Sherlock smirked when the call ended. He had finally got his Christmas present and he was dying to open it.

The Christmas gift was an invitation right into Appledore. Sherlock could finally get insight to that oh so precious information that he had kept to his darling self.

Of course there was a price, (there always is with Magnussen) and that price was information in return. Not just any information, but top secret government information and Sherlock knew exactly when and where he would get it…

XXX

"You seemed to be full of the joys of spring." John eyed Sherlock as they reached the Holmes house.

"It's Christmas." He replied, as if that answered everything.

He got out of the car and silently grimaced. There were still a few hours of hell that he would actually endure before he could open up his gift.

He hadn't told John, of course. Sherlock just knew that John would find some way to stop him, or refuse to go and he needed John when they go to Magnussen's. He just hoped that everything would go without a hitch.

"Ah, John, you go on ahead. I need to help Wiggins with unpacking the cab."

John lifted his eyebrow and sighed. John didn't particularly want to go in the first place, but to face everyone alone was even worse. But Sherlock had his adamant look on his face.

"Ok, just don't be too long." John turned and walked towards the house.

Sherlock whipped around to Wiggins. Sherlock insisted to his parents that he was to come. He spewed rubbish like, Wiggins is practically a part of the family, and he doesn't have a home to go to at Christmas. His parents were very soft and very, very easy to manipulate. He pulled out a little vial of powder from his pocket and shoved it into Wiggins's hand.

"You know what to do when the time comes."

Wiggins nodded. "Yes, Mr Holmes."

Sherlock looked wistfully towards the house. "Come on, let's face our yearly punishment." He said as he began to walk.

XXX

While this was all happening John had to face interrogation by the Holmes family.

Once he walked through the door, Sherlock's mother ran up to him and gave him a huge hug.

"Oh it is absolutely lovely to see you again John. How have you been? You look wonderful! I am so glad you and your wife had decided to join us. Talking about Mary, where is she?"

"Um…" John thought hard about an excuse, any excuse, that would satisfy her. He couldn't just say 'Oh we are on a trial separation at the moment because I found out that she is an infamous assassin who did dirty jobs for a blackmailing sneaky bastard. She, on the other hand, found out that I am in love with your son, whom I am currently fucking.' (Although he really, really wanted to, just to see the look on her face). "She is…"

"Right here!" A voice sang from behind him. He whipped around and saw a face he hadn't seen in months.

She was very pregnant, her tummy stretching a red maternity dress, matching her dark red lipstick. She was struggling to carry a few presents up to the door. She did look rather pretty.

"John, why are you letting your pregnant wife carry things from the car?!" Mrs Holmes scolded.

"No no, I am fine." Mary said just as she tripped. John unfroze as his instincts took over to catch her. He quickly caught a hold of her arm.

"Are you alright?" John asked as he caught her eye. He could see the emotions that were conveyed through the look. His stomach churned when he realised that he had to break it off while she was still very vulrable.

It was a few awkward seconds before she looked away and answered. "Yeah, sure."

John let go of her and bent down to pick up the presents. He wordlessly carried them inside.

XXX

A few hours later...

John took the cup of tea in his hands as he walked into the living room. He was shaking so badly that he was afraid that the tea would spill over the rim.

He walked in when he saw Mr Holmes and Mary talking. She was laughing, and smiling and generally being happy. He couldn't but help to twitch his lips at the scene. It was like it was just an ordinary day, before he knew about Mary's true profession, before he kissed Sherlock, before everything. And it hurt him that she would walk out here with a broken heart.

I hope she will understand. I hope that she will know that she and I can still be friends. I hope she would still allow me to be the father of our child.

Mary spotted John in the doorway and her demeanour completely changed to a cold stoic face. Mr Holmes looked back and saw John. He got the message and excused himself from the room.

Once he left, Mary turned back to the book and spoke. "So when are you two getting married?"

How did she know that? No one but Mrs Hudson and Wiggins knows about this.

"It's your ring that gave it away." She said, as if she read his mind "I don't remember you getting a ring, never mind such an expensive one as that."

John looked down at the glistening ring. He forgot to swap the ring back before he left, but Sherlock woke him up, and one thing led to another…

John sighed as he brought the tea for her. "That is what I wanted to speak to you about." She took the mug but not taking a sip. He dug around in his pocket and brought out the hard drive.

She turned visibly pale and turned away. "I know you don't love me anymore, John, but you do not have to be so cruel as to open it in front of me."

"Mary, look at me." She did what he asked. "I just wanted to say that, that I am sorry. I am sorry that I wasn't there to support you in the past months. I am sorry for leading you on. Mary, in reality I do love you, but…" John hesitated looking for a word.

"But you don't love me in that way, like you do with Sherlock." She finished. John could only nod.

"Right, and it is important for you to know that I forgive you for your past." He could see a single drop fall from her eye. "And it is just that, your past. I really don't think it is important for the future."

He took the hard drive and tossed it into the fire place. "It hurts me that we had to end our relationship like the way we left off." He took both her hands and looked into her tear stained eyes. "Could you forgive me for what I did to us?"

She started to sob and gave him a hug. "Of course, John, I forgive you."

A huge wave of relief washing over him, and his heart was lighter. He squeezed her tightly as he could before letting go. Mary picked up the tea and took a long sip of it, he hand unconsciously resting on her belly. John smiled

"Does that mean that I can still be an acting father to our child?"

Mary nearly spat out her tea. "Our child?" She asked.

"Yes, our child." He frowned at her. "Mary what is wrong?" He asked.

Mary went to sit down on the chair again. She had to tell him. Since they were not a couple anymore, he deserved to know the truth more than ever. But how could she do that to him, especially after making up with him? It would ruin him even more when he discovered the truth about the real reason she decided to kill Magnussen.

But he deserved to know the truth, even if it destroys him.

"Um John there is something you need…" She stopped suddenly as she felt woozy, her vision spinning and her stomach churning. She didn't even register what was happening to her before she was knocked out cold.