Chapter 21: The Boy

"Boo!"

"Who the hell are you and why are you here?" Sherlock asked, slightly startled as he looked to the other boy that stood on the other side of the fence.

"This property is free to roam is it not?" the boy asked a small grin on his lips now.

"Yes. But why are you here?" he asked closing his book now as he stood and moved over to the tall fence, taking in the appearance of the boy who stood on the other side of the fence. With a grey woolen vest, white long sleeved shirt, a blood red ribbon at his collar, black shorts and those really long socks, Sherlock could tell this boy wasn't just anyone. He was a human. A human, which his parents had told him so many a time to stay away from because they were dangerous. He didn't look too dangerous at all.

"Out exploring," the boy said like it was the most obvious thing to him as he scaled the high fence now, dropping over on his side now as he stood before him

"You…do realize you are now trespassing on private property," Sherlock said.

"How do you do, my name is Jim Moriarty," the boy said instead extending his hand to him.

"You're not listening…" Sherlock said brows furrowing together at the sight of the human boy, Jim, who now stood on his property, "You're on private property."

"I know. But you won't tell will you?" Jim asked dropping his hand back to his side.

"That depends," Sherlock said, he was desperate for company. With his parents keeping him cooped up in the house, never to explore the outside world and with his tattle tale brother he wanted all the more to talk to this boy.

Jim laughed, "I think you're rather weird."

"You have no idea," Sherlock said, watching at the human sat at the bench now, picking up his book.

"Philosophy…why are you reading such a thing at your age?" Jim asked.

Sherlock shrugged, "I don't have much interesting books around here."

"I could bring you some, if you let me come back tomorrow. Deal?" Jim asked

Now that he thought about it… "How old are you?" he asked Jim.

"As old as you," Jim replied.

To which Sherlock had to stifle his laughter, oh he was definitely older than Jim, by many years but going by human years that would mean he was about sixteen.

"Sixteen then?" Sherlock asked.

"Correctemundo," Jim said with a smile as he headed back to the fence now.

"Alright. It's a deal. You may come back tomorrow, Jim."

Dropping back over the fence now he stood on the other side, "Good, I'll see you tomorrow then…" Jim trailed off as he realized he still hadn't gotten the other boy's name.

"Sherlock. The name's Sherlock Holmes," he said as he stretched his hand out through the fence now and Jim shook it.

"I'll see you tomorrow then Sherlock."

Sherlock opened his eyes now, he'd dreamt of Jim…he could still remember each moment in all its clarity. How they had fallen in love. Him never having seen the world…and Jim having lost so much…That's right…Jim had been an orphan when he'd first come to see him. He was living in the orphanage on the other side of the forest. The books that he had taken had all come from there.

He turned on his side now recalling how Jim had taught him how to climb the fence, how to lie and set traps for his brother. Traps, which at times involved Mycroft getting hurt, they would sit and watch and then laugh together. He closed his eyes a smile on his face. Oh Jim…he'd been there to brighten up his life.

Sherlock brought back the memory of when he'd told Jim he was a vampire to his mind now. Jim had thought that he was lying and after Sherlock had showed him his fangs and Jim had actually asked to feel them he had smiled and told him how he thought it was cool to have a best friend who was a vampire.

He even remembered that year on Valentine's day where Jim had made chocolates specially for him and it was then that Sherlock had confessed to him his feelings. They had shared a sweet chocolaty kiss in the back of his house that escalated to more than just kissing thanks to pubescent hormones. The first time he had ever lain with someone…it had been Jim and how he'd made love to him, it had been so, so good.

The more he thought about it the more his heart began to ache at the thought that Jim had staked himself thinking that he was gone. The world seemed to be such a cruel place. 'But you have John now, don't you?' his mind asked him. Oh yes, John was another human that he was greatly attracted to. John…

He was pulled back to reality now as he remembered that they were supposed to head down to Lestrade's for a planning session. Sherlock pulled himself out of bed now and went to take a quick shower before he headed down into the kitchen seeing John already taking on the task of cooking them breakfast once more.

"Good morning," Sherlock greeted him, seeing as John turned, clear blue eyes looking to him as he smiled.

"Morning," John replied, "Did you sleep well?"

Sherlock nodded, choosing not to say anymore than was necessary.

"Lestrade says we can head to the office after lunch."

"Okay," Sherlock said.

"Are you alright?" John asked when he set the food down in front of the vampire now.

"Yes…I'm just worried," Sherlock said, for indeed he was. He'd lost Jim and now he didn't want to lose John either.

"Is it about the masked ball?" John asked knowingly.

The vampire nodded taking a bite of John's home cooked breakfast before he continued, "Is there any way I can persuade you not to go?"

"No. How many times to I have to tell you that I'm going with you no matter what? I'll be fine Sherlock, really so you don't have to worry."

"I can't not worry John…you're important to me and I don't want to lose you."

At that John found himself smiling, who knew that the vampire was so worked up about this. He felt lucky to have someone like him around. Sherlock was something special to him now too and he didn't ever want that to change.