Chapter 4 – What the Future Holds

After the conference, the entire Order, members that survived the missions, sans a few Irregulars; who were partying on their own; and Director; who was ostracized for her threats, were having one last get together. They got the one thing that they all loved, pizza.

With the Order disbanded, they might not see each other as regularly. They made a promise to meet up. Almost all of them made that promise. Even Sherlock promised to join from time to time. Only Melody said she couldn’t do it.

“I need to head home, my family ought to be worried sick about me”

“You didn’t tell them?” John said, “You were eighteen when we met! You ran away?”

“It’s…complicated” Melody stammered, before grabbing a slice of pepperoni, Canadian bacon, and anchovy.

They ate in almost silence, with a bit of chattering. When the pizza was finished, a cake wheeled in. Chocolate buttercream with the words Congratulations Order! written in icing. An inner piece was missing. No one questioned it, as a testament to how much weirder shit they have seen.

While enjoying the cake, Rickey (Mickey!) spoke up.

“Who started this Order anyway?”

“I thought that Director started it” a voice, Mary, said.

“Director worked at a fast-food joint”

“Right…”

“That would be me” Mycroft said, entering the room; eating that missing piece of cake.

Sherlock rolled his eyes.

“Mycroft?” John exclaimed, “You started the Order?”

“Honestly, Doctor Watson,” Mycroft smirked “who else could it be? Who would want to clear my little brother’s name as much as the one who was responsible for besmirched his name?”

“But why all this?” another Officer, Jessica, asked, “There must have been another way”

“This was the only way to show the world that there are people to believe”

A photographer came in, Mycroft had arranged for a photo of the members of the Order, the end members.

They all got ready for the photo. Sophia, noticing Melody’s small panic to where she should be, gestured for her to pose near herself, John and Sherlock. She smiled and stood near the three she called family.

---

“Do you really have to go home?” Sophia asked Melody, who; along with Sherlock and John; was seeing Melody off before she climbed into one of Mycroft’s cars to go home.

“My job here is done” Melody said, “I only need to stay here for three years.”

“But you could get Mycroft to-“Sherlock began

“No” Melody said firmly “I miss the people back home. However…” Melody reached into her bag, grabbing a disk “I have this to give you” she handed the disk to Sophia, “it is a scrapbook of the Order. So you cannot forget”

“Why don’t you take it?” Sophia asked.

“Because if anyone should keep the memory of the Order alive, it’s you Sophia.” Melody explained. “All three of you are the best people to keep the Order alive”

With that, Melody left.

---

John and Sherlock were as 221B. Two months had passed since Sherlock had returned. Yet Sherlock hadn’t been taking many cases.

“It seems that the Yard has finally became competent during my absence” Sherlock remarked, followed by a chuckle from John.

“Sherlock,” John said, with a sudden seriousness, “I have something to discuss with you”

“You wish to propose to Sophia, but you have no idea how it would impact me”

“Yes” John said, wondering how Sherlock could know that, “and you understand if she says yes, I would need to move out and find a new place with her”

“And you will also be looking for a proper job to support a family”

“You won’t have me to work with as much” John said, “because you won’t be able to drag me along”

“John” Sherlock said, looking at his best friend, “with the competence of the Yard, I won’t be needed on as many cases. We also spent three years apart. We can both handle not living together. As long as we are in each other’s lives, we will be ok.”

John smiled, grateful Sherlock understood before heading off to propose to Sophia.

End of Act IV