"Come on, Sherlock!" John called.
"This is stupid, John." Sherlock grumbled.
"It's not stupid." John said sternly. "It's what you're supposed to do for your Mum's birthday."
"I've no desire to celebrate anyone's birthday." Sherlock countered. "Let alone my prison warden's."
"Stuff it and get me the eggs from the fridge." John said. "You're so much work, Mrs. Holmes deserve a bloody aeroplane."
Sherlock sighed heavily but fetched them anyway. John added the eggs to the pan with green peppers, onions, and shredded potatoes. He'd shown up early to help Sherlock fix his mother breakfast for her birthday and Sherlock was being decidedly grumpy about it. He'd collapsed on a stool and promptly sulked for the twenty minutes that John had been working already. He deftly fixed toast, tea, and sliced strawberries while the eggs cooked. He plated the main course and placed everything neatly on a tray before turning back to his sulking boyfriend.
"Did you do what I told you to for a gift?" John asked.
Sherlock didn't lift his head from the countertop but reached into his dressing gown and thrust out a few wrinkled pieces of paper out for John to take. The shorter boy looked them over quickly before tucking them under the plate.
"Alright." John called. "Get your arse up and let's go make your Mum happy."
Sherlock took the tray that John pushed at him and drug his feet the entire way to the residential living area. John pushed him the last couple inches before hanging back in the entryway not wanting to intrude.
"Hello, Mother." Sherlock said. "John and I made you breakfast. Happy birthday."
Mrs. Holmes literally dropped her file folder at the sight of her taciturn, difficult son holding a tray with a full breakfast and a cup of tea. Her smile lit up the room as she took the tray from her son and pulled him into a tight hug. Sherlock patted at her back lightly but didn't pull away.
"Thank you so much, Sherlock." She whispered.
"You're welcome." He said awkwardly.
"This is so sweet." She said.
"There is a gift as well." Sherlock grumbled. "John made me do it."
She turned to inspect the tray and pulled out the crumpled pieces of paper. Mrs. Holmes let tears spill down her cheeks as she read the notes.
"When John asked me what I thought you might want, that was the first thing that came to mind." He said quickly. "I didn't actually think that John would make me do it."
"Sherlock Holmes, upon the holder redeeming this promissory note, agrees to work in the lab for a span of three hours as an assistant completing whatever tasks are asked of him with no complaints." Mrs. Holmes read with a wet smile.
John turned quickly to walk back down to the kitchen to do the dishes. He'd been a bit pushy about Sherlock actually doing something for Mrs. Holmes's birthday but was glad that he did after seeing the look on her face. He worked quickly knowing that Mrs. Hudson had an extensive list to complete before he went on vacation next week. He was just grabbing his work kit to scrub down one of the fountains that had been caked with algae when he heard someone calling his name. He turned to find Mrs. Holmes leaning against door to the work room.
"That was incredibly sweet, John." She said. "Thank you."
"It was no trouble." He shrugged. "I'm glad you enjoyed the gift. It really was Sherlock's idea."
"Still," She said. "I feel like I owe you a little something in return."
"It's your birthday, Mrs. Holmes." John said. "I was happy to help."
"Well," She said. "As your employer, I'm ordering you to take the day and spend it with my son. No work. Nothing."
"Really?" He asked.
"Yes." She said. "All I really want for my birthday is seeing my son happy and you do that, John."
"He makes me happy too." John said quietly.
Mrs. Holmes stepped forward and kissed him lightly on the forehead. "I'm so glad. He's wandering around the fountain already waiting for you to show up to work. Why don't you go surprise him?"
"Alright." He said dropping his work kit. "Thank you."
"Thank you, John." She said. "Have fun."
He made his way quickly to his boyfriend's side and felt giddy as Sherlock pulled him into a lazy kiss, "You owe me for that, John. I detest overly emotional displays."
"Shove off, you arse." John countered. "Your Mum loved it."
"So, cleaning a fountain." Sherlock said pulling away. "That sounds incredibly dull."
"It would be if that's what we were going to do today." John said with a sly grin.
"Really?" Sherlock asked matching that smile. "What are we doing?"
"Your Mum gave me the day off." He said. "I'm all yours."
Sherlock wrapped those long fingers around his neck and pulled him into another kiss sending heat skittering over his skin. They broke apart and Sherlock led him to the pond away from the windows of the manor. He poked and prodded until John was lying on his back on a patch of soft grass.
"Bossy, aren't we?" John giggled but complied happily. He fell silent as Sherlock rearranged his limbs opening his legs a bit wider before crawling over the shorter boy, resting his head on John's stomach with a sigh before arranging the rest of his lean body between John's legs and wrapping his arms around John's waist. He felt something catch in his throat as Sherlock burrowed a bit into his abdomen sighing happily and letting his eyes drift close. "You want to take a nap?"
"You're so…steady," Sherlock whispered. "It's like clinging to a strong tree in a wind storm. You make me feel safe."
John didn't reply but began running his fingers through his boyfriend's hair just letting himself relax into the morning sun and the feel of Sherlock clinging to him. He felt Sherlock's breathing even out as the taller boy began snoring softly. They lay there for most of the morning. Both dosing lightly, happy just being with each other. It was getting close to noon when Sherlock finally rolled off John to sit by the shorter boy.
"When do you leave?" He asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon." John said with a sigh.
"I don't want you to go." Sherlock said firmly.
"It's only for a week." John soothed running his hand over Sherlock's calf muscle. "I'll be back before you know it."
"But you're mine, John." Sherlock said quietly. "You can't leave."
John pushed himself off the ground and shifted to straddle the taller boy's legs before kissing him deeply. "I am yours, Sherlock. But my Mum bought the tickets and everything and I want to see my Aunt."
"Fine." Sherlock grumbled running his hands up and down John's back lightly. "I don't have to like it."
"Nope." John answered. "But you do have to kiss me. Right now. A proper 'I'll see you in a week' kiss."
"That I can do." Sherlock purred before gripping the shorter boy roughly and crashing their mouths together. They spent the rest of the day alternating between languid snogging and cuddling into each other never breaking contact. John was standing to leave when Sherlock pulled him into a heated kiss trying to make John change his mind with those talented fingers and addictive tongue. John pulled back gasping slightly and running his hands through those silky curls.
"I was thinking…" John said hesitantly. "That maybe when I get back…we could…you know."
"We could what?" Sherlock asked distracted by the feel of John's skin under his fingers.
"I just…" John swallowed nervously. "It would be my first time and…and I want it to be with you."
Sherlock's smile sent a sweet fire through John's veins and couldn't help but giggle into the kiss that Sherlock placed reverently on his lips.
"Is that a yes, then?" John asked.
"Oh, John." Sherlock breathed. "Please."
"That's settled." John said pulling away. "Come on. Walk me to the car."
They walked hand in hand around the house brushing against each other as they went. As they were about to turn the corner to meet Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock pulled him into one last deep kiss pulling the shorter boy so close, John was having trouble breathing, not that he really minded.
They broke apart and John tweaked his earlobe lightly. "Don't do anything stupid, you insufferable git."
Sherlock scoffed before kissing John's nose lightly. "I'm a genius, John. I'm incapable of stupidity."
John watched Sherlock in the side mirror as Mrs. Hudson pulled away from the Manor sighing with the knowledge that this was going to be the longest week ever.
00000000000000000000
"I want you to have such a good time, Sweetie." His Mum said as she pulled up to the train depot.
"I will." John said happily.
"Give Debbie my best and I want you to really see London." She continued. "It is such a fascinating place and there is so much to do there. So many possibilities. Promise me that you'll go out and see the city."
"I will." John echoed.
"I just want you to love it there, John." She said.
"Okay, Mum." John said. "I'll see you in a week."
"Alright," His Mum said with a smile. "I love you."
"I love you too." John said.
John watched his Mum pull away before stepping onto the platform waiting for his train. He was excited to see London again, but he couldn't stop the sigh of disappointment of being away from his boyfriend for so long.
0000000000000000000000
"What are you going to do today, Sherlock?" His mother asked.
"Die of boredom." Sherlock answered glumly.
"Oh, Sherlock." His mother tutted. "It's only been three days."
"There's nothing to do." He whined.
"Why don't you go get some fresh air?" Mrs. Holmes said. "It'll do you good."
Sherlock sighed dramatically but picked himself off the floor of the living area and meandered outside to lay by the pond. He let his terribly unoccupied mind wander from subject to subject as he fought against the fidgeting need to do something before his brain atrophied. He was running the digits of Pi through his head when he glanced over at the sound of a branch breaking.
"Fuck off." Sherlock grumbled as Jim walked around the pond to stand beside Sherlock's prone form.
"That's rude." Jim answered with a giggle. "A bit put out?"
"I said fuck off." Sherlock said with more force.
"You are cranky today." Jim whistled. "Fighting against that addiction of yours?"
"I'm not an addict, you prat." Sherlock said pulling himself off the ground to face Jim.
"Of course you are." Jim shrugged. "Your family wouldn't have to keep you locked away if you weren't."
"You don't know what you're talking about." Sherlock grumbled.
"Prove it then." Jim challenged. "If you're not an addict, then one hit shouldn't send you spiraling out of control, should it?"
Sherlock felt a light sweat break out along his forehead and lower back. "I don't need to prove anything to you."
"Alright." Jim twirled away. "It's okay to admit that I'm right, Sherlock. I promise I won't tell anyone that I'm smarter than you."
"You are not." Sherlock growled.
"Really?" Jim asked innocently. "So you're not an addict who's afraid of being controlled by his need for chemical stimulation?"
"No!" Sherlock shouted.
Jim whipped back around to pin Sherlock with a challenging stare, "Prove it then."
000000000000000000000
Listening to Joshua Radin's "You Got Growin Up to Do". It seemed fitting.