That night, after a slice each of Eliza's honey blueberry clafoutis, Sherlock and John retreated to the basement for the night. John collapsed onto the bed, too full to even consider moving. Sherlock set about emptying first Johns suitcase and then his own. He managed to fit all of Johns clothing into the top drawer of his dresser and a third of the wardrobe. All of Sherlock's clothing took up about the same amount. Then he dug out his laptop and powered it on to check his email. He plants himself next to John, and leans back against the wall.

There are three messages in his inbox when the page loads. The first is from Warren.

###

Sherlock,

Were already missing you and John. The house is insufferably quiet without you. I just want you to know, you're welcome in our house anytime. So please, visit us when you can. I'll keep your room as it is.

Much love,

Warren

###

The second email is from Nicholas. It's a fair bit longer than Warrens.

###

Sherlock

Warrens been completely insufferable since you've left. He mopes around the house all day and when I'm gone on a case, he flat out refuses to stay home, opting instead to go to Nash or even drive into Dixon or sometimes Rockford to do a bit of shopping.

Please, keep in touch and try and make it round for a visit sometime. We both miss you and John. Tell him he's free to come by when he returns for school in the fall. It'd be lovely to see him.

I found a couple of your books on the bookcase and that necklace that John gave you on the counter by the kettle. I'll send them your way.

Nous vous aimons toujours. Meilleurs vœux, mon petit.

Nicholas

###

The third email was from Molly, recounting various events they missed out on and news on Greg and Irene's choices of school and how Molly and Greg were doing. It went on and on and Sherlock mostly just skimmed it.

"So. Thought your dad was terrible? Seemed pretty nice to me."

Sherlock sighed before replying.

"He's a loving and compassionate father. I love him and he loves me. But he's never home. And his disciplinary methods are more extensive than necessary."

He presents his left palm to John, showing him the blobby pink scarring on the heel of his hand. John had noticed his scars but chose not to pry.

"I got this when I was 10 for scorching the kitchen table. He pressed my hand onto a burner on the hob."

Sherlock strips off his shirt and turns to show his back to John. There are thick, crisscrossing scars there.

"I got those when I was 14 for getting suspended from school. He whipped me with a belt."

He rolls up his pant leg and exposes a long, jagged scar on his calf.

"I got this when I was 7. I was running from some older kids and jumped a fence and sliced my leg open. My father was there to patch it up long enough to take me to A&E for stitches and comfort me afterwards."

John's a tad alarmed when Sherlock unbuttons his trousers, but is pacified a bit when his pants stay on, even when his trousers hang at his knees. He points to a series of perfectly straight scars on his thigh.

"I gave myself these when I was 15. Tried to kill myself. Father found me bleeding out at the bottom of the shower and took me to A&E. He saved my life that night, and sat up with me while they pumped the pint of blood I lost into me."

Sherlock pulls his pants back up and rebuttoning them before relaxing back on the bed.

"So you see, I love my father, but at the same time I resent him and I'm scared of him."

"You should see the scars Harry's got," John starts as Sherlock pulls his laptop back onto his lap. "She went to stay at my grandparents when she got in trouble one week and came back with all these bruises and cuts that had been stitched up quite poorly. Wouldn't tell us anything, so my mum called my grandmother. Apparently Grandfather had beat her pretty well because she let slip she was gay. Gran patched her up and sent her home. Shortly after that, my grandparents got divorced because of the incident and we haven't seen or heard from Gramps since."

Sherlock hums out a noncommittal noise and sets about typing up an email to Warren about when school reconvenes.