Back on the stage where all the audiences were waiting for this chapter to be updated.The author, Masked Phantomhad finally made her update. She stood there withher usual companion, Darkness... she whispered into her ears...

Darkness: Today... I'mspeaking on behalf of myflu infected buddy... she says that she's really sorry for the delay as ahe was being held up with life. And to keep it short... here's the chapter and we do hope that you will enjoy it.

The light dimmers and the new chapter is presented.

Disclaimer: I own nothing known to you except the plot...

Chapter 8: Think and thoughts

By the time the detectives returned, 221b was already half decorated. Watson was in the midst of baking the Christmas goodies and Deidre was instructing the guys on where they should hang the party streamers.

"Wait! Would you move a little to your left please?"

"No… No… Stop! Not you Wiggins I meant Tennyson."

"Deidre would you just make up your mind already? Our arms are getting tired." complained Wiggins. Tennyson nodded in agreement.

"Alright then you may fix it there right now." Deidre said once she noticed that the detectives were back from their short visit.

"So how did it go?" she asked excitedly.

"You can say that it was fine." Holmes replied as he settled down in his favourite armchair.

"Is Sandra coming then?"

"Well… that I do not know yet." He replied.

"So she might not be coming. Isn't it." Deidre said feeling slightly disappointed.

"You can say so since he was the one who sent the invitation." Lestrade joined in.

"So what is she like?" asked Deidre.

"She's pretty okay but is a little cold to strangers which is normal." She replied.

"Hmm… but it seems that she's avoiding something… but what?" Holmes thought.

"And about that Angela, why was she so upset about our visit? Hmm… there has to be something going on between the both of them…" he determined to himself.

"Beep… Beep… Beep…" the sound of the communicator broke Holmes' chain of thought, snapping him back to reality. With expected anticipation, he picked it up. It was in audio mode.

"Hello?"

"Err… hello? Is this Mr Holmes?"

"Yes."

"I'm Sandra. About the party you had mention earlier, I would really like to come."

"I'll be delighted."

"Oh… alright then. Thanks Mr Holmes." With that the call ended.

Deidre eyes glittered with joy after overhearing Holmes' conversation.

"Wow! This is great! Sandra Holmes is coming over for dinner." She exclaimed.

"Beep whur…" chirped Tennyson excitedly.

"Hey… chill off guys. We still got a few more things to do before we could officially declare that it's a mission accomplished." Wiggins reminded his buddies.

"And it looks like I would need a few helping hands here in the kitchen. If we wanted everything to be done by then." Watson said. All the teenagers volunteered with the intentions of nicking off a few nips for tonight's dinner.

"Ahem… well… I guess it's up to us to put up the remaining decorations." Holmes said to Lestrade as he picked up the box of decors.

Sandra gave a sigh after putting down her communicator. She lay back in bed and stared at the ceiling with her mind lost in her own thoughts.

"I'm just doing it for him… I'm just doing it for his sake… I just hope that he's okay…" she chanted to herself and fought back the tears which were beginning to form.

"But it'll be a matter of time before the detective will learn about the truth… why not let him help you?" a voice echoed in her head.

"No! I can't. It's too risky! I don't think I could even trust him." She thought.

"But he could help you…" the voice persisted.

"I know… but I don't think I deserve it… I don't…"

"You'll never know if you don't try…" it echoed in a haunting manner in her mind.

To be continued...

The spotlight came back on and Masked Phantom stood there alone without Darkness. Dressed in her pyjamas, bunny slippers and a blanket over head. Hersilver mask gleamered as she cleared her throat and in a raspy voice she spoke...

"Same rules applies if you want it to move on... Review. Lastly, be sure you have your blankets with you or you'll catch the New Year Bug. Take care and see you on the next update..."

With awhish ofthe blanket, she dissappeared before her viewers.