This Chapter is to double as a sort of background and a Christmas story. Just so that everyone gains some insight into Sherlock and Irene's lives in my head.

Merry Christmas to all the followers of this story! Thank you for your support!

Three years ago, baker Street had gotten very…cramped. There was John, and his fiancée Mary; and Sherlock and sometimes Nero and Irene. There were baby toys and women's clothing scattered throughout the apartment. The lace was never quiet. Mrs. Hudson couldn't keep up with all the housework (even though she was not their housekeeper).

That changed after John and Mary got hitched and moved out. It upset Sherlock a bit, since he still insisted there was enough room. But John and Mary's leaving sparked a domino effect: Irene and Nero moved in permanently, and 221B became "the Holmes-Adler residence."

Nero got bigger, as children do, and he had an interest in the violin. He was much like his father in that he got bored often and easily. But he wanted to play like his father, so he continued learning. Sherlock taught Nero things when he found time. Chemistry, anatomy, math. He taught him French and the violin. Irene taught him English, and history (which Sherlock claimed was dull). All in all, he was a very bright kid. And his violin playing was exceptional for a five year old.

John insisted on having holiday get-togethers. Sherlock rolled his eyes, but Irene and Mary were friends and she thought it was a great idea. So Sherlock found himself playing a holiday concert on the violin every year.

This Christmas, everyone was actually having a good time. Mrs. Hudson's food was impeccable, and Mary had made a lovely chocolate cake for dessert. John wore a frankly awful jumper (like he did every year) and even Nero behaved. The boy was normally hyper-active—like Sherlock on a case—and he'd jump all over everything and deduce the presents and eat up all the candy all night long. Tonight however, Nero only did these things for a little while. When dinner time came, he sat and ate half his food, and grinned whenever someone commented on his intelligence.

He wore little dark jeans and dressy shoes and a white jumper Mrs. Hudson made for him. Irene had started cutting his hair, so it was only very curly on the top. And his teeth had started falling out—he was missing two on the bottom. (John had tried to convince him of the tooth fairy, but he said no impossible and gave the teeth to his father, who gave one back, and together they studied them under their respective microscopes).

After a slice of cake, they opened one present each. Nero opened all of his presents from everyone except his parents (who often bought elaborate gifts for him). He received a magnifying glass from Lestrade, a jumper and a beanie from Mrs. Hudson, slides from Molly (nothing too graphic: skin tissue, pancreatic fluid, the like), and a box of books and some aviator goggles from Mary and John (he had expressed an interest in flying). Nero thanked everyone politely, and loaded his gifts into a bag and dragged them upstairs.

A few hours later, while the adults were having drinks, Mycroft arrived. He'd started coming around more now that Nero was in the picture. "Where is he?" he asked after looking around for his nephew. "Playing with his new toys, I imagine." Sherlock drawled into his tumbler. Mycroft huffed, and placed a smallish box on the pile of presents. He stayed for a few glasses of scotch, then left in his shiny car.

After Mycroft left, the inevitable happened: Sherlock was asked to play. Surprisingly, he said: "No."

"Oh, Sherlock, but I enjoy your violin! Please, Sherlock it's a tradition!" Mrs. Hudson badgered him, but he wouldn't budge on the subject. "Well, violin playing should be a tradition, not just Sherlock's violin playing."

"Oh but you play the best!"

"Well, there's a new up-and-comer. Nero!"

Nero (like his mother) liked people. But (like his father) he could only take them for so long. So he was upstairs hiding. The child was great at hiding. Neither Sherlock nor Irene could ever find him if he put effort into it, so if he hid, they had to call for him or draw him out.

There was no answer this time. Irene sighed, then hollered up the stairs in French that sounded very menacing. Seconds later footsteps were on the stairs.

"Nero, Mrs. Hudson would like a violin concert. Perform for her." Sherlock said. "Okay." The little boy replied.

He grabbed his violin and bow from the table where his father's stood. He had scratches and scrapes all over his arms and legs from being too curious around bushes and shrubs and rocks. The little boy situated his bow like he was ready to play, until Lestrade stopped him.

"Where are your clothes, boy?!"

"Off." He replied, waiting from a signal from either of his parents to being playing.

"He doesn't like them." Irene said. "And he's five, he's not really hurting anyone."

"You're supposed to grow out of taking your clothes off in public, not grow into it." Lestrade said, still confused that neither Sherlock nor Irene nor Nero seemed to be uncomfortable with the boy's nudity.

"Detective Inspector, did I ever tell you how Sherlock and I met?" Irene said, while Sherlock snickered, and John shook his head. "It's a riveting tale—"

"Daddy, can I start?"

"Certainly."

And thus everyone at the party enjoyed (despite the lack of clothing) a lovely rendition of "Silent Night" performed by Sherlock's naked son.

Okay! I know this was up quick, but I had already typed Chapter 2 so I just typed Chapter 3 and threw it up for ya'll.

Still looking for prompts, don't be afraid to suggest something you want to see.

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