#during ts

“Merry Christmas, Sherly.”

Sherlock looked at the present on his lap.

“What's this, Liam? A Christmas present?” Never once in his life that Sherlock received a Christmas present. It was quite a pleasant surprise.

“This is your first time, I see.” William smiled as he relaxed himself on the sofa. “We always exchange presents at Christmas.”

“Oh really?” Sherlock didn't know if he's more eager to open the present or to hear William’s story.

“Brother Albert started it first…” William recalled his first Christmas present, a novel which became his favorite. “I wish-”

Louis was hesitant.

“So?” Mycroft was waiting for his answer. “Are you going to take the job?”

“Next Monday, is it?” Louis checked the desk calendar even though he already knew, just to make sure.

“Next Monday, yes. Any problem?”

It was Christmas day. They never went on missions on Christmas days. Louis was beginning to see that Albert might work things out that they never did have to.

“I assume it's a no, then.” Mycroft concluded first.

“My apologies,” Louis bowed.

After MI6’s success in two simultaneous missions, Louis was left idle. The after party passed in the blink of an eye, and he was again haunted by the past.

Unknowingly, Louis found himself in front of the door to the only prison in the tower, tears flowing from his eyes.

Albert was looking hazily at the full moon, trapped in sorrow, when he heard the subtle knock. An anxious hunch moved him to find out who it was.