A/N: 2 prompts combined, second one is under the fic.
Prompt 23 from V Tsuion: Holiday cooking
A 221B
Cooking
Holmes and Watson head for home;
A clear and frosty Christmas Eve.
A complicated case concluded,
Hours before the pair could leave.
~0~
Sights and sounds and scents of winter
Carts on cobbles rattle by.
Clear above all other sounds;
A chestnut vendor's piercing cry.
~0~
Drawn towards the cart, entranced
By rich aroma, siren voice;
Nothing touched their lips since breakfast,
Not a controversial choice.
~0~
A nimble and well-bundled figure
Shakes a griddle to and fro.
Chestnuts, hot in glowing embers;
Singing, tone is sweet and low.
~0~
Woollen cap pulled low on forehead;
A glint of mischief, clear in eyes.
Tilts up chin, surveys the duo
Waits...suspects they'll recognise...
~0~
The penny drops and Watson grins,
Doffs his bowler hat, mock bows.
Holmes steps back, for once wrong-footed;
Blinks and stares with raised eyebrows.
~0~
Watson waves a silver sixpence,
The vendor nods and measures out
Two generous and welcome portions.
Glowing cinders fly about.
~0~
They stay to eat, the vendor joins them,
Peeling chestnuts, far too hot,
Blowing burned, impatient fingers,
Huddled round the iron pot.
~0~
Tea is brewed, and sipped whilst talking,
Past adventures oft retold;
Unheeding of the fading daylight
And warm despite the bitter cold.
~0~
Irene Adler takes her cap off,
Shakes her silken tresses free.
A brief respite from household duties;
Nowhere else she'd rather be.
~0~
A/N:Prompt 24 from Michael JG Meathook: Irene Adler opens a business.