A/N: I don't own the characters - they belong to Elizabeth George and the BBC.
The 8th Earl of Asherton arrived at his destination, Howenstow. As he drove up the driveway, he noticed that his mother and Peters car was both parked near the entrance, but there was no sight of Judith's Land Rover. He wondered if she and their mother have had a falling out, causing Judith not to come this year, but he suddenly remembered that his mother had mentioned, that she did not know wether she would arrive on the 23rd or 24th of December, making his worry perish. Lynley parked his Bristol next to Peters vehicle. He sat a moment in silence, Barbara was still lurking in the back of his mind, he smiled and sighed at the same time. She was the only person that incited pleasure and pain in equal measures, but he wouldn't want it any other way, because that is how love works. As he opened his car door he grabbed his jacket and climbed out the car. Just as he closed the door of his car he was almost jumped by his mother.
"Tommy, it's good to see you. How are you, darling?" Lady Asherton asked as she embraced him.
"Mother, you startled me there. I have been better, but it's delightful to see you as well." Tommy said as he padded her back.
Dorothy loosened her grip on her eldest son to take a proper look at him. She noticed he was in a dazzling suit, she hadn't seen before. She wondered for a breath moment if he had forgot that the celebrations wasn't until the following evening. She abandoned the thought when she saw the fatigue that was written all over his face. He had probably come straight from a party in the city. However when she looked him in the eyes, she realised they were filled with pure hurt and despair. Which was to be expected, with everything that he had been through in the past nine months. Although Lady Asherton had a feeling there was something else to it.
"I am lost without her." Tommy said with tear glacéd eyes.
"Oh darling, I am so sorry, you have to go through all this pain. We can't change what happened to Helen. I wish there was a way I could alleviate the suffering for you." Dorothy spoke in a very respectful manner as she caught his left hand in hers to make him feel safe.
"I'm not talking about Helen…" Tommy stated quickly but suddenly lost his nerve. He tried to avoid eye contact with his mother.
"It's the lovely sergeant, isn't it? What have you done to the poor lass?" A male voice interjected.
"Peter! Behave and let your brother breath for a second" Dorothy scolded her youngest son, before Tommy got a chance to speak.
"What is a bit of banter between brothers?" Peter said with a grin and a slight hint of concern for his brother, in his eyes.
"You two do not banter, you bicker, bully and blame each other on days on end." Lady Asherton stated sternly.
"For the past two months we have been quite friendly and brotherly. We even talk at least twice a week, trying to make up for the time we have wasted quarrelling like cats and dogs." The younger Lynley brother explained with a smile whiles looking at his brother, he sensed, now was not the time to elaborate on this matter.
"Give me your car keys, I will grab your things and we can talk inside" Peter said as he squeezed Tommys shoulder, receiving an earnest smile.
Lynley gave Peter the keys as he had inquired and slowly made his way to the house with his mother arm in arm. Once Peter had collected, the luggage's from the car, he quickly caught up with his mother and brother in the hall. He placed Tommys bags near the stairs.
"I am sorry for my bold remark just before. Being brotherly and pally is still somewhat new to me." Peter explained.
"No need to apologise. It just toke me off guard that you knew… It was Barbara." Tommy said as he hugged Peter. Causing Dorothy to shed a tear, for her boys finally seemed to be in a good place with each other.
"Really Sherlock, she is all you ever talk about beside work, and most of those stories involve 'Barbara did this or Havers did that'. But why do you believe you have to live without her? Did she quit?" Peter inquired as he padded Tommys back, before letting go of him.
Thomas told them everything about last nights events: that they both had made a sudden decision, to go to the party, how they had danced and kissed under the mistletoe. There casual walk to his place, hand in hand, which Barbara had initiated. The fact that she had called him 'Tom', mere seconds before he had asked for another kiss, which had caused Barbara to storm out. As he told the last bit, he finally let go of the tears he had been holding back. Peter offered him a handkerchief and was about to speak, but Tommy continued his story, as he toke the offered handkerchief and blew his nose.
"She won't talk to me. I've tried calling her, last night and this morning. I went to her place but there was no sign of her. I went to Terrys, her parents and Helen's graves, where there was freshly laid wreaths. Which she must have placed, just before I got there. I went back to her place but still no answer or trace of Barbara… I know that I always chase after the women I can't have, like I did with Deborah and Helen, but somehow this feels different. I don't even want to drown my sorrows… She has always stood by me, even when I was wrong. I am not worthy of her. Oh the mess I've made, what can I do to fix it and set things right between Barbara and I?…I love her" Tommy said as a new wave of tears began to roll down his cheeks.
"Oh Tommy, have you told her? This can't be a new realisation. I've seen you two together, you have this unseen force to argue and agree in equal measures. Which is a healthy sign. That's how your father and I was throughout our relationship, our marriage, and till the day of his untimely passing." Dorothy said as she too let the tears fall from her eyes.
Both Lynley brothers drew their mother into a loving embrace, putting years of harm and hurt to rest.
"Bloody hell! Am I hallucinating. I haven't seen you three this close for a long time. What is going on?" Judith asked wide eyed and with a hint of concern in her voice.
"Tommy have finally made a move towards his Sergeant, the Lovely Barbara and sadly chased her away in the process" Peter said as he let go of his mother and brother.
"Yeah for a ladies man, he sure know how to make an utter shambles." Judith spoke softly but with a hint mischief in her eyes.
"A wise woman once told me, it's better to make a mess then to not love at all" Tommy interjected.
"Barbara" the three other Lynley's said in unison before all four bursted out laughing.
Once the quartet had laughed it off, Dorothy hugged Judith and said: "Oh Judith, you made it in time for the annual Nanrunnel Christmas Variety show" Dorothy said as she looked at her watch. "Peter you better get changed before we go. We need to be there in an hour." As Lady Asherton said that Peter walked up the stairs in a mock sulking manner. Tommy walked over to Judith and pulled her in for a hug, he hadn't seen her since Helen's funeral, nine months ago.
"It's been far too long, Judith. You look well, how have you been?" Tommy asked as he let go of her.
"I've been well, the riding school is going very well. Other than the fatigue and bloodshot eyes from crying, you don't look too bad yourself". Judith said as she poked his side. "You know I will need all the details, of your love endeavours".
"Well a gentleman never tells" Tommy proclaimed with a leer on his face.
"Then it is a good thing I'm not a gentleman, brother dear" Peter voiced as he came down the stairs.
"To the car, my children. Judith, we will fill you in on the way" Dorothy shot over her shoulder as she made her way to her car.
The three Lynley siblings followed in suit, with goofy grins on their lips, as they got into the vehicle. Tommy at the steering wheel, Peter in the passenger seat and the ladies in the back seat. As Tommy drove the car out the gate, Peter started to fill Judith in, on last night events with what he named 'A chance meeting'-story.
Thank you very much for reading and reviewing!=)