221b secrets

It started with a challenge. The hope of being able to write 221 “221b” stories, one per day if it was humanly possible. The small vignettes were sometimes sweet, sad or funny and followed the BBC series chronology. Except post-season 4 where I did whatever I wanted!

With the valuable help of my beta, @notjustamom, as well as the many readers who asked for a specific storyline or would throw me a curveball with unusual words starting with "b."

To my surprise, it took nearly a year but I’ve made it! All enclosed in the erratic universe of my 221b Secrets series.

As I took care to avoid any redundancy or inconsistency between each one, I was able to bring them all together in chronological order with the help of @ThePersianSleeper in the second iteration of the project:  The Sum of their Secrets

Unable to resist the urge of publishing my favourites on Tumblr, they started to appear sporadically until one day I decided to publish them all, once and on a separate account, before closing the door definitively on this project.

I published a few minutes ago the last one. The 221st story. If you are new or want to start from the beginning, click here: https://221bsecrets.tumblr.com/tagged/221b/chrono (only with a browser, doesn't work in the app)

*

Thank you to the 600 subscribers and to anyone who commented, liked or rebloged.

Time to concentrate on my WIP now, that account is going to remain active even if I won’t publish anything new. You are, of course, welcome to follow me on my main account if you aren't already.

Thank you, it was a fun ride :-)

Wishing you all a wonderful year 2020!

Love,

Morgane

@morganeuk​

(one-shot, 221 words)

Summary:  It's their last day in Baker Street...

John places a hand on the small of Sherlock’s back. “All right love?” They were standing in the middle of the empty flat, their books, chairs and everything else already on the way to Sussex.

“I can’t believe we're leaving. After everything…” He engulfs his husband tightly in his arms.

“Don’t be such drama queenS! I said that my old room will be a guest room for you! So you won’t be visiting, you’re going to be right at home when you want to do things in London!” Kissing them one after the other, Rosie adds with a twinkle in her eyes. “And Alexander is on the verge of liking you!”

“ME? I always liked your fiancé!” Sherlock protests, winking, while John theatrically rolls his eyes.

“FIANCÉ? I am always the last one to know what’s going on in this family…”

“Oh…” The ex-detective-soon-to-be-beekeeper says, placing a small kiss on their daughter’s cheek.

“No!” She pushes them thru the front door as their car full of their most personal items was waiting.

“But, it’s funny. Imagine, a second time!” Chuckling, while she fusses with the keys, Rosie chides without conviction. “Papa... Stop it!”

“What are you talking about!” John explodes, frowning, then it suddenly becomes clear. The sign of three… “We are going to be grandparents! Oh. My. God. A baby!”

* The End*

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one-shot, 221 words)

Summary: An older Sherlock is getting the most wonderful birthday gift! 

(Didn’t plan to get it out on Jan 6th, so it’s a nice coincidence. Happy b-day Sherlock!)

🎁

God, I am old… Sherlock was still in bed, waiting for his traditional birthday breakfast. Rosie's voice in the kitchen was a gift in itself, having her with them for the weekend was brilliant!  With her heavy schedule – she was a third-year student at Oxford as well as the soloist of the University Orchestra – her visits to London were rare.

She’s a woman now. This isn’t helping me at all to forget my painful knees! He chuckles as he sits in the bed. I’m too old for running after bad guys like I’m still in my thirties. But, I can’t stop. The idea of spending his days alone while John was at work was unbearable.  He loves his job so much… I can’t take that away from him.  

Moving out of London… An image of a remote cottage near a cute village somewhere in Sussex springs to his mind. A few beehives for me, John would have time to write the next James Bond… he sighs and smiles as the door of the bedroom opened.

After the pancakes and bacon, John pushes an envelope in his husband hand while kissing him gently.  “Happy Birthday, love”.

Opening the envelope, Sherlock realizes that it was the doctor’s retirement papers. “It’s time.” John simply says with tears in his eyes as Sherlock kisses him back.

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one-shot, 221 words)

Summary:  Rosie, now living with a flatmate in 221b, is having a row!

The row had been going on for nearly an hour…

"I am a musician! What did you expect!" Rosie screams.

The sarcastic answer comes quickly. “To sleep at night as a bare minimum!”

Rosie was so cross! It was the third flatmate in the last six months… And she secretly liked this one. He's… nice. Kind of cute.

She gives Alexander her best puppy eyes. “I can’t help it if I like to play when everything is really calm…” but it clearly didn’t work!

“And I like to SLEEP! Ro, I have classes early every weekday, I must sleep!” He was as defeated as Rosie. I don’t want to leave her… hmmm Baker Street, it’s a nice location.

With a sigh, Rosie says “I can go in the basement… I won’t bother anyone.”

Not wanting the girl he now considered a friend to stay hours in a mouldy basement, he concedes. “I can try to plug up my ears… if you promise not to play after 2AM!”

With a cute smile and fluttering eyes, Rosie asks “Maybe 3AM?”

“No!” Alexander chuckles. “Don’t even try!” He switches on the kettle. “Do you want tea?”

“Yes please... with sugar!..."

He smiles. “I know… like your papa.”

"... friends?”

"Yes."

He’s so nice I think I’ll keep him! And yeah, I don’t have to go to the basement!

*

To know what’s going on in 221a, click here! Sherlock and John are still looking upon Rosie lol

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one-shot, 221 words)

Summary:  ... do you think England will fall now?

Placing his ear on the door to listen to the silence that fell over 221a, Sherlock murmurs, “do you think England will fall now?”

Pressing himself against his husband's body, trying to chase away the sadness they’re feeling since their oldest friend died a few days ago, John replies “She was a woman greater than life itself, she’s going to keep watching over England and especially us, don’t worry.” Taking his hand, he gently pulls Sherlock towards the stairs. “Come on love, it's cold, I’m going to start a fire and I think we’ve got a bottle of good stuff somewhere for a last toast from her favourite so-called tenants.”

Walking up the stairs slowly, Sherlock thought about how they were so much more than tenants. They were a family. The woman that I helped so many years ago, has been the pivotal point of my life, my anchor for the last what, fifteen years? And that last gift… “Can’t believe she gave us Baker Street…”

“She knows how important it is for you, for us. The place where anything has and will continue to happen.”

Sherlock smiles affectionately. Baker Street is ours. “And what about that special gift just for you, John… I am a little jealous!”

“Can’t believe she gave me her bloody Aston Martin", John laughs tenderly, befuddled!

Expect one later, I missed yesterday!

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one-shot, 2 x 221 words)

Summary:  Rosie, now a teen, asks her dad and her papa an important question...

“Dad?” Rosie was sitting at the kitchen table.

Smiling, doing that thing-with-peas that Sherlock loves, John replies “Yes…” .

“Got a question… A real one.”

Putting down his spatula, John turns to watch their daughter, frowning. “What’s wrong, do you need help with something?”

“No, everything's fine.” She bites her lips a bit, as she did when she was a bit stressed out. “But…”

“But…?” John repeats patiently.

“How did you know?”

Oh… That’s about that.  Playing clueless, he asks. “Know what, darling?”

“That papa was the one?” She knew that her mom was important, but his real love was Sherlock. And it’s ok.

“The first time I saw him, I was… not only swept off my feet but finally able to walk and run alone because I had him by my side. He took my breath away but at the same time, I was able to really breathe for the first time in months. That first case, I killed a man for him. I’m not proud of it of course, but I would do it over in a heartbeat. And… when he disappeared I was so lost and alone again like someone ripped out a piece of my soul.”

“Oh, Daddy…” Rosie hugs her crying dad with force. “You help me a lot, thank you. And careful! The risotto is burning!”

*

Later that night, Rosie sits on the arm of her papa’s leather chair. That old, decrepit chair!

He barely raises his head from his book. “No. It’s been cleaned and fixed a lot of time and I like it. It’s a classic.”

“How could you know what I was…” She puts her head on Sherlock’s shoulder and sighs. And sighs again. And again.

“Little sun of my life, what do you want?”

“Just a silly question…”

“Your silly questions are more interesting than any Met theories, even now that Anderson finally retired.” Sherlock chuckles, “So please my darling, ask.”

“It’s really not that important but…”

“You want to know about your dad and me.”

“Papa!” Rosie softly chides.

“Sorry, I can’t help myself!” He closes his eyes a moment, thinking. “I can’t reply honeybee. I just… knew that he was the one even if it was madness to think that one day… he could love a frea... love me… We had rough times, but he constantly spread a brightness over my mind… Filling all the dark spots, one by one until the only option left for me was to open my heart and let his light in.” He pauses before smirking. “Is this about that boyfriend of yours…”

It was, of course, the only thing John heard. “Whose got a boyfriend?”

❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

ha ha ha .... What? (Poor John lol)

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one-shot, 221 words)

Summary:  John and Ms Hudson listen to Sherlock while he gives a lesson to Rosie...

John was going up the stairs when he found Ms. Hudson near their door.  

“Ms Hudson…?”

She quickly puts a finger on her lips, motioning to John to stay silent and to listen! John came closer to the door and wait… then he heard it.

“One, two, three, one…” It was Sherlock's baritone voice, covering slightly a classical waltz.

The doctor turns to Ms Hudson with a big smile.

“Is he…?” He asks quietly.

“Yes,” She laughs silently, “For an hour or so… Poor little girl, he’s quite a despot!”

“Rosie darling, you must follow me! You can't do what you want! There are rules!” Sherlock patience was clearly near its limit!

“But… Papa! It’s boring, it’s better when we can dance like we want!” Rosie whines…

“I know honeybee, but must I remind you that you asked me to show you how to waltz because they decided to close the dance like in that old magicians’ movie!”

She giggles. “It's in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! Daddy is right, you have no knowledge about popular culture!” And to think that all my friends swoon about him because he’s sexy – sooooooo gross!

“Ok, Rosie, one last time and we will open the door so I can dance with your lovely dad…”

John, knowing that he was discovered, chuckles, “bugger!”

Okie Rosie is younger than Molly and at that time Sherlock is older and anyway it’s not a classical dance like in Harry Potter but... but... it’s so damn funny! @barachiki​ this is super cute!

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one shot, 221 words)

Summary:  Rosie asks one question to her daddy... And John suddenly has doubts.

“Daddy, are you papa’s biographer?”

“Hum…” John turns to look at their daughter. “Why?”

“In English class, we talked about books. Documentary, novel, autobiography, biography…”

“And…”

“An autobiography is only about the life of the person who is writing it.” She was pouting, clearly unhappy to be puzzled. “And my teacher said that a biographer is someone who does nothing, he only writes about someone else.”

Sherlock, who was ensconced in his chair, was smiling at the exchange and at John’s patience... until he saw his husband frown a little.

“Yeah but sometimes it’s more complicated… I don’t know, it’s true that... if you put it like that. I… I’m not the one who does or solve things, it’s more your papa… and…”

The detective interrupts John from the unhappy road he was taking… “Darling, your daddy is far more than my biographer. I couldn’t have solved half of the cases if it weren't for his help. His insights, his protectiveness towards me, his attention to details that I overlook… All this is just as important as my show-off persona.”

“So, what kind of work it is then? If it’s not an autobiography or a biography?”

“It’s a work of love… And you know, Rosie,” with a smile, Sherlock looks at John “I know I'd be completely lost without my Boswell!”

One word: Astronomy!! lol

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one shot, 221 words)

Summary:  Could Sherlock ever say no to that little girl?

“Pappppppppppppa!” Rosie runs to Sherlock who was at his microscope. “Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!”

John, who was behind her and closing the flat door, laughs at her enthusiasm and his husband's silent, do I wanna know?

Sherlock turns his eyes from his work to look at John’s (no… their) daughter. “Calm yourself darling and explain everything.”

“It’s ‘Parent’s day’ at school next Wednesday, and I want you to come!” Her eyes were shining with anticipation, yet a bit afraid that her ‘antisocial’ papa – whatever that means! – could say no to her.

“But Rosie… your dad is way better than me at that kind of stuff… He’s a doctor, used to be a soldier… he’s even a blogger! That’s plenty of wonderful tales to captivate your classmates!” The detective looks at John, wanting a little bit of help! But the doctor's smirk was screaming, ‘you’re on your own love.'

“Lucy’s mom is a doctor, Michael dad’s a soldier and Robert’s mom is a journalist which is like a blogger, right?”

“Yeah, but no one parent is doing both three isn’t?” Sherlock protests hopefully.

“But papppppppa,” Rosie whined dramatically, “I’ve already told everyone that you are coming!”

Little minx… Sherlock secretly thought before agreeing. His mind already trying to find cases that are actually appropriate for nine-year-old brains.

January 1st so 2 today! Happy New Year everyone!

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one-shot, 221 words)

Summary:  Greg and Mycroft are alone with Rosie

They were in the living room waiting for Sherlock when Mycroft sees something in his husband’s eyes. “Gregory…?”

Turning his gaze from Rosie, still working with her papa's lab equipment, the detective sighs. “She’s so precious, don’t you think?” He chuckles. “Even if when she’s in the room John and I are totally outnumbered!”

Frowning, the younger man asks. “Outnumbered?”

“Yeah, you know… the ratio of normal people to genius!”

Laughing softly, Mycroft protests. “Don’t say that love… You and John are geniuses of something more important, the heart…” He smiles adoringly. “Good for her, she’s going to be a genius on every level. I’m really proud of having her in our family.”

“But… do you want to… you know one day. Maybe…” Greg shyly avoided Mycroft’s eyes.

The politician stays silent a moment, trying to understand. “What?... Oh! You mean… A family.”

“Yes…” The other man murmurs before adding quickly “But… no obligation, it’s just a silly thought and with all those children without a home and… we have a really big home, and…” Mycroft tenderly interrupted his rambling with a kiss.

“We are going to be excellent parents, my love.”

“So… Boy or girl?” Greg chuckles happily.

Not even lifting her blonde head from her experiment, Rosie mutters, “girls are boring… always playing with dolls. I'd get a boy!”

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one shot, 221 words)

Summary:  Greg knows when he's outnumbered...

Lestrade walks into the flat after a knock and a pause (he stumbles too many times on John and Sherlock making out in the living room!)  The guys were, fortunately, more careful now that Rosie was older!

Speaking of Rosie, she was presently alone in the room using Sherlock’s precious microscope.

“Hey, kiddo! How are you?”

“Great uncle Gerald!” She winks, knowing perfectly well that his name was Greg.

“Superb, Josephine!” The grey-haired man smiles at her. “Should you play with that equipment, Rosie, it’s quite expensive you know!”

She turns on the high stool she was sitting on and looks at Greg with a ‘You are kidding me, right?’ glare and replies with authority “I am not PLAYING!”

With a serious face, Greg excused himself “Sorry then Ro’… I didn’t want to disturb your work.” Greg was now able to read the quote on her t-shirt and found it really fit her. ‘Though she be but little, she is fierce!'

“Shakespeare. Midsummer’s Night Dream.” Rosie mumbles out of the blue.

“What?”

“You were reading the quote on my t-shirt!” She rolls her eyes.  

Oh… there’s two of them now! Thank God John is on my side!

Discreet steps entered the room followed by a thrilled, “UNCLE MYCROFT!”

“Greetings darling Rosamund… Gregory.”

Three of them! I am doomed… Greg thought, Bugger!

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one-shot, 221 words)

Summary:  Christmas is over and it's time to go back to school!

“Noooooooooooooo! I don’t want to go to school today! NO!” Rosie was having one of her rare, if quite spectacular, tantrums.

“Darling, the Christmas holidays are over, I’ve got to go back to work, you’ve got to go back to school… This is life.”

“Then life is BORING!” She crosses her arms and argues “Papa is always alone at home, I can stay to… check on him!”

“He’s working on cases and his schedule is erratic at  best…” But he does need supervision, the doctor inwardly smirks. John was trying to find the ultimate argument to help Rosie get out of her post-holiday blues… when an offensive smell spreads in the flat. “Sherlock! What’s that!”

“Oh? Sorry love… It's an experiment on the level of precipitation of urine when…”

“Urggggg. Gross!! Papa, we eat on that table! It stinks.” And she finally runs to catch up with her friends on the way to school.

Sighing with relief, John turns towards his husband. “Thank God the holidays are over, she ate too many sweets! Thanks for your help, love… If you haven’t started that monstrosity, I bet I would still be arguing with her!”

“Yesssss. Hum…. You were arguing with… whom?” A distracted Sherlock asks, eyes glued on his experiment.

Laughing softly, John kisses Sherlock's head before rushing to catch the bus.

Not related, but he’s so pretty!

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one shot, 221 words)

Summary:  John tries to change Sherlock unhappy thoughts after the death of his dear father.

John's hand was in Sherlock curls, stroking the soft strands. “Are you all right, love?”

“Yes… I think…” His lover replies, even if he was looking far from all right. His eyes were red from crying and lack of sleep, his shoulders down as if the weight of the world was dragging him down…

Sherlock’s father died a few days ago and they were back from Mycroft and Greg's place where Mrs Holmes was staying for now. His restless mind was full of memories, mixed with lawyers, will, funerals, flowers… Anger. How could he leave us like that!

Pulling Sherlock to the sofa, John starts babbling, not so secretly trying to change his boyfriend's mind. “You know that today is the 21st… it’s the winter solstice… This is why we celebrate Christmas around this date you see…”  After a few minutes he stops, looking into his lover's eyes. “Sherlock, what can I do for you? Let me help…”

“Just hold me tight, all night long…”

John chuckles softly as he puts his arms around Sherlock to pull him even closer to him “Love, you know it’s the longest night of the year…”

“Yes, of course I know, I may be a little opportunistic…” The detective softly murmurs as the warmth and love from John comforts him and eases his breathing.

(Okay the gif is huge... but ouf! His eyes!!)

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one shot, 221 words)

Summary:  Nearly everyone at Baker Street is bored...

“It’s been four days!!” John was complaining as he looks at the street below.  The icy storm was fading but the sidewalks and the streets were still dangerous. The doctor enjoyed the first two days as he read his to-read pile, watched his to-watch pile and sorted through his pile of things-to-sort… They made love as often as it was possible with Mrs Hudson's constant visits and a fidgety Rosie who was barging on them at any moment... So, not nearly enough for John's taste. As he lets the drape fall with disgust, Mrs Hudson knocks.

“Wou-hou!” She enters with all their favourites sweets. “I am now officially out of flour…” She sits at the kitchen table. “What can we do for fun, boys?”

“And me!!” Rosie cries from the sofa.

“Yes, and you, honey…” She smiles.

The little girl flies to the mysterious-cupboard-of-all-the-missing-stuff and brought back a box. “Cluedo!”

“Noooooooo!” John snaps incredulously!

“Daddy! Papa and I play often!”

“You played with Sherlock?” A suspicious John looks at his husband who was affectionately smiling, not bored at all as he was happy to stay at home with his family, refreshing his Mind Palace about what was the essence of John, Rosie and Mrs Hudson.

“Yes!” Rosie replies, cheerfully adding, “with our own specials rules!” as she opens the dreaded box…

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one shot, 221 words)

Summary:  Sherlock has been sulking for hours...

“That’s it…“ John puts down his book, looking at his boyfriend with concern “It’s not that watching you sulk isn’t enticing… But could you please confirm that it’s not something that I’ve done? Imaginary or not?”

Turning to face the back of the sofa, the detective murmurs “You are marvellous and strong and wise John, but you are nothing against human biology!”

Human biology? What the… “Sherlock! Love... Are you sick, did they find something bad… You went for a test without telling me! How many time did I have to…”

“No, THEY didn’t find anything. I found something!”

Sitting near Sherlock, John gently strokes his back. “Honey… What have you found? A curious melanoma? A little bump? Tell me, please…”

As he was muttering something incomprehensible, the doctor asked him to repeat. Twice.

“I FOUND GREY HAIRS!” Sherlock finally screams. “John… I am… OLD!” The hatred in the last word was so evident that John – even if he tried really really hard – wasn’t able to hide a smile.

“You’re blond, it’s not fair! Your grey hairs look silver and it’s beautiful… but for me it’s horrible!” Mustering all his dignity, he rushes to the bathroom. “I will remove them one by one!”

“Don’t do that my darling… Maybe a tint?” John jests “Imagine! You can turn your hair platinum blond!”

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one-shot, 221 words)

Summary:  Rosie wants something special for Christmas!

John stops Rosie as soon as she enters the flat. “Come back here and remove your winter boots!”

Frowning, the little girl stops “But, Daddy!”

“Don’t even try, young lady!” After he helps her get out of her boots and coat, she runs to her papa with a big smile.

“Have you found them?” At 6 years old, Rosie was trying to act like a big girl but it was hard sometimes! It’s not my fault, it’s my favourite things about Christmas! Except for the gifts. And Nana Martha's food. And the party!

“No, I didn’t…” Sherlock was, of course, teasing as he was always trying to make their little girl happy. And she looooooove Christmas crackers. It started 2 years ago with Paw-“Not-those-bloody-dogs-again”-Patrol crackers, next it was Disney-“Pink-from-Hell”-Princesses and this year she asked for a Doctor Strange edition.

“But it’s impossible papa, finding stuff… It’s… your JOB!”

Laughing at his job description, Sherlock protests “I didn’t but... I know someone who did!”

Right on time, Mycroft enters the flat. “Special delivery!”

“Uncle My!”

“I was presenting something at the UN so... !” He handed over the box as his overexcited niece rushes into his arms. “Be careful not to break your old uncle, Rosamund!” Mycroft laughs.

A UN meeting for such a big smile, it’s a bargain!

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​

(one-shot, 221 words)

Summary:  Rosie is doing something strange...

John walks into the bathroom to find his little bundle of joy (and trouble if he were honest) in the bath. More accurately submerged in the bath!

“Rosie? What the hell are you doing in a bathing suit, your head underwater?” The 6 year’s old little girl gasps as she sits in the bath, trying to catch her breath.

“Daddy! You disturbed me! I was breaking a new record!”

“A new record of what?” John laughs “Of how many litres of water you can put on the floor before Nana Martha gets water through her ceiling!”

“Noooooooooo… Don’t be silly daddy!”

Her little face was frowning, a perfect imitation of her papa.  Another one who thinks I’m an idiot, great!  John thought with an inner smile.

“I want to be able to stay underwater as long as possible!” She says decidedly. “I’ve been training for days!”

“Why?” Then suddenly he realizes. Poor little angel. A week ago, Sherlock nearly drowned after a criminal pushed him off a bridge! She wasn’t supposed to know… “Honey… you know your papa is a great swimmer and he’s never alone when he’s chasing a bad person.” He kneels on the wet tiles. “But I’m really proud of you darling, you are really strong! Cookies?” As his little girl nods, he snuggles her in Sherlock's bathrobe.

Beta read by @notjustamumj ​