It was around noon that Sherlock got the phone call from Patrick stating they were on their way from the dock. Lucy was both happy and depressed to be going home. Sherlock said he had news about the case, but wanted to wait until her parents got there.

"Charlotte?" I poked my head out from the kitchen. "I wanted to mention to you, John wants to take me out for a stag party."

"Ok," I nodded.

"I thought you'd have a problem," he said looking thrown back by my response.

"Well, it is normally a typical thing done when one gets married."

"Yes, but we're already married."

"Which we did behind everybody's back," I countered as Lucy giggled at us. "So therefore, I think if they want to do anything special for either one of us, we'll let them. Sounds fair, don't you think Lucy?"

"More than fair," she giggled. Sherlock glared at her.

"It's like you want me to have a problem with it," I chuckled. "Do you not want to go?"

"I have more pertinent things I could be doing," Sherlock answered.

"Sherlock, if John wants to take you out, you're going out," I smiled turning back to clean the stove. The doorbell went off. "Want to get that?"

I heard him huff before his footsteps down the steps followed suit. His steps back up were followed by a two other sets. Patrick's familiar voice accompanying them and Louise's shriek when she saw Lucy. I dried off my hands before walking back to the living room to see Lucy being embraced by her mother.

"Thank you so much for holding her up," I heard Patrick saying to Sherlock. "Ah, Charlie, great to see you."

"You too," I said as he hugged me. "How was your cruise?"

"While we were concerned for Lucille, we did manage to enjoy it," Patrick smiled. "Where's this wee one of yours?"

"Sleeping. She should be up soon though," Sherlock added.

"I'll get water going for tea," I said turning to go back into the kitchen. A few seconds later, Lucy came in followed by Louise.

"Thank you again Charlie," Louise said as Lucy sat at the table. "Of course, I'd love to know what my darling daughter was thinking."

Lucy rolled her eyes, "I'm sorry. I was stupid and I really wanted to come to London."

"Well we won't be doing that again will we?" Louise said smiling at her.

"No mum," she huffed. "Though, if it's ok with Charlie and Sherlock, and you and da of course, I'd really like to come back over summer holiday. I'll even work at Charlie's pub if I have to."

"We'll talk about it later. You'll have to do really well in school for that to happen," Louise said as Patrick and Sherlock appeared. Sherlock had his jacket on.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"I'm taking Patrick to the morgue."

"Why?" I asked when he didn't elaborate.

"I need his help identifying a body," he said. Lucy looked up at him, her eyes wide. "Yes, I think it's your friend."

"I want to go too!" Lucy said standing up.

"Lucy, you're staying here," Patrick said firmly. She pouted at him. "I mean it. Louise, I'll be right back."

"Ok sweetheart," she said as he followed Sherlock out of the flat. "So things are going well then? With Sherlock?"

"Of course," I smiled.

"They got married mum," Lucy said grabbing a biscuit off the plate and nibbling on it.

"Did you?"

"Yes," I nodded. "It was a complete and utter shock on my part."

"The little I know of him, I could certainly understand why you would be," she chuckled. "Congratulations. Are you doing any sort of reception or anything?"

"He doesn't want to make a big deal out of it."

"Charlie's friend is going to surprise them though," Lucy piped in. I gave her a suspicious look. "Oh, but I know nothing of it. She did not breathe a word of it to me. Nope, not at all."

"Yea, sure," I said shaking my head at her. "As long as I can feign ignorance, I don't care what the heck they do. He's the one who doesn't want to make a huge thing about it." I heard Bryna start crying upstairs. Lucy jumped up from her seat and after a nod from me, ran up the steps to get her. "She's been a huge help this week."

"Well at least she was able to be productive on her surprise vacation she took," Louise sighed. "I don't know what came over her...This Danny has been nothing but trouble. Nice enough to get by Patrick, but she always ends up making bad decisions and we just can't get it through her head."

I reached across and squeezed Louise's hand, "I think she gets it now. After a scare like that, I know I'd be rethinking a lot of choices."

"I hope your right Charlie," she sighed. Lucy came down a second later, a teary-eyed Bryna in her arms. Bryna pouted at me when she saw me and reached out for me. "Oh she is so much cuter in person than the pictures I saw."

"Thanks," I said adjusting her in my lap.

"Almost four months now, right?" I nodded. "Seems very smart too."

"Have you seen my husband?" I chuckled. "I swear, he sits there and reads the dictionary to her sometimes."

Sherlock and Patrick returned an hour later with the news that it was in fact Danny's body they found. Lucy was a bit distraught at the news, but her mum and I did our best to console her. I offered for them to stay another night before flying home, but Patrick said he had work he needed to do back at his own station that would help Sherlock and Lestrade out with the case they were working on here. Lucy was too upset to argue as they all said goodbye with promises to keep in touch. I told Lucy if she needed to talk, to call.

"There's more to the case," Sherlock said as I watched their cab pull away. I turned to look at him. He was trying to occupy Bryna with a rubix cube, but was watching me rather than her. "I think Lucy's friend was involved in the terrorist ring Mycroft is having me look into."

I froze, "What terrorist ring?"

"Oh. Did I not tell you?"

"No," I said crossing my arms over my chest. "You can tell me now though."

He rolled his eyes, "Mycroft said there's some sort of new terrorist ring trying to set up base in London and cause problems. I have reason to believe that Danny was involved. Patrick is going to check things out and do some investigating at home."

"Oh joys, just what I want you doing…"

"Charlotte-"

"I know," I sighed sitting down in the chair opposite him. "It's what you do. Just be careful, please."

"You know I'm always careful." I raised an eybrow at him. "Ok, fine. I do my best."

"I know."

"Of course, this could be why my father is also home," he sighed. I gave him a confused look. "There's a reason Mycroft is his favorite."

"I'm guessing because Mycroft followed in his footsteps while you went off to do your own thing?"

"That about sums it up," he sighed. "Father specializes in the underground. He does deep undercover to try and coax out people and plans and gather intel that Mycroft then puts to use. While he may not be directly out in the field, he has a large scope of agents that he deals with."

"And that requires him being away from his family?"

"That's his choice," Sherlock answered rather shortly. "His excuse is he has to be in reach of his field agents in case they need him."

"I can see why you'd be bitter then."

"For the last time, I am not bitter," Sherlock snapped. I shrugged at him. "Do you want me to come with you tomorrow?"

I took a breath, "I suppose."

"If you don't want me to, I don't have to," he said watching my face.

"It's probably better you come whether I want you to or not. You can help keep an eye on Bryna while George and I go through things."

"You sure you're ready?"

"George is going to make me whether I'm ready or not," I replied. "Besides, it's better I just throw myself in and get it over with. Why keep putting it off?"

A/N: So this started off as a semi-really short chapter, but then I added some stuff and its not so short anymore. Reasons for the shorter chap is the next segment coming up which so far is fairly large & just trying to figure out where to split it will be enough of a headahce. So enjoy :)