Continuing To Live
BY: WOLFA MOON
Summary: 2nd chapter to Wonderland
Continuing To Live
Mrs. Violet Holmes walks into the dinning room. Their newest addition sitting over a book. Her husband giving him free reign to peruse all his likes in the library. The young student absorbing in the many worlds seeming to be excluded from him. Sherlock giving him books on all sorts of things. Wondering where her other children are. They seem to hover around their latest family member. Trying to see who could out do the other. Little John seeming to gravitate more toward his hero, Sherlock. Sherlock gravitating toward John. Such an interesting companionship.
Her son changing a little bit by bit. Laughing more. A smile appearing on his face.
"John," he looks up at her. "What are you doing in here?"
"Um," he looks up and around to see that he is alone in the dinning hall. "They were here then um. I don't know. Reading." She smiles coming over to him. He watches her carefully. Inside she hated that the boy seem to put himself on guard around adults. Having gotten the whole history. A history she intends to rectify. She moves to sit beside him.
"They are probably off experimenting."
"They do, do that a lot." His world had changed. Instead of being cast out he is welcomed into this strange family. And his new brothers' minds thinking so unlike anyone he has ever met. Moving so differently. "It is quiet in here."
"Then that means they are not inside the house." He smiles at that. So does she. "Do you need any help?" he shrugs. Moving close she looks at the book. It's a collection of Poe. The first mystery writer. "Interesting reads."
"Trying to figure out how they work." John struggled in order to understand the male dominant force in this house. Their mind delving in ways both could never endeavor.
"How do you?" he looks around. "How do they think like that but?"
"They think in every angle. Take in all the details. Down to the tiniest detail. Then they with their knowledge put the pieces of the puzzle together faster to see what the picture is."
"See that I understand. It just…" I'm not like them.
"You are perfect just the way you are. We don't ask you to be any different." They smile. "How about we go make some biscuits?" Closing the book they make their way into the kitchen.
Sure they have staff to cook and help with cleaning and tending. Still there are some things that a average girl still needs to do to feel normal and not the queen of a house. So not to think high on oneself. And also these small moments let her become closer to the other emotion in the house.
Continuing To Live
Sherlock ran into the house covered head to toe in soil and who knows what.
"John? John!" No response. Stomping the muck off he disposes of his cloths. Moving in further a smell catches the air. Moving in further he followed his nose. It smelled wonderful.
Entering he stops. John and his mother are baking. They have flour all over them. John is grinning from ear to ear. His mother the same. They are both singing some old sailor chantey. Sure his mother is from the lower ranks as his grandmother told him but she seems so at ease. John though is so open. Not hiding in a book to learn what things they knew. This must be what watching a blooming flower is like. They keep singing and John throws flour in the air and starts spinning. His mother grabbing his hands and twirling with him. Sure he dances with his mom. Formal upper standing dancing. These dances are no known steps to him. This is emotion. John stamps his feet then does a slapping move on knees and twirls. His mother laughing loudly copying him. Then they twirl. The movements confusing. Sure his mother is the emotion out brining in his father. But this. John is his emotion bringer. Seeing what a normal child should be like. Not a freak.
John bounces hips with her again. Lost in the movements and laughter. His mother and sister always loving to fill the house with music. Sing like no one is listening. Dance like no one is watching. No regrets. There is a radio going on in the background. The music changed from Journey to Wind Beneath My Wings. John froze. Looking to the radio then around him. He had become lost in it all. Felt free. Then everything crashed.
Violet watches the fast paced change in her son. The happiness draining from his face. She kneels before him. Moving to wipe the flour from his face.
"John?"
"My mom loves this song." True she would never be his birth mom but hopes to have a place in his heart.
"It's a beautiful song." Water so easily fills his eyes. Violet smiles. So long since she seen her children cry. Hiding it behind that big mind of theirs. Moving in she wraps her arms around him. "It's okay John. You have us."
"I'm sorry."
"Never be sorry."
Continuing To Live
Sherlock watches as his friend collapses into his mother. Crying. John does that a lot. Always wondering why but he brushes it off. Learning the tell of ones emotions are truth or fake. Which cries are what. This one though is of lost. But his mother's tears. She looks at him. Her hand motioning him to come her. Doing as told he stops before her.
"Sherlock," John stiffens.
"I was looking for you." John wipes his tears looking at her then to Sherlock.
"We um were making biscuits." Sherlock nods. John putting on a ghost of a smile. Sherlock smiles back.
"I found some frogs. Want to dissect them with me?"
"Um," he looks to Mrs. Holmes.
"Go ahead. I'll call you both down for teatime. And Sherlock anyones you don't dissect please release back into the pond."
"Yes mother." The two depart.
"Mycroft, why do you lurk in shadow?"
"Because it is the best way to observe."
"And what did you learn?" Knowing how to respond to each of her children. Basing more for John on her self.
"John is very emotional."
"As am I."
"True mother."
"Do you love me?"
"Always mother." As if that was a rather stupid question to ask.
"John loves his mother as you love me. He misses her." She turns to check on the biscuits. Then surprised when arms hug her.
"I would miss you greatly." She hugs him back. John gave her sons emotion back. Thank you.
"I love you."
Continuing To Live
Violet is an homemaker. Watching the children grow and be there for support. Now watching as the children taking riding lessons. John sitting on he post next to her.
"Have you ever ridden John?"
"On weekends sometimes. Mostly holidays."
"Would you like to?"
"No thank you mam I don't want to be a burden."
"John, we may not be you birth parents but we are your family now." He looks at her. She smiles. "What do you like to do?"
"I like football." She smiles at him. Urging him to continue. "Rugby."
"Physical sports."
"It's how I grew up."
"I'm not telling you what is right and wrong. I grew up playing. It would be an honor to take you to your games. And I think it is good to get Sherlock and Mycroft into the more low brow sports." They both laugh and nudge shoulders. She knows what the other women think of her. Marrying for money. Truth, she fell in love. John places an arm on her shoulder. He has heard the other women talk of her. Kicking dirt on their fancy cloths.
Violet may not be his mom but she has a good heart. Welcoming and caring for him.
Continuing To Live
Sherlock watches as John runs up and down the field. It's exhausting just watching him move. But he has to admit that he is good. Running the ball to score several times. Watching his mom glow as John scores. He did fencing with his brother winning too. His mother glows then as well but it is strange when it is aimed toward someone else. Jealousy, he wonders. He has seen people act on this and it just ends with someone bruised and the other getting into trouble over the debatable.
He cares for John a great deal. He's his only friend. Sure he had teammates and school chaps but that was on demanded time to be together. John stuck to him no matter what time of day it was or what he is doing. Even helping with his experiments. Yet when he sees the other boys on the team patting him on the back and soaring with him as he goals. That is when real red clouds his vision. John coming over with a fellow teammate.
"This is Greg." Violet smiles to the boy. Sherlock stiffens. John sees this. Moving over to stand by his brother/friend. "Greg this is my best friend Sherlock." Sherlock gasp like a fish. They have never spoken on terms of their relationship beyond you are family. The brother I always wanted.
"Hello," Greg spoke putting out a hand. Sherlock shakes it.
"Hello." The seen is tense and all John can do is look between both of them. Wondering what is up. Sherlock doesn't get jealous, does he? "You both did well."
"Thanks. I gotta go. See you next practice."
"Sure. Bye Greg." Greg runs off to a man with a Manchester United jersey on. The man picking him up and lifting him upon his shoulders. John looks longly at them. Remembering his father doing that. Doubting Mr. Holmes would ever do that. A soft peck on the cheek snaps him from his daze. Looking over to a smiling Violet.
"You played wonderfully. Where do you want to go for lunch?" John looks to Sherlock then to Violet. Since with them they had mostly eaten at home or at places he had to wear a tie to.
"McDonalds." He voices before his stomach grumbles. She smiles warmly at him. Such a hometown boy. The simplicities of fried food.
"Ok," she begins to escort them away.
"Mother, father says those things are bad for you."
"What he doesn't know won't hurt him and a little bad once in a while can be good for you."
Continuing To Live
They return home both with happy meal boxes held in their hands. Sherlock still examining the pig driving a car. John having to explain her name is Ms. Piggy and who the rest of the Muppets are. Sherlock ever attentive and listening as John regales him of books he read and programs he watched. Taking him upstairs to pull out a beat up Muppet book. The binding being held together with tape.
"You must really like that book." John still looking down at it. Running a hand along the tape.
"I tore it in two because Harry wanted it. We tore it. Took me a roll of tape to get it readable again." John puts the book back in his original bag. John still keeping it and his most worldly past treasures held within. "It's a good book." He holds it out for Sherlock. "It may be too babyish for you. Sorry I shouldn't have." He begins to turn. Sherlock stops him.
"Read it to me." Sherlock never ask to be read to. He was reading before he could fully change himself. Potty took time and he wanted to continue to read. Then learning he could take a book in there and read while sitting. Spending his days on the loo. This though is important. Learning anything that came form the bag is important. Even if it is a scrap of ribbon that is very thready. It is a treasure to be secured in its chest. Only John can get items out.
Sitting down John read it to him. Sherlock asking question after question. Ending with a frustrated John.
"Shut up Sherlock it is a story and meant to be read not interpreted or figured out. Just enjoy or I'll punch you in the face." Sherlock looks at him to see John smiling. He beams on the inside. John is happy.
Continuing To Live
Mycroft sits across from his mother. She looks up at him as he does something smart and cleaver. But mostly remaining quiet.
"Are you okay honey?" Mycroft freezes. Ever since John came it is like baby Sherlock all over again and him being ignored.
"When can we send John back?" this made his mother really look at him. Sure he enjoyed that he keep Sherlock out of his affairs. Made his brother act supposedly normal.
"He's not going back."
"Surely he has more family than the cat hag." Stunned to hear what her eldest is saying.
"Where is this coming from?" Mycroft closes his book to give her his full attention.
"I know it is good to have Sherlock behave normal-er. But why does he need to stay he. He can live with his aunt and we can visit. Or has some other family that will take him."
"There is no other place and you will desist this talk now." She's getting upset at him. He knew what John's life was like. Knew that there is nothing. "Tell me what brought this on now or so help me no treats for a year." Mycroft gaped at her. Treats were the only highlight of behaving and eating vegetables.
"You love him more than me."
"Oh Croft. I love you all the same. John just needs some more hands on care right now till he finds his place. You already have yours, as does Sherlock. John, he is a new piece that we need to see fit into our family. Besides he has never hurt us or such. He makes Sherlock smile and keeps him out of your hair. You can't tell me you don't miss that?" she eyes him up.
"No, I just…"
"Began to worry. I love you all." She hugs her son. Mycroft leans into her. She has the biggest heart in the world. Maybe he should get to know John better.
Continuing To Live
Months continue then one day John becomes quiet. The day previous he had one a cup. Scoring wins left and right. Now today he's hold himself in the closet. Sherlock sitting inside across from him watching his best friend. Mycroft sitting on the bed looking down at the trophy/cup. Violet beside him. Then Mr. Holmes comes in. slowly making his way to his wife. Eyes asking, any change. She shakes her head. Coming over he hands her a news clipping. Reading quickly. Tears brim her eyes before she hands it over to Mycroft. Mycroft reads it.
Today is the day he lost his family.
Continuing To Live
AUTHOR/NOTE::
I've had the first bit sitting on my laptop for a while. I thought I would try to give some story more to it before quitting on it for a while. I am trying to shell these out so I can work on my own stuff. So if don't update fore a while I apologize I just hope you enjoy, alert, and review.
THANK YOU ALL!