Umbrella

Hi guys – this is slightly off plan, more Mystrade.

This includes a flashback, and then the present time. Which is after all the Greg hiatus.

I've included some quotes, which I will give sources for after I finish this fic.

I wanted to add how much the reviews that have been given so far mean.

When people say that this has moved them, or they've enjoyed it, it truly does mean so much, and inspires me to actually finish it rather than just stop.

So thank you, read, enjoy, and review! :-)

The umbrella meant more to Mycroft than people thought. More than people recognised.

It had all come about a year into his and Greg's relationship.

It was the morning of their anniversary, and Mycroft couldn't contain his excitement. He rolled out of the double bed at 6am, and padded out of the large bedroom, down into the main living room.

He quietly made a pot of tea, not wanting to wake up Anna only for her to have to try to get back to sleep. It took him longer than it would for most; perfect tea was difficult, the correct temperature for it to be sipped at straight away, but not cold enough to be gulped, the right amount of milk so as to not distract from the flavour, but instead increase it, caressing it like a smooth, white ribbon, only adding to the beauty.

It was all mathematics to him, and as long as it worked, and Greg felt happy waking up next to him and a cup of tea, that was all that mattered.

He carefully tiptoed back upstairs, and sighed as the door creaked in resistance when he attempted to slowly open it. He needn't have been so hesitant. There, waiting for him in among the layers of silk sheets, lay his other half, DI Greg Lestrade.

He was grinning, and one leg was enveloped under the sheets, the other bent beneath him; his preferred way of sitting.

Greg leaned over to the opposite side of the bed, as Mycroft carefully sat down, wiping the base of the cup on his sleeve before placing it on ornate silver bed tray. He looked over suspiciously, eyes narrowed, but whatever Greg had been reaching for, was now covered in a long dark scarf.

Two can play at that game, he thought.

He leaned over his side of the bed, and pulled out a long thin parcel, wrapped up in a paper that would cost more than most of the gifts regular people buy. But neither of these men were regular.

Not in the slightest.

Greg leaned in, his arms now firmly behind his back. 'Happy anniversary, Myc. I love you' he pressed a small kiss against the now grinning lips. 'I have something for you' he whispered, his smile reaching his glimmering eyes.

'As do I, darling' Mycroft replied, winking back, 'mine first, if you please'

Greg rolled his eyes jokingly at this, but willingly accepted the beautifully wrapped gift that was presented to him.

He eagerly opened the wrappings and the small box, to reveal a small chain, clearly made for a man's wrist. There was a silver panel, and it took Greg a few seconds to notice it had an inscription.

In your eyes, in your smile, I see something far more beautiful than the stars, than the universe itself. You've attacked me like a beautiful virus. Every inch of me seeks you, needs you to survive. Being together may be difficult, but nothing could be worse than being apart. I love you.

Greg looked up, his eyes glazed with tears. He dropped the box, and, clinging onto the gift, threw his arms around Mycroft, holding onto anything he could grasp. He knew how much this meant, that his partner had finally allowed him into the heart that lay beneath the icy exterior. This wasn't a quick thought, Greg knew that it would have taken months for Mycroft to be suitably happy with what was now never going to leave his wrist.

He pulled back, and looked into his eyes. 'Thank you so much, Myc' he whispered, their noses brushing as they didn't dare drop each other's gaze. 'No matter where either of us goes, I know we'll find our way back. You're like my compass, and you're eternally tethered to my heart. I love every inch of you, and never forget that' Mycroft nodded at this, finally allowing his emotions to show.

A tear fell from his eye as he watched another fall from Greg's.

'Now' Greg sighed, a few minutes after they had both composed themselves.

'My present for you, babe' he chuckled, knowing that particular pet name annoyed Mycroft no end.

He pulled out a long, thin box. It seemed worn and tatty at the edges, as if it had been reused many times.

Mycroft frowned in wonder, and slowly unwrapped the ribbon that was binding the wood together. He slowly pulled off the lid, to reveal a long, thin umbrella.

Mycroft grinned, assuming it was a joke, and looked up, into Greg's eagerly expectant eyes.

This isn't a joke

'Um, thank you' he said, trying his best not to feel like a disheartened child on Christmas morning.

Greg chuckled, playfully kicking Mycroft's shin. 'Darling, take it out. I wasn't just gonna buy you a fuckin' umbrella, was I?'

Mycroft's heart leapt in hope, as he lifted out the normal looking piece of equipment. He looked at Greg expectantly, and he rolled his eyes in return, crawling over and reaching out his hand to take the present. Mycroft handed it over automatically, and he rested against the bed frame, waiting for the explanation.

Greg sat in front of him, turning the umbrella in his hand.

'This, Mycroft Sebastian Oliver Holmes, is no ordinary umbrella' Mycroft snorted at the cliché of it all.

'This… this is your father's.'

Mycroft's eyes widened, he had been sure everything had been lost, anything that his father regularly used filed away for evidence or destroyed, and he didn't know what to say. And so he said nothing, waiting for Gregory to continue.

'I adapted it a bit. The handle contains a needle, in which a drug, when injected will leave the victim in a state of paralysis, for around 6 hours. No obvious side effects. Ish

And so I will know that you are safe, when you are off gallivanting with MI6, or whatever you do'

Mycroft was about to say that he doesn't gallivant, but he was shushed.

'The ferrule, when activated, twist it to the right 24.5 times, will release a signal tracker, so if you do get in shit, I can find you.

Each rib contains a different drug, to heal various illnesses and to disinfect cuts and wounds. And so I will know that if the activator does not work, you can look after yourself for the time being.

The canopy cloth used is fire resistant, and is made out of something of mine from when I was a child. So you'll have a piece of me with you wherever you go, and I'll stop you from burning, god help us if the need arises.'

Mycroft was gulping down tears. He had given Greg his heart, but Greg had gone one step further.

He knew he couldn't change Mycroft and his profession, and he wouldn't even if he could, but it came with its risks.

'And finally' Greg continued 'there's something for you in the shaft. If I ever get in trouble –'he stopped Mycroft from interrupting 'which I might, Myc, don't deny. Even you can't keep me safe forever. If I ever get into trouble, I want you to look at, but not until then. You promise?'

Mycroft nodded, and leant forward, pressing a kiss to his lips. 'Thank you'

Mycroft ran back into Holmes Manor the moment he felt capable too. He needed to find the umbrella, the one he hadn't let out of his sight for more than a year, until today.

Greg's funeral.

He needed to see it. To see whatever Greg had left for him, and soon enough, he found the grim black object resting in its usual area by the fireplace.

He picked it up, and knelt to the floor, his knees unable to hold his body steady.

He slowly twisted the shaft of the umbrella, and found it was reasonably pliant and easy to open.

He continued until the handle fell loose into his hand, and he placed it on the floor beneath him, and took a deep breath, closing his eyes and tipping the now gaping hole towards his palm.

Something heavy, and cold fell into his hand, followed by something light. He opened his eyes, and saw a crinkled, rolled up letter, and a metal object.

The circular item turned out to be an intricately carved silver box, the initials G.L and M.H stamped into the top in a lavish font.

He slowly opened the box, finding a single ring.

It was simple, only just more detailed than the everyday wedding band. A gold pattern swept its way through the ring, on the inside, small letters were printed yours for eternity, until we meet again.

Mycroft gazed at the beauty of it, and slowly placed it on his right ring finger, vowing to not remove it until there came the day when he had to leave this universe also.

Slowly, with shaking hands, he opened the letter.

Darling Mycroft.

I suppose, if you are reading this, then the worst has come forth, and so I have had to leave you.

And I must say now, and with my deepest regrets, my love. I am so very sorry.

The heart is an easy thing to wound, but remember that wrapping it up as you did previously will not protect it, only retain the hurt in which has been inflicted, and remove any chance of healing that may come about by having an open mind. Please don't hurt yourself on my behalf.

Sherlock once told me that you often recited 'caring is not an advantage' when you were going through the early stages of adulthood. Could you have been more wrong?

One day, in the future, I hope, you will kiss a man you can't breathe without and find that breathing is of little consequence. Until that day, please do not reject those who offer comfort. I love you so much, but do not dwell on what could have been. Move on. I am not asking you to forget me.

I told you I would keep you safe, as you did me, and I know that became a lie, but I never intended so. You were hurt at the arms of others, mentally and physically, but nothing can prepare me for the time in which I hurt you more than any other can; the time I leave you and cannot return, however much either of us wishes it. And once again I must exclaim how deeply sorry I am, and how much I regret not spending the rest of my life with you. I pray to God, every day,that you will never have to read this, but if I am to die, I believe it will be to help others, and so instead of mourning me, rejoice for those that I helped survive another day.

Sherlock will continue needing you, so please do not lock yourself away, he may not say it verbally, but you know as well as I that he relies on you more than even he can fathom. I know we were ready to deny the existence of space and time rather than admit that love might not be eternal, but to me at least, I know that however long we last, whatever we go through, I will have no regrets, and my love will continue past my last breath.

And that is all I have to tell you, before I leave you, as you will see it, almost alone, you need to remember that you never will be truly on your own. I will be with you, always.

Every heart sings an incomplete song, and I hope that I filled yours with hope, and beautiful noise.

The band, shows eternity, the amount of time we truly have together. I believe you will have already taken it upon yourself to wear this until we next meet, but please do not let it hinder you in any way.

I'm sure one day, when you've completed making incredible marks on the world, I will meet you in heaven, and I await that day with great joy in my heart and soul.

I love you so incredibly much, my heart burns for you at this moment.

I am yours, forever and always. Until we unite once more

Gregory Lestrade

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