Chapter 1

"If I tell you about Moriarty, will you help me get my daughter back?" Shay asked, twirling the ring around her finger, her handcuffs clinking against the table. Another oneof Moriarty's 'cronies, the unfortunate one who was chosen to give birth to Alexandra Moran-Moriarty. And now she wanted her child back

"The question is do you want her back? Or do you want her back and alive? Either way, you will get her back, though it is up to you depending what state she could or could not be in," Sherlock narrowed his eyes with his hands pressed together, "If he is desperate enough he might take any measures necessary. You understand what he is capable of, no?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Do I understand what he's capable of? I've been part of his team for ten years. Don't be stupid. I thought you could deduce everything. That's why I allowed you to catch me. Yes, I want my daughter back alive, you dunderhead," Shay slid the picture of her five year old daughter over to him, "James took her from me. When she was born, he said at first that I could have her with me. But now he's got her. He says this is my punishment for betraying him," she looked up at Sherlock.

"I want my child with me and alive. I know you can do it."

"I just wanted to hear it from your mouth is all, so you might understand the consequences should the plans go sour. Hm... the resemblances... well furthermore, I would like to hear how it is you betrayed him. All details are necessary. If you feel ashamed to tell me anything and leave something out it could be the tipping scale of the outcome. And of course we could do it, do not be dull," Sherlock flickered up from the photo with a smirk to John who had been standing behind Her with his arms folded, listening carefully. The little girl was truly a Moriarty, taking on his blackened hair and dark mischievous eyes, yet she really was a beautiful child, almost as old as his own.

"How do you feel about this John?" the detective slid the photo over closer to him.

"Seem alright." John of course was a sucker for it. He hated to see a mother without her child.

Shay gave a small sigh as she explained. "Jim has a bust to rob the Buckingham palace safe. It was simple. I would act like a tourist and see the sights. Alex, being a little girl, would sneak it and put the right combination in.

"I put my foot down. Our agreement when she was born was that she wouldn't be into the, well, family business if you'd call it that, until she was ten. As you know, I reported it to your brother through an anonymous tip. So last night, I was reading Alex a story just like normal and Jim came in and just carried her off," Shay closed her eyes, remembering the scene of Moran's gun against her head while Jim took her sobbing daughter out of her bedroom.

"There's not much to tell. When Alex was taken from me, I had to do something. So I called your brother and of course here I am," she explained and leaned forward, "I know I've done some stupid, stupid things in my life, but I know I don't want my daughter to live my life. Every moment she's with her father, she's turning into him. I hate it," Shay turned to John, "I understand the two of you have a son my daughter's age. I know you'd understand what it feels like to love your child so much you'd do anything for it. I promised myself I was going to turn into a law-abiding citizen when she was born. But once you're in Jim's system, there's no way of getting out.

"It would be easy enough for me to leave right now. But I want my daughter to be free more than anything. Now, either both of us get out or neither of us. And the worst part is, he knows that so well and plays into it."

"I suppose it is a case we shouuuuld take," the detective drawled at first and tried to hide a chuckle when John's face look slightly mortified, "First we have to establish some sort of safe house, hiding place. Moriarty knows- yes he knows- where you are currently, so somehow we'll have to hold you there. Safety and all that. Second, you'll have to give us all the details of the security around his estate, flat, anywhere he could be living. I am fairly certain he jumps from place to place especially now."

Sherlock began to think of something when the sound of his phone vibrated and he quickly glanced at the text. Keeping himself expressionless, save for a raised eyebrow, he slipped the phone back in his pocket and leaned forward.

"There is one more thing. Should we retrieve her safe and sound, you know it might be near impossible for us to acquire your custody with her. Might never be her guardian again, maybe seeing her on weekends or a few visits to jail. The vision you have will never exist unless you attempt to flee the country after and that would be very, very unwise. Alex may be your daughter but as a mother, you will not be there for her. Not after this."

Shay tapped her fingers on the table. Of course she thought of this. And she thought that perhaps she could change her identity and avoid this. But logically she couldn't. She had to accept what was going to happen. In the ten years she had been with the team, she had so many warrants out for her arrest that she had a fifty page rap sheet by the time she was seventeen. Moriarty had recruited Shay when she was a homeless teen on the streets, giving her a place to stay in exchange for training as one of his snipers.

And she was good at it. Damn good. But it all changed three years ago when she returned to her flat with Moriarty and Moran there, informing her of her new task; producing a child.

"Shay, sweetie, me and Sebby were thinking, we need an heir to our empire..." his mouth broke out into a crooked smile...

Her head fell forward into a bow. And ever since, she want her child away from the system and to be given chances she had never been given. Yes, Shay would rot in jail if this went bad. But at least her daughter would live an honest life. The feelings of determination welled up in her, glancing back up suddenly.

"I don't care. All I want is for my daughter to live a clean life. I want her to feel safe, not look over her shoulder everywhere she goes. I want her to go to university and be anything she wants. And I want her to fall in love and be free to love. Unlike me," her eyes falling down at her hands. It was too late for her but not too late for Alex.

"Won't it be a surprise when Its born. Either black or blonde hair, I really can't wait! Oh come, come Seb stop looking at me like that."

Shay closed her eyes at the memory. She hated being a tool for them. "It's too late for me. Sherlock, John, the press calls me the Red Devil," motioning to her flaming red hair, "It's not too late for Alex. And if it means she may never see my again, that's okay."

"My!" the voice echoed in the room and the man stepped in, remaining very cross as he leaned on his umbrella, darting his eyes between the trio, "You hear it all?"

"Of course Sher-"

"Make sure it's secure."

"Yes, I understan-"

"Make sure your men do not screw it up."

"Sherlock, honestly I-"

"And try a different diet," Sherlock popped up and adjusted his coat and scarf, "We will keep in touch Shay. I think I have enough from you for now, though I might need to call upon you just in case. Well come on John don't dawdle I want to go play my violin."

This may have been the most interesting case in months and with his back shielded from everyone else, he began to grin and flex his hands in anticipation. Trotting quickly after his partner, John threw Mycroft a wave and continued to go after Sherlock.

The one in custody watched them go, looking at Mycroft with half-open eyes. He admired her for her bravery, she knew that. But he was trying to hide it. Shay had seen him before, the one time she got arrested when she was eighteen. At the time she had played the weak teenage girl and cried like a baby through the whole interview, somehow Mycroft the only one who knew she was full of shit and holding her in solitary confinement, hoping to break her. But Moran had busted her out about two days into it and she went about life like normal.

"I know you think I was foolish in what I did. But I ask you Mr. Holmes; have you ever been homeless? Been given nothing in life? I'm sure you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Me? Not so much. My mother was fifteen, I was put into care from the moment I was born. I ran away when I was fifteen and spent a year on the streets. Tell me, if you were offered what I was offered, would you turn it down?" She said, letting the prison guard help her stand up. She limped towards the door, looking to him.

"You are correct, we were born and raised in completely different households, I do not argue that. On the other hand, my brother's story, Sherlock, is... a little different. Like you he ran away from home, bored with school after having skipped enough grades and had the opportunity to begin University at fifteen. Instead Sherlock established himself in the alleyways and sewers for some punks or a few gangsters, payment in cash or drugs. His task: deduce their enemies and find their weaknesses as an interrogator.

"Honestly, I found him half dead and helped him, he was not very happy about that, at least not at the time," Mycroft sighed, "No, I would not turn down the offer, I would have beeen too much of a coward. But he... Sherlock would do whatever the hell he wanted. Take her away," the order was given to the guards.

BegrudginglyShay let herself be taken away, silently cursing Mycroft for being so cold. Of course he had to be that way, Shay would see if she stepped back from the situation. But he hardly understood what it was like. She herself had hopes and dreams too when she was a kid. She wanted to be a teacher, to live on the sea side in a cottage, and read a book by the beach while the sun set. And she got that when she went on her rare vacations.

But something about it was empty, knowing that she earned it by killing innocent people for it. At least now Shay could help her daughter, the same daughter she got when she entered her flat on that cold winter's day to see both of THEM there. She remembered it like it was yesterday, being held down while they tried to secure their heir. But when Shay saw Alex for the first time, it triggered something in her, something she had never felt for another person before. Something she imagined was close to love.

The hours continued to tick by as Shay lay in her prison cell, re-reading the copy of 'Great Expectations' that Mycroft gave her when she asked nicely for reading material. Checking around she found the security on her was extremely tight. It was a windowless cell, perfect for her, small and only had a bed and a toilet. It was the way she liked it. She was safe from escaping and safe from everyone else, then she closed her eyes, remembering the time where she saw the consulting detective before. It was raining hard on the west side of London and Shay was behind a dumpster.

A strung out beanpole of a teenaged kid about her age was walking around the streets. He was odd. His clothes were of good quality, his hair neatly trimmed. So why was he out here? He had made eye contact with her from behind the dumpster. Sherlock smiled and threw a wad of bills at her, collapsing on the ground. Hesitating for a moment, Shay crawled from her hiding place, dragged him to the dumpster, and ran off, counting the bills. The amount had been enough to supply her with hot meals for a week.

When the man entered the room, collar turned up and piercing eyes covering every detail of her, Shay hadn't made the connection until that moment. And of course, Sherlock would never have known. He was so high when they met he didn't even know who he was. But she had justified taking his money at the time. After their brief encounter Shay said to herself that he was just a rich kid slumming it. And she was right. But it didn't make her guilt go away.

"Buckingham Palace... robbery... at least four involved, three adults and one small child... safe... that might require most than a simple code, could be anything... tourist disguise... five years old and almost psychopath as well...probably a psychopath..." the detective muttered away the clues and possible theories, not realizing John had flagged down a cab for them. After a moment Sherlock pulled his phone out again and re-read the text message.

The case took up John's mind as well. He couldn't help but think about how hard it would be for him if something like that happened to Hamish. He turned to Sherlock "So, what now?"

"Hamish is begging us for a beagle, will not stop texting me about it," he answered.

"Sherlock, stop it. You WILL take the case," John demanded and took the phone.

"I never said I wouldn't. No need to be so prickly," snatching the phone back and began to stare out the window, "But yes the case is... interesting I suppose..."

Carefully John studied his reaction. He knew that Sherlock had some interest in this case, especially since this was the 'Red Devil' in the news. The most iconic picture of her was of her robbing a bank while sporting a baby bump, pumping bullets all around the bank while her red curls were wild all around her. Her identity until now had been pretty mum. But now it was personal.

Shay wanted her daughter back, something that John could understand more than anything, remembering that when they left the house Hamish had been peacefully napping, holding his teddy bear while sucking his thumb. The image of that beautiful dark haired child being tainted by Moriarty was too much for him.

"Sherlock, what leads do you have so far?" John asked patiently.

"I know when he's going to do it, during the FIFA 2018 cup held in London, next month. By then the whole city will be flooded with tourists and although security will be tighter they will also be spread out thin. This means all national monuments and places will have large crowds, more opportunities to blend in and when Moriarty- Moran are under such pressure and tight conditions, they seem to pull off their jobs better.

"And if their child is Alex Moran- Moriarty, well, we can only expect her to be just as cunning and clever. Not to mention she is adorable, so less suspicion would befall on her as she walks around with the plan in progress," Sherlock quickly replied. Yes, the Red Devil, a spunky girl Sherlock could have probably been close friends with back when he was a young, rowdy street rat, maybe they could have even run into each other and not known it at the time. Shay definitely, desperately wanted her daughter rescued, no doubt of that.

In a weird little idea that crawled into his mind, Sherlock pictured a different world, one where he knew of Shay and had Alex, so the two of them would come visit the flat only because their friendship happened to maintain even after Sherlock became clean. Hamish would be the little gentleman and offer her his sippy cup while John would fuss over the dangers of sharing germs at such a young age.

"Maybe we should get him a beagle."

John gave up, looking to the night as the cab pulled up to that flat, the two getting out. He knew Sherlock was in his Mind Palace and of course couldn't be disturbed, running right up to Hamish's room. Hamish was in bed, sleeping, with his little thumb in his mouth as he slept. His black curls were damp with a recent bath, his star pajama keeping him warm. Heaving a sigh John, sat on the bed, stroking his child's hair.

"I'll never let you be hurt Hamish," he soothed, rubbing small circles into his son's back. Hamish smiled contently, turning onto his belly as he slept on.

"Ticklish...Martin stop it, Dad might...cute puppy..."

"You were a soldier and you killed people?" Sherlock asked quietly and leaned against the doorframe, watching them, "If anything I would say you are a huffy, puffy hedgehog." Walking inside he knelt down in the other side of the bed where Hamish was facing, finally smiling a little.

In his opinion, Sherlock did not imagine himself as a cute or handsome boy growing up, generally used to rolling his eyes or putting on a good face for Mummy when people complimented him. Now with his offspring nearly identical... it was understandable how it occurred, the passing of genes, yet it sometimes did surprise him how adorable Hamish was.

"John... I am realistically hesitant on this case because... you know, Moriarty and Moran and-... You know I would protect you and Hamish, I would do anything. If it means jumping again I would, knowing you two are safe. Are you sure you want to help her out? If anything happened to him, our...our son-" Sherlock admitted honestly and bit his lip watching his son.

"...stawp it, nooo... don't chew on Papa's shoes..." the child yawned and squirmed.

John looked up, reaching over to kiss his husband. Of course he knew that there was a risk for Hamish. Everyone was at risk. And when Sherlock and John had first gotten the text message about this case, he had been vocal against it. But he also knew that this case mattered because it was about protecting a defenseless little girl.

"Sherlock, I know that. And I was thinking, the safe house we secured. We could get Mrs. Hudson and Hamish there, no problem. It won't be easy and I'll miss him, but we have to do something," John had never of course been away from Hamish, since the day they adopted him. Yet there was a first for everything and they had to do something.

"We'll solve it in no time," John went to embrace Sherlock, "And you're right. We should get him a puppy I mean he's dreaming of it in his sleep," he smiled, pushing a curl off of Hamish's forehead, "I love you, Sherlock and I love Hamish. If anything were to happen to you two, I don't know what I'd do. "But, what if it's in the same place as Shay is? Would she hurt Hamish?"

"No. I would be sure to request to Mycroft to have them in separate locations because I have considered that possibility. Should we fail in our attempts to rescue Alex there seems to be four possible outcomes for Shay. One: gives up completely and attempts suicide if the grief is enough. Two: she kicks and screams for us to try again, thought that might be further dangerous than it already is. Three: gives into Moriarty and is accepted back into his organization. Finally, four: she would take him hostage or hurt him out of revenge."

In a way, Sherlock did not want to take the case immediately for Hamish's sake, but also because the idea of Moriarty having a child might possibly distract him, make him sloppy in his execution with further plans. Moriarty's child could be his downfall or even... change him enough to quit his criminal- he suddenly began to laugh at the thought, making John jump, and he reassured him.

"Sorry I was just thinking. Do not trouble yourself with it. I love you too John," carefully pulling him close, his hesitation of close contact with generally people lessened more and more, especially since Hamish was born. His army doctor was an exception. Sherlock squeezed a bit tighter, clutching John's shirt.

"We definitely need to buy him one."

The husband nodded. Everything Sherlock said was true, he knew that. But he still didn't like it. Something about this case was too much but he knew that this was important. This was something that could make or break them as a couple. He put his head on Sherlock's shoulder for comfort. Except it wouldn't take that much if Shay was totally honest with them and any mother who wanted her child so badly would do anything to get her baby back. John kissed Sherlock again.

"Come on now Let's get up to bed," he coaxed, leading Sherlock to the bedroom.