Dear Anna – Expansion
Chapter 2
Anna took a breath when she heard the voice, it was strong, intimidating and she knew she had to tread lightly, although civil, the unmistakable tone of ice was loud enough.
"Mr. Holmes?" She asked.
"Yes, Mycroft Holmes-Lestrade to be exact." He added the Lestrade on purpose, to make she knows exactly who he is, and his relationship to her son and for that matter to her as well. This is her son in law, one that will not hesitate to make sure she never has anything to do with his family, if he so wish or command it. She may read it on a paper but hearing it out loud was a whole different thing.
It was quiet, she was obviously trying to figure what to say and how to start the conversation, if he wanted to he should be kind and help her, on the other hand, he didn't want to, she caused Gregory enough pain for him not to show her kindness, she had to do this for herself.
"I received your letter." She finally settled on. Mycroft wanted to tell her obviously, as that is the only way she would get his number.
"I meant what I said." He voice was clipped.
"I know…I…" She trailed off, Mycroft closed his eyes. He couldn't stay quiet no matter how much he knew he should.
"Do you have any idea how much pain and grief you caused your son, you raised him, you know what kind of man he is, surely you knew what your actions did to him?" Mycroft blurted out, he didn't mean to say this, but it has been on his mind for some time. Anna started crying and he had to use all his willpower not to snap at her.
"I know….is he happy?" her voice was frail and unsteady. Mycroft stopped his pacing and turned around, his eyes locked on Greg where he was sleeping soundly.
"Yes. Family life suits him wonderfully." He replied, and it was true, being a husband and a father was making Greg happy. It's a shame she wasn't there to witness it, to be part of it.
"That's good. He deserves it; his ex wasn't so nice to him."
"She wasn't." He emphasised the word 'she'.
"Neither were you." He added, he shouldn't, and this was supposed to be a chance for new beginning not cheap shots. He could hear her sharp intake of breath.
"I deserved that."
Mycroft wasn't going to deny that. However it was time to get to the point.
"Are you calling with the hope that you can reconcile with your son?"
"I don't know how to do it." Anna admitted, with a new set of tears running down her face, she was wrong, she did so wrong, but Mycroft was right, through her actions she lost her son, her son who was a father, she was a grandmother, who never met them, who didn't even knew they existed if it wasn't for Greg's husband…her son…in law…She missed out and she learned the hard way, loneliness doesn't make up for a hard and unforgiving heart.
"The fact that you called, is a good start." Mycroft replied and looked back to the sofa where his husband and children were. His parents were in the garden, decided to make some changes to the Holmes-Lestrade household. He opened a Pandora's Box; he hoped it was the right thing to do.
"It won't be easy, I will not allow you to just barge back in as if nothing happened, if you want in, there will be rules."
"What?"
"You heard me. My family is my everything, and there is no limit, nothing I won't do to keep them safe and protected. You will have to earn my trust, my husbands' trust; you will need to accept your son for who he is, and for what I am to him. I am his husband, I love him and he loves me. We have a family, I said you can be part of it, and I meant it, but it will take work, you will have to earn our trust and respect. That's the deal."
The line was quiet and Mycroft checked to see if the line was still connected, it was, her sobs have quieted down, her breathing had slowed. Mycroft was patient, he turned to look out the garden to see his parents walking back to the porch, smiling and holding a bouquet of garden flowers. He can say one thing about his parent; they never ever judged him or Sherlock for who they were or who they liked. They knew about Greg and his mother and although they have never mentioned it, his mum would always give Greg an extra-long hug and his dad would pat him on the shoulder and thanked him for being in their family.
"Okay." The word was soft, it was short but it was loaded with emotion. Mycroft closed his eyes and relief, the first step was taken, it was good and it was progress.
"Good."
"When can I see my son again?" Anna asked her voice a bit stronger.
"I will talk to him tonight, tell him about the letter and the call, it will be up to him, and I will let you know."
"That's fair, I can understand that."
"Thank you."
"Before you go…may I ask what my grandchildren names are?"
"Adelia Hope and Alden Edward."
Mycroft's parents were close by and they stopped when they saw the serious expression on his face, the tight lines and the worry. He looked at them and tried to give them a reassuring smile.
"That's beautiful. Thank you. I guess I'll hope for Greg to call then?"
"I will call you if he agrees. Good bye Mrs. Lestrade." Mycroft's parent's eyes shot wide open, before they glance at each other then back at their son. He held out his hand and hang up.
"Mycie…was that….?"
Mycroft nodded and took a breath.
"It's a long story, and I'm afraid I will need some advice." He looked at both his parents and they could see the uncertainty. His mother took his hand.
"Let's go make some tea and then you can tell us all about it." Mycroft nodded and wordlessly followed them in, his eyes on his husband, still fast asleep with the kids, a pillow was around him so he couldn't move and neither the children. They were safe.
Once tea was made Mycroft sat down his hands cradling the small cup.
"Okay, what is going on?" Mycroft look up to his mother.
"I couldn't take that look in his eyes, that longing for his mom, did you hear how he promised to teach the kids to bake cookies like his mom did, and then he would get sad? Do you remember the look in his eyes when he saw the empty chair at the wedding? I'm powerful, but I can't take that away from him, I can't take that look away, no amount of kisses and hugs and holidays can take the hole away."
His mum reached and took his hand.
"So you contacted her?"
Mycroft nodded.
"I sent her a letter, telling her that well, in essence I gave her one chance, to either be alone or part of a family, I told her she has a son, a son in law and grandchildren that she can be part of, if she wants….if not…well…I had to try something."
His parents shared a look before turning back to their son.
"She got in contact?"
"Yes, I put down my number, told her if she wants to make amends to call me, if she doesn't I will make sure she never gets close to Greg again, I won't let her hurt him more."
"Is she willing to make amends?" Mycroft's father asked for the first time.
"Sounds like it, she is willing, I gave her a few conditions….told her she would have to earn her place, our trust and respect, she would have to accept that her son is with me, that he is married to me and must be willing to take it slowly. I won't let her just barge in as if nothing happened and causing more pain to Gregory or our children, I will protect them at any cost, even from her." Mycroft stated and they could hear the conviction, the hardness in his voice, he meant it, they may not know exactly what he does for a living, but they had a good idea.
"So when to they meet again?" Mummy asked.
Mycroft took a breath.
"I told her I would talk to Gregory tonight tell him what I did and then it would be up to him, if he wants to contact her I will call her and make arrangements if he doesn't, I will call her and tell her that."
They sat there in silence each with his own mind and processing it, Mycroft's parents have never met her, and isn't really keen to do so, but they will put their opinion aside for Greg, he was their son, and he was wonderful and Mycroft was really lucky to have a man like him in his life, and he was raised right, so she must have done something right. For him, and for Mycroft and those two precious babies they will give her a chance if needed.
The cry of a baby pulled their attention back and Mycroft jumped up to go them, his boy was awake and soon his sister would be and so would his husband.
Sure enough the moment he entered the living room, Greg was trying to get up with the kids and Mycroft took Alden from him and reached for the bottle on the table.
"Thanks Love."
"My pleasure, had a good nap?" Mycroft asked as he started feeding Alden, his tiny hands reaching and grabbing on to his daddy. Mycroft still thinks it is one of the most beautiful sights he has ever seen. Greg moved so he was sitting upright with Adelia who woke too, the bottle already in his hand to feed her as well.
Mummy and father came in soon after, a fresh pot of tea with mugs and biscuits on a tray.
They glance once at Mycroft and he knew he had their support, now he must only tell Gregory.