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Disclaimer: I don't know why you'd think I own Sherlock but I don't... sorry.

Love and Horses

By: Milify-Star

Audrey walked through the stable, still in her riding wear, to the stall where her horse was waiting for her.

"Hello Marci." She petted the horse's nose lovingly.

"Three and one fourths inches gave you the five points that pushed you to first place," A voice came from behind her and she turned to see Sherlock Holmes.

"You were late."

"My apologies, the traffic here is the worst." His excuses were never the best.

"Mm hm," She barely responded as she began to brush Marci. He observed her. How was it that she was the most OCD, pristine, young woman, yet she was easily read like a book? Her brown hair ran straight down her back, no split ends, not a hair out of place. Her lips were glossed and that was the extent of her make up. Her strict upbringing left no room for rebellion. She put her love and passion into whatever she was aloud, her horse, Marci, who she had been training with since thirteen years old. And then there was him, the absolute rebel from her bimonthly group therapy session. She wasn't allowed to even look at a young man before her father's approval and, with all of the school fights and referrals on his record, he was certainly not going to receive that. So, they had an unspoken affair that spawned one day when there was a car mash up, leaving them waiting alone together outside of the empty adolescent center under an awning as it rained. Sometimes he walked her home from school or he would see her at the dinner parties they both attended with their parents.

"Should I apologize?" He didn't find there to be a total need for it to be honest, at least he made an appearance.

"It's fine Sherlock. It's not the first time. Punctuality isn't part of your extensive vocabulary." She patted Marci then turned to him. "And it was three and three fourths inches if you had bothered to be here you would have seen it." She was more hostile than usual he noticed. She flexed her hands anxiously.

"What's happened?" He took a step towards her. The last thing that either of them needed was her going into an anxiety attack.

"Including the fact that everyone seems to have forgotten about me today or besides it?!" She snapped then took a deep breath. "Sorry." She apologized. He shrugged.

"It's fine. Who didn't come see you?"

"My family took it upon themselves to take a trip to Sussex for a few days. The driver will take me home. I'll be alone. You can come over I suppose."

"And by your family you mean," He didn't know who this included. It seemed to be different every time. Last time family meant father and Anna the secretary, the time before that it was mother and a gentleman from work who didn't even get a name.

"Surprisingly mother and father together at once. Sometimes I really think they love each other."

"I'll make your next one." He never promised she noticed. She liked that about him, it was better that way.

"I know. I forgive you."

A few days later when Audrey's parents returned, he noticed she hadn't attended school for two days. He couldn't call her so he went to the place he knew she would be, the stables. He walked up to Marci's stall and there she was, brushing Marci gently.

"You haven't been to school." He told her his observation. She didn't say anything. He was already certain of what it was. The first absence was an anxiety attack and the second was an intensive therapy session. "Don't listen to what he says, your therapist."

"Single minded is what he calls me. Single minded to the point of hindrance on my future. I need to change my routine and pick up a new hobby that is both time consuming and distracting as well as hard and boring, something that will really help me excel no matter what." She continued to brush the dark mane. After some time she told him. "My father's putting her down on Saturday. Said she's too old to sell and I won't be riding any horses anytime soon. I need to be spending my time helping others, taking leadership, perfecting my resume. Practically murder." She tossed her brush aside carelessly. "Doesn't matter, she's only a horse." She tried to walk away but Sherlock stopped her, grabbing her arm.

"Stop doing that. Stop it." He insisted. He didn't understand what she was feeling for this horse but he knew what it was like to lose something important and he knew that someone like Audrey wouldn't be able to manage holding it all in. Audrey felt the tears well up and a lump form in her throat.

"She's, she's only a," Audrey tried to continue but when she looked up at Sherlock she broke down. "What's wrong with me? Why can't I be normal?" Sherlock wrapped his arms around her tightly as the sobs racked through her. It was poison, everything that everyone told them just because they didn't act like every other high class teenager. There was nothing wrong with them.

"Nothing, nothing's wrong. they're all idiots, the lot of them. Now stop crying," He pulled back and held both of her arms. "It'll be fine."

-SH-

Audrey walked into the stables on Saturday morning with intentions of having one last goodbye only to see Sherlock his Father standing across from her Father. They were shaking hands.

"Audrey!" Her father called her over when he noticed her presence.

"Yes, sir?" She was thoroughly confused, even when Sherlock gave her one of his reassuring half smiles.

"This is Mr. Holmes, he said he's been looking for a horse for a while now. He's paid one thousand pounds for Marci here." He motioned to the stable where the horse stood. She stood stock still as the two adults left the children by the stable to finish business.

"What did you do?" Audrey immediatly asked Sherlock.

"I waited for my father to finish one of his trips then asked him for a horse. I told him I find peace in horses." He rolled his eyes at the absurd idea.

"You saved Marci." Audrey still stared at him.

"Um, I told my father that I should probably pick up riding lessons and that I knew a girl from the stables that was well skilled in the art. He should be asking your father if you can teach me as we speak. There's your leadership. You can ride Marci three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday now." He watched the happiness form in her eyes.

"Why are you doing all of this for me?" She asked.

"Because I think you know what's best for you too." He she shrugged as if it were no big deal. She took a step closer and pressed her lips onto his.

"You will become a great man Sherlock Holmes."

I honestly can't tell if these are getting worse or better but I can honestly say that I'm trying really, really hard.

Thanks for reading.