Thank you guys so much for reviewing/favoriting/following and all that jazz. And thanks to my beta There's A Time Lord In Lima for still putting up with me. You are all amazing. This chapter's a bit on the short side but I've been sick for the past few days and this is what I came up with in my fever induced haze. So hopefully it's still pretty good and you all enjoy it!
Ducks in a Row
Thirty two weeks old
With his umbrella in hand Mycroft Holmes stands beside the park bench, watching the movements of those around him. His mind was always stuck on the possibility of something gone wrong, work etching itself so deep within that sometimes it took everything he had to pull himself away.
And sometimes he even needed the help of his brother to do so.
He assumes it's enough to explain his presence in a place so far from his office where the fresh air circulates around him and he can smell more than cigarette smoke and expensive brandy. But still, he feels so out of place.
He glances over his shoulder and his eyes lock on his younger brother and Molly Hooper, pushing a stroller towards him and waving. He puts on a smile that suggests he's about to do business, because really he feels that's all he knows. With a breath for courage and the hope that things go smoothly he approaches the family.
"Brother," he greets, nodding in his direction. Sherlock merely grunts at his presence but Molly gives him a swift knead to the ribs with her elbow and he paints a forced, pain filled smile on his face. Mycroft just smirks. He knew he liked her.
"Nice to see you Ms. Hooper," he says and Molly blushes just she slightest bit. "Please Mycroft, Molly will do just fine." She reaches out and captures him in a hug and his body tenses in reaction. For some reason though it feels almost natural and he awkwardly pats her on the back with one hand before she lets go.
Bouncing back to Sherlock excitedly she reaches into the stroller and undoes the belt, scooping Annabelle into her arms and adjusting her tiny jacket. Mycroft feels the breath leave his lungs when he sees the tiny human who looks practically like a carbon copy of his brother and the corners of his mouth tip up the slightest bit. It doesn't go unnoticed by Sherlock, who plops down on the bench they're next to.
"This should have happened long ago," he says to the air, although Mycroft feels the brunt of the words hit him in the chest. He clears his throat and sits down too.
"I suppose so. Although I've been very busy cleaning up the remains of your mess. You do know that things like that don't disappear on their own right? They take time." Sherlock just rolls his eyes in response.
"Oh, won't the two of you just give it up for one day," Molly interrupts, carrying Annabelle on her hip and standing in front of the pair. "You two are horrible influences you know." She sits down in between the two as a means to keep them separated, and she plops the baby down on her lap, who makes immediate work of chewing on the sleeve of her coat.
Mycroft glances down and admires the child- his niece, cocking his head to one side and watching her 'talk' excitedly to Sherlock as he tickles and plays with her. He wonders how his little brother grew up so fast and took on the role that was once his so long ago.
He feels his cellphone vibrate in his pocket and he reaches into his coat, reading a message from Anthea he'll have to remember to reply to later. He takes a moment to scroll through his emails, his attention focused almost completely on his phone. So much so that the tiny hand that reaches out and lands on his takes him by complete surprise.
He glances up, sees Annabelle looking at him and smiling with bright eyes. He's vaguely aware of Molly and Sherlock watching them, but he blocks them out and takes the tiny hand in his, shaking it lightly and smiling- a genuine, happy smile.
He turns his eyes onto Molly, "May I?" he asks, and when she nods he pulls the baby into his lap and takes a moment to become acquainted with the feel of her in his arms. Like a reflex he can't control, his knee starts bouncing and both of them are completely engrossed in each other.
Beside them Molly is almost in tears, becoming ever so sentimental after Annabelle was born and feeling like this was as much of a first as sitting up or smiling. And then there's Sherlock, who looks impossibly bored and a tad bit humored.
Inside though, he feels relieved that his brother shows as much love for his niece and girlfriend as he does and he's given a sense of hope for the future. All he wants is to have the family he wishes he had, and he wants nothing more than for his little girl to have a father that cherishes her and a mother that is there whenever she needs. And the prospect of having a soldier, a detective inspector and a government worker for uncles isn't so bad either.
"Mycroft you should have dinner with us one night," Molly announces out of nowhere, "we don't see enough of you and it's apparent you've already made yourself pretty popular." she points a finger at Annabelle and watches her play with Mycroft's tie.
Beside her Sherlock sits up and folds his arms across his chest with an almost silent huff. "Let's not get too carried away Molly. He's only meant to be tolerated in small doses."
"Oh be nice Sherlock," she scolds him like a child and he blinks in surprise. "He's your brother and he needs to come around a little more. You can't just expect him to busy himself with work forever can you?"
"Well…" he stops midsentence and takes in the glare directed at him, his mouth shutting almost instantly.
Slightly disappointed and a bit embarrassed he looks over at his brother and says quite forcefully, "We'd love to have you." Mycroft shrugs off his brother's obvious distaste regarding the suggestion and turns to Molly instead.
"I think I can squeeze dinner in sometime soon."
Internally Sherlock groans and leans back against the bench, almost pouting and only hearing bits and pieces of the conversation going on beside him. With another glance in his brothers direction he can't help but be thankful that they were finally coming back together; all because of one little girl that changed all of their lives in a matter of moments.