The light of dawn filtered through the curtains of 221 Baker street on Christmas morning. There was the sound of a key in the lock and the bustling noises of Mrs Hudson entering her flat. A short time later, her slow footsteps could be heard climbing up the stairs. She turned on the light.
"Sherlock! Did you sleep here all night? Your back must be killing you."
"Good morning, Mrs Hudson. Did you have a good time at Mrs Turner's? I suppose so considering the amount of punch you imbibed."
"Now mind your tongue, young man or I'll reconsider giving you my present."
"Smells like lemon. Your special recipe!"
"Yes, I baked a batch of your favorite tea cakes. I would have given them too you earlier, but you didn't come home the other night. Where were you?"
"I was in Portsmouth. Mary Watson and I slept together at a hotel there."
"Oh Sherlock! Have you no shame? That's your best friend's wife."
"I don't know what your objection could be? The room was already paid for, and John wasn't there."
Mrs Hudson shook her head. "Goodness Sherlock! I don't know what to do with you sometimes. I'll just go down and put the tea on. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Mrs Hudson."
Sherlock rose to his feet and went to the bathroom to shower. He was dressed and sitting in his chair sipping a cup of cinnamon tea when the door opened and Mary and John entered the flat. Mary was dressed in red with a white hat and gloves. John took off his coat to reveal a bright red jumper decorated with a reindeer. Sherlock rolled his eyes.
"I see that your taste in jumpers has not improved with the years."
"And a Happy Christmas to you too, Sherlock."
Mary walked around the room with a frown on her face. "Well this room could use some more cheer. Start a fire, will you John. I think I remember some tinsel in a box upstairs. I'll go check on it, shall I?"
"Yes love," he said giving her a peck on the cheek before bending down to start the fire. Sherlock's eyes followed him as he walked around the room. Watching as he arranged the logs, lit the fire, and then rose to his feet brushing the ash off of his trousers. He turned to face Sherlock.
"So, alls well with you and Mary, I see."
"Yes, we had a long talk this morning."
"What about?"
"Oh...this and that," John said with a smile on the edge of his lips.
Mary burst into the room then with a string of lights and some tinsel. "I'll just string these shall I? Add a little Christmas cheer."
Sherlock frowned toward her as she placed the lights on the mantle. She wrapped the lights twice around the skull before reaching down and plugging them into the socket. "There! Looking better already."
Sherlock turned away from her with a sigh. Then he noticed that John stood, hands in pockets, smiling down at him. What? he thought as he looked into John's steady gaze. John walked up to his chair and reached out his hand pulling Sherlock to his feet. He didn't release the hand.
"John," Sherlock said.
Mary walked over to them placing her hand on top of theirs and John smiled at her before looking up at Sherlock who felt uncomfortable but he couldn't step back as his chair was behind him. He fidgeted.
John licked his lips and gazed up at Sherlock. "Mary and I talked about it and we've decided, if it's all right, that we are both going to move into Baker Street with you. I don't know when, exactly. We've still got our lease, but this place has always felt like home to me, and you wouldn't have to be alone. That way there would always be someone to take care of you and make sure you eat. Someone to patch you up when you get hurt, and keep you from burning the place down."
"But, there's no room. The baby?"
"This place was one house once. It could be that way again with a little work. We'll use the money that you saved for us, the wedding gift, and see if Mrs Hudson is okay with us renovating 221C. I think that between the four of us we can find a way to get rid of the mold and make it livable again. What do you think?"
Sherlock looked from one face to another and then he pushed past John and began to pace. "But Mary, didn't you say that you needed that money to buy John a practice?"
"But I've got a job now, Sherlock, at Barts."
"What? When?"
"After leaving the base, I called the contact Molly gave me. He was impressed with how much I knew about what was going on with the soldiers, and he told me that I had a job if I wanted it. I'll need to go in after the holidays to meet the board, but it's just a formality. The Veterans clinic is only open part time, and I'd have staff. If I needed to leave for a case, I could get someone to cover me. I don't need to buy a practice. They'll pay me."
Sherlock stared. "But... children, John! There are dangerous chemicals and body parts all over this flat. Mrs Hudson always complains about my playing in the middle of the night. It can't possibly work."
"Babies cry in the middle of the night too," Mary said. "I'm not saying that it won't take some adjusting for all of us, but we can make it work."
"But why would you even want to, Mary? You won! John chose you. Why are you even considering this?"
"Because neither of us want John pulled in two. I'll promise never to force him to chose between us again if you will. I want him whole and happy and himself. Don't you?"
John turned to Mary and held both her hands in his. "Sherlock, do you have the wedding ring?"
Sherlock reached into his trouser pocket and pulled it out. He handed it to John who placed it solemnly onto Mary's hand next to her old one. "I promise to always be here for you, Mary. To always love you, and to always care for you as long as we both shall live."
Mary blushed and kissed John softly on the lips. Then John reached an arm out and hugged Sherlock. "This is how it should have been at the wedding," he said. "The three of us in harmony. I've always wanted the two of you to like each other."
"We are your family now, Sherlock," Mary said. "We'll care for you as long as you let us."
Sherlock's face grew serious. He looked down at John as he said. "And I vow to always be there for you. For both of you. No, for all three of you. Always."
John pulled Sherlock down with an arm around his neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Mary hugged him too and they stood together smiling until Mrs Hudson walked in.
"Oh John, I'm so glad that you're back. Merry Christmas. You all seem happy."
"Mrs Hudson," John said, "Mary and I are moving back to Baker Street. We'd like to rent 221C if that's all right with you."
"The three of you living here together?"
"Yes," Mary said.
Mrs Hudson frowned at them, and then she shrugged her shoulders. "Live and let live, that's what I always say," she said before marching back down the stairs shaking her head.
"So," John said. "Do you have anything around here to eat?"
"Oh John!" Mary cried, "Christmas dinner. I was so busy I never bought anything for it."
"I think that I can solve that problem." Sherlock said pinching his lips together in a devious smile.
. _ . _ .
Later that evening John finished a plate of his favorite Chinese dishes with a smile on his face. Harry held up a glass of champagne. "Let's have a toast to my brother and his crazy, crazy life. To Family!"
"Family!" everyone called out.
The ceiling of Brandywine's was covered in white fairy lights that shone like stars and everyone in their party, as well as the regular customers, were smiling.
Harry walked over and nudged John's shoulder, "So John, how's the gay thing going? The three of you worked it out?"
"Yes we did. And I'm not gay. I really do like women you know. And another thing, bisexuality isn't a myth."
"I know that, John. I only ever said that to irritate you. Happy ...whatever brother. I'm so chuffed for you."
"Thank you. Don't drink too much of that Champagne!"
"You know what John? You are still a self-righteous prick."
"I love you too, Harry."
Harry took big gulp of champagne and then walked away to sit with Jazz. Sherlock came over and took the seat that she had vacated.
The singer stopped and there was a spattering of applause that continued as Brandywine entered the room in a floor length dress of red sequins. She waved and DJ began to play music for the crowd.
Brandywine sashayed over to the table and placed a hand on Sherlock's shoulder. "This buffet was a great idea. I may do it every Christmas from now on. Are you sure that you won't let me split the cost with you?"
"Letting us have our meal here is payment enough."
"Well, bless you sweet, and if you ever change your mind about working here, you have my number."
John chuckled. Then he leaned over to whisper to Sherlock. "Are you sure that you can afford this? Looks like word is getting around. I think fifteen more people came in just the last ten minutes."
"Don't worry, John. I stole Mycroft's credit card when we were in his office. It won't be a problem."
Lestrade walked over with a full plate and stood beside them. "Thanks for inviting me, Sherlock. I appreciate it. I thought that I would make it out of the office this year for sure. Nice place this. Funny thing, I've never noticed this place before." He turned and watched as the singer walked past to get into the buffet line. "Wait a sec, is that a man or a woman?"
"Yes," Sherlock said. "Now sit down before you spill your food. There's a chair over by Molly. She just had a bad break up. She could use the company."
Lestrade nodded and then walked over to sit between Molly and Mrs Hudson. Harry was bouncing excitedly on the dance floor with Jazz. John laughed once before turning to look at Sherlock. He stared back. "Relationships, John. I was never good at them, and this thing between us. I don't even know what it is."
"It's something new, something good," John said.
The music changed then to something slower and sweeter. John rose to his feet and put out a hand.
"What?" Sherlock asked wrinkling his brow.
"Sherlock, would you care to dance?"
Sherlock looked up at him incredulous.
"Come on Sherlock. I know that you love to dance. I found your dancing shoes hidden in the back of your closet."
"I don't dance."
"You do. Remember the Polinsky case? You taught me to tango and you were devastated when he confessed before we could. Come on. I can't think of a better place or time."
Sherlock rose to his feet and took John's hand. He stared down at the man who had changed his life so many times and in so many ways. John led him out onto the dance floor and then took him in his arms. They waltzed together in perfect step around the floor.
Mrs Hudson stared at them with doe eyes and clapped her hands. Mary coaxed Lestrade out for a spin. Then Harry whirled by them and winked.
Outside on the purple lit pavement, snow began to fall. A black car slowly drove up to the door.
