A New Mystery at 221 Baker Street

Chapter 22: Christmas

AN: Episode Transcript provided by Ariane DeVere/Callie Sullivan

***

Alice had moved into 221C for good; it seemed. She had converted her spare room into an office. The walls were now lined with shelves. Most of the shelves held books while others held equipment for her other hobbies. Her small desk was sat against the wall with the window while a fold-out couch sat by the door. It had been nearly six months since they last heard from The woman. Their lives had gone back to normal: solving cases and blogging about it. Alice would occasionally join the boys on the more pressing cases while helping out Mycroft when he needed her opinion and expertise.

"How is it already Christmas Eve?" John asked as he strung up fairy lights around the windows and throughout the room.

"I'm amazed too, this year seemed to go by so quickly," Alice said, placing her pecan pie on the kitchen table. She had been baking up a storm in preparation for the holiday party the trio was hosting that night.

"You will behave for the guests, Sherlock," Alice said, turning her head around to face the detective. "No deductions," She ordered, "For one night, no deductions,"

"As you wish," Sherlock mumbled as he adjusted the fine tuners on his violin.

*

Alice sat beside Mrs. Hudson while Sherlock played 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' on his violin. Sherlock finished the song with vibrato and bowed. John, his girlfriend Jeanette, Alice, Lestrade, and Mrs. Hudson all applauded him.

"Lovely, Sherlock, that was lovely," Mrs. Hudson giggled. "I wish you could've worn the antlers,"

"Some things are best left to the imagination, Mrs. Hudson," Sherlock said, placing his violin back on its stand.

"Don't worry. I'll send you a picture of him in the antlers later," Alice whispered to Mrs. Hudson, handing her a cup of tea. Alice frowned once she saw that Sherlock had insulted John's girlfriend Jeanette.

"Alice, this cheesecake is fantastic," Lestrade said, as he took another bite of the slice of cake on his plate.

"I'm glad you like it," Alice replied.

"Hello everyone, it said on the door to just come up," Molly said, entering the flat with a bag full of presents.

Alice walked over to Molly and took her coat. "Love the dress," Alice complimented, looking at Molly's little black dress.

"Having Christmas drinkies, then?" Molly asked the room.

"It's the one day of the year where the boys have to be nice to me without Alice scolding them, so it's almost worth it," Mrs. Hudson said, making the two girls giggle.

"And it feels amazing to have the day off," Alice joked as she handed Molly a glass of red wine.

"Thank you," Molly said before turning to Lestrade "I wasn't expecting to see you. I thought you were going to be in Dorset for Christmas."

"That's first thing in the morning, me and the wife. We're back together; it's all sorted," Lestrade said happily.

"No, she's sleeping with a P.E. teacher," Sherlock interjected, his attention still on his computer.

"Shut up," Alice whispered to Sherlock.

"I meant to ask, how long will you be back in the states?" Molly asked Alice who had handed another glass of wine to Lestrade.

"Just two weeks. I promised my brother that I would celebrate Christmas and the New Year with them,"

"That sounds fun!" Molly smiled. "And, John. I hear you're off to your sister's, is that right?"