In two weeks, the boys are registered for classes. Luckily, the school John got into was on Sherlock's list (no it wasn't), and it's somewhat near Mycroft's new house, which means they don't need a dorm or flat. Plus, the mornings they have early classes can still be taken slow because their commute is shorter.
Sherlock had began moving possessions to Mycroft's new flat right after Mycroft gave him his own key. And, being Sherlock, his first items moved weren't toiletries or clothes, it was full pieces of lab equipment that he claimed would have better use at the new flat. And moving these items is how he met the new downstairs neighbor (the one with the science lab).
Sherlock decided to move a few of John's possessions too, but John made him stop because the first night they spent the night there, John had no clean pants, no toothbrush, and nothing else of real use or value. He did, however, have a Valentine card from Sherlock circa grade two, a mobile charger for a phone he hadn't used since the year his dad went to jail, and a football t-shirt from the team he was on when he was thirteen.
"What the hell am I supposed to do with this shit, Sherlock?" he had asked.
Sherlock, in a normal Sherlock fashion, had just shrugged and ignored the rest of John's speech about actually using his head for once.
With school starting soon and the kids parting ways, the gang decides to get together at Sherlock's house one last time (until winter holiday, that is).
It's really the first time they've gotten together since Olive broke up with Lane, and of course Taylor isn't there, but everyone is still terribly awkward when Olive walks in.
"Okay," Olive finally says as the kids silently stand around the island picking at the pizza Harvey brought. "Everyone's got something to say, so say it before Paris gets here and you all make him feel worse than he does."
"We don't have anything to say," Duke says, sounding sincere.
"I do," Jenna says next.
Brady touches her arm. "Jen-"
"No, just," she signs and shakes her head. "How could you do that to Lane? I thought you loved him."
"I did!" Olive cries. "I… do. But sometimes it's not fair to stay with someone when you like someone else enough to dump them."
Lily starts next. "Yeah, but-"
"Why is it our business?" Sherlock cuts in.
Olive looks at him. "You were the most against this."
Sherlock shrugs. "I realized it's not my fault or my business. Unless you two break up and it ends badly."
John rubs his arm. Looking over at him, Sherlock sees John's 'well done' smile.
"Thank you," Olive says.
Sherlock nods at her, then says, "Now leave her alone. Lane was awful anyway."
Everyone laughs and Olive and John both hit his arms.
Paris arrives ten minutes later, and after the room silences after he kisses Olive's cheek in greeting, he turns to the group. "Okay," he says. "Just say what you're all thinking."
Olive pats his arm. "They already did:"
"And I think Sherlock summed it up nicely," Harvey adds.
"Yeah," Declan agrees. "It isn't any of our business."
Paris turns to Sherlock and thanks him.
John sighs in relief. "Oh, thanks for not agreeing on what he said about Lane."
The friends laugh.
"I do miss Taylor though," Ellery says.
"Was she really mad?" John asks out of genuine concern.
"Actually, no," Olive says. "She was really mature about it. I asked if she would be here tonight, but I guess she was busy."
"She was packing. She's moving tomorrow," Sherlock mutters. How distracted with picking toppings off his pizza.
Everyone silently stares at him until he finally looks up.
"It's not my fault I'm apparently the only person polite enough to ask now she is and invited her over tonight."
John gives him that smile again and presses a kiss to his shoulder.
When they finish their pizza, the group goes into the sitting room to start a movie. Sherlock excuses himself to use the restroom, and when he gets out a minute later, Olive is sitting on his bed.
"What's up with you?" she asks as soon as he exits the loo.
"What-"
"You're all…nice."
"And that's…bad?"
"Just not like you."
"Gee, thank you," he sarcastically says before heading for the door.
"Seriously," she says, making him pause. "You seem a bit off."
Sherlock rubs his eyes. "Just stressed, I guess."
"About what? School starting? Man, of everyone I'd expect you to be the least stressed."
"No, not that. John's told me that he's decided to join the military."
"What?!" Olive cries.
"Not until after medical school, but…still."
"That's still… wow."
"So I guess l'm a little bit distracted."
"Rightfully," Olive agrees. "I'm sorry."
Sherlock doesn't want to say it's okay or to thank her for her sympathy, so he just shrugs. "It's his decision."
Olive nods in understanding.
"When do you leave?" Sherlock asks.
"Saturday."
"Declan, too."
"I can't believe he and Ell are going to America."
"I know. Who knew they've both had a lifelong dream to attend Columbia?"
Olive laughs. "I don't buy that."
"No really. One summer he wore only a Columbia jacket. And he applied without his dad knowing when we were twelve."
Olive laughs harder. "Did he get accepted?"
Sherlock nods. "Early admissions."
"Wow," Olive says. "And you've always wanted to go to-"
"That same summer, I was accepted into Harvard."
"Not somewhere closer to home? Oxford?"
"That was the summer my brother left for Oxford. I was upset with the entire place."
"Then go to Harvard now."
Sherlock frowns and looks down at his shoes.
Olive adds, "So he can leave you for war but you can't leave him for uni?"
"It's complicated."
"It's none of my business," Olive says. "But you shouldn't sacrifice-"
"I'm not sacrificing," Sherlock snaps.
Olive nods. "Okay, sorry."
Sherlock runs a hand through his hair.
"You'll come to visit me, right?" she asks.
"Of course."
Olive gives him an awkward sideways hug. After that, they return downstairs to the rest of the group.
"You've got everything?" Clement asks for the tenth time.
Sherlock groans. "Dad, I'm just going across the city."
"I know, but-" Clement takes him in another hug. "I'm just so proud of you."
"I know, Dad."
Clement sniffles. "Call me anytime for anything."
"I will"
Sherlock walks over to the cab waiting at the curb. John isn't going to Mycroft's flat with him yet.
"I love you," Clement says before Sherlock can get in the car.
Sherlock grasps Clement's arm. "I love you too, Dad."
Clement's eyes tear up again, then he pulls Sherlock into another hug.
When clement finally lets Sherlock go, he gets in the car and gives the cabbie the address, then he takes his, phone out of his pocket.
To John Watson: Headed to the new flat. Come over whenever you can.
He receives a smiley-face in return, and in that moment Sherlock realizes he's lucky that he and John aren't parting soon.
A/N: Few things. 1. I realize they're having the longest summer ever...just ignore that. Somewhere the timeline got jumbled and...it's a bit of a Phineas and Ferb summer. 2. No idea what school they'd go to or where Mycroft's flat is. Neither exist, I made them up. 3. I know you can't just decide in the middle of the summer what your university plans are going to be. Again, I apologize. 4. The last ten chapters are going to be prologues in one year increments, so this really concludes the original Meant To Be story. Thank you so much for reading. I promise if there's ever another 100 chapter AU, I won't create so many original characters (except the one I've been contemplating posting...) Anyway, please review. And enjoy the next ten!