Dear Anna – Expansion

Chapter 1

Mycroft put the pen down his body tensed and his eyes weary and tired. The day has been long, but nothing he did today compared to the hour it took him to write this letter.

He picked up the envelope and folded the paper neatly, the edge touching and perfect. He licked the glue part and sealed the letter in the envelope. He looked at the address on the computer screen and wrote it on before he put on the stamp.

He looked at the envelope and turned it around in his hands one last time before standing up and walking out of his office.

Anthea was sitting outside his office busy on her laptop, a mug half filled with coffee next to her.

"Anthea my dear." He called out. Anthea stopped typing immediately and looked up to him.

"Yes sir?" Mycroft held out the envelope.

"Please make sure this gets posted today."

She took the envelope, not even glancing at the name or address.

"Will do."

"Thank you. You should head on home; I'm leaving in the next five minutes as well."

"I'm almost finished then I'll go."

Smiling at her he turned around to go home, he was supposed to be on leave, but there was a meeting he couldn't miss so he had to go in. The only reason he did leave Gregory alone at home with the children was because his mother and father we're there. They had volunteered to stay a week or two to help them settle in with two new babies in their lives. Both Mycroft and Greg were extremely grateful for that, they haven't settled on babysitters yet and agreed that for the first three months they will do everything themselves, and with the help of family.

Mycroft still couldn't believe it, he was a father, and he and Greg had two children and were dads, two little lives to take care of. It was something he always wanted but never thought would actually happen and then Greg came along and everything changed. Seeing Greg happy had made him happy and they were happy, he was a powerful man, yet the only thing he couldn't fix or do was his dear husband's relationship with his mother.

Greg was always reasonably close to his mother but it all changed when he divorced his cheating wife and started a relationship with Mycroft a few years later. Greg told him that his mother never truly believed his sexual orientation and thought it was a phase, something to ignore, especially since he had more girlfriends than boyfriend.

No matter how hard he tried to explain to her that it was the time they lived in, he had to be careful and hid his nature she didn't believed him.

Until the day he told her he was in a relationship again. A serious one. She was all happy until she found out it was a man, they had a massive fight and she didn't accept it. Greg told her if she doesn't he would walk out the door and she wouldn't see him again. Just like all the years before she didn't believed him and he walked out. They haven't spoken since.

Mycroft breathed deeply as he looks out the window as the streets took him home. He still remembers the sadness in his husband's eyes when he told him the story, when he said they had a fight. He saw how Greg would sometimes get that faraway look in his eyes, the sadness consuming him and he knew what he was thinking about.

He still remembered the pain he felt when Greg would look towards the crowd at their wedding ceremony and his eyes would go to one corner, an empty seat that was never filled.

He made up for that hole in his life with Mycroft's parents and the fact that they think he was the best thing that could've happen to their son made it easier. They got along like fire and oil. But Mycroft knew that there was still that ache inside his husband, a pain that only his mother could heal and that was the driving force behind his decision today.

He found her address and went behind Greg's back, one chance, he would give her one chance, he should probably tell Greg what he did, but he was too afraid of the outcome of his decision, he should wait a week and tell him. That way Greg would know where he stood and can move on with his life, with or without his mother. He could only hope she makes the right choice.

As he opened the front door he was met with a feeling of home, of love and acceptance, there was a smell of dinner in the air, the sound of laughter throughout the house, a husband sitting on the rug with two babies in his arms and fluffy toys around him, there was a burst of love in his heart and he stood there for a moment thankful that it is all his.

Greg looked up from the children to the door and smiled widely.

"Hey Love, welcome back…oh you're just in time to feed them, so come on take a bottle and choose one…." He walked over and bends down to kiss his husband, ignoring the fact that his parent were watching.

"Give me five minutes to change." He stood back up.

"Hello Mummy, father, please excuse me for a moment." He turned around and rushed to the bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes, he didn't want his children to wait for their dinner. He has a family now, a wonderful family and he would protect them at all cost, even from his mother in law if he must. The post should reach her tomorrow afternoon the latest and after that he would now…

The woman opened the envelope with her nail, her old hands still strong as the paper ripped open. She stood in the middle of the kitchen her glasses perched on her small nose, her brown eyes still sharp.
The letter was written on very expensive paper she could feel the thickness of it through her fingers. It was hand written in a beautiful swirling black letters.
The words captivated her immediately.

Dear Anna
You don't know me, but I am your son in law, even though you don't accept the law for allowing me to marry. Nor your son.

I married your son on a beautiful sunny day; the sunlight caught his grey hair and turned it into lighting streaks across his head. His brown eyes shone like amber caught in a sun ray. I tried to keep my emotions in check because for the first time in my life I was truly loved.

With tears in our eyes we declared our love, both knowing that it took us a long time to get there, and a lot of heartbreak in our past to realise what a pivotal moment that day was...
But not as memorable five days ago. Five days ago, we had another pivotal moment. One we dreamed off, but never thought would become a reality.
Five days ago you became a grandmother of two wonderful babies. A boy and a girl, you should've seen your son, crying for the overwhelming joy and happiness that we both felt, the pride in being a dad, he can't stop talking about how he is going to teach them football, how we will take them in picnics, teach them how to ride a bike and how to bake choc-chip cookies on a Sunday morning just like his mom taught him. That's the only moment he would get sad and I can see the regret in his eyes that the two of you didn't had the relationship you once had. And I am a man with great power and influence and have no idea how to get that look out of his eyes when he thinks of you. The pain and heartache that you're abandonment caused.

However, I am trying this, he doesn't know that I wrote to you, and depending on your decisions from now on, he may or may never find out.
If you decide to discard this letter, that would be it.

If you decide to reconcile with your son, regardless of orientation you can call me at the number provided, although I must warn you, any negative or vulgar language will not be tolerated. If your love for your son is stronger than your conviction over orientation you might gain a family, two sons and two grandchildren, if not, this will be the last time I will ever contact you or give you a chance.

Good day
Mycroft Holmes-Lestrade

Anna had somehow found herself on the kitchen chair, tears running down her face. It took her an hour to compose herself enough to pick up the phone without dropping it through her sobs.
The phone rang twice before it was answered

It was late afternoon, the twins were asleep and so were Greg, a baby in each arm and on the sofa, fast asleep. The atmosphere was light Mycroft however was tense, by now the letter was delivered and his phone hasn't rung. He was sitting close to his husband the phone on vibrate in the case that a call was received it won't wake anyone up. Mycroft wasn't going to take any chances. It was just after five when the vibration of a phone drew his attention. He looked to the phone and prepared for the conversation. He made it clear, no vulgar language no negativity that meant that the call might just be the one thing to change his life and his family.

He stood up and picked up the phone.

"Mrs. Lestrade."