Chapter 4

It may seem like there is a lot in the boxes, but it really is just different colored lights and some paper snowflakes. There is also a couple of magnets to put on the refrigerator, several boxes of ornaments for the tree, and I find Sherlock and Mrs. Hudson's stockings. All these years Sherlock and I have lived together, we never got a stocking for me. I look to tell Sherlock, but strangely enough he is half buried in a box that comes up to his waist.

"What the hell are you doing?" He's head first in the box and seems to be looking for something important. I walk over to where his legs are sticking out and look down into the box. There's nothing in it as I can see except for a bunch of packing peanuts.

"Sherlock?" I am trying to peer closer, so I can get a glimpse of his face, deep down within the box.

"Don't say it John…" I hear his muffled voice come from under the packing peanuts. "Because yes, there is something in here."

"From the looks of it, no there isn't Sher-" But I am stopped because the box is beginning to tip backwards from the weight of his legs, and I dive down to the floor and try to use my good arm to slowly lower it to the floor. "Wouldn't that have been the better idea Sherlock? To lie it down before digging?" Sherlock wriggles out and gives me a slightly annoyed face. I give him the Well it's true look right back at him. However, he suddenly gets excited and dives back into the box yelling, "I found it!"

Sherlock returns from his search with a red object. It's practically rolled up in a ball, until he unfolds it and hands it to me. Clearly he bought this a long time ago and forgot about it till now, because he's just handed me a stocking that has my name on it. It's about the same size as his, slightly smaller, and it has a pattern of rainbow lights all over it.

"When, may I ask, did you buy this?" I shake it a little in my hand and look down at him. He's on his knees, sitting on the heels of his feet, and packing peanuts are everywhere in his messy, brown hair.

"About a year ago, judging by the wrinkles, but I never gave it to you, because I forgot." He bends his arms and puts his hands on his thighs. "You find anything interesting?"

"Not particularly. Just a bunch of lights, ornaments, and the other stockings," I say. "Is that all you've found so far?"

"Pretty much. But I lugged most of these boxes up here, mind you." Sherlock reaches down into the nearest box and pulls out a bunch of lights. He wraps them all around his body, like he's a little kid.

"Well," I say, "You look very festive. Having fun, are we?" Sherlock brings the lights in closer to him and shows me a big smile.

"You never really understand John, how much I love Christmas. After all, it is my favorite holiday." He walks around the living room a bit, then stops in front of the mirror and examines his reflection. A puzzled look crosses his face and he picks the packing peanuts from his hair. While doing so, he says to me, "John, I'm going out later to find us a Christmas tree. Would you like to come, or stay here and rest?"

"I think rest would be best for me, but go now and I'll decorate while you're gone. I'll help with decorating the tree when you get one. But, send me a picture of each tree so I can see which ones I like the best. We need a perfect tree for the holidays."

"Of course. I'll be back probably within an hour. Don't worry about me having to bring it upstairs. I can do it. You just decorate so everything looks pretty." He runs over to the desk chair and slips on his coat. And, for the finishing touches, he wraps his favorite scarf around his neck.

"Take gloves," I say to him. "You don't want frozen fingers or a sprained wrist like me." Sherlock nods towards me in thanks, and takes his gloves out from his coat pocket. Before he is able to run out the door, we find Mrs. Hudson standing in the door frame. She is holding a black suitcase and sees both the confused looks on our faces.

"I will be visiting family this Christmas, and I forgot to tell you earlier. I'm heading out right now, so I wanted to wish you both a Merry Christmas!"

"And you have a spectacular one yourself!" Sherlock bends down to hug her, and then he reaches around her face to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Merry Christmas Mrs. Hudson. Have a safe trip!" And before she can say thanks, he's bolted downstairs and out the front door. Mrs. Hudson laughs and walks over towards me.

"Merry Christmas John." I reply almost exactly the same way Sherlock did, but calmer, and I also give her a hug. "You two have a great time together!"

"We will! Thanks!" And then I find her walking towards the door, hear the click click click of her shoes, and the slam! of the front door. I am now all alone, but I have fun decorating 221B and I open my laptop to listen to Christmas music.

Sherlock's first Christmas tree text comes not even fifteen minutes after he left. From the looks of it, the tree would not even reach up halfway towards the ceiling, and there is a slight hole in the center. I send him a text back. Maybe…keep looking. I continue putting lights all around the window, until it makes a perfect border on the window frame. I plug in the cord to see if they work, and I get a glow from almost every light on the cord. A few have burned out, but I don't try to replace them because I have to reach up to take them down, and I'm too short and can barely reach. I am amazed how I even got them up there.

The next text comes when I am hanging the stocking on the chimney. My phone vibrates and I pick it up. The message with it says This one? This tree I can tell almost immediately that it is crooked, and it would probably fall over the minute we put it up. It's crooked. I don't want a tree falling over and breaking all the ornaments. Try…But before I can finish and send the text to him, he sends me another message. This one looks perfect! is what the message reads. I open the picture and see a big, fat and fluffy Christmas tree; the perfect one for 221B.

I think to myself, this is going to be the best Christmas ever as I send Sherlock a new text back. I express my happiness towards him the exact way he did. That's the one. Bring it on home, cause this is going to be one fantastic Christmas!