"Good. Right, now then, let's go back in there and tell them our discussion. We'll also need to find out specifics." John said.
Sherlock sighed and nodded.
They walked back into the room to see Mr. and Mrs. Holmes sitting there waiting.
After a moment of Sherlock just standing there, John nudged him.
Sherlock cleared his throat.
"We'd be delighted to watch Augustus while you're on holiday," Sherlock said. "but there are a few matters of which need attended. How long will you be away?"
Mrs. Holmes looked over at Mr. Holmes.
"Well, we're not sure of the exact length, but somewhere around 5 weeks." Mrs. Holmes said.
Five weeks.
John had been thinking one or two, but five weeks!? Who in the world had the money to go on a 5 week holiday?
Oh yes, the Holmes family.
"And when shall we come to get him?" Sherlock asked, sailing past the shock much more quickly than John.
Then again, he's probably used to it. John thought.
"Oh, it shouldn't take him too long to be ready." Mrs. Holmes said. "Even less, if you help him. He's in your old room. He would probably be able to leave by tonight with your help."
"Tonight?" John choked on his own tongue.
"Well yes, he won't need to bring a whole lot, just some clothes and his school books..." Mrs. Holmes paused. "You will make sure that he continues his lessons, won't you? He won't need much help, I should think. I'd hate to get back and find that he was behind on them."
"That would be a tragedy..."
John nearly jumped. How could what seemed to be just an innocent comment, sound so much like a threat?
Must be the tone he used...
John noticed that Sherlock had stiffened beside him, his posture changing to look unnaturally straight.
"Yes, of course, we will." Sherlock said. "Won't we, John?"
John cleared his throat. "Yes, of course."
Mrs. Holmes smiled.
"Now that that's all taken care of, we probably ought to head down to the dining room. Dinner should be about ready. Augustus will be able to find us easily enough." Mrs. Holmes said. "The after that you can help him pack to leave."
"Leave?" said a voice. "Where am I going?"
They all looked over to see Augustus in the door way.
"Augustus, darling, you're going to stay with your brother William while your father and I go on holiday." Mrs. Holmes said. "Don't you think that will be fun?"
Augustus looked over at Sherlock, stared at him a moment, then look back to his mother. He opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated.
Anything has got to be more fun than being here... He thought.
"Sure." August caught himself. "I'm sure it will, I mean."
"Good." Mrs. Holmes said. "Now, we must be off to the dining room. The meal should be ready now."
She led they way out of the room and down to the dining room, which could be more accurately called the dining hall. There was a table much too large for just six of them there. Mr. Holmes took his place as the head, and John sat at his right. John was proud of himself for knowing this bit of knowledge. Even if he had learned it in a movie...
I still knew it. John thought. You can learn from fictional books and movies. This was proof.
Mrs. Holmes sat to the head's left, and Mycroft to the second seat on the right.
Augustus took second on the left, and Sherlock sat on the third chair to the right.
Shortly, a maid carrying in two trays of tea came in, frantically setting the cups on the table and pouring tea in them.
"Now you bring the tea! Supper is nearly ready! We don't need it now!" Mrs. Holmes complained.
"My apologies madam." the maid said. "The kitchen was out of tea and-"
"Just take it away." Mrs. Holmes sighed.
The maid nodded and quickly stacked the dishes on her tray once again. She left through the kitchen doors.
"Excuse me for a moment." Sherlock said, quietly slipping from behind his chair with a grace that while not all together unseen from Sherlock, had gone unnoticed.
John hadn't consciously thought about it before, but Sherlock was quite coordinated and graceful. He wasn't a clumsy man, and while he did occasionally knock over one of his beakers during an experiment, John had never seen him spill the tea in his cup, no matter how full it was made. Interesting...
By turning slightly John could see Sherlock walk into through the kitchen doors.
Sherlock walked quickly to catch up with the made. She was by the oven when he caught her arm. She looked up and nearly jumped when she saw him.
"Thank you." Sherlock said. "I know there was nothing you could do about the time it took the tea, and I'm sorry that they've been treating you this way. Just know that, on my part anyway, it was appreciated. "
The maid watched as Sherlock knelt, and pulled the heavy skillet that the maid had been struggling to get out of the cabinet.
"You don't have to-" She protested.
"None sense."
He set it atop the stove.
"Thank you..." she said.
"My pleasure."
A/N: So there we get a BIG shock, as well as a bit of Sherlock being sweet. I hope you enjoyed it, and I look forward to writing more! Review please!