In response to Agatha Doyle's prompt - Holmes and Watson are desperately trying to find Christmas presents for each other.
This one has a little more plot…
All Knowing Advisor
It was Christmas Eve, and I was making preparations for Christmas dinner. It would be so nice to share Christmas with Mr Holmes and Doctor Watson; it was a long time since I had celebrated Christmas with anyone. My husband had passed away some time ago.
"Mrs Hudson," I turned from the goose I was plucking. Mr Holmes was perched nervously in the doorway to the kitchen, looking something like an overgrown eagle. "I, um… I need some help."
Puzzled, I asked, "Why are you whispering?"
His eyes darted nervously to the ceiling. "Doctor Watson is asleep at the moment, but erm… I need your advice on something."
"Yes..?" I was still completely clueless.
"Well I- I'm not sure what to get him for er… for Christmas," he mumbled. I snorted and he quickly added, "Not through lack of trying I assure you! It's just that we've been so embroiled on this case that I've barely had a moment, both free and alone, to buy one."
"I see…." I struggled to contain a chuckle. "Why don't you buy him some new writing material?"
He nodded. "I had thought something of that sort… are you sure he will be happy with that?"
"I'm sure he'll be happy to receive anything. You weren't the only one working on that case after all."
"… what do you mean?"
"Well," I responded with a grin, turning back to the goose. "He came in here early this morning, with exactly the same problem."
There was a brief silence from behind me. "And he tasked you with retrieving a present for me?"
"No," I said, now going to the cupboard for a baking tray. "He went to retrieve one himself."
"But how- oh," realisation dawned. "He's… not asleep, is he?"
"No – Toby is though. Upstairs in the Doctor's bed."
"Why that crafty – I thought there was something odd about his breathing!"
I listened as Mr Holmes left, the door slamming behind him. Shaking my head and laughing, I briefly abandoned the Christmas dinner, to place my own presents for the both of them under the tree.