The Man With The Umbrella

- 6 -

There were never any exchanged text messages between the pair after the initial ones, weeks previous ago. The only contact Amelia had with Mr Holmes in the second month of him being her client was the coffee mug sitting on the counter every morning without uncertain fail.

Amelia felt awkward that Mycroft was purposely leaving just before she got there. The note that she left was probably thrown out by now as well.

Yet, he couldn't help himself to leave Amelia her coffee, could he? Ice-Man? How preposterous.

Of course, Amelia was of yet to be aware of his nickname... But then again, she would find it similar to her own that she seemed to acquire at Harvard. To her, he was stoic, odd, sarcastic and perhaps a little rude, but she guessed that, that was to be the norm for a man who held power and holds importance.

Amelia had little to no idea of the tangled webs she had slipped through. She had little to no idea the troubles Mycroft Holmes went to for those who mattered, and eyes were watching herself and her daughter closely.

It was in the first week of the third month of Amelia knowing Mr Holmes, a Wednesday, that begun her ascension into knowing him in quite... A different matter.

She usually stayed in Wednesdays, apart from picking her daughter up from school. Amelia was ever slightly annoyed that she hadn't seen Mr Holmes in nearly four weeks, other than the mugs of steaming coffee, and decided that wearing her black, knee length laced dress with pink heels would be appropriate as dress wear for a few drinks in a pub was deeply needed. So, after arranging for her sister, a recovering alcoholic, Harriet, to look after Viola for the night, her and Jolene went for gin and tonics.

Jolene ruled the evening with her usual manner, all bright smiles and witty jokes. She brought all the rounds and refused Amelia's hard earned cash to pay for them. Amelia, deep down, was grateful that she had a friend like Jolene James-Spencer.

After singing karaoke together and winning the cash prize of five-hundred quid which they split evenly; slightly tipsy, Jolene walked Amelia to Tooting Bec underground station at three o'clock the following morning.

***

"I've really enjoyed tonight." Jolene spoke after singing out of tune the song, Sweet Caroline. The two friends arms were laced together. "Me too." Amelia smiled. "But..." Jolene drawled. "I've never seen you so determined to get steaming." She hiccuped out. "What's wrong?" She paused her steps making Amelia stop completely in the street. She looked at the girl and gasped in delight. "Oh, it's that fancy man, innit? Ginger, wasn't he? It would certainly explain how you've started growing a backbone."

Amelia threw her head back and laughed. "What do you mean? I've always had a backbone." Jolene gaze thinned in mockery. "Sure you have." Tutting at her, Amelia moved on to say, "What can I say? He's gorgeous to look at." She shared with not a care in the world that she was being closely watched.

"Good God, girl. You are drunk." Jolene sighed out. "Well, what's happened? Did you snog him and choose tonight to get drunk and try and forget?" She questioned again. "What? No. Don't be so stupid." Amelia answered with a face stroppy. "I just... I guess... I miss seeing him before he leaves for work but then I forget that Mark did say it would be rare if not at all if I do see him, but... I don't know." Amelia tried to explain.

"Amy, it sounds like you have a soft spot for this man." Jolene tried to shed light to the situation. "And it feels like a piggin' crime to do so." Amelia muttered as the two walked into step again. "Babe, only because that tosspot Jonathan was an utter arsehole to you, what makes you think this man is the same?"