Prompt: Choose a middle name for Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
A/N: This was another of those ideas I got at 3:00 am... it sounded good then, I promise!
"Bother."
Holmes looked up from whatever he was doing at his chemistry set. "What is it?"
"Oh, it's nothing, really," I sighed. "Just that my middle initial is H, not N. Sometimes I don't think the people at the Strand are even trying to get things right."
Holmes shook his head and turned back to his experiment. "I doubt anyone will notice, old fellow. In any case, middle names are distinctly overrated. I never use mine."
I looked at him quizzically. "What is yours?"
He still didn't look at me, but from what I could see of his expression he looked sorry to have brought it up. "Oh, never mind, Watson. Now let me see..." He became suddenly and suspiciously engrossed in the contents of the beaker before him.
I grinned at him. "Come now, Holmes. Nothing to be ashamed of in a name. What is it?"
He muttered something unintelligible.
"Beg pardon?"
"My middle name," he said testily, finally turning to face me, "is James."
"James?" I repeated incredulously, before I could stop myself.
"James," he said bitterly.
"Er... why James?"
"It was my mother's idea--Apparently some distant relative she was fond of was named James. So she chose it as my middle name."
"Well, there's nothing wrong with the name James," I pointed out. "I mean, I suppose it is rather too common--sometimes people see the J in my name and assume it's James. Mary would sometimes call me James in front of acquaintances just to see if they'd notice."
"And did they?"
"Usually not. But it's hardly a bad name, Holmes."
"It may not be a bad name for some, Watson, but it is for me," was his reply.
"Well, what is wrong with it?"
"James? As my middle name? 'Sherlock James Holmes.' It sounds daft."
"No it doesn't." I turned it over in my head once or twice, and couldn't supress a smirk. "Well, perhaps a little..."
Holmes glowered at me. "Thank you, Watson."
"Well, take comfort in knowing that when I write about your middle name the Strand will surely get it wrong."
"Watson--"
"Only joking, Holmes," I hastened to reassure him, but I could not contain my laughter. He continued to glare at me, but I caught a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.