"Would Miss Alethea Holmes report directly to the headmistress's office?" said a cool voice over the intercom that was linked through all of St. Benedict's. Alethea was surprised, and dreaded the possibility that it could be about what had happened yesterday. She just wanted to put it all behind her.

"Go on, Alethea," said Miss Kern with a kind smile. "You know the way."

Alethea nodded and made her way out of the room, ignoring the curious looks of her classmates.

She was immediately shown into the headmistress's office, where the older woman waited for her with a kind smile. Standing beside her was Mr. Freeman, the gardener, whom Alethea had often seen and even spoken to during recess if he happened to be working. She'd helped him on more than one occasion. "Hello, Miss Holmes," said the headmistress. "Please take a seat."

Alethea obeyed, holding her hands tightly together. "Is-Is there something you wanted, ma'am?" Just like her mother, she stuttered when frightened.

But the headmistress just gave her a warmer smile. "You are not in trouble, Miss Holmes. In fact, we would like to make you a proposition."

"P-proposition?" Alethea said, looking from one smiling face to the other in confusion.

"Yes. I know how much you love the garden we have outside, much more than most of the other students. I've talked it over with Mr. Freeman, and we've agreed that, if you would like, you would have a small square of garden for you to plant whatever you would like."

Alethea's eyes widened and her hands unclenched. "Really?" she said, looking from the headmistress to Mr. Freeman.

The man nodded. "Be glad to help you with whatever you choose."

"Oh, thank you! Thank you so much, ma'am!" said Alethea, standing up and restraining herself from jumping for joy.

"It is the least we can do after what happened, dear," said the headmistress. "Now, cut along and go back to class."

Dr. Holmes was just sewing up Mr. Johnson when Sherlock burst into the morgue with a stride and smile of triumph. "I've found it!" he said.

Molly smiled. Her husband had told her his plan last night and was very glad he had found success. "In a park, I hope?"

"Yes, Kensington Gardens," he said, giving her a special look.

Her smile widened at another reason that place was so special to her and the ones she loved. At that moment, her mobile buzzed in her lab coat pocket. She quickly stripped off her latex gloves and pulled it out. The name on the caller ID confused her. Why is he calling when he normally wants my husband?

Hoping that they weren't about to receive some horrible news, Molly answered the call. "Hello, Greg, what can I do for you?"

Sherlock turned his head curiously.

"Hey, Molly. Sorry to do it this way, but could I speak to your husband if he's with you? You know he doesn't like taking calls."

"Ok…he's right here, hold on." Molly held out her phone to Sherlock, telling him with a look to just take the call.

Sherlock rolled his eyes, accepted the phone and said, "Lestrade?"

"Sherlock. When I came into my office this morning, I found a flash drive that is full of photos that consist of Anderson and Donovan in the New Yard, uh, doing things we would never show our children. I've had to suspend them right away, but considering just how far these go back, I wouldn't be surprised if my commanding officer demands I dismiss them permanently."

The consulting detective's eyebrows shot up, and a rare look of surprise spread across his face. "I…see."

"You understand why my first thought went to you as to the culprit, Sherlock," said Lestrade. "Now I know you can't stand either of them but what is going on?"

Understanding settled on Sherlock's face in the next moment. "I can assure you that I am innocent, Lestrade. If you want a culprit, I'm afraid you're going to have to accept settling with the British Government."

"What are you…oh," said Lestrade when he understood what Sherlock was saying. "That makes a lot more sense. You would have just slugged them both. But why?"

"Well, the British Government's beloved niece was bullied by the offspring of your former employees yesterday at school. You can understand, I'm sure."

"What?" exclaimed Lestrade, who adored Alethea. "Well, thanks for telling me, Sherlock. Feel a lot less guilty now. Will contact you when we get a case for you."

Both men hung up, and Sherlock was left with a look of amusement and annoyance battling each other.

Molly approached him and took her phone back. "And what was that about?" asked Molly, who was fighting hard not to laugh at the look on her husband's face.

"It shouldn't surprise me that Uncle Mycroft would want to take revenge before me," commented Sherlock. "He always did want to show he was the older one."

After the last bell, Alethea and Hamish walked beside each other as they made their way to the front doors. Alethea was telling Hamish all about the headmistress's gift. "I can't wait to start! But I don't know at all what to plant – there are so many choices!"

"Well, it's your square of garden," said Hamish. "So pick what you like the most."

"You're right," said Alethea. She stopped them and faced her best friend. "Hamish…thank you for stopping him yesterday." She kissed his cheek shyly, imitating her mother when she thanked Uncle John.

"You're welcome, Thea," said Hamish proudly, his cheeks turning a bit pink.

They exited the school and walked out onto the large stone front steps. Other children hurried past them to the school buses, their carpools, and their locked bikes. On days like this, when her mother had to work, Alethea would walk home with Hamish, who lived only a block away from school, escorted by Uncle John who would wait for them by the steps.

But today, Uncle John was not alone.

"DADDY!" exclaimed Alethea, who immediately ran down the steps and into her father's arms. A laughing Sherlock swept her up in a hug that he should have gotten yesterday when he had returned from solving the case. Hamish followed behind her, and hugged his own father round the middle in greeting.

"Hi, Uncle John!" said Alethea, turning her head to the sandy-haired man.

"Hello, Thea," said John, giving her cheek a kiss. "Glad to see you so happy."

"Daddy, why are you here?" she asked her father.

"I've found something for you," said Sherlock, who lifted an arm not holding Alethea up for a cab. "Let's all go."

Twenty minutes later, the group of four were hurrying through Kensington Gardens until Sherlock stopped at an inconspicuous bush. He set Alethea down and crouched beside her before turning to the Watsons. "You two stand guard. I'll stand for no interruptions."

"Aye aye, sir," said Hamish, imitating his father's salute (which he loved to do). John chuckled and nodded, knowing Sherlock's plan and very glad about it.

Sherlock turned Alethea towards the bush and pointed to a very specific leaf. "You see?"

Alethea did, and a huge smile lit up her face. "You found one, Daddy?"

"Of course I did! I spent all day looking for one, and it was a nice touch that it is now ready to come out."

"Yes, it's wiggling, it's happening!" breathed Alethea, going into her sharp observational mode with her father as they watched the butterfly break free of the cocoon. Hamish took turns watching it and looking around for any bullies that wanted to hurt his best friend. John just watched the two curly heads and smiled; seeing Sherlock like this was nothing short of a most welcome miracle. And when the butterfly had broken free, Alethea turned to her father and wrapped her little arms round his neck, whispering, "I love you, Daddy," into his ear. Sherlock hugged her right back, and said, "And I love you, daughter."

John's throat got tight at that one.

The newly born butterfly stretched out its wings and took its first flight. "There it goes!" said Hamish, pointing to it.

"Come on!" cried Alethea. With that, the seven-year-old Watson and the six-year-old Holmes ran across the grass, following the beautiful butterfly.

And the Daddy Holmes and Daddy Watson just stood there watching their children, not quite believing that a couple of freaks like them had been so blessed with their families.

THE END

A/N: Didn't expect this story to flow so quickly out of me, but I suppose the best ideas fight the hardest to get out! Just HAD to get this cute one out. Please review and stay alert - this is hardly the last you'll hear from me in this lovely fandom.