Chapter eight

Christmas morning in the Holmes household started off very quiet. Sherlock was asleep, a deep sleep. The nagging feeling in the back of his mind had gone and he could rest in piece. John was the first to wake, he checked his clock. Ten in the morning. It was quiet, the flats was never quiet Kate was either playing music or Sherlock was making something go bang but not this morning, it was bliss. He rolled over and stared at the ceiling, gearing himself up. He picked up his phone scrolling through the numbers.
"Just ring her and get it over with" Sherlock drawled from the doorway.
"I will". He pressed 'Harry' and Sherlock walked away as soon as he heard her pick up. He padded into the kitchen and grabbed three mugs. He wasn't used to making three drinks in the morning. Tea bags in his and johns and a scoop of coffee in hers. He had thought she would have been up and jumping around like a child high on sugar. John appeared at the doorway.
"You alright?" Sherlock asked as he handed the tea to John.
"Mmmmm" was the only reply he got. He left John in the living room sipping at his tea. Carrying Kate's mug with him he knocked on her bedroom door. No reply. Very slowly he opened it and snuck inside. She was fast asleep, hair messy from clearly moving around in her sleep, her palms had fingernail indents clearly a stressful sleep. He placed the coffee cup on her bedside table.
"Kate wake up its Christmas" he slightly shook her. She groaned in her sleep before slowly waking up. Almost jumping out of her bed when she focused on Sherlocks face.
"Coffee" was all he said before leaving. She glanced over at the mug and smiled.

Five minutes later and they were all seated in the living room, Mrs Hudson as well. Sipping there tea and coffee John was nibbling on some toast and Sherlock was constantly ignoring his phone, Mycroft always wanted a Christmas morning chat and Sherlock was not in the mood. Under the tiny Christmas tree that Kate had insisted on them getting were a stack of presents more than there were last year.
"John why don't you go first" Sherlock said, he hated present time. Too much pressure having to do extra thinking about silly things like whether they will like it or not. John handed out his three parcels. A new shirt for Sherlock, he had destroyed the last one John had given him by getting blood all over it, a brooch for Mrs Hudson.
"That's from all of us" John said as the landlady opened the gift.
"Oh thank you boys and Kate" she immediately pinned it on, beaming from ear to ear. Kate was the last one to open her gift from John. She carefully opened the gift revealing a silver bracelet.
"Thank you it's gorgeous" she said slipping it onto her wrist. John smiled; he hated buying gifts for women.
"I'll go next" Sherlock said handing out his gifts to John and Kate. John tore his open he already knew what Sherlock had bought him. A new Swiss Army knife, top of the range. He nodded his thanks before noticing that Sherlock was almost holding his breath as Kate started to open the first of her presents.
"You really didn't have to get me anything" she started.
"Just open the present Kate" she tore the first package open to reveal a mint green jumper, the exact one she had been thinking about purchasing for the last month.
"Thank you"
"Don't gush" was all he said. But John noticed that he had started to breath again.
" I know you like blazers but I thought maybe you should have one that fitted" he smirked. She reached into the bag and pulled out a Dior navy blue blazer.
"Your kidding me right, Dior, seriously"
"I said don't gush" . She blushed.
"Thank you"
"Your welcome, make sure it's dry cleaned"
"I bought one for all of you" mrs Hudson said. Handing it to John to open.
"Kate's shoe collection keeps growing and I thought it isn't be easier for your to all tidy them away in one place" she explained as John unwrapped a flat pack storage kit. Sherlock couldn't stop himself from giggling.
"Thank you Mrs Hudson, at least now I won't be tripping over a pair of heels every morning"
"Oh Kate there's another present for you" Sherlock said casually handing over a box.
"It's from Mycroft" Kate opened the box.
"Mycroft bought you an iPad" Sherlock pouted.
"Don't start Sherlock you two haven't bought each other presents since you were seven" John remarked.
"He never offered to buy me an iPad"
"Oh just shut up and open this" Kate said thrusting two packages into his hand, before calmly handing John a package as well. She held her breath. Sherlock opened the first rectangle present. 'A guide to parenting for idiots'.
"Thought you might need some tips" she said. Sherlock tried to keep a straight face but couldn't and cracked a smile, before a giggle and then stopped himself. John watched as she also let out a sigh of relief. He started to open the other little parcel. Inside was a cigarette lighter, silver with an engraving.
"I noticed you collected them" she said quietly, watching him as be examined the lighter.
"Thank you, it's just right" pocketing the lighter and smiling to himself. Kate's attention turned to John who was carefully unwrapping a new scarf and cuff links.
"Thank you Kate"
"I'll start lunch then" Mrs Hudson said and left ready to busy herself in the kitchen.

Two hours later, and all four of them where sitting round the table tucking into a roast chicken, or at least they all appeared to be.
"Kate you okay" John leaned over and asked quietly. She nodded. Johns eyes glanced down at her plate.
"Are you sure" he pushed her.
"I'm just not feeling too well" she said quietly.
"I think perhaps I'll go and have a nap" she pushed away from the table and left.
"She alright"
"Stomach ache"
"Poor thing and on Christmas Day of all things" Mrs Hudson cooed.

Two bottles of wine later John was asleep in the arm chair, Sherlock was stretched out on the sofa, Mrs Hudson had gone off to ring her sister and Kate was still in her bedroom. Sherlock just wanted the day to be over, he was bored of the festivities, no one got murdered at Christmas, or nothing interesting enough for him to investigate. The door to Kate's room creaked open as she crept into the kitchen.
"Feeling better" Sherlock asked from his position on the sofa.
"Yes thanks, tea?"
"No thanks" she made her tea and left shutting her door behind her and that was how it stayed until Boxing Day. With the exception of John moving from the sofa to his bed.

The doorbell rang at half six in the morning. Sherlock sprang from his place on the sofa where he had dozed off, a stranger it must be a case.
"I'll get it Mrs Hudson" he sprang down the stairs flinging the door open.
"Ahhh Sherlock, how lovely to see you". Sherlock flicked his expert eyes over the tanned woman who stood in the doorway. The twinkling blue eyes and chocolate hair that hung down by her shoulders with that slight wave.
"Well aren't you going to invite me in"
"No Mariella I'm not, why are you here"
"I thought a boy as clever as you would be able to work that out" she flirted.
"I'm not a boy and I no exactly why you are here I thought I would give you the chance to explain yourself" he glared down at her.
"Sherlock I want to see my daughter"
"Our daughter" he corrected her.
"Oh so you are accepting her as yours"
"Of course I am " he was slightly taken a back by that statement.
"Let me see her"
"NO"
"Why not" she demanded. Sherlock laughed.
"Do you not have a brain in there Mariella, what must it be like in your tiny little head"
"Sherlock"
" I'm not letting you near my daughter, you're a junkie. I've never seen anyone with so many marks in there arm. Your clothes; designer but old show that you are clearly able to spend money but are not spending it on your appearance but on drugs." He calmly stated.
"You used to be a junkie" she spat at him.
"Note the word used, and that's how I am staying and how I want my daughter to stay. Two weeks after you threw her out, which yes Mariella is another reason why you can't see her. Two weeks after you threw her out she overdosed and no doubt she got that habit from you" Sherlock very rarely got loud and angry but when faced with this woman he seemed to lose all control.
"She did what..."
"Don't make me repeat myself, it's very boring, my daughter is an adult however you will stay the hell away from her, needs I remind you my dear brother works for the Goverment and if you so even look at Kate I will have you jailed or shot" they were nose to nose.
"Like you said she's an adult"
"An adult who overdosed, and doesn't really know what she wants. I however am a doctor and know that she does not need you" John appeared beside Sherlock.
"And who the bloody hell are you" she looked between the two men standing in the doorway.
"Don't tell me your gay"
"We are not a couple!" John practically shouted.
"Boys boys what is all this shouting" Mrs. Hudson came to stand behind them.
"John take Mrs Hudson up to ours for some tea, I'll deal with this". It was said through gritted teeth and John took that as his cue to leave. Sherlock leant forward towards the woman he gave his too and said
"How much money do I have to give you for you to overdose on coke"
"One thousand" came the straight answer. Sherlock took out his wallet and counted out the notes.
"You shouldn't carry that around with you"
"You never know when you are going to need it". He handed the cash over and shut the door. Before slowly setting back up the stairs to his flat.
"Not a word to Kate about our early morning visitor" he warned the two of them before retiring to his room and ringing Mycroft.