Chapter VI: I'll Be Holmes for Christmas

A/N: This story was inspired by "The Thin White Sleuth…" by Pika-la-Cynique of Girls Next Door fame.

Transcript by Ariane DeVere aka Callie Sullivan..

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It was Christmas Eve and Sarah was beginning to fall asleep. "This is your most reckless plan yet. I can't believe I agreed to help you with it," she mumbled.

"Maybe," Jareth said. He moved down so he could talk to his son, who would be born sometime in the next week.

"Hello, son. Mommy and I made sugar cookies with Grandma Hudson today. I am sure you liked them. Uncle John even came up and had tea with us. He is coming with us to the Holmes' cottage for Christmas. Aunt Mary will be there as will Uncle Sherlock and Mr. Umbrella. It is going to be a rough day tomorrow, so don't give your Mommy too much problems. I am really looking forward to next Christmas. Do you know why? Because it will be your first Christmas and I'll have known you for almost a year. Mommy and I will have watched you grow. You'll be with us, which will be the best Christmas present of them all. I love you, son." Jareth sang a lullaby as he wanted to sooth his child. He kissed Sarah's stomach. "Good night."

Jareth moved back up to kiss Sarah. "I love you, Sarah." He pulled her against him so that her back was to him. "My clever, wonderful, beautiful wife. Where would I be without you?"

"In more trouble than you already are, my future Goblin King," Sarah said. She kissed the palm of his hand. "I love you too."

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Jareth quite liked Mr. and Mrs. Holmes. They could already annoy Mycroft faster than Jareth ever could, even if he tried. The Holmes family were in the kitchen with Jareth as well as Billy, who Sherlock had taken under his wing.

"Oh, dear god, it's only two o'clock. It's been Christmas Day for at least a week now," Mycroft groaned, "How can it only be two o'clock? I'm in agony."

Mrs. Holmes pointed to a laptop at the end of the table. "Mikey, is this your laptop?"

"On which depends the security of the free world, yes... and you've got potatoes on it," Mycroft said dryly.

"Well, you shouldn't leave it lying around if it's so important," Mrs. Holmes said. She put a basket of Christmas crackers next to Mycroft.

"Why are we doing this? We never do this," Mycroft said.

"We are here because your and Sherlock's friend is home from hospital and we are all very happy," Mrs. Holmes said as she ruffled Jareth's hair.

Jareth grinned at Mycroft. Sherlock rested his head against the table as his shoulders shook with laughter.

"Am I happy too? I haven't checked," Mycroft said.

"Behave, Mike," Mrs. Holmes said.

"'Mycroft' is the name you gave me, if you could possibly struggle all the way to the end," Mycroft said.

Billy held a glass of punch. "Mrs. Holmes?"

She took the glass. "Oh! Thank you, dear. Not absolutely sure why you're here."

"I invited him," Sherlock said.

"I'm his protégé, Mrs. Holmes. When he dies, I get all his stuff, and his job," Billy said.

"No," Sherlock said.

"Oh. Well, I help out a bit," Billy admitted.

"Closer," Jareth said.

Billy said, "If he does get murdered or something..."

"You should probably stop talking now," Sherlock said.

"Okay," Billy said.

"Lovely when you bring your friends round," Mycroft said dryly.

"Stop fighting this instance." Mrs. Holmes huffed as she picked up two mugs of tea. "This is for the girls, those sweethearts. I'll be back in a minute."

Jareth glanced at his watch which had a countdown for seven minutes and thirty-seven seconds. "Let me help you, Mrs. Holmes."

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Mr. Holmes was busy putting wood into the fireplace when Mrs. Holmes and Jareth came into the living room. Mary was reading a book, The Dynamics of Combustion by M. L. Holmes. Sarah was next to Mary as she flipped through a book of art.

"Ah, girls," Mrs. Holmes said, "Here you are. Cup of tea. Now, if Father starts making little humming noises, just give him a little poke. That usually does it."

Mary giggled. "Did you write this?"

"Oh, that silly old thing. You mustn't read that. Mathematics must seem terribly fatuous now!" Mrs. Holmes said, "Now, no humming, you!" She patted his backside before leaving the room.

Jareth stood behind Sarah and wrapped his arms around her. "Drink your tea, precious. You haven't had any today and it makes you cranky."

"Am not," Sarah said.

Mr. Holmes said, "Complete flake, my wife, but happens to be a genius."

"She was a mathematician?" Sarah said.

Mr. Holmes nodded. "Gave it all up for children. I could never bear to argue with her. I'm something of a moron myself. But she's…" he lowered his voice, "…unbelievably hot!"

Jareth snickered and kissed Sarah's cheek. "I understand that sentiment."

"Oh my god. You're the sane one, aren't you?" Mary said.

Mr. Holmes raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you?"

John walked in and tried to walk out again. Mr. Holmes came to the rescue. "Do you two need a moment?"

"If you don't mind," John said.

Jareth helped Sarah to her feet and led her to the dining room. Mr. Holmes said once the door was closed behind them, "Those two. They all right?"

"They've had their ups and downs," Jareth said.

Mr. Holmes nodded and left the couple alone. Jareth kissed Sarah's cheek. "John won't hurt her. I never would have allowed them in the same room, even the night he found out, if he would. Do listen in though. I am going to talk to Mycroft."

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Mycroft smoked a cigarette as Jareth was perched on the stone wall outside of the Holmes' cottage. The goblin had several rocks in his hands and he was tossing them into the field behind the house.

"I'm glad you've given up on the Magnussen business," Mycroft said.

"Are you?" Jareth said as he tossed a stone.

"I'm still curious, though. He's hardly your usual kind of puzzle. Why do you... hate him? Moriarty at least had your pity," Mycroft said.

Jareth glared at Mycroft. "Because he attacks people who are different and preys on their secrets. Why don't you?"

"He never causes too much damage to anyone important. He's far too intelligent for that. He's a business-man, that's all, and occasionally useful to us. A necessary evil – not a dragon for you to slay," Mycroft said.

Jareth chuckled and tossed another stone. "You have spent far too much time with Sarah if you think me a dragon slayer." He jumped down off the wall and stood next to Mycroft.

"Oh no, Jareth. You think of yourself as a dragon slayer." Mycroft chuckled. "You are the most hopeless romantic I have ever met.

Jareth gave a half-smile. "Family trait."

"I have, by the way, a job offer I should like you to decline," Mycroft said.

Jareth raised an eyebrow as Mycroft never did that when it came to jobs. "I decline your kind offer."

"I shall pass on your regrets.

"What was it?"

"MI-6. They want to place you back into Eastern Europe. An undercover assignment that would prove fatal to you in, I think, about six months. And you would have finished it rather than go back to the Labyrinth because you are that stubborn of a bastard."

"Then why don't you want me to take it?"

"It's tempting... but on balance you have more utility closer to home."

"Utility. How do I have utility? In a little over a week, you will have no power over me. With that job, you'll have a little less than six months of my skills at your disposal," Jareth said.

Mycroft took a final drag of his cigarette. "'Here be dragons.'" He stomped the cigarette. "This isn't agreeing with me. I'm going in."

Jareth followed Mycroft as they made their way back to the house. "You need low tar. You still smoke like a beginner."

"Also, your loss would break my heart."

Jareth tripped and almost fell to the ground. "Your heart? You didn't even spare your other brother from… You don't even like me! What the hell am I supposed to say to that?"

Mycroft smiled. "Merry Christmas?"

"You hate Christmas," Jareth said.

"Yes. Perhaps there was something in the punch," Mycroft said.

"Clearly. Go and have some more," Jareth said. He playfully shoved Mycroft into the house.

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Sarah had tears in her eyes as she listened at the door. She repeated to Jareth the highlights of the conversation. "'The problems of your past are your business. The problems of your future... are my privilege.' He didn't read the flashdrive. He's still upset, but he's forgiven her. They'll be okay."

Jareth kissed his wife's forehead. "I knew he would. John is a good man and Mary loves him more than anything. Have you had your tea?"

Sarah shook her head. She took a sip and made a face. "I didn't ask for… peach." Her eyes widened. "Mary! Don't drink the tea!"

She rushed into the living room and saw John and Mary collapsed on the couch.

"You tried to leave me behind, again," Sarah said.

"Well, that bit you had is not going to make you sleep," Jareth said, "So, I guess I am just going to have to take my pregnant wife on a dangerous mission. I knew you wouldn't fall for it. I had to at least say that I tried."

Sarah checked on Mary and John's pulse.

"Don't worry," Jareth said, "Wiggins is an excellent chemist."

Jareth went into the kitchen where everyone except for Sherlock and Billy were passed out.

"Everyone alright?" Jareth asked.

"Perfectly well," Sherlock said as he put on his coat, "We should have our lift in…"

Billy interrupted by giving Sherlock a shot in the neck. Sherlock tried to fight back, but the drugs immediately took effect. Jareth helped Sherlock to the ground.

"Jareth…" Sherlock said as he fought against sleep.

"Sherlock," Jareth said in a quiet voice, "You made your vow to protect the Watsons. I have my vow to protect all wished-aways and let their wishes come true. Your best friend, your wish for someone to always be there for you, is in danger. I will go in your place to protect John. Besides, in a week, no one save the High Court can touch me. So many more hearts would break if something happened to you instead of me."

Sherlock's eyes closed. Jareth ruffled his curly hair. "Sleep well, little pirate."

Jareth stood up and put on his coat. "Keep an eye on them Billy." He grabbed Mycroft's laptop as the sound of a helicopter came closer. "There's our lift. Come along, my Champion."

In a few moments, Sarah and Jareth waited for the helicopter to land in the field behind the cottage.

"You purposefully put peach into my tea to warn me," Sarah said.

"Now why would I ever do that?" Jareth said with a smirk.

Sarah rolled her eyes at this comment.

"This is going to be incredibly dangerous," Jareth said, "One false move and we'll have betrayed the security of the United Kingdom and be in prison for high treason. Magnussen is quite simply the most dangerous man we've ever encountered, and the odds are comprehensively stacked against us. You did remember not to bring any weapons, right?"

"I didn't. Not even a dagger," Sarah said.

Jareth took Sarah's arm as they walked to the helicopter. "Off to the dragon's den of Appledore then, precious."

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A/N: Peaches. It always comes back to peaches. I would apology for the punny title, but that would mean I felt sorry, which I am not in the least.