Much to his confusion Mycroft awoke with his face buried in his pillow and his lungs crying out for air; normally he slept on his side so this odd position was a turn-up for the books which he quickly shoved away as unimportant. As he turned over the auburn-haired man also spotted he was alone, Artemis was nowhere in sight and he couldn't hear the shower running, this was much less of a turn-up and happened fairly often; Artemis was the only person who slept less than he did. A quick glance to the clock on the mahogany nightstand informed him he'd slept in a little as well. It had long been his custom to rise either with or before the sun but when he yanked the curtains open the orange ball boldly lit the morning sky as if it had been waiting for him.

He took a quick shower and wiped the sleep from his eyes, it was then that everything from the previous day returned to him, the children. Mycroft and Artemis had adopted the boys – of course there were still several documents to get sorted but the kids were theirs. He had sons! For a second it felt like some kind of cruel dream, he'd longed to be a parent for so long that he couldn't quite believe it had actually happened. Finally, finally after so many years.

Nerves started to settle in his stomach as he dried off and got dressed, he'd talked dictators out of wars and not felt so stricken. With the things he did on a daily basis he should have been exempt from such silly feelings but that had always been Mycroft's problem, it wasn't that he didn't care but that he cared far too much.

Mycroft's emotion had so distracted him that before he knew it he'd donned a suit he'd debated throwing out more than once, he'd not worn it since that Christmas trip to see his parents, a trip which had ended with his baby brother becoming a murderer. What sort of world is it when me having not killed anybody is a win for the Holmes children? Truthfully, Myc knew his hands weren't clean, far from it, some of the missions he'd sanctioned and gotten innocent bystanders killed, he knew that; perhaps it was worse to be a killer by proxy.

Mycroft refused to dwell on all of that, on the things which kept him awake at night, and instead focused on the two young boys in his house, the boys who were now his children. After a calming breath the suit-clad man headed out of his bedroom, down the hall and straight into the one his sons had slept in expecting to find them asleep. He'd hoped to offer breakfast but neither child was there, the elder one's bed had been made and the younger was gone from his crib. Unconcerned the British Government quietly made his way downstairs where he poked his head into the living room but that was just as void of human life as the bedroom, still undeterred he went to the kitchen where he finally found his family sat around the kitchen table.

Instantly the rich scent of coffee reached his nostrils but his eyes were firmly locked on his sweet Artemis and the boys. She sat on the bench seating at the table with the five-year-old on her left and the younger perched in the corner of the bench on her right. Mycroft had to pause in the doorway and just watch, so domestic, so secretly craved for all his adult life. Before his fiancée and eldest were an array of padlocks some of which had been opened while others remained firmly locked; a little smirk flashed across Mycroft lips when he spotted the way the eighteen-month-old batted one of the lighter padlocks back and forth as his own little game.

No one said a word but that wasn't a problem since nothing needed to be said; it was a moment for looking not speaking. Mycroft wasn't naïve, he was fully aware that his future bride knew he was there watching them, she'd probably known he was awake the second he'd left their bed; sometimes he wondered if Artemis did possess some kind of superpowers.

There was a metallic click then and the lock in the dark-haired boy's hand opened, he set it down but didn't spare a glance to either adult and remained just as tight-lipped as ever. Mycroft supposed they'd need to be grateful for the interactions they were getting out of him for the time being until he grew more comfortable around his new parents. Parents, that was something which concerned Mycroft greatly. The baby boy was too young to remember his birth parents but the elder child certainly would and Myc didn't want him to feel as though they were intending to just replace them. While Mycroft had longed for parenthood most of his life the children had thought their parents would keep them forever, love them.

"Good." Artemis praised in that emotionless way of hers; her voice jolted Mycroft out of his inner worries.

Blue-grey eyes watched as she handed over another lock which was quickly taken as Myc moved further into the kitchen for some coffee since it had already been made. Two plates covered in toast crumbs sat by the sink so clearly the boys had already eaten; solved one problem.

After an indulgently long sip of coffee the suit-clad man turned to lean against the counter and gaze at the woman who would soon be his wife.

"I've already informed Charlotte that I shall work from home today." Artemis didn't even glance up. "I do have a few documents I need to go over as well as a scheduled call at noon with Raymond Tourne but after all that I shall be spending the day with you and the boys."

Finally green eyes tilted upwards to meet Mycroft's blue ones. "Okay."

"Once I'm done I was thinking we could take a walk." He paused for another sip. "There is a trail which leads into the woods behind the house."

Artemis regarded him sceptically a moment. "You hate the outdoors and you don't own hiking boots."

"Actually I do, they're just very rarely used." He informed, pleased when he got a raised eyebrow from Artemis; that was as close to shock as she'd ever get. "Also, I thought the boys might enjoy the fresh air since the day is pleasant."

Though phrased as an innocent comment both Artemis and Mycroft knew there was far more to the conversation. They'd seen the horror of that bunker so yes, of course Mycroft wanted them to spend some time playing, just being kids, outside. On some level the five-year-old had probably picked up on the not so innocent comment as well; being so young didn't make him dumb. Regardless of how much he'd comprehended the boy said nothing; not that he'd spoken a word since they'd met.

"Very well." Artemis agreed and went right back to watching the dark-haired boy as he tried to pick the new, much harder lock.

The British Government supposed the sight before him wasn't regular mother-child behavior but Artemis and their new son were bonding in one of the few ways they knew how which was a good thing; an outstandingly good thing. Artemis would never be a bake sales and soccer matches mother but Mycroft had no doubt in his mind that she'd be a devoted mother like any other.

The younger boy smacked his padlock a little more forcefully across the table and Mycroft once again found himself jolted out of his thoughts. By this point he wasn't surprised at the smile that forced its way onto his lips. I'll need to readjust my mask. The eighteen-month-old might have been taught crying wouldn't help him in the least but he still knew how to play, maybe it would help bring his brother back? Mycroft could hope.

"Will you be all right to watch them until I am finished?" The auburn-haired man enquired after another indulgent sip of coffee.

The raven-haired beauty nodded, a simple, curt movement. Myc knew she'd be okay, Artemis really wasn't capable of feeling a lack of confidence but still he'd had to ask. She would soon be his wfie and he wanted her to be happy even if she struggled to feel.

"I will be fine." Artemis assured him. "The locks appear to be working and I fed them so they aren't in danger."

Oh Mycroft could have rolled his eyes. "I would never for a moment think you would cause them harm, my love. Missus Griffin left a small bag of toys here, perhaps you could find them a film to watch, something Disney, and let them play in the living room?" He suggested conversationally which got him another nod from Artemis.

"Okay."

Mycroft leant over the elder boy to kiss Artemis, a short but loving kiss for the woman who appeared to have been made for him. Then, with his half-drunk coffee still in hand, he crouched down and tapped his newly adopted son on the knee. Blue eyes peered up at Mycroft's own, he didn't miss the spark of suspicion which laced them. The sooner that faded away the better in Mycroft's mind.

"I have some work to do, but I'll be back in a few hours so we can go for a walk, would you like that?"

The boy shrugged, a non-committal answer if ever Myc had seen one. He tried not to push though and instead rose back to his full height and ruffled the child's hair before remembering just how much he'd hated that as a kid.

Not wanting to let the conversation drag on any longer than it already had, Mycroft made his way upstairs to his office. He spent the next ninety minutes carefully going through file after file and having an in-depth conversation with Anthea regarding a few discrepancies. Once satisfied the problem had been dealt with Mycroft opened up his laptop – the same one which had a plethora of top secret information on it – and then ground to a halt as an idea popped into his mind. Before he knew it he'd made his way to the Harrods website, delved into the kids section and started to scroll through the items listed. Seemed they had everything from toy ovens to foam ball pits. Of course Mycroft hadn't intended on taking in the children the very day Martha Griffin had shown up, he'd not really prepared for it to all happen so quickly, now though they had two young boys and Mycroft wanted them to have everything they could ever ask for; they deserved to be spoilt after what they'd suffered though.

"Seriously?"

Mycroft shot an eyebrow upwards when he discovered Harrods was now selling bears designed to look like his idiot little brother; suddenly he desperately wished Sherlock hadn't ever found that damn hat.

Quickly he scrolled passed the damn bear and carried on with his impromptu search. Holmes the elder had purchased exactly two children's toys in his life; a wooden pirate ship for his brother when Sherlock had been about six and an oversized, purple bear for Violet on her ninth birthday. Children shopping really wasn't Myc's area, regardless he'd soon splurged on a whole new range of clothes for both of his new sons – and wouldn't that take some getting used to – as well as a multitude of toys including a rocking horse, several decorative items for the two bedrooms, a teal teepee for the garden and numerous books. He, Sherlock nor Eurus ahd ever been 'normal' children and without a shadow of a doubt Artemis hadn't either, so, while Mycroft knew the elder child would struggle he believed that they at least deserved the opportunity to try. Besides, his 'minor position' within the government paid exceptionally well on top of what he'd inherited from his uncle, and what was the point of such wealth without anyone to spend it on. The suit-clad man would freely admit that he spoilt Violet at almost every available opportunity so he'd certainly do the same for his sons.

Sons, the word really would take some getting used to but it definitely made him feel a swell of pride.

Satisfied with his – slightly over the top – purchase, Mycroft finally turned his attention back to his work only to pause roughly three minutes later when he heard the television kick on downstairs, seemed Artemis had taken his advice. He couldn't keep letting his mind wander though so Myc forced himself to focus on the job at hand for almost another hour until his phone roared to life for the scheduled call, he let his hand hover over the phone a moment to listen for noise downstairs and sure enough the dulcet tones of a Disney movie drifted to him. Sure there would be no interruptions he answered and slipped straight into, what Lestrade called, 'government mode'.

Raymond Tourne wasn't a particularly nice man, quite frankly he was a vicious, pathetic little man who saw loss of life as perfectly acceptable as long as it got him what he wanted. Mycroft had started making small moves to get him outed from his position so the auburn-haired man doubted Tourne would be a thorn in his side much longer. Despite Raymond Tourne's desire to make things as hard as possible Mycroft was remarkably more intelligent than Tourne and easily navigated the conversation, he knew all the arguments that would be raised, exactly how to handle them and how to get precisely what he wanted. So, by the end of the forty-five minute conversation Myc had secured all he'd intended to, royally pissed off Tourne, and left Anthea to deal with the filing details.

Anthea's job had never been easy and the hours Mycroft kept certainly didn't make things any better for her, but she'd always been a hard little worker and quite frankly the auburn-haired man thought she'd make a very effective MP should the mood ever take her. Still, his call finished and Mycroft found himself having concluded everything he needed to do for the day; lest any unforeseen issues arise.

After a moment he left his chair and went to gaze out of the window behind his desk which peered out over the garden and sighed. His house was beautiful in a stately, old-fashioned way what with the suits of armor, stained glass and carved wood mantles throughout the building. The gardens reflected this as well, everything screamed old money without being ostentatious but at the same time it yelled lonely. The house was huge and another piece of his inheritance from Uncle Rudy who'd lived there as equally alone as his nephew had. There were eight bedrooms and until Violet had wandered into his life alongside her father only Sherlock in a drug induced stupor or his parents wanting to see the latest play had filled them. Those rooms didn't belong to anyone, the just sat there idle; except for the one he'd decided belonged to little Violet. He'd not tell anybody but Myc truly looked forward to turning the two rooms into bedrooms for his sons. For the first time his house was going to be a home.

Blue-grey eyes peered down at the viridescent grass of the gardens as he mentally placed the little teepee, it wouldn't fit with the look of his house but Mycroft honestly couldn't have cared less; he just hoped the boys liked it.

With another sigh Mycroft left his office and went to his closet where he dug out the very rarely used hiking boots; rarely used because he'd only worn them once. If there was one thing Mycroft Holmes avoided it was legwork. Sure his tailor would have a heart attack, Mycroft donned a suit more appropriate for a woodland walk the returned to his family who he found in the living room, the youngest sat surrounded by a set of colorful blocks while the elder paid keen attention to the end of the Disney movie Artemis has put on for him. Mycroft hadn't ever really paid all that much attention to the Disney films or their names but he'd noticed enough to know it was one Violet hadn't ever been too keen on. Blue eyes spotted Artemis then, sat cross-legged before the coffee table cleaning yet another of the guns from her vast collection.

"You're determined to take this walk, aren't you." It wasn't a question, much more of a statement.

The auburn-haired man wasn't a walker, he didn't see the point but this was all about the boys not Mycroft so he just nodded and bent to scoop the eighteen-month-old up from the floor then sat on the sofa with him; were he so inclined he could have stretched his left foot out and kicked his future wife. When one of the blocks slipped away and rolled off of Mycroft leg to settle beside his thigh he quickly grabbed it and offered it back to his son who accepted it happily. The toys looked old and had clearly seen better days but Myc knew new ones would be on their way soon.

For a time all of them sat silent and content while the animation finished, Mycroft hadn't wanted to interrupt when the five-year-old had seemed so focused on its singing animals. For a time he wondered if this would be how his life went on, work with the same determination as always but instead of sitting alone in his dining room, in the dark he'd have this now. It dawned on him then – which was embarrassing for a genius of his level – that he'd not be alone any longer. Not alone, well that's novel.

Eventually the film ended and credits rolled. "Let's get your shoes and coats on, yes?"

The elder boy just nodded without a single hint of an emotion as he pushed himself up to to hie full height. Mycroft held his large hand out which was quickly taken by the five-year-old and then the three of them headed up the stairs together. Artemis hadn't so much as glanced up.

Once in the bedroom Mycroft set his youngest down in the middle of the bed and grabbed the green coat the dark-haired boy had arrived with the previous day, he'd intended on helping with shoelaces as well but when he turned back the eldest had already sat beside his brother and taken care of it; clearly he'd been taught not to dawdle which was probably wonderful for parents but a moment of horror for Mycroft.

"Are you looking forward to our walk?" The British Government asked as he helped with the boy's coat.

All Mycroft got in reply was another non-committal shrug probably designed to keep any indication of emotion out of his face. Still, it was communication and more than the foster system had gotten out of him. Myc didn't push and instead quietly scooped the infant up again and held him securely in his arms.

"Ready?"

Quickly a nod came. Pleased he took the boys back downstairs where he found Artemis stood waiting for them. Quietly he wished she'd put more clothes on rather than just a long-sleeved, purple top, jeans and boots, yet knowing the answer he'd receive Mycroft said nothing regarding it. Of course she wore her holster complete with freshly cleaned weapon and looked prepared for anything; not that he'd ever expected Artemis to look anything but.

"So you really do own something other than Oxfords."

Mycroft flashed her a smirk then as they reached the bottom of the stairs where he kissed his fiancée lovingly. Well this is very domestic, were the momentary words that passed through his mind.

"Here, why don't you carry him." He said easily and handed over the boy who Artemis cradled close to her chest. He couldn't help but think that she looked good holding their son, despite the scars and the emotional trauma she'd suffered, motherhood still suited her. "Come on then."

As they headed out for this walk which Myc had planned really rather quickly, he found himself seeing his gardens in a new light, no longer would they be an area maintained simply because it was more aesthetically appealing.

The newly born family made their way around the house and along the disused path towards the little trail Mycroft had mentioned. Soon they found themselves surrounded by luscious trees and a rich scent of soil the further down the trail they got.

Mycroft had always known the trail was there but he'd never ventured along it, even as a child when he'd visited his Uncle Rudy he'd never investigated or even given it a second thought. Had his uncle not mentioned it off-handedly one day many moons ago Mycroft wouldn't have even known that the trail lead to a pond. Quite frankly Artemis had spent the most time down there, he'd seen her scope it out from his office window the day he'd brought her to live with him; he'd seen her jog along the trail a couple of times as well.

None of them uttered a word for several minutes, just let the birds chat away around them. The suit-clad man slipped an arm around Artemis' waist as they comfortably strolled together in what had to be the most peaceful day of his life.

Soon they noticed their five-year-old jog a little way ahead of them to grab a stick laying in the middle of the trail, which he quickly started to play with for all of a single second before he ground to a sudden halt and turned back to stare at his parents like they'd yell … or worse.

"It is all right." Mycroft encouraged with the most comforting face he could muster. "You run along, just stay in our sight."

The boy paused a moment as if attempting to figure out if the words were a trick but when both Mycroft and Artemis just kept walking he took it as truth and scurried off along the trail about fifteen to twenty feet in front of them.

For a short time the auburn-haired man soaked up the sight, it was the first moment where their boy had actually looked like a real child and Mycroft hoped to see a lot more of it in the future; from both boys.

Soon Artemis shifted the baby in her arms and Myc paused to face her. "Is he too heavy? I can take him if you need me to."

"I am fine, British." She responded quickly.

The raven-haired former assassin had been trained by Hades, she'd carried far heavier over much worse terrain so Mycroft knew she was more than capable; regardless, he cared about Artemis and didn't want her to struggle.

Mycroft's calculating eyes drifted back to the trail for a short time, the quiet was peaceful, but soon he decided to raise a subject he'd wanted to all day. He hadn't been uncomfortable bringing it up but rather been waiting for the right time and it seemed that the 'right time' had finally emerged from the shadows.

"Artemis." He began slowly which had those emerald orbs of hers focus on him. "As you can imagine, the boys will need names; we cannot just call them 'the boys' forever. I know I said I wanted them to have my name and they do, they're Holmes' now, but the paperwork isn't complete until they have given names also."

Artemis hardly missed a beat. "What are you going to call them?"

Mycroft sighed. There it was, she'd assumed she'd just get no say and he'd do everything the exact way he'd imagined it. To be truly honest he'd never really given her any other indication so he supposed part of her assumption was his fault, but at the same time it made him feel as though she still saw herself as an outsider, as if they were his sons rather than their sons. He made a quick mental note to not close himself off to Artemis as he did the rest of the rest of the world. He'd tried to be open with her but sometimes he didn't even think about it.

"That is what I wish to speak with you about." Together they continued along the trail towards the pond; the young boy securely in the former Reaper's arms. "I gave you a name all those years ago yes, but now, now I think you should name our sons."

The raven-haired beauty grew confused. "Me?"

"Yes, you're their mother." He confirmed hopefully. "You don't have to choose anything right away but I'd like for you to really think about it. What they should be named and why. I think it may help you to bond with them."

Artemis' head tilted a little in that questioning way of hers. "What if I choose something you don't like?"

The tall man flashed her a barely there smile. "I doubt you will, but should that happen I suppose we can discuss it like any other parents." A pause, small and practically unnoticeable. "I do have a request though."

"Of course, British." She was quick to agree.

Oh how Mycroft adored that stupid pet name. To all others it was just a word but to Mycroft it was a sign of Artemis' love for him, of how she'd firmly remained a person despite what had been done to her since childhood.

"I'd ask that the elder boy's middle name -" he gestured to the child ahead of them with the arm not around Artemis' waist. "-be Gregory. He is my best friend and very important to me. Honestly, I feel as though Gregory is the only 'normal' person who I can ever be myself around without facing judgement. He is a fantastic policeman, a brilliant best friend and most importantly he is a truly good man."

Holmes the elder had met politicians, royalty and diplomats alike from all around the work, but he'd never respect anyone like DI Lestrade.

Artemis nodded, unaffected by how his words had moved Mycroft. "Okay."

As they continued to walk the auburn-haired man wondered if Artemis had quite grasped the reason why he'd asked her to name the children. He suspected she saw it as a set task she needed to complete, a goal. Still, Mycroft knew whatever she chose wouldn't just be the first name she came across; he'd asked her to really think about it and so she would.

He already couldn't wait to hear her reasons for whatever names she selected, he wanted to know the reasons more than the actual names.