Under the mask

Chapter 1: Family

Mycroft was gone for the night. It didn't happen often that the two brothers are separated but with his five years Sherlock already know how to enjoy his parents without his big brother. Currently he was reading a book about invention in the nineteenth century. His father had brought him the book as a present as he came back from a business trip. Sherlock doesn't need presents, he was just happy when his parents came back.

Speaking of his parents, they had another heated conversation, the third this day about Mycroft and Uncle Rudy´s plan to let him start BEC, whatever that is. Most time these conversations are about politics and government stuff Sherlock isn't interested in and he ignores it. But before anyone things his parents fight all day that is wrong. The conversations never get loud; they are heated, filled with emotions and passion. Sherlock actually likes the way his parents discussed everything, starting with Mycroft´s and Sherlock´s education, over parenting stiles and of course their work. It never ended in a fight. They were talking until the topic was done, a problem was solved and the solution satisfied everyone. And if it takes two days of argument, it would take that long and no one goes to bed before they are not finished.

Most times Sherlock just ignores it and listens to the waves of emotion filling the room. He loves his family and wouldn't want to change a thing in his life. But what he hears in the conversation about Mycroft indicates a few changes for the future. Not that was a bad thing. Mycroft told him that he wants to visit a special school that would provide him with the knowledge he was searching for but for that he needs to go to another place. He hopes that their parents would allow it and it sounds like that was the topic currently. Mycroft´s future and his leaving to live somewhere else.

"Sherlock, darling?" Caught in his thoughts Sherlock surfaced and looked at his mother. "It´s time for bed, get ready:" It is pretty late but Sherlock wasn't a typical child with a fixed bed-time. If needed he was allowed to stay up longer.

"Okay, Mummy." He stands up to get ready with a bathroom visit and changing closes. "Mummy, can I have a sleepover at Uncle Rudy´s too, best with Mycroft together?"

She smiles at her son. "Yes of course, we can ask Uncle Rudy tomorrow when he and Mycroft come back. Can I have a kiss before you go upstairs?"

Sherlock giggles, he loves the coddling that his mother was doing and he was sure that he will still like it at the age of twelve, Mycroft told him in secret that he loves it too but at his age you should start to act like you don't like it or Mummy will do it the rest of you live. Not that he was against that idea. "Yes Mummy."

He walks over to her and gives her a kiss on the cheek. "Can I have a hug too?" Sherlock hugs her. He loves hugging his Mother and there was nothing better. "And I think I need a serious cuddle." She winks at him and pulls her son in a good long cuddle. Both laugh and hold on to each other without minding their surroundings, including time.

Mr. Holmes watches them and feels pure love for this picture of family. They had another discussion about Mycroft´s early decision to follow their footsteps. Not that it was an unusually wish of his son. He told his parents that he will follow them since he was old enough to understand what they were doing.

Thinking about his sons who are both genius he was proud and sad at the same time. They would achieve amazing things in their live but watching his children grow up without any real interest at being children was a bit sad and he hopes that they won´t miss it at a later time of their live.

Right now both he and his wife have decided that their children, at least Mycroft, can make decisions on their own. That the reason that the conversation they had about him entering BEC had ended. They will have a talk with their son and if he wants to go for the right reasons, who are they to stop theirs sons from following their plans and dreams.

The family idyll was suddenly interrupted by the harsh opening of the door. In less than a second the room was filled with armed und mask gun man. Mr. Holmes had jumped up in his seat and Mrs. Holmes hold Sherlock very close, pressed at her chest, covering his eyes and ears to protect him from whatever would follow.

"Mr. Holmes, Mrs. Holmes I think we will continue our conversation. I hope you remember where we had stopped." An unmask man steps in the room, half his face covered in ugly burn scars and known by the Homes´, right now the only thing that matters was to save their son because they were already dead. Confirming this with a look in each other's eyes they get ready for everything.

"Yes Mr. Moriarty we remember you and that we saw you die in the fire but dying isn't your style right?" Mr. Holmes tries to get the whole attention in the room, there was no way to get Sherlock out without them noticing but at least he can distract them from his wife and son.

But as always Moriarty reads his intention walks over to his wife and stops out of her reach. "You can give me your son, we have a little chat, you two will probably be dead in the end but your son I will let him go when we are finished." Disbelieve was all his wife´s eyes scream but she couldn't open her mouth to say something, four of the seven guns were pointing at her and Sherlock. "You can also wait until I will have my fun with you child and then I promise you is he the first thing that will die tonight. Decide, NOW." The last word was shouted and Sherlock flinched in his mother's arms. He didn't understand what was happening but the fear from his mother, he could feel it deep in his bones. "Let go of him and I will only play with you two or keep him then is he the first."

There wasn't really a direction to make. Slowly and without letting Moriarty out of her sight she pulls Sherlock away from her chest. "Sweetheart do you remember what I told you about 'danger nights'?" Sherlock nods. "This is one. I want you to go over to this man and close your eyes and ears. Your father and I we love you and nothing will happen to you. But close your eyes and ears, okay." With a last kiss on his forehead Moriarty takes Sherlock away from her.

"The real fun begins now."