I wonder who the man with the umbrella could possibly be…

Sophie and Jack stood to face the man who stood leaning against an umbrella with a contempt smile. He was dressed dapper and clean cut in a three piece grey suit, and looked utterly out of place in his surroundings. The area they'd driven the car to was deserted of people with a few large warehouses looming above head. The water in the river to their far left was still rippling with its impact from the car.

"Truly, that was very impressive for children of your age." The man's voice was unmistakably British. Posh, tool. He paused and raised his umbrella from the gound, bringing it to his side and swinging it along as he made his way towards them. It wasn't exactly going to rain in Venice any time soon, so maybe it was a power thing, Sophie supposed.

"Who are you?" They were both thinking it, so Sophie broke the silence and asked what they were obviously trying to deduce. Was this the man who tried to abduct them? Why was he in Italy in the first place? Was he an enemy? A friend?

The man stopped just a metre in front of Jack and Sophie, resting the top of his umbrella on the dusty ground and holding the wooden handle firmly in his hand. "My name is Mycroft Holmes, British Government. And you are Mr. Jack Moriarty and Miss. Sophie Moran. My pleasure."

Sophie recognised the name instantly. Jim has gone on about a Sherlock Holmes more times than Sophie could remember, he was, as Jim put it, 'his equal'. But Holmes was a common name.

"Naturally, you know of my sibling Sherlock. I'm certain your brother, Mr. Moriarty, has expressed his fascination with him to you both." Mycroft stood with a lenient swagger and stood staring at Jack now.

"Yes, we are aware. Now would you kindly explain to us why you tried to abduct us, Mr. Holmes?" Sophie was surprised at the tone Jack spoke to Mycroft in. It was strong, orderly, but not formal. Still with it's usual cocky undercurrent, but forceful enough to show he wasn't afraid. Sophie controlled her smirk at how attractive it sounded and forced herself back to the conversation at hand.

The man smiled and licked his lips, twisting his umbrella and crossing one leg over the other. "We didn't intend you harm, I assure you. In fact I was quite impressed at your deduction of the situation you were in." Mycroft brought his gaze to Sophie and inspected her leg, it was still mildly (OK, very) hurting Sophie but she chose to ignore the man it was causing her.

"You didn't answer his question. Why did you try to abduct us?" Sophie was surprised at her levelled voice; she was talking to the man who just called himself the British Government, whatever that meant. Since when did the British Government abduct teenagers, anyway?

Mycroft met Sophie's glare with a faint smile. "As two teenagers of who are excelling in knowledge and physical ability, I was interested in you both. Most teenagers would snivel and cry at the concept of being abducted in a foreign country, not hijack a car in less than 4 minutes and kill a man, let alone live to tell the tale."

Sophie was taken aback at his reply. Was there a compliment somewhere in there?

"Well you're obviously aware of our backgrounds." Jack's Irish voice bled into the conversation with a smile. "We aren't 'normal' teenagers, after all.

Mycroft let out a breathy laugh and nodded in agreement. "No. But normal isn't your forte, I would imagine. Given your backgrounds." Jack and Sophie couldn't deny they were stereotypical teenagers after all. They knew how to kill. They lived with a top class assassin and a genius psychopath. But that was their norm, and that was just what they liked.

"Why were you 'interested' in us in the first place?" Sophie's voice had a slight accusatory tone and her question mingled in the think air for some time before Mycroft replied.

"Your brothers are of interest to us, so naturally their families are too. I'm not mistaken in thinking that you two have no other family other than your brothers." Jack and Sophie's gaze dropped to the ground, Sophie's in reminiscing of her parents, Jack's to hide his smirk. "So you could be of use to us. The Government."

Sophie's neck lifted in a quick motion. They were wanted by the Government? For what, to work for them? "No." Jack and Sophie replied in unison, and Mycroft Holmes' face faltered into a slight frown.

"I assure you, you won't want to turn down my offer so unknowingly." Mycroft paused and let his face return to his usual mimicking smile. "The pay is good. Very good. The pair of you are obviously aware of the business that your brothers are… Involved in."

"The answer is still no. We don't need your money." Sophie stared hard into the older man's face and stood her ground. "I'm not betraying Jim or Sebastian, and neither is Jack." Jack didn't speak a word, but firmly nodded to back up Sophie's point."

"Miss Moran, I'm aware that you haven't been strongly involved in James Morairty's business, but my predictions are you will be in the near future. Though, Jack I do believe has had a minor hand in assisting Mr Moriarty on a few occasions. Sophie, you however have not. Is a life of crime what you truly desire? You would sell out your country?" Mycroft's voice was as stern as Sophie had heard it. But Sophie held her beliefs.

"Mr Holmes, selling out your country is bad, I do agree. But selling out your family is so much worse." Sophie took a deep breath, and continued. "Family is everything. And I'm not leaving mine because of what's right or wrong in the law's eyes."

For a moment, just a short and fleeting second Mycroft looked… wounded. His eye's lost its powerful glint and his face dropped. But that second left as soon as it came. "Very well. Though, you consider a criminal mastermind and his deranged brother your family?" Mycroft paused at the sound of a muffled snicker coming from Jack, and continued on to Sophie.

"Family doesn't have to be genetic. It's about who loves you. And if my family happens to be a 'criminal mastermind and his deranged brother' then so be it. They took me in when I had no one and I don't plan on leaving them."

Mycroft paused and considered Sophie's statement. Jack had completely silenced and was listening to the conversation between Mycroft and Sophie intently. The truth was, she did have a choice to leave, but he didn't. Not really. She could fight the crime, not be the cause of it. Jim and Sebastian would, in a perfect world, let her go. But her morals were stopping her. It was such a paradox to him that Sophie would stay. Part of him wanted Sophie to go and live a life that she deserved. But the far bigger part of him wanted nothing more than to keep her with him. But it seemed Sophie had already made her decision.

"Love is a dangerous disadvantage, Miss Moran." Mycroft filled the silence with that statement. It was obsolete. Until Sophie replied.

"Not unless you know how to use it." Her words lingered in the air and completely shattered Mycroft's statement.

"Very well. You decision seems final and I cannot falter your dependence. " Mycroft paused and raised his hand to shake Sophie's. Slowly, Sophie took his hand and shook it. Yes. Definitely an enemy. He paused and let go of Sophie's hand to turn to Jack. Mycroft simply nodded his head, and Jack did the same.

"Send my love to your brother." Jack's voice had that same aristocratical madness that Jim's had, and so did his face. It was moulded into a small grin that exposed some of his teeth, his eyes wide and gleaming with his black orbs entirely on show.

Mycroft's eyed darkened and he raised his posture. "Of course." He lifted his umbrella from the ground and his face returned to a whisper of a smile, but keeping its natural sternness. "I'll be leaving you both now. I'm assuming Jack, that your brother will be keeping track of you both, naturally. My deductions tell me a car will be here for you both in…" Mycroft smiled and checked his watch, keeping hold of his umbrella. "… Approximately 6 minutes."

A black, streamlined car similar to the one that abducted Jack and Sophie appeared out of somewhere and a single door opened. With a final nod, Mycroft turned and made his way back to the car without turning, swinging his beloved umbrella all the while. In just a few seconds, the car was gone and Jack and Sophie stood.

Waiting.

MYCROFT. I LOVE HIM. You needn't worry, there will be more familiar faces soon! Plus Jim and Sebastian will be back.