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imaginedilestrade · 6 years

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Surreal but nice- Part one

A/N: Okay so it's my birthday this week and to celebrate I've decided to do a 90's marathon! I was born in the 90's and I've incorporated some iconic 90's movies and tv shows into fics! 😁

Kicking off this week is 'Notting Hill' 😊it's a two parter! I hope you enjoy! ❤️

Warnings: Swearing, lil bit of angst.

It was a typical Wednesday for Greg, spending the day in the unsuccessful little travel bookshop that he ran in Notting Hill. His favourite part of the world.

Nothing extraordinary happened to him.

He wasn't successful, he was divorced- his wife left him for a Harrison Ford lookalike, he was living with his mad Irish roommate Jim and he was stuck in a rut.

"Can I get you a cappuccino?" Sherlock sent him a smile as they went over the books. Another month, another loss.

"Sure but make it a half," Greg tried to make light of the situation "Its all I can afford!" His laugh fizzled out. Sherlock nodded and left. Greg pondered over a thought again, a reoccurring one.

Nothing extraordinary happened to him.

That was until the bell above the door rang and he saw someone sneak into his bookshop. "Can I help you at all?" He called out to the person he couldn't see because they were behind a bookcase.

"No thanks..." Greg felt his breath hitch at the softness of the voice that lingered for a moment in his stuffy bookshop. Although, it made the shop a little more refreshing "I'll just have a look around."

Greg noticed that you were wearing a large pair of sunglasses and a dark jacket with the same colour of trousers and a crisp white shirt with shoes to match when you peered your head from around the bookcase.

Greg couldn't shift his gaze from you or form a sentence that was more than one word.

You walked around and grabbed a book, opening it and skimming over the page "That book isn't that great, but if it's Turkey you want to read about," he called out and you looked over your shoulder, noticing he was grabbing a yellowish book "I recommend this one." He cleared his throat and glanced between you and the book "I think the man has actually been to Turkey, which always helps. There is also an amusing incident with a kebab," you felt the corners of your mouth twitch upwards "One of many amusing incidents!"

"I'll think about it..." you hummed and turned around. Greg looked around to the monitor and let out a sigh, you watched as he went to the back of the shop and confront a man trying to steal a book by stuffing it into his trousers. When Greg returned you walked up to the desk with your book "I was going to steal a book but now I've changed my mind," you joked and Greg let it a small, nervous laugh "Signed by the author I see."

Greg glanced at the book "If you can find an unsigned one it would be worth a bloody fortune!" His remark made you chuckle. A moment later the same man who attempted to get away with a book down his trousers walked up to you.

"Can I have an autograph?"

You glanced up to Greg briefly before looking down at the desk and then to the man "Sure..." you sighed out. Greg could visibly see you stiffen and noticed the nerves in your eyes when you looked at him again to take the pen he was handing you. "What's your name?"

"Phillip, Phillip Anderson." You quickly scribbled on the piece of paper and handed it over to him with a thin smile. He read over it "What does it say?"

"Well that's my signature and above it, it says: 'Dear Phillip, you belong in jail."

"Good one," he uttered "Do you-do you want my phone number?"

You had to physically restrain yourself from laughing "Tempting, but no." He left after that and you handed the book over to Greg "I'll take this one." He rang it up for you and tossed in another for free. You took the bag off him with a smile and a thanks before leaving. Greg watched you exit the shop and disappear, he couldn't comprehend what had just happened. It was simply...extraordinary.

---

After downing the cappuccino Sherlock had got him, Greg popped out to the coffee shop to pick up a bite to eat as well as an orange juice for Sherlock. He left the cafe with a smile on his face as the sun shone down on him. It was a lovely day, made even better by seeing-

"Shit!"

He had collided into someone whilst daydreaming and spilled the orange juice all over someone's top. Your top. Although some did end up over him. He tried to wipe it off you but you jumped back "Get your hands off me! God!" You whined and looked down at the bright orange patch on your shirt. Greg offered for you to clean up at his house that was just across the road. With a defeated sigh, you accepted his offer.

He lead you over to the flat and pointed upstairs, explaining where everything was. As you want to change, he attempted to clean the flat a little bit. When Greg looked up a few minutes later you had changed into a completely different set of clothes and no one could have guessed that you were soaked in orange juice not even five minutes prior. Greg, being nervous yet hospitable, offered you a multitude of drinks and snacks, including the odd combination of apricots and honey. You said no to it all. "Do you say no to everything?" He asked.

You were about to answer almost instantly before your voiced hitched, a small smile played on your face as you replied "No." You watched him lean against the fridge "Thank you for your help."

"Not a problem and if I may," you raised a brow slightly "Can I just say that I think you are...heavenly. I probably won't get the chance to tell you ever again because you'll never return to my bookshop because those ones you got today are awful!" You couldn't help but lightly laugh as you made your way towards his front door. "It was nice to meet you...surreal but nice!" You sent him a small smile before he opened the door again and you left, disappearing out a door once again. "What was I thinking?" Greg muttered to himself as he walked away from the door. Seconds later, it rang. He opened it back up and you were standing there, you had forgot your books. Greg let you back in again and fetched your books.

"Thank you," you took them from him and then faced him, staring into those big brown eyes of his. You were drawn to them and gravitated towards them and his lips. Greg was taken by surprise feeling your soft, warm lips on his. He never expected anything like this to happen to him of all people. You both slowly pulled back and were left looking at each other again, burning your eyes into one another's. But your eyes diverted to the door when it suddenly opened and Greg's roommate walked in, completely passing the two of you and acting like there wasn't a thing out of place.

"I uh..." you watched as Greg's roommate vanished around the corner "I'd appreciate if you didn't tell anyone about this."

"Oh no of course not!" Greg assured "I'll tell myself sometimes but I won't believe it!" You couldn't help but smile at his disbelief and the way his cheeks had flushed a light pink colour. You left once again, leaving Greg in a hazy cloud of different emotions.

---

Over the next few days Greg ground himself thinking about you constantly. There wasn't a single second where he didn't think about you or that kiss.

Jim, being unbelievingly scatterbrained, told Greg that you had phoned-three days ago-under a fake name. Greg made his way to the Ritz with a bunch on sunflowers but when he arrived at your hotel room, someone was behind him. "Are you sure this is the right room?" He asked the man who nodded. Seconds later the door opened and a blonde woman invited them both in. With confusion riddled over his face he followed her into the room and found a multitude of other people waiting.

"What magazine are you from?" The woman asked.

"Uh..." Greg glanced about and said the first one he spotted on a table "'Horse and Hound'."

"Right..." she wrote it down on her notepad "Well she's waiting for you, I'll take you through Mr..."

"Lestrade, Greg Lestrade."

Greg entered another room and felt the air drain from his lungs seeing you by the window with a smile on your face. "You have five minutes," your agent made Greg jump, suddenly appearing behind the bookseller. You awkwardly smiled and extended an arm to the seat beside you, your agent kept walking in and out of the room.

"These are for you but," Greg glanced around the room, it was already engulfed in flowers "But I suspect you already have enough!"

"No!" You took them from Greg "They're lovely thank you." You placed them down and let out a small sigh "I'm sorry it has to be like this. I thought the press tour would be over. I'm also sorry I had to give you a fake name, I do it all the time when I'm in hotels. People know how to hunt you down!" You forced a laugh.

Greg opened his mouth to speak when your agent came in and raised a brow at him "Uhh so do you have many horses in this film?"

"Well..." you glanced over to your agent and noticed him lightly shaking his head "Not any at all, no."

"Why is that?"

"Because the movie is set in space..." the corner of your lip twitched upwards.

Your agent left again and Greg let out a sigh of relief "I'm absolutely balls at this!" As your agent appeared and reappeared, he kept asking you horse related questions, eventually Greg's time was up.

"It was nice to meet you," you shook Greg's hand, keeping up appearances "Surreal but nice."

Greg felt his lips curve into a smile. Your agent left again and Greg squeezed in one final question before he came back "Are you free tonight?"

You sadly smiled "No...sorry." You pulled your hand back and cleared your throat, your agent came back and led Greg away where he was unexpectedly taken away to interview other cast members. He didn't have a clue was he was doing at was making a fool out of himself in the process. The blonde haired woman Greg had met before called out his name again and he uttered out a protest under his breath, he really didn't want to interview another movie star. But he didn't. Instead he was lead to your room again "I'm not busy tonight."

"Y-you're not? But I thought you had plans?" Greg's brow crinkled with confusion.

"I cancelled them."

Greg widely smiled "Oh shit! It's my sisters birthday! I totally forgot!"

"That's okay," you reassured "I don't mind going."

"You want to go?" He pointed at his chest "With me?" He then pointed in a westward direction "To my sisters birthday?"

"Yes." You nodded with a growing smile "I'll be your date."

---

"Uh Y/N," Greg nervously introduced you to his friends and family "This is John and Mary. Dear friends of mine."

"Hello!" Mary smiled "It's funny you are the spitting image of-"

Greg cut her off "Y/N, this is Y/N..." Greg sent Mary a knowing glare. She shook your hand with a gaping smile. Greg lead you over to John who was in the kitchen "John this is Y/N."

"Well it's nice to meet you Y/N," he went to shake your hand before freezing, instantly recognising who you were "Y/L/N!"

"Nice to meet you too," you moved your hand forward and shook his hand before he pulled away to get the door. Greg's sister entered and as soon as she did, she gasped.

"Oh holy fuck!"

"Y/N, this is my little sister, Honey. Honey, this is Y/N." Greg formally intoduved the two of you. Honey was in a starstruck haze.

"I am such a huge fan! Massive fan! You are utterly amazing and I think you are the most beautiful woman in the world!" You bashfully smiled at her comment "I genuinely believe, and I have for some time now, that we are destined to be best friends. What do you think?"

You were a little taken aback but sent her a smile "Lucky me!"

The doorbell rang again amd John answered it "Mycroft's here!" Greg introduced you to Mycroft, he was oblivious to who you were. You spoke with him while Greg chatted with John and Mary.

"So what do you do?" He asked.

"I'm an actor, films mainly..." you replied with a small smile gracing your face.

"Must be tough, I know people who barely get seven thousand a year! How much did you make on your last movie?" Mycroft sipped on his wine.

"Fifteen million."

He choked on his Chardonnay "Well that's," he coughed "Fairly good..."

John announced that dinner was ready but before you sat, you wondered where the bathroom was. Honey happily lead you through. "I can't believe the girl you mentioned was Y/N Y/L/N!" Mary squeaked.

"Y/N Y/L/N?!" Mycroft repeated back and placed a hand on his head "Ohh god. Oh god I feel so stupid."

"I can't believe it," Honey returned "I just followed Y/N into the bathroom. She had to tell me to leave! I was still chatting to her as she was pulling down her zipper!" She giggled. You returned a few moments later and enjoyed the company of Greg and his friends and family over dinner.

---

You and Greg walked side by side down the streets of London "Do you want to uh..." Greg spoke up, you could hear the nerves in his voice "My place is just..." he trailed off and nodded towards the end of the street.

"Too complicated..." you sadly smiled and continued walking. You stopped when you noticed a gate "What's this?" Greg explained that it was a garden that the residents in the surrounding houses shared. It was locked and Greg didn't have a key. "Lets go in!" You couldn't help but bit down on your lip to control your smile as you climbed over the bars. Greg struggled whereas you jumped over with ease.

"Now what in the world in this garden could make that ordeal worth while!" Greg jogged up to you, catching his breath.

He was caught off guard when you crashed your lips against his, sharing a passionate kiss under the moonlight.

He shook his head and his lips curved into a smile "Nice garden."

You silently walked through the park, every so often Greg would say something that made you laugh or smile. He was enamouring to you, he truely was like no one you had ever met. And you liked that.

A few days later you had dinner with him, it was ruined by a group of men sitting behind the small partition wall who were making remarks about you. At first you tried to smile and laugh their comments away but they got worse and soon Greg couldn't take any more of it and stormed up to the table. You felt your heart swell as he attempted to fight for you, to stand up for you. The men were too ignorant and rowdy so you pulled Greg back and headed to the exit "Thank you for sticking up for me, I love that you tried. Someone had to put them in their place...in fact..." you stopped and turned around, making a beeline for the table. All the men gasped and quickly uttered out apologies "My friend is a little sensitive," you shot them all a fake smile. "I'm sure it was all banter and I'm sure you guys all have dicks the size of peanuts, anyway, have a good night!"

You turned and walked away, Greg hot on your heels. "That was amazing!"

"Ohh I shouldn't have said that! I should not have said that..." you mumbled. Greg walked you to your hotel and you both stood outside for a moment "What am I doing with you...?" Your head cocked to the side a little.

"I'm afraid I don't know..." Greg shrugged a shoulder with a half smile.

"Do you want to come up?" You rashly asked. Greg didn't know what to say at first but after a few minutes of internal deliberation, he agreed. "Give me five minutes!" You walked into the hotel and made your way to your room with a smile. It fell very quickly when you saw who was waiting for you.

Greg made his way to your room five minutes later and knocked on the door, you opened it and felt your stomach sink. "Hello again," he kiss your cheek.

"You have to leave..." you whispered with tears prickling your eyes. Before Greg could open his mouth to ask what was wrong, your boyfriend appeared.

"Finally, some room service!" He bellowed and your gaze fell to the ground "I wanted to be the best boyfriend ever and order some fruit or somethin' for Y/N. Only fruit though!" He laughed and jabbed your side. He always degraded and you hated it, you hated it even more that Greg was standing in front of you. You didn't want to drag him into this mess. "And take that trash when you leave!"

You squeezed your eyes shut and let out a watery sigh "Greg, I'm sorry. I don't know what to say..."

Greg slumped his shoulders, disappointment clouding his face "I believe it's usually 'goodbye'." He couldn't even crack a sad smile.

He was heartbroken.

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PART TWO

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