Chapter Text
–Alive?! For all these years?
Mrs. Holmes' raised voice hits her ears the moment Carol sneaks into Mycroft's office. Sherlock furrows his brows in surprise, but his attention is quickly drown back to his parents and brother.
No one says a word, but then Mrs. Holmes notices and turns her anger at the girl.
– It is a family matter, young lady, and-
– That's why is staying, - Mycroft's lowered voice is heard from the other side of the room. Sherlock quirks a short smile on this defensive act.
The woman scoffs half-heartedly at this, but her daughter issue worries her a lot more now.
– How is that even possible?!
– What Uncle Rudy began ... I thought it best to continue, - Mycroft hesitates, his eyes lowered.
– I’m not asking how you did it, idiot boy, I’m asking how could you?
– How could you, - Carol's sharp tone interrupts the woman who turns to her struck by her bold acting. – Not trust your son's judgement?
Legrand knows Mycroft has done everything he could have, and listening to his mother's scolding is the last thing she wants to do now. Not when she feels his pain and embarrassment like her own.
Mrs. Holmes narrows her eyes at the girl.
– You put too much trust in Mycroft. As the situation showed he's very limited.
Elder Holmes switches his glance from one woman to another. When Sherlock opens his mouth to interrupt them, Carol just cuts him off.
– I trust Mycroft with my life and I always will! Can you say the same, Mrs. Holmes?
The woman falls silent, and their father stands from his place coming up to his table.
– When can we see our daughter, Mycroft?
Seeing Legrand gazing at his mother without any hint of confusion or fear makes Holmes watch their fight till the end. And when Mrs. Holmes heads to the entrance, he doesn't feel offended or upset as it was many times before.
Mycroft notices his father winking at Carol and following his wife. Sherlock himself leaves after a dozen of seconds, letting them two talk in private.
– Not that I don't want to see you, but what are you doing here? - the girl comes up to him encircling his waist with her arms.
– Anthea called me. Said you parents and Sherlock were here and you needed rescuing. So she let me in.
She is met with silence, as Mycroft's watching her intensely until his strong voice rings again in a small room.
– I thought my mother would tear you apart.
– Secretly she respects me, - the girl reaches the cabinet in the corner in the office pulling out a whiskey bottle.
– Sure?
– Otherwise, she would stay here and argue with me till the death.
The man chuckles lightly taking one of the glasses from her hands.
– I like her, Mycroft, really. But I just couldn't watch her lecturing you. It was rude.
– And it was very brave of you to stand up for me, - he watches the liquid inside the glass. – Thank you.
Carol reaches for him and hugs with one free arm around his middle again. A kind expression in her eyes reflects a soft smile on her lips.
– I would defend you anyway.
Despite being cold and uncaring sometimes Legrand is more sincere and emotional than Holmes. She always makes Mycroft act more human-like next to her.
Sherlock once noticed his brother seemed kinder and more compassionate around the girl.
Mycroft lowers his head to place a careful kiss on the girl's temple.
– My parents will visit Eurus for sure. Do you want to go with me?
– Your mother was right, it's a family matter, Mycroft. It will be better for me to stay here.
– Fine-
– But..., - she casts a sly glance towards the man. – Mark will have some free time next week, and I've thought maybe we could spend it all together.
Holmes shrugs his shoulders pressing Carol closer to his chest.
– I'll consider that.
– Great! I'll talk with your parents after you come back from Sherrinford.
She tears herself from him and plops down the couch in the corner. Mycroft has nothing more but to throw his hands up.
– What's this have to do with my parents?!
– I want a family weekend, Mycroft. It will be incomplete without them, - he comes up to her looking down in her puppy eyes. – Ple-e-ase.
– Mr. Holmes, - they both turn heads to the entrance where Anthea stands with a handful of files. – Mr. Harris is waiting for you in the hall.
He nods and she comes out leaving the door open.
– I have never thought, you would beg me, - Holmes smirks mockingly letting Legrand lead the way.
– Hmm, I'll remind you about begging thing tonight, darling.
Anthea passes behind them barely holding her laughter back. Noticing it, Holmes gets more embarrassed leaning closer to Carol's ear.
– Stop it.
– Oh, only if you ask nice and kindly, Mycroft.
– You want what?!
Mycroft is pacing in circles around his living room with Legrand sitting calmly in the armchair.
– It's only one day, darling.
– No darlings, Carol, it's not funny, - he knows that his stern gaze doesn't work on her, but still does it anyway. – Eurus is not a little innocent girl as you want her to be.
– Your sister will be under my responsibility-
– I am the head of Sherrinford, she is always under my constant responsibility. And if something happens, it will be my fault only.
– Please, Mycroft, I will never ask you for anything ever again.
The man exhales heavily rubbing his temples tiredly.
– Only one day, - the girl giggles happily rushing to him, throwing arms around his neck. – And you will keep your eyes on her all the time.
– I promise-
– It is very serious, you can't just...,- Legrand is glancing up with shining wide eyes like a little girl waiting for a miracle. Does he really need to tell anything, if this woman always does as she wants? – When I talk, do you hear, "Blah, blah, blah, Carol. Blah, blah, blah"?
– Me and Mark will look after her. Worry not.
– Mark indeed, - Holmes shakes his head in disbelief, but hugs her nonetheless. – Your brother seems to find Eurus quite interesting.
– Well...Let's say he's fascinated.
She leans closer and kisses his lips quickly.
– Seems, the Holmes is our common weak point.
– How it's going?
Mycroft walks in the mortuary more freely in comparison with the first time looking around the room.
– Good. I mean, not for him. He's dead.
– I have always found your compassion just charming.
Carol is leaning over the dead man on the dissection table not raising her head on the man. Sherlock takes his now usual place before the microscope not paying much attention on his brother.
She raises her head from the body and freezes on one spot.
– Oh, hey!
Sherlock immediately tears his eyes from the samples noticing, for his strong surprise, his youngest sister standing at the entrance.
– Mycroft-
– Relax, brother mine. Eurus is not after you today, - he switches his glance on Legrand. – She asked me to see you, Doctor.
– Another present?
– A favor.
– And you agreed?
– I thought I should be more...cooperative. Especially with the family weekends coming.
Carol has surely won a lottery with this man who breaks his own rules for her. His sister, still hesitant, is shuffling along.
– Oh, you have that “I have a case solving hunch” look on your face, - Sherlock looks at the medical examiner observing her reaction on Eurus.
– My face doesn't hunch. It's a peaches allergy.
– Peaches? - he quirks his eyebrow while Legrand shots an offended look on Mycroft.
– Ask your brother about that.
Mycroft grins to the girl gesturing sister to come in further. Just the same moment Greg rushes inside the mortuary, but halts when sees one more person here.
The detective nods awkwardly to all of them, shaking his head.
– I'm not sure, I want to know what she's doing here, - he is now staring at Carol waiting for any results of her examination.
She takes one big breath. – His kidneys are damaged. Look at the crystallization.
Lestrade leans back rapidly from the body part showed to him with such enthusiasm.
– Hm, yea. From what?
– I’d be guessing, - the girl shrugs her shoulders earning a half-died laughter from Sherlock turning into cough.
– God, it's torture to work with you sometimes.
Greg rubbs his forehead. Even from his spot Mycroft can see how tired the Inspector is. With his eyes closed the man is whispering to himself.
– Have you seen this before?
– Yes, - Carol switches her attention back to the kidney.
– Okay. Good. What did it turn out to be...before?
Legrand takes a second to think which just more reminds of hesitating than remembering.
– Ethylene glycol ingestion.
– Antifreeze, - they immediately turn heads to Eurus, who is standing up from the chair and coming back to the body. – Someone was poisoning him.
Legrand smiles to the woman while she doesn't see her and winks to Mycroft knowingly who only rolls his eyes.
After some month working with Anderson as her assistant, she found him a better place where everyone would be content and happy. Now Carol is one to one with her problem again.
When Greg finally leaves them, the girl turns to the man.
– Don't look at me like this.
– Mycroft-
– You've told me, you won't ask for anything. And what is now?
Eurus feels the tense atmosphere around and sits back on her previous place. Sherlock tilts his head a bit. After their time in Sherrinford it is unusual to see his sister being calm like this.
– I'm still not asking. Just offering you some options.
– I will not let her out, - Carol presses her jaw tightly turning with her back to Holmes. – She will kill again-
– She will not, if you stop talking like she's not in the room.
The girl's stern tone makes him pay attention on his younger sister, who looks anywhere except them.
– You just need to keep her mind busy, even if it's just ordinary cases, - Legrand comes to her desk to click the kettle button, accidentally touching the woman's shoulder. – Eurus can be helpful.
– You drive me round the bend, Carol.
– Optimistic people live longer, - seeing the man melt a little bit relaxes the girl from this unwanted pressure. – Keep going this way, Mycroft.
– Two hours.
Holmes points at his sister and walks out of the room.
Though, it doesn't make the girl feel better after some time. The more the three of them sit in silence, the more her thoughts start chasing her.
– He acts like you put the stars on the sky.
Calm voice that surely belongs to Eurus tears her from her mind causing a small smile appear. Sherlock raises from his chair for another set of samples.
– As far as I see, he does indeed, - Holmes looks at his sister quickly and switches the glance to the medical examiner.
– Sometimes I wonder how he still tolerates me, - the girl waves to Eurus. – So, do you want to be my...occasional assistant? You could help me with some cases.
This question so simple makes the woman feel confused.
– It's up to Mycroft-
– I will talk to him, - Eurus is looking down at the body with quite suspicious interest. – Or...Mark will.
This draws her attention back to the doctor, but the next moment her eyes are running around the room in slight panic. It's always amuses Carol. The three of the Holmes are incredibly smart, but it is exactly their intelligence that keeps them from experiencing human feelings roperly.
Fortunately, she learned how to deal with Mycroft quite fast. And now, when she knows, that Sherlock is taken care of, Legrand wants Eurus to be happy too. Or at least not deadly angry.
Seems she slowly turns into Mrs. Holmes herself with her omnipresent matchmaking.
– Why do you work here? - Carol almost flinch from Eurus' sudden question. – I mean, autopsies help you solve crimes, but you seem to put your most interest in...already dead people.
Her words cause a light smile on Legrand's lips, and she tilts her head to the side.
– Most of the time I believe, that the truth helps the people who love these victims.
Sherlock grins and casts a glance towards his sister who looks interestedly at the doctor getting lost in her own thoughts.
Warm nice wind flows lazily around people on the backyard while Mrs. Holmes and Molly are running back and forth bringing dishes from the kitchen.
– Don't you think it is be too crowded here?
The man comes up to Legrand who stands leaning on a tree in the garden near tables. Mycroft's familiar cologne scent hits her senses immediately.
– It might be, but your mother's never been happier.
– Happier, really? Ten people without counting my parents! She will remind me of this for my whole further life.
She smiles patting his shoulder sympathetically.
– Eleven people, darling.
– Sherlock has not arrived yet.
– I know, it's eleven with Sherlock. If everything goes well.
The man widens his eyes at the girl, trying to rethink her words.
– If what goes well? Who is eleventh?
Rosie makes a loud noise sitting on John's laps and Carol turns her head on that.
– You'll see.
Holmes wants to argue again, but the peaceful sight of his beloved changes his mind. He looks around the space in the garden they occupy and a broad grin bloomes on his face.
– Maybe you was right about the family weekend.
His parent are beyond happy hosting such a crowd of people, and playing with Rosie. The doctor even allowed Mycroft to hold his daughter for some time.
He feels almost as peaceful as Legrand does, but still a bit nervous about his sister, whose changed behavior alarms him, but in a good way. His own acting alarms him the most.
As Carol promised him, she's looked after the woman, when he got her there. But only until Mark and Lucian arrived. Since that time the three of them have been talking constantly, God knows what about.
– Of course, I was right, - she points to her brothers. – Just look at them.
He does look, and is left surprised by what he sees. Eurus, who doesn't usually say a word without a real need, now is chit-chatting with the both of men. It's not going without some tension, but Legrand is sure it will pass soon enough.
While Mark sticks with his sister, Lucian travels from one group to another, sitting with Greg and Molly for quite a time. They talk about something and then Carol notices the boy coming up to her. Lestrade follows him from behind.
– Greg and Molly take me to the fishing cabin with them.
Her friend and the Detective Inspector seem to get along again, but this tone of Lucian surprises her. Greg puts his arm on the boy's shoulder.
– Don't you need my permission, young man? - she tilts her head making Mycroft smirk.
– I think I don't.
Her brother mirrors her gesture and grins broader. With the smile like that he looks way less serious than when Holmes met him in the department for the first time.
– It's okay, Car. Only a week, I have some spare time from investigations, - the man looks down at Lucian. – It will be fun, I promise.
The girl holds her gaze on both of them, but surrenders after a couple of seconds.
– Fine, - she throws arms up. – But be careful. All of you.
– Sure, - Molly calls the inspector back, and he turns to leave. – Come on, son.
As soon as they leave Carol switches an abashed look on Mycroft.
– Have you heard that? He cold him "son"!
A corner of his lips goes a bit up and he casts a glance towards Legrand not saying a thing.
– For God's sake, I thought Greg just needs a girlfriend, I've tried to get them together and...
– You've said, Greg told you once about his fear for not being able to be a good father. I think his dream comes true for now. Even in the way like this.
– Yeah...me too. And I like that Lucian has a parental figure, he deserves this. They both do.
She is still slow from a kind of shock, when hears a noise of a cab arriving to the cottage.
Mycroft is watching the door to see Carol's eleventh guest.
When two people come through the doorway, the only thing Legrand wants to do is run away from Mycroft's intense gaze. She hopes there will be no serious talks later.
While his parents are hassling around the new couple, the man turns to her hissing.
– Don't you want to explain this?
– What to explain, you see it yourself-
– Mr. Holmes, - a woman's voice rings behind his back. He would say the woman's. – It's nice to meet you again in such...informal atmosphere.
His lips broaden in a kind of awkwardly polite smile and he turns around to face the guest. This time there is no familiar red lipstick or complicated hair-do on this woman.
– Ms. Adler. It's a pleasure for me to see you in good health.
The man tries to find his younger brother to get an explanation, but he's nowhere to be seen. Irene nods to Carol and leaves them alone, heading to find Sherlock.
– How on the earth, she's here with my brother?!
– You knew she's alive, don't pretend otherwise, - she lays her hand on his arm to calm him. – I don't know how she ended up with him, but Sherlock asked me, if he could bring Ms. Adler here.
Holmes finally sees his brother nodding to him from afar, watching Irene already chatting with their mother with Sherlock somewhere near.
– Aren't you happy for them?
– Well, he looks...smiling, - Carol rolls her eyes hugging Mycroft waist.
– How very insightful of you, dear.
The man quirks a brief smile pressing her tighter.
Apart from some unexpected guests, it turns to be a splendid day with all friends around in a quiet homely atmosphere.
But after some peaceful minutes of standing aside from the others and sharing a well familiar comfortable silence Mycroft finds himself nervous.
He tears himself from the girl slightly turning her to face him.
– What are you doing-
– Shh, - he puts a finger in her lips. – I need a second, Doctor, be patient.
– I can't be patient, if I'm a doctor.
She laughs making him roll his eyes, but smile too anyway. A wordplay, honestly.
He reaches for his inner jacket pocket revealing a small velvet box. Carol gasps quietly when Holmes gets a gold ring with a small diamond on the top of it.
Mycroft Holmes is not the one who kneels down, so he just comes closer to her.
The girl's heart is literally going to jump out of her chest as she feels it pounding in her throat.
– I'm not the man who I thought I was, - his eyes are almost pleading and Legrand feels tears are close to be spilled. – And I owe all of it to you.
– Mycroft-
– Charline Isabelle Valier, - when she makes an attempt to stop him, he puts his finger on her lips again. – Shut up, it's your name! So, will you allow me the honor to be my wife?
– You mean it?
She tries to finds the answer in his face expression, but sees only the same nervousness as her own.
– You are the most impossible woman in my life, Carol. I do mean it.
– I will, Mycroft. Of course, I will.
– Seems, you will always keep me busy, right? - she chuckles and nods.
– If you want.
Legrand throws her arms around him, hugging the man tight. When they accidentally hear the loud clapping from around, she find herself laughing through tears.
– Since we stick together for God knows how long, - Carol leans back to quickly kiss him. – Can we stay for a night here?
Mycroft opens his mouth, but the girl gently cuts him off.
– Your mother asked me. Please, one night. We should help her to clean up after them.
The man rolls his eyes for the thousandth time today, but hugs his fiancee placing a kiss on her temple.
– One night, and then you won't work during our honeymoon.
– It's not a fair game, you know?
– I do know.
She shoves his shoulder slightly.
– Why I am marrying you at all?
– Oh, it took years of impressing you.