John Watson parked his car and switched off the engine. He pulled out a chewing-gum from his pocket, unsealed it and put it in his mouth.
He met his own gaze in the rear-view mirror.
Seventeen years, already...
Time flew incredibly fast. He remembered the day he had quarrelled with his father on his way home from the river - when he had decided to become a doctor. He was so young, at that time.
He was not particularly old, now, either. He ruffled his hair, smoothed the collar of his shirt, which came out of his pullover, and got off the car, checking absent-mindingly for the smell of formalin.
He stretched, yawning in the soft sun of the end of afternoon.
He had had time to take a shower and to have a fast nap before driving up to here. He knew he was going to fill his stomach and be able to relax all evening long.
Why ask for more?
He rolled around his forefinger the big silver ring which hid the scar, straightened his jacket's collar - another familiar movement he had inherited from Sherlock Holmes - and searched the back pockets of his jeans.
At the hospital, he was teased on the number of times he took out his wallet to look at the picture.
- "Hey, Doc Watson, how's your littl' fiancée? D'you miss her?"
He chuckled, rubbed his upper lip with the flat of his thumb.
Mustache shaved : okay.
He lit up stars in his eyes as he still knew so well to do and pushed the gate.
- "John!" shouted an excited crystal voice.
He only had the time to squat and to stretch out his hands.
In a storm of pink silk, long black locks and shiny ribbons, Connie threw herself in his arms.
- "Hey, princess. Did you miss me?"
The girl pulled away and pouted.
- "You smell weiwd. When aw you moving to my house?"
He pinched her nose with a broad smile.
- "Tomorrow, your highness."
- "No empty promises, John."
The young man collected the girl and got up. He propped her up on his hip and held out his hand to greet the man who had spoken.
- "Hello, Holmes."
For a split second, he was back to the back alley from where the consulting detective had saved him.
- "Daddy, can he stay for ewer?" asked the little girl, snuggling her cute pout against the shoulder of the doctor.
Sherlock hid his chuckle in his black turtleneck.
- It's better for you to not see your prince when he comes back from work.
He gave a friendly pat to the back of the young man.
- "You look worst than a white cave fish. Mary has prepared twelve teapots of your favorite tea. She also registered you on a dating site and bought you a ticket for a cruise."
John Watson shook his chin.
- "I'm sure half of these are lies."
- "But you couldn't help believing it, uh?"
The doctor had a sheepish smile. The girl was making mini-plaits in his hair, babbling.
At the door, Mary contemplated them with her sweet look. The flavor coming from the kitchen spread in the garden. It was warm, for an evening in December, almost spring weather.