Well folks, I'm leaving for my internet-free grandparents' place tomorrow and won't be back until August 1st, but not without posting one final ficlet before I go. I realized that we never did find out what was in the Christmas gift Watson had for Holmes in Episode 13 and I doubt it was a dick in a box. So this is my take on what was in it.

Equal Billing

"Oh, Holmes! You've forgotten to open your Christmas present!"

"Quite right, Watson. With all the excitement, it simply escaped my mind."

"I don't suppose you've already figured out what it is."

"For your sake, old man, I have not attempted to deduce it." A smirk as he unwraps the package. "Although I can tell you that you tried to throw me off by using a deceptively large box; the gift item itself is relatively small."

Removing the lid and reaching into the mound of tissue paper inside, Holmes pulls out an old-fashioned style book, bound in new, supple leather that is cool to the touch. Embroidered on the front are the words, "The Continuing Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" in an elegant script.

Holmes deduces all this before he finishes extracting it from the box. Yet once it is out, he still cannot help but stare at it.

It is Watson who breaks the silence, feeling the need to explain himself. "It's a casebook I complied of all our recent adventures, beginning with your revival and continuing from there."

Holmes does not respond, so Watson continues, babbling. "Though I'm certain you've been keeping your own records, I edited mine all together into this one singular volume, and asked an antique book-dealer if he could be so kind as to have this printed up to my specifications. He did not mind doing so, although he did ask for quite the sum of credits in return… and now Holmes, I must ask you: what do you think of it?"

At this, Holmes tears his eyes away from the cover to meet Watson's. An eager anxiety is in them, hoping for the best but braced for the worst.

It has taken a lifetime for him to see how much his prior criticisms must have hurt. But perhaps it is not too late to repair the damage.

"I love it," he whispers softly, hugging it to his chest. "Thank you, Watson." He clears his throat, his voice regaining some of its old mastery. "But there's one minor detail I want you to change."

"What?" Watson's tone is not hurt yet, merely curious.

"The title, it simply will not do. Change it to 'The Continuing Adventures of Sherlock Holmes…"He looks at his friend with a fond smile on his face."…and John Watson'."

But it is nowhere near as bright as the one in his eyes, which glows even brighter when Watson returns it in kind.