Disclaimer: Sherlock Holmes belong to Sir ACD and in this reincarnation Moffat, Gatiss and the BBC. We own nothing and are only writing this for fun.

Warning: Vamp!Lock, supernatural themes, some violence, supernatural themes and love between two men. This chapter; family time with Sherlock, John and Victoria. DuLac continuing to cause trouble.

AN: So this is it, the end of the road for this story. Thank you so much for having read it. Who knows if we'll revisit this universe some time, so many stories still to be told.

Love isn't brains children, it's blood.

Part Twenty-Nine.

Sherlock stood and met John's deadly glare evenly, waiting for his mate to break the silence, either mentally or verbally. He wasn't going to start the conversation, for once, even though the silence was already tearing at his nerves.

Unconsciously John had reverted back to his military posture and was practically standing at attention as he held his mate's eyes. His hands were clammy with temper as he clasped them behind his back. "Exactly how is your solution better? That you go after him rather than me calling on a few old acquaintances?"

"Your old acquaintances are more likely to be doing the hunting when they learn that you're mated to a vampire and caring for a vampire child. With me going after him, I'm the one hunting. I meant what I told Mycroft, the hunters won't have anything, no information, no ties to DuLac. I'd be willing to wager that the 'secure' facility is one I could break into half-drugged and hallucinating."

"I don't doubt that, you are brilliant love." John still wasn't happy though. "Don't you see though, I don't want you in harm's way either. You're not supposed to go where I can't go with you." He looked nearly miserable; John knew that they couldn't leave Victoria with a babysitter. Even if Greg and Mycroft was DuLac's real target she could still be in danger until DuLac was dealt with.

"I know," he stepped close to John, sliding his arms around him, his voice soft, "I know John." He tucked John's head under his chin. "But even as dangerous as it could be, this is the safer option, for all three of us." He knew John could see that so he wouldn't belabor the point. "You won't lose me John, and you'll be able to talk to me the entire time and make sure I'm alright."

John wrapped his own arms tightly around Sherlock's narrow waist, taking comfort in the solid embrace of his beloved mate. 'Believe me, I will look in on you regularly. Don't want to distract you though.'

'I'll check in with you in quiet moments once I leave the flat too. I promise.' He rubbed his cheek on the short cap of blond hair. "And once DuLac is gone, the major dangers should be over and done with."

"That was what we thought after Moriarty and Moran as well." John huffed out a laugh. "I don't mind the regular small time baddies but I would really like a break from the major ones. Spend some time with my family...Perhaps even marry the man I love." John knew that the bond they had, it went deeper than any marriage could but he still would like to wear Sherlock's ring and have Sherlock wear his.

"That sounds about right." Sherlock pressed a kiss to John's temple, "After all, I have to make sure the human idiots know you're taken don't I? We'll just leave Mycroft to solve his own problems after this too."

"I am starting to doubt Mycroft's all-knowing abilities; to me it looks as if he couldn't find his way out of his own ar...um a paper bag without your help." John ran his lips over Sherlock's jawline. "The taken part I like though and it goes both ways...I think Gregson has been casting lusty eyes on you on the crime scenes and we can't have that now can we?"

Sherlock frowned, "He has?" That was a singularly distasteful thought. "That makes an already high priority rather urgent."

"My thoughts exactly. If he undresses you one more time with his eyes I might just have to break his nose." John nibbled lightly on Sherlock's chin. "Good copper he might be but he needs to keep his eyes off of what is mine."

Sherlock angled his head down enough so his lips pressed against John's. 'All yours yes, and happy about it. Rings, definitely getting rings as soon as this debacle is over and done with.'

'Love you.' John held on to Sherlock a little while longer, noticing the bright green eyes watching them. Victoria always seemed surprised by them hugging or showing each other any physical kindness. He couldn't help but wonder just how bad her time with the gits who'd sired her had been. John always tried to hug and kiss her as much as possible though, wanting to make up for any hardships she had been through.

Sherlock felt John's distraction and turned his head, giving a soft smile to Victoria when he saw her in the doorway. He shifted and held out an arm for her, "Want to join us in a hug?"

"Come on." John held out one of his arms as well. "I think a big family cuddle pile is just what is needed right now." He lifted her up when she tiptoed over and smooched her between him and Sherlock hugging her and placing smooching kisses on her soft cheeks.

Sherlock wiggled his fingers over her ribs, coaxing a few giggles out and earning little arms wrapped around his neck along with a plea to stop, which he did. "What do you say to a movie on the telly while we pile together?"

"Ariel?" Big green eyes lit up hopefully.

The Little Mermaid had been watched and re-watched so many times that sometimes John woke up humming one of the songs from it in the middle of the night. How could anyone say no to those eyes though? John knew he couldn't. "Ariel it is, who knows, this time Sherlock might get his wish and Sebastian finally ends up cooked." He sent his mate a grin.

"That crab is a menace," he spoke in cool disdain that for some reason made Victoria giggle as they headed for the couch and he used the remote control to bring up the TiVoed movie.

John made sure that they all snuggled up in the couch, Victoria in between them with Lily in her lap. John stretched his arm out behind Victoria until he could play with a lock of Sherlock's hair as they watched the movie. For now he would relish the time with his family before worry would crawl its way inside his mind when Sherlock left. Right now they were all here and all safe and John would enjoy it.

~oOo~

Sherlock rubbed his fingers together, mind analyzing and cataloging the residue that had been left behind in the hunter's facility. He'd snuck in very easily, just as he'd known he could, and was now going over the roped off scene of theft. It took him less than a minute to fully absorb everything and then he was up and sneaking back out, smooth and easy as you please. It was pathetic how bad their security was. Really.

He ran along rooftops until he was an appreciable distance away from the facility and heading toward his next destination. 'Going to Barts to get a close study of some residue.'

'Alright, be safe and don't drive Molly spare.' John sent a wave of affection along with his words. It was hard being left at home, even when guarding something as precious as their daughter. He didn't want Sherlock to feel guilty for being out though; he just wanted him to be careful.

'I'll be on my best behavior.' Sherlock couldn't help but smirk, knowing John's opinion of his best behavior around Molly. St. Barts was the same as always, stuttering and nervous Molly included, though since his return and obvious relationship with John she'd seemed to have put a concentrated effort into getting over her crush on him, and it was appreciated. She still let him in for lab work though, which was more appreciated.

He began putting the residue through analysis. He already knew it came from a damp environment, damp and cold, immediately bringing a sewer to mind but he didn't think DuLac would be sheltering in a sewer, he was far too vain for that. He pulled out his phone as the analysis ran, bringing up a sewer map and other locations where cold and damp would be commonly found near the facility. DuLac wouldn't range very far afield; he'd want to keep a low profile until he made his move.

Molly placed a mug of steaming coffee next to Sherlock, black with two sugars. So much had changed but she hoped that his taste in coffee was still the same. "Everything alright? Anything I can do to help?" It wasn't easy, just shutting off the feelings she'd had for him for so long but she realized that John was the one for him. Sherlock was too intense for Molly, she still wished him the very best though and she would never stop caring about him.

"No at the moment. I'm waiting for the analysis to finish," he ruled out places that only had very public entrances, again DuLac was keeping to the shadows and wouldn't want to be seen. He remembered the rules of etiquette John had been pounding into his head however and continued speaking, "Things are somewhat unsettled at present however that should change soon," his eyes swept over her, "Your cat is ill?" He tilted his head in question.

"Oh...I...Yes." Molly knew she shouldn't be surprised, not any longer but Sherlock's ability to observe always stunned her. "Toby chased a fly up one of my bookshelves when it tipped over him. He fractured a hind leg but he will be okay." She had been so scared though and now most of her furniture was bolted to the wall to prevent any more accidents like this one. Toby was her best friend, no matter how pathetic that might be.

"Good," he tapped out a few more locations, "I may ask your advice on cat behavior eventually. There is plenty of reading however firsthand experience is always better." He sent the story to John along with a query on if they should take steps to prevent such a thing happening at their home.

"Cat behavior?" Molly tilted her head in curiosity. "Is it for a case?" She couldn't imagine why else Sherlock would want to know about cats; it didn't seem like something he would collect data on.

'Have brought out the screwdriver, Victoria is helping me. - JW' John and a very worried Victoria were already in the midst of bolting furniture to the wall.

'Anything you need to keep mobile? - JW'

'No.' And that was absolutely true. Sherlock was not a big fan of change and since all the case clutter had been moved to 221c, there was nothing that needed to remain mobile in the flat. As far as he was concerned it was all just right exactly where it was. He flicked through the remaining locations as he answered Molly, "Not a case. John and I have guardianship of a nearly six year old girl; my brother chose to acquire a kitten for her as a welcome."

Molly was gaping, slack jawed and shocked. She knew she was gaping but she could not help herself. John and Sherlock parents? To a little girl? And a cat on top of everything. It was baffling. And something deep, deep inside her twisted just a little. If Sherlock wanted a family after all, pets...Why couldn't he have wanted it with her? It was selfish and bitter and she pushed the thought away as soon as it entered her mind. "O-of course. Anything I can help with I'm here for you."

"Thank you. It is appreciated. Ah," he sat up and looked at the results of the analysis as the machine beeped. An alge. "Hm interesting."

Still feeling quite shell-shocked, Molly hurriedly turned her mind to whatever analysis Sherlock was running. Science was easier to take in than Sherlock Holmes the family man. "Interesting? What are you looking for if I may ask?"

"Somewhere near this facility," he showed her the map on his phone, "Damp, cold, not much foot traffic, and considering the analysis, exposed to sunlight." That left three obvious locations, "The facility recently suffered a break in where a bio-agent was stolen. I'm looking for places near it that the culprit would choose to distribute the agent."

Molly frowned and looked at the map, squinting to see properly. "Christ, I don't think I really want to know what sort of case you are working on now, it feels safer not to know. If I was a madman planning to unleash a bio-agent I would do it here." She pointed on one of the spots on Sherlock's map. "Underground water reservoir, drinking water reaching most of London."

If Sherlock had animal ears they'd be perked up eagerly. "Yes that would be the best vehicle. Thank you Molly," he sent a text to Mycroft and a thought to John about where he was going now. 'I should be home soon.' He stood up and slung his coat on.

"Well...Best of luck to you." Molly rocked on her heels for a while before moving to gather the untouched coffee cup she'd placed in front of Sherlock so she would remember to rinse it out before she started Mrs. Thamsin's autopsy.

'Be careful love. We'll be waiting for you.'

'I will.' Sherlock rushed to the reservoir with his usual speed then set about sneaking inside, eyes adjusting to the change in light rapidly as he descended. He'd only made it halfway down when a dark growl caught his ears and then he was ducking to avoid a hellhound's charge. He dodged claws and savage bites until he was able to flip up behind the hound, grip its head and twist until a loud crack echoed off the walls as its neck snapped and it fell down dead.

DuLac hissed to himself as he noticed the energy of the hellhound he'd had as a guard vanished. It seemed as if time was running out. He wanted to take the cost he had paid for the hellhound out of his intruder's flesh but he was smarter than that. He would dump the virus as quickly as he could and then hopefully sneak out undetected. The fortune he had paid that simple witch for detection and distraction spells should keep even one of Mycroft's men busy until he had made a clean getaway.

Sherlock left the hound corpse where it was and, knowing that its death would have been noted, ran down, following the scent of the corrupt former councilman. For some reason he noticed the spells trying to direct him away and hide DuLac but wasn't affected by them. Which was bloody good as he spotted DuLac just as he was uncapping the vial with the virus inside. One strong leap and he was knocking the Frenchman away from the water source, hand clamped around the wide wrist to keep him from flinging the barely closed vial.

DuLac bared his fangs and growled angrily. Of course it was the malfunctioning Holmes, how he had gotten past all the spells so quickly though was a mystery and when he got out of here he would make that bloody witch pay for her uselessness. "Out to do your brother's bidding?" DuLac sniffed the air and recoiled in almost horror. "You really are sick...You and your brother both. Mating with a human and you haven't even turned yours. Does the power of knowing how much stronger you are are thrill you? Humans are for fucking and food...anything else is like marrying your dog." DuLac did his best to twist his wrist out of Sherlock's hand so he could dump the virus.

His hand tightened around DuLac's wrist savagely, the bones cracking beneath his grip, and his voice was a low growl, "You know nothing, you little parasite." He twisted his hand, sliding it down to catch the vial as it slipped from DuLac's limp grip. He tucked the vial into his coat and spun away so that should the vial break, it wouldn't touch the water. "Though as I understand it you're rather fond of your dog so perhaps you speak from experience."

DuLac snarled and and kicked out, managing to land a kick on Sherlock's leg. "Please, even if you don't have standards I do. Though honestly I would prefer my dog to the filth you have thrown your lot in with, at least the dog is a pure bred."

Sherlock sneered in disdain and gripped DuLac's ankle, yanking the pathetic idiot forward so that his other leg buckled and his head impacted with the ground, hard. He set his foot on DuLac's hip, wrenched the knee of the leg he held out of joint, and kept twisting until the hip had popped out of its socket and the ankle was broken. "Oh I have standards," he bent and picked DuLac up, throwing him across and into the wall hard enough that it probably broke something else. "I only choose the best and as my mate is a hunter that shattered all previous hunter records at seventeen I certainly do have the best." He pulled DuLac down and brought his knee up, breaking ribs and cracking a vertebrae or two as he slammed him back against the stone wall again. "Considering that your own mate left you just after bonding I'd say that puts me on a higher level than you."

He wanted desperately to scream, everything was agony but DuLac couldn't get the sound out. All that came out were some blood spattered wheezes. This was not how things were supposed to go, he was supposed to finally get his rightful place as Master after having finally gotten his revenge on Mycroft and his 'mate'. He could barely move but he still tried to crawl forward, if he could only get his hands on the virus he could get his revenge still, even if he wouldn't be around to enjoy it. Coughing up more blood, DuLac spat it out and stared up at the other vampire. "Fuck you."

"You're not my type," Sherlock whipped his hand up, claws out, and ripped through DuLac's neck, gripping his spinal column and twisting in just the right way, severing it and ripping off DuLac's head. He let the twitching body drop and strode out to hail an Underground transport so he could deliver DuLac's head to his brother as he'd said. He made sure the vial containing the virus was securely closed before he exited the reservoir and slipped into a cab driven by a night hob.

It was a fast ride to Mycroft's and one, narrowed, irritable look at the guard of his brother's that tried to direct him away had him inside and stalking to his brother's office, DuLac's head dripping blood onto the carpet.

"Really Sherlock, do you have any idea how expensive it is going to be to clean my carpet?" Mycroft looked up from behind his desk at his brother. Sherlock truly had a thing for theatrics but Mycroft supposed that he couldn't argue with the results he produced.

Sherlock just dropped the severed head onto Mycroft's desk, smirking as the blood splattered some paperwork. "Never let it be said I don't keep my word brother." He met Mycroft's gaze, warning in his, "And never again approach John about hunter society. I don't care what is at stake." Because if Mycroft ever tried to guilt John into that again, it would be his head laying on the desk, the council's reaction be damned.

"Point made." Mycroft poked at the severed head with distaste and managed to roll it into the wastebasket by using a pen to nudge it. Clean up would get to it later but he didn't want DuLac to ruin any more of his work, especially not by oozing on it. "Everything worked out splendidly, no need to be so grumpy."

A dark brow winged up, "And how 'grumpy' would you be if I were to try and guilt Lestrade into walking back into the arms of his personal demons like you did to John? No matter how 'well' things worked out, you still made that move." He turned and left the office to let his brother chew on that. He was going to clean up a bit in the garage and deliver the vial to the UG commissioner in person then head home.

Mycroft watched his brother leave the office and pressed the intercom button to tell Anthea to have a cleaning crew come to his office and remove DuLac's head and the blood. He did understand Sherlock's protective instincts toward his mate, he did but he was also honest enough to admit to himself that if the situation arose where he would have to use John's demons against him...he would do it. Mycroft was happy though that he hadn't called in John's sister, he could only imagine how Sherlock would have reacted to that.

~oOo~

Sherlock stepped into the flat, relaxing at the sight of John sitting on the floor helping Victoria to paint, having obviously finished bolting down everything in case of future cat related incidents. He closed the door, meeting John's eyes before going over to look at Victoria's painting of a white semi-blobbish thing on a black background. Considering Lily's position in his chair he was guessing she'd been painting the cat. "Been keeping busy today then?"

She nodded, her nose wrinkling, "You smell funny."

He chuckled, "Decontamination shower. I'll be taking a real one in just a bit to get the smell of disinfectant off."

"Welcome home love." John got up from the floor so he could give Sherlock a quick kiss before stepping back, wrinkling his nose. "You really do smell, even without super scent I can smell it. Still...This is a better smell than many of your experiments." John grinned and wrapped his arms around his mate again. "Thank Christ that you are home and safe."

Sherlock slipped one arm strongly around John's waist and filtered everything that had happened to him over their mental bond. He wasn't guilty or angry or much of anything except fearful. He was afraid, no he was terrified, that despite his warning Mycroft might try and force John back into the hunters' society just for the advantage of an inside man. It was exactly something his brother would do and he'd know just the right buttons to hit, the right way to guilt John into doing it.

John did his best to soothe Sherlock, both by their bond and by touch. For Sherlock and Victoria he would do anything, Mycroft knew that and he could exploit it but John hoped that he wouldn't. 'It's okay, if he tries something sometime, I'll have you there to remind me just what a git Mycroft Holmes really is and that I should not listen to anything he has to say.'

'I'll kill him.' It was a quiet thought, should probably have been disgusting to him but it wasn't. 'I told him as much without saying it out loud. If he tries it again I will kill him.'

'Oh love, I won't let you do that and you know it.' John understood what Sherlock was saying. He would stand between his mate and his biological family any day but he didn't want Sherlock to have to live with the consequences of doing something like that. 'We'll team up and kick his arse all the way to Ireland before leaving him in Greg's tender care.'

'Lestrade would be nice. We should leave him in Hettie's care instead.' He nuzzled at John's hair.

John snickered, his arms still tight around Sherlock. 'Hettie's and Anthea's, that would hurt him more than the actual arse kicking I think.'

Sherlock made a soft little hum and stood in John's hold for a little while longer before moving back, "I'm going to take that shower," he ran his hand over a still painting Victoria's hair, gaining a happy smile up at him, "I can hardly stand my own smell."

'Yes please, go get cleaned up...I want my delicious Sherlock back so that I can lick every inch of you later on.' John smiled at his mate and went back to sit on the floor by Victoria. "Now when you're finished with that I think it's time you did a portrait of me. I mean this nose needs to be immortalized don't you think?" He winked at Victoria and turned his nose up in the air.

She giggled, "You're silly. Sides I'm not good enough at people yet so you hafta wait."

"I don't know about that, you're already much better than I'll ever be but I can wait...We have all of the future in front of us as a family." John tweaked her nose and settled in to watch her create.

Sherlock didn't take long showering and was soon rejoining his family in the living room. He sat behind John, wrapping his arms around him, and rested his chin on his mate's shoulder. "How did the cat securing of the furniture go?"

"It went well, everything is firmly bolted to the walls now though I had to put my foot down when a certain somebody wanted to glue the books and plates in place as well." John sent their redheaded princess a fond look and placed his hands on top of Sherlock's, enjoying their closeness.

He chuckled at the sheepish smile Victoria sent their way, "Well thoroughness is a good thing in most cases."

"Indeed it is." John was completely relaxed now that Sherlock was back, that their little family was gathered and intact together. "I believe Lily will be completely safe from furniture related accidents."

"But one must wonder if the furniture will be safe from her." It was spoken with amusement, his mind thinking of sharp little claws.

"Yes that is another matter entirely. I fear your dear leather couch is living on borrowed time my love." John turned his head so that he was able to press a kiss to Sherlock's temple.

"Nu-uh!" Victoria's voice was emphatic, "Lily's got a scratching post and she's too smart to scratch up the couch."

Sherlock's lips twitched in amusement, "Oh is that so?"

"That's so."

John threw a look at the nearly comatose kitten sleeping in Sherlock's chair. He had his doubts about Lily's intelligence but he would keep those to himself. Who knew, Victoria might just be stubborn enough to keep her kitten from touching the furniture. "Far be it for us to contradict you princess so we'll take your word for it."

She just nodded as if that was exactly what she'd expected and went back to painting.

Sherlock just closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth radiating off John and the sounds of home. This was perfectly what he'd always needed and wanted. A true family. It might have taken a few centuries to find it but the wait had been worth it.

~Fin.~