**I do not own Sherlock! I only own Sarafina and Liza Holmes!**
Tragedy (Part 2)
After a couple of hours, Sherlock decides to go in and check on Liza. He walks down the hall to his bedroom door and lightly knocks on it.
"Liza? Everything alright in there?" He pauses and waits for an answer when suddenly the door opens and Liza runs out and hugs Sherlock's waist.
He can feel her shaking as she cries and picks her up and brings her into his room. He gently rocks her and soon he can feel her calming down. She looks up at him, all red faced and teary eyed.
"Why her, Uncle Sherlock?" She hiccups. "Why her?" She lays her head against his shoulder and starts to cry again. He puts his hand on her head.
"I don't know, Liza. I don't know." He rocks her some more and the phone rings. He puts her down on the bed gently and walks out to answer it. "Hello?"
"Hello, Sherlock." He sighs.
"What is it, Mycroft?"
"How's Liza?" He pauses.
"How do you think she's doing, Mycroft? She just lost her mother. She's not doing well."
"Don't be like that, Sherlock. I was just wondering how she was holding up. It's been hard on all of us and I just want to know she's alright." Sherlock sighs.
"Why did this happen, Mycroft? Why did this have to happen now? She's too young."
"Things like this happen, Sherlock. No one can control it." There was a pause.
"Have you thought about a funeral date yet?" Sherlock asked.
"I'm not sure yet. I was thinking about that before I called you. Probably sometime next weekend. We'll have a small gathering. Family and friends only."
"That sounds fine."
"Good. Glad you think so." Another pause. "Well. I'd better get on it then. Goodbye Sherlock."
"Goodbye." He hung up the phone and sighed.
He walks back to his room, shuts the door, and lays down next to Liza on the bed. He lay there, eyes closed for a moment, only to hear Liza scoot herself closer to his side. He puts an arm around her and they both drift off to sleep.
~The next weekend~
The funeral was as Mycroft had said, small. Only close family members and friends were invited. They all had gathered around the casket they had picked out a couple of days before and listened to the ceremony. Normally, Sherlock wouldn't understand what the point was in this, but he decided to keep these feelings to himself and just be there for Liza. She was silent the entire ceremony and through the reception that followed. She was basically attached to Sherlock through it all. He didn't mind. He wasn't one for socializing anyways. He and Liza sat at one of the tables and watched everyone as they walked around, eating and giving their condolences to the family. Later, Mycroft came and sat down next to Sherlock.
"We need to talk about 'the situation', Sherlock." Sherlock looked up at Liza. He knew exactly what 'situation' he was talking about. He sighed and got up out of his chair.
"I'll be right back, Liza." She nodded and Mycroft followed Sherlock down a hallway and around a corner. "Look, I know what you're going to say, but…"
"Sherlock. Sarafina left me guardian of Liza. Me."
"Yes, but…"
"She had good reason too…"
"Yes, but Mycroft…"
"…and you know it."
"I know!" Sherlock shouted. "She needs me."
"Sherlock…"
"No, Mycroft. She needs me." Mycroft sighed.
"Sherlock, I can't change the decision she made."
"Why not? You are the British Government."
"I just can't Sherlock. Not now."
"Mycroft, you don't understand…"
"No, I understand perfectly. 'She needs you'. What she really needs is stability." Sherlock stops. "And I'm sorry, but that's something you can't give her right now." Sherlock turns and walks away. "You can come visit her anytime." He stops for a moment, but keeps going. He walks over to Liza. She looks up at him.
"C'mon. Let's go." He says softly. She nods and reaches up for him. He scoops her up and walks out. They get to Sarafina's flat and Sherlock carries Liza in. He sets her down in the doorway and kneels down to look her in the eye. "I need you to gather up everything you want to bring with you to Uncle Mycroft's house."
"But I want to stay with you." Liza says softly.
"You can't. I'm sorry."
"Why not?"
"Because Mycroft's your guardian now." She hangs her head.
"I'll still be able to see you, right Uncle Sherlock?" He pauses.
"Yes." He says, holding back the tears that were forming behind his eyes. "I'll always be there for you, Liza. Remember that." She looks up and leaps at him, hugging him tightly. He hugs her back. After a moment, she let go and walked to her room to get her things. He sat down on the couch and waited. As soon as she packed everything she'd need, the started to head over to Mycroft's. Sherlock walked Liza in and she put her stuff in the room Mycroft had specifically reserved for her. She came out after she had put her stuff in the room and walked up to Sherlock. He knelt down and looked at her. "You be good for Uncle Mycroft now, alright?" She nodded sadly and looked up at him.
"I love you, Uncle Sherlock." She then hugged him again. He slowly wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair.
"I… I love you too." They stayed like that for a moment and then separated. Sherlock stood up and nodded his head at Mycroft. He did the same and Sherlock turned around to leave. He opened the door and looked back to see tears streaming down Liza's face. He gave a small smile and waved and she did the same. He turned around and shut the door behind him. He wiped the tears from his face, walked to the car, and drove away.
Well, heres part 2. Hope you like it. Hope I didnt make you cry too hard. ;) Im working on The Blind Banker now so that should be posted here soon. I might still add on to this story here and there, but im going to be mainly focusing on Episode 2 now. Keep favoriting, reviewing, and following! You guy's are awesome!