A/N: I was going to leave you all waiting for the next chapter until next week, but then I skimmed over this one and realized you all have to read it. You'll know why when you get to the part.
xXx
Greg opened the door hoping it was Mycroft. Instead the face that met his was Sergeant Donovan, the rest of the team not far behind with equipment.
"Greg, are you alright?" Donovan asked concerned.
"Yes I'm alright, Amanda not so much." Greg said detached. He stepped back and let Sally and the rest of his team in the hall. "Body's in the kitchen. Please keep quiet, the kids are upstairs and they don't know yet."
"I know this must be hard, is there someplace we can talk?" Donovan asked.
Greg nodded and motioned her towards the lounge. He sat down on the sofa, clasping his hands and staring at the floor.
"When you're ready" Donovan said softly, pen and notepad ready.
"I picked up the kids this morning at 10; we spent the day together, met up with Mycroft for lunch and did some shopping. I'll get you receipts and Mycroft can surely get surveillance footage for you. The kids and I got back about 5:30 carrying in a bookcase that we put in Thomas' room. I left them in Thomas' room, Thom and Lizzie putting books on the shelves, Dan catching his breath. I was going to the car to bring in the other things we had bought today and wondered where Amanda was. I didn't give her any warning about the bookcase and usually when she knows I've brought the kids home, she comes to give me grief. I checked the lounge before checking the kitchen. I found her body on the floor in a pool of what I assume is her own blood. I didn't move anything except a bit of her hair to feel for a pulse. Dan found me checking her pulse, after telling him to keep his siblings upstairs and to tell them nothing, I called it in then sat on the stairs until you arrived."
Donovan nodded and wrote down her notes of Greg's statement. When he finished, she pursed her lips. "I'm going to need a statement from Dan, Greg."
"Can it wait until morning? I still haven't told Lizzie and Thom." Greg rubbed his face, feeling drained from the discovery.
"Of course Greg, you can bring him down to the Yard and also write up your own statement."
Greg removed his head from his hand and smiled weakly at Donovan. He was about to thank her when he heard Mycroft calling his name from the hall.
Greg got up and poked his head into the hall. Mycroft saw Greg and walked into the lounge.
"Gregory, love, are you alright?" Mycroft asked concerned. He held Greg's upper arms, knowing that the physical contact was probably welcome.
"I'll see you and Dan tomorrow Greg" Donovan interrupted quickly, leaving the room so that the couple could have some privacy. Greg had nodded numbly to Donovan as she left. His attention was drawn back to Mycroft when the redhead was rubbing his arms soothingly.
"I'll be fine My, I just don't know about the kids. How am I going to tell them their mother is dead?"
"We'll do it together." Mycroft replied, placing a kiss to Greg's forehead. Greg closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, his fiancé's presence was calming all by itself.
"I don't know what I'd do without you." Greg said opening his eyes. He took Mycroft's hand and walked with the taller man up the stairs to Thomas' room.
Greg paused at the door his hand hovering over the door knob.
"I'm right here" Mycroft whispered, squeezing Greg's hand. Greg took a deep breath and opened the door.
Lizzie who had been hanging off the bed upside down, quickly sat upright, excited to see Mycroft.
"Mycroft what are you doing here?" she asked curiously. Mycroft looked at the boys before answering. Dan was sitting on the floor next to the door, his expression blank, not showing the turmoil that was lurking beneath the surface. Thomas was sitting in his desk chair with his feet on the edge of the seat, his knees pulled tight to his body. His face was neutral but Mycroft could see the deep sadness in his eyes. Mycroft somewhat lamented that he had started teaching Thomas the art of deduction because he could tell that the boy knew what happened to his mother by his older brother.
Greg went over to the bed and sat down next to Lizzie, Mycroft took a seat on the other side of the girl. Greg was wringing his hands, searching for the words to tell his little girl that she'd grow up without a mother.
Mycroft placed a hand on Greg's before speaking.
"Angel, I'm here because you and your brothers are going to come live with me and your dad." Mycroft said softly.
"That's so great…but what about Mummy?" Lizzie asked.
"Lizzie, she's dead." Dan said from across the room; his voice was even but Mycroft could see the torrent of emotions in his eyes.
"Dan that's not funny" Lizzie replied. When he didn't say anything and tears started to well in his eyes, she started to panic.
"Daddy tell me Dan is lying, please tell me Mummy's not dead!" she pleaded desperately to Greg. Tears were streaming down her face and it broke Greg's heart to have to confirm this.
"I'm sorry Princess, Dan's right." Greg replied, trying to keep his voice from breaking. Lizzie looked at her father with a broken lost expression before collapsing against Greg's chest sobbing. Greg wrapped his arms around his daughter, holding her close as she wept loudly. Mycroft was rubbing her back in comfort and looked at how the boys were doing.
Dan was still sitting on the floor; his position now mirroring his little brother's, silent tears running down his face. Thomas had hid his face in his arms and was sobbing as well.
They all sat there quietly, the kids crying over their lost parent, Greg's own tears running down his face. Lizzie's sobs turned to hiccups and she started to quiet down.
"Why did she die Daddy?" Lizzie asked between hiccups.
"I don't know Princess, but I will find out. Whoever did this won't get away with it." Greg said determinedly; he placed a kiss to the top of Lizzie's head, trying to reassure her.
They continued to sit quietly, not wanting to face the reality of it all. Once Lizzie had calmed down enough to get her hiccups under control, Mycroft spoke.
"We should probably pack a few things for you all to stay with us, just enough for a few days for now. We can come back and get the rest."
Dan was the first to move; he wiped his eyes and left the room for his own. Lizzie clung to Greg; He looked over her head and silently communicated to Mycroft that'd he'd help her pack if the redhead could stay and help Thomas. Mycroft nodded and Greg scooped his little girl up and walked out of the room and across the hall.
Thomas lifted his head and dried his eyes. He let go of his legs and got up starting to grab clothes. Mycroft sat on the bed in silence; he knew the boy had something to say.
Finally Thomas closed a drawer and took a deep breath.
"What's the point of caring if all you do is get hurt?" Thomas asked his back to Mycroft. Mycroft sighed and stood; he walked over to the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I used to say that caring is not an advantage, but I've found that not to be true." Thomas turned around and looked at Mycroft, his hazel eyes wet.
"Caring may hurt us, but it can also make us stronger. We just have to remember to hold on to the strength it gives to not let the hurt consume us."
Thomas wrapped his arms around Mycroft's waist and cried into his waistcoat. Mycroft held the boy who was becoming like a son to him as he cried. All of Greg's children had wormed their way into Mycroft's heart and he was truly sad that such a tragedy had happened to them.
A few moments later Thomas calmed down and went back to grabbing his clothing. Mycroft helped by folding and setting them into a bag the boy had pulled out of his closet.
xXx
Three hours later they were at the flat Mycroft and Greg shared, the kids in bed. Lizzie was in the guest room, Thomas on the settee in Mycroft's study, and Daniel on the sofa in the lounge.
Mycroft and Greg drifted to their room and shut the door behind them. Greg sat on the edge of the bed heavily, his head in his hands.
"What are we going to do My?" Mycroft sat down next to Greg and pulled his partner into his arms.
"First thing tomorrow, you're going to call their school and inform them of what happened and that the kids need to stay home. You and Dan are going to go to the Yard and give your statements to your team. I'm going to work from home for the next few days, while you work the case with Sherlock." Greg looked up at Mycroft an annoyed expression on his face, it made Mycroft smirk. "Who are we kidding; you're going to involve Sherlock because you know it's the fastest way to get the right man the first time."
Greg sighed and leaned his head against Mycroft's shoulder. "You're right love. I owe it to the kids to get it right the first time. I'll stop by Baker Street after going to the Yard."
The exhaustion of the day swept over Greg and he leaned on Mycroft some more. Mycroft felt Greg's weight against him become heavier. He looked down at his partner and found his eyes drooping. Mycroft shifted then gently laid Greg down on the bed. He got up and stripped his partner of everything but his undershirt and boxers and tucked him under the covers. Mycroft got dressed for bed and slipped in next to Greg; the detective curled into Mycroft and fell into a fitful sleep.
