I think this will be the last chapter. I won't do another chapter as an author's note this time. I'm not set on the ending, but the thing crashed and I dont remember how it ended before. This will do. It's not a Moffat Hook like the other but I didn't want to end it on such a cliffhanger.

Btw if anyone is interested in betaing this and the first one, or different people do both, I'd be very happy.

Thanks

I hope you still enjoy it.

"Hello Mycroft."

"Merry Christmas, Sherlock."

"Bit late for that, don't you think?" Sherlock deposited Milton on the floor and sat up, adjusting his dressing gown. His brother was still standing in the doorway, as if he was admiring the christmas tree.

"Do come in." Sherlock drawled, standing up to put on another batch of fresh tea. Mycroft was being extra polite today, which meant extra difficult.

"Thank you."

Mycroft pulled out a desk chair and sat down. The desk still had a few tea stains from the night before where someone had accidentally knocked over their cup. Even though most of the flat had been tidied and cleaned up, Mycroft could still find signs that indicated the guests had indeed been enjoying themselves. The question was though, had Sherlock? Mycroft accepted his cup and placed it on a coaster that looked as if it had never been used for it's original purpose. Sherlock stood by the desk for a moment, something there catching his eye and then sat down in his arm chair.

"So, how fared the party?"

"It went well. Everyone...enjoyed themselves."

"Did you?"

"Of course." For the most part.

"Good, good. I'm glad. Actually christmas is the reason I am here." Oh really? I am aghast.

"Oh?"

"Yes. Here, little christmas gift." Sherlock sighed as he was handed a parcel.

It was soft, in plain blue paper, tied with a darker blue ribbon. Sherlock pulled one end, the ribbon slowly unravelling until it was a silky pool in his lap. He unwrapped it with care, discovering a new dressing gown in pale caramel, though camel coloured would be a more accurate description, it's ties finished in dark chocolate tassels. It looked very comfortable. His favourite blue one had developed a whole in one pocket, which he'd blamed Milton for. He set the dressing gown aside, discovering two pairs of socks beneath it and large manilla envelope. One pair of socks were patterned in deep red with lighter red and white flecks. They looked expensive and of the finest wool available. The other pair was blue with a pattern of little bees, clearly cheaper, but nonetheless...aesthetically pleasing.

The envelope was opened to reveal some old violin music. Not pieces he'd played before but most he had heard of. There was also a small pile of blank music paper. He could deduce from this that Mycroft not only knew he'd not been playing recently, but wanted him to continue now that he was home and had his violin back. It had been awhile since he'd played, putting off due to a tremble in his hand making playing extremely frustrating, because there was that and previous injuries as well. And Mycroft knew that, though the violin was never is instrument of choice.

No, as a child it was the piano and as a young adult it had been the cello. He doubted he still played either regularly. He was not the most musical of people.

"Thank you, Mycroft." He tried to put some feeling into those words. Yet again another christmas had come and gone and he had not brought a gift for his brother. This had never bothered him before, only in recent years. Had it really been a year since that last christmas? It seemed hard to believe.

"You're welcome of course."

"I don't have anything to give you."

"You never do." But I do not need anything, only your recovery, brother mine.

Sherlock frowned and finished the last few drops of tea, standing to place it on the end table. His gifts were piled high on his desk chair, books, dvds, one christmas stocking, a new scarf. Too many things. He picked up the plain white envelope and opened it, staring at the check inside. Where could he go? And should he? Somewhere warm? Somewhere cold? Alien and exotic or closer to home? He'd travelled a lot during his time away, never stopping long enough to relax except for one time. And even then he was learning, studying. Not truly relaxing.

"Any ideas?" Of course he would know what was in the envelope.

"No."

"You should go, you need a vacation badly, dear brother. You need fresh air in your lungs and the sun on your skin. You're as pale as a sheet."

"I am not."

"Near enough. If you like I can investigate and come up with a few ideas for you. Accommodation and sightseeing as well. You may like to visit more than one location." You've clearly thought about this more than I.

"If you like."

"I do. I think it would help, it would do wonders." Sherlock put the envelope down, moving closer towards the window to look outside. The sky was grey, the few people outside wore layers. I don't think anything will help for a long time.

"I can stay, if you like. Unless you had plans of your own." Sherlock resisted the urge to laugh, it would have only sounded hollow.

"No, I have no plans."

"Wonderful, I'm sure we can find something to pass the time, I see you have some movies and...tv shows. Or we can play more...board games. Even cards." It told him something about his brother that he was willing to stay. Not worry, though he was sure some of that would always exist within his brother. But that his sibling was also bored and though he'd never admit it, lonely.

"I have a few new ones, John left them downstairs."

"Perfect. Unless you'd rather a film?"

Sherlock continued to stare out the window, the figures were hurrying now, snow was beginning to fall. Not a common occurence here. But a beautiful one. Each snowflake was different but unique in it's own way. Soon the road and sidewalk would be white with snow. The window was cold, not quite as cold as ice yet. He wouldn't freeze his nose to the glass if he rested his face against it to watch the sky open up and scatter the snow to the winds. There would be delicate designs on the window eventually, Jack Frost was an intricate artist.

"Brother?"

"You decide Mycroft. You seem more desperate to escape the boredom." Mycroft sighed and grumbled, getting out of his chair and searching through the messy pile of games and books.

Sherlock smiled, turning back to the window. Somewhere warm and quiet was never somewhere he thought he'd stay for more than awhile. And only for a case. But it might be a relief to be somewhere that held no bad memories, that let him relax without people worrying over his mental state. To think about things, important things. And maybe when he came back he could return to work. Maybe he would be ready then.

One could only hope.

"Stop moping and help me choose." No.

"No Milton, I did not mean you."

A small, sad smile grace the detective's face as he finally teared himself away from the cold window to help his brother.

It's finally over. I'm so sorry it's taken this long! It was only ever meant to be a 10 chapter post reichenbach fic. And it both fics are plus 80 chapters. Idk if the third one will be. Theres still many issues with season 3 that I have to work this fic around. I also don't know when it will start. I was hoping to work on my other two current fics for a bit. There's Cold Body Warm Heart and A Study In Impossible Things. Both are AU's.

Cold Body Warm Heart, if you haven't taken a look, is a Warm Bodies inspired Zombielock fic in first person. Most characters get their POV written at one point or another. And there are a lot of characters. It's more light hearted than the Stars Series, which is what I call this fic and it's predecessor in my head. Though it has it's angsty moments. It's also a long fic and not near the end yet. If you are wanting something of mine to read in the mean time theres that.

The other fic is new and only 9 chapters so far. It's a fantasy/sci-fi AU called A Study In Impossible Things. It's the first fic that is deliberately written to be long but so far I've had trouble. All my ideas are for later chapters XD. But I do hope it will become as popular as the Stars Series and CBWH.

I've loved all your reviews and PM's, I hope you continue to enjoy my stories and when the third story starts I hope you will be just as excited as me to see what will happen to our characters this time.

I haven't decided yet where Sherlock will take his vacation! If you have any ideas please let me know. Likewise for the third story. Either by PM or review.

I just wanted to say thank you. You're all wonderful and IDK if I would have continued writing this if not for all of you.

So...thanks.

See you in the sequel!