― Homer, The Odyssey
"Fine, Sherrinford. We should talk."
"Should we?" Ford bit out glaring at the tall stranger wearing the dark suit and purple shirt. His father's scent was familiar to him, it had always been. Until one day nothing smelled like him, nothing. And all the pictures he'd taken down out of anger. He smashed them all, his dad had held him and cried that first time he returned home in a stupor. After that Ford made it a habit to not come home drunk, and he tried to hide the hang overs.
Now that scent was working his way into his brain, assaulting his olfactory glands.
"There is nothing to talk about. You're back. Great. I don't care for the excuses. I wont forgive you ever. But, it's not fair for them to not know you. Just don't. Just don't abandon them like you did before."
Ford delivered this speech with a hard look into his father's gray eyes. The open challenge wasn't met with a growl or any kind of retaliation. Just a softly spoken, "I did it for you. For all of you. You don't understand how difficult it is to leave your children behind. To do what is best no matter how hard it hurts and badly it tears at you. Perhaps when your child is born you will better understand it."
"Hardly." Ford growled.
"Then again, it's easier perhaps if the child isn't yours?" Ford slammed his father hard against the corridor wall, knocking one of the expensive paintings askew.
"Piss off!"
"It's not yours is it? I do have eyes. The two of you haven't even had sex let alone shared a heat."
"Davy is mine!" Ford snarled. "So is that pup! They're both mine."
Sherlock put his hands up in surrender. "Does he know?"
"Of course he knows." Ford snapped.
"No. Does he know?" The younger Alpha looked confused. "Have you told him you care for him? That you love him?"
"No." Ford relinquished his hold stepping back.
"Why not?" His father's familiar baritone washed over him like a soothing mist, he only shrugged.
"That's not an answer Sherrinford Holmes."
That had Sherrinford's anger spiked again "It's Watson. And meet us in Uncle's library in an hour, I'll bring the kids. It's best they eat before you drop this bombshell on them. I don't want them to know Dad's missing. We can tell them he had an unexpected medical convention or whatever but not that he might be-that he's missing."
Sherlock stuffed his fists into his trouser pockets not wanting to rush after his eldest son, he wanted to hug him and reassure him everything was fine. But Ford wasn't a boy any more.
Sherrinford shut the bedroom door hard behind him, he needed to calm down. Damn if he wasn't out of cigarettes not that Davy knew he smoked. He went to the bed where he easily had stuffed the bottle of expensive scotch, god it was too easy to knick this bottle. He had done so right under his uncle's fat nose, Davy hadn't even noticed him doing it.
He was good, maybe too good but he had to not think. He could just rinse his mouth with mouth wash after, then maybe chew some gum. Clarity, blissful clarity was just a drink way, he needed to calm his nerves.
"And I see you are keeping the long history of family addiction alive. Let's be glad the baby isn't yours in this instance, I would hate to pass this gene on."
Sherrinford turned just as the bottle was snatched out of his hand. "I guess we can thank your aunt Harriet for this one. She after all is the alcoholic, it is slightly better than a cocaine or heroine addict."
"I would never do drugs, that's just suicide. Only an idiot puts crap up their nose and in their veins. "
"Well I didn't say I was thinking straight at the time. Besides I had to find something else to grant me clarity."
"You?" Sherrinford frowned, "You-"
"Yes." Sherlock shrugged; removing the cap from the bottle he took a swig.
"No, fucking way."
Sherlock rolled his eyes "Well I see you've picked up your aunt's vocabulary as well." Sherlock rolled up the sleeve of his shirt to reveal several scars. Ford had to really look but when he did, he could easily deduce what caused them.
"You said you found something that granted you clarity?" Ford narrowed his eyes on his father's forearm.
"Yes."
"What was it?"
Just then Ford heard the sound of running feet down the hall and the soft giggles of his brothers. Then Davy's voice calling out "Boys! You are not heathens! Get some clothes on! Hamish! Hamish, I see you! Get some pants on that bum! Siggy you don't hit your brother with a towel! Oh, dear. That's it, I'm coming after you two and if I have to dress you, you will regret it! Oh, no you don't Enola, get back here, you put that robe back on!"
Ford couldn't help but smile when he heard his sister's shrill laughter, "I got you!" Davy's voice was soft and teasing. "Now go on boys get dressed. Come on Enola, it's unlady like to be caught in one's underclothes in the corridor."
Sherlock closed his eyes thinking of a time John had to chase Sherrinford and a young Lawrence through the house shouting something similar. His son's blue eyes were questioning and curious.
"I found John." Sherlock replied softly. "I found him at a dark time in my life and he was the only light at the end of the tunnel that had become my desolate life. He-. Well did he ever tell you how we met?"
"He said it was when he got out of the army." Ford tried to remember any other details but to his surprise he'd never asked and dad never offered.
"That's half true. I suppose I should return this bottle before my brother makes himself into a nuisance. Then I will tell you a story that starts out with two boys meeting in a rehabilitation story and ends on a roof."
"Fine. I don't suppose you have a cigarette?"
"That I can do." Sherlock gestured for the boy to follow him.
~0~
Sherlock waited for his children to enter the large library of his brother's house. After he had spent over an hour talking to his son, the boy decided to go and collect his siblings. They had taken a quick meal in one of Mycroft's dining rooms. It seemed his fat brother was still awaiting Gregory Lestrade and Alex was busy trying to help Lawrence calm Harriet Watson. Really the woman was acting as if Sherlock had killed John with his bare hands.
He was just as worried, just as panicked except he wasn't allowed to show it. He had four children to take care of, well five if one counted the pregnant teenager that was to be his sons mate. Oh, sure the two boys thought they were just friends but Sherlock could see the love blossoming between them and he wouldn't stand in its way. He knew what it was like to have someone step in and decide for you. He could never do that to his son. He would help this love grow; obviously John had the same idea.
If John forgave Sherlock he would never leave the man's side. He just wanted John alive and in his arms, wanted to take his scent into his lungs one more time. The scent of his children were faint reminders of his John, and Sherlock wanted it all back.
After he explained why Moriarty had to be stopped, why he jumped, his son seemed to grow quiet and his eyes avoided his father. There was hope that Sherrinford believed him would maybe love him again.
The twins were the first to hurry into the library scanning the area they both grabbed a book and plopped down onto the sofa across from where Sherlock was sitting with steepled hands.
"I hope you aren't expecting us to play an instrument for you, we aren't preforming monkeys you know."
Sherlock raised an eyebrow looking directly at Sigerson. "Do you often play an instrument after dinner?"
"For our dad we do. Sometimes. We play, I play the piano and my brother is an expert at the clarinet. Our sister is a prodigy when it comes to the violin. When she's not having a tantrum and making screeching noises."
Sherlock couldn't help but smile proudly, this only had Hamish glaring at him "We wont play for you. Like my brother said we aren't preforming monkeys."
"Oh, says who?" Davy entered the room with Enola holding his hand the small child looked a bit miffed.
"Says every biology book ever." Sigerson huffed.
"I don't know about that. However do you like bananas? Climb trees and didn't I catch you checking your brother's head for lice just last week?"
"That was different! And what has liking bananas have anything to do with monkeys? Potassium is important to the immune system and brain development! And I'll have you know I was merely conducting an experiment."
"Yeah! The Lice were none existent, that idiot in our class had no validation to such an accusation."
Davy tussled Sigerson's hair."That's right Siggy, that kid was a bully and I'm sure turning his lunch box into a science experiment was justice enough."
"I will neither confirm or deny such allegations."
"Shut it twerp." Ford closed the door behind him, Enola took a seat between Hamish and Davy. Ford decided to stand near the door, she glanced back thinking he was guarding it. Did he expect someone to run?
Suddenly the little Omega felt sick, she chanced a look at the strange Alpha, the one that looked like Ford but wasn't. He was looking back without blinking, and she looked away not wishing to challenge him. Except she thought his eyes were familiar, they reminded her of Siggy's when he was thinking or Hamish's when he figured out a puzzle.
Sherrinford spoke first, Enola you weren't alive yet to remember but Hamish and Sigerson, do you remember our Father."
Both boys made a face, Enola could feel a shift in the air and this Alpha across from them was causing it. She let out a sad squeak and Davy was pulling her into his lap. She buried her nose into his soft gray jumper breathing his scent and her brother's.
"Where's our dad?" Sigerson avoided the question and Hamish continued to think, steepling his hands under his chin in a familiar fashion.
"He's away at a medical convention. It was all last minute. He's asked that I keep an eye on you and that we stay with Uncle Mycroft until-" Ford didn't meet his younger brother's confused look. "until he returns."
Enola didn't like the sound brother's voice took, she knew this wasn't exactly true should always knew when people lied.
"I remember he had a long coat." Hamish cut in, completely unaware of the conversation that was going on around him. "He had a long coat didn't he Ford?"
Sherlock perked up hearing this, "He would sometimes put me on his shoulders and help me get my balloon down from the ceiling." Sigerson frowned at his twin and looked away as the boy went on. "He was tall. I don't remember how he smells." Hamish's eyes were searching his hands as if looking for the answer there.
"Like tobacco. He always said he wasn't smoking. Dad doesn't like cigarettes, but he smelled like cigarettes and mint." Sigerson's voice was soft almost a whisper.
Sherlock smiled brightly that was something.
"It was because he was trying to hide the fact he was smoking. That's why he had the gum." Ford replied grateful that he remembered to spit his own gum out.
"He played the violin like Enola does, but his was big and when we couldn't sleep he would play?"
"That's right." Ford nodded, hating how his eyes started to water. "He would play when you two refused to sleep, or were sick. He used to play for me for the same reasons."
"He wore a blue scarf." Sigerson added softly, his fists clenched at his side. "He died and they buried him. They threw dirt on him and he was gone."
"He was gone but I don't remember him leaving." Hamish turned to Davy then Ford for an answer, "They said he was gone but where did he go?"
"He was in the ground stupid." Sigerson snapped.
"But I never saw him get in." Hamish huffed.
"He was put in there and they buried him and he was dead." Sigerson was becoming agitated and Davy reached out to put an arm around both boys. To Sherlock's surprise Sigerson got up and climbed into the Omega's lap.
"They said he jumped off a building that he was running away from us." Sigerson turned with a sob into Davy's jumper.
"Yeah, we changed our name after it started to get bad. Dad got tired of changing the twins schools, they were bullied constantly. Not after we changed our name and the media forgot about us." Ford remained by the door, Davy hushed Sigerson. Hamish was making a face, Enola only continued to keep her own face hidden in her brother in law's fuzzy jumper.
"It's not true though. Our dad said Father was a brilliant man. And he loved us. Even Enola if he would know her. Even though she doesn't talk and sometimes people think she's a bit off or slow because of it. But she's not, not at all Enola is clever she just doesn't like to talk." Hamish leaned into Davy's offered arm.
"I don't like talking about this, it's upsetting everyone." Hamish growled.
"Why are we talking about this?" Hamish demanded shooting an accusing glare at the strange Alpha across from them.
"I know it's been difficult." The strange Alpha paused clearing his voice.
Davy could understand the struggle that Ford's father and Ford for that matter were having. The Omega could see that Sherlock was a good man, and Doctor Watson had only ever said sweet things about his deceased mate. Well not any longer deceased. He also recalled that sentiment and feelings weren't the Alpha's forte.
"Well, Hamish. Your father was a good man. A great one even. Your dad told me so. He solved crimes and helped a lot of people. The bad man, like the one in the stories we read. He wanted the hero to suffer and he threatened the hero the only way he knew how. That bad man threatened the hero's family. Unless the hero did something horrible for the bad man." Davy smoothed Siggy's hair rocking him slightly.
"There's always a way out though, isn't there?" Davy offered, "Because the hero is always so clever." Davy was glad that Ford trusted him enough to tell him a little of the conversation he had with his father. This was how he managed to explain without going into too much detail.
"Yes!" Hamish clapped his hands together "Like the time the boy tricked the witch into the oven? Or the man behind the curtain pretending to be a wizard."
"Exactly Hamish. And you remember how some hero's had to go on a quest before they could return home. The journey shouldn't have been so long but things just kept getting in the way." Sigerson halted his small whimpers, he dried his eyes.
"Like a Cyclops? Or sirens?" Davy smiled kissing the top of Sigerson's dark head.
"Exactly." Ford whispered to himself his eyes still distant.
"Like a magic trick, your Father had to pretend to do something awful so the bad man could be defeated. And like most hero's he had to set out on a journey."
It was then that Sherlock felt a surge of admiration for this young man, this blond Omega that captivated Sherrinford's heart. He was making it sound all so romantic when in reality it was a series of mistakes and miscalculations. And Sherlock never believed that hero's existed.
Yet, the way Davy said it, well Sherlock felt as if he could relate to the poor fool setting out from Ithaca. Odysseus had thought it would be a short journey but it hadn't, and so many obstacles were put in his way.
Now three sets of little eyes were looking in his direction.
Sigerson hopped down from Davy's lap and approached the strange Alpha who looked a lot like Ford, except older.
"Like a magic trick?" Sherlock kneeled down in front of his child wiping the boy's eyes.
"Yes, like a magic trick all of it. Just smoke and mirrors. It was so I could keep you all safe. I had to pretend to go away."
"Father?" Hamish gasped jumping down from the couch; he neared the kneeling Alpha, sniffing the air cautiously.
"I have been gone for far too long, I only meant to be for a month or two. Even that would have felt like an eternity."
"But you're back. Like Odysseus?" Hamish murmured.
"And you my brave boys have kept your Dad safe from the lecherous arms of others. You've been so brave for me, and I've missed you. I swear I will never be gone from you."
Siggy sobbed and embraced his father, Hamish followed. Davy held his tears back, "Enola love do you wish to say hello to your father?" The girl shook her head and remained with her head buried in his side.
"Now, now, love don't be that way." Ford left his station by the door. "This is your Alpha and he would very much like to meet you."
Enola peeked out from Davy's side and pulled herself cautiously from the couch. Her blue eyes narrowed as she looked the new Alpha over. Slowly she approached him, and Sherlock didn't expect the extended hand.
"I see, your dad had trust issues when I first met him." Sherlock took her small hand and kissed the knuckles.
He couldn't wait and he scooped her up into his arms, despite her small squeak and squirming form. He nuzzled her ear and neck, allowing his own scent to saturate the air. He was marking his family, reestablishing his pack, these were his children and he had missed so much.
Oh John, where are you?