"Ivy I've been looking for you everywhere" Sherlock exclaimed. He loomed over the soaking child. Without waiting for a response, he put his hands under her armpits and brought her up to his chest. "Your father will be very cross" Sherlock gently scolded the little girl, for he knew she would get much worse later. "But uncle..." Ivy started
"No buts young lady, It's Christmas and you've made such a scene already." Sherlock continued the scolding as he hailed a cab. He bent to enter the cab, but kept a tight grip on the child. "Sorry honey, your father's orders." Sherlock said. "Sit on my lap." Ivy scowled, but agreed without too much fuss. An hour passed before the cab arrived in front of the Holmes manor. Sherlock tipped the driver, and walked out shivering, sleepy child in tow. As soon as the cab went back down the path, Mycroft tore out of the house. "Elizabeth Abigail IvyLynn Holmes you better have a darn good explanation for this!" Mycroft's face turned an even brighter shade of red as he stated down at his only daughter. "Sorry Daddy." Was all the frightened child could squeak before burying her head into Sherlock. "Let's go come on now..." Mycroft picked up his child and carried her back into the house. The second he released her onto the floor she broke into a run, fortunately, Mycroft's legs were much longer and he easily caught the child. "Fine if that's how you want to play it." He growled before picking up the 6 year old once more. And then the lecture started. "Do you know how worried we all were. John and Mary looked sick. You're grandparents were in despair. Sherlock was blaming himself. We told you to stay in the garden. What were you thinking? Where you even thinking? You will not be allowed out of my site for months, no years! We are so very disappointed in you..." And Mycroft continued. Finally Mycroft reached their visiting quarters, and plopped the dripping child down on the bed. "If you don't stay there..." He began to worn, but the sobbing little girl made no effort to move at all. Mycroft ran the bath, and when he came back for his daughter she hadn't moved an inch. He peeled of the soaking clothes, and once she was bared he sat her down in the bath. For once she wasn't fussy, as he rubbed the shampoo through her redish waves. Then he dried her, and although Mycroft often inforced dress code he decided to dress the little girl in Pajama's. Once she was warm and fuzzy, he sat her down and kneeled to her height. "What you did was very naughty and wrong. If uncle Sherlock didn't find you... I don't know what could of happened to you. I make rules for a reason..." Mycroft trailed off. "Daddy. I'm sowwy, but I didn't want to leave. It was Magnusson." Mycroft gasped. And suddenly it made sense. Ivy had been forced and out of fear had almost accepted a punishment that she didn't deserve. Mycroft's heart warmed to his daughter. "Daddy didn't mean to yell." He explained, "You should always tell about these things.." And he carried the little girl down the stairs.
