"And the day not yet an hour old," Watson smiled. "I agree, though. This is already a splendid Christmas."

He settled himself, resting his head against Holmes's chest where he could listen to his heartbeat, steady and reassuring and wonderfully present. Distantly, he had to suppose they ought to take themselves off to bed properly, but he was rather comfortable just then. "I won't go so far as to call this the best, though. There's always room for it to be better next year."

He squeezed Holmes's fingers, gently.