Prompt from zanganito: Giving. Merry Christmas to all, and may you have a wonderful day with people you love!
"Merry Christmas, Sherlock," Mary beamed. She held out a neatly wrapped present in both gloved hands.
Holmes didn't know how to react. For once, he had not expected this in the slightest. Although he and Mary had grown closer since her marriage to Watson, as was inevitable when they both held the same person highest in their hearts, he had not expected this.
Mary was starting to look confused, and perhaps even slightly hurt, so he took the present from her. "I didn't get you anything," he began to say, but she quickly shook her head.
"It's not about getting, Sherlock. It's about giving. I saw this and thought of you, and so I wanted you to have it." Her smile grew again. "I hope you won't mind if I ask you to open it now, rather than on Christmas! I'm very excited to know what you think, and a little nervous as well."
Holmes typically abided by Christmas traditions purely for Watson's enjoyment of them, and therefore saw no problem in opening a present early at the wish of Watson's wife. He tore eagerly into the wrapping paper, pushing aside the brightly coloured ribbon Mary had used, and found a hand knitted scarf in a fetching shade of blue.
"I noticed you didn't have one, and last time you came to tea you looked cold. So I made you one." Her face fell slightly. "I do hope you like the colour. I thought it would suit you, but I don't see you wear much colour so I don't know which you like."
Holmes ran his fingers across the scarf, instinctively deducing the quality of the wool and time that had gone into it. This was no mere whim, but a present that had been laboured over in the firelight of many a long evening. "I do like the colour," he said in awkward sincerity. "Thank you, Mary. I'll wear it often."
Her smile bloomed back into shining delight. "I'm glad! Merry Christmas, Sherlock."
He returned her smile with equal warmth, vowing next year, he'd find a way to give back to this bright and generous woman who loved his best friend as much as he did. "Merry Christmas, Mary."