Mycroft had just followed Sophia's mother's instructions and moved to stand by his fiancée's side. He slipped his hand around hers and laced their fingers together just before he noted her slight gasp. "Mycroft, you didn't—"
He saw that her attention was at the door and turned, a smile creasing his lips at the sight of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson standing in the doorway, looking around.
She pulled him along behind her as she approached, only letting go of his hand at the last minute as she wrapped her arms around Sherlock's neck and squeezed him tight. "Sherlock Holmes, you came all this way—for me?"
Sherlock looked down at her with a soft smile. "Have you not yet come to realize just how much the entire Holmes family loves you, Sophia Cartwright? Of course, I came."
She then turned to John, "And you too—I can't believe you. What about Rosie?"
"Molly and Mrs. Hudson are keeping an eye on her while I'm away. I couldn't very well let Sherlock cross the Atlantic on his own—imagine the nightmare he'd be with customs if he didn't have someone to babysit him?"
She chuckled and smiled warmly at them both. "This means so much to me, you two. Really."
"Mother and Father send their love," Sherlock said, giving her another smile.
"As do Molly, Greg, and Mrs. Hudson—and Rosie, of course," John added.
"Come on, let me introduce you both to my family," she said, leading them all towards her mother, brother, and his wife and children.
"Mom, these are two of my friends—family really, from London. This is Sherlock, Mycroft's brother—and his best friend and partner in crime-solving—John Watson. I've told you all about them. Boys," she said, referring to Sherlock and John, "This is my mom, Elizabeth Cartwright."
Sherlock took her hand and gave a slight bow. "Mrs. Cartwright, it is an honor to meet you. You have my deepest condolences on your loss."
"Oh, the detective and the doctor, yes? It's nice to meet you both. You've really traveled all the way here for us? Thank you so much. It's so good to see that Sophia is surrounded my people who care for her so much."
"There are many more we had to leave back in London, ma'am. Your daughter is well loved, and she makes it easy. You can be very proud of the woman you raised," John said as he shook her mother's hand.
"Why, Sophia, are all the men in London such gentlemen?" Mrs. Cartwright said with a sweet smile.
Sophia giggled. "Not nearly—and these three cause plenty of trouble at times, too. But they are terrible sweet and good to me, aren't they," she said, looking adoringly at both her fiancé and her friends.
"Aunt Sophie," her youngest nephew, Jonah, whispered as he tugged on her sleeve. "Introduce us."
Sophia grinned. "Sherlock, John, this is my brother Daniel and his wife Janice. And these are their two boys, Jonah and DJ. The boys are quite big fans of yours—they read the blog," she said with a wink.
"This is so cool. Aunt Sophie knows so many famous people. Did you know we got a call from," Jonah, leaned in and looked around conspiratorially before whispering, "the Queen of England!"
Sherlock turned to his brother with a raised eyebrow, and Mycroft merely shrugged.
"Boys," Sophia chided them quietly. "I told you that call was because of Mycroft's job. I don't personally know the Queen of England."
"You mean Uncle Mycroft," DJ said with a grin. "Coolest Uncle, ever."
Mycroft beamed with pride. He'd had many fringe benefits to his job over the years, but when he'd gotten the call from the Queen's personal assistant saying that she'd heard from the Prime Minister about Mycroft's absence due to his fiancée's father's death—he'd never expected such benefits as being deemed 'coolest uncle.' He thought, however, that it might perhaps be one he could become most proud of.
Sherlock leaned over and whispered in his brother ear. "There are so many things I want to say right now. But even I know they are inappropriate—and I wouldn't dare tarnish the image of Uncle Mycroft in the sight of his new nephews."
Mycroft looked at his brother, blinking a bit in surprise. They'd both certainly come a long way in the past several years. "Thank you, brother."
"Sherlock Holmes and John Watson," Sophia's brother, Daniel, caught the detective and doctor's attention. "I understand you've been performing the duties of pseudo-brothers rather admirably in my absence. Though it's no surprise that it takes two of you to wreak the havoc I do on my sister," he said with a grin. "Seriously though, I appreciate you keeping her on her toes, and looking out for her, since I'm so far away. What do I owe you?"
"Well, now that you mention it, a few embarrassing stories wouldn't hurt. I'll give you my number—we'll stay in touch," Sherlock said with a maniacal grin.
Sophia groaned. "Perhaps this wasn't a good idea after all."
"So, you're a real doctor," Jonah Cartwright asked with a bit of awe in his voice as he looked up at John.
"I am. And I served in the military, like your grandfather. A different war, though."
"My nephew has aspirations of being a doctor, John," Sophia said with a proud smile at both her nephews.
"Oh really? If you'd like, I'd be happy to talk with you about that later, Jonah."
Jonah's eyes grew wide. "Really?"
"Of course. What about you, DJ? Any career aspirations?" John asked the older of the boys.
"I'm going to be a computer hacker, just like Aunt Sophie," he said proudly, which made Sophia beam even brighter.
"Hmm," Mycroft hummed, "Perhaps I'll look you up in a few years. I might have a job opening, if you match your aunt's talents in that area of expertise."
"That would be epic!" DJ—otherwise known as Daniel Junior, namesake of his father—exclaimed.
"Indeed," Mycroft said with a small smile before glancing at the people who were starting to filter in and view the casket. "It looks like visitors are starting to arrive. You should all prepare to greet them," Mycroft said towards the family before taking Sophia's hand in his again and moving her to stand on the opposite side of her mother from her brother. The two children wanted to flank and support their mother however they could.
Once the visitation was over, Sophia noticed Daniel speaking to Sherlock and John. As she and Mycroft, her brother's family, and her mother all moved to stand at the back of the chapel he whispered to his sister. "I asked Sherlock and John to sit with us since they are a part of the family. They'll already be there when we come in."
Her tears threatened again, as they'd been doing all day on this emotional day. "Thank you, Daniel. It means a great deal to me that you are welcoming them in. I know me moving to London has made things harder on you—having to handle things with mom and dad on your own, and—"
"Soph," he said softly, using her family nickname. "Stop blaming yourself. Whether you'd been in London or North Carolina, Dad still would have died. It's not your fault."
Mycroft was standing by quietly listening and watched as Sophia fell into her brother's embrace and held him tightly. "You always did know what to say. To make me laugh or make me cry."
"Or make you mad," Daniel said with a soft smile. "The trick is knowing which you need at the moment." He examined his sister closely before continuing. "I've also asked them and Mycroft to assist as pall bearers. I hope you don't mind. I think it's what Dad would want."
Her head tilted to the side as she looked at her brother in awe. "Thank you," she whispered. Then she looked to Mycroft, "And thank you."
At the conclusion of the service, Sophia couldn't help but be touched as her brother, her fiancé, her future brother-in-law and best friend, and two military service members carried her father's casket out of the chapel.
The graveside service was equally as touching, as her father received military honors. She watched as John Watson saluted along with the other service members present as Taps played, and she couldn't help but flinch at the three-gun salute. It was all overwhelming, but also left her with a sense of peace. Her father had lived a long, full life. He'd served his country, and his family, very well. And now, it was their responsibility to carry on. She held tight to Mycroft's hand as the folded flag was presented to her mother and took a deep breath as the service concluded.
"You alright?" Mycroft whispered in her ear.
"As good as can be expected, I think. I'm feeling—peaceful. I suppose that's as much as one can hope on a day like today."
She smiled as she looked at the flowers by the grave. "My father would have gotten such a kick out of knowing the Queen of England sent flowers. He'd be cracking a joke right now, you know. But he'd love it. Thank you, Mycroft."
"I'd not expected it, but it is a touching sentiment, isn't it? I do believe you have the whole of the British government supporting you, love," he said as he opened the door for her and slipped in after her.
"The British government hasn't even met me."
"Oh, but they have my dear," he said with a wink. "After all, what was it you used to call me when we first started dating?" he asked as they all quietly made their way back to the cars that would take them back home.
She squeezed his hand and grinned. "Mr. British Government."
"Indeed. I guess word has gotten around of my impending nuptials. I suppose with my reputation even the Queen is a bit in awe that someone has broken through my icy exterior."
"Mycroft, when you insisted that we had to address an invitation to Her Majesty, the Queen of England—I never anticipated that she'd see it, and that there was even a vague notion of her attending. After all this—I'm a bit concerned. Is there a possibility the Queen would be in attendance at our wedding?"
"While I know it will be a terrible disappointment to your mother not to see her new best friend," Mycroft said with a smile, "I'm afraid the Queen will not be attending. I should tell you, however, particularly after this latest development, that there is a possibility that we receive an invitation of our own very soon."
"An invitation?" she asked, somewhat nervously.
Mycroft gave her another encouraging smile and lifted her hand to his lips, kissing the knuckles gently.