A/N: I really have no right to post this considering I have other stories to update, BUT I've watched this movie more times than should acceptable in two days. So naturally something spawned from that. Hopefully it's good:)

Disclaimer: I do not own the Great Mouse Detective or any of its content. All OCs are mine.

The Toymaker's Apprentice

Chapter One

Emily had always liked tending to things. Fixing them, making them better, it didn't matter if it was a fellow rodent, or a common appliance. She supposed that's why she enjoyed working under Hiram Flaversham, in his toy shop, where she could fix up and improve all the toys she wanted, and even learn something new yet.

After the man had lost his wife, nearly three years ago now. He, his daughter Olivia, and subsequently the shop had fallen on hard times. Emily had been working as a barmaid at the time, looking for better work, when she'd happened across his shop. After she'd learned of the situation, she did what she'd always done, and tended to them. She brought them meals, insured Olivia was always clean (with clean clothes), she tidied up both the shop and their living quarters, and (with Hiram's permission) had finished up a portion of his projects on his particularly bad days.

It hadn't been surprising to her, that he'd offer her an apprenticeship (call her arrogant, but she knew she was good at what she did), but she had tried to deny him all the same. The shop was just getting back on its feet (and so was he), she didn't want to add to his troubles by being under his employment. He insisted though, and it wasn't long after that that she had quit her job at the pub and moved into the spare room above the shop.

Emily wouldn't lie, it had been a fabulous three years for her. The Flaversham's had offered her a sense of purpose, a sense of family, that she had been missing terribly having to be so far away from her own.

Rain pattered down in a gentle shower outside, drumming against the windowpane above her work station. She hummed while she worked, unable to fight off the grin stretched across her muzzle or the excited flutter in her stomach.

It was Olivia's birthday, and Emily was making the final adjustments to her present, before the girl and her father arrived home. They'd closed the shop today, so they could spend time with the mouseling, and happily took her wherever she desired to go. Which had been the park for a large portion of the day, and then to the theatre for an evening show, and finally out to supper at her favorite restaurant.

Emily had excused herself a few minutes early to rush home and make sure the gift was in tip-top shape for her favorite girl, but honestly, she knew it would be. Hiram had trained her well. She had just tucked into the pocket of her work apron when she heard Oliva trotting up to the door, her father's steps just behind her, followed by her excited chattering.

"Oh, Daddy this has been the very best birthday!" Olivia exclaimed as she came into the room, spying Emily at the work bench, she skipped over and gave her a hug, fairly bending the older girl's ribs. "Thanks for coming with us, Emily!" She said nuzzling into her stomach. "Is the doll all better now?"

"Indeed she is," Emily said reaching behind her to pull said doll forward for Olivia to see. The thing had been the subject of a squabble the day before, which had resulted in a button eye popping off, and the arm tearing at the seam.

It had provided a perfect excuse for her to slip out of dinner early, as the toy was really no trouble to stitch back together, allowing her to spend the majority of said time tinkering with Olivia's gift.

Olivia, bless her, was still at the age that she believed toys like dolls were as real as she was. If they were hurt, they felt the pain, just as she would, so Emily always bumped them to the top of her to-do list.

"Oh wow," Olivia awed. "She looks good as new!"

"And I'm sure she feels good as new too, after the good doctor's work." Hiram winked as Olivia hugged the toy tight to herself. "Now, uh, I believe I have a birthday present for a very special girl lying around here somewhere."

"A present?" Olivia asked, bubbling with excitement. "What is it? What is it?"

"Why don't you open mine first?" Emily suggested as she pulled a small rectangular box from the pocket of her apron. "While your father checks the supplies one last time, I believe we're running low on blue paint."

Hiram nodded, message received, as Olivia took the box from Emily's hands. Gently, she removed the ribbon and popped open the lid. Inside, on a velvet cushion, laid a tiny locket in the shape of a heart. The metal was a copper color, and smooth as Olivia ran her fingers over it carefully.

"Flip it over a moment," Emily urged softly, and Olivia did so. "See that little notch there?" A grey finger pointed out. "Wind it for me." And so Olivia did, then with a little click and a pop, the locket opened.

Soft notes of music poured out of it, familiar to both Flaversham's. It was the lullaby that Olivia's mother used to sing to her when she was still alive. And there, painted on one side of the locket, was a portrait of the late Mrs. Flaversham.

"I know how much you miss her," Emily explained gently as she caught a rebellious tear dripping down the little girl's cheek. "So I wanted to help you keep her close…do you like it?"

"Yes," Olivia sniffled, smiling a wobbly little smile. "I love it very much." She stood up in the stool and wrapped her arms around Emily's neck. "Thank you so much!"

"Of course dear," Emily cooed rubbing the child's back. "Happy Birthday." She smiled Hiram's way, who was also misty eyed, but he had known what the present was, Emily had asked his permission before starting the project two years ago. "I think your papa has finally tracked down his gift."

This prompted Olivia to turn and watch as her father placed what looked like a pink flower bud on the table, but Emily knew better, and grinned as Hiram inserted the key into the back of the toy and wound it up.

Olivia watched in wonder as the bud unfurled, a beautiful ballerina rising up, the bud actually having been her dress. It began to dance across the table in fluid, graceful steps.

"Oh, thank you, Daddy!" Olivia chirped, her tears forgotten, and jumped into the toymaker's arms.

Emily smiled fondly at the scene, reminded of her own father and how terribly she missed him. It had certainly been a long three years away from home, and Emily wasn't sure when she'd be able to return.

Just then, the door knob began to rattle.

"Now, who could that be?" Emily wondered as she rose from her own stool, eyeing the door with growing trepidation as whoever was outside continued to try and make their way inside.

"I don't know," Hiram said flinching when the rattling turned into banging against the door.

"Hiram-" Emily started fretfully, tripping over the stool in her haste to put distance between her and the door.

Hiram caught her, supporting her by the upper arms.

"Quickly dears!" He pulled her and his daughter back toward the supply cabinet urging them both into it. Emily had to carefully position herself to keep from sitting on Olivia who was now wedged between her and the back wall of the cabinet. "Stay in here and don't come out!"

"Hiram, you can't-!"

"Take care of Olivia!" Hiram said cutting her off, before slamming the door shut.

A loud crash was heard overhead, the sound of wood splintering and glass shattering, signaling the assailant had burst through the window. Olivia whimpered, burying her face into the skirt of Emily's dress. The older mouse shushed her gently, laying an arm over her shoulders. With her opposite hand, she carefully eased the cabinet door open to get a glimpse of the scuffle.

Only, she couldn't see much. The room had been thrown into darkness, the lanterns smashed in the ongoing struggle. The assailant appeared to be a bat, if she was seeing correctly, and appeared to be missing a leg. She could hear the clunking of wood on wood that suggested he had a pegged leg.

Suddenly, a can of paint came flying at the cabinet, slamming the door shut on her again. Emily could still hear though. She heard the little monster's laugh as he appeared to triumph over Hiram and began dragging the toymaker out. Hiram struggled the whole way, calling out for the two of them until his voice faded into the night.

The silence rang loud in Emily's ears as she waited and listened for any more signs of danger. Olivia was still clinging to her, tiny hands fisted tightly into her skirt. Emily looked down at her, barely visible in the dark of the cabinet, and let a few tears of her own spill down her cheeks.

Immediately, she lifted a hand to scrub them away. Hiram was gone, his daughter was in her care now, she needed to be strong. She needed to find a way to fix this.