This chapter (sort of) contains spoilers for John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.

FAULTS AND ORIGINS

They walked home. The weather was fiercely pressing against them especially with only Sherlock's coat wrapped around the both of them. But the other's body warmth kept the man warm and it didn't seem right to take a taxi and invite a stranger into this moment. It was far too special, too precious to share with anyone but themselves.

It took an hour until they were finally home, their cheeks stinging with long lost tears and the replacement of unmovable smiles.

At the door, John turned to face Sherlock and pulled him down to share another kiss on the doorstep. John couldn't help be reminded of countless cliché romantic films. He laughed aloud into Sherlock's lips.

Sherlock frowned.

'What?'

'I guess this is one way of coming out bi'

Sherlock laughed and John pressed a smiling kiss on Sherlock's pale hand. Sherlock looked down and kissed his forehead before entering the house and preparing himself to face the fuss of Mrs Hudson. He grabbed John's hand and tightened his grip which was acknowledged with reciprocation from John.

The door swung open to reveal a distraught Mrs Hudson sat on the second stair step with a pile of used tissues next to her. She looked up with frightened eyes and her mouth flew open as she took in the sight.

Sherlock looking just like he used to except with a great big beam plastered on his face. John shared his ecstatic smile and then she glanced down to their hands. White and tanned fingers tightly intertwined like vines around a tree. She smiled and broke into even more tears as her face lit up. She'd always thought they'd be good together.

She lifted herself off the step and went to hug her boys.

'I- you look. Sherl-'

'It's OK Mrs Hudson.'

'Dear, the amount of times you've told me that Sherlock! I'm sorry I tried to phone you John but you didn't pick up.'

'Ahh yes, I was stupid enough to leave it on silent. It worked out in the end I suppose'

He risked a glance to meet Sherlock's eye and Sherlock winked at him.

'What happened out there Sherlock? You just rushed out like a mad man!'

'I'm sorry, I shouldn't have put you in that situation.'

'Oh it's quite alright, God knows I'm used to all kinds of situations living in the same house as you two!' She chocked up and wiped her face with a fresh tissue.

Releasing them from the hug and looking down to their hands again, still intertwined, She smiled again, brighter as the relief replaced worry.

'I trust you have some news?'

There was a twinkle in her eye.

'I trust you've already gathered it.'

She laughed and they laughed with her.

'I think I gathered it from the moment John turned up on the door step.'

Soon, the two men were upstairs and sat on the sofa, reading. One of John's hand was resting on top of Sherlock's and John's head was tilted to lean on Sherlock's shoulder which was unreasonably comfortable for someone so bony. Sherlock had a small print book which read 'The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin' on the front in a white font on a black background. The corners were curving upwards and several pages had pieces of narrow paper with Sherlock's blue scribble commenting on Darwin's theory and how the executing of its presentation could have been improved. The classic evolution silhouette images lay just underneath the author's name. John on the other hand had a newer, slightly larger book which read 'The Fault in Our Stars by John Green' on the cover. It was bright blue with two minimalistic clouds on the front and John was about half way through.

'Sherlock'

'Mmm'

'Why are you reading that book again?'

Sherlock turned to face him and looked at him earnestly.

'Darwin was a genius.'

'I know but-'

'Is John Green a genius?'

'Quite possibly. Perhaps not of science but of literacy, it's incredibly well written.'

'Hmm, well I enjoy this book hence why I have read it many times.'

Sherlock was about to assume reading when suddenly, John snatched the book from Sherlock's grasp and in a single movement replaced it with his own.

'Why not try something a little lighter?'

John winked playfully and Sherlock raised his eyebrows.

'Very well, Dr Watson. But I expect payment.'

Sherlock turned to John and looked him dead in the eyes. He leaned in and John crossed the last length between them so that their lips could collide in a flutter of sparks. John lifted his hand to Sherlock's head and Sherlock wrapped his arms around John and pulled him closer to his chest. Sherlock's lips continued to smoothly work on his when all of a sudden; John withdrew quickly from the kiss.

'And you'll get the rest when you've finished it.'

John didn't think he'd ever seen Sherlock read so fast in his entire life even including case data! The 313 page book took Sherlock a mere hour to finish and john watched the genius with incredible curiosity. Each page was turned in a matter of seconds. It was getting towards the end of the book when John noticed something strange.

'Sherlock are you... Sherlock your lip is trembling?'

'Is it?' his voice was higher than normal.

'I- Sherlock are you OK?'

'But it's not fair! He can't die, not like that!'

'Oh God Sherlock, look it's a book.'

'But it's so sad!'

'Some books are, but it doesn't make them worse than any other books.'

Sherlock continued to read the book right to the end and when he finally closed the novel with a note of finalisation he turned to John.

'That was one of the most magnificent things I have ever read.'

'Maybe because you only ever read non-fiction books.'

'But even so, a book which can make you laugh and cry is a major achievement.'

'I agree, maybe I can introduce you to a few others if you like.'

'I'd like that.' he muttered gazing at the wall and then turned to John a smile playing around his lips.

'Does that mean more payment?'

John laughed and flicked a curl over Sherlock's ear.

'Maybe so.'

He leant in and nibbled Sherlock's ear before going back to his lips that were just begging to be kissed. He bit Sherlock's lower lip and waited for Sherlock to sigh before giving him the passionate kiss he had wished for.