Sometimes It Storms

And Now... A Rainbow

John smiled at Sherlock. Blanket forts? Wanting to know him as a child? This was the side of Sherlock that was only for him. Sherlock would never show this level of care and passion outside of these walls, but with John, he was soft and open and loving in ways that others couldn't fathom.

"For research purposes, of course," Sherlock added quickly, defending himself from any allegation of softness.

"Of course," John repeated, smiling to himself as he turned and grabbed the chair Sherlock had requested. "Let's turn our chairs around, we can start by draping a blanket over them and build from there."

Sherlock and John turned their respective chairs around, so the backs of the chairs were facing each other. John picked up the top blanket from the pile and grasped one side. Sherlock watched, head tilted thoughtfully.

"Have you ever done this?" John asked, laughing.

"I've read an ample share of books regarding architecture... can't be much different." Sherlock shrugged coolly.

John just laughed. "Grab the other side, mate." When Sherlock followed the instruction, John added. "Good, now, drape it over the chair, there you go, now grab a book and secure it, there!" John stepped back and Sherlock followed. "Let's grab the other chairs and add them on the sides. They continued adding chairs and blankets, John coaching Sherlock through each step, until the room was filled and the stack of blankets was gone.

Thoughts of the storm forgotten, John crawled into their completed fort. "A tight squeeze, but otherwise not bad." He called from underneath. A moment later, John's head popped back out the entrance, looking up at Sherlock with a wide grin. "Aren't you coming in?"

Tunneled away in their own world just for the two of them, the pair ate biscuits and told jokes. The night ended with them curled up in the middle of the floor, huddled together for warmth.

Mrs. Hudson found them there the next day, the fort collapsed around them, when she delivered their morning tea. She wanted to say something to them, but couldn't bring herself to interrupt the sweet scene that lay before her. So she just smiled and walked away. "We've got all sorts around here," she remarked to herself, grinning from ear to ear.