"Happy Christmas, Sherlock," John murmured, rubbing his eyes as he stepped into the sitting room.
"Where have you been hiding my gift?" Sherlock asked suddenly, looking at him from the couch.
"Huh?"
"I've been over the flat and haven't noticed anything amiss."
"Oh." John smiled faintly. "I figured you'd be snooping and trying to deduce your present, so I let Mrs. Hudson hang onto it. Hang on."
It was five minutes before John rejoined Sherlock. "Here, then. Don't analyze it, just open it." He handed the box to Sherlock.
"Hmm..." Sherlock looked at it for a second before peeling the gift wrap back. "It's clothing of some sort. Please don't tell me you tried to buy me a button-down."
"At least I know your size, unlike you."
"I don't need to bother with such trivia as shirt sizes and numbers..." He lifted the top off of the box. "Ah..."
"Didn't know what to get you," John murmured, sinking in his chair.
"It's... fine." Sherlock pulled the pile of fabric out of the box. It cascaded halfway to the floor in what was clearly a black dressing gown.
"You wear that blue one all the time, and you have the red and tartan one, so..."
Sherlock's lips twitched towards a smile. "I daresay black is my colour, wouldn't you agree?" he said, shrugging off his blue dressing gown.
"It's harsh," John agreed, "defiant, demanding, has no emotional value..." John listed, nodding. "Yes, it fits you well!"
Sherlock rolled his eyes, although he was smiling to himself. "Hmm..." He looked down at himself. "Yes. I... It's good." He paused. "Thanks."
John smiled. "Not a problem."
Sherlock placed the empty box in his chair before thumping himself down on the couch. "Merry Christmas, John."
John smiled warmly, sinking lower in his chair. "So, did you finally get into the holiday spirit?"
Sherlock glanced towards him, opening his eyes slowly. "Holiday spirit? That's dull." He looked back to the ceiling.
"You did give me a gift."
Sherlock grunted.
"And you like your gift."
Sherlock didn't respond.
"And you said 'thank you' and 'Merry Christmas'."
Sherlock snorted, steepling his fingers beneath his chin. "Just because I gave into social custom does not mean that I appreciate the sentiment of holiday spirit." He paused. "But... I suppose... that it's not so bad... when I'm... celebrating with my blogger..."
John paused before smiling. "And when I'm celebrating with my pompous consulting detective, it's not a bad Christmas at all."
Sherlock 'hmm'ed before closing his eyes again, smirking briefly.
[Instead of 221 words, it's 442. I couldn't manage the Christmas Day chapter in only 221 words...]
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
I got a blue dressing gown and a shock blanket and a new scarf [black & white, but I already own 'Sherlock's' =p] for Christmas! I hope your Christmases were bright and merry and filled with the things that you love! Thank you so much for being such loyale readers! I appreciate each and every one of you!