"I love you too," Watson murmured back, feeling dangerously on the edge of tears again, but he could not break down like that again, not in front of Holmes. It was humiliating enough as it was.

"I won't make you eat soup," he said, softly, and finding himself already settling down beside Holmes. "It would be good if you did. We both ought to, really." Watson tucked his head against Holmes's shoulder, squeezing his eyes shut.