Layla had been quiet for a majority of the ride to Mycroft's home. She was thinking over what she had witnessed while getting into the car; that and trying to wrap her brain around how closely linked the past and the present seemed to be. What Mycroft had asked her about her last name played over in her mind as well. She had barely had time to get to know her parents. She only had a dozen or so pictures of them. She had no idea where the last name came from, no clue about family connections at all.
She must have zoned pretty far out because the next thing that she knew, Mycroft was tapping her on the shoulder carefully and letting her know they had arrived.
"You weren't lying when you said this place was spacious." Mycroft smiled at Layla's statement of fact.
"Yes, it's another family home."
"How many homes can one family have?"
"Well, my parents currently live in a small cottage out in the country, a little place close to the river. After retiring from their work, they longed for peace and quiet."
"What did they do, in their careers I mean?"
"I think you would like them both. My mother is a genius in the world of mathematics; she worked for Oxford University for quite a number of years. To hear her tell it, she gave it all up to raise her family. My father…I think he would be your favorite of the two….Father tries to behave as though he's just a harmless old man. He used to hold a position in the British government as I do now. He was even a member of the national intelligence community for a time. He is smarter than people think. I suppose his ability to behave as the 'common man' helped him in his career. You will fall in love with them; everyone who meets them does."
"Are we going in, there's a slight nip in the air ya know."
"Very well, come along then."
They made their way through the front entrance, into the foyer, Layla looking around in admiration.
"I like this place already. I may never leave. You may have created a monster."
"Ah, but, would you be willing to leave your slice of London behind for this?"
"Hmmmm. You might be right. I would miss it I think. The walls talk there. That place will be telling me stories soon I am sure."
"What stories could the walls possibly tell that the journals don't?"
"I don't know. Maybe what Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson got up to when they weren't chasing criminals around this city. I will have to find out."
"How soon do you think that will happen?"
"What are you going to come down and interrogate the house then?"
"Let me give you a quick tour before I have to return to my duties." Layla turned to make her way to the bottom of the stairs and wait for him. Mycroft meanwhile, looked down at the top of her head smiling, shaking his head. She was going to be a handful.
He led her upstairs, an assistant following behind carrying her suitcase.
"This will be your suite. I hope the room is satisfactory. It has its own facilities."
"Are you kidding? This suite is bigger than the flat that I was renting." She ran into the room and vaulted onto the large bed, spinning head over feet before landing.
"This is so cool. I always wanted a bed like this when I was a kid, with the big canopy, and the posters. As a foster kid you never have anything of your own."
Sitting up she scrambled over to the side of the bed and slid down….it took endless seconds for her feet to touch the floor…once they did she took off like a shot running into the bathroom looking around.
"Mr. Holmes, if you force my hand I think I can make do with the lodgings. It will be a great difficulty I assure you."
Mycroft allowed himself a brief chuckle, he could hear the giggle in Layla's voice as well.
"Very well; come along. I should like to show you the kitchen, the library, and the sitting room. I think they will be the rooms you will frequent the most during your stay. We will need to be quick, I will have to return to my office soon."
"Yes sir, lead on then."
Layla followed him dutifully room to room, taking in all that he said about each one. When they got to the kitchen her eyes lit up again.
"A full chef's kitchen? I have only seen something like this in magazines." She made her way around the kitchen at will looking at all of the professional grade appliances and the excellent quality of craftsmanship in the cabinetry.
"I don't know yet, but I think I love you Mr. Holmes. The only thing that could make this place any better is if it had a secret passage way."
"There are several actually. It is an old home, over the generations it has served a great many purposes."
"You do know that I intend to go exploring later right?"
"I would expect nothing less as a matter of fact. Well, if that will do to satisfy your curiosity for the time being, I must be going now. I will try to be back later on tonight, but don't wait up for me; sometimes it is dreadfully late when I am able to pull myself away from the my duties."
"Fair enough. Thank you Mr. Holmes."
"You can call me Mycroft if you like." He gave her a courteous bow and turned to make his way out of the front door. Layla ran after him, catching up just as he crossed the threshold.
"Mr. Holmes….Mr….Mycroft." Seeing the stern look he gave her.
"Mycroft."
"Yes?"
"Be careful. By helping me you may put yourself in quite a bit of danger. Please, for me, be careful yeah?"
