John glanced at his watch as he prepared his doctor's office for the next patient. His first patient of the day had taken up more time than he'd expected and he'd not been able to make up the time. All of the patients that day had entered his office with a frown on their face due to the 30-minute delay they'd been forced to endure before their appointment. He'd apologized and smiled, but there was little that he could do to make he and them feel any better about the situation. In about an hour he was supposed to leave to pick up Rosie from school, but at the rate the appointments were going at, he'd barely be home before teatime. With a reluctant sigh, he pulled out his mobile phone and called a familiar number.
"Uncle Myc!" Rosie called excitedly as she spotted her uncle waiting for her at the school gates. She ran towards him and barreled into his side, throwing her arms around his waist. She was 7 now and Mycroft had been a regular fixture in her life since she was a baby. To her, he was mysterious, dependable and incredibly cool.
"Hello, dearest Rosamund." Mycroft replied with a smile that he reserved just for her.
"It's Rosie." She pouted playfully, repeating her line in a very old argument.
"How about I call you Rosie if you call me Uncle Mycroft?" Mycroft suggested with a raised eyebrow.
"No, I prefer Uncle Myc." Rosie decided.
Mycroft chuckled and shook his head a little, guiding her towards his car with a hand on her back, "You might want to let go, Rosie, it will be rather difficult to enter the car with you stuck to my hip like a limpet."
"A limpet is a sea snail!" Rosie declared proudly, letting go of him and climbing into the back of the car.
"It is indeed." Mycroft agreed.
With a quick look around the school yard and car park to ensure there were no threats, Mycroft climbed into the car too.
"Sherlock taught me all about the beach and the animals on the beach." Rosie said as she buckled her seat belt.
"Yes, you went on a day trip to the beach with Sherlock while you were visiting my parents, didn't you?" Mycroft replied, putting his own seat belt on. When he was alone in the car, he didn't bother with the belt but John had insisted that he must set a good example for Rosie.
"Do you ever go to the beach?" Rosie asked.
"No, I haven't been since I was your age." Mycroft admitted.
"Why not?" Rosie asked.
"I've really never been a fan of the beach. I prefer libraries." Mycroft replied, quickly checking his phone before he put it back into this pocket again.
"Are you supposed to be working?" Rosie asked, watching him check his phone.
"I'm always working, my dear Rosamund, but I have taken the afternoon off in order to be with you." Mycroft replied with a smile.
"Can we go somewhere special?" Rosie asked, "Somewhere we don't usually go to?"
"Of course. Do you have a place in mind?" Mycroft asked.
"Can we go to the zoo?" Rosie asked, fluttering her eyelashes persuasively.
"Of course, my little limpet." Mycroft replied indulgently. He leaned forward and knocked on the partition, waiting for it to roll down before he gave instructions to the driver.
Mycroft looked, and felt, incredibly uncomfortable at the zoo. His custom-made, tailored suits weren't designed for outings with children and he was beginning to feel the strain. He walked hand-in-hand with Rosie, allowing her to pull him along in different directions to see the animals. He carefully lifted her into his arms to give her a better view when she pulled on his sleeve. Waistcoats were formal and perfect for the office, but they pinched horridly on long walks around the zoo.
Three security guards followed them at a distance, as even on his afternoon off, Mycroft had to be carefully guarded by the secret service. If enemies were to get their hands on the elder Holmes brother then Britain would be in trouble.
"Can we look in the shop?" Rosie asked hopefully.
"Of course." Mycroft replied, leading her into the large gift shop. Money wasn't an issue for him but he didn't like to spend too much on Rosie, as John often didn't take it well.
After almost an hour in the gift shop, Rosie finally decided her favourites from the toys she'd forced him to carry around for her. Mycroft handed over his card and enjoyed the moment of confusion on the staff member's face as they debated what to do with the card. It didn't have his name or any numbers on it like any other bank or credit cards.
"Just swipe it." he advised with a polite smile.
"I think you've tired out Uncle Mycroft." John chuckled as he entered the living room in Mycroft's large house to find the two of them sprawled on the sofa.
"Daddy, we went to the zoo!" Rosie squealed excitedly, rushing over to John with her arms full of stuffed animal toys.
"Did you? It looks like you also returned with the whole gift shop." John teased, pulling her into a hug.
"Not the whole gift shop, Daddy!" Rosie protested, "Uncle Mycroft only let me have a few things."
"John, please note that I am only Uncle Mycroft to Rosie when I've done something wrong." Mycroft murmured with a chuckle, turning to face the army doctor.
"You look exhausted." John teased the government official, "Busy afternoon?"
"I am convinced that we lapped the zoo at least 7 times." Mycroft replied, "I didn't realise that it was quite so big."
"Put your feet up and have a rest, mate." John laughed, patting Mycroft's shoulder. It was the first time that he'd properly touched the government official and it showed how tired Mycroft was that he didn't attempt to dodge the touch in any way.
"Bye Uncle Myc." Rosie said, climbing up onto the sofa and giving her uncle a hug, "Thank you for taking me to the zoo."
"I hope you enjoyed yourself." Mycroft replied, gently hugging her back, "I'll see you at the weekend. Sherlock has requested my presence for a case."
"Bye, Mycroft. See you in a few days." John said, picking up the stuffed animals from where Rosie had dropped them.
"Not that one. That one stays with Uncle Myc." Rosie declared, picking out one of the soft toys and handing it to Mycroft.
"A meerkat?" Mycroft questioned with a raised eyebrow, accepting the stuffed toy.
"You're like a meerkat. You're always watching things." Rosie explained with a smile, "Bye Uncle Myc." she added, walking to the hallway to put her shoes on.
"A meerkat, eh?" John teased with a raised eyebrow, "I dread to think what she'll pick out for Sherlock."
"Do text me and let me know, won't you?" Mycroft chuckled.
"Have a good night, Mycroft. Thanks for spending the afternoon with her." John replied with a smile, following his daughter out with the soft toys in his arms.