An aged John sat in the musty flat on 221 Baker Street. The blinking, twinkling lights of their Christmas tree casted soft light on his face as he sipped his tea. As he had lived in this flat with his partner Sherlock Holmes for many years, this was not their first Christmas. But every year it was about the same, same lights, same plastic tree, same ornaments. They lived a simple, quiet life together, not needing much else but each other as they grew old.
Suddenly, Sherlock burst into the room from wherever he had run off to an hour ago, and held in his hand a smalll unwrapped box, about the size of a half dozen egg carton. Sherlock strode in, his long fingers delicatly handling the box, as if there were actually eggs in it. John closed his eyes and sighed. What had Sherlock brought home this time? Hopefully not another set of eyeballs he had gotten from God knows where. Sherlock shut the door and walked up to John handing him the box, snowflakes still stuck in his hair and nose and cheeks rosy.
John accepted the box with suspision. "Sherlock, what have you got this time? It is Christmas Eve you know? Just two days of the year where you can take a break from bringing home body parts!" Sherlock, still grinning rolled his eyes and happily hmphed. "John, I am well aware of your dislike of my work during the holidays. Now if you would just open the box, you'd find I have bought you a gift." John glanced up at Sherlock confused. The box was too small for the annual sweater Sherlock always gave him. Besides, wasn't presents for tomorrow? How out the the ordinary. John reached for his glasses he had beside his mug of tea and put them on and turned to open the present he had in his hands. "Alright, alright whatever you say Sherlock." John popped th lid off the box and combed through the layers of tissue paper, only to pull out a small golden trinket with a string loop attached to it. It was a hedgehog ornament! Completely golden except for a small black nose and little eyes. John's eyes widened. "Sherlock, its...nice. Thank you very much. A bit random though..?" Sherlock quietly took it from John, holding it up for the light to dance off of it. He began, "John I saw this in a shop window while I was out. It reminded me of you and not just because its uncanny resemblence", he paused to chuckle at John's facial expression, "but also what it symbolizes. The hedgehog is marveled at for how it can change its coat. If feels soft when it is gently held in one's hand, but can quickly turn into a prickly ball when threatened. So the hedgehog ornament reminds people to be kind and gentle to others and they will return the favor. John, at my darkest times you show this kindness to me, and remind me to return it." He looked at John again who sat silently gaping. After a few moments John said, "Well, I suppose we should put it on the tree then shouldn't we?" And so they did.
The next day they spent Christmas together, and John wore his new sweater and they golden hedgehog dangled gracefully from the tree as it would for many more years.
The End.