From mrspencil: decorating the mantelpiece

Mrs Hudson's delight at Holmes' return was evident in her decorations for that year. Never had Baker Street seen such an overabundance of greenery, everything from fir branches to sprigs of holly and mistletoe. This was a particular trial to Holmes, whose attitude towards the Christmas season had suffered no alteration in the three years of his absence.

"Watson, why is there a sprig of holly in my Persian slipper?"

"I don't know, Holmes." Truthfully, the mantlepiece was so overcharged with greenery that I could hardly see the slipper in question. "It does seem an odd location. Yet one cannot blame Mrs. Hudson for feeling festive."

Holmes sniffed. "If Mrs. Hudson desires to be festive, she would be better served by doing so in other parts of the house. This far exceeds what she has inflicted on us in the past."

I stared at him. For all Holmes' knowledge of the criminal mind, he sometimes seemed ignorant of the most basic of human emotions. Was he truly unaware of the grief his apparent death had caused? And why Mrs. Hudson should have such desire to celebrate his return?

"It was meet that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again," I said almost to myself.

I felt Holmes staring at me, but I busied myself rearranging one of the strands of ivy. I had not meant to say so aloud and lay my feelings so bare. But after a moment, Holmes came up beside me and put a hand on my shoulder.

"Shall we dine at Simpsons tonight, Watson? I trust I am not destitute, even after so long abroad."

For Holmes, this almost constituted an apology. Perhaps I should warn him about the holly that Mrs. Hudson had also woven through his chemistry equipment after all.

A/N: Because Mrs. Hudson may be happy he's back, but a few jabbed fingers is no more than he deserves for lying about his death! I'm not entirely happy with this, but I've fallen far enough behind that I wanted to get something down on "paper." I would appreciate constructive feedback; I may come back and tweak this when I have more time.

Incidentally, what Watson quotes is the parable of the Prodigal Son, found in Luke's Gospel.