Chapter 8
"Alex. Aaaalex," a voice hissed in her ear, "Can you hear me Princess? Please I miss you. Can you please come home soon, I miss our tea parties and dressing Basher as our butler. Also he misses you just as much, was planning on giving you the tiger cub he caught, train it as our pet."
Alex woke up, hearing the whisper. She looked up at her mother, who was still sleeping very deeply. She sat up, looking around. The voice. It was Daddy. But where was he?" Alex toddled off the bed, her teddy bear in her hand.
"Daddy?" She whispered in the empty room. Was is real or just a dream?
"Alllllex I need you to do something for me..."
While Alex was walking around the room, Shay woke up, suddenly panicking when she saw the empty spot on the bed.
"Alex!" she called. "ALEX!" She called, turning on the light, seeing Alex was by now standing by the door, tears running down her face.
"Get away from mummy... make her disappear like I make all the other bad people disappear..."
"I thought I heard Daddy!" Alex sobbed, suddenly missing her father terribly. Shay rushed to Alex, scooping her up in her arms. Alex sobbed against her mother's shoulder, so confused about what she heard.
"Alex, what's going on?" She asked, gently rubbing circles into her back.
"I heard Daddy say you were bad." She admitted, Alex looking into a mirror, swearing she saw a shadow of her father.
"You did baby you did..."
"What's going on you all ok?!" Sherlock rushed in with the blue dressing gown draped around him and checked around the room, only finding the woman and child on the floor. Shay's terror told him enough, he nearly ripped the doors open to the closet and threw open the window to see outside. Nothing. Room empty with just the three of them inside, he slowly loosened the grip of the gun that was in his pocket.
"The room could be bugged Sherlock. There could be a microphone." Shay pointed out, taking apart the sheets on the bed, throwing the mattress off the bed frame to find something.
"What is going on, nearly four in the morning!" the older Holmes stumbled into the room rubbing his eyes, "Sherlock what are you doing?"
"Moriarty was here."
"What! Impossible!"
Alex was standing in the middle of the room, shaking as she began crying, mostly just seeing her mother terrified by the idea, running her hands along the bed frame, searching for something that must have made Alex hear this.
"Security, we might have a possible breach... yes... I'll check the monitors myself. Sherlock stay with them," Mycroft instructed before disappearing.
"I do not understand you said you heard someone else in the room?" Mycroft asked the girl, trying to sound as friendly as possible.
Alex nodded, hugging her teddy bear to her tightly, Shay had Alex in her lap, stroking the child's hair.
"Daddy said mean things. He said I had to help Daddy. I had to hurt Mummy like he hurts other people. I don't wanna hurt Mummy!" She said, crying again into her teddy bear, Shay holding her child tightly.
"You said he wouldn't find us here." Shay said, trying to keep her voice neutral, after all that happened tonight she had to think about her child now.
"Right... why don't you and Alex go have some breakfast, we will take of everything else from here ok? ... Wait a moment John, Sherlock, I might need you analysis for one of our defense systems, I need a second opinion."
Two of his men escorted the girls out of the room and when left alone, Mycroft rubbed his eyes tiredly and yawned.
"I need you both to understand, I had the computers check and scan the room twice over, focusing on the on the hour which Alex may have heard something-"
"Something is wrong then?" Sherlock pressed.
"Well... not necessarily. Only that from I believe... it was a mere nightmare..."
"On what basis?"
"As said before, between the hour in which she may have heard something, the computer only detects two heat signatures in the room, no one leaving or entering," Mycroft said with some relief.
John stepped up. "But she swore she heard something. A child like her couldn't dream of something like that." He pointed out. Truth be told he didn't want to believe that such a sweet little girl could say something that nasty, could dream up of hurting her mother.
"If anything it was Moriarty. Living with him for five years no doubt he holds a psychological hold on the girl," Sherlock mused.
Meanwhile Shay was quickly flipping pancakes in the well- stocked kitchen, Alex in one arm, the food was she making in the other. After everything that happened tonight, there was no way Shay was going to let Alex out of her sight.
"Mummy I'm scared." Alex said, watching her mother flip a pancake.
"Sweetheart I'm scared too. But it's okay. These nice men will help us, okay?" She said, kissing her daughter's cheek. Alex wrinkled her nose, giggling at her mother.
"Have you heard Daddy say things like that before?" Shay asked, pouring out another pancake.
"He said you were very bad for leaving." Alex noted, Shay stiffening at that.
"Do you think I'm bad for leaving?" Shay asked. Alex's head was now on her shoulder.
"No, you're not bad. I thought you were for leaving me but you came to get me. So you're good mummy." Shay kissed the top of her daughter's head, making a plate for Alex.
"Did your Mummy leave too?" Alex asked, her big brown eyes looking up at her mother. Shay set her down on the chair.
"She didn't leave me, per se. I was taken from her. Just like Daddy wanted to take you from me." She said gently. Alex nodded, suddenly very serious for a five year old.
"Did she look for you like you looked for me?" Alex probed. Shay smiled at her daughter, putting syrup on the pancakes.
"Well, no. She didn't find me. Not yet." She suddenly saw herself at Alex's age, being taken from foster home to foster home, declaring her mother was a queen and would come get her. Around ten years old she wised up. Her mother wasn't coming for her. She had to find her herself. Shay shook herself out of her thoughts.
"But that's why I love you so much I decided that I could stand to not come back for you." She explained. Alex grinned at her mother.
"If I was your mummy, I'd come get you." Alex retorted, Shay grinning at her child, the two of them digging into their breakfast.
John, Sherlock, and Mycroft checked and triple checked the security around the property with the rest of the crew. All passwords and codes were reset, all given their own access passwords no one else would know not even Mycroft, also fake passwords to grant access but at least alert someone from a third party that he or she might be in danger.
The next week passed without in incident, Mycroft barely around much needing to catch up with official business, buried behind on paperwork. John and Sherlock kept busy with a few small, simple cases Lestrade had found for them.
"So how is it living with them?" Molly asked John as she pushed the body bed back into the wall. John leaned against the wall, sighing in frustration. The past week had been a lot of tension and a lot of things up in the air. He and Sherlock were tense from not seeing Hamish, Shay from feeling trapped there, Alex from missing her father. Shay and Alex were easy to distract, Shay usually spending the day in the library curled up with a book while Alex played by herself. Then after lunch Shay would take Alex outside in the garden to play.
But John noticed Shay was in a terrible depression, usually forcing herself to get up, a far off look in her eyes when no one was talking to her. She had said little to Sherlock and John though both of them had tried to take her aside to talk to her about what happened.
"It's a rough time Molly. We'll be glad to see this be over." He admitted, glad to talk to someone who wasn't stuck in the mansion with him. "It's just a lot of things up in the air right now.
"Been a week, I should hope you can see Hamish soon. I miss the little guy, perhaps if you ask Mycroft I can visit? Have a small reunion when everyone comes back?"
John smiled at her. "Molly I'd love nothing more than that. Honestly, we really do miss you." He admitted.
"John quick we have a lead on the suspect, he's trying to escape London now," Sherlock stormed in, taking John's coat off the rack and shoving it into him.
"Why hello to you too Sherlock, pleasant," Molly replied sarcastically.
"Hm, another two pound gain and a slight bag underneath the eyes. Greg is really keeping you up at night isn't he?"
"You are being a wanker!"
"And you are wasting my time. John. Cab. Now!" he snapped and briskly walking out with the coat billowing behind him.
John followed him, quickly on his coat. "Sherlock, what are you doing? What lead are you going on?" He asked, holding on to Sherlock's hand tightly. Yanking his hand out of John's he marched out of the hospital and down the street, trying to wave down a cab, a few passing by him.
"Why is it so bloody hard to get a cab? Here! The docks and fast!" The driver grunted and mumbled, speeding off as quick as he could, Sherlock whipping out his phone and texting.
"The man who was committing the bank robberies around London, trying to catch a boat out of the city as we speak, Lestrade had men after him but they lost visuals. I deduced that is the access point in which he would try to escape, some of the rest of Scotland Yard believe otherwise. Stupid people..."
The car drove out to the docks, John rushing out, Lestrade pulling up next to the taxi, out with his gun, looking around for who it could be, seeing someone running towards the docks.
"There we are. Get him."
"Just don't hit me!" Sherlock gave pursuit and chased him behind some of the large shipment crates, almost losing him until he saw the heel of a shoe disappear. Now running down through the ship yard, tall ships on either side of them in need of repair, so workers were leaning over curiously to see what the fuss was about.
"Stop there! You will not be able to out run us!"
The man looked over his shoulder momentarily when he suddenly tripped and fell flat. Sherlock was ready to throw himself on top of him when he noticed the man was unmoving, not a flinch. Kneeling down carefully, he turned the man over and found blood drizzled out of the corner of his mouth and noticed the back of his skull was matted damp. Dead. Shot. Head shoot. Sniper. Precisely accurate.
"Moran! Moran come out now! Where are you!" Sherlock shouted and his eyes looked everywhere, some of the workers beginning to panic and scatter realizing someone had been assassinated, "Now! Come out now!"
"I have im'!" a voice cried out from the top of one of the ships, stepping out into the light covered in his black uniform, "Target down. You ok down there?"
"But-... Mor...moran?"
"Moran? Who's Moran?"
"But- but..." Sherlock's wild eyes looked around again and then studied the man hard. What was going on? How could he have made such a faulty assessment? Of course the evidence did not add up or pinpoint to Moran, so why-
John ran over to Sherlock, seeing nothing.
"Sherlock what are you seeing? What's going on?" He said, shaking his husband. He looked over, seeing nothing still. "Sherlock, darling it's okay to be okay." John tried to say, grabbing onto his sleeve. Lestrade looked over at Sherlock and John.
"Guys, are you okay?" he asked, stepping over.
"No, I think there's something wrong with Sherlock." John yelled, struggling with him.
"I thought... I thought it was Moran..." Sherlock blinked and looked up to the figure above him, the gunman pulled the visor off his eyes.
"Hey Lestrade! He going to be ok?" calling down to them.
"I... I see. They did say he was dangerous and willing to do anything to get away, maybe even take a hostage if necessary. So you established a team to pursuit as well, clever Greg. Well, nothing else for me to do here then," Sherlock cleared his throat and pulled at his jacket. Without another word he walked away from the body, nudging into Lestrade without so much as an apology. The itch for a smoke was ebbing into his mind. It had been years since his last, though the cravings would return now and again, today, more than ever.
"Sorry Greg," John said as they went. He knew what Sherlock was going though, he needed a smoke, he needed to see his son, he needed something to reassure him that his case could be solved.
"Sherlock, Sherlock, stop." He finally faced Sherlock, pulling him into an alley where they could be alone. He pulled Sherlock into his arms, cradling Sherlock's head. "Sherlock, it's going to be okay." He said, soothing him. "I'm tired too. I want to see Hamish too. It's going to be okay." He said, kissing Sherlock's cheek.
"Stop I'm trying to think!" Sherlock pushed him back and continued to walk ahead.
Something troubling you? -MH
Fuck off Mycroft. -SH
I just got a concerned text from Lestrade is all, wanted to be sure you were ok. -MH
I'm of sound mind and body, I'll possibly see you back at the house. -SH
Actually I need to meet with you, I cannot stop by home and I need a very important package to be delivered and stored inside. Come to a rendezvous? -MH
Will you leave us alone if we do? -SH
Sherlock, please. -MH
Fine. -SH
John looked down at Sherlock's phone "Of course Mycroft knows already," John noted, keeping his distance from Sherlock, "Now, what does he wanted anyway?"
"Something about an important item needed to be hidden back at the mansion, some rubbish," he growled and checked the address Mycroft sent him, repeating back to the cab driver once the two found one.
"Can't he see he's wasting my time. Our time. No the case is done and over with..." The rest of the ride Sherlock said nothing else because if he opened his mouth anymore he might be spitting out venom at John. Not to long later they had pulled up in front of a restaurant. A very familiar restaurant. In fact it was Antonio's but in his fury and frustration he had not paid attention.
"So glad you could make it," Mycroft said smugly and nodded to them, "Tough day at the office?"
"Shut up. Where is it?"
"Inside," his brother responded calmly as Sherlock moved past him and inside. Scanning the room there were a few other patrons enjoying their lunch, nothing out of the ordinary. A pencil pusher, librarian, small child.
"Papa! Da!" a mouth announced full of pizza and the small body ran to them. John kneeled down, Hamish running to both of them, covering his little son with kisses, Hamish giggling as John held his son tightly. It had been too long since he saw his child, running his finger through Hamish's black curls, smelling the pizza on the child's breath, tears coming to John's eyes.
"Oh Hamish, my boy," John said to himself.
"M...Mycroft..." the look of utter disbelief was met with a smile.
"Just hug him already you twit," Mycroft shook his head at his sibling.
Not needing to be told twice his arms wrapped around his boys, kissing Hamish's cheek and John's as well. Then it happened. Sherlock sniffled and cried with his smile that stretched ear to ear, not wanting to let go. Not ever. Humorously enough the other guests applauded the little reunion, still very unaware of the circumstances but happy to see the scene play out in front of them.
"So can I go home with Da, Uncle My?" Hamish asked with big eyes.
"Of course you can."
"Mycroft, really?" John asked, holding on to his little boy. He teared up, looking to Sherlock, "Is everything packed then? Can we bring him home now?" He asked, more than eager to get Hamish home so they could be one big happy family. John picked up Hamish, holding him in his arms as Hamish nuzzled against his father's chest, Hamish also missing his daddies terribly. John handed Hamish off to Sherlock, picking up a bag that seemed to be Hamish's.
"Thank you Mycroft. Thank you so much." He said, eternally grateful to his brother in law.
"No. I would rather you remain on the property, be sure if Moriarty has not heard wind of the transfer. If all is ok then I think move in would be suitable and Miss Hudson sends her love, happy to give up the 'ball of energy'," Hamish's uncle chuckled and escorted them outside, "I will be around for dinner tonight, I think we have something to celebrate.
"We do? We do? Is it someone's birthday? It's not... my birthday is it?" Hamish asked and tugged on Sherlock's coat.
"No Hamish but we will celebrate it like one!" Sherlock grinned and pressed his forehead against Hamish's, "We can do anything you want. Anything you want to eat."
"Sher-" Mycroft hesitated.
"Yaaa! We can has pizza again!" Hamish bounced excitedly and giggle.
"If that's what you want. Or mac-n-cheese," his father pointed out.
"Really?!" Hamish whispered to John who smiled back at him.
"Do you want Miss Hudson's special three cheese mac- n- cheese? I'm sure we could make it just like she does." John said, tickling his son's tummy. "And you have a new play mate too. Her name is Alex and you two can play together after dinner." John shouldered the bag on his good shoulder, laughing at Hamish.
"Let's go home sweetheart," He said and turned to Mycroft, "Are you sure you'll be okay eating with us? Even with Her there?"
"Um. Yes. I suppose you should announce to her my arrival and please, tell everyone to be comfortable in dress, this is Hamish's time. Good afternoon all," Mycroft bowed a little and left them in his private car, the rest of the family taking the cab back to the mansion. Not finding Shay or her daughter around, Sherlock and John took Hamish up to their room to unpack his stuff. It did not last long because Hamish had missed his lovely dad's for so long that the trio ended up in a tickle fight on the bed and collapsed in a giggling heap.
"S-so so are all the bad bugs gone?"
"Wha- wha bugs?" Sherlock tried to catch his breath when Hamish was sandwiched between them.
"Gran said there were bad bugs at- at home and all icky. Are they gone?"
John looked over at Sherlock, gauging his reaction. He rolled over on his side, pulling Hamish to his chest."Well, they're gone. But Uncle Mycroft misses us bunches. So we're going to stay here for a while. It'll be fun. And you'll have a friend to play with too." He pointed out, hoping that would be a good excuse for Hamish.
At the time, Shay and Alex were back into the house, both of them laughing, having been playing hide and seek in the garden for hours, ending with the two of them laying in the backyard, laughing hysterically together.
"Okay sweetheart, are you hungry?" Shay asked, carrying her daughter up the stairs.
"Yes Mummy." Alex answered, Shay noticing they were covered in dirt.
"Okay, tell you what. We'll have a bath. And then we'll go eat." Shay said, carrying Alex into the bathroom, drawing a bath for her daughter, filling the tub with the bubble bath Alex liked so much. She heard the laughter of another child, smiling as she lowered Alex into the bath water. Good. Hamish must be back.
"Alex, it looks like you're going to make a new friend." Shay whispered, giving her daughter some bath toys.
Slowly getting up, Sherlock walked outside into the hallway and drew Shay out a moment to relay the new details. Hamish back with them for what seemed like good and a little party would be held for them. The parents agreed to introduce the two kids to each other before dinner and Sherlock was ready to leave to clean up Hamish when he rememberws.
"Might be in your best interest to know...Mycroft's coming too," his happy tone grew quiet, yet he escaped before Shay might kill the messenger. While Shay looked over at the corner of her eyes, Alex showing Hamish one of her dolls, Sherlock finally said what he was going to say and walked out. And as he said it, the room seems to have all the air sucked out of it. Shay leaning against the wall. Of course she's have to see him again after all this.
In the week that he spurned her, Shay was just depressed. She slept most of the time where she wasn't playing with Alex, she would sometimes just cry in the middle of the night, she just felt listless. She could even tell if it was because he was gone or because of everything he said. But all she knew is she could keep up appearances, at least around her daughter. Sherlock and John showed their concern, but she brushed them off mostly. Especially John would worry about her but she just refused to talk about it. But now of course she would have to face it. She prepared herself mentally, going down to dinner, smelling the mac- n- cheese.
"Oh god, that smells wonderful. Hamish, did you think this up?" Shay asked the little boy.
"Hamish, you like mac- n- cheese too?" Alex asked her new friend.
"Um... ya..." he smiled shyly at The Lady and Alex. So far she seemed nice, her mummy too. Brown eyes like Da though black hair like his and Papa's. Hamish had told her about one of his Daddies being a detective and another a doctor, ready to ask Alex about hers when Papa stopped him. In the living room he scrambled over to sit between Sherlock and John, wanting to thump his fists excitedly when John reminded him it would be rude.
"A small bird told me, Hamish, that there is someone in particular who cooks your special dish," Mycroft announced when he entered the room, keeping focus to his nephew.
"But Uncle My, we cannot eat dishes!"
"No we cannot but what I mean is- here. Your personal chief," grinning and returned with a familiar face holding a steaming pot.
"Miss Hudson, what are you doing here?" John asked, quickly giving his favorite landlady a hug, "Are you staying with us too?" he asked, Shay looking over with interest at Miss Hudson, focused on her, not Mycroft, ignoring him.
"Ma'am let me help you with that" She asked.
"Oh thank you dearie. It's good to see all of you-" Miss Hudson cried out, seeing Shay coming towards her. She set down the pot, rushing to Sherlock.
"Sherlock, it's the Red Devil. What's she doing here?" Miss Hudson asked, hiding behind the man. Shay's face changed. Of course someone was bound to remember what she was. Especially when that someone was in the bank when Shay robbed it.
"Miss Hudson, please, I've changed now. I'm not going to hurt you." Miss Hudson hesitated, looking to Sherlock to see if she was right.
"Mycroft..." Sherlock sighed and looked to his brother who shrugged, "I apologize for his lack of common sense to inform you. Shay is now an Ally with us and a very dear friend. I can explain more later but a more formal introduction. Shay and little Alex, Miss Hudson. Miss Hudson, Shay and little Alex.
"Alex isn't little," Hamish retorted defensively, "Tall as me and I'm a big boy!"
"Apologies Hamish, you are correct," Sherlock raised an eyebrow at Shay and smirked. Shay smiled back at Sherlock, Alex looking over at Hamish with admiration.
"You're my friend now" Alex declared, in such a way only a five year old can declare it, holding Hamish's hand, chatting to him about something funny she saw. Shay meanwhile turned to Miss Hudson.
"Miss Hudson if I could take back terrifying you, I would take back every second," She explained, "I didn't want to do it, I had to, to protect my child." She said. Miss Hudson regarded her for a second, forcing a smile.
"Of course dearie. I know you didn't mean to hurt anyone. If it's to protect your child I understand," She said, grasping Shay's hand. Shay smiled at the older woman.
"Well then, let's eat," John said, relieved to see peace all around, handing out plates to everyone.
"Excellent!" Mycroft sat across from Shay and clapped his hands, the maids came to serve them and they all ate happily.
...
Hamish and Alex becoming fast friends, even becoming happier when told that technically they all would still be staying under one roof for a few more days. Hamish had buried his face in the table cloth when it was announced that he had a friend and switched chairs to sit next to her. Sherlock and John kept conversation with Miss Hudson, being told how Hamish was a good boy for the most part, only trouble was how energetic he could be and overly curious, though sincerely sorry when he thought he made Gran sad. Then there was Shay and Mycroft. Eating quietly, one waiting for the other to start and at one point Mycroft had accidently nudged Shay with the tip of his shoe, mumbling an apology and feeling embarrassed. Work had kept him distracted from the issue on hand, but now he was forced to see her, desiring to be with his nephew as well. Pushing the greens and cheesy pasta around and chewing carefully on the small bites, he dabbed himself with a napkin when he looked at her properly.
"So, um, room situation still comfortable? All is well?"
Shay looked up at him mid-bite, trying to think of how to respond without sounding rude. After all that happened, she wanted to hit him while at the same time run across the table into his arms, hating herself for feeling this way.
"Yes, it's fine. Thank you for asking," She answered, forcing a forkful into her mouth. "Miss Hudson, this is wonderful." She said, trying to change the subject.
"Mummy loves the room. She spends lots of time sleeping in it." Alex announced, cheese smeared on her face.
"Alex, honey." Shay gently scolded, wiping her child's mouth with a napkin.
"What? We have to be honest." Alex pointed out.
"Yes, but this is an adult conversation." Shay gently said and gave herself an excuse to drink water, trying to think of something else to change the subject, "But enough about that. How's work going?"
"It's... fine. Top business that cannot be discussed publicly," he answered and the two fell in awkward silence, Mycroft understanding Shay wanted to shift it to him but he could not say anything really. "Yes this is lovely!" following her lead which allowed Miss Hudson time to tell them how it was made and that it had been a recipe handed down through the family line, hoping to teach it to one of the Holmes's someday.
"I am sure Hamish will learn well then, he is clever," Mycroft said and Sherlock hummed happily.
"I still have yet had the time to learn from her, I am sure she will teach me when we all return home," Sherlock replied sincerely and squeezed John's hand.
John smiled at Sherlock, seeing Miss Hudson as well. Miss Hudson had no children to their knowledge, taking on the two as her boys for quite some time now. "Miss Hudson what would we do without you?" He asked, reaching over to hug his landlady as she giggled, hugging the smaller man.
"Oh, I'm just a landlady sweetheart," She said, kissing John a quick kiss, Shay watching with somewhat envy at how much they loved each other and wishing she could find a niches in this world like they did, drinking her water glass.
"You all seem so happy" She said, more to herself than anyone else, just a reminder that she never really had a family, the only family of hers being Alex, her darling child.
"We are! We are! Papa and Da are the greatest mans in the world! Uncle My is a spy and Gran makes the best mac-n-cheese in the universe!" Hamish waved his arms excitedly.
"Not a spy Hamish," Mycroft tired to correct him though still broke out in a smile and pushed his plate away from him, "If I am needed you may find me in the study, good night."
"Wait Uncle My!" Hamish wriggled out of his chair and ran over to hug his legs, "thank you for bringing me back to Papa and- and Da! I love you!"
"I...I uh, love you too Hamish..." he patted the top of Hamish's head and when the small boy continued to cling, he knelt down and hugged him.
"Was I that bad too?" Sherlock asked John.
John smiled, squeezing his hand.
"Yes, you can be as bad as that." He said, reaching over to kiss Sherlock. Shay meanwhile was visibly disappointed to see Mycroft leave.
"Is there something wrong sweetheart?" Miss Hudson asked. Shay shook her head.
"No, it's nothing" She said, going back to her meal. "I should make dessert next time," She noted, "I make an amazing chocolate cake."
Mycroft sat in the office, finishing up the paper work he had in front of him, not much of it really, just needing a quiet place to think. Everything was going smoothly, Hamish was back and his brother now very happy with his husband there as well. Even Miss Hudson was ecstatic in the idea of reuniting with her boys from upstairs. Alex and Hamish were getting along like bread and butter, much potential in them. But truthfully not everyone was happy, in their blissful moments he knew he was left out with another.
A high ranking member of the British Government and he could not find a simple answer, nor have the foggiest idea what to do. Would Shay ignore and avoid him as he practiced regrettable with her or would she follow? Though why follow him, a downright tosser in the way he had been treating her, Mycroft thought ashamed of himself. Why did it have to be so complex and complicated, frustrating.
"This is the best cake ever!" Hamish repeatedly as he licked his finger clean and have Alex a napkin, "So your mummy doesn't get mad,' he whispered.
Alex shook her head. "No, Mummy never gets mad," Alex said, looking over at her mother who was talking to Sherlock and John, "She gets really sad sometimes though. When she thinks no one is looking. But I can see it. Mummy is sad." She said, looking at Hamish, "Do you have a mummy?" She asked him.
"Alex!" Shay shouted, hearing them, "I am so sorry," She said, turning back to her child, "Alex darling, it's very rude to ask about someone's mummy."
"Why?" The little girl asked.
"It's just not polite," is all Shay could answer with, going back to her conversation.
"I don't have one," Hamish answered and rubbed his full tummy, "never did."
"I'm sorry." Alex noted, looking around. "You can share my Mummy if you want." She said.
"Can we do that?" the child looked to the ceiling in thought, wondering if it was possible.
Alex shrugged her tiny shoulder. "Why not? Mummies cook for you, they play with you, and put you to bed. So why not?" She asked.
"Hmmm Gran is an old lady who lives downstairs but she does all those things. You can share Miss Hudson as my Gran too!"
Alex cheered. "I've never had a Gran before. What's that like?" She asked.
"Sounds like a mum from what you just said, only wrinklier."
"Hamish, what are you two discussing?" Sherlock asked.
"Nothing, can we go play now?"
"Maybe a little before bed?" Sherlock looked to Shay to finish that sentence.
Shay nodded. "Yes, but just a little while okay? And play nice, alright?" She said. Alex ran over to kiss Shay's cheek, Shay giggling at her child, happily skipping off to play with Hamish. She turned to Sherlock and John.
"You two must be so proud." She noted, stacking the dishes to put them away.
"We tried our best, I give most of the credit to John, I was never good with people, still makes me wonder how I ended up with him. I mean... life was so different before meeting you. I saw myself continuing on with consulting the rest of my life until I became too sick or old. From there, I planned to end my life when there was too much pain from old age or becoming useless. I hate to take up space," Sherlock answered and helped her, knowing the maids were running around for Mycroft.
Shay nodded, listening to Sherlock as she put everything away. "I'm glad that happened for you. I only hope that I find someone like that too." She said, surprised at herself for saying it. She spoke too soon, especially considering what happened with her and Mycroft, something that she never brought up with Sherlock since what happened a week ago. She turned away from him, hoping he wouldn't bring it up.
"...yes... John why don't we go clean our room properly so Hamish could sleep their tonight ok?" giving Shay time to herself. Walking upstairs, found Hamish and Alex in a guest room playing together and suggested to them to have a mini sleep over inside. Jumping at the opportunity, a blanket fortress was built for them and Sherlock laughed with John as they tidied up.
"I know he just came back but I have been unkind to you past week, sorry love. Thought we could be together for tonight, up to you."
John looked up at Sherlock, questioning his husband. "But, where will Hamish sleep tonight?" He asked.
"Hamish is with Alex in a spare guest room, I gave them plenty of pillows and blankets, don't worry love," Sherlock kissed his forehead and moved his mouth down to kiss his lips, "You ok then?"
John reached over, kissing Sherlock back. "Sweetheart, get on the bloody bed." He said, taking off his jumper. He jumped on to the bed, reaching his arms out to Sherlock as he kissed off his shoes
"Yes captain," Sherlock smirked and held his back to lift John up so he was resting comfortably in his lap, "As I said before I am sorry for having been such a twat."
"Just shut up and get those clothes off private." John said, reverting to pulling rank as he took off his shirt, comfortably nuzzling him.