DragonShifter: Hopefully things will get easier with writing now. I thank you all who suggested adding a female to offset Holmes. I think I may like writing Winnie. Here is another chapter to read.

Winnie had quickly established herself in the small family soon after her first visit to the Watson household. Since she was a spy, she did not know when she would be sent away on assignment. In the six months that followed her introduction to the Watsons, she had gone on one assignment, which lasted three months. Watson and Mary had soon found out more about Winnie. Not only did her parents disown her, they had made Holmes the only guardian of Winnie. They also found out that Winnie's parents had been having trouble find ways to entertain Winnie, and the snooping had been the last straw. In the minds of Winnie's parents, Holmes was the one who encouraged her to snoop. In essence, an eighteen year old Holmes was made a father of a cousin five years his junior and a female. He did raise Winnie well, with occasional help from Mycroft. He had trained her the best he could in all that he knew were relevant to spy work, as well as making sure Mycroft taught her all the government secrets.

The Watsons also found that although Winnie did not have the entire lady like qualities befitting one of her rank, she was polite and was very shy. She was very intelligent, and knew how to play the bass, and the horn, was an excellent detective, could change her appearance so well, that it appeared that she was a different person, she knew French, Spanish, Italian, and had a passing knowledge of German and Russian. She was also a good artist and writer. She also was good at forging documents and handwriting, among other things. When she wasn't doing spy work, she lived in the Watson's spare room and helped with cases and helped out with some of Holmes projects and helped Watson diagnose and treat his younger patients. She was really good with kids, and took control of all of the children informants that Watson and Holmes employed. In October, Winnie had been called to go Africa to determine the state of things there. She had been busy trying to study everything about Africa for the last two weeks. She was due to leave on the twenty fifth, when the letter came on the twenty fourth, saying that her parents were deathly ill and wanted to reconcile with her before their deaths. It took her by surprise when Holmes mentioned it at dinner. Holmes knowing how she would react had warned the Watsons beforehand.

"What"

"You heard me. They want to 'reconcile' with you. However, if you don't want to do so, they understand." Winnie turned a violent shade of maroon. "No. Yes, I was to rambunctious for them, but I never meant to upset them so. It is not my fault that our family produce a large amount of intelligent people. I only hope Milo, Logan, and Martha have learned to keep their mouths shut and their minds occupied. You know they were just as smart as me." Holmes pressed his lips together. "Winnie, they informed me that since they are near death, I am now the guardian of not only you, but of your siblings too.. They are on their way here. Apparently their school is concerned about their intelligence. You know that you and your siblings are extremely intelligent. You also know that your parents are in the government. They informed me that they have heard of your success, and wish the same for your siblings." Winnie froze. "You mean that they are sending my brothers and sister to us? They know that they have family closer in the family tree than us."

"Yes, but are these relatives capable of teaching them." Winnie thought for a moment then looked at Holmes, then Watson and Mary. "No, I suppose not. But everyone in the family knows what happened, and you know that you and I are the family's taboo. What about the good names of my siblings."
"We will make sure that their good name is not tarnished." Holmes said, putting his hand on hers. That gesture took the Watsons back. Since Winnie arrived, they had noticed that Holmes had acted more mature and rather fatherly towards the girl. They still weren't used to it. Watson cleared his throat. The two Holmes looked at them. "We are guessing that you are now a father of three more children. May I ask their ages." Winnie answered "Well, Milo and Logan are twins. They are now ten years old and Martha is fourteen. They were just as much taken with Papa here." Holmes blushed slightly. The Watsons had noticed, and smiled. They had noticed that Winnie called Holmes papa at home, but Holmes whenever out of the house. Holmes was still not used to Winnie calling him Papa around Mary and Watson. He remembered that a week after he became her guardian, Winnie had asked him if she could call him papa. She had asked so shyly, it hooked him completely. From then on, he was her papa. Now he was going to be the papa of three more children, who he knew wanted to call him papa in person. They had been writing him and Winnie secretly for five years now. Apparently, it was not easy to be smart, and having to pretend not to be. Their father and mother were not happy about their intelligence when they found out about it. They were afraid to let the children be around their friends and their children, which did cause them to suffer. The three children had taken to calling him Papa in their letters. It broke his heart that his distant relations would neglect their children so. "Due to you leaving tomorrow, I thought I would tell you and let you write a letter explaining what was going on." Winnie smiled and nodded. Later that night she wrote her letter. The next day, She was off to Africa.