A/N: I just don't get Mrs. Hudson's treatment of Mycroft, as much as I love her. Especially in TFP, where she was basically mocking him as he was being humiliated by his brother and John. She seemed to be still angry at him for the episode in TLD. This one-shot is my thoughts on what would happen if Mycroft tried to apologize. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
"Sherlock isn't home now," Mrs. Hudson told the haughty man with his umbrella, sniffing impatiently.
"I know that," he smiled coldly. Of couse he did, the landlady thought. "I'm here to meet with you."
"Oh?" She lifted a challenging eyebrow.
"If you'd be so kind," he said, his smile getting more strained. He tapped his umbrella on the floor.
"If I must," the woman answered, her tone anything but inviting.
The British Government found himself shortly sitting by the kitchen table at 221a. Refreshments weren't offered.
"Is this about Sherlock?" the landlady asked, a note of concern creeping into his voice.
"Not quite," the younger man answered uncomfortably. "This is about me...and you. I'd like to, err, offer an apology."
"I see," she answered, surprised.
"Yes, I'd like to apologize for having offended you."
"Offending me? Is that what you think this is about?"
"Mrs. Hudson," Mycroft gritted through his teeth. He took a moment to collect himself. In a perfectly composed voice he continued. "I understand that I have committed some offenses that you find unforgivable. I'd like to make amends and put this behind us."
The Iceman Man paused, and then his expression changed into something resembling awkwardness. "I'm just not sure which of my misdeeds you take such exception to. If you would clarify them for me, I will be grateful."
Mrs. Hudson observed him, and noticed that he seemed genuinely at a loss. She melted a bit at that, and decided to repay his efforts with her own honesty.
"Well, first of all, young man, you had your spooks invade my house, and go through your brother's belongings."
"I apologize for that. I thought I was helping. I was concerned about not knowing what set Sherlock off. I needed to figure that out, before..." he trailed off.
"Well, you could have asked me! I was the one who figured it out after all."
"With all due respect, Mrs. Hudson, at the time, you were just as lost as everyone else. My brother was drugging himself for weeks, and no one, not even you, could stop him."
"Alright, but you should have asked me before bringing your men," Mrs. Hudson capitulated.
Mycroft looked guilty. "I should have. I suppose I wasn't thinking very clearly, was I." He made his question sound like a statement.
She gave a small smile at that. Then she her face turned annoyed. "What about what you did to poor John?"
"Oh, Dr. Watson? I do understand I shouldn't have been intruding on his personal grief-"
"He was grieving for his wife, you heartless idiot!" Mrs. Hudson interrupted him. She noticed Mycroft flinch. "Couldn't you have given him a few moments?"
"I'm sorry," the younger man said quietly. "I'm afraid I wasn't quite considering his feelings at the moment. You see, I believed my brother was... heading down a path of no return. I've- I've watched this happen before, you understand, with a different sibling. Psychosis is something that has afflicted more than one in my extended family, and I was always afraid... Sherlock was always so emotional, and with his history, the demons he carried, I was... scared."
Mrs. Hudson stared at her visitor, mouth agape. Never had she seen him show such genuine emotion, much less admitting to it. He continued softly.
"I know that Dr. Watson us what you consider family, and so was his late wife. Sherlock considered them as such, too, and that's why I've always my best to- to protect them. I nearly caused a scandal at MI6 when trying to go after the one who betrayed Mary Watson. I did it for Sherlock. Yet at that moment, I saw a man who had hurt my brother, who had spurned him and then beaten him up. Forgive me if I didn't consider his feelings at that point.
"I was also very concerned about what Mary Hudson might have said. She is the one who saved Sherlock's life, yet her history with him wasn't smooth sailing. She had a unique background, and she may have had somewhat...different priorities when it came to issues of life and death. I couldn't imagine what she had told him to make him go berserk."
Mrs. Hudson didn't reply. She heard the genuine worry and anguish in the younger man's tone, and couldn't find it in herself to be mad.
"I realize that I'm less than welcome over here. No doubt Sherlock has encouraged you to relate that message. He has his scores with me, and I accept responsibility for that. I would, however, appreciate it if we could call a truce. You see, Mrs. Hudson, there are times that my brother could use an extra eye on him. There are still times when he... is lost, and although I don't always understand him, I still have years of experience as his brother, and sometimes, I understand him in a way that others don't."
Mrs. Hudson sighed. "The poor boy. Let's just make a deal. You continue keeping an eye out on him, but do let me know when you're taking drastic measures, especially when it involves my property, hmmm?"
"Of course, Mrs. Hudson," Mycroft replied, bowing his head chivalrously.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" the landlady asked solicitously.
A flash of hurt passed through his eyes. "No, thank you. I do know how to make my own, you know."
"I'm sorry," she blurted.
"That's alright. I know I'm not anyone's favorite person, and there is always some merriment to be found at my expense. I'm used to it," he said ironically. He gave her a smile, tired and despairing, before heading to the door. "Look after him, Mrs. Hudson," he said quietly at the doorway, before disappearing from view.
The landlady stood in rooted in place for several moments. "Look after yourself, too," she murmured.
