Chapter Eleven- October

October came quickly, bringing an East Wind, that was chilling to the bone. October meant 3 things. Firstly, Phoebe Lestrade turned ten. Secondly, it was Hallowe'en month. And thirdly, it meant that my little boy was almost one. Anthony was wanting to walk everywhere now which meant it took us 3 hours longer to do anything. But it was nice. It meant we spent more time together and that Anthony was growing up.

Phoebe Lestrade was turning 9 this year. This was completely daunting in the fact that it also meant that Jess Lestrade had passed away 5 years ago and Mycroft had been in a relationship with Lestrade for 3 and a half years now. It was scary how times had changed.

Anyway, onto Phoebe Lestrade's birthday. Still heavily into Disney, and the recent trip to Walt Disney World having fuelled that even further, Lestrade had persuaded Mycroft to agree to a Disney themed party. He had compromised by saying that it didn't necessarily have to be princess themed but along the lines of Disney. Lestrade had called on Sally, Emily, Claire, Amber and myself to help plan her party. Dan, Sherlock, Hamish and Molly had taken her to SeaWorld with Hamish for the morning so that we could decorate Mycroft's big (frankly gothic) house into a princess/Disney work of art! We had everything from Toy Story themed table cloths to Disney princess crockery. Mycroft walked in after work and sighed. But he kept his mouth shut. I don't think that even he was that brave. Everyone (who wasn't already there) started arriving from about four in the afternoon. This included the men (Johnny-who brought Elijah- and Sam) and Keira, Mollie, James and Matthew. There were also members of Lestrade's family who came down and Wanda and Timothy. They were keen to see Phoebe seeing as Mycroft was engaged to her father and they were keen to spend more time with Lestrade.

My grandmother was wonderful. She never judged or cared about her son's sexuality or relationships, she just took them all in her stride and loved each new person that she welcomed into her family. She already saw Greg as a son and that wouldn't change when he married Mycroft. John, Mary and Joseph arrived. They were the last. I phoned Dan and let them know they could come home. I then went and found Mycroft and told him to join the party. He came reluctantly. Anthony had woken up so I brought him down to. Immediately, he was taken off me by Wanda who relished any chance to see her grandson. Then, almost simultaneously, she embraced her eldest son into a hug. He looked alarmed and tried to fight her off. It was pointless. She just tightened her grip.

"Oh, Mike. Look at you." She said, pulling away.

"Mycroft is the name you gave me. If you could possibly struggle all the way to the end of it."

"Oh hush you!" she said. "Hello, Abi, dear."

"Hello, Grandma!" I said, giving her a hug.

"Mikey told me you've been having a tough time of it lately?"

I looked at Mycroft. "How did you know?"

"You are married to my son, who is also a government employee. You were distant and detached for a while in which we never saw you. The way you are looking at Anthony now suggests that you have recently re-established your maternal bond with him, meaning that you have been struggling with post-natal depression or something like that."

I opened my mouth and then closed it again, thinking. "Of course you knew." I said eventually.

Wanda was looking between myself and her son. "Now, Mikey…"

"Mycroft!" sighed Mycroft.

Wanda ignored him, "When am I going to meet your fianceé?"

I walked off, leaving them to it. I knew my son was in safe hands. Not long after this, Dan arrived, holding Hamish. I smiled and made my way over to him.

"Abi!" Hamish said, smiling, "Where's Anthony?"

I laughed. "With Grandma, you'll have to fight her!"

"I'll win!" he called back over his shoulder.

I kissed Dan, softly, "Hey!" I said.

"Hey. You ok?"

I nodded. "How was the aquarium?"

"Good. If you didn't mind Sherlock recounting the Merchant of Samara the whole way round."

I laughed, "Sounds like Sherlock!"

"Phoebe had a good time though!" he added, smiling, "They're just coming. Hamish was collecting sticks so they were having to stop every five minutes. I'd better let Dad and Greg know." And he went off to find them.

Soon after, Dad, Molly, Hamish and Phoebe came in. Much like Amber's birthday, we all shouted: "SURPRISE!"

But unlike Amber, Phoebe got quite emotional and Greg, Sally and Mycroft all ran over to her. After a bit of comforting she was alright and soon joined the party. I wandered over to Greg.

"Hey." I said, touching his uninjured shoulder.

"Hey." He replied, smiling. "You ok?"

I nodded, "What was that about?" I asked, "With Phoebe?"

"Oh. She was missing her mum." He looked sad for a moment. In all the time I had known Detective Inspector Lestrade, I had never seen him look like this. He was clearly still missing Jessica, even being with Mycroft. I never really knew the extent of Jess's death and its impact on Greg but I knew that Mycroft was there for him when none of us could have been. "Its been five years, she was four at the time..."

"Greg, something like this is going to take time to get over. Trust me, I know."

He smiled at me, "I know, Abi."

"Do you want me to talk to her?" I offered.

Greg's face lit up. "Would you mind?" he asked. "I can't seem to get through to her these days."

"She's a nine-old-girl, Greg, we're an enigma at that age!" I smiled, "But I'd be happy to do it."

He smiled and patted me on the back. "Thanks Abigail." And he left to find Mycroft.

The rest of the party was amazing. Dan and Johnny had sorted out some music and had turned one of Mycroft's reception rooms into a big disco and had lights and music going. Anthony stood on the edge of the dance floor, doing this weird kind of jig. It was so cute! Emily, Elijah and Johnny were all dancing and so were Claire, Sally and Sam. Even Mycroft and Greg had a little groove going. (Although, Greg's dancing was more Dad dancing than anything!) All in all, I think Phoebe had a great time and enjoyed celebrating her birthday. I planned to talk to her sometime after today, let her have a chance to be happy.

This all brings me to the next big thing in October- Hallowe'en. I hate Hallowe'en. Always have. It just seems like a poor excuse to dress up and scare the crap out of people. Maybe having Anthony would change my mind. Since my appointment with John, I was determined to go into everything with a positive mind. So, the end of October came and we started to get ready for Hallowe'en. Dan had suggested that we hold a party, seeing as the Watson's and Mycroft and Lestrade had all hosted one recently. I sighed and rolled my eyes but went along with it. Anyway, it gave me an excuse to talk to Phoebe Lestrade.

Hallowe'en morning happened to be a Saturday so I asked Phoebe to come over and give me a hand to decorate the house. Lestrade dropped her off, gave me a wink and mouthed 'Thanks, Abi!' before leaving. I let Phoebe in and shut the door.

"Thanks for coming to help, Phoebs." I said, making my way down to the kitchen.

"That's ok, Abi." She said, taking off her coat and following me, "I'm glad I could help."

"Would you like a drink?"

"No, I'm ok, thanks." She said, sitting down at the kitchen table. I got myself a cup of coffee and then sat opposite her.

"I had another reason for asking you over." I said, looking at her, softly. "Your dad asked me to talk to you."

"What about?" she asked, pulling at her sleeve.

"At your party, when you got upset. I asked what was up and he told me you were missing your mum?"

A tear fell down Phoebe's cheek and she looked down at her hands. She nodded.

"Oh, Phoebs, why didn't you tell anyone?"

She sniffed, "Because Dad seemed so happy with Mike and Sally had her life and so did Johnny."

"They still would have had time for you, they're family."

She shook her head. "Dad's always working, Mike's a hard guy to talk to about this kind of thing and I've always felt separate from Sally and Johnny because they're so much older than me."

"What about me? Or Dan? Or Mary? Phoebs there were so many people who would have helped you."

Tears were falling down her face. I moved round to the other side of the table and put my arm round her. "Oh sweetie." I said, rubbing her shoulders, "No-ones angry.

"I really miss Mum!" she sobbed into my shoulder.

"I know you do, sweetheart, I know you do." I rubbed her shoulder. "I missed my mum and dad so much and I wasn't like you. I had no one to talk to. No family, no real friends, no one who understood me. And I struggled. More than anything."

Phoebe sniffed, "I'd forgotten your parents died. I should have spoken to you sooner really."

"Phoebe, you spoke to me in your own time and when you were ready. As you go through life, there are going to be times when you want your mum there and unfortuantly, she won't be there. But you have me and Sally and Johnny and Sherlock, Molly, Mary, John, Mycroft and your Dad. You are not alone, kid."

She smiled a watery smile. "I know that now. And I think I will talk to Dad, not because I need it, but I think he needs it too."

I nodded, "I think that would be a brilliant idea, Phoebs."

Phoebe laughed a little, "What do you think Mum would make of Dad and Mike?"

I smiled, "Well, Jessica was a pretty accepting person. I think she is happy for them and is glad that Greg has moved on and has found love again. Which is all she would have wanted. She never caused anyone pain or misery, she just wanted everyone to be happy."

Phoebe smiled, "Sounds like mum."

There was a pause and I took a sip of coffee.

"Abi, do you think she's proud of me?"

I paused, not really knowing how to answer. "Yes. I think she is. I mean look at you!" She smiled, "You have grown up into a beautiful, talented, caring, sensitive young lady. I'm proud of you!"

Phoebe smiled, "Thanks Abi, and thank you for listening."

I put my hands in the air. "Hey, that's what I'm for!" I smiled, "Shoulder to cry on, punch-bag, human tissue, I've got it covered. And on a serious note, I wish that I had had someone there for me, after Karen and Anthony died. Greg did a good job but he was just doing his job as a police officer."

"He's a good egg, my dad, isn't he?"

I nodded, "There aren't many like him."

We sat in silence for a few minutes before Dan walked in.

"Hello, ladies. Shall we get this house spooked out?" he smiled.

I rolled my eyes. Phoebe laughed.

"What?" he asked.

"Never stop being you." I said, simply, standing up, kissing him and leaving the room.

We had a pleasant afternoon with Phoebe. We decorated the house in fake cobwebs and bunting. Dan put spooky decorations on the toilet and walls. I made up some camp beds in the spare room for the children and cleared the living room so that people could sleep in it. Anthony wandered around the house with a fake spider in his hand, laughing when Phoebe screamed and ran away. He didn't understand that he was scaring her, he just thought it was a fun game. The biggest mistake I made that day was letting Anthony help with the pumpkins. We ended up with pumpkin on the floor, on the walls, on Anthony and in his hair. Phoebe was no better and she was nine. But she was laughing and smiling away so I had no objections, it was a time to be fun and a time to laugh.

I quickly put the two of them in the bath and got the pumpkin out. Phoebe then got changed into her costume. Mycroft had reluctantly taken her to Sainsbury's to buy it and she had decided to go as Hermione Granger from 'Harry Potter'. I even sat and back-combed her hair so that it was frizzy. Anthony had a little pumpkin outfit- which looked adorable as he pottered around the house. I started to cook the food and put the nibbles on the table. The idea was to keep the party in the kitchen and the dining room as they were more than big enough. It was only a family party so it wouldn't be that big.

I had just put the punch and some crisps onto the table when the doorbell rang. It was Greg and Mycroft. Mycroft was wearing an old suit that had rips in it and Greg had wrapped bandages to make himself look like a mummy.

"Happy Hallowe'en!" said Greg, holding a bottle of wine and a bag of crisps in his good arm. Mycroft rolled his eyes. I smiled and let them in.

"How did you get on?" Greg asked in a lowered tone.

I nodded, "Very well. You have one happy Hermione Granger!" I replied as Phoebe came round the corner, being chased by Anthony and the fake spider again.

"Daddy!" she yelled, when she saw Lestrade standing in the doorway. She ran up and gave him a big hug.

"Hello, doodlebug!"

"You've nicknamed your daughter after a world war two flying bomb?" Mycroft asked incredulously.

Greg gave him a look and that silenced him.

"Greg, could you teach me that look? Might come in useful!"

Mycroft glared at me. I laughed. "Any other day, I would be terrified of you but not when your dressed like that!" and I walked off to find the fake spider and hide it.

People started arriving steadily. The costumes that people had made or brought were outstanding. Even Sherlock had made an effort- whether that was his choice or Molly's- I never found out. The evening was very enjoyable and I knew there would be thick heads in the morning but it was worth it. Like I said, October was one of my favourite months. But this November was going to be truly special!