Chapter 35

The first few days after the birth was a learning experience for the new parents. Not only did the twins needed to fed every few hours, but they also needed to be cleaned and looked after.

John proved to be the fussiest out of the two. He would cry after a meal, but it was obvious that he was full. Leana, however, was the most curious ever since she opened her eyes. She also preferred to be held by her father and to Basil's amazement, she would fall asleep in his arms in an instant.

"Not sure why she does that," Basil said, but Olivia shrugs as she tries to settle John for a nap.

"Now this one is just stubborn, just like his father," Mrs. Judson said, taking John into her arms, but she also struggles with the baby. Basil watches the two women mice do their best to calm the baby boy. Leana did not stir and her father rubs her back as she continues to sleep.

It was decided that the detective, his family and friends return to Baker Street at the end of the week. His siblings had already gone home to London with their families, but they wanted to plan a house warming for the twins.

"We do need to set up cribs for these two," Olivia said, but Basil just chuckles.

"There should be one in the other room where I keep my family's belongings," he replies.

"Just one?" she asks.

"It's only temporary, but I do prefer those hammocks your family uses," Basil answers and settles in a chair with Leana still cuddled in his arms. Olivia watches as their daughter snuggles on her father's chest. John, however, was still being fussy.

"Hmmm, here, give him to me," Basil said and Mrs. Judson places the baby boy in his father's arms. Almost in an instant, John stops fussing and settles down. "How very peculiar," Basil said.

Olivia looks at the babies, who were sleeping soundly. "Now you're going to make me jealous," she said to her husband. Basil, however, was thinking of something and hands both of them to her.

"Just hold them, I want to see something," he insists and she takes them into her arms. Neither one stirred from their slumber, even when Olivia sits down at a comfy chair. Basil scratches his chin as he looks at his children.

"What are you thinking Elliott?" Olivia asks.

"I have a feeling that these two don't want to be separated," he replies and continues, "Emma and Penelope were like that after they were born. I'm guessing twin siblings don't want to be far from each other."

"That is true," Mrs. Judson said, "Your sisters shared everything together when they were younger. After Penelope's husband died, Emma opened her home to her and Sebastian."

"That does seem plausible," Dawson said, "Maybe I should study these two as they grow up."

Basil then rubs his son's back, "You look out for your sister," he whispers and John snorts and Leana snorted back. "And you look out for your brother, right young lady?" he asks his daughter and she gives the cutest baby chuckle.

Basil then sighs. "Elliott, what's wrong?" Olivia asks her husband.

"Now it's going to be really hard to concentrate on a case," he answers, "I don't want these two to get into trouble or some crook touching them."

"Well Elliott, you can't shelter them forever. They need to experience some fear, otherwise they won't know what it's like to know danger," his wife replies and adds, "Daddy was always protective, but when Fidget came that night, I was so afraid that I wouldn't be able to find him, at least not without your help."

"Yes, that is true," Basil said and kisses her forehead. Then, John gives a big sneeze, waking his sister and she sneezes back. Both their parents cleaned their faces, but Basil begins to think about them sneezing. "I wonder if these two have the same allergy?" he asks himself, but Olivia chuckles.

"Or they could've had the urge to sneeze at the same time," she suggests and Basil scratches his chin, again.

It was one day that Basil decided to take them to a hill that had a view of the sea. Once they were there, they breathe in the cool air and the twins seemed happy.

When the last day of the week was approaching, the Flaversham's gathered at the family home to bid farewell to the Basil's, including the two new additions. "I'm sure Hiriam would've been over the moon with these two," Kendrick said.

Stewart brought the twins' a gift and he reveals it to be a musical carousel with two beautifully crafted horses. Olivia examines the carousel, the craftsmanship looked oddly familiar, "Where did you get this?" she asks.

"I kept it when we went to your father's shop to clean it out," her uncle replies, "I thought your children should have something their grandfather made, I think Hiriam would've given it to them."

The twins look at the carousel, but the music send them off to sleep, again. "Oh what are we going to do with you?" Basil asks, but they didn't respond.

"You have a sleepy bunch," Aunt Hannah said and the musical carousel stops playing. Stewart wraps up the carousel and gives it to Basil to pack.

"Thank you Uncle Stewart," Olivia said, "I'm pretty sure it'll put these two to sleep in no time."

"Especially when you need a good night's rest," Kendrick jokes, but his younger brother nudges him. "Well, it's the truth, you remember those sleepless nights our children put us through," he adds.

"We survived, didn't we?" Stewart asks, but Basil and Olivia didn't like where this was going. Basil then decides to calm this situation.

"Now you two," he said to the brothers, "I would like to see for myself how my children behave at night." Stewart and Kendrick look at one another, then back at Basil.

"If you say so," Kendrick replies, "But if you need advice, you know where to find us," he adds. Basil then begins to think, raising children did sound like a chore, but raising two at the same time sounded like a big obstacle.

"Don't worry so much Elliott," Olivia said, placing a hand on his shoulder, "You got me, remember?" Basil gives an uneasy smile, but his wife gives him a kiss on the cheek.

When the weekend arrived, the Basil's and their two comrades were ready to head home. The train that would take them to London would leave at 10 in the morning and Aunt Hannah and Uncle Logan took them to the station.

"You know, we should get together at Aunt Sophie's villa next summer," Uncle Logan suggested as they approach the station.

"Not a bad idea, of course it'll need a good cleaning," Aunt Hannah replies and Olivia looks at her husband, who shows the key.

"Maybe taking time off in the summer would be a good time," Basil said and places the key back in the case. "We'll contact you once we have it ready," he tells them just as they reached the ticket booth.

"You take care of each other, it's been a wonderful experience having you here," Aunt Hannah said and gives each of them squeezing hugs and kisses the twins. The Basil's, Mrs. Judson and Dr. Dawson waved goodbye after purchasing their tickets and they walk through the station trying to locate their train.

Once they found it, Basil and Olivia had to give the twins to Dawson as they climb up and take them back. "There has to be an easier way in carrying these two," Basil said, while holding Leana. Olivia begins to think, but then, a big ribbon fell to her feet. It was probably from a woman's hat, but an idea comes to mind.

They asked a mouse attendant to help cut the ribbon, so it would fit into their compartment and they took it back with them. Olivia begins to tear off the ribbon, then ties it around Basil like a pouch, just tight enough to secure one of the twins against him.

"My word," Basil said as Olivia slips Leana into the ribbon. It secured her against her father's chest, without having him to hold her with his arms.

"I'll have to make it better, but I'm thinking that a blanket would be better," she replies and begins to work on one for John.

"Actually, silk is the strongest fabric but wool is not that great," Basil said. "I will say this, I will suffer back pain for quite a while," he adds and they laugh.

"Back pain is no joke Basil," Dr. Dawson replies rather seriously. Olivia successfully creates another pouch for her son and slips him in. The train then whistles and starts to move. The twins didn't stir from the loud noises and their parents look out the window.

They see some of the town buildings, but then see the misty hills and Olivia looks back at Linlithgow. A smile forms on her face, she felt at ease, but she was hoping that one day they will return.

Basil looks at his wife, he could sense that she was happy that she spent a lot of time in Linlithgow and he was also happy. His two children were born here and he makes a mental note of bringing them to their birth place at least once a year.

However, he then begins to think about the rat woman he and Olivia saw before they got married. What if the rat woman was really Ilse Altendorf, the mother of Ratigan and Rosenberg? What if she was out to avenge her sons and the collapse of their criminal empire?

The thought of her hurting his family gave him a sickening feeling. His mentor Henry Walker told him that Ilse not only poisoned her husbands, but she also killed children that were not her own, including newborns.

Basil couldn't help but feel angry that Ilse taught her sons to rape and kill children. That was the thing about rats, they take down the proudest of mice by hurting or killing the ones they love most.

Something inside Basil's mind told him to always be on alert when he sees someone suspicious. If Ilse is indeed still alive, she would strike at them at a moment's notice.

The journey to London was long, but they arrived home late that afternoon. Basil never felt so happy to set foot in his beloved city again and he saw that Dawson and Mrs. Judson were happy too.

They made it back to Baker Street to see a crowd of mice outside of their house. They caught a glimpse of a few familiar faces, including Mrs. Silverman, Claudia, and Basil's siblings.

"There they are!" Penelope exclaims and they welcome them home.

"Oh let us see the newcomers!" Claudia pleads, but Olivia shushes her friend as she and Basil show the twins. "Oh they're so adorable," she whispers and Mrs. Silverman takes a peek.

"They do have both of your features," the teacher said and looks at Leana and then at John, "I have a feeling that these two will be of great help to you, Mr. Basil."

"Great help?" the detective asks and Mrs. Silverman nods.

"I am deeply familiar with the great Sherlock Holmes. He missed out on starting a family, but perhaps some humans and even some mice prefer not to have families for their own sake. Now with these two angels, they will have great intelligence, not just from their father, but from their mother too," Mrs. Silverman explains.

The Basil's enter their homestead, but it as they look around, pretty much everything was covered in dust. "Oh my! Looks like I got to clean this!" Mrs. Judson exclaims, but Oscar and his sisters step in to help. Claudia and Mrs. Silverman also pitched in.

It was decided to set up the crib in the guest bedroom and the bed was removed. Once everything was cleaned up and put in place, the sun was setting and everyone was enjoying some leisure time before departing.

"Before we forget, here," Claudia said, handing Olivia a present. She opens it to reveal the wedding portrait and both Basil and Olivia smile at this.

"Claudia, thank you," Olivia said and hugs her friend.

"And I have been meaning to give you this after the holidays, but it slipped my mind," Mrs. Silverman said and gives Olivia an envelope. She opens it to reveal her final grades from the fall semester she attended at Westfield. She passed all her exams and received outstanding grades.

"Olivia, that's wonderful! Now you have to go back to Westfield!" her husband exclaims, but Olivia shakes her head.

"I think I'll wait, maybe a year or two," she replies and Basil realizes that she wanted to help out with the twins.

Basil's siblings bid goodnight to their brother and sister-in-law and went on home. Claudia and Mrs. Silverman stayed for a bit before they headed on home. "You take care of those babies!" Claudia shouts as she heads down the street.

A while later, the house was filled with warm light once again. Both twins had their fill and were settled in blankets and placed in their crib. Basil double-checked the window, just to be sure it was locked.

"They'll be all right," Olivia said, although deep down she was afraid that someone would come and take them.

"I think I'm going to lose sleep over this anxiety I'm having," Basil replies and his wife nods in agreement. Before leaving, Olivia winds up the carousel and music fills the room. They leave the room, but left the door ajar and settle in their bedroom just down the hall.

Despite being exhausted, the two lovers did some foreplay, but decided not to go any further. "I would like to make love, again. I'm just not feeling it," Olivia said and Basil rubs her back.

"You're exhausted from the birth," he replies, "I have great respect for you, the pain must've been overwhelming."

"Oh don't get me started," Olivia said in a grumpy tone and they chuckle and they settle down to sleep.

While the house was peacefully quiet inside, outside four figures stood across the street, gazing at the home of the Great Mouse Detective. "We are very close boys, but I have a feeling that we will have to delay just for a bit," the rat woman said in a whispery voice.

"My lady," one of the mice said to her, "I don't like it. Mr. Basil has always outsmarted death, what if he will survive this." His mistress looks at him, her face was wrinkled, but it maintained an evil grin.

"It's not him I'm after," she replies and pulls the top of her cane off, revealing a hidden stiletto blade, "I will kill his precious baby first and then that foolish Olivia Flaversham. I want to see him cry and possibly go insane over their deaths."

The three minions, two mice and a lizard look at one another in shock, they were part of Ratigan's gang, but they never took part in any baby killings. "Lady Altendorf," the lizard quivers, "I think it's wrong to kill a baby. They're so innocent and-" Ilse looks at him with angry eyes and then slaps him across the face.

"Now you listen to me you idiots!" Ilse snaps at them, "I lost both my sons and with that, my criminal empire died with them! I've waited a long time to extract my revenge for them! I want Basil to know of what it's like to lose someone precious."

She turns to face the house where the detective was sleeping with his wife and she pulls out a pocket watch. It was nearly 10 o'clock at night, the hour that James Ratigan died. She notices that the lights had gone out and she, with her minions make the walk towards the house.


From the author: The Basil's and their babies are home, but it seems that evil has waited for their return.

Be prepared my friends! Who knows what kind of action will take place next! See you soon!