To all who reads: I LOVE YOU

John sat on his bed, waiting. He didn't think Sherlock would take long to figure it out, but on the other hand had he no idea whether Sherlock would remember he had a sister. Sherlock had never been much about family, that's for sure. But what was he supposed to do when he got here? Did they just become friends again? Lovers? What did he want? They needed to talk, that's for sure. Anyways, he really couldn't stand another time spent without Sherlock.

His sister had been no help at all. When she wasn't drunk, she was out getting drunk, and that one time he'd talked to her, she'd just said he was stupid for leaving. But even though John regretted leaving, he couldn't help but feel that he'd done the right thing. Not that it'd gone so much time that he was over him, but he couldn't bear another minute. Friendship, lovers, it didn't matter to John. He wanted to be with Sherlock; no matter what way, and that was acknowledge he needed to have to get his relationship with the detective in order. So he'd gotten something out of leaving, and now he felt sure that he could take Sherlock coming. Or not.

The doorbell rang, and John tried not to jump up and sprint down like a child waiting for cake, but couldn't help himself. Outside the door stood an even thinner Sherlock in his usual clothing and three roses. John just stood and stared.

"You brought roses."

A slight shade of pink crept up on Sherlock´s cheekbones, as he said with his usual voice:

"Yes, obviously. Never understood why people do it, but I believe that's something you do when you go to visit someone you haven't seen in a long time." Sherlock didn't quite meet John´s eyes; clearly there was something he didn't want John to ask about.

"But why three red roses? John asked, when it dawned on him. He tried not to smile, but it was difficult.

"Well, that's what you give when want to tell someone you love them." Sherlock said this with no feelings, just like a statement, but the speed the words were said in betrayed him.

"Okay then. Does that mean you love me?" John said, plainly. Sherlock looked a bit surprised for a moment, but then he smiled.

"Yes."

"How does that work?"

"No idea."

They shared a smile that they'd both longed for in ages. John waved his hand in direction of the living room and asked Sherlock to come in. Sherlock went bluntly in, looked around, and turned back to John.

"What shall I help you carry?"

"Eh, hem?" John was caught off guard, and stared at Sherlock, not understanding what he meant.

"Your stuff! You have packed, haven't you?"

"Where am I going?" John stared at Sherlock with total confusion.

"Back to Baker Street!"

"We haven't talked together for months, and now I'm just moving back?"

Sherlock, who'd started moving towards the stairs and up to John´s bedroom, turned around.

"Problem?"

John lifted his eyebrow, thinking that this reminded him very much of the first day he'd met Sherlock.

"We haven't figure out where we stand yet. I don't know if we are friends, I don't know if we are lovers, I don't even know what I want."

"I know I love you," was Sherlock´s simple answer, and John couldn't help but smile. This was just as the first time he met Sherlock, things moved so fast, without questioning what happened. So he went along on it, because he had to and he wanted to. He couldn't help himself, this was Sherlock bloody Holmes.

It didn't take them much time packing. They basically just threw clothes into different bags and suitcases without saying something. John just wanted to enjoy the feeling of being near Sherlock again, smell him and see him. The talking could very much wait, until they got home and Mrs. Hudson made them a cup of tea.

Sherlock took the time to really suck in everything John did, the movements, his facial expressions, his smell, everything. He also put everything of John´s stuff in his Mind Palace, in the huge closet marked John Hamish Watson. He didn't want to miss a single thing. He felt happy, the same feeling he had when he'd solved a case, or, that is, in the three seconds before he got bored. Sherlock felt the need to say something, he wanted to say how happy he was, how John made him feel, but couldn't open his mouth. This wasn't something he was used to, so he got a little puzzled.

A thought just hit John, and he started to pack as fast as he could. He'd just remembered where he was, and he didn't want Sherlock to meet his sister. She could come home anytime, drunk or in a bad mood. Both as bad as the other one, and John wouldn't want Sherlock to deal with that. There was also a tiny little voice very far back in John´s mind who told John he didn't want Sherlock to say something too bad to Harry, either. He might be very rude, and then she would be furious. He almost ran down to put the suitcases and bags in the cab, followed by a somewhat surprised Sherlock over this sudden change.

"Why the hurry, John?" he asked, and John almost jumped.

"Erhm, nothing, I just can't wait to get back and say hi to Mrs. Hudson." John saw that Sherlock didn't buy that lie for a second, and tried another approach to get Sherlock away from seeing the obvious.

"I can't wait to we get home, so I can talk to you… And do other things."

Sherlock stared at John for just a moment, with an unfathomable look on his face.

"You don't want me to meet your sister. Why? Oh, don't say. You're afraid I might say something mean."

The time it took John to answer was verification enough for Sherlock. He got back his emotionless look, a bit colder than it usually was, and started throwing the bags inside.

"Sherlock, no. I didn't mean that. I just don't want you to be here if she, -"

"If she what?" A tired, hurt female voice came from behind John. He turned around quickly, facing his brown-haired sister. She was (thank God!) not drunk. She actually wasn't angry either, but she was hurt.

"This is the guy you moved here for? He came back for you. How nice. I'm Harriet. Just saying, and now I'll leave. Don't want to embarrass you, John." She turned to leave, but Sherlock stopped her. John bit his lips unconsciously, waiting for Sherlock to say something mean.

"Hi, I'm Sherlock Holmes. Nice to meet you. You have John´s eyes."

John stood there, his mouth almost touching the ground. He'd heard Sherlock act nice form occasion to occasion, but he'd never imagined in his wildest dreams Sherlock would say that. He did, however, know the fake smile Sherlock always used when he tried to act human.

"Nice to meet you too. I'll kill you if you hurt John again."

Sherlock was surprised. That was something people usually didn't manage to make him, except for John, and now John´s sister. He wanted for a second to tell her how John'd left him, but swallowed the camel and said he would never hurt John, and if he did, he'd gladly let her kill him.

This was so out of character for Sherlock, that John couldn't help but just stand and look unbelievingly on the scene that played out in front of him. He didn't get back to himself before Harry gave him a hug, shook Sherlock´s hand and said goodbye.

"Goodbye, Harry. Thanks for letting me stay!"

"Don't think about it," was Harry´s answer, and Sherlock got in the cab with John in his heels.

"Okay, what was that about?"

"Hm?" Sherlock looked surprised.

"You being all nice?"

Sherlock stopped looking surprised, and a kind of offended look wiped over his face.

"I can be nice if I want to, you know. She's your family. I should be nice."

"Yeah, but still. You didn't even comment on the part where she said that you hurt me. I left. You could've said so." Dammit. John wished he could take back words. He didn't want to talk about this. Not now, not ever. He felt Sherlock stiffen beside him.

"Didn't think it was necessary." Sherlock´s answer was short, and he looked out of the window. John didn't know what to say. He'd just realized that none of them had apologized and he didn't know which of them who should be the first.

I'm SO sorry this took so long time. My only apology is that I've had exam-like tests all week, and a real downtrip on Tuesday. Tried to keep some sense and a red line through the whole story, but not sure I made it, especially at the end. Please tell me what you guys think! It's so important to me, you know!

And thank you so much to everyone who read, alert and add this story as favorite. I know I've said it before, but a good thing can't be said to often, right? You guys literally light up my day :)