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Sherlock and Mycroft sat facing each other in an apartment on Baker Street. Scrabble was spread out between them. Each of them had a cup of tea in their hand. They watched each other carefully as they made the next moves in the game. Silence and concentration were interrupted by the sound of footsteps on the stairs leading to the apartment. Sherlock looked up and stared at the door as he waited for the visitor. The unexpected person skipped the knock and immediately opened the door and burst into the living room. Sherlock grinned.
"John! And Rosie" the detective said in greeting. He immediately got up and stretched his arms towards the five-year-old girl. The girl fell into his arms, and he picked her up and set her on his hip.
"I'll be the big sister!" she announced proudly in her voice and looked around "The baby will be here soon."
"I know that" replied Sherlock.
"Dr. Watson seemed to want to make an announcement" Mycroft suggested with a small smile.
"Could you watch Rosie? Harry is not due to arrive until next week, and the baby is clearly in a rush. Caroline started giving birth, but I don't want to leave her alone. Rosie can't go in there because she's not twelve, so could she stay here?" Watson said quickly "I promise to be back asap, but I would like to..."
"John, we have everything under control. Right, Rosie?" Sherlock said and set the girl down on the floor "Go and don't worry. We'll manage." Sherlock grabbed John's arm and pushed him towards the door. The little girl has already told Mycroft about what she will teach her little brother or little sister.
"... and then we can ride in the park together! And we can take the ball and play with daddy and mommy. And then I will teach the child to swim. I'm a great swimmer, uncle! Daddy says so. He said that I would be able to teach child everything. Great right?" she continued as she climbed onto Mycroft's lap in the meantime.
"Of course you are, my dear. But I'm afraid the baby will be busy sleeping for a long time" he said and watched the little face, expecting disappointment.
"I know, Uncle Lock told me. The baby sleeps a lot to grow. And wakes up to eat. All it will do at first is sleep and eat, but then it will grow up!"
"Oh yes. It will be a long time before you can start learning to ride a bike."
"Uncle, he must first learn to sit and walk and talk and eat and all such things."
"You're right, darling."
Sherlock stood leaning against the doorframe, watching with interest the conversation between Rosie and Mycroft. He knew that his brother was a very patient man with children, but he did not expect that the man would completely break away from the world around him only to interview a five-year-old.
"Mycroft knows a lot about this" the detective said casually, walking towards his chair.
"Really?" she asked curiously. She was aware that her Uncle Lock and Uncle Myc were brothers, but she never paid much attention to it.
"Of course" Sherlock said, crossing his ankles and folding his hands over his stomach, "He's the older brother" he added with a smile.
"Oh! So you taught Uncle Lock what he knows now? Why is he so smart?" at that moment Sherlock regretted what he told the girl. "Does that mean that you are smarter?"
"No, my dear. Which of us is smarter cannot be measured. Our IQ is similar, but each of us is an expert in a different field."
"But you taught him!" the girl protested, crossing her hands over her chest.
"Yes, but the basics. He learned the rest at school and then studied different faculties, which is why, unfortunately, we do not have the same knowledge."
"Do you remember when he was born?" she asked, leaning against his chest.
"Yes" the British Government replied succinctly "Would you like a story?"
"Yes!" the girl said, hugging Mycroft's chest "Will you tell?" she asked innocently.
"Of course, my dear" he replied, putting his arm around the little girl "It all started during the summer..."
Mycroft was sitting on a blanket in the garden, reading another pirate book. Recently, he got very fond of pirates and all the stories about them, so his parents decided to develop his interest and gave him some new books. A few contained pictures and were intended for children, however, Dad allowed him to choose one book that contained real stories. Daddy promised to read it and then tell the censored version, getting rid of the most violent bits. The August sun warmed his back, and he could focus on sea stories. He was really happy.
"Mickey, dinner's ready!" he heard his mother's voice coming from the terrace. He looked up and saw that Daddy had brought the plates to the table in the garden. He smiled, knowing they usually eat dinner in the kitchen, not at the table in the backyard. So the parents had a surprise. Maybe it's the puppy he has been asking for since last Christmas, who knows?
"I'm coming, mommy!" he replied, getting up and starting to collect the books he was going through. He put them on a small pile, then carefully folded the blanket and gathered everything up. He carried everything to his room and then returned to the garden.
Dinner went smoothly. Mr. Holmes shared stories about his students, and Mrs. Holmes praised her progress in writing another research paper. After the meal, Violet and Sigier exchanged a small smile, then both asked their son to wait for them at the table. They gathered the dishes and disappeared into the house. Mycroft was pretty sure he was going to get the dog. He waited impatiently, vibrating with excitement.
Mr. and Mrs. Holmes returned with a box tied with a blue ribbon. However, it was far too small for a puppy. And it had no air holes. Nor did it make any noise and did not move.
They put the box on the table and exchanged little smiles again. It was getting really suspicious, the six-year-old thought.
"Open it, sweetheart" said Mrs. Holmes, reaching for her husband's hand.
Mycroft stood up and moved carefully toward the box. He looked uncertainly at his parents, then slowly reached for the end of the ribbon. He pulled gently and the ribbon fell to the four sides of the box. He looked at Violet and Sigier again, and the couple nodded encouragingly. The boy reached for the lid and carefully lifted it. He put it next to the box and looked inside, not sure what to expect.
Inside was a small cake with blue frosting. In the center was a white inscription, "You're going to be a big brother!" Mycroft looked up quickly and looked at his parents in disbelief.
"Re-really?" he asked, looking back at the cake.
"Yes, honey" dad replied, and walked over to him, kneeling down beside him. The boy lunged at him and hid his face between his father's shoulder and neck. Sobs shook the six-year-old's body, and Sigier hugged the baby tighter and stood up with him. He approached his wife with a smile. The woman combed the boy's hair and placed a kiss on the child's head.
"At the beginning of January" she whispered "You will have a younger brother, as you wanted" she said, gently stroking her son's back.
Mycroft had been asking them for siblings for a long time, but when years of effort had failed, they accepted it and explained to their child that he would unfortunately be the only child.
"Can you help us choose a name?" dad asked, trying to look at the baby's face. However, the little head did not break away from the shoulder, and the man felt a movement up and down in agreement.
"...I always wanted a companion to play with" said Mycroft sincerely, trying not to look at his brother "Then my dream came true. I remember that I was only happier after that."
Mycroft has been annoyed the past two days. His brother was two days old and he still hasn't seen him! Hospitals did not allow children to enter during flu season, so Mycroft waited for mummy and his little brother to come home. They should be here any minute, so the boy left the cozy kitchen and sat down on the hall stairs. From there, he had the perfect vantage point for the front door, and he should hear Daddy's car soon.
"Honey, do you want hot chocolate?" his grandmother asked, emerging from the kitchen. She had been watching her older grandson for two days and saw the impatience in his eyes. She knew he got up much earlier than usual today and was assisting his father in packing the last things for the baby.
"No thanks" he replied without looking away from the door.
Mrs. Vernet smiled and walked over to the six-year-old. She sat down next to him and pulled him into a hug. She placed a kiss on his head and gently ruffled his red hair.
"You won't miss their arrival, sweetheart" she said, looking at him.
"It's not that I will miss him! I just want to see him now” he almost exclaimed, standing up and walking towards the window. He pulled up a chair from the dining room and stood on it to get a better view of the driveway.
Twelve minutes later Daddy's car pulled up. Grandpa pulled up closest to the front door and got out first. Right behind him, daddy got out and helped mum out. Then Grandpa gave her his arm and helped her way home, and Daddy reached into the car. He pulled out a car seat covered with a blue blanket and followed his wife.
Mycroft jumped off the chair and ran to the door. He reached for the handle and opened the door wide.
"Mommy!" he shouted and rushed towards her. Grandpa tried to stop him, but Violet reached for her son. She hugged him tightly, then leaned down and started kissing his cheeks.
"I've missed you, darling" she said in a whisper, trying to make the baby understand that she should be a little quieter in the presence of a new member of their family.
"I missed you too" he whispered in her ear. Meanwhile, Mr. Holmes carried the younger son to the living room and placed the armchair on the coffee table. He pushed the blanket aside to keep the baby from overheating, and headed for the car to get the rest of the stuff.
Mycroft released mom and reached for her hand. Together they walked towards the living room. The boy tried to remain quiet and calm so as not to scare the newborn. He approached the baby carrier carefully and looked at mum with uncertainty.
"Go ahead" she said, smiling broadly. Mycroft leaned down and looked at the little boy who was sleeping soundly in the car seat. He reached out and gently stroked the baby's cheek. He looked at his mother again for some clue. The woman merely nodded to encourage her older son to interact with the younger one. Mycroft kissed the baby's forehead, then moved his hand towards the tiny hands. The baby almost immediately grasped her brother's index finger and squeezed it tightly.
"Oh" Mycroft called, and looked at his mother, who was watching her children adoringly.
At this point, daddy entered the room, carrying a blanket from the bedroom. He helped his wife sit on the couch and wrapped a blanket around her legs. Mycroft gently pulled his finger from his brother's grip and sat down next to his mother, cuddling against her side. Daddy smiled, then reached into the seat and carefully unbuckled the child's safety harness. He picked up the little boy with skill and looked at Mrs. Vernet. The woman walked over to the couch and sat down next to Mycroft. Daddy knelt in front of his older son.
"Would you like to hold him?" he asked, not looking up from the face of the child in his arms. Myc looked up and looked around. Grandpa stood by the door smiling and nodded to the child, and after a while his grandmother and mother instructed him on how to hold his arms. After a while he was holding his little brother in his arms. He looked at the small, wrinkled face and suddenly the boy's eyes flew open. He was greeted by beautiful blue irises that were almost identical to his. The baby opened its mouth for a moment and looked around. Mycroft laughed and bent to kiss his forehead.
"You are the best gift" he said, ignoring the four adults who had been watching him since the baby was brought home "What's his name?"
Until a few days ago, they were still discussing the name and in what order the chosen names would be given.
"William Sherlock Scott" said Mommy proudly. Mycroft offered Sherlock. He found this name in a book that his mother said helped them choose his name. Mommy wanted the baby to be named William, and Daddy chose Scott.
"So Sherlock" Mycroft said, watching the baby begin to fall back to sleep. Mycroft decided to apply the principle that he also followed in his name. And so even though his name was Alexander Mycroft Charles, he used Mycroft instead of the common name Alexander. His brother couldn't have been an ordinary Willy either, so Sherlock would be more appropriate.
"Mycroft and Sherlock" daddy said, smiling broadly.
“…Years later, however, I believe that my parents referred me to Sherlock's name, but in such a way that the six-year-old me would be proud that he chose the name for his brother himself” said Mycroft, looking at the girl who was staring at him like in a picture.
"Daddy said I could decide which name the baby would get! But he said I had to choose from what he and Mommy would choose" Rosie said.
"Grandma and Grandpa were giving Mycroft ideas themselves and they knew exactly what he would choose" Sherlock said, looking at his brother "They just didn't disclose it to him at first, Rosie. That's why for many years he believed he chose my name" Sherlock winked at his older brother.
"What was your first word, uncle Lock?" Rosie looked at Sherlock "Daddy said it was important. My first word was papa"
"No, bee. Your first word was Lo. I think it was about me" the detective said proudly.
"I wouldn't trust him, my dear" said Mycroft, diverting the girl's attention away from her brother "Although, when it comes to Sherlock's first word, it's..."
Mycroft was sitting on the couch watching the Christmas program on TV. Grandma and mommy were in the kitchen washing dishes after Christmas Eve dinner. Sherlock crawled across the floor as befits an eleven-month-old baby. Everyone knew that as soon as the child started walking, real trouble would begin. Already, someone had to keep an eye on the tree all the time, because Sherlock absolutely wanted to remove the shiny decorations from it. That's why Daddy and Grandpa were standing nearby to drag the little fugitive away if needed.
Little Sherlock began to crawl towards the presents that Daddy, with Mycroft's help, had placed under the Christmas tree that afternoon. The boy stopped and picked up one of the packages, wrapped in beautiful paper with ships.
"No, Locky" daddy said, bending down and picking up the baby "Presents in a moment. And this is not for you, but for Myc" he explained to the child, taking the package out of his little hands.
"Come on, dear" said the grandfather and took the boy so that daddy could put the gift back in its place "Let's go check what mommy and grandma are doing" he added, leaving the room.
Mycroft looked at the large pile under the tree. He knew the gifts were mostly for him and Sherlock, but he still had to wait until morning to open all the packages. Mummy practiced the tradition that everyone could open one gift after dinner on Christmas Eve, but the rest had to wait until Christmas morning.
"Hey, Myc" daddy called to get his attention "The night will pass quickly" he winked to cheer his firstborn.
"I know, Dad" he said and walked over to the tree. He began to examine the packages marked with his name, one by one. He knew he had to decide what he wanted to open today. Mommy and Daddy always gave you a choice. Some parents allowed him to open the smallest gifts, but his parents gave him a choice. Suddenly his hand wandered towards the package Lock had grabbed earlier. He examined it closely and knew now that there was a book inside. He smiled briefly and decided to open the gift today. The rest could wait. Daddy ruffled his hair and gave him a big smile.
Moments later, grandfather and grandmother entered the living room. Grandma was holding a little boy in her arms, and Grandpa was carrying two cups of hot chocolate right behind her. Daddy rushed to the kitchen to help fetch the rest of the drinks and a plate of gingerbread. Sherlock was already holding his gingerbread in his hands, licking the frosting off it.
Everyone sat down on the couch. Sherlock was handed over to Mommy, and Daddy walked over to the Christmas tree and grabbed the gift Mycroft had chosen earlier. Daddy came with the package to the gathered people. Suddenly, a small child's voice silenced everyone present. Sherlock, who had been busy with the gingerbread a moment ago, has now abandoned it, his little hand pointing to a gift in his father's hands.
"Myc!" the baby shouted, all the time looking at the package. Everyone was shocked. Mommy and Daddy looked at the baby. Grandpa laughed first and broke the silence.
"Yes, Locky. This gift is for Myc" he explained calmly and reached for the toddler. Mycroft took the package from his father and sat down next to his grandfather so that Sherlock could also see him open the gift.
He gently tore the paper where it had been taped and carefully pulled the book out.
"Treasure Island" he read the title "I wanted to ask for it recently!" he exclaimed happily. Sherlock watched him calmly.
"You were a very polite boy and Santa probably knew it" grandma explained, exchanging conspiratorial smiles with his parents.
"It's about pirates, Locky" he explained to the child as he cuddled up against his grandfather's side. The man took the book and began reading to his grandchildren. The rest of the gifts were forgotten, and the Holmes boys were fascinated by the stories read by Grandpa Ted.
"That's when Sherlock showed his first interest in pirates" added Mycroft.
"I had no idea what could be inside. I grabbed a package that I could hold" the detective explained indignantly.
"The paper was with pictures of pirate ships. The only gift wrapped in this design" explained the British Government.
"It must have flashy colors. Little children like colorful things" Sherlock replied.
"I've never seen you sit so still before" Mycroft interrupted his brother.
"What else were you doing with Uncle Locky?" Rosie asked.
"Well, you know your uncle had nightmares as a kid?" the older Holmes asked.
"Everyone has nightmares" replied Sherlock, cutting them off "You're not telling her this."
"I have nightmares too" said the girl, lifting her head and looking at Mycroft confidently. "Then dad and mom let me sleep in their bed"
"Sherlock preferred to sleep in mine" Mycroft said with satisfaction.
"I wish I could be a older sister like you, uncle" Rosie said sleepily and made herself comfortable in his arms.
"You'll be even better, my dear" he replied, gently stroking her back.
"Well, you are already" Sherlock said and held out his phone to them "I didn't want to interrupt this fascinating story when John sent the picture an hour ago. You have a younger brother."
Rosie grinned and picked up Sherlock's phone, staring at the picture of the baby wrapped in a gray blanket. She blinked sleepily and snuggled into Mycroft again, falling asleep after a while.
The British government gingerly stood up and carried the little girl to Sherlock's bedroom. He carefully laid her down on the bed and covered her with the duvet. He ran a hand through her blonde hair and kissed her forehead.
"Sleep well, my dear. You'll be the best big sister" he said in a whisper and turned to leave. Then a detective-consultant stood in his way.
"You know you're the best brother you could ever be, right?" Sherlock asked. He watched Mycroft the whole time and saw his doubt when Rosie said she would like to be like him.
Mycroft swallowed and looked down at his feet.
"You don't have to say it just to..."
He broke off suddenly as his younger brother's arms encircled him. He couldn't remember the last time Sherlock did something like this. After a moment, he realized that he was hugging him back.
"You were and you are the best big brother, Myc" Sherlock whispered in his ear "Remember that. Rosie is lucky to be an example to her."
"Thank you, Lock" he replied, feeling the lump in his throat.
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