Authors Note: Sorry for the delay, we wanted to publish the next chapter by Christmas, but unexpected family issues kept us away from writing. We still wanted to give you a new chapter though, so we decided to post this bonus chapter, lets call it a christmas episode, to give us some time to catch up, and to introduce you to the twins. We should post the next chapter in another couple weeks, so please be patient with us!

"Father! You need to be here to titrate!"

The dark haired girl looked up at her father from the kitchen table, currently covered with lab equipment and vials filled with liquids of various colours, fixing her large blue eyes on him intently. At four years old Alexandria was unusually small for her age, a fact only highlighted by the comically oversized apron she wore over her sundress, and was every bit her father's daughter, much to John's dismay.

"Isn't that what I had children for Alexandria? To titrate?" Sherlock responded, as he finally emerged from his bedroom well after noon, dressed in his usual robe and irritable as ever. He had just finished a particularly grueling case during which he had not slept for nearly 72 hours, and had only returned from late the night before.

"Remember what Lestrade said the last time he caught Hamy and me using the Bunsen burner without supervision? He said he'd have to report you!"

"Hamy and I. No daughter of mine will misuse her grammar like that."

"I will call John."

"It's not my fault your last experiment went up in flames, I taught you the proper procedure."

"It bloody well- Oh! Hello Uncle Mycroft."

Alexandria looked up at her uncle, who stood in the living room of the flat, silently sizing up the health of the children in a matter of seconds, then fixing his eyes on his brother with disdain.

"Sherlock, must we have another discussion regarding your language around the children?"

"I don't care what they say, as long as they say it properly." Sherlock retorted, greeting him with an icy glare, irked by the very unwelcome appearance of his older brother. Stalking to the door, he slammed it open,

"MRS. HUDSON! Didn't I tell you not to let Mycroft walk into the flat anymore? DO YOUR JOB!" He yelled down the hallway, slamming it shut again over the sound of her response that she was 'not his housekeeper, and it was not her job to manage the comings and goings of his home.' along with a few other choice words.

"I wouldn't need to let myself into the flat, if you would answer the door, little brother." Mycroft said coolly.

In response, Sherlock stalked into the kitchen melodramatically, muttering under his breath about how 'he should take that as a hint that he wasn't welcome' as he poured himself a cup of tea, angrily taking the sugar out of its place in the cupboard next to the jar of human eyes.

Roused by the arrival of his favourite Uncle, Hamish finally looked up from his book to greet Mycroft with a nod before returning to his reading. With dark auburn hair and eternally pensive green eyes, the boy already had the look of a serious professor, and the thoughtful nature to go along with it. While his twin always seemed to be be moving from one interest to another, never resting in one place for long, it was rare to see Hamish move from his chair, especially while in the middle of a good book.

Mycroft turned back to face the children, giving his best approximation of a friendly smile, which had all the authenticity of a cat barking.

"Hello, Alexandria. Hamish. How is your schooling progressing?"

"I'm sure you know better than I do Uncle. So why do you continue to ask?" She replied, head cocked, staring intently at her uncle. For a four year old, she was uncannily perceptive. Too like his brother for Mycroft's comfort, they both had an ability to get under his skin and reveal his underbelly, a talent possessed by a precious few.
"It's important not only to gain pertinent outsider information, but the perception of the subject at hand when dealing with a live subject."

"Noted." she said, nodding seriously.

He leaned in and said in a slightly more mischievous tone,

"And if you don't keep your grades up, the East wind will come and take you away."

"MYCROFT, STOP YOUR PERNICIOUS BABBLING AND GET IN HERE!"

"Why, Brother Mine, you seem vexed." Mycroft said with false sincerity, strolling into the kitchen with an evil grin.

"Have you tried getting them to sleep at night? Doubtful, so please don't make our lives any harder. Dreams of monsters and being forced through tea with Mrs. Hudson already keep them up at night."

Alexandria crept up behind her father, and peered up at him with frightened eyes, as Mycroft began to examine the flat with an unhappy gleam in his eye.

"Father, is that true?" She whispered, unwilling to let Mycroft hear, as Sherlock began playing Yankee Doodle Dandy to rush his brother out the door. Just as quietly, Sherlock replied;

"Mycroft always lies."

The smile returned her little face immediately, the worry leaving her eyes like clouds after a storm. As far as Alexandria Mary Holmes was concerned, her father's word was the last, and only word that mattered in the world.
"Okay." she said, as she crept back to her titration.

As Mycroft huffed his way out, Sherlock reclined back in his chair, deep in thought.

Hmmm. Sherlock thought as he slumped into his chair. He really must ask John about these heart palpitations recently. They really were becoming quite troublesome.