"Hello?" Jones called as he opened the door and stepped inside. He started as he turned to find a cane waving in his face, threatening to break his nose. "How are you, Mum?" He asked.

She lowered her cane. "I know I raised you better than to enter someone's house without knocking, Athelney."

"I did knock." He replied. "You just didn't hear me."

"Posh," she said dismissively, flapping her hand at her son, "I am not going deaf." She said, leading her son deeper into the house.

"No," Jones muttered under his breath, "you're already there."

"What was that?" His mother asked, looking back over her shoulder.

"Nothing. How have you been?" Jones asked.

"Old. Lonely. Tired." She replied. "You should visit more. How are my grandchildren coming along?"

Jones managed not to grimace. "Give it time, Mum." He suggested for what was not the first time and most certainly would not be the last.

"I'm old. Your father's gone. How much time do you think I have? Tea?"

"Yes, please." Jones replied. "No sugar. You look like you've got a few good winters left before we'll need to put you down." He said smartly, and was rewarded with a slap on the back of the head.

"You need to find some better friends, Athelney." She scolded. "You're too smart for your own good."

Jones managed, somehow, not to snort. "My wife is my closest friend, Mum." He told her. "The men I work with are hardly friends-"

"It's not good to be so alone." She could change her tune so quickly, Jones mused.

"I'm not." He assured her. "I like my life just the way it is."

"That's why I don't have any grandchildren yet." She grumbled, and Jones repressed a sigh.

"We're working on it." He retorted. Then he checked his watch. "I have to go." He told her.

Her face fell ever so slightly, and she sighed. "I'll come visit you again on Monday." He reminded her. "Can I bring you anything?"

She smiled and shook her head. "Your visiting is enough." She said as they both stood. She kissed him on the forehead and he told her he could see himself out.


Disclaimer: Sherlock and the boys do not belong to me.