CHAPTER ONE
My friend Sherlock Holmes did not talk about his early years often and hardly about his own family. I came to believe that I only knew Mycroft because Holmes wanted me to come on the case with him. I often questioned him about his family but found my friend closed mouthed about them. After the whole ordeal with Professor Moriarty, I found my-self wishing I knew other members of his family to help them with the loss. Once my friend returned to England I was overjoyed to have him back that I pushed the thoughts of his family from my mind.
"So Watson do you have plans for your Christmas Holiday?" My friend asked me one night over dinner. We had got out to eat at our favorite restaurant, and were enjoying a nice game of people watching.
I looked over at him, "Not that I know of, after Mary died I do not really get away from work. Why do you ask?"
Holmes smiled, "I received a letter from my father, he has asked Mycroft and I to come home for the holiday and I was wondering if you would care to join us."
I was taken back, "Of course I would be delighted to come with you." I kept looking strangely at him, "when do we leave?"
Holmes clapped his hands together and smiled wider than normal, "We will be leaving tomorrow with Mycroft. Be sure to pack warm, my families lands are in the country and can get quite cold at night." With that, he stood up and we walked home in silence.
The next morning I found my-self in the same compartment as Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. Mycroft was not a small man, I had not seen him sense Holmes had returned to England, he had not changed much. He was almost asleep in his set and I was reminded of Holmes' words when I first met Mycroft, "He has no energy."
Holmes was sitting close to the window reading the paper we had picked up on our way to the station. He had not had a case for week and I believe he was happy to get way; he was starting to drive me mad with his pacing.
Watching the two brothers, I was able to see they shared many facial feathers; the both had the grey eyes that carried a far of look when they were thinking. While Holmes had sharp cheekbones, Mycroft had a soft look around his face but with my medical knowledge, I knew if Mycroft lost some weight, he and Holmes would be almost copies of each other.
"Oh Watson," Holmes said setting the paper aside, "I would be extremely grateful if you would not mention my cases when we are at my parents house." His eyes held a look I had not seen in them before, and I had no idea what it meant.
I smiled, "I will not mention any of the cases." Holmes smiled but the look in his eyes was still there. However, he turned to his brother.
"Father is sending down a sleighed right?" he asked.
Mycroft sat up and looked at his younger brother, "Yes, or he said he would in his letter. From what I hear they have got two feet of snow in the week." Holmes nodded and turned to looking out the window. "What are you so nervous about?"
Holmes sighed, "Mycroft who was one of fathers closes friends?"
Mycroft looked at his brother, "Colonel James Moriarty," Mycroft closed his eyes and nodded, "Dr. Watson I will tell you something about our father, he was a military man up until his older brother died and had to become a country squire. All the farms around Yorkshire are his, he is a very rich man, and does not put up with any type of weakness. Sherlock, do not worry about this colonel there is always a chance he will not come to the dinner."
Holmes looked over at his brother, "You know that is not likely, the colonel always came to the dinners when we were kids. The professor would come with his brother once in a while as well." Mycroft bowed his head and nodded.
I looked at Holmes, "That is how you knew the professor?" Holmes nodded. "You are worried he will start a fight with you about his brother's death."
A small smile came over friend's face, "I was so excited to see my childhood home again I didn't think about the Moriarty family being there."
Mycroft sat up again and looked at Holmes, "Well we will worry about it later. For now let me how has work been."
Holmes smiled and looked at his brother, "Like you would not know." The both laughed and I knew it was a joke between them one I would not get.