He was late. Again. Yet, this was to be expected when your father was a top candidate to become prime minister of Great Britain. Anyway, it's not as if William wasn't expecting it…he just wished that his father would be on time for his birthday once. Just once.

William was celebrating his 11th birthday with a small group of school "friends"- they were more of acquaintances really. His father was convinced that he needed to start making real friends (when William had said that Martha was his friend, his father said that his nanny did not count). Mt. Braxton had gone on to say that it wasn't normal for a child his age to have no friends within his age group. His father proceeded to phone a few of his upper crust friends who had children that went to William's school and extended an invitation for William's birthday party; it was a pool party, complete with a bouncy house and dessert table he was sure Mycroft Holmes would die over.

The school that William attended was a private school most of the important children of politicians or socialites attended called St. Rudolph Academy. It wasn't that the other children didn't like him- quite the contrary; people were naturally drawn to William. His abundance of charm and how he was genuinely kind to everyone he met attracted people. Although he could make others do what he wanted with a few choice words, he was painfully shy. Which was why William never vocalized his concern that strange men in cloaks had been watching him.

When he finally decided to tell his father, he received a startling reaction.

His normally calm and resolute father's eyes widened and filled for a split second with what looked like panic, before quickly composing himself. The next day he talked to William's principal and it was arranged that Martha would be hired as the school's new home economics teacher, although William wasn't sure what good Martha would do against the creepy strangers. He didn't want to admit it, but he actually liked having Martha there at school with him, it was nice to have someone he could talk to. Naturally, he knew that hanging out with his nanny at school would do wonders for his social life, so he was perpetually friendless. He didn't mind though, he just liked to watch everyone. William would remember how his dad would take him out to the beach in the days after his mom had left; no warning, just a "hey buddy, how about you and I go to the beach today?", and they would drive the two hours it took to get to the British shore. He loved to sit there and watch the adults and children enjoying their day, thinking of what kinds of lives they may be living while his dad sat and read some heavy volume.

Anyway, William found himself sitting on the edge of his pool alone while a dozen or so ten and eleven year old boys and girls, dressed impeccably even though it was a pool party, ran around the luxurious lawns of the Braxton Manor, discussing who liked who and how unfortunate it was that their parents made them come...as they stuffed their faces with desserts and pushed each other for a turn on the moon bounce. At that point Martha announced that it was time for cake and all the children rushed forth to sing William a half hearted happy birthday before grabbing their own slices of cake. When offered a slice, William declined saying that he was waiting for his father.

The second half of the party passed as uneventfully as the first. As the children filed out with their goody bags with a breezy, often mumbled, "Thank you for having me" into the cars of their parents and babysitters, William found himself still sitting in the edge of the pool surveying the aftermath of his party. The trash that littered the lawn and the few shoes by the moon bounce that he was unsure how children forgot were illuminated as the sun retreated behind the tree line and the now orangish, pinkish sky slowly darkened.

"I'm home!" Mr. Braxton called into the seemingly empty house as he set down his briefcase in his office before continuing into the kitchen. Eric Braxton was a man who was not known to 'call out', but he figured since he had (once again) been late to his son's birthday, it was qualified. Upon entering the kitchen he saw two slices of uneaten cake on the center island and found Martha standing at the sink washing a plate with a worried sort of look on her face. Every so often she would glance up through the window with a sigh and then continue scrubbing at the plate.

"I didn't think I was that late."

Martha turned and motioned with her head at the window in front of her.

"He's been sitting there since the party started. I tried to get him to go and play with the other children, but he just wanted to sit there."

Rolling his sleeves up and rubbing the bridge of his nose, Mr. Braxton stated "I am a horrid parent. He doesn't even like parties."

Smiling, Martha replied, "I know. But he adores you anyway. Now go make it up to him." She motioned to the two slices of cake on the counter.

"Martha, what would I do without you?" he asked.

"Crash and burn."

As he turned to leave, Martha grabbed his arm and looked him squarely in the eyes. With a look of pity she, whispered "good luck", then returned to washing the few dishes that were left in the sink.

Grabbing the slices of cake, Mr. Braxton continued out to the pool area with a growing feeling of dread. How was William going to react? Taking off his shoes and socks and rolling up the legs of his crisply ironed pants, he sat on the edge next to his son and stuck his feet into the now cool waters of the pool. Handing William a slice of cake he said "Happy birthday."

Biting into his cake, William looked at his father with a grin and said "Is this your present to me? I've never seen you get anywhere near the pool."

Chuckling, Mr. Braxton replied "Lets not get hasty, it's just my feet." With a sigh he continued "William, before you say anything, I just want you to know that I deeply regret missing your birthday."

With a smirk William awkwardly hugged his father with a plate of cake and a fork in each of his hands saying "It's alright, I know that you're busy and that you were just looking out for me".

"William I-"

"You know what would be fun? If we went to see Corfe Castle! I've heard it's brilliant, or at least I've read that it's brilliant-"

"William I have something very important to-"

"I've always wanted to see the Isle of Man, although that might be a bit far for a birthday trip-"

"Enough!" Mr. Braxton exclaimed.

William immediately shut his mouth, looking down at his knees as he anticipated his fathers announcement.

"William, I didn't mean to sound harsh-"

"No, it was my fault sir, I was babbling."

"William… "

"Honestly" William replied looking his father in the eye, "it's fine."

After a moment of silence Mr. Braxton produced a letter from his back pocket and handed it to his son.

"William, we have some things to discuss."

"About what?" he replied, looking curiously as the strange looking envelope in his hands.

"About… everything I suppose."