Cimorene

Oh, I *really* like this story, particularly how skillfully you capture Holmes' appeal (including his near-manic changeability) for Watson.

The quote you use for the final section - "It is fortunate for this community that I am not a criminal." - struck me as extremely appropriate, not only because Holmes *is* rather criminal in many of the things he does to solve cases, but also (of course) because by the end of the story, he and Watson have - by making love - added one more layer of "criminality" to their lives, at least a far as their (English) community is concerned.

(The only thing I might have liked to see would have been a slightly more significant role for Mycroft. I mean, as far as I remember, canon requires him to be there, but in that case it would have been nice to see him *doing* something, even if it's just giving a vaguely knowing look to Watson *g*)

In any case...this is a very lovely story and a pleasure to read.