John knew he should tell Sherlock that that was rude, but he just wanted Jim to piss off.
When Sherlock came back, he was a tad more subdued, but still looking excited. "John, can you bake?" he asked.
"Erm... yeah, I can. Why?" John asked, noticing the small change in his friend's demeanour.
"Can you teach me before you go? I can send a poisoned cake to Mycroft."
John laughed heartily and nodded, "Sure, Lockie. No prob. But now we need to get dressed. Mum's waiting." He scowled and finished his tea.
Sherlock nodded happily. He got up and went to his room, changing into grey jeans and a teal blue button-up. He added some sweet-smelling cologne and ran a hand through his hair. He had not seen John's family in quite a while, and was personally looking forward to it.
John swiftly dressed and shaved, appearing into the living room a few minutes later. He wore black trousers, and his new, bright blue shirt, and his new watch. "Ready, Lock? Wanna go by Tube or walk?"
"Tube will be better," Sherlock responded, smiling at him, "you look wonderful."
"Thanks, Sherlock, you too." John eyed him up and down, and met Sherlock's eye.
He simply grinned at him in response, heading out of the flat. It was a pleasant day outside, with the sun already starting to peak through the clouds.
John followed his friend outside, and together they walked to the nearest tube station. After a bit, John asked, "You'll still tell my mum to shove it?"
"As politely as I can, John," Sherlock answered with a small smile.
John chuckled. "Well, that's something I'd like to see happening," John replied. "Do it your way."
"But my way with your mum /is/ polite," Sherlock sniffed. "Just you see."
John held his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay, forget I said anything."
Sherlock grinned, elbowing his friend painlessly in the side, "And you call me dramatic."
John grinned and kept walking, grinning like a true idiot. "Charmer."
Never one to be bested, Sherlock quickly answered, "Soldier."
John laughed and nudged him with his hip. "Flirt."
That shut Sherlock up for a bit, before he eventually answered, "Really? If so, player."
John frowned, and glanced at his friend. "No, I'm not, Sherlock. Do you really think I am?"
"Do you really think /I'm/ a flirt?" he countered.
John hummed. "Alright, you're right. You're not a flirt, though you certainly did smile at Jim a bit too much."
"What? Smiling is now classed as flirting? Really, John. I don't pretend to keep up with the ways of the romantics."
Of course he didn't. John sighed dejectedly and grabbed some change to pay for their tickets. "Okay," he mumbled, handing Sherlock his ticket.
When they got on, Sherlock thanked him, before sitting down opposite him and taking his hand. "You know I'm only toying with you, John. I don't mean it," he smiled, "I think you're perfect just how you are."
John's breath caught in his throat when he saw Sherlock's hand around his own. "Oh, erm..."
He smiled and pulled back, settling back in his seat to look out the window.
John smirked and sat back, too, enjoying his view - Sherlock was quite a beautiful sight.
"How is your sister, by the way?"
"Harry? Erm, I dunno. I only spoke to mum on the phone," John replied, "Why?"
"Just asking. You're clearly worried."
John sighed and tilted his head back. "I always am. She will drink herself to death one day."
Sherlock frowned. "Don't say that. It's probably just a phase. It wasn't like this before her break-up, was it?"
"I dunno," John mumbled, "Not as bad, no, but she has always been a drinker."
He nodded, looking across at him. "She needs a new girlfriend, I'd say."
John huffed and looked out of the window. "Yeah, I suppose. We Watsons aren't very good at that, obviously."
"Rubbish, you have one."
John frowned and looked back at Sherlock. "No, I don't have a girlfriend. Did you think Mary was mine? I have only known her for one day, Sherlock! It doesn't go that fast."
Sherlock was about to make some snarky comment about John knowing her for a day /and night/, but figured it wasn't appropriate and John would get upset again. "But you're clearly meeting again."
John shrugged. "Just drinks, I don't know if I want to... pursue this. I have better things to do during these two weeks." He gave his friend a soft grin. "I want these two weeks to count, to be your friend."
Sherlock smiled warmly at him, eyes joining in, "You don't need to sacrifice your happiness for me, as sweet as that is."
John smiled a bit. "It's no sacrifice, Sherlock. At all," He said meaningfully. He cleared his throat and quickly looked away, getting up when it was their stop.
Sherlock raised an eyebrow and smirked, following after him. Time to impress the Watson household…again.
They walked to John's old childhood-home, where Jane had already opened the door for her son and his friend. John sighed and steeled himself, forcing a smile on his face when she waved at him.
"Mrs Watson!" with a big, charming smile, Sherlock walked up with a spring in her step, giving her a tight hug and kissing her cheek. "It's been forever! How are you keeping?"
John followed after his friend, giving her a simple kiss. Of course, no one spoke about the war, or the army.
"That was bloody ridiculous!" Five hours later, John slammed the kettle down on the counter in the kitchen of 221B, angrily flicking the button to turn it on. "It was... fuck!" He balled his hands to fists and closed his eyes. "Not one fucking word!"
"Control yourself, John. I spoke to her before we left. She doesn't want to think about losing you, that's all."
John's grip around his mug tightened, his jaw set. 'That's shite, and she knows it! Never one word! I don't even get to bloody explain why I made that choice! She just doesn't fucking /care/!"
"John. Come here." He wrapped his arms around his friend and gave him a hug. "Just breathe."
John closed his eyes and sagged against his friend. "I just want her to care," he whispered, "Just tell her what has happened, just…talk. I can't talk to anyone. You don't like it either..."
"John Hamish Watson, I want you to be fully aware that you can talk to me about anything and everything, and putting aside my own concerns, I will never be anything but understanding and helpful where I can be. I promise you that."
John clenched his teeth, and hugged Sherlock just a bit tighter. "Thank you," he whispered hoarsely. "I will remember that."
"Please do." He ran his fingers fondly through John's blond hair. "I'm /always/ here for you, John, no matter what you do."
John bit his lip and pulled away, looking up into kind grey eyes, while a slender hand was still in his hair. "Anything?"
Sherlock nodded. "Anything, anytime."
Author's Note: SherlockedSherlockian
As always dear readers, sorry for the tardiness! SPECIAL SURPRISE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, PROMISE!
Thank you and thank you again for your patience - I hope you're all looking forward to the 50th Anniversary (need I elaborate?), or The Desolation of Smaug, or Sherlock Season 3 (obviously) or hopefully...all three!
Shout outs:
Christine Eponine sheholmes 8of9 Starlight05 Serenityofthematrix Noxlupis Lamiamedicus johnsarmylady faultierqueen Francine S mishalee KellzKat Eruva darkerangel1 Delin Nobody SundarDibujar jowhoknits Plexy MomotsukiNezumi keegigi Firelizard Tamer MasterSerina83 Atala Embers melnilscris LetsMakeBabiesWaitNevermind I'm not dead. Lets have dinner ilovemusic11 ilovemusic11 Captian-Winter artist-chan DarkObsession008 Hanakasama 8of9 Starlight05 Christine Eponine AliceInCrazyland15 LivingLegends MouraMoura DarKAngel466 Serenityofthematrix
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS, COWMOW!
Yours always,
SherlockedSherlockian xxx