3 ½ years ago
The funeral was supposed to be private but it didn't keep the vultures of the press from circling. The Holmes pack stood together but separated, separated by anger and resentment just boiling under the surface.
Sherrinford Holmes stood with his head held high, a secure arm around the fragile figure that was his father. The twins were young still; their dark heads were bent in defeat and confusion. At the age of three they couldn't comprehend death, not fully. As smart as their scores proclaimed them to be, they were still children and clung to each other leaning into their solemn faced Omega father.
"They are covering him with dirt Ford, wont he be frightened? How will he breathe?" The frantic whisper almost broke the eldest brother, Ford felt his father pull away from his steady grip only to pull the three year old brunette towards him.
"No, Hamish papa will be fine. He cant feel anything now." Ford didn't dare look at his father, or his younger brothers. He stood there silent now, afraid to speak, knowing his voice would brake.
"But daddy-" Sigerson sobbed "Why are they burying him?"
"Boys, things will be alright. Papa cant feel anything anymore. He's gone-"
"Where?" the twins both sobbed unable to keep the tears from their bright blue eyes. Both boys were Alpha's like their brother, something John was amazed by. It was so rare to have so many Alpha's born to one family. He was prized with Sherrinford first and then the twins Hamish and Sigerson . All three boys had the same dark heads of hair like their father, they were blessed with the man's intellect as well.
John kept a strong arm around Ford and another around the two twins clinging to his side. The rain started to slowly add to he tears streaking their young faces, and matching black suits. Fitting for a funeral, even the weather was chiming in with rain and overcast.
Harry and Clara crowded in, young Lawrence moved to place an arm around Ford. The teenage Alpha leaned into his cousin accepting the warmth and comfort from the short Omega.
Then it was Mycroft's turn to take a step towards his brother's grieving family and extended family. The Alpha in him wishing to ease the growing distress rolling off in heavy waves from the small group. His trusty umbrella forever ready to cover the bowed heads.
Mycroft wanted to pull the family close, it was best to keep them near now. The scent of stress hung sour in the cold spring air, the British Government needed to hold his umbrella out and shelter the dark heads of his nephews. He needed to bring John closer and calm the pale Omega.
The mourners had all gone, Mrs. Hudson and her new husband had been the last to go leaving the Holmes and Watsons to stand vigil. Mycroft thought it best to urge his brother's family to go home, the rain was cold and wet and he could see his own breath like tendrils of smoke escaping his lips. A cigarette would be nice.
As he and Greg neared the huddled group there was a sharp growl in warning. This caused Alexander to flinch at his father's side and only brought Greg and Mycroft up short in surprise.
The older Holmes frowned thinking he was mistaken, however the air had grown colder and the scent of anger began to flood the space between the two packs. No, they were one pack, not separate, this was his family. Mycroft took another step forward but the snarl was louder, and he found his eldest nephew glaring at him.
"Don't!" Ford pulled from his cousin Lawrence's arms, stepping away from his father, to stand between his family and uncle.
"Ford?" John's voice sounded hoarse and weak.
"No. This is his fault. Both of theirs." Ford managed through gritted teeth, his blue eyes narrowed on both of his Uncles.
"No, Ford, don't say that." Hamish sobbed,
"Why are you saying that?" Siggy held tight to his father's waist.
"Sssh, boys. Ford doesn't mean-"
"Of course I do! I mean it! It's true! He would-he wouldn't have jumped-he would never have jumped. If-if the great and powerful Mycroft Holmes had truly been watching out for him! Those things the paper said-all those awful things!"
"Sherrinford son-" John's shaking hand reached out to clasp his son's shoulder, the boy was already meeting John's height and he wasn't done growing at fourteen. The young Alpha would someday be as tall as his father, his now deceased father.
"No! It's true! He jumped and Mr. British Government and the great Detective Inspector could have prevented. But when the accusations-"
"It's no ones fault. This was-" John tried to find his words but he felt so dizzy and the ground was slipping out from under him. His son was right, but John could never voice this in front of the children. Both these men were still their uncles, still their blood and still alive.
The Omega, felt another strong cramp in his side. Taking his breath away, leaving dread in his place, and the emptiness that threatened to overwhelm . So many, too many suffocating emotions all flooding him since that day on the roof.
That awful day, his mate had jumped, and all John could do was scream his Alpha's name. He witnessed the man's death and the small life growing inside of him threatened to slip away just like the child's father had. John hadn't told anyone he was pregnant, he planned on telling Sherlock later that day, well as soon as the whole Richard Brooke thing blew over.
Except it was too late and the cramping started, as a doctor he knew it would be a matter of time. He didn't want to upset the boys or anyone else more than they already he kept the secret close to him, however it was a secret he couldnt keep for too long.
"Johnny?" Harriet reached out and the blond Omega thought he heard her say something else but the world started to fall away and a cold darkness came up to envelope him.
Mycroft made to catch the swaying Omega only to find his nephew lunging at him the full force of it knocked him off his feet.
Lawrence rushed forward trying to pull his cousin loose, but Uncle Greg beat him to it. Only to find himself under attack by two tiny brunette torpedoes.
"Don't' touch him!" The twins yelled in unison, tiny fists beating at Greg's thighs and stomach.
Alexander and Lawrence could only watch as Sherrinford Holmes was pinned down, and forced to struggle against the hold of his larger and much stronger uncle.
"Be still boy!"
~0~
AN HOUR LATER AT THE DIOGENES CLUB
Sherlock raised an eyebrow upon seeing his disheveled brother, "You're late. What happened there dear brother? Did someone put up at fight over the last piece of cake at the-"
"No, Sherlock. And excuse me if I'm not on time. This polite bit of bruising was a gift from your son."
"My son?"
"Yes. Your son Sherrinford." Mycroft replied coldly, moving to take a seat in front of the warm fireplace. He grabbed the opened brandy bottle and poured himself a hefty glass, ignoring the fact his brother had already started on the bottle without his permission.
"Sherrinford?"
"Is there an echo in here? Yes. Sherrinford, I must say he has a surprisingly accurate left hook."
"He gets that from John." Sherlock moved to stand behind the empty chair across from his brother's large throne like one.
"He hit you?"
"It seems he's under the impression this whole mess is my fault."
"Well it was your idea. So it's fitting. He'll get over it and so shall you." Sherlock waved his brother's words off, his mind still trying to process his son's anger.
Mycroft glared at his brother "I hope you know what you're doing. And yes it was my idea, to keep them safe but-"
"Well isn't this a turn up. Big brother is second guessing his decision."
"Sherlock-"
"No. We've made a decision and no matter how much it hurts them now, you and I both know its for the greater good. Moriarty's web stretches far and wide and it didn't die with him on that roof! His generals and worker bees are out there. All gunnig for my family. For my children for John! " Sherlock felt his voice shake with the force of his fear. "We vowed after the first time that we would never allow it to happen again. Well, Moriarty slipped past us and my children almost payed the price. Or did you forget what happened to your dear sons only brther? Did you forget the gruesome pictures, the pieces that were mailed home to the Mallory's to you. That note that my children-" Sherlock took a deep breath "my children and your Alex were next. That Lawrence, Clara and Harry all would be next. You are the one that convinced me this was the right course of action."
"Dammit! Don't lecture me brother mine. I know what exactly was at stake, and what we have to lose even when we win. It's just-" Mycroft thought of John's collapse, of his nephew's anger, the anxiety of his own child. It was a good thing he left baby Moira home with the nanny under heavy guard. The little Omega had already lost so much in her one year of life. She didn't need to witness a full out family brawl.
"Just nothing Mycroft. I'll be back in a few months tops. It shouldn't take longer than that. I'll explain everything to John, he'll understand. Just as we agreed." Sherlock refused to make eye contact with his brother. If he had he would have read the guilt there and the concern. He would have thought to ask the right questions, and he would have deduced the rest.
As it was the anxiety he sensed from his pups stained his brother's scent.
"Really Mycroft you are going so soft. Where is your fortitude? Perhaps you left it in the same place you left your logic."
Mycroft sipped his drink staring blankly into the dancing flames. "Perhaps you would not have such fortitude had you attended the funeral."
"Tedious ceremony. As I said, when I return I'll explain it to John. Until then I need to concentrate on the work. I leave you to care for my family until then. I don't need updates. I don't need the distraction-"
"Yes. Of course. " Mycroft smiled sadly thinking of the unborn pup who's light was most likely diminishing at that very moment. It was a shock to find out John was carrying. He wondered if his brother would have agreed to this plan if he had known. "Goodbye brother."
"Don't look so glum Mycroft as I said it will be a couple months and Riley as well as his mate will have been avenged. " Sherlock repeated to himself softly "Just a couple of months and I'll be home again."
~0~
PRESENT
"Why the hell are we knocking?" Sherlock growled standing outside the home that held his family within.
Sherlock was about to push the door open or break it down out of sheer panic and impatience.
"Enola darling? Where are your clothes?"
Sherlock ignored his brothers exasperation, and instead focused on the tiny three year old blond child with gray eyes, she wore a white sleeveless dress slip. The child was also covered from head to toe in tiny white down feathers, as well as some kind of homemade paste.
The blond barefoot child squeeked when a loud crash sounded from behind her, and she turned without shutting the door sprinting towards the raised voices down the corridor, two very tall Alphas on her heels.