A/N: All right, this is a good start on getting caught up! Thank you again to all of my lovely reviewers who have made my day just jolly! Seriously, I needed that today. Enjoy, all! -SWS

Prompt: Holmes' Christmas

From: Werepanther33

Date: December 14th

It was on Christmas Eve, 1887, that I noticed my friend Sherlock Holmes staring rather pensively into the glowing embers of the dying fire. I endeavored to break the silence of the room. "Holmes," I said, quietly and cautiously as was possible.

He broke his gaze away from the fireplace grate and turned towards me. "Yes, Watson?"

"What is on your mind, old fellow?"

He shook his head. "It's just memories, Watson. My ghosts of the past."

I put down my newspaper. "Would you care to elaborate?"

He sighed and gazed longingly into the distance for a moment before speaking. "It was on this night ten years ago that I left my fiancé in Norfolk in order to pursue my career in London."

I was stunned. The very thought of Holmes, engaged to be married - it was positively absurd! "Why did she not come to London with you?"

"I..." here the famous detective hesitated. "I did not wish to expose her to the danger that I knew my new profession would involve. Ever since, my only Christmas wish has been that I would spend it with dear, sweet Emmaline."

As Holmes spoke these words, I recognized pain in his voice, and I only wished that I could make his wish come true.

A/N: Awwww, poor Holmes! *sniffles*

Well. This story was written following a rather interesting game of Clue with my (should I really call them) family. Before starting, I fetched my detective cape and magnifying glass, and my mom's boyfriend assumed the name of Boris Vladimir, drawing thick eyebrows and a goatee on himself with permanent marker. He later realized this may not have been a good idea. I was Miss Emmaline Hamilton, and my mother the Dubious Capybara. My name inspired this, BTW :) TWO games were ruined because my mom's boyfriend forgot to mark down all the cards he had and ended up making accusations which involved cards he had and didn't realize it. Quite an interesting "Russian." But, that may be because he's actually Australian. So yeah, it's been an interesting evening.

Hope you enjoyed! -SWS