"Don't be scared," St. Peter reassured him. "He's been waiting a long time to see you. There are others up there as well," he patted his shoulder. Sherlock ran toward the sound running through the fields of sweet smelling lilacs, gardenias, and poppies. Everything was so overwhelming in joy. He wasn't even out of breath by the time he saw his father. He looked just as he was when he was a boy. In a three piece suit, slicked back black hair just as Sherlock remembered him as a child. Other people surrounded him, but they didn't matter at that moment.
The two embraced for what seemed like an eternity. It took Sherlock a while to get himself together before he could even speak again.
"Mycroft and I missed you so much daddy," he hugged him as tightly as he could, talking to him just like he was six years old again. "Why, why did you choose to end your life the way he did? I always wanted to know and now I am here." His father caressed his hair and his face for a long moment before answering him.
"You know how much I loved your mother. I loved being a father to you both. I can now tell you I was haste in my action. I paid for it dearly, not being able to be with you both physically. I was tried being there for you Sherlock. You tried almost every stupid way to die and I stopped it. I… couldn't stop you coming this time though. Orders," he pointed his index finger upward. He broke into another smile. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."
"Who are all of these people?" Sherlock asked, looking around finally at their faces.
"These people Sherlock you helped in your lifetime. They all wanted to come and thank you themselves. They feel they owe much debt to you. Come and greet them," his father gestured to them as they crowded around Sherlock.
He was never much of a people person in life, but in death the physicality didn't seem to matter much. He was almost appreciative of their kindness towards him. Countless people hugged and kissed his cheek. Some of them were children and had given him flowers. There had to have been at least a hundred of them.
"Shame Sally didn't get to see this," he chuckled in his mind. He sure didn't feel like the freak he was treated on earth.
"Now Sherlock," his dad spoke again and the crowd parted. "There are three special people I want you to meet... again." He gestured for Sherlock's hand and he gladly took it. The crowd disappeared in sight as they walked through a bit more of the mountainside. He never felt tired, even though he thought they've walked at least five miles. His eyes widened as he realized what his father was leading him to. This was the house of many rooms he vaguely remembered being described to him from his Sunday school classes. In his past life, he would have rolled his eyes at the extravagance. He could not stop staring in awe.
"It's got 103 rooms. Some of our family lives here, and ancestors we never met in our lifetimes. The people I was telling you about earlier live here also," he opened the door. Marble white floors and granite rock stairs with black railings. The Holmes family emblem, a lion raging in red, covered in a deep blue and yellow decorated the center.
"Do you remember a girl you went to Uni with named Violet Fisher?" his father asked. Sherlock had to think for a second. Why would his dad be asking about her?
"We dated during my third year. I was on drugs a lot of that time," he shrugged. "I didn't treat her well. I never knew what happened to her."
"Looks like I will be the one filling you in," they got onto a golden elevator. They went up five floors very slowly before the little ding sounded, and the doors opened. They were met with two white doors. His father blocked them as he continued speaking.
"Not long after you broke it off with her… she was in a fatal accident. She still loved you Sherlock, despite your flaws. She was carrying your two little children inside of her at the time," he paused to see his son's pained expression.
"I… was going to be a father?" he gasped. He felt slightly dizzy hearing this news.
"Yes and she was going to tell you. Obviously she never got the chance. They have stayed babies till you came home. Violet is playing with them in the play room behind these doors. Go to her Sherlock," as his father opened the double doors.
