A series of conversations between Lestrade, Sherlock and John as they compare themselves and those around them to characters from other works of fiction. With occasional appearance from other characters. The first line is always by Lestrade, or someone with that last name!

For Johnsarmylady who requested Dickens' AChristmas Carol, Benny is for MLC. I hope you'll pull through these hard times.

I do not own any of the characters of BBC Sherlock, or any of the literal works mentioned in these stories.

At Mycroft's house:

"So, Sherlock, are you enjoying the party?"

"Um…let me think…NO!"

"Cheer up Sherlock, it's a new year's party, have a little fun!" John nudged him.

"How do you expect me to have fun at Mycroft's house, John?"

"It's a party, what does it matter whose house it is, Sherlock?"

"I don't exactly call a gathering of four people a party." Sherlock muttered.

"Thank goodness for that. You three are the least irritating people I know, therefore I wouldn't exact too big of a revenge on you." Mycroft drawled.

"I suddenly regret this idea!" Lestrade piped.

"It was your idea? What on earth induced you to arrange such a thing?" Mycroft demanded.

"Yes Lestrade, do enlighten us!" Sherlock backed Mycroft up.

"Well, I kinda felt bad that you spent Christmas all by yourself, so I thought to do something so neither you nor John and Sherlock would spend the new year alone." Lestrade said sheepishly.

"Careful there, Greg, people might start to talk!" John snickered.

"Why? What for?" Greg was confused.

"…No reason, forget I ever said it!"

"So why do you spend Christmases alone?" Lestrade asked Mycroft.

"I don't like Christmas."

"Why? It's great! There's turkey and pudding and stuffing-"

"That's Christmas dinner, I spend it with mummy." Mycroft cut him off.

"Well, you don't have any decorations, like a tree or mistletoes-"

"Don't bring up the mistletoes!" Sherlock snorted.

"Why?" Greg was curious.

"Should I tell him brother dear?"

"Great, now I know who ghost of Christmas past is!" Mycroft said sarcastically.

"Ah, this is getting interesting! Take us to the past Sherlock; let us take a glimpse into the past Christmases of the British government." John said excitedly.

"If you say anything, I'll pull a prank so severe you won't be able to leave your flat for a whole month!" Mycroft threatened.

"Oh, come on Mycroft, don't be such a spoil sport! We all have mistletoe misfortune tales, right Greg?" John turned to Lestrade.

"I could write a book about mine!" Greg agreed.

"I'm sure Sherlock doesn't have any." Mycroft said with a knowing smirk.

"Oh, you'd be surprised brother dear!"

"No! You?" Mycroft asked incredulously.

"I just had an odd flashback!" Sherlock shook his head "Yes, in fact, I had several of them, Just this Christmas- how about we trade, hmm?"

"We'll all tell one Mycroft!" John encouraged.

"Here's the deal, John, you tell us Sherlock's mishap and then Sherlock can tell mine." Mycroft offered.

"Okay! So, it was a cold snowy Christmas eve and-"

"Cut the poetry John! Just tell the incident and get it over with." Sherlock snapped.

"Oh for the love of-John's Cousin Luna kissed Sherlock under the mistletoe." Greg blurted out.

"I think I preferred the poetry." Mycroft said wistfully.

"Well, he ruined the ending, there's no use for me to tell it now!" John said dismayed.

"The end of all these stories are the same, they all occur under the mistletoe after all." Mycroft amended.

"He wanted to kiss a girl he had a crush on under the mistletoe when he was thirteen, but slipped and fell down!" Sherlock blurted out.

Mycroft glared at him. He opened his mouth but John cut him off "That happened to me too! I ended up grabbing her shoulder to steady myself but we both ended up on the ground!"

"Ha! You were lucky. I ended up in the punch bowl!" Greg supplied after him.

"That was quite the punch line for you, eh?" John said in between giggles.

"I wish Mrs. Hudson could come, we didn't bring any snacks." Greg said ruefully.

"Woo hoo! Happy new year!"

"Mrs. Hudson! Happy new year!" All four replied.

"I thought you went to that party with your friends." Sherlock told her with a smile.

"I did. Then I snuck out. It was so boring there, I'll have a far better time with you lot. I brought snacks!"

"Mrs. H, you're a saint!" John said relieved.

"Ghost of Christmas present." Mycroft murmured.

"Is it only us? I thought there would be more people. Where is your cousin Luna John? She was a nice girl." Mrs. Hudson chattered.

"She's at her mom's house." John replied.

"Shame, she was a very spirited girl, it would have been nice to have her and her friend."

Sherlock choked on his drink.

"Mrs. Hudson, would you care to elaborate on this cousin Luna?" Mycroft coaxed.

"She was very charming and friendly, I quite liked her. For some odd reason Sherlock kept avoiding her, until she surprised Sherlock under the mistletoe. Who's Benny by the way?"

"That, is a long story." Greg answered.

"A very long story!" Sherlock mumbled.

"Why don't you write it in your blog John?" Mycroft suggested.

"I would, but I'm afraid some people might want to hunt me down after it!" John said nonchalantly.

"Will it explain why Sherlock kept avoiding Luna?" Mrs. Hudson asked curiously.

"No need to wait for the blog, Mrs. Hudson. In a nut shell, Luna pursued him a little too forcefully at their first meeting in order to get rid of him, but she found his extreme reaction amusing and kept the gag running." John summarized.

"It's not funny." Sherlock whined.

"Relax, she's not really interested in you, she just wanted to make her friend jealous so that she'll work up the courage to come after you herself."

"Really?" Sherlock asked with horror.

"This is so much more fun than the yard's party!" Greg snickered

"Indeed!" Mycroft agreed.

"Tell him the truth John, I can't take it any longer!" Greg was doubled over laughing.

"She was just teasing you, nothing more!"

"Thank goodness." Sherlock let out a sigh of relief.

"Ya, she is coming over though, she has a huge crush on Mycroft." John continued.

Mycroft spluttered "Really?"

*Ping*

-Better seize the chance or you'll end up old and childless! Mommy

"And ghost of Christmas Yet to come!" Mycroft sighed dejectedly.

"Good one John! I haven't seen him blush so hard since he was thirteen. Maybe we'll persuade Cousin Luna to kiss Mycroft next year!" Sherlock said gleefully.

"Hopefully it'll be uneventful." Greg supplied.

"She is an event all by herself!" Mrs. Hudson said with a giggle.

"Yes, very amusing. Thanks for providing the entertainment tiny Tim!" Mycroft shot at John.

"I'll let your cheap shot at my height slide, it's new year and this is your house after all. But just this once!" John said amicably.

"Oh, there's the count down!" Mrs. Hudson said excitedly.

"5…4…3…2…1…"

"Happy new year!"

Refer to the "Due South" chapter to see who Benny is! Mycroft has already pulled a prank on the due in my other story "Snowballs!" chapter 2, if you're interested.