What Next?

Chapter 9

Sherlock's POV - Christmas Day

Lilly's been moping about ever since her violin broke, but when I woke her up on Christmas morning it was like nothing had ever happened. She got dressed and came downstairs in a dazzling red dress that flowed down to her knees. Her long black hair was in a pretty updo with holly in it. She had on minimal makeup even though she didn't need any in my opinion. Her eyes were framed by her perfectly curled eyelashes. Her eye color was its normal blue with flecks of brown, green, gray, and an almost yellow color. Her lips were colored with red lipstick that matched her dress and complimented her skin nicely. I was so proud of the strong young woman I had come to know. In her arms she held presents for all of her friends and family. Uriah's was at the top, she had insisted on getting him a present. Mrs. Hudson walked out to join the party and stopped when she saw Lilly, "Oh, you look lovely dear!" she said excitedly. Lilly smiled graciously, "Thank you Mrs. Hudson you look lovely as well. Dad could you help me carry this into the room?" I nodded silently and walked over to her taking the heavy packages from her, "Merry Christmas sweetheart." I said quietly so only she could hear. She smiled. "You too dad. Let's join the party shall we?" We linked arms and walked into the party where John was talking to Lestrade and Mycroft about me. They all stopped and looked at Lilly as we entered the room. Molly was the first to speak, "Lilly, you look absolutely gorgeous! Where did you get that dress?" Lilly smiled and walked over to Molly and they started talking about clothes and boys I think.

Once everyone had arrived Lilly got up silently and started to hand out gifts. Once they were all distributed she spoke, "Merry Christmas everyone! I know we might not all be related by blood, but you guys are my family and all of you were there when I needed you most. You guys can open your gifts." she smiled as she watched all the gifts open. Molly got a beautiful necklace with a crystal M engraved on it, John got a nice jumper and some strawberry jam, Mycroft got a nice new umbrella, Lestrade got a new coat with a small magnifying glass engraved on the pocket, and when I opened my my present there was a nice wooden box with my name on it. I opened the box to find a beautiful bow made of a perfectly polished wood and I turned it over to see an engraving: To dad with love Lilly.I smiled and looked at her. "It's beautiful Lilly thank you." There was a chorus of thank you's and she sat sown with her tea. I walked over to her and handed her two presents perfectly wrapped and tied with a golden bow. She smiled and opened the larger of the two. The violin case was mahogany with her name engraved in gold script. She opened the box and grinned. She took out the perfectly shaped violin engraved with her name in gold. "It's beautiful. Thank you, dad." she said her voice barely a whisper.

After she had openned her bow, John who had a little too much to drink was practicaly begging her to play them a song. Lilly only nodded in reply as she started to play 'Oh Holy Night' at the second verse she nodded to me and i picked up my violin and too over while she sang. Her voice was that of an angel's as it rang through the open window out to the street. She ended the song on a high note and picked up her guitar to play another song.

Lilly's POV

I thought about a song for a second. Then I looked to dad who was trying to guess what I'd play next. I smiled as I thought of one that he'd never expect. I started strumming "Christmas Lights' by Coldplay. I sang softly until it got to the chorus the I got a bit louder as people grew quiet. Everyone knew who I was playing this song for. This was the song Uriah and me played every Christmas. It's always been our favorite I'd sing melody and he'd do the harmony. It wasn't as good when I was singing and playing alone, but I couldn't just skip it. I was half way through the song when I dad playing piano and singing matching my melody with his harmony. Molly at this pont was videoing for us to watch in the future and John knowing who I was singing this song for was almost in tears. As the melonchaly song came to an end everyone clapped. "Do another Lilly!" John said. I looked at dad who picked up his violin and his new bow as I went to the piano. "Have yourself a merry little Christmas." I started as I smiled. I playeed a cord as I sang. Everybody clapped. I proceeded to play the intro and as I played and sang dad joined in on the violin. Upon finishing the song we were greeted by the praise of my family. I looked at dad as they started to request an encore, "Oh Lilly, sweetheart, it's getting late and we're on a case. Also I'm not a big fan of tired cranky Lilly either. You'd best be off to bed. You can open the rest of your presents tomorrow." He was greeted by the protest of all his guests and John. I pretended to be disappointed, "Sorry everyone. Good night and Merry Christmas!" I went to dad and while I was hugging him goodnight I whispered, "Thank you." He only nodded as I set off up the stairs.

When I finally got into my pajamas I went back to my bedroom to find a perfectly wrapped gift adressed to me. I looked at the tag even though I already knew who it was from- Uriah. I smiled, "You can come out you know. I have a gift for you too." Uriah stepped out of the shadows, "Hey flower, thought I'd drop by and give you my gift in person. I wanted to see your face when you saw it. Don't worry it's not dangerous. Christmas is an unspoken time of truce, but at midnight tonght the game is back on." We swapped presents and I opened mine first. I opened the small box to find a beautiful golden locket. Uriah put it around my neck, "Open it." He whispered quietly. Inside were two pictures one of us together a few years ago and one of dad and John from a case. I smiled and hugged him. We hugged until snapped back to reality by the clock striking twelve. We both had tears flowing down our faces in perfect sync. "Uriah please, stay here with us. We can be a family again." he only shook his head sadly. "Good bye flower. See you soon." Then he was gone.

Dad walked into the room as I lay on Uriah's bed in his pajamas clutching my locket. I was humming Christmas lights as he sat by me and stroked my hair, "You shouldn't let him toy with you like that you know." I stopped and looked up at him, "I don't care what he did he's still my brother and I love him." "I know just be careful for me, okay?" I nodded, "I figured out the riddle. We'll go claim our prize tomorrow." "Okay go to sleep." He kissed me on the forehead and left as I fell into a dreamless sleep.