Author's Note: Hello guys! Thanks for the lovely reviews last chapter. I'm glad people liked the style – I was experimenting a little. As for this chapter, I really enjoyed writing it. It came to me easy which is always welcomed. It ended up longer than expected but isn't that a theme with me by now? Please read, review, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: Clearly I don't own Sherlock. The show is the baby of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, while Sherlock Holmes itself is the creation of Arthur Conan Doyle.
The First Time His Parents Learnt of the Pregnancy
For once the tables had turned. Usually Anthea was the one trying to convince a reluctant Mycroft to visit his parents.
Not this time.
After hearing about Mycroft taking time off, Violet had suggested to Mycroft that they could mend a lot of the hurt made between them if he and Anthea came and spent a few days at the Holmes family house. This break from work being for the soul purpose of Mycroft trying to sort out his personal life, he agreed without a single complaint.
Anthea was less happy with the idea. She adored Violet and Siger but… She was apprehensive.
"After the rather large fuss you made to Mummy, I should think you'd be thrilled that we are willing to spend time with one another." Mycroft lectured Anthea.
They sat in the Diogenes Club, in Mycroft's personal suite. They sat on one edge of the couch each, leaning against the arms and facing each other. One of Mycroft's long legs was on the couch and Anthea's feet were folded underneath her. It was a sight far too casual for this club. Then again, they'd done a number of things inappropriate to the club's rules in this room. They'd only come here as a reason to get out of the house.
Anthea blew air between her lips.
"I know." She widened her eyes as she spoke. "And I am glad, but can't you go without me?" She cocked her head to the side and tried to look as cute as possible only to be met with a quirked eyebrow. She should know better than trying to manipulate a Holmes with physical appearances. Unless it was that red dress of course.
"Is this about your pregnancy?" Mycroft asked flatly, expression unchanging. Sometimes he and his steel eyes were unnerving. Anthea crinkled her nose. She took a minute to think before she answered.
"You don't know what you're doing yet." Anthea replied.
A pause.
Their eyes held each other.
"So?" Mycroft retorted. Anthea shook her head so lightly it would be easy to miss.
"Your mum is going to know as soon as she sees me. She's going to judge you, pity me, and then it'll ruin the whole trip for all of us." Anthea shrugged. Amusement flickered in Mycroft's eyes before his mouth even began to pull up.
"I doubt Mummy will even notice my presence once she finds out she's going to be a grandmother." He answered. The amusement could even be heard in his tone. Anthea clenched and unclenched her jaw.
"Is she?" Anthea asked, questioning the grandmother part. The good humour disappeared and Mycroft looked past Anthea's shoulder, no longer looking at her.
"Regardless of what I am going to do, you are stuck with that woman, Anthea." He said. Anthea looked down to her lap. "I also think you highly underestimate my family's ability to put a subject to bed for discussion another day." Anthea looked back up to see Mycroft looking at her once more. "Not to mention, isn't it better for her to find out now rather than when you're as big as a house and we can't use the fact that you're not telling anyone as an excuse." Now it was Anthea's lips turn to pull up into a small little smile. She licked her lips as she looked Mycroft's cute face over.
"I guess you're right." She muttered. Mycroft clicked his tongue and folded his arms across his chest.
"Of course I'm right. I'm always right." He said. Anthea rolled her eyes.
"Can't you go by yourself and tell them?" Anthea asked.
"No." Mycroft scoffed. "I need to deflect her attention on me by giving her someone to hug and fawn over." He leaned forward. "Miss James, if you don't come I might just lose my life." Anthea laughed.
"You give me no choice then, Mr. Holmes." Anthea smirked.
It would be fine after the initial discovery, that's what Anthea told herself on the drive to the Holmes' house. A few hours of weirdness maybe, but then it would be a few days with Mycroft's parents. On one of those days Mycroft had promised to take them to see Eurus so maybe Anthea could just lay on the couch and read. Or do something nice for the family and do some cleaning, or cook something… or maybe bake those cookies she was good at as opposed to cooking. It would be fine! It would as fun as always and it would be great to see Mycroft reconnect with his parents. It would do him the world of good. How many times did Anthea have to say that to herself before she began believing it?
Anthea stood a step backwards and slightly behind Mycroft's shoulder as he rang the doorbell on his parent's threshold. If he thought Anthea was being ridiculous, which he probably did, he said nothing of it. As expected it was Violet Holmes who opened the door. Anthea could imagine Violet waiting for them arrive, waiting to make up with the son who thought she didn't love him anymore. The matriarch did not speak at first. Her eyes as bright and blue as the sky looked her son up and down, not even seeing Anthea. Her eyes settled on his. Her face transformed into a look of utter adoration. After the last time Anthea had seen Violet she had forgotten the way she could look at Mycroft with such love. She clicked her tongue and outstretched her arms. Mycroft did not argue, in fact he stepped into the oncoming hug. Violet pulled the smarter genius down, wrapping one arm around him and placing the other on the back of his head in his hair.
"Oh, Mycroft." She whispered so Anthea almost missed it. "I love you all with every cell of my body. Don't ever forget that."
"I won't." Mycroft answered. He slowly lifted his arms and returned the hug his mother was giving him.
"You're a good person, Mycie. Stop letting things get in the way of that." She said. Mycroft wouldn't believe those words but Anthea would. Mycroft tensed a little.
"I'm sorry, Mummy." He spoke just as quietly as her. Violet hushed him. She let go of the hug to look up into Mycroft's face, placing her hands on the side of his face.
"It doesn't matter now, Mycie. What's done is done and everyone is safe." His mother smiled. "All my babies are safe and they all know they are loved." Mycroft fiercely blinked his eyes. Him and his need to shield his emotions. It made Anthea want to smile.
"Yes, well…" He was getting awkward now. "You can easily demonstrate that to me without so much touching." Violet clicked her tongue. She lightly and playfully tapped the side of Mycroft's face before lowering her hands and letting him step away. Anthea got a flash of teenaged bitterly asking his mother not to touch him when she tried to hug or fuss over him and her doing the exact same thing.
"You're lucky I love you." Violet said.
"I love you too." He could finally reply with the right words now his need for space was restored. The absolute idiot.
It was then that Violet drew her attention to her son's companion. Already on her face as she turned to Anthea was a warm and friendly smile. It barely held on her face the moment her attention was actually on the brunette woman. She noticed the nervous aura that fluttered around Anthea. Then she noticed something else on Anthea's face, something Anthea herself probably couldn't see, and Anthea knew already that Violet was putting together the pieces. She finished on Anthea's face and moved down to her chest like checking measurements, then down to Anthea's abdomen. Anthea tugged a little on the hem of her blouse as Violet looked her over. Antea had been extremely aware the last few days of how her clothes were beginning to fit differently. They weren't uncomfortable but they pulled in directions and ways that hadn't before. Anthea was growing soft in the middle and she didn't like it. She really didn't like it as someone else analysed it.
Violet's gaze snapped back up to Anthea's face. She looked shocked, awestruck even. It took her a few seconds to find her breath as Mycroft and Anthea stood as still as statues.
"Alice, dear." Violet breathed, clutching at her neck for a necklace she wasn't wearing. "You're not-?" She stopped midsentence. Anthea licked her licks and pushed hair out of her face. It was her turn to blink her eyes before anything tried to escape them. Violet looked apprehensive, nervous, shocked… and excited? Anthea let out a single nervous laugh and shrugged.
"Apparently, yeah." She cracked into a coy smile. Violet's face burst into light and laugh, and she too began laughing. Now only having eyes for Anthea, she walked around Mycroft and pulled Anthea into the most loving embrace Anthea had experienced in a life time. It was the same thing she had done to Mycroft; a hand wrapped around her and one in her hair stroking. Anthea broke into laughter too as she buried her head into the slightly shorter woman's shoulder. It was amazingly soul lifting; like a thousand weights had been taken off Anthea's shoulder. Someone's reaction was unbridled happiness and not worried or concerned by her own reaction. There was excitement about her little life growing inside her.
"Aw, my babies are having a baby." Violet cooed so gently. Her voice was shaky. Anthea laughed a little more. "And here I thought I was never going to be a grandmother. Bless you, dear." She squeezed Anthea. Anthea squeezed her back.
"It was an accident." Anthea said.
"I don't care. It's still wonderful." She said. She pulled away until she and Anthea could look at each other. "It's going to be the best thing that ever happened to you, dear. Just you wait and see." Anthea had to blink her eyes defiantly once more. For some reason she believed Violet completely.
Mycroft cleared his throat. He was looking rather uncomfortable.
"May we continue this inside?" He asked. Violet clicked her tongue once more at her son.
"I'd ask where you got those bossy traits from but your father would laugh in my face." She said to him. She took Anthea's hand in her own and patted it. "But yes, dears. Let's go inside and get all comfortable. I'll find Siger, too."
It was the opposite of complicated to find the only member of the family not classified as a genius. He walked into the living room with a rather old looking book in his hands just as Violet walked in with Anthea in tow – since she was still holding her hand. Mycroft was not far behind them, a little annoyed at having to drag the suitcases in by himself.
"Your son is here." Violet hummed lovingly to Siger. As if he couldn't see Anthea and connect the dots himself. As he saw Mycroft wander into the room Siger put his book down on the arm of the chair.
"My boy." He said, approaching Mycroft. Anthea could practically feel the genius stiffen as he prepared himself for another hug. Indeed that's what happened. This one was just as loving and just as tight but only lasted a fraction of the time. "I missed you." Siger said to his eldest son. Some of Mycroft's tension dissipated.
"I missed you, too." Mycroft muttered in response. "Despite how dull you can be, I missed you too." Mycroft teased. Anthea scoffed. Violet let it slide because she could hear the love behind the words.
"Dull?" Siger cupped Mycroft's arm. "Who else is going to discuss the metaphors in the Tempest with you?" Mycroft nodded at Anthea.
"That one." Was his reply. Siger chuckled.
"Speaking of this one." Violet held up Anthea's hand in her own. Violet's other hand came to sandwich the other side of Anthea's hand. Mycroft cleared his throat and walked around his family. He disappeared towards the kitchen. Violet noticed. Anthea could see her blue eyes ticking and making a note of it but she continued anyway. "Alice is pregnant." Siger looked like someone had just told him the sky was really green. Anthea didn't blame him at all. Disbelief held on his face for at least thirty seconds before he realised his wife wasn't kidding. Then an unreadable expression took its place. He looked between his wife and his son's girlfriend.
"We're going to be grandparents?" He asked. Violet nodded vigorously. "One of our children is actually procreating?" He asked.
"Yes, dear." Violet said.
"There's going to be an actual baby? A child?" Maybe the disbelief hadn't gone completely. For the third time already Violet clicked her tongues.
"Yes, dear." She sounded so much like Mycroft with her exasperated tone. "There will be a baby and it will be our first, and probably only, grandchild." The old man's eyes welled up. More hugging ensued. This time he grabbed Anthea and Violet in a group bear hug. Violet cooed and awed.
"That makes this old man so happy." He said. "Violet, I'm so sorry I ever told you not to try and force them together." Anthea barked a laugh at the admission. She had sworn she knew that's what Violet had been trying to do all along. She'd convinced Anthea to get that beautiful dress she loved, after all.
"I knew it." Anthea said as she continued to laugh.
"No you didn't dear." Violet chided. "Neither of you did. No matter how much I pushed neither of you noticed. I had almost given up."
After the hug was finished and some more cheers and congratulations were passed around, Violet gave her apologies and followed the path of her son, disappearing behind the door into the kitchen. Anthea inwardly sighed wistfully as she wondered what was going on in Mycroft's head right now. His father, currently next to her, also looked off in the same direction.
"Why did Myc skulk off, anyway?" He asked, the steel eyes turning back to her face. She tried to decide if today they looked more like Mycroft or Eurus. Maybe Mycroft, but that's only because Anthea had seen his eyes full of the kindness that always filled Siger's. Anthea shook her head and flicked her hand in a waving off motion.
"He probably didn't want to hear anymore baby talk." She explained, sounding a little weary. Siger's head tilted quizzically. "He…" Anthea looked at the kitchen door and back at Siger. "He doesn't like talking about it because he doesn't want it." She looked at her shoes and scuffed the carpet. "He doesn't want to lose me but he doesn't want the baby."
"Ahh." It wasn't the noise of someone disappointed. The noise Siger made was the 'ah' of someone being told something that they had forgotten and just reminded of. Like that was the most obvious answer in the world. Anthea looked up to see him once again looking in the direction of the door. His expression was wise and understanding. As he looked back at Anthea he gestured to their old couch. He walked her over and sat her down on the couch while he sat in the armchair. "I wouldn't worry about that." He said. Anthea pulled a face.
"Seems like a thing I should worry about." She replied. Siger smiled at her.
"You've seen the heart behind the…" He gestured to his chest. "Walls and ice?" Anthea nodded. "Then you don't need to worry." Anthea waited for more but nothing came. She did not appreciate the vagueness.
"I think it's more complicated than that." Anthea said. Siger just kept that knowing smile on his face.
"With the loves of your lives? No it isn't. Juliet didn't tell Romeo it was more complicated than that when he called her from her balcony." A true literature professor. Anthea's kid had no chance but to be a book fan with all the readers in the family. Anthea could appreciate that but she still didn't believe him. Her eyes narrowed.
"They both died." She replied in a soft tone. Siger's eyes sparkled with humour the way Mycroft's did. He took a breath and looked around the room. He was looking at the photos and decorations. Now Anthea knew why some of these old things smelt of smoke. They were salvaged.
"Mycroft was a bit of a surprise." Siger said after a few minutes of silence. Anthea's posture straightened as her attention was drawn in.
"Oh?" She prompted more. Siger hummed and did one slow nod.
"Violet wanted to be married a specific number of time. I think it was three-point-seven-five years before we started trying for children." He continued. Anthea laughed in her throat at the idea. "She wanted to finish a few papers first and I was trying to prove to my parents that we didn't need their inheritance so it was okay by me. As fate would have it; not long after our first year anniversary did Violet announce to me that she was pregnant." Siger recalled fondly.
"And then what happened?" Anthea asked.
"We had two more kids after that." Siger ended with that same knowing smile directed at Anthea. She hardly saw the relevance and didn't appreciate the vague story. Siger seemed to think that was enough information. He spent way too much time with his family.
Time passed. Thirty minutes at least. That's how long Mycroft and Violet had been in the kitchen by themselves leaving Anthea and Siger in the family room. There had been no raised voices and no slamming of doors which could only mean good things. It meant that Violet hadn't yelled at Mycroft for his decision, or lack thereof, and Mycroft hadn't walked out on his mother's advice and opinions. This was all good, yet it didn't do anything to make Anthea feel less tense about the whole thing.
"I think it's time we go in and intrude, don't you?" Siger said, sensing Anthea's nervousness. Anthea looked at him and thought about it. "It's rude to make guests wait so long before you offer them a refreshment." He added with strain in his voice as he pulled himself out of the armchair. Anthea stood up and followed the elderly man.
"Shouldn't we let them talk?" Anthea asked.
"Not always." Siger smiled. Anthea let him lead her into the kitchen.
Violet was sitting at the kitchen table. Her hands were folded on the table and she was leaning over looking at Mycroft with a poignant look. The eldest Holmes child stood on the opposite side of the room, leaning against the wall. He had his arms folded across his chest and a sad, pained, expression on his face. The room had been entirely silent. Anthea looked at Siger with a raised eyebrow. He shrugged at her. Violet caught sight of them. Her sky eyes looked over at her husband.
"Hello darling." She said, tone seriously. Anthea and Siger walked passed the doorway and into the room proper.
"What are we doing, love?" Siger asked. Anthea looked over at Mycroft. The genius looked back and his mouth twitched into a smile for a few milliseconds before it fell and he was looking at the floor with deep interest. Violet looked back at Mycroft.
"Your son is scared." She announced. Mycroft's head shot up.
"I'm not scared." He defended in his teenaged tone that always came out around his parents.
"I know." Siger replied to his wife, ignoring Mycroft. "Alice told me."
"I didn't say he was scared." Anthea defended Mycroft. She could feel his eyes in her now.
"He's told me his fears and I'm trying to get him to understand that it's okay to be scared right now." Violet furthered.
"I'm not-" Mycroft began. He heaved out a breath. "Mummy." He hissed. Violet gave him the same poignant look again. She looked over at Siger and subtly nodded her head to Mycroft. Siger cleared his throat and stepped forward.
"Myc, would you like to go for a walk with me?" He asked, getting close to his son but not touching him.
"Mycroft, and yes please." Mycroft sounded both exasperated and relieved. Siger gestured to the back door with a hand, silently telling Mycroft to lead the way. As Mycroft began walking off Siger turned back to give his wife a smile before following Mycroft. Violet's expression melted into a kind smile. She took inhaled and looked up at Anthea with a bright smile. She patted the chair next to her three times.
"Come, Ali dear, sit with me." She said. Apprehensive of ulterior motives, Anthea walked over and sat down next to the matriarch. Anthea tucked a curl behind her ear.
"I'd rather not have another discussion about Mycroft and the baby right now." Anthea tried to say as politely as she could. Violet chuckled, looking at her hands on the table.
"I'm not going to give you a speech on what Mycroft is most likely to do because I'm certain everyone who even has an inkling into the type of man he is has given you the same speech. My other son included." She looked up at Anthea. "And I'm not going to tell you that we'll always be there for you because if you don't already know that there is nothing in the world that will keep me away from that baby then we need to be reintroduce." Anthea laughed softly at that, not being able to help herself. Violet stroked Anthea's arm. She tilted her head to the side as she took in her son's girlfriend and assistant. "Instead I'm going to do what mum's are supposed to do. You're going to tell me everything you hate about being pregnant so far and I'm going to give you all the tips and tricks I learnt over my three pregnancies to make it easier." She said. Anthea leaned back in her chair and sighed with relief. She hadn't considered that mum's could do that. It had never crossed her mind what she was missing by not having a mother to talk to about this.
"That would be great." Anthea replied. "Thank you." Violet rubbed Anthea's arm one more time.
"Anytime, dear."
Author's Note: So how was it? Did it live up to your expectations? Since they're spending a few days there I can do another chapter at Violet and Siger's if you want. Only if you really want it, though. If not I'll go to my next idea. Thanks to our guest reviews; Singing Ferret, Amie, Isidora, Guests x2, Sophie, Tadaa, Hazel, and Christie. Thanks to all my reviewers. I thrive on your feedback and love you all. See you in five days!