Hello, everybody; ModernDayBard here! This Christmas, EnduranceinHope and I decided to do something special for Christmas this year: a collaborative story set in the world of BBC's Sherlock. The main OC featured is my OC, Jenny Meyers, which you can meet in my fic New Neighbors on my profile!

For those of you who feel that's too much work, here's the basics: she's an American actress who moved to London; she rented 221C, hence meeting the 'Bakers Street Family'. She and Sherlock got off on the wrong foot, but now count each other friends. She's not a romantic interest or a replacement for John—just an every-person foil for Sherlock, who has to deal with her artistic tendencies.

Anyhow, let the Christmas season begin! (We own neither show nor songs).

Over his time as a consulting detective tracking down the dangerous criminal element in London, assisting Scotland Yard when they had the sense to ask, and generally poking his nose into places where it was most likely to be bitten off, Sherlock Holmes had gotten used to the varied and creative ways people would leave displeased messages or symbols at or on the door of 221 Bakers Street. So used to them, in fact, that they ceased not only to faze him, but often to excite him.

This one made him stop, however.

Not because he didn't recognize it or understand its meaning—his mother was fond enough of putting such…things on every free window or door at this time of year, after all…This time of year.

There it was. Deduction in place, and more than a little put out that Mrs. Hudson had chosen to decorate a public part of the apartment (rather than simply her own residence of 221 A) nearly a month in advance of the encroaching holiday, Sherlock made his way inside, intending to make one dry comment to his landlady before retreating upstairs.

In the end, he failed to act on such intention. As the door closed before him, he was met with the unexpected but somehow unsurprising sight of his landlady and downstairs neighbor decorating the inside hallways separating the three apartments, having evidently already turned their attention to 221A and 221C. Moreover, Jenny's iPod and speakers were positioned just inside the open doorway to 221A—far enough away not to be underfoot but close enough to hear—and cheerful holiday music was pipping out. None of this particularly took him aback—not even that the two women were singing along enthusiastically—knowing what he did of his neighbor and her enthusiasm for life in general. Why shouldn't it extend to the holiday season?

Hark how the bells—

Sweet, silver bells—

All seem to say,

"Throw cares away!

For a moment, he considered interrupting them, if only not to waste the lien he'd already mentally composed, but he considered how that would play out—likely, Jenny had mentioned something off-hand to Mrs. Hudson, who'd leaped at the chance to decorate and not informed the younger tenant about his particular aversion to an overabundance of visible sentimentality. The young actress would be embarrassed if he made a point, probably try to apologize, and may even feel guilty when looking at her handiwork, which was, as he knew, generally not what one was supposed to feel at this time of year.

"Christmas is here,

Bringing good cheer,

To young and old—

Meek and the bold!

With that in mind, then, he brushed by them without a word, nodding to both in passing and making his way upstairs. He wasn't against Christmas by any stretch of the imagination—had hosted holiday gatherings (well, John had hosted, he just simply hadn't objected)—and really, who was he to trample on someone else's good spirits and traditions? If he could hold his tongue at his mother's house, he could hold it here. Hopefully.

"Ding-dong-ding-dong!"

That is their song,

With joyful ring,

All caroling.

Besides, if that was cocoa and Christmas cookies he smelled in 221A, there may be a definite advantage to an early start to the Christmas season, after all.

So, yeah. Short little drabble to start off this song-fic series. Like New Neighbors, there won't be an overarching plot, just different scenes inspired by some of our favorite Christmas songs enjoy!

As always, if you saw something you liked, or something you think I can fix/improve on for next time, don't hesitate to leave a review and let me know!

Song Used: Carol of the Bells

Recommended Versions: Barlow Girl or Pentatonix, but really, I love them all.