A/N: To have some idea on what Basil looks like, go google Benedict's Stephan Hawking.

John shot out his hand and grasped the other's in a friendly shake. This seem to please, Basil was it? To no end. Basil grabbed it tightly and shook it with both hands, grinning giddily the entire time and trying not to fall off his crutches. "Pleasure to meet you Basil" Basil bit his lower lip as if to contain his obvious excitement. "Likewise. I'm a big fan of your blog, and Sherlock's blog too! When I heard you were having a book launch, I couldn't wait to meet you in person! I have all your books..really happy to finally meet you. Sorry..I should probably shut up before I start rambling" He laughed, looking slightly embarrassed and then remembered to actually get out the books.

Basil leaned heavily on his crutches whilst attempting to retrieve the four books, Hounds having been released on this particular day, at this particular launch. However this clearly did not go according to plan as Basil leaned to far to the right and toppled over into a small display of books. John didn't know whether to laugh and see if the boy was alright. Thankfully another fan helped poor, embarressed, Basil upright. Blushing ferociously, Basil placed the four novels in front of John and apologised.

"No need to say sorry to me mate, not your fault. What did you do anyway?" John inquired as he took the first book and began to write. "My girlfriend Milly just got this little puppy, Gladstone, cause he was found in a Gladstone bag poor thing. Anyway he got in my way and I tried to side step him but tripped and fell down the stairs."

"Thats terrible! Clearly you aren't alright but were you badly hurt?" Mary chimed in with a concerned look. She couldn't help but notice how utterly adorable the young man was. Basil looked sheepish. "Not too bad Miss. Emergency room is used to me anyway. I'm a bit of a klutz you might say." Mary tried to give him a sympathetic look and was rewarded with another beaming smile. John grinned as while, though something kept niggling in the back of his mind.

This guy seemed so familiar. Had he met before? Basil doesn't think they have but then why did he seem so bloody familiar? John's eyes widened slightly as he released it was the fact that the boy had thin face and high cheekbones and chided himself. People with such looks always seemed to remind him of Sherlock. It had been all he could do to hold himself together whenever he saw a tall man with cheekbones, back when it had only been weeks since Sherlock's death. "Is your girlfriend here today?" Asked Mary. Basil shook his head.

"She's a nurse so no. She wanted to come, said she'd pick me up though. Kinda made for each other aren't we? Me the clumsy idiot and she the caring nurse." He grinned foolishly as he watched John finish signing the last book. "Well thank you very much for coming Basil. It was a pleasure to meet you" Basil placed all four books back in his bag and laughed. "It was wonderful to meet you Mr Watson. Really, you have no idea." He went on his way still grinning.

The book launch was finally over, the book shop itself was starting to close. Mary was off in the lady's room so John had packed up his things and decided to wait outside for her. And spotted a familiar figure. A tall, slim young man with short brown hair was waiting on a bench, his crutches by his side and Hounds of Baskerville in his hands. John wondered if his girlfriend had forgotten to pick him up, as it was getting quite dark, cold and late. He picked up his boxes and moved to sit next to the other man. Who was very surprised to see him.

"Mr Watson! W-what are you doing here?" Was he worried? Scared? John noted the small tremor in his voice.

"Waiting for Mary. What about you? And please, just John, not Mr Watson." Basil broke into one of his warm smiles that made John immediately smile back. But there was a hint of sadness in Basil's grin.

"I think she must have forgotten me. Understandable, I mean she's very busy and sometimes she'll get home and go straight to sleep. And I don't say a lot when she's like that, because I know she's tired and everything. So, I'm sure she's just tired and forgot me and...I'm rambling aren't I?" His cheekbones flushed and John patted his shoulder, the other man jumping at the touch.

"Just a little bit mate. You alright though? You seem a bit on edge"

"...I think she plans to dump me to be honest Mr Wat-...John. Who'd want me? The klutz, detective fanboy, the egghead. I'm studying physics and engineering you see, always get called egghead, silly really. She's wonderful and I really like her but.. I don't think she really likes me anymore.." John shook his head. "Don't think that way mate. I'm sure she likes you fine, woman can be a bit, complicated to understand sometimes. And if she doesn't, her loss"

"Speaking from experience? Sorry, that was rude of me" The sheepish look returned. John gave him a reassuring smile. "You really a big fan?"

"Yeah. Like even before you had your blog, I found Sherlocks. Love mysteries. Sherlock seemed like this really smart bloke and I loved reading about his deductions and how he solved the crimes. And then you came along! And I just loved reading your blog too."

"Thank you"

"No problem really! I hope you don't think it's creepy or anything. I loved reading the book as they came out and I'm glad Sherlock was cleared of all charges in the end. I always believed in him"

'Thank you, really. That means a lot."

"I'm sorry.. you must really miss him. Well of course you do, he was your friend." Basil looked as if he had said something wrong and was trying to correct himself. "Yeah. I do miss him. He was a bloody idiot but he was my bloody idiot. Just a pity I didn't get to spend more time with him." John's eyes had become a little misty, as they sometimes did when he talked about Sherlock Holmes. "I'm sorry"

"Not your fault mate, not your fault" But it is John.

"I know but, I mean for bringing it up and everything. I'm sorry, I don't tend to pay attention to what I'm saying until after i've said it"

"Really mate it's ok."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure"

By now it had become very dark and cold, John could see Mary waited patiently outside the shop doors. The doctor supposed he should say goodbye and head home with Mary but could he really leave this poor kid on his own? "You ok to get home? We're just taking a cab, you can join us if you like. I don't mind splitting the fare"

"I..I.. um. Are you sure?"

"Of course. Anything for a fan mate. Come on, up you get" He grabbed Basil's cold hand and pulled him up, handing the kid his crutches. John then headed back to Mary. "Kid's girlfriend hasn't shown up and frankly I don't think she plans to"

"Oh the poor dear"

"He's going to hop in our cab with us. Cabbie can drop us home and take Basil home after"

"Good idea, not safe for a sweet boy like him, on crutches, at this time of the night."

Basil approached the two with a timid smile and followed them to a waiting cab.

Meanwhile back at Mycroft's house, Irene, Molly and Mycroft himself were engaged in an important operation. Operation Cheer Up Sherlock. The title had been Irene's idea. They were all decorating the entire house with Christmas decorations and rather elaborate ones at that. It had been a long time since Mycroft had bothered to put up any decorations at all for this holiday. Neither Mycroft or Sherlock had been particularly interested in celebrating it.

Until John came along.

The two brothers generally sent a christmas card back and forth, if they remembered. The same christmas card that was. Which now resembled a sewn up, handmade book. Each year they would add a page and a message. It had been sent back and forth since Sherlock was about sixteen years old. This year would be different. This year they would celebrate and have a proper christmas just like they used too.

Sherlock's room even had it's own tree, with christmas decorations in white, silver and blue. Molly had found a gothic star tree topper. Complete with silver skull. The rest of the room was decorated as well. All it needed was presents. Now that was going to be tricky. But to be totally honest, Mycroft was willing to do anything to put a smile on his brother's face and at least to hear one sarcastic comment.

"So what do you do Basil?"

"Well, I um, I'm a student. Pyshics and engineering."

'Wow, pretty impressive."

"Thankyou!" Another grin.

Silence.

"I hope thing work out with you and your girlfriend Basil"

"Thanks John. I hope they do too. Considering she rented the placed before I moved in. She'd probably kick me out if things... didn't" Poor kid didn't seem to have any luck.

"You could stay with friends"

"..Don't have that many to be honest. Aw but it's alright. I'll get by, always do!" John grinned and patted his shoulder again. "Well this is our stop. It was very nice to meet you Basil. We should meet again sometimes. Just hit me up on my blog if you're interested." John was again rewarded with that goofy, excited smile. "I will! Thanks John! See you later!" Basil waved as the cab drove off.

And stopped once he was out of John's line of sight, the smile dropping, the waving hand pressed against the glass. Sherlock's fingers curled inwards as he watched John's disappearing figure.

"Soon John, I hope I see you again soon.