Double 221B
Watson schooled his face into a serious mien as he knocked on the door. If he could pull this off, he might be able to surprise his friend for the first time, ever.
The curtain twitched, then the door flew open.
"Watson! You did not tell me you were coming by."
He paused mid-step and looked up at the detective, trying to affect a hesitant questioning.
"Did I need to?"
Holmes' eyes widened as he realized how that had sounded, and he nearly stumbled over his words, "No, of course, not! I just—"
Watson smiled, taking pity on his backpedaling friend, and Holmes huffed, leading the way into the sitting room. "You are getting better at that."
Watson chuckled. "I'll admit an ulterior motive," he said, referring to his surprise arrival. "I came for some advice."
"Oh?" Holmes leaned forward, automatically falling into the listening position he had assumed on so many cases in years past. "Pray tell."
"I'm hoping you can tell me about the area. Even living in London so long, I don't know the surrounding areas well, and I find myself in need of a new practice." Holmes sat up straight, staring at him intently, and he struggled to keep his expression serious. Grinning would give him away much too quickly.
"What kind of a practice? Do you have a location in mind?"
He pretended to think about that, wondering if Holmes was truly taken in or just playing along. He suspected the latter. "I think I would like to look for one near the Sussex Downs. I only need a room or two, so I wouldn't mind lodging with someone, if you know of anyone looking for a roommate."
Holmes stared at him for a long moment, and it took everything in him not to grin at the dumbfounded expression on the retired detective's face. He hadn't been playing along; Holmes had completely not expected that.
"Are you saying—?" Holmes broke off, not wanting to put words in his friend's mouth. In the months since his return, Holmes had nearly given up hoping that Watson would ever retire.
The grin Watson had been fighting to suppress finally escaped, giving Holmes his answer.
"You know, I know just the place." Holmes had conquered his expression, but Watson, who knew him so well, could see he was immensely pleased. "He keeps bees as a pastime and spends a lot of time at the library in town. Used to work in London, you know, and likes to keep up on the news. He lives alone in a cottage overlooking the sea, and I know there is an empty bedroom."