Chapter twenty-nine: Family now


Linda's POV,


Father shouted at the poor taxi driver all the way home, even threatening to expose his pornography habit to his wife! And he'd also let her know that he was having an affair with her sister! I made sure to give him a generous tip after he had to suffer because of my father who was worried. I was about to meet David's mother and mother's arch enemy. Irene Adler. Father was so upset that she'd dare to show her face in his flat. The mere mention of Irene's name sent mother into a fit. Now the woman was here in person and father hoped that she remained calm enough not to cause any complications in her pregnancy.

We fling the door open to the flat and stop dead in the doorway at the sight that greats out eyes. Mother, is seated in father's chair, her feet swinging over the arm. She's drinking a glass of strawberry soda and by her elbow is a bowl of chocolate ice cream. She smiles and waves her fingers.

"Hello!" Father stares at mother, as do I, for she's smoking a cigarette! She only does that when father's been caught smoking. She coughs on the smoke and holds out her hand to father. "Ok, let's have it."

Father frowns at her. "What do you mean?"

"The cigarettes, come on, hand them over. And don't bother to deny it, I know you've got them. I got a message from one of your homeless network spies that you were smoking again." Father groans and reaches into his coat pocket and hands mother the pack of cigarettes. She smiles and hands over her single one. "Thank you. Now dispose of that and get back here."

Father tosses it into the fireplace, onto the burning logs. "I can't believe you're using my own weapons against me."

"To quote you, Mr. Holmes, smoking is bad for brain work. But I'm not totally unsympathetic, I know it's soooo hard not to smoke sometimes." Mother pats the seat next to her. "Come on, sit down, Irene and Mycroft need to talk to us."

"Actually," father says. "miss Adler is going to be leaving this flat."

Irene Adler laughs as she stands up, holding onto an empty bowl of what may have been chocolate ice cream. "Now Sherlock, that isn't any way to behave."

I study her, now seeing why mother would have hated her so much. Irene Adler, she wasn't as beautiful as mother, no one, was as beautiful as mother. Still, looking at her, I myself felt the need to shift a little closer to Clark. She's seated directly next to uncle Mycroft, who looks somewhat ill at ease.

"She's right Sherlock, don't be so rude." Mother smiles and waves her hand carelessly. "Your bowl of ice cream is in the freezer Sherlock. Just pull it out and then join me."

"Is your life always this…tiresome?" Mycroft asks dryly. "Or is this put on special for us?"

"Shut up Mycroft." Father then addresses mother. "I'd really like to know what's going on here Tammy. You, Irene and Mycroft are all gathered around eating ice cream like family."

She raises her glass of soda. "You said it Sherlock."

Father frowns. "What are you talking about?"

"There's no one else here but family." Irene sashays towards the kitchen, carrying her empty bowl of ice cream.

Uncle Mycroft groans. "What these two soda-drunks are trying to say is that I married Irene last year."

Now, father went into complete shock. He just…froze and stared at uncle Mycroft without even blinking. I myself am in shock. Uncle Mycroft…married, after staying a bachelor for so many years….married Irene Adler. Why her?!

Irene laughs. "I should also add that we've also been living together for about eighteen years. So, those years might count for something after all."


Tammy's POV,


My poor husband. He's completely and utterly shocked. I watch Sherlock as his brain struggles to wrap about the whole moment. His older brother…married…a dominatrix. Not to mention, she had been on Britain's wanted list! It was an usual thought for Sherlock and I to take in. Irene and Mycroft….a married couple.

Everyone stares at Sherlock while he stares at Mycroft not even blinking. I exhale. "He does this when he's caught off guard just give him a few minutes."

Mycroft frowns. "Minutes? God, he's slow."

That shakes Sherlock out of his shock. "You've…been having an affair with Irene Adler?"

"Yes."

"And you….married her?"

"He certainly did." Irene purrs as she perches herself on the arm of Mycroft's chair. "Last New Year."

"I remember remarking something to Tammy that last year was going to be a horrible year. I'm glad to see that I wasn't wrong." Sherlock stares at his older brother. "Why her?"

"I might as well ask you why you married Tammy."

"Tammy is obvious. Irene Adler is not! And…she was supposedly out of the country. You thought she was dead!"

"Oh come on Sherlock, there are dozens of places for her to hide since you conveniently helped her fake her death." Sherlock frowns. "Thank you for that, knew you couldn't resist it rescuing the damsel in distress. Thank you for helping her fake her death."

Irene rolls her eyes. "Oh come on, you had no way of knowing he was going to do that. But thanks anyway Sherlock for saving my life." She smiles. "Mycroft was definitely immune to my charms for the longest time. It was rather annoying, I had my work cut out for me."

"You were annoying." Mycroft shoots back at her dryly.

"You couldn't read me." She speaks in a sultry voice as she runs her finger down behind his ear. "The only woman the Holmes men couldn't read. Of course, you read me better now, husband dear."

Poor Mycroft, trying to maintain a professional stance, but with Irene close to him, he didn't have a chance. "Do you mind not doing that here?"

"Why not? We're all among family. I'm sure once Sherlock comes out of his stupor he's going to kiss his wife since he's been gone all afternoon."

Sherlock frowns at Irene before turning to go over to the refrigerator and retrieve a water bottle. "I prefer to kiss my wife in private."

"Really?" I ask with my brows raised. "When did that become a rule?"

Linda lets out a snicker and father shoots a scowl at her. She coughs. "Sorry."

Irene turns to her, and studies her. "Oh, I see, this is your daughter. Linda may Holmes. She looks much better in person that she does in her photographs. But then in that case, who doesn't look better than their photographs?"

Mother nods. "I know. My photo for my passport is horrendous."

Father sits down beside mother and inspects her bowl. He shakes his head and scowls at her. "Tammy…we've talked about this. Now, you're going to be up all night with the weirdest cravings."

"Not so. Besides, this occasion called for an ice cream soda. It was delicious."

"Tammy, you promised you'd never whip up your dreadful concoctions of soda, ice cream, marshmallows and chocolate syrup."

Mother's face falls. "Oh, I forgot."

Father immediately switches tactics. "It's ok." He leans over and kisses her cheek. "I can handle it for one night."

He whispers something in her ear that causes her eyes to brighten and her to laugh. "Sherlock, you idiot." Father chuckles and places his hand alongside her shoulder. She gives him a quick peck on the corner of his mouth before turning back to Clark and I. "Now, why don't you two run along and let us adults talk in private?"

"Actually," Irene says as she leans into uncle Mycroft's shoulder, forcing him to place a hand on her waist to brace him. "I believe these two should be present. After all….it is my son who killed that boy Matthew and is out to either kill Clark or have him sentenced in prison for life."