Gotta say, I love this story. So sad.
The way John is led further and further away from what he thinks is right, all in his desire to protect his daughter.

You really conveyed that fear and fierce protectiveness that parents have for their children. Thanks for writing it.

I love the entire verse, but this is the one that makes me cry.
I will rec it to my friends on my podcast: Midnight Fic Obsession.
Have a good day.

And things finally are starting to make sense.

Okay so I read Verse 1 first and my mind is absolutely blown I HAD NO IDEA SHE WASN'T JOHN'S DAUGHTER LIKE BIOLOGICALLY anyway I have to read the story now but OH MY GOD your stories are the best ever thank you for being so brilliant at writing

"There were days when he couldn't believe how much he loved her. How fiercely something inside him kicked when she leaned into him and stared up at him as if he could fix the whole world if he wanted to.

And there were days when he wanted to bundle them both on a plane and try running for their lives.

But he hadn't the money.

And the hotel didn't want an employee who looked as if he'd gone a few rounds in a pub brawl.

When she fell asleep, he cried as silently as he could. "

Aw poor John :''''''(

Good that filled int he blanks nicely. Like I said I hope that SOB is dead. Well done.

Looking forward to more chapters!

Intense and tragic. Very well done.

Love it!

Ugh. I know some people have the "hots" for Moriarty, and actually -god forbid- ship him with Molly and/or Moran *shudder/vomit/scream* , but I just want him dead. Dead-dead, six feet under, never coming back, GONE.

On a totally more awesome note, Sherlock actually apologized. That is true love, my friends, and they don't even need to have sex to prove it! (Though I wouldn't disagree if Johnlock ... you know... went *further*)

"Paved with Love" makes a little more sense having read this. Probably should have read this first. Oh well. Now I know why John was so sad Ava couldn't remember "Auntie Harry".

Poor John. Loved this.

I'm just rereading this entire series and am still appalled at Mycroft's utter callousness-not only withdrawing John's protection and leaving him to Moriarty's tender mercies with no regard to what that would cost an already broken John, but letting him walk away after that "tussle" without any effort at all to help. Or apparently any thought that John had to get home to his daughter, also at risk. I know Mycroft has to make hard decisions, but this heartlessness, and the way he uses John as if he were a completely meaningless pawn irks me. Makes me want to slap him, in fact.

Good story off to read the series:)

Fantastic! Love the sequel too!

Perfectly rendered, heartbreaking and warming at the same time, excellent!

:D

I started with the other story and I'm glad I came back to this to find out who Ava is and what John was up to. It's sad but very good.