"Perhaps something can be arranged," he offers, trying to infuse some hope into this situation. "If she doesn't want you to leave, and you don't want to leave, surely something could be worked out." He laughs softly and raises his brandy to his lips, taking a quick drink.

"You could take a couple meals out of the week with us. Knock a little off the rent that way, maybe. Sometimes the Yard keeps me late, you know, and Mary could use the company. The help too, probably. Robert adores you." He smiles, for every word of what he just said is true, except the part where he would like to see more of Watson, too, where he could use his company too because he works more late nights without Sherlock Holmes.