"And that, would be a mansion." John said, as he stared up at the gigantic house. "Exactly how rich are your parents?"
"Filthy." Sherlock muttered. "They like to flaunt it too."
John and Sherlock got out and walked up the steps to the solid oak front doors. Sherlock pushed them open to reveal a massive room with showcased white marble stairs.
"Welcome to the ball room." Sherlock sighed. "The sitting/tea room, where they will most likely be right now, is this way."
John followed Sherlock down a long hallway. He was fairly certain his jaw began hanging open when he saw the art work hanging from the walls. Rembrandt, Monet, and Van Goh among other artists seemed to have just dropped off a bunch of their paintings.
"Mycroft likes the Rembrandt, but I prefer the Van Gohs." Sherlock said.
"Are eh- are they real?" John asked. Sherlock nodded and looked up at one of the larger paintings.
"Every last one of them." Sherlock said. "I was obsessed with them for a while, I couldn't find any evidence of forgery."
Sherlock's fingertips hovered above a door knob, after reaching to turn it, but hesitating.
"I'm going to be an entirely different person in there. Expect it." Sherlock warned. "If you act as if this is out of the ordinary, it won't work. Mycroft would pick up on it."
John nodded. Sherlock opened the door and walked into the room, followed by John.
"William, dear, you're late. Why can't you be more punctual like your brother? Come sit by your father. We were just discussing the medal awarded to Mycroft by Xi Jinping, the president of China."
Sherlock's mother turned toward John.
"And you must be my son's colleague, Dr. Watson." Mrs. Holmes said. "Welcome to Holmes manor."
"Yes, thank you Mrs. Holmes. Call me John, please." John said, smiling. Other than the obvious favoritism towards Mycroft, John couldn't really see the problem yet. They seemed to be nice enough people.
"Where's my new brother?" Sherlock asked.
"Oh, he's been up in his room a lot," Mrs. Holmes said. "The transition has been rough on him. He's still getting ready."
John knew Sherlock well enough to see that he did his equivalent to sighing in relief. Mrs. Holmes rang a bell and what appeared to be a maid came running into the room. Literally, running.
"Yes Mrs. Holmes?" She asked.
"Some tea please. Two trays, and get an extra cup for Augustus."
Augustus. So that was Sherlock's new brother's name.
"Shall I fetch him then, Mother?" Mycroft asked, rising from his seat.
"Please do, thank you Mycroft." Mrs. Holmes said.
Mycroft left the room, and Mrs. Holmes and Mr. Holmes started a conversation with John. John noticed that they seemed to be ignoring Sherlock entirely.
They did, as John found out, often call Sherlock names and otherwise insult him, them speaking about him as though he wasn't there. They kept telling John highly embarrassing stories about Sherlock as a child, then immediately there after go on a rant about how Mycroft was in control of practically the entire British government.
Their favoritism was extreme.
"When Byron and I heard he had made it in the detective business we were so shocked, and Byron nearly passed out." Mrs. Holmes said. "The fact that he is actually able to get any case is astonishing. Then again, it is only a matter of time before this whole thing collapses." Mrs. Holmes turned to her husband and started laughing.
"Remember when he wanted to be a chemist?!" She said. Mr. Holmes nodded.
"I am a chemist..." Sherlock said quietly from across the room. His parents didn't even notice that he had spoken. John turned on auto pilot, and just nodded and smiled as he tuned them out. He didn't need to know every mistake Sherlock had made as a child, and he was already reminded enough of Mycroft's achievements, so he didn't want to hear more.
Instead, he focused on Sherlock, and trying to analyze Sherlock's reactions to what was being said.
Sherlock appeared unusually submissive, while at the same time maintaining proper posture and eye contact with the person speaking. His hands rested still in his lap with the exception of the occasional twitch. John recognized this as a sign of his anxiety.
About fifteen minutes later, Mycroft walked into the room with a boy who appeared to be about 14 walking behind him. The boy was wearing a suit, just like all the other males in the room, but like John, he appeared uncomfortable in it.
"Augustus, this is William. Your other brother." Mrs. Holmes introduced. Sherlock stood and walked to the boy, extending a hand.
"A pleasure to finally meet you." Sherlock said.
"Nice to meet you too, William." Augustus said.
John and Sherlock both noted that he had an American accent.
"Augustus, the correct wording is 'A pleasure to meet you as well, William.'" Mrs. Holmes said. "Make sure you remember next time."
Augustus nodded.
"Yes ma'm?" Mrs. Holmes prompted, giving him a stern glare.
"Yes ma'm." Augustus immediately corrected himself.
John not only didn't understand, but Sherlock seemed relieved at the treatment that Augustus was receiving from Mrs. Holmes.
John had thought it a little nit picky and excessive. Sherlock seemed to be thankful it was not worse.
A/N: Alright, I hope you enjoyed meeting Sherlock's new little brother. Anyway, I'm aware that it seems that Mrs. Holmes wears the pants of the family, but you'll soon figure out the family dynamics. I know Mr. Holmes didn't say much at all, but I'm going for the strong, silent type personality on him. I'll show you more of his personality soon, so don't worry, and watch out! I'm sooooo... looking forward to writing him! Oh, and the third Holmes is American!? How do you think this will turn out? Review Please!