"Hey kid, here we are again. Sorry it's been so long. I haven't forgotten you, god with you invading my dreams and my memories all the time, how could I? I thought perhaps I was overdue for a visit though, so here I am!" Lestrade ran a hand over his mouth and took a step back, his eyes trailing the gold letters that he dearly wished did not grace the marble headstone.

"Things have changed, since you've been gone, well they were bound to anyway. I'm getting married Sherlock, next month actually. Sent out an invite to your brother yesterday. I've known her for awhile, I don't know if it was something you ever 'deduced', you never mentioned anything so perhaps not. She's beautiful, funny and just so lovable. She's also quite pregnant. Yeah, that's right kiddo, yours truly is going to become a father"

"I'm pretty sure you can remember me moaning on and on about wanting kids of my own. Now I'm finally getting that chance. It's going to be a boy. Rupert Sherlock Lestrade. You don't mind do you? Because if it hadn't been for you, I would never have received this miracle. Thank you Sherlock. You know...I realise now that you're gone, that I always viewed you a bit like a son. It's daft I know, but then I'm daft. You were, you were like my kid and I never knew, Sherlock. Goddamn it...why did you have to die for me to notice thats how I felt? God." He wiped away a stray tear. Keep it together Greg.

"I'll have to bring Rupert over to meet you one day, once he's born. I'll read him your adventures too, thanks to John I now have all the books, plus the adventures from long before you met John. That would be nice, my two boys. Did I tell you about John? Going to be my Best Man and the godfather, I haven't told him the last part yet. Anna's idea. Brilliant I think. He was wonderful with Mary's niece and nephew, he can be Uncle John to my Rupert. You can be Uncle Sherlock. Do you mind? Probably, tough kid, but my decision is final."

"I know John hasn't been here as often as he used too. I want you to know it's not because he doesn't care anymore, he's just too busy and it hurts too much. He cares too much, Sherlock. And frankly he doesn't need that pain in his life. He's had too much of it. I'm so glad he has Mary, I worry what would have happened if he hadn't met her."

"I better go, Anna has an ultrasound in an hour. Nice to talk to you again son."

"Are you sure about this John?"

"Why wouldn't I be? It's been twelve months, I can handle this."

"Only if you're sure"

"Of course I'm sure"

To prove it he rang Mrs Hudson's bell and waited. John could hear a faint voice calling and then footsteps. The door open to reveal the smiling face of Martha Hudson. "John! Look at you, my dear boy, I haven't seen you in ages! Come here!" Her arms opened wide and John moved forward to wrap his arms around her. She hugged him tightly, like a mother hugging a son. She then pulled away and looked into his face, searching and then smiled.

"You look very well"

"Thank you, so do you. Oh, do you remember Mary?"

"Of course, Mary dear how are you?" She leaned over to hug Mary as well. "Well to what do I owe this lovely surprise?" Oh, yes, that reminded him. John pulled out the elegant white envelope and handed it to Mrs Hudson. "Lestrade would love you to come to his wedding."

"Oh how wonderful! That dear man. How is he?"

"Great actually, he's going to be a dad"

"Oh thats marvellous! Do you want to come inside, or to the cafe?"

John looked over at Mary, she nodded. "Do you mind if I give Mary a little tour of 221b? That is if you don't have any new tenants?" Mrs Hudson gave him a small smile. "It's still empty, Mycroft still pay's his brother's half, the poor dear, I suppose he feels obligated, I've tried to get him to stop but he's very stubborn, just like his brother. Go right on ahead, it will give me time to put the kettle on" Smiling, John took Mary's small hand in his own and headed towards the staircase.

"It's not as messy as I thought" Was Mary's first remark. It was a remarkably neat room. "I cleaned it up a lot, threw out a ton of junk.. that I'm sure...was quite valuable." He gave her a crooked grin.

"Those are the chairs?"

"Yeah, the black one was his, though he could never sit in it properly. Thats the couch back there where he used to sulk, and that, is the smiley face I told you about"

"Wow.. you weren't kidding, he actually shot it"

"Yep. I'm surprised the police weren't called. But they probably thought, oh it's just 221b, these things happen." Mary laughed. It still looked lived in, John noted sadly as he took her around the flat, pointing things out and telling her outrageous but entirely true stories. She laughed till she cried and when the tour did end, she noticed a few tears in John's own eyes.

"Was it too much?"

"No.. it's not that."

"Then what is it?"

"..It used to scream his name but now.. it's just empty. He's gone Mary. He doesn't live here anymore. His memory seems purged of this place. Maybe it's just me, maybe it's just how I feel. Is that bad, do you think?" She wrapped her arms around him and directed him to the door out.

"No, thats because he's just moved on, he lives in you now, silly."

"You always know the right things to say"

"Well, I know you don't just keep me around for my pretty face"

Operation Cheer Up Sherlock Holmes hadn't quite gone to plan, Irene mused as she watched the detective sitting on his windowsill, his face sad. It always pained her to see him look so lost like that. It wasn't her Sherlock but then, she hadn't seen her Sherlock in a long, long time. Perhaps he no longer existed and wasn't that a depressing thought?

They'd tried playing games, board games didn't work. Mainly because Monopoly was no fun to play when Mycroft won everytime, and Trivial Pursuit wasn't fun either, unless they played in teams and Sherlock and Mycroft were not in a team together. Cards was ok sometimes, until the invention of the Government Official and then Mycroft no longer wanted to play. It was similar to Old Maid, but using a photo of Mycroft stuck to the front of one of the cards. Irene had only started it to make Sherlock smile, but it hadn't worked. Sherlock didn't poke fun at his brother anymore and Irene was sure that Mycroft missed it. Speaking of which, where was he?

"Getting the mail, Miss Adler"

"How did you know what I was think-...oh never mind. Anything interesting?"

Mycroft waved a white envelope. "Wedding invitation from Lestrade, Miss Hooper has one as well." Molly's eyes lit up and eagerly took the envelope from Mycroft. Sherlock barely paid attention. "When is he getting married?" Inquired Irene, slightly miffed that she was not invited and decided to start braiding Molly's hair.

"Next month, he told me he didn't want a funeral and a wedding in the same year. Understandable, even if the coffin was empty." Again no response from Sherlock. "He hasn't had a relapse has he?" Irene whispered across the coffee table. Mycroft shook his head. "Not too my knowledge, one can only hope he has not but sometimes I worry.."

"He has to get better, I miss the old Sherlock" Molly sighed, wincing as Irene pulled on a braid too hard. "Sorry" lied the other woman and continued on her mission. "Please don't make me look like an idiot Reanie, last time you did my hair I looked like a clown"

"My mistake, but I thought it suited you nicely"

"I'm sure Miss Adler will do fine, after all, she knows you are working this evening, doesn't she?" Irene rolled her eyes. "I could do your hair if you like, Mycroft" His eyes flashed dangerously.

"No thank you" He stood and left to fetch himself a new cup of tea.

Irene was sure she saw the ghost of a smile flit across Sherlock's face.

edited to fix auto correct.