It was the typical Christmas scene, a toasty fire, the scent of cinnamon mixed with ham, and a happy family. Well maybe not necessarily the happy part, but a family none the less.
"Why are we here?" Mycroft whined.
"Because Sherlock is home from hospital after some idiot put a bullet through his chest and we need to celebrate. But I swear if I ever figure out who shot him I will…"
"Okay mother dear, I think we understand", Mycroft rudely interrupted.
"Oh be quiet Myc, you should be happy your brother is still alive."
"Am I happy? I haven't checked, and is it really so hard for you to struggle all the way to the end of my name? Mycroft is the name you gave me if you care to say it properly. Is it really so hard to call me by my full name?" The Holmes' mother frowned and then looked down at the potatoes she was cutting.
"Mycroft is this your laptop?"
"Yes, on which the free world depends, and you have potatoes on it."
Sherlock smiled to himself watching as his mother and brother continued to bicker back and forth. It reminded him of his childhood and he smiled as he realize the scene had changed very little over the many years. Sherlock took a break from watching his family bicker to glance at the time, only five more minutes until his plan would be set into motion. He stood and walked into the living room, finding John resting on the couch and his father standing near the fire.
"May I have a moment alone with John please?" Sherlock asked his father.
"Of course", his father answered and then whispered "Is there something going on between John and Mary? I haven't seen her in forever and she didn't come today."
"I'm afraid there is, I guess married life didn't quite suit them." Sherlock whispered back.
His father replied with a frown and a nod, walking towards the door,
"I guess I'll give you two a moment alone."
They waited for Sherlock's dad to leave and completely shut the door before either of them spoke.
"So what do you need to talk to me about?" John asked. "If it's about Mary I think you should know that we've mutually agreed to, you know, not be married anymore."
Sherlock just nodded before saying, "Actually I wanted to talk about us."
John's eyes lit up and then he nodded his head, encouraging Sherlock to continue.
"I know you and Mary aren't really at the greatest point right now and I was just wondering if, John what I'm trying to say is that…
"Yes Sherlock?"
"I love you very much John, I think you found that out. What I want to ask you is, would you?"
"Yes Sherlock! Of course!"
"…move back in?" Sherlock finished his sentence slowly, confused by John's outburst.
"Oh", John breathed, his face dropping.
"What? Did I do something wrong? Do you not want to move back in?" Sherlock asked, searching John's face for answers.
John faked a smile, "No of course I want to move back in with you it's just that I thought you were asking me something else."
"Asking you something else? Like what?" Sherlock was completely lost but John had no time to answer because right at that moment Sherlock's mother walked in the door.
"Oh look at you two, always spending so much time together. It's a surprise no one thinks there's something more between you two then friendship."
Sherlock and John looked at each other and smiled before looking back at Mrs. Holmes.
"Yeah quite a surprise." John said stepping away from Sherlock.
"I was just bringing you guys some tea." Mrs. Holmes said as she set a tray down on the table. As she went to stand back up though she started falling, John quickly jumped forward and caught her before she hit the ground.
"Sherlock! My God she fainted!"
Sherlock looked down at his watch and smiled, "Right on time."
"What do you mean right on time Sherlock? I swear if you did this to your own mother… and on Christmas! Really Sherlock?" John continued shouting after Sherlock as he walked back into the kitchen. Soon John realized that not only was it Sherlock's mom but also his father and his brother. "Dear God Sherlock really?!"
"Don't worry John. Billy here is a very good chemist, he measured the perfect level for each of them and will stay here and monitor until they wake up." Billy smiled and waved at John but John just frowned.
"What is your big plan this time Sherlock?"
"We're giving Magnussen his Christmas gift."
"And what would that be?"
"My brother", Sherlock replied with a sly smile as he grabbed Mycroft's laptop and headed out the door.