All my life

Aged 27

He didn't notice it, it happened so gradually. And then he realised.

He realised that he couldn't stop it.

'Why do I have to go?' Sherlock groaned. He was sitting on the floor, wearing his purple shirt and black slacks, as John ran a comb through his tangled curls. 'I hate social occasions.'

'You know why. The invitation was to Mr Sherlock Holmes and Mr John Watson. I can't go without you.' John pulled a particularly knotted lock of hair and Sherlock pulled away. 'OW! But still. I don't want to. I hated school. And I only even went to the secondary for four years, then I was home schooled. What's the point?'

John stood up and smoothed down his jacket. 'I, for one, am I looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to seeing all my old mates again. And apparently Mr Smith will be there! You liked him, didn't you Sher?'

Sherlock brightened at the thought of seeing his old teacher again. 'Oh, yes. That will be good. But I don't want to see the others.'

'I want to get Ben's autograph.' John was tying his shoelaces now, gesturing at Sherlock to do the same. 'He's been nominated for an BAFTA, did you see?'

'I did. He's been all over the newspapers, though, hasn't he?' Sherlock frowned as he remembered the headlines. 'Shock engagement to short-term girlfriend' had been the first one, followed two months later with, 'Recently engaged Benedict Cumberbatch expecting first child with fiancée.' He'd been outraged at the anger from some of Ben's fan club who had condemned Sophie, not even knowing the full story. Sherlock knew that the two had been friends for decades, Sherlock knew they had been dating on and off since they were thirteen, and Sherlock knew Ben would be completely thrilled with the news. He had been planning on hunting down these particular members of the fan club but John had said he would be put in prison so he hadn't. There was too much to do.

'Oh, and it'll be lovely to Rose and Jack again.' John said wistfully. Sherlock frowned again. Jack Harkness had flirted with John constantly since John had turned fourteen, and Sherlock absolutely hated it. Jack had also been there when they had found Sherlock completely off his head in that drug den, as they were looking for Alex, a boy in another class. Sherlock had always expected John and Jack had had a little thing going-

'Did you know, Jack was my first kiss?' John said out of the blue. Sherlock tensed and glared at John. 'Excuse me?'

'Yeah. We were never together, but when I was going through my whole 'am I gay or straight' thing he sort of helped me work it out, you know? It'll be nice seeing him again.' John was staring off into the distance now, a dreamy expression on his face.

Sherlock stood up abruptly. 'I'm ready. Shall we go?' he pulled on his coat and tied his scarf abruptly, grabbing John's arm and pulling him up. John grinned, apparently mistaking Sherlock's anger for enthusiasm. 'Great!'

The drive was slow, the taxi getting caught up in traffic, and as an alternative route the cabby took them past Siger's old flat. He didn't live there now, staying in a bigger flat with his new girlfriend Bea but everytime Sherlock saw it he remembered that night, the image of his mother dead on the floor, a bullet through her brain. He and Mycroft visited the grave every year, on the anniversary, together. Both felt guilty, Sherlock knew; he because he had been the one to call Violet and Siger down to the room that night, and Mycroft because he had never even said goodbye to his mother. He hadn't seen her in the last eight years before she died, and Sherlock knew that would haunt his older brother for his entire life.

They arrived a little late and John was fretting, wondering if they would be allowed in, but the doorman let them in quickly, smiling. 'Mr Novak insisted that they wait for you.'