Claire had to head to the community college where she worked the next morning to finish grading a few papers. As she sat at her desk, she scribbled and corrected with classical music playing in the background. She took a small break and called her father, who had been working long the night before.

"Hello? Claire?"

"Hi, Dad. How are things?"

"Bloody awful. I'm exhausted. I'll be heading home soon. You seeing the British government today?"

She side-smiled. "Yes, this morning. He should be here soon. Oh, by the way, I need to tell you something."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just that, apparently, there's a third Holmes brother. We're seeing him today."

Lestrade paused. "Another one? The world can barely handle two. You nervous?"

"A bit. Mycroft wants to keep our engagement a secret from him."

"What? Why? He's going to find out sooner or later."

Claire nodded and ran a hand through her hair. "I know, I was thinking the same thing. I don't know. Mycroft knows him more than I do, so I've just decided to respect his wishes."

"That's odd. Very odd. Well, let's hope this goes through alright. Still, not sure if I like this idea."

The door to her room opened and Mycroft came inside. She raised both eyebrow and returned her attention back to the phone. "I have to get going. I'll call you later. Bye."

She hung up and grabbed her satchel that sat on her desk. Mycroft pursed his lips and gave her a nod. "Ready?"

"Are you? You're so pale. Are you alright?"

Claire cupped the side of his face as he gave a deep sigh. "Nervous. But it's only for a few days. I'll manage."

She held his hand. "Together."

They left the college and drove to Baker street. It was a cloudy day. The streets weren't as crowded but the cafe was a bit full. They spotted a few tourists as they got out of the car and knocked on the front door of 221B. The door opened and Mrs. Hudson smiled as she greeted them.

"The boys are upstairs. I've set a tea tray for you all."

They thanked her and headed up to the flat where John and Sherlock were waiting. Sherlock was already drinking his tea and John was typing away on his laptop. Mycroft and Claire took a seat on the couch and waited.

"Blogging?" Claire asked John.

"Yep. Been a busy week with that gardener case," John replied as he continued typing.

Mycroft raised his eyebrows. "The case where the gardener was murdered?"

Sherlock added sugar to his tea and smirked. "Killed."

Claire grimaced. "Wait...I thought he was murdered."

"Nope. No trace of finger prints on the flower pot dropped on his head," Sherlock replied.

Mycroft shrugged. "Easiest thing to avoid in a murder."

Sherlock pursed his lips and gave a slight nod at that. He stirred his tea and stared up at the ceiling as if the answer was written right there. "What sort of person kills someone with a flowerpot?"

"One that might make it seem like it was an accident," Claire shrugged.

Sherlock pointed at her. "Exactly. It was an accident. The wound wasn't bad enough to have been done on purpose."

John stopped typing to look up at the doorway when everyone stopped talking. They had all heard the front door open and close. The stairs gave a loud creak as someone made their way up. A stout but tall man appeared in the doorway with the same color eyes as Sherlock, but the stern look of Mycroft. There were bags under his eyes and His hair was a lighter version of Mycroft's. His skin was very light but he was a bit of an ugly fellow.

He wore a light brown suit and had broad shoulders. "This is the flat of my dearest detective brother?"

Sherlock side-smiled. "Sherrinford, welcome."

The brother shook hands and Sherrinford spotted Mycroft. "Mycroft. The British government blesses us with his presence."

Mycroft stood up and held out his hand to Sherrinford. "It's been a long time. Good to see you, Sherrinford."

Sherrinford Holmes gave Mycroft's almost non-existent belly a pat and laughed. "It's very easy to see you, Myc!"

Claire grimaced as she mouthed 'Myc' and looked at John. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. Sherrinford glanced at Claire and raised his eyebrows. "I didn't know you adopted a child, Mycroft."

Claire gave him a look as he began deducting her with a small twitch of his eye. Mycroft cleared his throat. "Sherrinford, this is Claire. She's my-"

"Girlfriend. Just graduated from college, no doubt. With that attitude and obvious short temper, I don't doubt she's at least 10 years younger than you, Mycroft. I suggest you end the relationship now before people find out. Such things don't last long for people in your area of work, especially with such an extreme age gap."

Sherlock saw Claire turn red with anger and embarrassment. He stood up and gave a fake smile. "Sherrinford, you haven't met John Watson. John, Sherrinford."

John quickly got up and shook hands with the eldest Holmes brother. Sherrinford gave him a warm smile. "I read your blog, Dr. Watson. Very interesting and much more interesting than my little brother's."

Sherlock frowned at that. No one insulted his website. No one. Mycroft sat, eagerly waiting for the next few days to be over within the next few seconds.

"So, what's new with you, Sherrinford? It's been years," Sherlock said as he sat back down.

Sherrinford gave a large sigh. "Busy. Very busy with assisting the prime minister and such."

There was silence. John raised his eyebrows. "You work with the prime minister?"

"I do, but mostly the queen require my assistance. So, it's a struggle to work with both. I'm in charge of their appointments and such."

Sherlock wasn't too surprised to hear this. Sherrinford was always one for wanting attention. "And, yourself, Sherlock? Jumping off buildings and chasing consulting criminals?"

John clenched his fists at that and narrowed his eyes. He had sudden flashbacks of Sherlock. Reichenbach. The jump. Sherlock noticed but acted like he didn't.

"Yes, it's been quite the hustle, but it's nothing-"

"Nothing? It's far better than being spoon-fed your success, wouldn't you agree, Mycroft?"

Mycroft blinked. "Sorry?"

"Sherlock's had it rough, but yet still has a sense of dignity to him. Impressive. Unlike some people who have been pampered their whole life."

"I was never pampered, Sherrinford. You think any idiot could run the British government?"

Sherrinford smirked. "Yes. You're running it, aren't you? Who would attach themselves to such a person? So much power in one man, but yet so unworthy of it."

Mycroft said nothing and just looked down. That's all he ever did when he was younger. Look down and just take it in. Sherlock, despite his dislike towards Mycroft, wasn't liking where this conversation was going. John stared at Sherrinford with a small glare as the eldest brother smiled as if this was all a joke.

"Who, indeed."

All the men glanced at Claire as she spoke up with a stern look on her face. Sherrinford raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

Mycroft swallowed. "Nothing, she was-"

"I don't know who gave you the authority over your brothers, but you have no right to insult them nor behave in this manner. They may not be paid to kiss the queen's feet every day..."

"Darling, please," Mycroft mumbled, quietly.

"...but they're doing the best with what they've got."

"I can defend myself, please," Mycroft continued.

"And, also, if you seem to be so disapproving of them, why did you come? You're just making things worse by showing up with a piece of coal up your-"

"Claire, stop it."

Claire glanced at Mycroft and stopped. He stood up and gave them all a nod of his head. "Apologies. We'll be leaving."

Sherrinford stared at Claire as Mycroft grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room. John side-smiled as he saw how dumbstruck Sherrinford was. Sherlock cleared his throat and picked up the kettle. "Tea?"

X

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A/N: So, I wasn't exactly sure how to describe Sherrinford since his existence in the Sherlock Holmes stories was on and off. And since season 4 of the show isn't out yet, I had to think for myself. I used an app to morph Mark Gatiss and Benedict Cumberbatch's faces together and I decided to use that as a base to describe Sherrinford. Lemme tell you, it wasn't pretty. Sorry for not updating much! I was a little stuck on how to proceed. More to come and thanks for reading! :) btw happy november!