From TemporarilyAbaft - A story from Holmes' childhood.

Two Christmases

1864 Banbury, Great Britain

"Sherrinford?"

"Hmm?" Sherrinford turned to find his youngest brother standing somewhat irresolutely in his doorway. "What is it, Sherlock?"

"Will you stay?" the youngest Holmes asked.

"Yes," Sherrinford said and turned back to unpacking his suitcase. "I have nearly three weeks."

"No," Sherlock said. "Will you stay? I mean, do you have to go back to school?"

"I'm afraid so, Sherlock," Sherrinford said with a sigh. At seventeen and the eldest of the three brothers, Sherrinford had gone off to university to study business. "You know, one day it will be up to me to run this place. Father has done a wonderful job of building it up, but I will have to carry on when he is gone."

"But I don't want you to go," Sherlock complained.

"You don't?" Sherrinford asked and looked appraisingly at the ten year old.

"I've been so bored," Sherlock said. "Mycroft doesn't like the things you and I do."

"He likes chess and backgammon." Sherrinford sat down on the foot of his bed and waved his younger brother to the chair in front of his writing desk. "And he used to like playing with soldiers."

"He won't play soldiers anymore," Sherlock grumbled, climbing into the chair. "And he always beats me at chess. We tried playing cards, but I think he keeps changing the rules. He won't even go down to the stables anymore."

"It is rather cold for riding, Sherlock," Sherrinford observed.

"Even when it's warm, he won't go," Sherlock said. "Mycroft told me that horses are dangerous at both ends and crafty in the middle and he doesn't want any more to do with them. He fell off Bess and hurt his arm. Now he's just lazy."

"I noticed he put on some weight." Sherrinford tried to hide his smile, but failed.

"He sits around reading philosophy all day," Sherlock grumbled. "He's no fun anymore."

"He's getting older, Sherlock," the elder Holmes said. "You will too. Your interests will change just as Mycroft's have."

"But yours haven't," Sherlock asserted. "You still play rugby and you fence and you still ride horses."

"And I still fish and I still go punting," Sherrinford agreed. "I'm thinking about taking up hunting, as well."

"That's what I mean!" Sherlock jumped in. "You haven't changed."

"I have," Sherrinford argued. "As I said, I'm thinking about taking up hunting and that's a change. And I haven't played with toy soldiers in years. Remember, I gave all of mine to you three or four years ago."

"Mycroft gave all of his to me last month," Sherlock grumbled.

"I should think you would have enough for a whole regiment, now," Sherrinford said with a grin.

"I suppose so," sighed Sherlock. "It does get boring playing on my own, though."

"I see," Sherrinford said sympathetically. "You need a good friend. Someone to share your adventures."

"I'd like that, but the village boys don't come up to the house," Sherlock told him.

"Sherlock, what would you like to grow up to be?" Sherrinford asked, trying to change the subject.

"When I grow up?" Sherlock said contemplatively. "I thought I might like to be a knight like Ivanhoe, for a while. Then I found out there aren't any knights like that anymore. And then I thought about being a policeman, but father says that isn't a fit profession for a Holmes. I think, now, I would like to be an explorer."

"An explorer?" said the elder Holmes with a very dramatic and approving frown. "Discover the headwaters of some river or other, eh? Climb mountains that have never been climbed. Very exciting!"

"Yes!" Sherlock said enthusiastically. "All of the strange plants and animals I could find! Maybe find dinosaurs somewhere."

"Sounds wonderful!" Sherrinford said.

"And I would take photographs and draw maps!" Sherlock went on.

"And you could learn new languages from all the strange people you would meet!" Sherrinford encouraged.

"Yes!" Sherlock almost shouted and then caught himself. "Maybe I would find a whole new country that no one knows about! I could bring the king of the Zaggawalla tribe back to meet Queen Victoria and they would have tea together."

"And you could translate for her," Sherrinford said with a firm nod.

"That would be wonderful," beamed Sherlock.

"I tell you what, little brother," Sherrinford said, rising and going to his wardrobe. "Why don't you and I go for a ride?"

"But there's snow on the ground," Sherlock said.

"We'll dress warm and we won't ride for too long," said the older brother. "I haven't been on the back of a horse in months. Do me good. What do you say?"

"Alright!" Sherlock said, hopping up and making for the door.

"And later, maybe I'll show you a little fencing," Sherrinford called after him.

"Yes!" Sherlock called from his room.

1884 Banbury, Great Britain

"Uncle Sherlock!" Thaddeus, the youngest Holmes cried out upon seeing his favorite uncle enter the old family home.

"Hello, Tad," Sherlock Holmes replied, smiling at the precocious boy of ten. "You have grown two inches since last I saw you."

"Three!" Tad corrected. "Mother measured last night. She said you would notice."

"Your mother is a very astute woman, as I have always said," replied Holmes.

"Uncle Sherlock," His niece Magdalene greeted Holmes with a hug. At fourteen she was rapidly turning into a fine young lady, the sharper features of the Holmes line softened and rounded by her mother's side of the family. "Father, Andrew, Uncle Sherlock has finally arrived."

From around the corner came a tall young man of seventeen. Sherlock Holmes blink for the boy resembled his father so strongly at the same age.

"Andrew," Holmes said and smiled on his eldest nephew. "Very good to see you. Your studies at Oxford are going well, I see."

"Yes they are, Uncle," Andrew replied, not bothering to ask how his uncle came to that conclusion.

"Sherlock!" Sherrinford Holmes said, coming from the parlor. "So glad you joined us for Christmas this year. It's been too long."

"Come, Uncle Sherlock," Tad said, grabbing Holmes by the arm. "Play soldiers with me. Andrew says he doesn't want to."

"Thaddeus, mind your manners," scolded Sherrinford. "Your uncle is a little old for that sort of thing."

"Nonsense, brother!" Holmes cut in. "Allow me to doff my hat and coat, Nephew, and we shall see what sort of general you are!"

Sherrinford smiled to see his youngest brother hand in hand with his son. Tad was speaking animatedly of all the things he wanted to do with his uncle and Sherlock was actually laughing.

"Father?" Andrew asked, concerned. "Are you well?"

"Quite well, son," Sherrinford replied. "Just remembering something. Nothing more."