It's Christmas at Holmes Manor. The three most unsentimental men in the universe are stuck celebrating (if one can call it that) the most sentimental holiday together. Mycroft tries to talk to Sherlock, but Sherlock coolly deflects all his inquiries. (Rejected by Oxford and taking it out on me. Very mature, Sherlock.) Instead, he chats with Father about his career plans. Mycroft will receive his master's degree from Cambridge in June, most likely with honours, and he hopes to join Father in the British Government. Father gives him sound advice but never says that he's proud. (Praise was Mummy's job.)
Christmas night, Mycroft stuffs himself while Father and Sherlock pick at their dinners. Shortly after dinner, the other two men retreat to their bedrooms. Mycroft pours a glass of brandy and sits in front of the fire in Mummy's favourite chair.
He can almost hear her saying, "Isn't this what you three wanted?"
(No.)
Mycroft's greatest fear is that it's what they deserve.