A/N: Merry Christmas in July, everyone! Gather round for presents! ...Yeah, all I got you was this fic. It goes with the last one - I love it when that happens! But, please enjoy, as I sit here listening to Spotify with the fan on to cool off. I hope that it cools you off too, wherever you are, unless it's cold. In that case, can I come over? -SWS

Prompt: Mrs. Hudson's Christmas tree has died because of Holmes. With their dear old landlady home in a few hours, our favorite duo sets out to find a new one. Problem? It's Christmas Eve.

From: Werepanther33

Date: December 25th

Later that day, I entered the sitting room to find that the limbs of the tree were almost completely bare. The needles were turning brown and many of them had fallen onto the floor, and some of the branches even looked shrunken and withered.

"Holmes!" I bellowed down the stairs. "What have you done to the tree?"

Holmes came up to stand in the doorway with me. "I, er, may have used its pot as a chemical disposal today."

I massaged my head with my hand, groaning. "Holmes, Mrs. Hudson sent a telegram stating that she will be home from her sister's tonight, rather than tomorrow morning. She'll have both our hides if she sees the tree in this state!"

The Great Detective himself appeared quite worried at this prospect. "In that case, what do you propose as our course of action?"

"Well...we could find a new one?"

"Watson, it's Christmas Eve! Where would you suggest going?"

"I don't know, Holmes!"

Holmes' eyes suddenly fell on the small stack of cards and holiday greetings. "I do believe I have an idea."

"Is all this sneaking around really necessary?"

"For heavens' sake, Watson, this is my brother's flat!"

"But he isn't even home!"

I was suspended from a rope attached to Mycroft Holmes' balcony. Slowly, I climbed up and hoisted myself onto the balcony. Holmes quickly followed, with a skeleton key to open the window and allow us access.

Once inside the darkened sitting room, I squinted and looked around. My gaze alighted on a tiny tree setting on a table in the corner. Its needles were sparse, and it was completely bare of decoration. "That's it?" I said incredulously. "Holmes, did we come all this way for that little thing?"

Holmes stopped in his tracks to stare at the nearly bare tree. "I suppose we did." He walked over and picked it up. "Well, let's go, Watson. I believe we can still make it back to Baker Street back plenty of time to spare.

Two hours later, both of us tensed when we heard Mrs. Hudson returning. We stayed frozen in our seats until she opened the sitting room door. "Hello, Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson, how was -" She stopped. "Mr. Holmes, what on earth happened to the tree?"

Holmes' eyes silently traveled to the fireplace, where several freshly sawed logs were burning.

"You did not!" Said our landlady in menacing tones.

"We replaced it," offered the detective meekly.

"I should throw you two out on the streets!" she shrieked.

"Please don't, Mrs. Hudson," I pleaded. "It is a season of forgiveness?"

A/N: Sorry if it doesn't seem to flow very well, it's the best I could come up with. Last night was rough for me. But, MERRY CHRISTMAS, ALL! More coming, either tonight or tomorrow. -SWS