Six times John and Sherlock settled, and one time they didn’t. (Six scenes from BBC Sherlock retold from Sherlock and John's POV, plus a Johnlock coda.)

What if the perfect duo of Holmes and Watson had met differently? What if John had been hired by Mycroft to look after his little brother? What if... "Mr. Holmes," John exclaimed with astonishment written across his features. "You can't be serious." "This isn't complicated, I assure you. All that I'm requesting is for you to befriend my brother and become his flat-mate. You will still have your regular life. Your past with the MI-6 will become rather useful with protecting Sherlock from harm with his array of detective work and crime fighting." John couldn't ignore the way his heart's jumped at the last part. He struggled to keep his face straight and look at this rationally. "And what if your brother doesn't like me? We might not be friends." Mycroft sighed. "Then I will remove you from this job and ask someone else to try," he replied smoothly. John was going to reject the offer when Mycroft interrupted. "Mr. Watson, I am aware that you want something more then your dull civilian life. This is the offer that you've been waiting for." Still uncertain, John wavered. He decided to at least take a look at the file Mycroft handed him seconds ago. Nothing caught his eye as he flitted mindlessly through the pages. Then his eyes landed on the photo and John's breath caught in his throat. His sharp cheekbones and impossible eyes were undeniably the ones of the breath-taking man he had bumped into on the street earlier.

When Sherlock is left alone, without a case, and without John, he falls back to old habits, habits John is yet to find out about. Sherlock falls into a put of self loathing and John is the only one who can pull him out.