A/Note: A guest reviewer hoped that John was very observant and had noticed Sherlock's crush. This way he would "mess with him and look for an opening". That would've been a great idea! But that's not what's happening. John observes, but he's still not seeing it. Hope you'll still like it. Thanks also XxsayxX for favoriting this story.

Just curious if any of you peeked at the links...

I hope the next few chapters won't feel too contrived. Let me know, I can take it. Thanks!

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11. Christmas break

'Sherlock Dear? You seem to have made a friend at school.'

'Yes, mummy.'

'You do spend every Saturday together, I've noticed.'

'We practice the techniques Mr. Bart taught me. John wanted to learn too.'

'Ah, yes. Of course. Well, I was just discussing it with your father. Christmas break is coming up and we had expected Mycroft to be home from Uni. We were planning on having a family vacation around New Year's. It was meant to be a surprise Christmas gift to both of you, but Mycroft just announced he was invited to an influential MP's New Year's Eve Party. He says it'll be more like a job interview, so he cannot miss it. We have already booked everything to go skiing in Scotland, so we figured maybe you could bring your friend instead. This way you won't be bored with only your old folks with you. What do you say dear?'

'Not being sequestered in a lodge with Mycroft is the best Christmas gift ever!'

'Sherlock!'

But Sherlock was grinning like mad. 'I'll see if John wants to join us.'

...

'Are you kidding me? Of course I'll go.'

'Mum says you'll only need to worry about things you might want to buy for yourself over there. They'd be paying for Mycroft's meals anyway - and you don't eat as much as he does, trust me.'

'Brilliant, mate!'

'John, do you even ski?'

'I skied twice in my life and was told I wasn't that bad, so yes, I do ski.'

'We would be leaving on the twenty ninth and returning on the first. Do you think your parents would object?'

'I doubt. We never get to go anywhere nowadays, with saving for Uni and all. Are we flying?'

'Obviously, they know better than having Mycroft and I sitting close together in a car for long hours. Most likely, the plane seats are not even adjacent.'

'I love flying! It's been years since my last time!'

John sat down and looked up, forehead crinkling. 'Sherlock, I've never been to your house.'

'I know.'

'Em, is there a reason? I thought that maybe you didn't want me to meet your folks.'

Sherlock frowned, then he understood: John thought he was embarrassed of him. 'No John, it's not what you think. If anything, it's the other way around.'

John frowned, 'What do you mean?'

Sherlock rolled his eyes. 'They can be overbearing.' And too perceptive. With them around, I'll have to be on guard the whole time. 'I'm just happy you won't meet my brother this time.'

'Why?'

'If you're ever unfortunate enough to meet him, you'll understand.'

...

Both boys were embarrassed as the Holmeses met the Watsons at the airport. They exchanged the expected pleasantries and finally, they were off.

'Thanks again for inviting me,' John said.

'Oh, thank you for joining us, John,' said Mr. Holmes.

'Yes dear, we should be thanking you,' added Mrs. Holmes. 'Otherwise Sherlock would be complaining that he's bored the whole time.'

'He just can't admit that he loves skiing,' Mr. Holmes chuckled.

Sherlock groaned, 'And I'm right here, so stop talking about me as if I weren't.'

...

'It's that one,' Mr. Holmes pointed.

John saw the approaching lodge and was impressed. 'Wow, it's lovely!'

Mrs. Holmes beamed, 'Isn't it, John? And the best thing is you'll be able to have your own rooms. As we had planned for Mycroft to come, we made sure not to put these two in the same room.'

Mr. Holmes turned into the driveway and chuckled, 'Yes, last time we had those two share a room-'

Sherlock unfastened both seat belts in one move and pushed John out of the car, 'John, we should get our things out of the boot,' He was slightly disappointed they wouldn't be sharing a room. Oh well. Probably for the best.

The lodge was compact, but charming. From the entry door one could see a small kitchen that opened into a two-story sitting room with great views flanking a fireplace, with a flat screen tv above it. There was a high counter with stools separating the two areas. Facing the entry door there were stairs that led to an ensuite, as well as a small reading room with an open balcony overlooking the sitting room downstairs. Going around the kitchen, there were two bedrooms facing each other with a bathroom in between, in their own alcove.

'You two will be downstairs. Let's get ourselves sorted and head for the slopes this afternoon,' Mrs. Holmes pointed to their bedrooms.

Both bedrooms were identical; small, with a double bed, side tables, a dresser with a mirror above it and a closet.

'Wow, the views are amazing! Sherlock, this lodge is bigger than my house.'

'Not if you count your basement. I bet if you go by square footage, it'll be the same.'

John dropped his voice to a whisper, 'I still don't know what you mean, your parents are really nice.'

Sherlock grunted, 'My cross to bear.'

John laughed, 'Hey, I've got you a Christmas gift. Mind you, it's nothing much...' he trailed off, embarrassed. 'Come to my room, I'll get it for you.'

'I'll be there in a second.' Sherlock rummaged through his luggage. 'And I have something for you, also,' he said as he walked into the room.

'Wow, Sherlock, I wasn't really expecting anything! This trip is already more than enough.'

'Well, the trip was accidental; this is from me.'

They exchanged the floppy packages, wrapped in Christmas paper.

'Same time then?' John grinned. But Sherlock paused to see John's reaction.

'Sherlock! It's so soft!' John marvelled at the jumper in his hands, then holding it in front of his chest. It was a fisherman's style jumper in an oatmeal colour, with a rolled collar at the neck and two buttons at the front. 'This looks expensive!'

'Oh no, not really John. I just had good timing, finding a very good sale, that's all,' he lied. He had fretted over what to give John. He had determined that a real stethoscope would be too much, not something that (male) friends would buy each other. He searched then for the one jumper that he could picture John wearing. 'I didn't know what to get you and eh, I stumbled on this. You're always wearing jumpers, so I hope you'll like it.'

'I love it!' He took off the jumper he was wearing and put on the new one, looking at the wall mirror. Sherlock was pleased, it looked really good on him and it showed his trim physique. He was also pleased to have the image of John "undressing" for him.

'Thanks, mate!' John beamed. 'Go on now, open yours!'

As Sherlock opened his package, he found a crimson scarf. 'This is very soft too,' he said and immediately looped it around his neck.

John looked embarrassed, 'I just saw this colour and thought it would suit you. It's really not much, I know...'

'Nonsense, John. I love it.'

John smiled, unconvinced.

'I really like it,' he beamed. 'I'll be wearing it the whole Winter, you'll see.' He did love it. Of course he'd wear it all the time, John had given it to him. It meant the world to him.

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A/Note: I did look for skiing places, but it was either low slopes with artificial snow in England or real snow in Scotland, with no cabins or towns around, as best as I could tell (but if I'm wrong, tell me). So this is an unnamed place that only exists in fanfiction. Oh well.