I had a flashback of Liam hitting me. I curled up on the floor, my room felt smaller suddenly. My heart was racing, and I couldn't see straight. I struggled to breathe for a moment before I realized I was still in my living room. As I sat on the floor i pulled out my phone and googled the symptoms of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and found that I matched a lot of the symptoms. Slowly I rose on my shaking legs and called a therapeutic company that I found listed on a website. A kind female voice answered the phone.

"Hello! CMHA Middlesex mental health!" The cheery voice answered.

"H-hello.. I'd like to book an appointment.. For PTSD and abusive relationships..." I stuttered.

"Alright, may I have your name and billing information?" I told her everything I needed to book an appointment, by the time I finished I realized it was 5:30. I put my phone down and went to my room to get  dressed. I put on a plain white blouse and a long black skirt, with pantyhouse underneath. I put my hair up into a messy bun and exited my flat. I climbed up the stairs slowly, reaching the door that read 221 B, I had never been inside, despite living here for the past month. I reached a shaky hand forward and knocked on the door. Sherlock immediately opened the door and stared down at me.

"It took you long enough, come John made peas!" I entered the flat, a baby was in John's arms.

"You have a baby?!" I exclaimed. John chuckled, as he rocked the baby back and forth in his arms.

"Yes, her name is Rosamund!" John smiled. 

"Oh that's a pretty name!" I smiled back. Sherlock had placed the bowls of peas on the table while John and I were chatting. 
"Why peas? Not to be rude, I am just curious!" I glanced at John.

"At my wedding Sherlock said something about my doing stuff to peas, so now when he 'misbehaves' I make peas." John laughed. I glanced at the two of them, something finally clicked in my brain.

"Ohhh! You two are married!" I exclaimed. John's cheery face suddenly turned to a death stare.

"No. No we are not. I'm not gay." John growled. I took back what I said immediately and apologized.

"Yes, now that that's over, can we eat?" Sherlock stared at us eagerly. 

"Why do you want to eat so badly, Sherlock?" John sighed, sitting at the table, I sat across from John and Sherlock sat at the head of the table.

"You will see." Sherlock muttered, before beginning to eat the bowl of peas. I had to admit the peas were good. Sherlock slid a piece of paper over to me, with a list of conversation topics to have with John. I shot him a confused look, but he nodded to the list.

"So.. John...? Uh, how was your day?" I read the first one on the list. John looked up at me confused, I shrugged and looked at Sherlock.

"It.. It was good, thanks for asking, and yours?"
"Same as usual.." I shoved a spoonful of peas in my mouth awkwardly. Sherlock looked from John to me, his face puzzled by what he was observing. I decided to read the next one.

"So Sherlock tells me you're an army doctor!" I was actually intrigued by this topic.

"I was an army doctor, yes, why do you ask?" John cocked his head slightly.

"Er.. I too.. Am interested in the military." I lied. Sherlock sighed and stood up with a groan.

"Why is this not working, neither you are showing signs of sentiment! I gave you the list Y/N, why isn't it working?" Sherlock snapped.

"Sherlock! People actually have to have feelings for each other to have those signs!" John looked flustered.

"Yes, thats what I was trying to create."

"You can't create sentiment Sherlock, it just sorta happens!" I smiled up at him. He gazed at me curiously.

"Did it happen with Liam?" My whole body froze, just the mention of his name could make my blood run cold.

"Sherlock!" John shouted, which frightened me further. 

"I need to know how this works John." Sherlock spoke calmly. I stared into my bowl, fear bubbling up inside my chest as if an ocean had just washed into my lungs, I felt like I was drowning.

"No.." I whispered. "No it did not happen with Liam.. No matter how much I wanted it to it didn't." Sherlock's gaze pierced my skin.

"Interesting.." He muttered, before whisking off to read something.

"Y/N, I'm so sorry I didn't know he'd ask that!" John exclaimed worriedly.

"No it's fine, thank you for supper, but I think I should go back to my flat for the night." I muttered. John nodded solemnly, and with that I left. I grabbed my pen and book and wrote about the ocean in my chest, and then about the flat.

'This Hollow nest I call home reeks of familiar scents that I still try to distinguish.' That was my favorite line from the flat piece. I stood and placed my book in my desk, and stumbled off to bed, I had an appointment in the morning.