Rupert Lestrade was six years old when Mummy made Daddy leave. He was sitting on the landing listening to them fight, even though Daddy had told him not to. He heard Daddy open and shut the door, but he knew he hadn't left because he didn't hear steps. Mummy dashed to the back of the house, probably to cry or to ring Mr Edwards. Mr Edwards taught Rupert PE. Rupert wasn't very fond of him. He smelled funny and was always eating something.
Rupert tip-toed down the rest of the steps and carefully opened and shut the door so he was standing next to where his Daddy was sitting. Daddy was sitting on the step with his hands over his face. Rupert trotted up to him and wound his arms around his Daddy's neck. Daddy was surprised to see him.
"Ripper? You're supposed to be in bed, daffy tot." Daddy called him daffy a lot, but he meant it in a sweet way. When Mummy called him daffy it was in a scolding way.
"Are you going to leave?" Daddy pulled Rupert into his lap. He smelled like sweat and beer and policeman. Policemen have a distinct smell, Rupert thought. They smelled like superheroes. Or donuts. Policewomen had a different smell. Rupert wasn't sure what to call it so he just thought 'bionic woman'. Sally liked it when he told her that.
"D'you want me to leave?" Rupert tightened his arms in response. He went as far as to wrap his legs around his Daddy's waist so he was clinging to him like an octopus. Rupert saw an octopus at the aquarium and decided, then and there, that he wanted to have one when he was grown up. All good pirates should have a sea-friend. Just in case the ship capsized and he needed to swim to safety.
"I'm afraid Mummy and me have had a bit of a falling out." Daddy was brushing his hand over Rupert's hair now.
"I." Rupert corrected. Daddy butted his head against Rupert's and smiled with his eyes.
"Mummy and I have had a bit of a falling out. So I have to stay some where else for a while." Rupert did not like this at all, but he had had a feeling it would happen.
"Because of murderers and robbers and fire-starters interrupting Sunday dinner?" He felt Daddy hesitate.
"That's part of it, yeah." Rupert tucked his nose against Daddy's neck. It was a little nippy out.
"And the beer is another part?" Daddy stiffened. Rupert wondered if he shouldn't have said that, but Daddy relaxed. Well, it's more like he sagged, like all the air had been let out of him.
"Yeah, that's another part," he croaked. Rupert put a tiny hand on his Daddy's forehead to check if he was sick, but Daddy caught his hand before it could get there, and kissed it. "You know I love you, right, Ripper?" Daddy started calling him Ripper when his teeth grew in and he started biting everything. He used to call him Rupee. Rupert knew this because of home videos.
"I love you too, Daddy." Rupert loved both his Mummy and his Daddy. There was a girl in his class who announced that her Daddy was a cad and had been having relishes with the maid and that she hated him. Rupert didn't understand what the big deal with relish was but he knew his Daddy hadn't had relishes with anyone but his Mummy.
They sat on the step like that, all huddled together, for a long time. Eventually Mummy came to the door, looking for him, and he looked up at her from where he had hidden his face in Daddy's neck. She looked back at him and smiled in a tired way. She wrapped her arms around him and Daddy both, startling Daddy.
"Hey you." She said roughly, her voice hoarse from crying. Her eyes were red, too.
"Hey, you." From the way his head moved, Rupert guessed that Daddy had given Mummy an eskimo kiss. Rupert had thought eskimos were brilliant, until they took a trip up to Cornwall to visit relatives and he realized that snow was awful. And cold.
"Come in for a cuppa?" He heard Mummy ask. It must be very early in the morning, then. Rupert looked around. It was still dark.
"Can't, Sarah, I'm sorry." Mummy sighed.
"Had a feeling. Let me make you up a thermos and something to eat, before you go?" Go?
"Go where?" Rupert demanded. Daddy squeezed him.
"The Yard, Ripper."
"Can I come?" He knew Daddy would say no. He just wanted to ask first.
"No, love." Daddy stood up, still holding Rupert. They made their way to the kitchen, but Daddy didn't put Rupert down. Rupert soaked up the attention. His Daddy was usually away chasing murdered and robbers and other bad guys, so he got most of his cuddles from Mummy. While Mummy cuddles were lovely, there was something special about Daddy cuddles. Daddy leaned against the counter while Mummy made tea for the thermos and a bacon sandwich. She had the ingredients out for a fry-up so Rupert guessed that after Daddy left he and Mummy were going to have a Full English Breakfast. Once all was made, Daddy had to put Rupert down. He gave him a loud kiss on the head and said that he might pick him up from school later, but no guarantees. Then he was off.
(AN: So I dunno what it is with me and Kid!fics lately? But I like them and I am writing them. So there. This is going to be a little Mystrade fic and Johnlock might maybe feature in some small way. I dunno maybe Rupert will walk in on them getting their kiss on. Also if anyone watches Buffy you'll understand why I can't really think of any other nickname for 'Rupert' other than 'Ripper'.)