A/N: Thanks to my Beta Magpieintheshadow. You're such a great help.

CHAPTER TEN

"Hello John."

Watson was brought to a halt when he exited the bathroom by the infuriatingly smug voice of Jacob. The man stood leaning against the pale coral wall with his hands nestled in the pockets of his expensive jeans. John could feel his heart pick up speed at the sight of the man and his jaw clenched involuntarily. He was determined to maintain the façade of calm dignity despite the urge to hit the twat. Instead he simply walked on past the man without a sound passing his lips.

"I want to apologize, John." Jacob said in a cool unconvincing voice.

Watson didn't even acknowledge he'd heard the other man speak. His gaze was fixed of the door of the room down the hall.

"It must have been hard seeing me and Sherly like that, I can promise you it meant nothing….at least on my side. I was as surprised as you were. I was simply talking to him and then, well…you know. It was lucky you returned when you did. I'm sure Sherly meant nothing by it - but we do have history and you know how it is with first loves and all."

John's hands clenched at his side. It was the tone in the man's voice that hit a nerve. He was out to drive a wedge between him and Sherlock, but that just showed what a fool the man was. Nothing could come between the two friends, of that John was confident. They'd been though so much that it was impossible to think of a life before or after they'd met. John has sometimes wondered if that had even been a life before Sherlock.

If they could survive Mycroft, Donovan and Moriarty, there was no way on earth that this man was going to succeed. Sherlock was his friend, so much so that he was playing the role of boyfriend in order to protect him from his matchmaking step-mother and this man, if that wasn't a strong connection John didn't know what was.

"I understand why you're upset…" Jacob continued, unaware of John's growing temper, "…It must be hard seeing us together and knowing you could never match what we had - We were together for two years."

John turned swiftly to face Jacob with military steel in his gaze. "In secret!" John snapped.

Jacob shrugged. "That was his idea. He used to be so scared of being ousted by his father…" the man grinned, "…I tried to get him to open up."

"If that's the case, you clearly failed." John remarked. His back straightening. "But he seems to be very confident with his father knowing about me. - But then I think it was you who was ashamed, not him. If there's one thing I know about Sherlock, he's not ashamed of being gay. As for what's between me and Sherlock, you have no idea. No idea at all as to how close we are and what we're willing to do for the other. Where as I'm more than sure what is between the pair of you. You use him and he lets you, because he's an idiot and you're an arrogant bastard who couldn't give a toss about what Sherlock does or cares about as long as he's getting your rocks off!"

Jacob stared at John in bewilderment. He most certainly hadn't expected the man to stand up to him, which just added to John believe of the man's stupidity. After all he'd been in the army, he knew just how to take care of himself.

John turned on his heels and headed back to the room a satisfied grin on his face. That should shut the wanker up, he thought to himself.

~ SHERLOCK ~

"Well that's because you're a moron who has no idea what the hell you're doing…. I don't care what you say, just do us all a favour and quit before yours isn't the only life destroyed….He doesn't need you dragging him down with you."

John frowned as Sherlock ended the call and slammed the phone down on the desk. He flinched at the sound.

"Sherlock, is that my phone?" John grumbled, the buzz he'd gotten from putting Jacob in his place a few seconds ago quickly faded.

Sherlock spun around at John sudden voice. He looked guiltily at the phone. "Huh, yes it was."

"Would you mind not taking your bad temper out on my belongings? - Who was it anyway."

Sherlock turned back to the desk, lifting the mobile and flipping it over in his hand to make sure he hadn't damaged it. He shrugged at the question. "Just another idiot."

Watson sighed as he walked towards the wardrobe where his suit waited for him. "Whatever. - Well, the bathroom's free."

"Clearly John." Sherlock smiled as he collected his things from the end of the bed. "I will get changed in there as you seem uncomfortable with see me in the nude." he reached past Watson to collect his own suit before strolling to the door.

John rolled his eyes. He was never living that down.

~ SHERLOCK ~

The pair descended the stairs at 8:17 to find that Mary's party guests had already begun to arrive. John couldn't believe anyone wanted to travel to a party on Christmas Day, but the upper classes did things that the normal populous wouldn't even think of.

Glancing over the crowd John was suddenly hit with a feeling of trepidation. What was he supposed to do? He began to fidget with his brown tweed jacket.

"Stop John."

"When you said there would be a party, Sherlock, I didn't think it would be so…. Smart."

Sherlock didn't even attempt to hide his amusement at John's discomfort. "You look fine John."

John turned to hard eyes on his flatmate who stood next to him in a smartly tailored bond-like tux that made him look wonderful. "You're the world's worst liar Sherlock." he grumbled.

Holmes laughed. "Actually John, I'm the best." he winked. "You just never believe a word I say. - Which I can't fathom actually, considering I've never lied to you."

The pair's gazes locked. It was true, Sherlock hadn't lied to John… manipulated, bossed around but never lied. It wasn't that John didn't trust or have faith in Sherlock; it was simply that he was out of his comfort zone, surrounded by people he would never have believed in a thousand years he would be associating with.

The sudden squeal of Mary pulled the pair back to the real world.

"Sherlock, John finally. - come with me, I want to show you off." she smiled beautifully at John. Locking her arm though the boys' and leading them off towards a group of people of around her own age.

"George, Louise… You remember Sherlock…"

John bit his lip at the couple's concerned nervous smile. Oh yeah, they remember Sherlock alright.

"And this is his partner, Dr John Watson." Mary introduced with far too much pride, that it cause John to blush scarlet.

The couple barely had time to say hello before Mary was dragging them away again. John sending Sherlock an uneasy eye roll that made the tall detective grin as they came to a halt before another couple.

She continued to take them around the room. Arms joined together as if fearing the pair might escape, which would be precisely what they'd do if they could. From friend to friend, Mary's introduction grew longer and held more pride.

"John survived in Afghanistan…. Wounded in action…. Sherlock's the world's only consulting detective…working with Scotland Yard…. Helped solve that serial killer six months ago…" and so on around the room, until everyone knew of Mary's brilliant step-son Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr John Watson.

John had his suspicions as too why Mary kept them moving, never staying too long with anyone. One look at Sherlock and he could see the man deducing what secrets they held. He'd actually had to kick Sherlock a couple of time when he opened his mouth to correct a man's supposed promotion, or the state of a woman's marriage.

Finally they were able to free themselves from Mary only to have Anna rushing up to them with a merry grin of her lips.

"Well aren't we the toast of the evening." she laughed up at Sherlock, "makes a change from last time."

"Your mother seems determined to show of John to everyone." Sherlock said plainly.

"And who could blame her." Anna winked to the doctor. "Looking good there John."

"John is under the belief that he looks terrible, despite my statements to the contrary."

Anna's grin grew as she nestled up between the pair. "Then trust me John. - You look great."

"Thank you Anna."

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"No, but thanks anyway." John sighed.

Anna shook her head and looked up at her big brother. "You obviously aren't doing your job right Locky. - So, what you got for me?"

John frowned at the pair as Sherlock smirked mischievously, looking towards the crowd.

"Well, Amanda Spencer's marriage is on the rocks, probably because her husband's having an affair with her sister - Tennant is in love with his personal assistant. - Oh and Michael Collin's promotion's a lie, he's actually been made redundant."

"Is that it?" Anna sighed. "I was hoping more something a little more juicy."

Sherlock shrugged and sighed. "Well, what can I say, your mother's friends are boring."

A/N: Thanks for reading, reviewing and faving. - Next chapter coming soon. Hopefully.

PS: Wishing all of you a great holiday whatever you may be celebrating, I hope the time with your own families isn't quite so awakward :D ROFL.