I am not lonely [Mystrade] - BOOK 2

CHAPTER 201 : What is important

Snow was pouring outside when Mycroft opened his eyes. He pulled the duvet just a little more under his chin and sighted of ease just as he noticed that Greg wasn't in bed anymore but comfortably wrapped up in a nightgown, watching him from an armchair.

"Like what you see ?" the elder Holmes teased him with a sleepy voice.

"I suppose I can deal with it." the detective mocked him back before standing up and crossing the room, hiding something behind his back.

"That's because I am ageing, isn't it ?That's it, I'm rotten food now." the politician joked with a sadsmile.

"Shut up and open this." the policemanshushed him up before kissing him gently.

The bow the official had just been handled wascubic-shapped and quite heavy. He shook it up a couple of time,trying to guess its content but nothing seemed to make noise inside.

"Is it a brick ? Or a bar of gold maybe ? Orthose weird things to keep the door open ?" he tried out,childlike, as he tore the paper apart.

The box was in brown leather and seemed to open inthe middle and a discreet embossment displayed the name 'AudemarsPiguet'. Understanding what the content could be, the elder Holmesquickly opened the case, finally discovering his present, a superbwrist watch with a gold dial and camel brown wristband. Delightedabout his gift, he immediately put it one and admired it from everyangle before throwing himself into his partner's arm. Mycroft maywell be a man who had everything, but he was a great fan of presentand the simple fact of giving him something was already an amazementto him somehow.

"There is something else, well a few otherthings." the detective informed him, handling his boyfriendanother package, quite smaller this one. "This is from Alden,Jack and Lucas."

"Oh, a boy's present !" the politicianexclaimed, quickly tearing up the paper and unveiling a beautiful newblue tie that he had no doubt came from one of his favouritedepartment store.

"And this is from Aelane and Sarah."Greg added, giving him another little package.

"Spoiled I am !" the elder Holmeslaughed before opening the little bag containing cufflinks matchingthe tie he just had received.

"Oh and this too. From Sarah." theinspector explained as he gave his husband a heavy envelope.

Curious, the politician quickly opened theenvelope and took out the three sheet of paper it contains. Theteenagers small and net handwriting was spread all over the checkedfolios and the man started reading, surprised by the gesture.

"Hey Mycroft,

First of all, let me wish you a very – freakin'– happy birthday ! I know you are terrified about getting oldbut at least your hair haven't yet turned grey so that's already athing, innit ?
However, I do not intend to hide behind humour forlong because I actually have something really important to tell you.We are not of the talkative kind, you and I, and we sometime miss outon saying important things one to another but I really want you toknow how much I love you.
I really do. No but, no if, nobecause.
A step-dad is nothing I could have imagined back in thedays. I was getting round the idea that mum and dad would not getback together – and with a step back I can tell that it wasseriously for the best – but any other relationship for themseemed inconceivable to the child me. I was young at the time theysplitted, barely a primary school pupil in fact, and I had verylittle ideas of what love was for a grown-up but all I could see wastwo sad souls and I remember thinking that no one could possibly findall that sadness attractive.
And then one day dad came to collectus for the weekend, and he just seemed so happy that he could haveburst with joy. The man I had seen so sad was now cheerful and evenif he didn't tell us what was going on, it was clear that somethinghad changed.
I don't know how you found out about the three of usor if you found it difficult to come round the idea of loving us butI can only imagine how many questions it must have raised for you.
I,for myself, was way too used to see my dad alone and shared so muchwith him that I just couldn't see why the hell you were coming intomy life. It may have seemed unfair – and it was actually –but for me every step-parent could just be like the step-mum inCinderella, coming to replace your parent and make a slave out ofyou.
It was a mistake, I realize that now. I was too preoccupiedby my selfish self that I hadn't realized that you were the onlyreason of my dad's joy. –  I can hear you in thedistance saying that I wasn't selfish but just a seven years oldchild but come on Mycroft, lets just face it ... –
You maybe all serious and stern – is that euphemism ? – and youmay not seem very friendly at first sight but I can assure you, youare not Cinderella's ugly step-mother. You didn't have to care forus, to become part of this family and fight for kids that weren'tyour own but you did. You didn't have to be family to us but you didbecause, despite all what can be said, you are a kind and considerateman.
I used to be somehow terrified by you when I was a tiny girl– silly idea – and you probably were hurt that I wouldn'tgive you back all the love you tried to give me. I wasn't used topeople like you. Dad was that friendly goofer, Mum was theloud-mouthed, coloured and quite dominating parent and you werethere, in the middle and I just couldn't fit you in the bowes theeight-year old me knew about.
I've never felt like you tried toreplace nor mum nor dad but I had no idea what to do with a secondpaternal figure – thanks god mum never got another boyfriendbecause that would have become heavily confusing ... –.
Youtried your best to leave me some time to get around the idea ofhaving another adult in my life and I know it must have sometime feltlike I would never accept that idea but I swear that I have now.
Younever asked us to call you Dad but you really are one to us. You arethe one who would put us back to sleep whenever we would have anightmare, you are the one who paid for dad's alimony whenever theYard's pension wasn't enough to cover the expenses – that wouldmake mum nuts if she ever knows that she had been spending your money– just because you wanted to be sure that we would haveeverything we needed to grow up happy and healthy. You are also theone who pays for my school so I can have a future out of Croydon andthat's lit, by the way.
You pay my phone bills and my tube fares,my lunches and way too many clothes for someone who wear uniformsfive days out of seven, but that's not the most important.
You arethe one who fought for us to see more of dad, you are the one whoturns up at Parent's Evening, you are the one who cover for me when Imess up, you are the one who makes me hot chocolate when I can'tsleep and the one telling me off when I fuck up and I'm quiteconvinced that's what being a dad is really about you know.
Themore I grow up and the more I realize just how important you are tome. Some would say that being a step-father means you had only littleinfluence on our upbringing bu that's rubbish.
You gave ussecurity and values and that won't just fade away because you are notfrom the same blood as us ! You've supported each of us as yousupport Alden and Aelane, even when we were the rude, typicalstep-child – uhu 'You are not my dad' is something I might haveshouted at you, sorry ... –.
What is important to me is thatI know that whatever happen, you will always be there, whether it isto help me out with my French or save my ass in the middle ofnowhere. What is important is that I know that you won't let me downbecause we are family and family stick up together.
Of course, wewill probably not always see each other eyes to eyes. I will be angryat you, maybe I will even question your right to belong to my familybut please could you just promise me you will never take that toomuch at heart ?
You are one of the reason I am the girl I am todayand I want you to be a reason of the woman I will become. I don'tapprove of everything you do and are – who am I to judge youwill you say and damn you are right – but would you allow me totake the best of it ? Will you be a role model for me ?
I amforever thankful for your love and constant support throughout theyears and even if I don't say it enough, I hope you will alwaysremember how much you mean to me.
I hope I won't screw up to muchin the future, so we will be able to share thousands of tiny momentsthat will bring me all those memories I cherish so much.

Thank you for always sticking up with me,
Loadsof love, Dad.
Sae."

Tears in the corner of his eyes and a huge smilespread over his face, the elder Holmes grabbed his phone on thebedside table and selected the teenager's phone number.

"Hey !" the joyful voice of thefourteen-year old picket up on the third ring.

"Thank you." the politician muttered,unable to speak higher without his voice breaking. "You can takewhatever you want, be however you want alright love ?"

"I meant it, you know ?" the young girlreplied shyly, not used to big displays of sentiments.

"I've never doubted it for a second."Mycroft reassured her. "Now you stop answering your phone whilstyou are supposed to be at school and you go study, chop chop !"

"See you soon ?" Sarah giggled at thetone the man had used.

"Yeah. No go on !" the official noddedbefore hanging up the call, feeling better at fifty that he had neverfelt.