From zanganito: Coal

A/N: A continuation of chapter 6: A Cage

"What shall we call this furry fluff ball you so generously saved from the market?" Mary queried as she stroked the kitten contentedly snuggled into her lap.

"I suppose you should be the one to name her since she was destined to be your Christmas gift." Watson's eye twinkled.

"In that case, I might need another day to figure out her personality and see what name suits her," Mary declared.

"She's soft but tough, having survived the market and the winter storm," Watson suggested.

"True, and she is gentle."

"She's a warm soul," Watson agreed. "She warms our laps and hearts."

"Of course, she's also drawn to the heat of the fireside too. Her favourite spot is on the rug in front of our hearth."

The two humans lapsed into silence.

"Her fur is as black as coal, but her eyes sparkle like diamonds." Mary yawned. "Let's go to bed, my love. I'll decide tomorrow."

~ooo~

The next morning as Mary stroked the embers in order to restart the fire in the hearth, she noticed a strange bulge in Watson's stocking.

"My dear, it looks like Santa has left you an early Christmas gift too."

"Oh?" Watson asked, still a bit bleary eyed from the night.

"Yes, and it looks like you're on the naughty list. The bulge in the toe of your stocking appears to be lump of coal."

Watson chuckled. He walked over to Mary by the hearth and peered into his stocking.

"Hm? A furry lump of coal, then."

The lump of coal purred and its eyes blinked open in pleasure as Watson cuddled her in his dressing gown.

"I guess that settles, we'll call her Coal," Mary declared. "Or shall we spell it Cole? She is a merry soul after all."

~ooo~

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,

And a merry old soul was he;

He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl,

And he called for his fiddlers three.

Every fiddler he had a fiddle,

And a very fine fiddle had he;

Oh there's none so rare, as can compare,

With King Cole and his fiddlers three.[1]

[1] The nursery rhyme's earliest mention is in William King's Useful Transactions in Philosophy in 1708–09