This is really just a filler chapter. Sorry.

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Alexandra closed her latest book and sighed. Since she and Holmes had adopted Archie, things had changed. Alexandra had always used to go out with Holmes on his cases. Now, he went alone since she felt she had to take care of Archie. She missed him horribly, even if it was just for a day case. When he went away for a night or two, though, she felt as though she would never be whole again. Archie was reading beside her and noticed his mother's state.

"Mrs. Holmes, are you alright?" He asked. "Why are you crying?"

"Hm? Oh, I'm sorry." Alexandra wiped her eyes. Thinking about Holmes being gone always hurt her. "I'm just missing your father again, that's all. Just keep reading."

Archie, still a little worried about his mother, turned to back to his book. Alexandra put hers back and then took out another one. She couldn't concentrate on the words. After an hour of her shifting uncomfortably, she heard the door open. She stood up and ran into the entryway. Holmes was putting his coat and deerstalker on the hanger. She engulfed him in her arms.

"Oof!" Holmes said. He looked down at Alexandra and smiled affectionately. "Hello, dearest one."

"You can't leave me alone, Mr. Holmes." Alexandra said. Holmes hugged her back tightly.

"It's okay, Miss Watson. I always come back." He said. "I will always come back to you."

"If you say so." Alexandra said, pulling back from Holmes. He kissed her on the lips quickly.

"I missed you today." He said as he sat beside the fire. Alexandra sat across from him.

"I missed you as well." She said. Both she and Holmes were looking into the fire. Holmes was smoking his pipe. He looked up at her.

"Come here." He said.

Alexandra got up and went over to him. He pulled her down onto his lap. Alexandra sighed, content. Most married couples didn't show affection like this. Holmes, however, was different. He loved her and wasn't afraid to show it. Well, at home, anyway. Holmes stroked her hair as she rested her head against him. He kissed the top of her head.

"Mr. Holmes?" Alexandra said.

"Hm?" Holmes said.

"I love you so much." Alexandra said.

"I love you too, Miss Watson." Holmes said.

"I need to go on a case with you soon." Alexandra said.

"If I'm ever to be gone for more than one night, you can come with me." Holmes said.

"I'll sneak in the coach." Alexandra said.

"You try to do that." Holmes said. He smiled affectionately at her.

"Oh, I will." Alexandra said. "Do you have a case tomorrow?"

"I do not." Holmes said. "Unless someone comes to the house and offers one that spikes my interest, I will be home all day."

"Good." Alexandra said.

That night, as Alexandra slept beside him, Holmes studied her. She was so beautiful. He loved her more than anything in the world. Now that he thought about it, he felt awful about the way that he had treated her in the past. He remembered that when she had come to her brother and him for help after her old husband had abused her, he had been as rude as possible. He didn't even understand why. He thought back to that night and realized he had been dismayed because he, though he didn't know it then, was in love with her. He shook his wife awake. Alexandra stirred tiredly and let her eyes adjust to the gloom.

"Mr. Holmes?" She said. "What is it?"

"I apologize." Holmes said.

"What?" Alexandra said.

"I apologize." Holmes repeated.

"Whatever for?" Alexandra asked. "You've done nothing wrong. Or have you?"

"I have done something wrong." Holmes said. "Something terribly wrong."

"What is it?" Alexandra crossed her arms and stared at him as if he was a child she was scolding. "Tell me."

"I have been so rude to you, and I apologize to you for it." Holmes said. "I cannot express how much I regret my actions."

Alexandra tilted her head. "You haven't been rude to me as of late."

"But I was quite rude when you first came here." Holmes said.

"Mr. Holmes, I have forgiven you for that." Alexandra laughed. "I did the moment you confessed your love to me. But, if it makes you feel better, I forgive you again and I love you."

"Thank you, Miss Watson." Holmes said. He kissed her on the lips. Alexandra snuggled closer to him after they broke apart.

"Goodnight, Mr. Holmes." She said.

"Goodnight, Miss Watson." Holmes said.

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A week later, Holmes came home with a large box in his hands. Alexandra was confused. She didn't remember either of them ordering a package. Holmes set the box on the living room floor and called Archie. He kissed Alexandra on the head.

"What's in the box?" Alexandra asked.

"You'll see." Holmes smirked.

Archie came into the room. His brow furrowed in confusion at the sight of the box. Alexandra felt a flash of guilt. She still hadn't gotten around to searching for any information on his mother. She had been meaning to, but she didn't know when she could. She wasn't able to leave during the day because she had to take care of Archie and she couldn't leave in the evening because Holmes always wanted to talk about his cases. She would have to try and go out as soon as possible.

"What's in there?" Archie asked, nodding to the box.

"Miss Watson, Archie, I would like to introduce you to the newest member of our family." Holmes was grinning broadly as he took the lid off the box. A beautiful Irish Setter puppy poked his head out of the box. Both Archie and Alexandra gasped.

"A dog!" Archie said.

"I took him from my client. Their Irish Setter had puppies and they said I could take one." Holmes said. He looked to Alexandra. "Are you alright with it?"

"Of course I am!" Alexandra nodded. "He's adorable. What's his name?"

"I thought I'd let you decide that." Holmes said.

"Well, let's see. How about Darcy?" Alexandra suggested.

"Darcy? Why?" Holmes asked.

"After Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice." Alexandra said.

"Mmm...no." Holmes shook his head.

"What about...D'Artagnan?" Alexandra asked.

"Which book is that from?" Holmes asked.

"The Three Musketeers." Alexandra said.

"Can you come up with a normal dog name?" Holmes asked.

"Alright. Well, his fur is the color of rust...how about Rusty?" Alexandra said.

"Rusty...I like it." Holmes said. "Alright. Rusty it is."

"How much was he?" Alexandra asked.

"He was free. Like I said, his owner was a client. The client was so pleased with my work that I got him for free." Holmes said.

"He's a beautiful dog." Alexandra said.

"I know." Holmes said.

"Why did you want a dog so suddenly?" Alexandra asked.

"I used to have an Irish Setter when I was a child." Holmes said. "I've wanted a dog for some time now. I just didn't know how you would feel."

"You should have just asked." Alexandra chuckled. "I love dogs. I would have said yes."

"Did you have a dog as a child?" Holmes asked.

"No." Alexandra shook her head. "My parents were very neat and a pet would just mess with that. I'm just glad that Archie will have a pet to bond with. I needed that as a child."

"You had your brother." Holmes said.

"I did, but he couldn't always be there." Alexandra said. "But I also had my nanny. She was the one who told me that I didn't always have to listen to what men say. She was my first role model. Who was your first role model, Mr. Holmes?"

"My brother, Mycroft." Holmes said. "I don't think you've ever personally met him before."

"No, I haven't." Alexandra said. "Is he nice?"

"No, not as nice as he used to be. He changed after he went to school." Holmes said.

"Didn't you go to school with him?" Alexandra asked.

"Yes, but he acted as if he didn't even know me." Holmes said. "Speaking of school, how did you learn to read? Most women don't know how."

"John taught me." Alexandra smiled. "I wanted so badly to know how and he taught me. After he taught me the basics, I figured the rest out on my own. I might even start to try and publish my own stories one day."

"We should get Rusty a collar and leash at some point." Alexandra said.

"There's a pet shop two blocks away." Holmes said. "We'll get all the proper supplies tomorrow. Or, to be more precise, I will." Alexandra's stomach suddenly growled. She blushed.

"What was that?" Holmes asked.

"What was what?" Alexandra asked. Her stomach growled again. Holmes gave her a look. "I'm hungry."

"How about we go out to dinner tonight? Just you and me." Holmes said.

"What about-" Alexandra was interrupted by her husband.

"Mrs. Hudson can watch Archie." Holmes said. "Besides, he was on his own a lot at the orphanage. He'll be fine."

"Alright." Alexandra said. "Let's go to dinner."

"Go put on your best dress." Holmes said.

Alexandra smiled at her husband. She went and put on her favorite red dress. She was starving. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been out to eat. She put on a hat as a finishing touch, and walked out into the living room. Holmes was dressed in a suit and talking to Mrs. Hudson about Archie. He stopped mid-sentence when he caught sight of Alexandra. She looked lovely. Holmes took her hand and kissed it.

"You look absolutely stunning." He whispered.

"Thank you, Mr. Holmes. You look handsome as well." She said.

Holmes and Alexandra said goodnight to Archie and Mrs. Hudson. Alexandra was having a hard time leaving her son, and hugged him tightly. Holmes finally rolled his eyes and tugged her away.

"If you find yourself getting bored, you can go read in the sitting room. I will see you later, my darling." Alexandra said. She looked to Mrs. Hudson. "I would like him to be in bed by the time we get home. If he can't sleep, let him go and read."

"Yes, Mrs. Holmes." Mrs. Hudson nodded.

"Thank you, Mrs. Hudson." Holmes said.

"Yes, thank you for doing this." Alexandra smiled.

"It's no trouble at all. You two deserve to go out and have a romantic night." Mrs. Hudson smiled at them both.

"Come along, dear. We're going to be late." Holmes said.

Alexandra said goodbye to Archie one last time, and then allowed Holmes to lead her out to the cab that he had ordered to pick them up. It was a chilly evening, so Alexandra snuggled up to Holmes to keep warm. Holmes couldn't help but smile at his wife. She adjusted her gloves and he looked down at them. Her right hand had it's thumb exposed. He knew that meant she wanted him to kiss her. Holmes cupped Alexandra's face in his hands and kissed her. Alexandra kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. When they broke apart, Alexandra dropped both gloves. Holmes knew that that gesture meant that she loved him.

"I love you too." He said.

They arrived at the restaurant, and Holmes claimed their table. He pulled out Alexandra's chair for her and she sat down. The two of them ordered a three course meal. Their first course was soup. It was tomato basil soup, Alexandra's favorite kind of soup. If she hadn't been in a public place, she would have drank it straight from the bowl. The second course was the main dish, which was a roasted pheasant. They didn't have to share one, they both got one. The third course was dessert, where they had white cake. Alexandra and Holmes talked and laughed throughout the whole meal. Alexandra was glad to have this time with her husband. When they left the restaurant, Holmes called their cab. They talked a little more in the cab, but Alexandra had worn herself out.

"When we get home, would you be opposed to me sleeping in my day clothes?" Alexandra asked.

"Not at all, but won't that be uncomfortable?" Holmes asked.

"I will cross that bridge when I come to it." Alexandra said.

When the arrived back at Baker Street, they were pleased to discover that Archie was asleep. Alexandra went into his room and kissed his forehead before going to her own room. She heard Mrs. Hudson telling Holmes how she was appalled that they let 'that filthy animal' onto the couch, but she was too tired to defend Rusty. She called him tiredly, and the puppy ran in and jumped on the bed. Alexandra pet him while he curled up and fell asleep. She took off her hat and set it on the nightstand before falling asleep, too.

Holmes came into the bedroom. He smiled at the sight that greeted him. Alexandra was curled up on the bed and using their new pet as a pillow. He sighed and shook his head. He straightened her out so she was resting on the actual pillow rather than the dog. He tucked her in before crawling into bed beside her. He fell asleep quickly, content to be with his wife.