Phoebe walked into 221B with a bright smile on her face.

"You're in a good mood today, Phoebe," John commented as he looked over at her.

"My bakery is officially open! Well, sort of, the first day for business is later this week!" Phoebe explained as she walked over to see what Sherlock was working on.

"Really?" Sherlock whipped his head around. "Can we come?"

"Of course you can, Sherly," Phoebe replied with a giggle. "Anyways, any new cases today?"

Sherlock's smile dropped as he hung his head. "Only boring stuff. Love affairs, missing animals, petty thefts. I need something more."

"I'm sure something will come up, Sherlock. Theo is coming over in a little bit. He's excited to see you again, not that he really remembers you at all," Phoebe said and Sherlock chuckled lightly.

"Is he still as spritely as he was as a toddler?"

"I'd say so," Phoebe replied with a smile. "He takes after you with loving pie."

"Kids got taste," Sherlock retorted.

"Sorry, but who's Theo?" John questioned as he looked between the two.

Phoebe turned to John before answering, "he's my baby brother. He is coming for the weekend. We've always been close."

"Oh! How old is he?"

"He's fourteen," Phoebe replied as she began to pick up some of the papers strewn across the room, knowing Sherlock wouldn't do it.

"He was three last I saw him, right?" Sherlock questioned and Phoebe nodded.

"He's as tall as me now," Phoebe added to which Sherlock chuckled.

"That's not a surprise," he commented, earning himself an elbow to the side.

"Watch it, Holmes," Phoebe grumbled. "I'm not that short."

Sherlock held his side and he grimaced. "So that's why you always wear heels."

"Just because I'm shorter than you doesn't mean you can bully me for it! I'll have you know that my wearing heels has nothing to do with my height!"

"Holmes, perhaps you should just leave the subject alone," John warned as he saw Phoebe and Sherlock glaring at each other.

"Whatever," Sherlock grumbled as he looked away with a huff.

"At least I'm not a giraffe," Phoebe mumbled as she turned around.

Sherlock couldn't let her have the last word. "Giraffe?! Well at least I'm not a potato! I don't need a stool to reach the cupboards!"

"I don't need a stool to reach the cupboards! Just the top shelves! It's not bad!"

Sherlock leaned down and got in her face. "You're just upset that you need help getting onto the carriage step."

"That's exaggerating! Not all carriages have high steps!"

"You being so short makes you look weird! It's no wonder you made no friends since I left."

That struck a nerve and Phoebe went to smack Sherlock before someone caught her hand.

"Will you two stop bickering! It's absolutely childish!" John shouted as he got between the two.

They huffed and turned from each other with crossed arms.

"I can't believe you two are friends," John mumbled.

"That's questionable," Phoebe grumbled as she sat on the loveseat.

"Both of you apologize," John ordered as he looked between the two.

"But-" Sherlock began to complain.

"It wasn't a request," John said sternly.

Sherlock stood there, having a stare down with John. He gave up and sighed, sitting beside Phoebe on the loveseat.

"I'm sorry, Phee. I don't think you look weird," Sherlock spoke softly as he looked at Phoebe.

She looked up at him with teary eyes. "Really?"

"Yes, I actually think you look quite beautiful. Although beauty is merely a construct based on childhood impressions, influences and role models," Sherlock rembled as he leaned against the back of the loveseat.

"Thanks?" Phoebe quirked an eyebrow. "And I'm sorry for calling you a giraffe."

"Well, I'm not really sorry for calling you a potato. You're our potato. Right, John?" Sherlock draped an arm around Phoebe's shoulder with a grin.

She grimaced a bit but couldn't stop her smile from pushing through.

"A very useful potato, yes," John agreed with Sherlock.

"Indeed, a very useful potato. A smart one too." Sherlock added.

"And by the way, I did make friends after you left. There was a girl I met, but she's pretty busy usually," Phoebe said and Sherlock hummed.

He was about to reply when Miss Hudson called up the stairs.

"Phoebe! There is a little boy here to see you!"

Phoebe leapt off the couch with a bright smile. "Coming!"

Sherlock chuckled as he pushed himself up, following Phoebe down the stairs.

"Phoebe!" Theo ran up to her and hugged her with a smile.

"You made it! Here, give me your bags. I'll take you into my flat," Phoebe said as she led him to her flat. 221C Baker Street.

"Hey, kid," Sherlock spoke as they both followed Phoebe into her new flat, John following soon after.

"Mr Holmes?" Theo questioned as he recognized him from the news articles that had gotten out about Sherlock solving the case of Lord Drebber's murder.

"That's me. Just call me Sherlock." He crossed his arms with his signature grin on his face.

"And this is Doctor Watson. The lady at the door was Miss Hudson," Pheoeb introduced. "John, Sherly, this is my little brother Theo."

"You've really sprouted since I saw you last," Sherlock chuckled lightly as he grabbed one of the apples rfom Phoebe's table, taking a bite quickly.

"PheePhee told me all about you and Mycroft! She even taught me some of the stuff you both taught her!" Theo said excitedly as he smiled at the detective. "And she told me that you're a detective now! That murder you just solved the other week was so cool!"

"Maybe if your sister lets you, you cab join me on a case," Sherlock offered and Phoebe grimaced.

"I don't know," Phoebe mumbled, not wanting to traumatize her little brother.

"Please! I wanna help solve a murder!" Theo begged as he looked at Phoebe, a pleading look in his eyes.

Phoebe sighed and gave Sherlock a quick glare. "I guess. But, only if I'm there with you and it's not potentially dangerous or too gruesome, understood, both of you?"

"Yes, ma'am," they both said in unison.

"I have some pie baking in the oven. It should be ready soon if you all want some," Phoebe said as she motioned to the kitchen.

"John, you are in for a treat!" Sherlock announced as he ran to the table to wait.

"I'm sorry I didn't make enough when I made it for the Irregular boys," Phoebe apologized as she checked on the pie. "It's apple, if that's alright."

"That's perfectly fine, and don't worry about it," John replied, giving a warm smile.

Theo asked Sherlock about some of his favorite cases, which Sherlock more than happy to gloat about past cases he'd solved.

Phoebe pulled the pie out of the stone oven after a little bit and fanned it with a towel.

"Let it cool down a bit and then we'll eat it. Don't tell mom you're having dessert before dinner." Phoebe winked at her brother who smiled.

"Our secret," Theo agreed with a childish grin. "Is it ready?"

She laughed lightly as she cut the pie. "It's still a bit hot, but if you want a slice, be careful. That goes for all of you."

After serving each of them a slice, Phoebe sat down beside Theo, across from Sherlock.

Sherlock and Theo immediately started to scarf down their treat.

John took a bit and his posture straightened. "Wow! This really is delicious, Phoebe! Where did you learn to bake like this?"

"My mother and I would bake all the time when I was younger. Father was almost always busy when we were younger, so we found ways to entertain ourselves. Baking is one of my favorite things," Phoebe explained before taking a bite of her own slice. "I've wanted to open a bakery for years now."

"Well it's a good thing. You'll definitely have a loyal customer in me," John replied, enjoying the delicious dessert he had been served.

"I'll get started on dinner in a little bit. Don't fill yourselves too much. There's always time to eat pie later," Phoebe reminded.

The four continued to eat while Theo occasionally asked questions about different cases.

-

Phoebe was humming to herself as she cleaned up her kitchen when her door was swung open.

"PheePhee! Sherlock just got a telegram! There was a murder! Can we go?! Can we go?!" Theo spewed immediately with a gleam in his eyes.

Phoebe sighed, not thrilled that they would be taking her fourteen year old brother to a investigate a murder, but she did promise.

"Okay, but I will only allow you to help after Sherlock and I have seen the body. Do you know if John is coming as well?" Phoebe asked as she put down her rag.

"Yes! Doctor Watson is coming too! Sherlock told me to tell you that you shouldn't dress poofy," Theo relayed as he smiled brighter than before.

"Alright. Go tell Sherlock I'll only be a moment and then I'll join you," Phoebe replied.

"Thank you, Phoebe!" Theo ran to hug her and she returned it quickly.

"If at any point you get scared or I think you are in danger or you feel too queezy, I'm bringing you home. I don't need mother kicking my behind for scaring you," Phoebe explained and he nodded quickly.

"I understand. I'll go tell them you'll be up soon!"

Phoebe watched as Theo ran out of her flat to go upstairs. She turned to go into her bedroom, pulling out some equestrian riding clothes.

She knew that a woman of her standing should never be seen in public in such attire, as she could be seen as cross dressing, however needs must when there is a possiblity of a chase. She would not be caught in poofy dress that allowed for hardly any movement if she could avoid it.

She went upstairs to see Sherlock showing Theo different tools used in an investigation.

"Alright, I'm ready to go," Phoebe spoke and they all turned to her.

"Then let's head out," Sherlock replied and they all went outside.

"We should take two carriages so it's less cramped," John suggested and Theo perked up.

"Can I ride with Sherlock?" Theo asked and the detective chuckled.

"That's up to him," Phoebe replied to which Sherlock shrugged.

"Sure! I can talk him through what will most likely end up doing," Sherlock said and Phoebe smiled.

"Alright. Then I'll ride with John," Phoebe said as she looked at the doctor beside her.

They got the two separate carriages, though Phoebe and John got one a little later than Sherlock and Theo.

"So, I've never really asked, how did you and Sherlock meet? Yesterday he said something about 'after he left' and it made me curious," John spoke as they rode to the scene of the crime.

"My parents knew his parents. They weren't close friends or anything, but they introduced me to Sherlock. At first I wanted to be friends with him, but he's very stubborn, as you have already probably deduced for yourself. He left for university when we were sixteen though and I didn't see him for eleven years," Phoebe gave a brief rundown.

"The way you two interract made it seem like you two have been very close friends for a long time," John admitted. He won't let me touvh the photo of you on the mantel or the letters."

"Miss Hudson said the same thing. I don't really know why he's so defensive of them, but I think it's almost sweet. However, I'm not really sure what my relationship with Sherlock it. I would love to call him a friend because we are quite close, even though we only reconnected a little over a month ago, but he is a thorn in my side," Phoebe replied as she sighed.

"But you couldn't bare to lose him again, could you," John surmised.

"I'd be lost," Phoebe confirmed. "It sounds pathetic, I know. However, I feel like I'm sixteen again whenever I see him."

"You do seem to care for him a great deal. I will say, it is a bit surprising that you moved in so quickly. Though, I am one to talk," John said with a light chuckle.

"I will admit, I was looking for a suitable place for myself. I love my family and I do not take being of noble blood lightly, but Theo is the heir to our family name as the eldest son of our family. I would like to live my own life. I love my brother dearly, but if he is to inherit my family'e estate, I wish to have a place to call my own. It also gives me the opportunity to have the bakery I always wanted."

"I think it's admirable of you to take your future into your own hands." John gave one of his warm smiled.

He was definitely the perfect contrast from Sherlock and Phoebe appreciated his friendship.

"Forgive me for prying, but has Sherlock always been this brash?" John asked after a moment.

Phoebe laughed as she nodded. "Always! He insisted on not making friends because they would be useless and boring. He used to call people out on their faults constantly which made him very unpopular with the local kids. And he was always incredily intelligent and witty. It was one of the reasons I stayed around him for so long. There were other reasons as well, but it was largely due to how much he would consistently impress me."

"It surprises me that he didn't was to be friend with you. From what I've seen, he greatly admires you and insists that you are friends," John replied.

"It actually baffles me if I'm being honest. He used to be so adamant on the fact that I was only a nuisance and that we were not friends. I do appreciate the change, though it will forever confuse me. However, I suppose people do change." Phoebe leaned against the back of the cab and smiled to herself.

They continued to make small talk the rest of the way there. once at their destination, they met up with Sherlock and Theo who were talking about different ways to commit a murder.

"Please try not to corrupt my brother, Holmes," Phoebe spoke, alerting them to their arrival.

"Ah, you made it! Per your instruction, I have not let Theo see anything, mum," Sherlock said with a grin. "Shall we take a look then?"

"Thank you and yes. Let's go," Phoebe agreed before they all made their way into the house where Lestrade and Gregson were waiting. "Ah, a pleasure to see you again, assistant inspector."

Gregson glowered at her before setting his sights on Theo. "So we're just inviting everyone now are we?"

"I'd say he's probably just as capable of solving a murder as you are, Gregson. If not more so," Sherlock defended as he narrowed his eyes.

Gregson rolled his eyes as he scoffed."Please. He's still a child."

"Yes, and he is the brother of the smartest woman I know. Now, if you will kindly shut your mouth, I would like the inspector to explain the situation to us in full," Sherlock shut him down before turning to Lestrade. "Inspector, if you would please."

Lestrade cleared his throat and began. "Right, well we got a request to look into a man's missing wife after neighbors had told him that she wasn't home. After a few days of looking, the man actually found her in their attic. We questioned him, but he had been away on work for the week. The only reason he knew she was missing was because of the neighbors who had gone to visit her. We have no leads at the moment. The neighbors are clean and the woman's husband has a solid alibi."

Sherlock hummed as he put a knuckle to his chin. "Interesting. I would like to speak to the husband if possible. I just have a few questions I need answered from him."

"Of course. He's currently in the kitchen with one of our other officers being further questioned," Lestrade explained.

"Perfect. I'd like to see the body first," Sherlock replied and Lestrade nodded curtly.

"Right this way."

Lestrade lead them to the attic and Phoebe walked beside Theo. "Are you sure about this? You can still wait outside."

"I'm sure. I'm a little scared, but I'm more excited than anything!" Theo replied to which Phoebe nodded. "Alright. Let's go."