"Can you help me with the lights, Sherlock?" Annie was using a stepladder and was standing on her toes to get extra height.
Sherlock put down his book and smiled to himself. He had been watching her try to hang those Christmas lights for the last 15 minutes. Annie glanced over her shoulder and held the string of lights up with one hand, showing him where she wanted them. She was lucky she hadn't slipped and fallen out of the window. Sherlock claimed her spot on the step ladder and secured the lights easily. He climbed back down from the ladder as Mrs. Hudson came in with the mail.
"Sherlock, this came for you earlier." Mrs. Hudson handed him a small box.
"Thank you, Mrs. Hudson." Sherlock was happy that Annie's Christmas gift had finally arrived. The jewelry shop owner had assured him it would be done two days ago but it had been delayed.
"Mrs. Hudson!" Annie was happy to see the older woman. "Have you got a bit of extra flour? I've run out."
"Of course, dear. You don't need to be going out in this weather." Mrs. Hudson smiled and retrieved the flour. There had been a light dusting of snow and it barely covered the ground but the landlady worried. "You've outdone yourself with all this baking."
"I can't help it. I love Christmas." Annie said. Christmas was still one week away but it was her favorite time. "We're going out to look for a tree in a bit. Do you want to come with us?"
"I don't think so." Mrs. Hudson said. "With my hip, I wouldn't have much fun. It always acts up in the cold."
"If you change your mind, let me know." Annie smiled at Mrs. Hudson as the landlady left.
"How's Julius?" Sherlock tucked the package away inside his pocket.
"Julian is fine." Annie corrected him. It was true enough. They had been dating for several weeks and Julian had told her that he loved her. Annie hadn't known what to say in response to that and had been avoiding him for the last few days. She looked through the envelopes that Mrs. Hudson had delivered but it was mostly bills. Annie set those aside to deal with later. "You haven't had a case in a while, Sherlock. I'm surprised you aren't climbing the walls."
"Something will happen soon. I'm sure of it." Sherlock said, observing the Christmas decorations around the room. "Are all of these decorations absolutely necessary?"
"You just need to get into the Christmas spirit." Annie said with a smile. She picked up her coat and buttoned it up, waiting for Sherlock to do the same. "Let's go pick out our Christmas tree."
Sherlock rolled his eyes as he put on his coat and scarf but inwardly he was looking forward to this outing with Annie. After the way she cared for him when he was ill, he was having an easier time admitting to himself how he felt about her. He was in love. Sherlock was trying to follow John's advice and show her that he loved her but he wasn't sure how. While he wandered the tree lot behind Annie, he pondered what to do.
"What about this one?" Annie was a few yards ahead of him, examining a tree. "Do you think it's big enough?"
"It looks a bit small." Sherlock had caught up to her. Her cheeks were rosy and there were snowflakes resting in her hair for a few moments before they melted.
"That's the third one you've turned down." Annie said. "Do you not want a Christmas tree?"
"This tree is too small for the flat." Sherlock replied simply. He had been planning the perfect time to tell Annie how he felt and give her his gift and a small, unimpressive tree wouldn't do. A large tree caught his eye. "This one is larger."
"It may be too big." Annie said. She had to admit that it was a beautiful tree. "But I think you're right. This is the right one."
They had it delivered to Baker Street and picked up some Christmas ornaments on the way back. Unfortunately, they didn't get a chance to start decorating it because Scotland Yard found the body of a murdered woman and Lestrade requested his help. Sherlock noted Annie's look of disappointment over not being able to decorate and frowned inwardly. He'd make it up to her later but right now he needed to focus.
The interesting thing about this case was that the dead woman's right forefinger was gone. It hadn't been done by an amateur either. Whoever had done this had surgical knowledge. The snow had started falling harder and because of this, there were no footprints around the body.
"Do you know who she is?" Sherlock asked Lestrade.
Lestrade shook his head. "No I.D. On her."
Sherlock examined the corpse once more but found nothing useful. The murderer had covered his tracks very well. Sherlock would have to wait until Molly did the post mortem which meant he had to be patient. This also meant that Annie could decorate the tree tonight as she was so eager to do. Lestrade promised that he would call if they found a new body or any evidence.
"Have you heard from Mum?" Annie asked while Sherlock examined the body.
"Not yet. I'm sure she'll come around though." Lestrade sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
"I talked to Molly about it and she said that you could stay at our flat for as long as you need. You can use my room." Annie smiled encouragingly.
"How's everything going at Baker Street?" Lestrade glanced at Sherlock.
"As well as it can, I guess." Annie said. "Sherlock is just...Sherlock."
"I understand." Lestrade chuckled. "I can find a place to stay if you decide you want to come home."
"I'll let you know." Annie kissed him on the cheek as Sherlock claimed a cab. "Love you, Dad."
"Love you too, sweetheart." Lestrade replied and watched as she climbed into the cab behind Sherlock.
Annie's phone rang on the way back to the flat and she silenced the ringer, not quite ready to talk to Julian just yet. Sherlock waited to address that until they got home. With Annie staying in John's room, Sherlock had started to refer to the flat as her home as well. Either she liked the idea or she didn't notice because she didn't correct him. When they got inside, they hung their coats up as Annie's phone rang again.
"Hey, Julian." Annie decided to answer. "Sorry I didn't answer before. Sherlock and I were working."
"No problem." Julian was hardly offended by her odd hours. "What do you say I treat you to dinner and the cinema tonight?"
"I can't tonight." Annie said. "There was a murder and I don't know how late I'll be working."
"Are you avoiding me?" Julian asked, his tone light and teasing. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were staying away on purpose."
"Of course not." Annie lied. "I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
"Sounds good." Julian replied and hung up.
"Lying to him already?" Sherlock said, opening a package of ornaments. "Bit early in the relationship for that."
"It's just been a little awkward." Annie admitted. She tried untangling the lights Mrs. Hudson had brought up earlier. Sherlock waited for her to continue while busying himself putting hooks on the ornaments. Annie sighed. "He told me he loves me and I haven't said it back."
"How is that awkward? You don't always reply when I speak. I find it soothing." Sherlock said. Damn it, Sherlock. Keep the snark to yourself, he thought.
"You aren't making declarations of love." Annie said, finally getting the lights untangled. She started stringing them on the tree. "He's really great. A lot of my friends have said he's the best but..."
"If you're not happy with him, then leave him." Sherlock said.
"Just because I don't love him yet doesn't mean I won't." Annie tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Besides, I don't have a real reason to leave him. I'm sorry for boring you with all this. Do you want to listen to some music?"
Sherlock didn't have time to answer because Annie spoke too quickly and turned on Christmas music. Her mood perked up when she saw the tree in all of it's decorated glory, clicking off the lights so she could see the lights on the tree twinkle. Sherlock loved the look of glee on her face as she stared at their tree. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yes." Sherlock didn't look away from Annie. "It is."
"I have your Christmas gift." Annie tore her gaze away from the tree. She retrieved the large box that Sherlock had pretended not to notice hidden under the couch. "I didn't think you'd want to open it in front of my dad and Mrs. Hudson at the Christmas party."
She handed the box to Sherlock and waited excitedly and nervously for him to open. Once he had torn away the paper and opened the box, he stared at the contents for a minute. Annie started to get nervous during the silence.
"It's a pirate's hat and sword." Sherlock stated, pulling it from the box.
"Because we watched all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and you seemed to enjoy them." Annie explained. "Who doesn't want to be a pirate?"
"Thank you." Sherlock was at a loss for words, a truly rare occurrence. He hadn't told anyone about his childhood fantasies of being a pirate. Replacing the hat back in the box, Sherlock got Annie's gift from its hiding place from under the skull on the mantle and handed the small black box to her. "Merry Christmas."
"You didn't have to get me anything." Annie said, untying the small bow and opening the box. Inside sat a strangely designed silver necklace. Even though she didn't know what it was, it was beautiful. "It's gorgeous, Sherlock. Will you clasp it for me?"
Annie turned and pulled her hair aside so he could fasten it around her neck. When she faced him again, she smiled. "I love it."
"It's a representation of a dopamine molecule." Sherlock explained. "It has several purposes in the human body."
"Like what?" Annie asked, truly intrigued.
"Among other things, it is released when one feels love." Sherlock said softly. His meaning took a moment to sink in but when it did, Annie smiled. She raised herself on her toes and pressed a tentative kiss to his lips. Sherlock put one hand on the back of her neck and the other around her waist, pulling her closer to him and deepening the kiss at the same time.
After a long minute, they pulled away from each other and Annie spoke. "I love you too."
Sherlock moved to sit in his chair and pulled Annie into his lap. They passed the night talking, kissing, and watching the lights twinkle on their Christmas tree.
A/N: Cara Tala, I think he's kind of like Data sometimes too. It makes for funny awkardness. :)
Kie1993: I'm glad you enjoy this story. :)
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