Everyone's got their song for their OTPs and such...for me, Sherlock and John's, at least in Tea Leaves, is Ingrid Michaelson's version of "Can't Help Falling in Love"...give it a listen if you haven't heard it. I don't know why, but when I listened to it, it kind of became my staple song to write Tea Leaves to.

I titled this chapter "Sherlock's Warmth" because of the ending. Sherlock himself doesn't seem all that warm, but he certainly makes John warm.

Sherlock's Warmth

"I wish you'd tell me what you and Mycroft were like as kids," John remarked as they left the glassblower's and headed further into the village square and down the main street.

Sherlock shrugged, never losing time in his brisk strides. "I grew up in the shade of Mycroft's branches. We doted on each other…until we started competing. He could often best me in intellect because he was seven years older and had had more schooling. Once I got older, though, our competition became a little more…evenly matched. But by that time he was moving on to greater things than fussing around with his little brother, a mop-haired brat who played with his chemistry set and was intensely awkward in his bumbling teenage body."

They turned into a cafe. John ordered a coffee and Sherlock, his customary Earl Gray. "I have to say I can't imagine you as…awkward or bumbling," said John as they paid and left to search around some more. A few clouds rolling in forecasted snow, and John wanted to get his Christmas shopping done before they got caught in it. Belatedly he realized he couldn't get Sherlock a gift unless he was alone. Bother, he grumbled. He'll just induce what it is before he even opens it anyway, so I guess it shouldn't matter…

"Well," said Sherlock after a sip of his tea, "of course you can't imagine it. Now I am the epitome of grace."

"Modesty too, I see."

Sherlock smiled into his styrofoam cup. "Where to, Captain?"

"Depends. Do you want to look for something for Mycroft?"

A slow flush crept up Sherlock's neck even though his face stayed impassive. "I knew it!" hissed John triumphantly. "You're trying to be sneaky. You'll have to work on that a little more, Sherlock; you haven't learned subtlety yet."

Sherlock grimaced and didn't answer, steering John into a jewelry and dress shop. "Mummy first," he muttered.

"All right, what are you up to?"

"I'm…kowtowing." Sherlock spat the word off his lips. "A reconciliation of sorts. I just need a favor, really, but it's a small step in a larger plan."

"Mycroft will see right through it."

"He'll appreciate the effort."

"What do you get a man that has anything he wants- power, money, material goods, influence- at his fingertips?"

"I was hoping you could help me with that."

"A new umbrella?"

Sherlock gave John a disdainful look as he browsed through shawls and necklaces and scarves, all feminine but sturdy. He finally pulled two dresses from a rack and held them up. "Which?"

"For you or your mum?"

"Shut up."

John examined each, running the fabric between his fingers. One was burgundy, made of a very soft cotton. It was rather simple, and John wasn't sure if it suited Anita. He found the other one- a white satin cocktail dress that wrapped around itself- to be closer to something she'd wear.

"The white one," he said.

"Lovely, isn't it?" Sherlock murmured, looking at the tag.

John glanced around the store. "I suppose I should get your parents something for letting me stay with you."

"Only if you wish. They certainly don't expect anything from you. They'd be thrilled you got them something at all, even if it was a deck of playing cards."

John strolled over to the jewelry near the register and felt a little dizzy when he saw some of the prices. Stunned, he looked over at Sherlock casually purchasing the dress. The prince was rung up, and John's jaw dropped.

He comes from money. He doesn't exactly act like it, but he does. …Why the hell am I the one always paying for the groceries?

Catching John's stare out of the corner of his eye, Sherlock paid for the dress and, as if reading his thoughts, spoke three words that made a tingle run up John's spine.

"Your pride, John."

xXxXxXxXxXx

Sherlock was the only one left on his list.

He'd gotten Mike a new green jumper, an umbrella-spoke fixer (a nifty little thing he found in a hardware store) for Mycroft, a biography of JRR Tolkien that he planned to ship his sister's way, a Moody Blues record of their 1967 single "Nights in White Satin" for his mother, and a set of salt and pepper shakers shaped like owls in scarves for the Holmses. He thought his gift to them was a bit silly and out of place in their grand home, but Sherlock looked at them and smiled slightly, assuring John that his parents would love them.

John was a few steps behind Sherlock, glancing in shop windows and wondering what he could surreptitiously purchase for his flatmate without the man guessing what it was or noticing it.

His brow furrowed and his expression grew dry as his options began to dwindle. What does one get Sherlock Holmes for a Christmas gift?

Sherlock hadn't found his gift for Mycroft either.

Snow began to flurry down softly and John stuck his hands in his pocket, having long disposed of his warm coffee. "Sherlock," he called. His flatmate turned around. "We should call Mycroft soon so we can head back. It's starting to snow and we have tomorrow to get our errands done."

"I'm not giving up," said Sherlock staunchly.

"Sherlock, it's coooold," complained John to the younger man. "Let's go home, Sherlock."

Sherlock glanced down in surprise, as if he hadn't expected John to call his house "home," but took it as a slip of the tongue, John forgetting where they were. "Of course. Let's go home and warm up."

They didn't even need to call Mycroft; a cab appeared nearby and Mycroft stuck his head out the passenger side. "Come on now, you two. Nearly dinner time."

Sherlock looked back at John with a smile, his cheeks and nose pink from the cold. "He's going to love that umbrella-spoke fixer, by the way."

John smiled back at him, his chest suddenly warm in spite of the season.

I used TWO readers' prompts today!

Prompts were from DarkForbidden-Love and Thelexpiea, and they were: shade and awkward/bumbling