Chapter 26: My little princess

'Present, London – 2010 Friday'

John was checking his blog again, not that anything happened in the last five minutes he didn't hit refresh. He couldn't be sure that Sherlock had read his message or any of them before. He couldn't even be sure they were in the same country right now.

1912 was the last time they met, 98 years until today. How many missions are there to come? 2010 London, 7 billion people live on the same planet with him and one of them had to be Sherlock.

The immortal thing was the problem, there were two solutions for the moment his missions are over and they would meet at the presence (John believes in this). One way it to become immortal himself, because he couldn't imagine to let Sherlock alone, the other was getting Sherlock mortal. But both ways would need a miracle or the answer how Sherlock became immortal in the first place.

The weekend was coming so he would have time to research. Maybe somewhere lays a book that could give him the answer.

Molly and Greg were in a heated discussion as John arrives. He greets them and was already pulled closer by her as he approach them. "Wow Molly whats up?"

"I … I went to Sally´s apartment, it was empty and she was gone. I ask around and no one seems to know anything. She was just gone." Greg rolls his eyes.

"Molly she lost her job and had to move. The people don't know anything because they don't care or maybe they didn't like her that is not some government disappearing act like in the movie." Greg sighs, it sounds like he had told her that already.

"But she is gone and you only think that because you are dating Mr. Government himself." That was low, especially for Molly. Before the situation could end in a fight John stepped in.

"Ok, stop. That had nothing to do with who is dating Mycroft. Molly, why did you go to her place anyway? You didn't like her ether." Molly was playing with the sleeve of her shirt.

"I wanted to make sure she is okay. She was the only other woman here, except Anthea who isn't really here and I thought maybe she would open up a bit, we could talk. … I don't really have female friends." Her voice got quiet at the end.

"I´m sorry Molly. But it´s probably best when you let it go. You don't want to get in trouble because of her. You like your job too much for this and about friend. We are your friend and if you want to do something you think only female friends would do that we come with you and show you the different." John lays his arm around Greg who had already pictures of days in beauty salons in his head. But he wouldn't mind if it would make Molly happy. She really had seemed lonely the last days.

Mycroft enters the office; he had been busy with a telephone conference and sees his employees chatting. "Miss Hooper, would you please get our agent ready for his mission. We are a bit late today." Molly nods, pulls John with her and hurries up to get him into his clothes.

Greg steps closer to Mycroft who pulled out a file form his bag. "Mycroft, do you like Chinese?"

Mycroft still with his thoughts in his mind turned around surprised. He hadn't notice Greg coming closer. "You mean the country or the food." Greg had to surpress a laugh. He really liked that confused look in Mycroft´s eyes.

"The food, silly. I wanted to take you out to my favorite restaurant, on Sunday maybe, if you are free of course."

"I never had Chinese, don't know if I like it or not." That surprises Greg. How could someone in this time not tried out any kind of Chinese or Asian food.

"Then it´s settled, I won´t let you walk around without knowing what you have missed. Lunch at Sunday?" Mycroft nod, the date was settled. "Our second first date, the first one had too many breaks. We will have to fix that." Greg winked and steps back as John came over after changing his clothes.

Mycroft gives John a picture from the file. A picture of the Russian Imperial Romanov family, he points at a young girl. "This is Anastasia. You probably heard of her, the rumor that he could flee from the murder of her family, right." John nods, he heard also that her body was found a few years back and all the rumors were gone. "She, like her siblings have private teacher and get homeschooled. One of her teacher is Sherlock. He is listed as an employee for over five years for the family." John gives the picture of the picture back. "We will send you to the year 1913 only a year after your last meeting on the titanic. I would like to know how he got in such a special and guarded position in no time."

"Understood, sir." John walks off and takes his place inside of HOPE. Just one year between their meetings. Hopefully they would continue like that.

'~1913 AD, Russia'

John enters the palace through a window. He wasn't sure if that was the real title for the building but it was fitting. He makes his way through the building without being bothered, good thing he has a plan from the rooms. Finding the right one was easy, outside the door he could hear Sherlock's voice talking in French to someone, he was giving a lesson right now.

The decision, if waiting or interrupting, was taken from him as the door was opened. A young girl looked brightly at him. "Would you like to take a walk with us?" She was smiling and something was shining in her eyes. "Please, my teacher said we would have a big break if you go for a walk with us." John chuckles.

"Young lady it would be my pleasure to go for a walk with you." He winked at her as Sherlock steps behind her.

"Miss Anastasia, this is John a friend of mine, how about we show him the garden." John offered his arm like a gentleman, she hangs her hand in and together with Sherlock they walk to the closed door that leads into the garden.

As soon as they leave the building Anastasia run off. "Shivzik, don't go too far, we have to finish our lesson later." The little princess waved to show Sherlock she had heard him.

Finally Sherlock and John had time together. John's eyes follow the little girl. "What did you call her? His Russian was a bit rusty.

"Shivzik? It means little imp. It one of her nicknames, she has many and all are related to her playing jokes in people. The duchess of Russia, Anastasia Nikolaevna. "She has a talent for language and acting. She could become a great actress with it. Sadly she isn't very good at other subject." Anastasia was kneeing next to some flowers.

"You only her teacher for language, right?" Sherlock nods. "How could you get so soon after the Titanic in such a position? How did you survive?" John was suddenly very curies, maybe to hide his guilty feelings about leaving Sherlock alone on the ship.

Sherlock picks up a little stone and throws it into a pond. "I was recommended by their previews teacher, I was befriended with his son. I got the position after he retired." Sherlock didn't answer the question about surviving a sinking ship.

While Sherlock was talking John watches the little girl. She wasn't really a child anymore, not in this area, with her 12 years she was nearly an adult. But he knows what will happen to her. Before her bones were found he could have told Sherlock to save her somehow because he could see the love that had already grow inside his beloved.

"I have figured it out by the way." John looked back to Sherlock, confused what about he was talking. "Time travel." He nearly tripped over his own feet.

"What?" How did Sherlock came to this conclusion.

"Actually it wasn't really my idea. I met a very interesting man on a train station as I had to wait for my next ride. Mr. Wells is author and told me about one of his earliest creations. ´The Time Machine´, that´s it right. HOPE is a time machine that let you travel though time and visit me. For you its only days but for me it could be centuries." John was amazed, Sherlock was brilliant and he loves him more every second. If they wouldn't be watched by a child John would kiss his immortal right now.

"You are brilliant Sherlock." There was nothing else he could say about it only that Sherlock was right and that they were finally able to talk about it.

Sherlock blushed by the word brilliant. "I read the book, is it really like that? Is the past like it happened or can it be changed? And why are you only with me on special days? And-" John lifts his hand to stop the flood of questions.

"Sherlock, don't really know the answers ether. I just sit in the machine and arrive here after my boss told me where to go." Sherlock wasn't happy about this answer it doesn't satisfied his curiosity.

"But you know what will happen, happen to her?" Sherlock pointed at Anastasia who started to copy her teacher and throw stones into the pond. "And it isn't something good." John only shakes his head. "The world is like a barrel filled with powder. That could blow up by a little spark. I can feel it. Something big is coming and I won't like it. "

John knows what he is talking about, World War One. "This world will light up in flames; it won't be the first time and not the last. You have seen the world and the people. What they can do to each other and what they would give to own a little piece of it." John holds Sherlock´s hand while they watch the little imp, playing happily. "Now I can tell you that I will start searching for a solution for the immortal problem." John changes the subject, he couldn't and wouldn't tell him when the murder of her whole family will happen.

"What problem?" Sherlock wasn't sure what he means.

"There will come a day we won't be able to meet like this, in my present. I haven't found you jet, or maybe you hide until my missions are over. I don't know. I left you messages but I can't be sure you get them." Sherlock was still confused. "Sherlock if you stay immortal you will watch me grow old like everyone else." John let the dying part unsaid. "I told you I love you and I won't leave you alone. That means we have to grow old together or be immortal." It made sense. Sherlock hadn't thought about it. He was happy enough to get the time travel thing right. His own condition wasn't on his mind since a long time.

"So you try to find a solution. Maybe I can help with it too. I can start to gather information again. It wasn't interesting in the last years." Sherlock stops and look at his pupil. "I can´t save her, right?" John shakes his head. No he couldn't.

John tights his hand that was holding Sherlock´s and let go. "I have to go know. Don't want you two to fall behind your lessons plan for today." He had told Sherlock a lot of thinks today. Mostly because Sherlock found out about the time travel but also because the importance of finding a solution became a more present problem.

'Present, London - 2010 Friday'

John couldn't believe what he just did. Not only did he told Sherlock what will happen but also that he was looking for him in the present. His presents, Sherlock´s future. Okay he didn't tell him the details only that they will die, because he really doesn't know what and when exactly it will happen but the family will die and Sherlock isn't allowed to stop it.

He chases the thoughts of the catastrophic possibilities of changing the past away as he enters the library, it was part of the public library of the city but this building contains the more … let's call it interesting books for him. Most of them are about religion, miracles and experiments from the past with questionable methods in all areas. Somewhere in here could lay the secret about immortality. John had to thank the librarian form the main section that told him that he would be most likely more successful in this part. He had the whole weekend and he would start right now. Maybe he can find something and tell Sherlock about it. Best in his blog, because what good would it do when the past Sherlock starts to get older before he was even born.

The past Sherlock, or better his present Sherlock only needs to know that he had found something so that the present Sherlock from his time, the future Sherlock of the past Sherlock can find him and get the solution. Or maybe the past Sherlock had already found something and isn't in his presents at all and there is no future Sherlock and this is the reason he never answers on this blog.

John makes a stop to his train of thoughts. Time traveling was complicated enough, he doesn't need his brain to make it more confusing and horrifying by telling himself that Sherlock could be already dead in his time. He returns to read about a second world war experiment form the Germans about making super soldiers. Sounds like immortality for him. Good that his language skills are far better than his historical knowledge. A bit like little Anastasia.

'Present, London - 2010 Saturday'

Mycroft was satisfied with the security measure at the clinic, the money that goes into the rehab center was used probably at first sign. He had to let everything that could be used as a weapon behind. Not that Sherlock was suicidal but there were people inside that are and no one wants to risk an incident.

Sherlock was patient in this clinic for eight days. His doctor had called to tell him that most of the addiction symptoms had vanished by now. The doctor was really surprised, by the amounts of drugs in Sherlock's system as he had started it should have taken up to three weeks. But Sherlock was special and had asked for a visit and who was Mycroft to denial him this when it was helping his newly found Brother.

The feeling of having a brother again was strange but Sherlock had asked in a way Mycroft would never say no. He imagine that his real brother could have become a trouble maker himself. It was giving him something he had missed his whole life.

Mycroft enters the visitor area. Many tables were occupied by patients and their families. Sherlock was waiting at one of the tables for him. A light smile appears on his face as he sees that the immortal looked better. No longer the tired, worn out eyes were looking at him.

"Hey Mycroft, would you like to play with me." An innocent question ask by Sherlock.

"Good morning to you too, little brother." The second part came without hesitation. "What would you like to play?" Mycroft sits down and Sherlock places a board game in the table, Operation. Not a game he had chosen, Mycroft wasn't good at these kinds of games.

They played for a while without much of a conversation. Both concentrated on their task to beat the other in a child's game until the batteries gave up. The game died with a scream and the nose doesn't shine red anymore. "The only other game I could recommend it chess." Sherlock offered.

As they begin to move their pieces over the board Sherlock had relaxed enough to finally talk. "I miss Mrs. Hudson's cooking, the food in here tastes like nothing."

"I might be able to get something in here, the next time I come to visit." Mycroft moved his pawn to the next place. "Have you found another piece of hope in your soul that let you continue?" For everyone that could listen, nothing was out of the ordinary in their conversation.

"I have John and I'm able to wait another few weeks for him. I will not break down and I will welcome him clean and with a smile." Mycroft was happy to hear that. He really was worried about Sherlock. "Can you tell me what the last mission was? I try to remember the time line but I not sure." First Mycroft wanted to refuse but what harm could come from it.

"He was in Russia, the walk with him an Anastasia in the garden?" Sherlock nods, he remembers, of course he does. Every meeting with John was burned into his mind. Every breath he had taken every word he had said and every spark in his beautiful blue eyes.

"Then I have a request." Mycroft's waits. „Help him. He starts his research for a solution against immortality or becoming immortal himself. He has spent his weekend in the library and found nothing." Sherlock looked sad. "I don't know the solution but maybe a bit help from your side would be good for John´s moral. He thinks he is fighting this war alone. No one should think that." Sherlock moves the Queen. "Check mate."

Mycroft leaves soon after with a new task and the feeling that their immortal will be able to wait for another few weeks. It not even starts a month ago and they already have fallen deeply for each other. Sherlock´s eyes in the museum, that what Mycroft wishes form. Someone who will look at him like he did.

'Present, London - 2010 Sunday'

"And you really never tried it before?" Greg asks as he and Mycroft enter his favorite Chinese restaurant. They had a reservation because it wasn't only Greg who liked the food here. They were greeted by a small Asian woman with an accent that could come from everywhere between China and Vietnam. They had met in front of the restaurant because Mycroft had to finish something in the office and didn't want Greg to pick him up. He would have to travel through the whole town only to go back with him.

"Gregory I hope you feel the honor of being my partner by my first time eating Chinese." The word first time let Greg blush a bit and he hides behind his menu.

The ordered and have a great time, talking about favorite food, music and children book from their childhood. It could tell a lot about a person what book you liked as a child.

"Did you know that John spend his whole Saturday and most likely today too at the library to research immortality?" Greg asks suddenly, while they enjoy the last bit of their wine.

"I'm aware of the situation." Mycroft really was, after Sherlock had asked him the day before. He still wasn't sure how to help without raising red flags and getting unwanted attention.

"I tried to get him out for a beer but he told me he would research at home after closing hour." Greg continues, Mycroft could feel the question that would follow. "Would you ... you know help him a bit. If possible?" John Watson was a lucky man, gifted with friends like this.

"Yes I can help with the research, maybe there is a way for them both." Because that was what they needed, a way to give Sherlock and John a future together. Immortal or mortal.

They finish their lunch, notice that it was already late afternoon and walk home together. They cross a park and Greg acted on impulse, he takes Mycroft's hand. Mycroft closes his fingers around Greg's and they continue their path holding hands. The first real sign of a relationship. Greg was glad that they taking it slow but this was nice. He only hopes that Mycroft can't feel his beating heart through his hand.

They arrive far too soon at Mycroft's door, they should let go of the others hand but they weren't ready yet. Knowing that staying here would lead to something Greg needed more time as was Mycroft he finally looks away from the door at each other. "Then till tomorrow." Greg offered. Mycroft didn't answer and lend down. Their lips meet and a short kiss was exchanged.

"Good night Gregory." Said Mycroft's mouth after they were separated again. His eyes ask if this kiss was okay. And hell was Greg okay with it.

"Good night Mycroft." His eyes say do it again soon.

James Moriarty or Jim for his friend looked at the nervous looking women in front of him. A new client, he rarely takes them without a recommendation but she found him with one wish, destroy Mycroft Holmes.

It was already late and the night had swallowed the city of London. Feeling quiet comfortable in the shadows, Jim takes pity on that woman and steps out into the light of the streetlamp. She flinched back a bit but collected herself again. Impresses. Jim knows and uses his presents of death and horror for his job. It´s a benefit to be feared in his line of work.

"Miss Donavan, you are here to hire me. Tell me your wishes and we might come to an agreement regarding the payment." He had her full attention and her fear, he loves the smell of frighten people in the air. He would take her case but she didn't have to know that. He likes the fish on the rope to fight for its life and freedom before he puts it into the bucket with water to eat it later.

"I want to know the secrets of Mycroft Holmes; I want to destroy him because he destroyed my carrier." Her voice loses the fear and anger makes itself known. An angry women on a revenge trip. Poor Mycroft, hadn't he learned to be careful with women, they can become quiet monstrous. Jim laughs and offered her to follow into the shadows.