John sat in the cafeteria feeding Wisteria. The young child was in love with the crackers. She wouldn't eat meat of any form. It was hard to find everything she would eat. She was pushing down her fifth large cracker when John got the feeling he was being watched. His head jerked around the room.
There was a man leaning against the far wall. He seemed to be reading a news paper but John thought he saw his eyes drift in his direction.
"Cracker," the girl said reaching for the ketchup. "Cracker Dada."
John turned his attention back to the child in her arms.
"No," he said shaking his head. "You don't want ketchup on your cracker."
The child frowned but didn't argue as she pushed down another cracker. Wisteria was pretty easy to make happy. She usually accepted 'no' as an answer.
"Hi," a unfamiliar voice said.
John looked up to see the strange man standing over him. He had a coffee cup in one hand and had the paper under his arm.
"Hello," John said feeling a bit uneasy.
"My name is Marcus," the man said. "May I join you?"
"Of course," he said nodding to the table.
Wisteria looked up at stranger. She curled closer to her Daddy at the sight of the stranger. She didn't do well with new people.
"Do I know you?" John asked.
For some reason he felt as if he should have known who the man was. His name triggered something in his memory.
"I..." he sighed. "I'm Sherlock's Dad. Lestrade called me and told me about the kids but I couldn't bring myself to come."
"Oh my god," John said unable to believe what he was hearing. "I never thought I'd meet you."
Marcus was giving John a good hard look. No doubt he was looking at his arm in the sling. John guessed that he had a pretty good idea of what happened to him. He looked like he was deep in thought for a moment before he snapped out of it.
"Yes," Marcus said. "Yes I had made up my mind to stay out of Sherlock's life but I'm thinking about changing that."
"You know I have two kids that aren't mine biologically but I love them," John said looking at Wisteria. "I know it isn't the same but I have an idea what you're feeling. I was pretty surprised when Isabell came into my life."
"Aaliyah and I were never in love," Marcus said. "I loved her but she never loved me back. I was young and dumb when Mycroft was born. I wanted to make it work. Hell, I was only seventeen when Sherlock was born. I raised both those kids the best I could. I really wanted to do right by my kids. I couldn't handle it when she told me she was pregnant again. I couldn't raise another man's child again. I couldn't."
"Sherlock wants you in his life," John said. "He doesn't say so but I know. He was disappointed when you didn't show when the kids went missing."
Wisteria was done eating and wanted down. John put her down on the floor. The child walked along holding onto the table. She looked up at Marcus.
"What's your name little one?" he asked.
"Wissy," the girl said before looking down quickly.
John's phone gave a beep. He took out his phone and looked at the message. He quickly sent a quick message.
I'll be up in minute
J.H
The child held her hands up Marcus. He picked up the child and held her in his lap. He smiled brushing her hair out of her face.
"Wow," John said. "I've never seen her take to a stranger like that."
"You like me huh? I...I want to be in the lives of my grandchildren," he said. "I just don't know if Sherlock would allow it."
"You just need to talk to him," John said. "I think if you just went up to him and said I want to see the kids he would let you."
"I think I will," Marcus said bouncing the child a bit. "If Aaliyah can face Sherlock after all she has done, and is continuing to do, than I can as well."
"Continuing to do?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"It isn't my place to say," he said with a sigh. "I know she is up to no good. I can usually tell."
"I have to go see Isabell," John said standing up. "Do you want to come?"
"I want to talk to Sherlock first," Marcus said handing the child back. "I'm going to see you again for sure."
"Come on," John said smiling at him. "I'm sure Isabell would love to meet you. You've missed too much time with your grandchildren already."
Marcus smiled and nodded. He had hoped it would go that way. He got to his feet and sat the cup and paper down.
"Is it alright if I stop by the gift store and get something for her and Wisteria?" Marcus questioned.
"Of course," John said. "I'm sure the kids would love it."
Marcus and John walked out of the cafeteria hoping Sherlock would take seeing his father well. The last thing John wanted was a scene in the hospital.
Sherlock was still sitting by Isabell's side. She was asleep but he didn't want to leave her side. He didn't want her to wake up and be alone. He was still waiting on his mother to text him back. He sat there in the silence watching her sleep for the longest time. He was afraid that if he blinked she would be gone again.
He glanced up when he heard the door open. Isabell groaned in her sleep and rolled over.
John was standing in the half open door. Wisteria waved at him.
"Come on in," Sherlock whispered to him.
John opened the door all the way and walked inside. Sherlock took the baby so John could pull a chair close to the bed. Sherlock noticed Wisteria had a stuffed Raccoon. It looked new.
"Sherlock," John said softly. "Someone is here to see you."
"Mum?" Sherlock asked as Wisteria curled up against him.
"No," his husband stated. "It's your Dad."
Sherlock locked eyes with John. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. The statement John had made was hard to take in. His father? His father actually showed up.
"Can he come in?" John asked. "He really wants to see the kids."
Sherlock nodded before looking down at Wisteria. The child had the racoon's ear in her mouth and was fast asleep. Sherlock got up and laid the child down on the couch in the room. He got one of the extra blankets out of the cabinet and covered the little one up.
"Alright," John said. "I'll get him."
John poked his head out of the room and said something to someone outside of the room. Sherlock sat back down and waited.
John walked back into the room with Marcus at his side. Marcus smiled at him but didn't say anything. He had no idea how to start a conversation with him. He hadn't seen him in years.
"I bought this for Isabell," he said setting a bag on the bedside table. "I'll leave if you want me to."
"No," Sherlock said waving to a chair. "Stay."
The talking was waking Isabell up. She yawned and looked around the room. Little Isabell smiled when she saw her Dad in the room. She was so happy to see him. It hurt her to see his arm was still hurt but she knew things were going to be better.
She knew there would be no more fighting. That was all she wanted.
Isabell noticed a stranger in the room. He was smiling at her and looked like he wanted to say something to her.
"Who is he?" Isabell asked looking at the stranger.
"I'm grandpa," Marcus explained sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'm your Papa's Dad."
"Really?" she asked in an excited voice. "I didn't know I had a grandpa."
"Yup," he said getting the bag off the bedside table. "I bought you something. I'm sorry I haven't seen you before. I'm so sorry."
"It's OK," she said looking in the bag. "You're here now."
She took out an art pad and a new set of color pencils. She smiled at that. Her Dad or Papa must have told her she loved to draw.
"Thank you," she said putting it back in the bag. "Will I see you again?"
"Of course," he said smiling at her. "I'll see you every chance I get. Tell me about yourself. What kind of things do you like?"
"I like science," Isabell said looking at her hands. "I want a chemistry set from father Christmas but Papa says its too dangerous."
"You sound just like your Papa," he said laughing.
"I'm going to go home for a little while," John said. "I need to rest. My arm is killing me."
"Of course," Sherlock said. "I'm going to stay here for the night. Are you taking Wisteria?"
"Yes," John said picking up Wisteria.
He seemed to be having trouble holding him with one hand but he managed to get her sleeping form onto his shoulder.
"Bye Dad," Isabell said. "Take it easy."
"I'll see you both tomorrow," John said before quickly giving his husband a kiss. "I'll be here as soon as Wisteria is awake in the morning."
John gave his daughter a kiss on the head. Sherlock smiled as John left the room. Sherlock looked at his father and his oldest daughter. For the first time in years he felt at peace with his past. His father might not be his biological father but he was a caring and loving person.
Aaliyah left Jim's side after an hour. She wanted to stay with him longer but a text message from John got her moving. She didn't know what John wanted but it sounded important. She had already got one from Sherlock but she didn't answer it. She had a feeling he had questions for her and she wasn't ready to answer them.
She had sent back a message asking where he wanted to met her. He said that he wanted to met her at his flat where they could talk privately.
When she got to the flat she wasn't surprised to see John was alone and in a bad mood. Little Wisteria seemed to be the only other one in the flat. She was sleeping in her portable crib in the living room.
John was sitting on the couch with his laptop working on his blog. He seemed to be having a hard time doing it with only one hand.
"John," She said sitting down in one of the chairs in the living room. "What's going on?"
"Sherlock is really upset," John said still tying on the laptop. "When I saw him in Isabell's room I could see something was bothering him. He asked if you were at the hospital. I think he was waiting for you to show up. Do you have any idea what could be bothering him?"
Aaliyah said nothing looking down at her hands. She couldn't lie to him but she couldn't tell him the truth either.
John closed his laptop and set it off to side.
He never asked Mycroft if Moriarty was still even alive. He thought perhaps Mycroft would have him killed. At least he figured Jim would die behind bars alone. Sherlock never told him much about what the agreement was behind him and Mycroft.
"I know that you slept with Moriarty to make Isabell," John explained. "I need to know if you are still seeing him."
"Yes," his mother admitted in a whisper. "I am. I see him nearly every day."
"Have you lost your mind?" John growled. "How could you do to this to Sherlock? This man wanted your own son dead and you sleep with him. The first time Sherlock was able to forgive you. He won't be able to forgive you if he finds out your still doing it. I won't blame him if he does shut you out."
"I love him," Aaliyah admitted. "I never meant to hurt Sherlock. I love Moriarty. I'm stuck in between a rock and a hard place. He promised me he won't hurt you or Sherlock. He could break out of where Mycroft has him anytime. We both know that. He doesn't. That must mean sometime."
"Aaliyah I've stood up for you," John said shaking his head. "I've tried to be your friend. I wanted you to be able to be there with Isabell. I didn't want to shut you out. If Sherlock finds out about this he might keep you away from Isabell."
"I have a right to see Isabell," Aaliyah said getting to her feet. "She is my daughter. I have an right to see her."
"You gave her away," John said starting to get angry. "You didn't want her. She was dumped on my door step. I wasn't ready to have a kid but when I saw her I knew I had to take care of her. She changed my life. I'm not saying your a bad person for giving her up. I think it was the best thing but...you did give up your rights. You have to understand Sherlock can lock you out."
Aaliyah didn't know what to say. She knew he was right but felt the urge to argue with him. She didn't him to keep her from seeing Isabell. She loved her so much. She was so lost.
"You need to choose," John stated trying to be gentle. "If you keep sleeping with Moriarty Sherlock will flip out."
"I love my kids," Aaliyah said on the verge of tears. "But I can't stop seeing Jim. If I have to choose I will choose Jim. If I could get him to leave the lock up he is in and a live a normal life I would. I would marry him. I love him so much."
John settled back on the couch. He shook his head for a few minutes. He couldn't believe what had just came out of her mouth.
"Get out," John said finally. "Get out before I lose my mind."
Aaliyah said getting up from the chair and left the room knowing she might not see her family ever again.