Reasons

Chapter 15: The Holmes Family

A few days later we said goodbye to my family as they left on their cruise and we left for Sherlock's childhood home. After about a three hour car ride, Sherlock instructed me to turn into a gated community. The guard waved us through, obviously recognizing the curly haired boy beside me. After a few more turns we pulled into the driveway of what appeared to be a miniature mansion. It was at least ten time bigger than my house, stone in the front with a manicured yard and giant garage. It was a beautiful house but there was something off, it seemed almost empty, there was no warm light coming from the inside, no movement, no love.

"This is were you live?" I gasped in disbelief.
"Cold isn't it?" Sherlock said flatly.
"My house must have seemed like servant's quarters to you" I laughed
"I loved your house." He smiled "Besides only a few of our servants are live in, I imagine most of them have lovely homes."
"Where should I park?"
"Oh I don't have the garage code anymore, so um just pull up there, someone will take care of it."
"Why don't you know your own garage code?"
"They changed it last spring after I locked myself in there....with the cars on."
I took his hand and squeezed, he had told me about this before and I should have realized what he was talking about. He pulled back his hand and put it in his own lap "No more of that until we are back at school."
"Right, sorry." I said quickly
"Don't be sorry. I love you more than words can express John Watson." Before I could say anything back he hopped out of the car and slammed the door.
I jumped out of the car to follow Sherlock as he trotted up to the front entranceway. He knocked loudly and just as I caught up to him the door was opened by tall, skeleton-like old man.
"Hello Mr.Barrymore." Sherlock said flatly as he pushed past him into the house.
"Mr.Holmes, welcome holme." he said laughing. I smiled and slide past him, to reach Sherlock.
"Did he just make a pun out of your last name?"
"He does it to all of us every time we return from literally anywhere." he rolled his eyes "We let it slide though because we feel bad for him."
"Why is that?"
"His last boss went crazy and made him go into the forest with him. Claimed there was some sort of hound, apparently there was since they were both attacked by a large dog."
"Oh my goodness, is the other man okay?" I asked as I looked back at Barrymore over my shoulder.
"I have no idea, don't really care."
I smiled at his statement, I always felt special when I remembered that Sherlock cared about me and not a single other person in the world.
I looked around the house as I walked through, following Sherlock god knows where. It was massive! Giant rooms with 30 foot ceilings at least twelve fireplaces, a long oak staircase and a Christmas tree that could put London's to shame. The inside was quite like the outside, gorgeous but sad and cold.
Sherlock stopped in front of a door and knocked loudly.
"What do you want?" A voice boomed in reply.
"Father, I'm home. I brought a friend, which room shall I put him in?"
"I don't care! Ask your mother!"
Without another word Sherlock began walking again, this time stopping in front of an open door with a woman standing on a pedestal, in a ball gown. She was surrounded by three other women who appeared to be taking the dress in and shortening it.
"Lose weight mother?"
"Oh you noticed!"
"Why are you altering a dress instead of purchasing a new one? You usually take an excuse to shop."
"Yes well this color blue is so hard to find and I'm thinking it would be the perfect color for accents at the wedding and I want to be in theme."
"I have a guest, which room should I put him in?"
"A guest?" She said spinning her head around abruptly. "I thought you were leaving him at the school."
"I decided not to."
"Hello" I said with a smile.
"He's rather small, almost hobbit like." She said to Sherlock as if I wasn't right there and didn't just greet her.
"Exactly he doesn't take up much room, he shouldn't be a problem. Which room?"
"The red room."
With that Sherlock was off again.
"Wedding?"
"Oh, yes my uh, cousin just sent out 'save the date' cards."
"Ah.....Hobbit like?" I said snidely.
"Well you are small."
"Bigger than you are." I muttered just loud enough so only he could here me. Sherlock stopped dead in his tracks.
"No you're not!"
"We both know I am." I said walking forward, even though I had no idea where I was going.
"You are not!" He whispered angrily behind me.  "We are the same size and you know it!"
"There might be a person up ahead, maybe you should change the topic, dear." I whispers back. He glared at me for using a term of endearment but I still could see the corner of his mouth curl up the slightest bit. We continued walking up a back staircase and down the hall in silence. "This is you. I'm down the hall."
"Okay, so unpack, then what?"
"Dinner is at 5."
"It's only 11, what do we do until then?"
"Oh, well, I usually read in my room until Im forced to do something else."
"Okay, I will unpack then I'll come down and read with you."
"What book?"
"I'll steal one of yours."
"You just want to sit and read one of my books for six hours?"
"If I get to sit next to you while I read, and you don't have shitty books than yes."
"This is one of the reasons why I lo-" Sherlock caught himself mid-sentence, realizing what he had almost said. His eyes growing wide in panic.
"It okay Sherlock, no one is around. For the rest of the time we are here, how about we have a code word to say instead of that?"
He nodded, still scanning the area for eavesdroppers.
"How about 'reasons'?"
"Perfect."