Bedtime Stories

Genre: Family

Pairings: Ensemble pairings

Main characters: Greg, Johnnie, Scott, Greer; Sherlock, Grace, Michael; John, Rosie, Daniel; with mention of Julian and also with special mention of Eurus, who last appeared in Chapter 48 "Affirmation"

"So," Sherlock said, checking his watch to make sure he wasn't missing his twins' bedtime ritual.

"Based upon the clues, the balance of probability suggests that your suspect," he said, with a raised eyebrow in Greg's direction, "is not only left handed, but most likely an introvert with mathematical skills and an interest that leans towards aviation and botany."

Greg's eyebrows furrowed, just as he checked his own watch. Cocking his head, he turned to John.

"I've no bloody clue what the hell he's talking about," he admitted, without shame or remorse.

"So… he's a pilot or wants to be one, who can do sums kay-pawed… and prefers to be alone, with his potted houseplants. Brilliant, Sherlock. Absolutely brilliant," John said, supressing a sigh. Later on, he knew, he and Greg would meet up across mugs of chamomile tea and pyjamas, if not this night, then likely the next, to debate just what the hell it was their often frustratingly brilliant housemate was on about.

In the meantime, Sherlock checked his watch again. "WELL then, that's all for now. It seems my children are due for their bedtime story. See you tomorrow," he said, with a flourish and a wide grin.

Greg and John shared a look as they watched their friend depart.

"I hate when he does that. Bloody hated it for years, in fact," John admitted. "I think Rosie and Dan are ready for their bedtime ritual though, as I suspect the boys and Greer are?"

"Hmmmm… yeah," Greg replied, as he waved goodnight to his friend.

"Once upon a time," Sherlock said, as he tucked Grace and Michael in for the night in their room in 221B, "there was a grand, brave Prince, named Sherlock."

At this, Grace, sleepily, asked, "Oh Daddy, you're SO obvious. You're the Prince, aren't you?"

Sherlock simply smiled, with a quick tickle under his daughter's chin. "Now, the Prince would have liked have been the VERY bravest Prince, but alas he was only the very cleverest, and the King, now his name was Gregory…"

"OH, Uncle Greg!" Michael declared, wiggling around under his covers. "Oh I might have known Daddy!|

Sherlock took a breath, then continued. "King Gregory was the smartest, in his own way, for he was a very wise King, and reigned with a practical head and a very kind heart. The very bravest in the land, well his name was Prince John, and he was the most likely to lead the charge to slay dragons, to defend his friends, and family most especially… and these three, the King and the two Princes, you see, were brothers. But as the succession was based upon age, King Gregory was first to ascend the throne. Second after him would be Prince John. Thirdly would be Prince Sherlock, who was sometimes just a bit too clever for his own good, and sometimes got himself into a bit of well-intentioned mischief…" he smiled, as he tucked Michael in.

Downstairs, in 221A, John was telling his own bedtime story.

"King Sherlock was certainly clever, but he still relied very much upon his brothers, Prince Gregory and Prince John," he said, as Rosie gazed upon him and Daniel yawned widely.

"Was there a knight named Julian, Daddy? Was he heroic and brave and handsome?" she asked.

"Well, probably, Little Lamb," John said, reflectively, smiling with the sudden warming in his heart. "But he's not in THIS story. Perhaps in the next one though, with Prince John's beautiful young daughter, Lady Rosamund. They need their OWN story, Rosie, because you see, throughout all the land, every single one the King's subjects, from peasants living in the English countryside, to everyone at court in the castle, knew one thing for very certain, and THAT was that Sir Julian would marry Lady Rosamund someday." John smiled and winked at his daughter with this, as Rosie beamed at the thought. "You see, theirs is a fairy tale all of its very own, my girl."

"Were the King and the Princes married, Daddy?" little Daniel asked, curiously, as he snuggled down deeper into his covers.

"Yes, of course they were, Danny Boy. King Sherlock's Queen's name was…"

"Sally!" Daniel declared excitedly, wiggling under his duvet. "And Prince Gregory's wife, she MUST have been Princess Molly! Am I right, Daddy?"

John chuckled softly at this. "Yes, you are. And Prince John was married to the most beautiful princess in all the land, Princess Alexandra…"

Downstairs, in 221C, Greg similarly tucked in his tired sons, whilst Greer waited patiently for him to sit back in the chair, so she could claim his lap for their own bedtime story.

"Now then, where did we leave off last night…" he asked, as he settled into the chair, gathering up his daughter into his arms.

"King John had just summoned Prince Gregory and Prince Sherlock to court," Scott reminded his dad. "They had many dragons to slay, all of them with funny names. Culverton, Moriarty, Magnussen… there was even a GIRL dragon named Adler, though Prince Sherlock only referred to her as 'The Dragon'. And they were about to receive help from Prince Sherlock's brother, Sir Mycroft. But HE had a secret weapon that he said had blown in mysteriously with the East Wind."

"Sometimes Uncle Sherlock refers to his sister as the East Wind, Daddy," Johnnie said, yawning. "Does he mean Grace and Michael's Auntie Eurus is the East Wind?"

"Well, Sir Mycroft DID have a rather unconventional secret weapon. Indeed, it was Lady Eurus, who was so clever that she had to live far, far away from court, lest she get bored. When Lady Eurus got bored, she could be a bit… unpredictable," Greg conceded.

"Did Prince Sherlock and Sir Mycroft miss their sister, daddy?" Greer asked, glancing at her brothers, and finding it hard to imagine not being able to live with them and grow up with them.

Greg smiled as he thought about this. Finally, he replied, "Yes, I believe they did, very much, each in their own way of course. Prince Sherlock often visited Lady Eurus, at the castle where she lived far far away, because he did miss her quite a lot, and his visits made her a bit less… unpredictable, and more likely to be allowed to spend time at court someday, under Sir Mycroft's watchful eye, of course. She had her own talents," Greg said, with a small reflective smile. "She could make beautiful music with her violin, and Prince Sherlock would often play with her. Sometimes," he said, brushing a kiss upon the foreheads of two sons who were nearly asleep, "they would even allow Prince Gregory to join them in their songs."

And so, the bedtime fairy tales were told, night after night, to seven tired children, by three devoted fathers, who in their own stories, narrated on the fly by them and their sleepy offspring… had many adventures, slayed many dragons, and saved many Princesses.