New chapter for our dear readers!

To rycbar15: Thanks again, you made us very happy. :)

And now it's getting a bit sad... Sorry... ;)

At any rate, we hope you'll enjoy reading it, and as usual, please fav/follow and review. Thanks! :D

"Yesterday we spent Christmas Eve with everyone together," John said while looking at Elizabeth, "What are you going to do today?"

"Well…, I don't know about you, Sherlock," Elizabeth said to her boyfriend, "But there's only one thing left for me to do."

"There's only one thing left on your list?" Sherlock asked.

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"Spend Christmas Day with my boyfriend," Elizabeth smiled.

"Ah. Good call," Sherlock smiled, "Let's go then. I know some fun things to do."

"When will you guys be back?" John asked.

"By the end of the day, I suppose," Sherlock said and grabbed his girlfriend's hand.

She smiled and went with him. They took a cab downtown, to a cinema.

There they watched the latest Marvel film, which lasted more than two hours. Next, they went to have lunch in a restaurant in Soho. After that, they went to Hyde Park and spent the rest of the afternoon sitting there under a tree, Sherlock's arm around Elizabeth's waist.

Sherlock sighed a bit sad.

"What's wrong?" Elizabeth asked.

"Nothing. It's just…. I just realized that this is the last time we'll be sitting here like this…."

"Yes…. I just came to that thought as well…."

"It's kind of sad, don't you think?"

"Yeah… it is…" Elizabeth said a bit cheerless.

"I am going to miss this," Sherlock said.

"So am I."

"I am going to miss you," Sherlock added.

"That's sweet, love," Elizabeth said with a faint smile.

"Ah, there's your gorgeous smile again," Sherlock said, smiling naughtily.

Elizabeth snickered softly and curled up a bit more.

"I really am going to miss this so much," she whispered.

Sherlock nodded and gave her a peck on her forehead, which resulted in another smile.

"Don't ever leave me," he whispered.

"I won't. I will always be there. I will always be right behind you."

"Thank you, my love," he said.

Elizabeth smiled a bit weary and gave her boyfriend a peck on his cheek.

He turned his head and kissed her on her lips.

"How is your headache?" he asked softly.

"Nagging."

"Tough luck," he muttered.

"Yeah."

"It's getting a bit late. Shall we go and have dinner somewhere?"

"Where?"

"How about Angelo's?" Sherlock opted.

"Sounds good," Elizabeth said, "If he's open on Christmas Day."

"He is. I made a deal with him."

"That is actually kind of sweet."

"Thanks, love," Sherlock said and helped his girlfriend up.

They walked to the Queen Elizabeth Gate and called a cab. The cab took them to the restaurant at Northumberland where Sherlock's acquaintance Angelo worked.

"Sherlock, there you are," Angelo said with a big smile, "And the Lady of Sherwood. Welcome, welcome. Drinks and desserts are on the house."

"Thank you, Angelo," Sherlock said with a polite smile.

They sat down next to each other and took the menu cards.

A few hours later, it was already dark outside, Sherlock paid the check and they walked back to Baker Street.

"Sherlock?"

"Yes, love?"

"My left eye just went out. I can't see anything with it anymore," Elizabeth said a bit anxious.

Sherlock grabbed her hand and pulled her close.

"Don't worry. I'm right here with you. We're almost home, my beautiful," he said.

Elizabeth could only nod and a lone tear slipped down her cheek.

They entered Baker Street and Sherlock crossed the street.

Only a second later, he realized Elizabeth had not come with him. He looked back and saw his girlfriend standing there with her hands pressing against her sleeps. Her face was deeply distorted with pain and agony.

"Elizabeth?" he asked worried. She gazed at him, a look of pure fear in her eyes.

"Help me," she whispered, tears forming in her eyes.

Suddenly she collapsed. Sherlock leaped forward and caught her just in time.

He lifted her up and carried her across the street to number 221B. He kept on kicking against the door until John came down to open up.

"Finally," Sherlock grunted and dashed up the stairs.

John's facial expression immediately changed into panic when he saw Elizabeth's state.

"Should I call anyone?" he asked.

"Phone her brothers. They said they wanted to be there," Sherlock said while he carried his girlfriend to the master bedroom.

There he took off her coat, her shoes and her mask and loosened her shirt a bit.

Next, he gently laid her in bed and went to sit next to her. She looked up at him and managed a faint smile.

"You're going to be just fine, puppet," Sherlock whispered while he softly stroked her cheek.

She nodded, a tear slipping down her face.

A moment later, John returned.

"I spoke with Raymond and Michael. They are at the other side of London now, but they'll be here within an hour," he said.

"Thank you, John," Elizabeth whispered.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked.

Elizabeth shook her head slowly. "No, thank you, John…."

"Okay. Should I tell the others to leave?"

"What others?" Sherlock asked.

"Mycroft, DI Lestrade and Mary are here. And of course Mrs Hudson."

Sherlock looked at his girlfriend. She looked thinking.

"If they want to stay, they can," she said after a while.

"Okay, I'll tell them," John said and left again.

Elizabeth reached for Sherlock's hand. He saw it and took her small hand in his big hand.

"I'm right here, my sweet," he said softly with a loving smile, "Don't be afraid."

More tears formed in her eyes as she smiled gratefully.

"I'm not afraid. Not when you're here," she said, smiling back tenderly.

"I am here. I won't leave."

After an hour, both Elizabeth's brothers showed up.

"Hey sis," Raymond said.

"Hey Ray," his sister said softly.

"Hello Elizabeth," Michael said, seemingly cold.

"Hello big brother," Elizabeth said softly, "Sorry for ruining Christmas…."

"That's okay," he said, his face softening immediately, "How are you?"

"My head hurts like hell," his little sister whispered, "It feels as if it's going to explode…."

Michael swallowed and took her hand. With his other hand, he reached for Raymond's. The latter took his sister's other hand and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"This will be the last time we'll hold hands like this," Elizabeth whispered.

"Yes…" Raymond said sadly.

"The first time we said goodbye to mom. Then we said goodbye to dad," Michael said, "Now we're saying goodbye to you."

"I know…. I am sorry," Elizabeth whispered.

"Don't be. It's not your fault."

"No, blame our genes," Raymond said in an attempt to cheer his sister up a bit.

His big sister gave him a frail smile.

"Don't blame yourself for anything, Ray," she said, "I am not angry with you. All the things you did…, I'm not angry about them…. They're what makes you my brother. And you, Michael, don't you dare thinking that anything about my fate is your fault. I don't blame you for wanting to live a normal life for as far as possible…. Just promise me that your daughter, your little Eleanor, will inherit the forest just like I did…."

"Of course," Michael said, "Thank you, little sis."

Elizabeth managed another fragile smile. Then her brothers let go of her hands and she put her hand back in Sherlock's. He squeezed it a bit.

John came in with Mary, Mrs Hudson, DI Lestrade and the elder Holmes.

"Thought you might want to see them, if only for a moment," he said to Elizabeth. She nodded gratefully.

"Hello Greg," she whispered.

"Hello, my Lady," he said softly.

"Don't be sad, Greg. It's better this way."

"I know it is. But it's a sad way nonetheless…."

Elizabeth nodded, while another tear slipped down her cheek.

"Mrs Hudson…" she whispered, "Will you look after him a bit? For me?"

"Of course, dear," Mrs Hudson said, trying not to cry.

"Thank you."

"And you, Mary? Will you help John looking after him?" she then said to Mrs Watson.

"Of course, my Lady. That's the least I can do," Mary said.

Elizabeth gave her a thankful smile.

"Mycroft? Please look after your little brother," she said to Sherlock's big brother.

Mycroft didn't say a word, but nodded gravely, what resulted in an appreciative nod.

"Will you take good care of your friend, John?" she asked finally.

"Every single day," John said, while a lone tear slid down his cheek as well.

"Thank you," Elizabeth whispered gratefully.

Almost done! Next chapter is gonna flood with tears...

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