Christmas used to be a happy time at Holmes Manor. In years past, the Holmeses opened presents, had a huge feast, and drove to Oxford Street to admire the Christmas lights. This year, the festivities are curtailed. Mummy is barely able to participate in opening presents and goes to bed immediately after dinner. Sherlock begs to go see the lights because there's an LED display this year. He bounces on his toes while repeating, "please" to Father. Father shoots Sherlock down, telling him that he's too old for such sentimentality.
Later that night, Father knocks on Mycroft's bedroom door and asks if he's seen Sherlock. The boy isn't in his room, and nobody's seen him for hours. Mycroft immediately knows where he's gone and persuades Father to take him to Oxford Street. There, they find Sherlock, looking at the lights without a care in the world.
At home, Father scolds Sherlock for running away. Mycroft tells Sherlock they could learn about LEDs any time, and they didn't need to rely on silly traditions. Father looks pleased with the older boy; Mummy glares disapprovingly at both of them but is too fatigued to argue.
Mycroft's greatest fear is that he'll never make both of his parents happy at the same time.
A/N: Oxford Street is a large Christmas lights display in London.