Chapter One: A New Beginning
Author's Note: Wow! I haven't written fanfiction for over a year! I lost everything I had for my previous stories and I lost the motivation to write. A lot has happened in the last year and I was completely down and out about it.
Now I've decided to do this fanfiction because lately I've loved the idea of Parent! Lock and Sherlolly is my otp! That doesn't mean I don't like Johnlock cause trust me I love them but I see their friendship as more friend/brothers than lovers however I understand where romantic Johnlock comes from. I don't remember how I started to ship Sherlolly but I do to my shipper's heart content and I await eagerly for Sherlock season 4. I'm not sure if the new season will influence this story however we shall see.
I chose Gwendolyn because it's a weird name and considering that Sherlock's full name is William Sherlock Scott Holmes and he decided his name is Sherlock, I thought he'd name his kid something a little unusual. It's a variant of 'Gwendolen' which means, fair, blessed and ring. It is Welsh and was the name of a mythical queen of the Britons who defeated her husband in battle, as told by Geoffrey of Monmouth. Gwendolyn Brooks was an American poet, author and teacher and was the first African-American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1950. Famous quotes from her include 'When you use the term minority or minorities in reference to people, you're telling them that they're less than somebody else.' 'I am a writer perhaps because I am not a talker.' 'Writing is a delicious agony' and 'Live not for Battles Won.'
Pairings: Sherlock and Molly, John and Mary
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Sherlock because if I did we'd have season 4 already :)
Gwendolyn Holmes was the daughter of Sherlock and Molly Holmes, a consulting detective and a pathologist. It made her use to the idea of death and how to help her parents in her own unique way. She was a combination of her parent's personalities and looks. She had her father's eyes, curly dark brown locks and his height and she had her mother's face and body shape. Personality wise, she was almost an even amount between the both of them.
She had their stubbornness which always made arguments with her parents interesting when they happened. She had her mother's kind heart and she also had her father's ability to hide or keep a hold of emotions in tough situations. Like her father, she didn't always understand "normal" people however she knew enough not to deduce them of embarrassing stuff. Unless they annoyed her enough. Like her mother she was also quiet and she especially hated small talk which came from both her parents. She also had an inability to make friends because of her personality which also came from both of her parents.
Gwendolyn was sixteen now and she was in the living room of 221B Baker Street, looking down at the street below, plucking the strings of her violin idly. She was reading them, deducing the most boring people of London. She sighed and flopped down dramatically on the couch in the living room, placing the violin on the coffee table. Her mother was in the kitchen cooking dinner and her father had been dragged away by a case that was worth at least an eight, two days ago.
'I'm bored mum!' Gwendolyn muttered, wanting her mother to hear but also ignore at the same time.
'Gwendolyn, come help set the table thank you,' Molly called out. Gwendolyn sighed dramatically but got up and helped her mother. She grabbed three plates and put them on the table and got cutlery and she sat in her usual spot at the table as her mother put the finishing touches on dinner. They were having steak and salad and Molly placed the food on the middle of the table.
'Are we waiting for dad?' Gwendolyn asked, slightly confused. Her mother had put more steak and salad out than what they could both eat.
'No, I invited Mary, Amelia, Nathan and Dean over.' Molly said, grabbing out three more sets of plates and cutlery.
'Why?' Gwendolyn asked. She could deduce the answer from her mother however she knew it would be rude and she couldn't really be bothered.
'Your father and John have been away for two days now so I thought they'd appreciate the company.' Molly said simply however Gwendolyn knew there was something else. She considered deducing it however she knew she'd know in less than an hour.
'They should be coming now,' Gwendolyn said suddenly. She heard laughter from downstairs and the creaking of the old door. She then heard four pairs of footsteps and she stood up, suddenly very interested.
'Gwen!' Amelia yelled, laughing loudly and now running up the stairs. 'Save me!'
Molly and Gwendolyn laughed as Amelia ran into the kitchen and stood near Molly. Nathan and Dean came up moments later and they smirked at each other. Mary came in shortly and rolled her eyes, greeting Molly and Gwendolyn with a hug and a kiss on the cheek each.
'Are you two causing trouble again?' Molly asked her godsons, raising an eyebrow as both boys stood next to Gwendolyn, smirking at their sister.
'That breaks my heart, Aunty Molly that you'd think that,' Dean said, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. Gwendolyn rolled her eyes and walked over to her best friend, giving her a hug.
'Does it really?' Amelia asked and the boys smirked.
'Alright sit down children,' Mary said as both she and Molly sat down.
'We're not children, mother,' Nathan said, looking at Mary. Mary just raised her eyebrow and both of the boys sat down quickly, not wanting to get in trouble. Gwendolyn laughed at the boys and sat down after Amelia sat.
'Alright dig in,' Molly smiled. They all happily did and for the next half hour they laughed and chatted idly over dinner and Gwendolyn brought out ice-cream from the freezer.
'We always have cookies and cream,' Dean said, looking at Gwendolyn.
'Because it's my favourite,' Gwendolyn smirked, 'and it's also dads.' At the mention of Sherlock, Molly stiffened and Mary sat a little straighter. Gwendolyn looked at Amelia however she didn't seem to notice since she was laughing at a joke Nathan had told.
'Gwendolyn can you sit down for a moment? The ice-cream can wait.' Molly said, smiling sadly.
'What's happened to dad?' Gwendolyn demanded.
'Please sit down, Gwen,' Molly said, not looking directly at her.
'The case is particularly difficult isn't it? It's not worth an eight. It's a ten. That's why he left so quickly wasn't it? This case isn't in England which is why he took his suitcase. It's in Eastern Europe. I'm guessing Poland however that's a little too far. I'm going to say Germany-' Gwendolyn spoke quickly.
'Gwendolyn Holmes I told you to sit down so you will listen to me.' Molly said, her voice not wavering at all. Gwendolyn glared at her mother, wanting to annoy her and deduce more but knowing if she did she'd be in huge trouble from her mother and then her father when he came back. She sat down slowly and now all the teenagers were looking at Molly.
'They are in Germany.' Molly said slowly. 'A message came for your father and John two days ago. They're looking for a man who was close to Moriarty. Sebastian Moran. He is Moriarty's right hand man. Well was. He's now head of the network that Moriarty had built and it's now stronger-'
'Get down!' Gwendolyn suddenly yelled. She noticed a person standing in the window in the building opposite 221B Baker Street. They were suddenly pulling out a gun and Molly grabbed Gwendolyn and Amelia and dragged them to the ground and Mary grabbed Dean and Nathan.
'We need to leave.' Mary said. Suddenly they heard glassing breaking and Gwendolyn let out a high pitched scream as the bullet hit her in the stomach. Molly immediately ripped half of her shirt and wrapped it around Gwendolyn and Amelia, Dean and Nathan looked on shocked. Mary stood up and walked over to the window carefully, grabbing the gun that Sherlock kept in the top draw of the desk. She shot the guy that was aiming his gun again and Gwendolyn knew he was dead.
'Mum,' Gwendolyn said frightened.
'Sweetheart.' Molly said, tears in her eyes. Nathan got into action and called an ambulance whilst Amelia went and grabbed the first aid kit. Dean grabbed Gwendolyn's hand and Gwendolyn suddenly felt weaker and collapsed in her mother's arms.
'Gwendolyn, you have to stay with us, you hear me?' Molly said. 'Sweetheart, please keep your eyes open. Keep your eyes fixed on me.'
'Mummy,' Gwendolyn said, tears falling. Mary was now calling Sherlock and Amelia came back with the first aid kit. Molly quickly told Dean and Amelia what to do and Nathan now held Gwendolyn's hand.
Gwendolyn looked up and suddenly she was in her mind palace. Her father had taught her this technique when she was five years old. It helped her organise her thoughts and emotions and to keep her racing mind at bay sometimes. Her mind palace wasn't a palace however. It was 221B Baker Street. Her home. In her room was Amelia, Nathan and Dean, her three best and only friends who were like siblings to her. In her parents room was Molly, Sherlock, John and Mary who were like second parents to her. In the living room laid all of her good memories and kept chained up were the bad memories which laid in the attic upstairs. The kitchen held Mrs Hudson, Lestrade and Mycroft who were also her family.
Her mother and father came over to her as she was lying on the couch. She looked at her stomach and saw the bullet wound. She looked up at them, feeling just as frightened as when there had been a massive storm when she was three.
'Help me,' Gwendolyn begged. Sherlock took her hand and Molly put a hand on her head, both of them looking at her like it would be their last time.
'You've just been through shock,' another voice spoke. It was Amelia. 'It's going to hurt after this but it'll be okay. Queue the pain.' Suddenly she was replaced by Dean.
'A bullet has just been ripped through your body, however you don't need to be scared.' Dean said.
'We're all here. We all love you and you will be alright.' Nathan smiled, standing next to Dean. Gwendolyn smiled fondly at them before a scream left her mouth and suddenly she was ripped from her mind palace and she was writhing in pain on the floor in the kitchen and she heard sirens from ambulances and police cars.
'Sweetheart, what calms you?' Mind Palace Molly asked.
'Here's Toby,' Mind Palace Sherlock smiled, placing Gwendolyn's beloved childhood cat in her arms. Gwendolyn smiled and hugged him. He purred and rubbed his head against her arm affectionately. She looked at the mirror in the living room and was shocked to see that in her place was her five year old self.
'Dad,' Gwendolyn murmured. Sherlock appeared, sitting in his chair. He was playing his violin and playing her song. The song he made just for her and she suddenly felt more at peace. She sat down in front of him.
'I will not lose you,' Sherlock said suddenly, leaning forward. 'I will not lose my only child. I will save you Gwendolyn. Your mother and I will save you.'
'You already have, daddy.' Gwendolyn smiled and Sherlock smiled affectionately, standing up and kissing her head softly and her mother did the same, holding her hand this time.
'I love you sweetheart,' Molly smiled, 'your father and I love you so much. As does John, Mary, Amelia, Nathan and Dean. We all love you.'
They all appeared for a moment before they disappeared and she was taken back to reality.
Gwendolyn opened her eyes slowly and she was blinded by the white lights of a hospital. She suddenly opened her eyes again and tried hard to remember where she was. The memories flooded her again and she tried to sit up however a hand kept her from moving. She looked at the person and saw Sherlock Holmes, her father, standing up and looking at her with a look of relief written all over his face.
'Dad!' Gwendolyn said hoarsely. She felt tears in her eyes and her father gave her a hug.
'I love you Gwendolyn,' Sherlock whispered.
'I love you too, dad,' Gwendolyn whispered back. She couldn't hug him properly so she let her father do the work for them both. After a few minutes Sherlock let go and Gwendolyn saw her mother curled up uncomfortably in a chair that was next to Sherlock's. Her father sat down again, holding her hand and she looked out to the hallway. Lestrade, Mrs Hudson, John, Mary, Amelia, Dean and Nathan were sitting in the family area.
'They insisted.' Sherlock said, simply. 'They've been in and out of this hospital for about three days now. They've all come in to see you at various times.'
'Why? I was asleep.' Gwendolyn asked, slightly confused. It was at this time she didn't understand the sentiment. She was asleep and wouldn't know they were in there with her.
'When they were operating on you, you died three times,' Sherlock said, 'two more times than I did when I was shot.'
Gwendolyn suddenly understood. They all wanted to make sure that she was okay. That she was still alive. She looked at her father. His face hadn't been shaved for four days and he had dark bags under his eyes. His eyes looked tired but the relief and love in his eyes overpowered that tiredness.
'Who shot me?' Gwendolyn asked. 'Did he die when Mary shot him?'
'He certainly did die.' Sherlock said, avoiding the first time. 'She has never missed, no matter the type of gun and got him right between the eyes.'
'He works for him doesn't he?' Gwendolyn asked. Sherlock nodded and she sighed. Her mother stirred in her sleep and Sherlock looked down.
'She told me to wake her up as soon as anything changed.' Sherlock said, gesturing towards her. 'I think I will now.'
Sherlock gently woke up her mother and Gwendolyn couldn't help but smile at them both. They were still as in love as ever. Her mother sat up and looked at Sherlock.
'What happened?' Molly asked quickly. Sherlock smiled at her and gestured to Gwendolyn.
'Mum,' Gwendolyn smiled. Molly quickly hopped out of her chair and rushed over to her.
'Sweetheart,' Molly said, her voice strained. Gwendolyn felt her mothers' tears on her shoulder as they hugged and her own eyes filled with tears.
'I love you so much sweetheart,' Molly whispered, placing a hand on her cheek. Gwendolyn grabbed it and smiled at her mother through her tears.
'I love you too mum,' she replied.
'I'm so happy you're okay.' Molly said. 'Are you in pain? Does it hurt? Am I hurting you?'
'Mum I'm okay,' Gwendolyn smiled softly. Her father raised an eyebrow at her lie however she ignored it and tried very hard not to let her mother worry.
'Alright, I'll go get the others so they can stop worrying.' Molly said, smiling at her. She looked overjoy that she was awake and she walked outside.
'You won't be able to lie to her for very long, Gwendolyn,' Sherlock said, simply.
'I don't want her to worry.' Gwendolyn said quietly.
'She's always going to worry about you, especially more so with your injury.' Sherlock said. He looked at the morphine levels pumping into her. It was set on low.
'Can you take it up a few levels then?' Gwendolyn asked. Sherlock nodded and moved it halfway and she sighed in relief. She moved slightly to get more comfy and winced in pain. Her father looked at her, his eyebrow frowned.
'I'm alright dad,' Gwendolyn muttered. Molly walked back into the room and Amelia, Nathan and Dean walked into the room and Amelia cried in relief and quickly hugged her.
'I thought I was going to lose you!' Amelia said. 'We thought you were dead.'
'Well I'm okay now,' Gwendolyn smiled. Dean and Nathan both gave her a hug as John and Mary walked in with Mrs Hudson and Lestrade.
She was starting to feel overwhelmed as she got a hug from each of them. She was now only starting to understand how important everyone in the room was to her. She was thankful when a nurse came in and ordered everyone but Molly and Sherlock out of the room. She noted all of her vitals and asked her a series of questions.
'Alright last question,' the nurse smiled kindly, 'on a scale of one to ten rate your pain.'
Gwendolyn looked at her father briefly. He nodded as to say be honest and she sighed and looked at her mother briefly who was holding her hand.
'Nine,' Gwendolyn muttered.
'That's perfectly normal so I'll raise your morphine levels then you can go back to sleep. Hopefully in the morning the pain should have subsided.' The nurse smiled. She adjusted the level of morphine and Gwendolyn nodded thankfully. The nurse left and Molly squeezed her hand softly.
'You can go to sleep sweetheart,' Molly said, 'we'll both be here when you wake up.'
Sherlock nodded and placed a kiss on her forehead, smiling at her. Gwendolyn closed her eyes and sleep came easily to her.
Five year old Gwendolyn Holmes was smiling up at her father who was in the kitchen, who was doing an experiment. She looked at him with admiration and curiosity. She couldn't wait til she was old enough to do these types of experiments by herself! Her father was currently testing different molarity levels of hydrochloric acid on human flesh that her mother had procured for him.
'Daddy,' Gwendolyn asked, taking off her safety goggles to look at her father clearly. Sherlock looked over at her and smiled.
'Yes, Gwendolyn?' Sherlock asked, noting the time of reaction for each test and his own observations in a book beside him.
'Why are you doing this?' Gwendolyn asked.
'You know how your mind races?' Sherlock asked and Gwendolyn nodded. 'Well I do this to stop that. It makes me focus on one thing and it also cures me from boredom. And I like doing it.' Sherlock smirked at this as he decided to finish the experiment. He quickly started to put the body parts in a freezer next to the fridge especially for these experiments.
'How do you put your thoughts in order then?' Gwendolyn asked. 'Is there a simple way?'
'I'll teach you.' Sherlock said, taking off his glasses and gloves. Gwendolyn did the same and followed Sherlock to the couch. She laid down on the couch, now looking at her father who was sitting on the coffee table.
'Close your eyes and imagine. Imagine a place you love the most.' Sherlock said. Gwendolyn smiled and closed her eyes. A place she loved the most. She certainly loved going over to the Watsons! They only lived about ten minutes away and they even lived near a park! She thought about it more however and she knew the place she had chosen was the right one.
'What place did you chose?' Sherlock asked.
'221B Baker Street.' Gwendolyn smiled innocently and she opened her eyes at her father's chuckle. 'Why? What's yours?'
'I learnt this trick when I was younger. I always wanted to be a pirate but I didn't like the idea of the bad hygiene so I was a pirate by day and a prince at night, if only for the palace I would get. So even after all these years my mind palace is that- a palace.' Sherlock explained.
'I want to be a pirate as well dad!' Gwendolyn smiled, now sitting up. 'Let's play pirates!'
'Didn't you want to learn how to do the mind palace technique?' Sherlock asked, sounding confused.
'That's later daddy! We're pirates now!' Gwendolyn laughed, looking at her father excitedly.
Suddenly five year old Gwendolyn was replaced by her sixteen year old counterpart, lying on the ground in her mother's arms, a shirt wrapped around her stomach, a hand clutching her own, voices telling her to stay awake. She heard loud noises everywhere and her mothers' face was one of love and fearfulness. All different types of emotions written on her face.
The scene changed again and Gwendolyn was standing in the attic of 221B Baker Street. Memories whirled past her in full force. Sadness, anger, hurt, betrayal and pain overwhelmed her and she screamed aloud, clutching her head and falling to her knees.
'DAD! MUM!' Gwendolyn shouted, tears falling freely. 'Help me!'
She awoke suddenly, sweat dripping down her face and she looked around. She was still in that damn hospital. Gwendolyn saw her mother and father. They were sitting in the corner of the room, overlooking rather official looking documents. They seemed to be having a silent argument between themselves.
'Mum? Dad?' Gwendolyn asked. Both of them looked around and moved over to her quickly. They both frowned when they took in her pale face and sweaty face. Sherlock looked at the heart rate monitor and frowned.
'I'm sorry sweetheart.' Molly said. 'We thought you were going to be asleep for longer. It's currently four in the morning. Why don't you go back to bed?'
'No!' Gwendolyn protested quickly. Molly looked alarmed and Sherlock sighed. He knew what had happened in her mind palace.
'You went to the attic didn't you?' Sherlock asked. She nodded slightly, looking down at her arms which had various needles and things poking into her skin. Her stomach was heavily bandaged and she felt rather nausea and tired even after sleeping for about twelve hours.
'I feel awful,' Gwendolyn muttered.
'Well you have suffered a bit these last few days.' Molly said, trying hard not to look overbearing but ready to if needed.
'Can I go home?' Gwendolyn asked, changing the question. Her father chuckled and Molly sighed, shaking her head.
'No you can't Gwendolyn. You're in here for at least another two weeks and you're not going to 221B. You won't be able to go up the stairs.' Molly said.
'But-' Gwendolyn protested weakly.
'No Gwendolyn,' Sherlock said suddenly, turning away from the screens in front of him. 'You're going to the safest place I know. With your mother and the Watsons as well.'
'Grandma and Grandpa?' Gwendolyn asked shocked.
'221B isn't safe for you until I can defeat Moran and get rid of the network. So yes you are going to your grandparents place.'
'Are you coming with?' Gwendolyn asked immediately. She knew the answer however when Molly glanced at Sherlock, looking like she had won their argument from before. Sherlock sighed and rolled his eyes at his wife before looking at Gwendolyn.
'No I'm not.' Sherlock said. 'John and I need to work this out. We can't have you all put in more danger. Moran isn't in Germany anymore. We're now thinking Greece or Romania. More southern European countries.'
'Can't you do that from their place?' Gwendolyn asked desperately but she knew the answer already. Moran had to be stopped, not just because he posed as a threat to them but the whole country.
'You know I can't,' Sherlock said, directing his answer to her and Molly. Suddenly Gwendolyn felt bile rise in her throat and she tried to look for a bag. She made a move to grab the one near her but she hurt her stomach. Molly noticed and grabbed the bag for her. She vomited into the bag and tears welled in her eyes from the pain in her stomach. It felt like it was on fire. `
This was going to be a long recovery, Gwendolyn thought bitterly as she laid back down, closing her eyes. Her parents were talking again but she ignored them. She just wished she could ignore the pain just as easily.
Author's Note: Wow that turned out longer than I was expecting but I'm pretty happy with it! Tell me what you think and please review! Constructive criticism is appreciated! Also do you having any ideas or thoughts on what you would like to see? Please tell me and I'll try my hardest to include it! Thank you! Also I'll try and update as much as possible but please be patient!
