46 - Tom

Mickey had emailed me a script shortly after we found out about the twins and asked me to read through it and let him know if I was interested. I'd said no almost immediately but when I'd told Eliza about it she insisted I at least read through it before I turned it down completely. I'd just hadn't wanted to even entertain the idea of having to leave Eliza and the twins yet, but in the end I was glad she insisted.

The irony wasn't lost on me as I read the script. Seemed someone wanted to make a movie about the elder Holmes brother, Mycroft, and thought I'd be perfect for the part. The fact that Cavill had recently done a movie as Sherlock amused me. It was to be based here in England, primarily in London, so I wouldn't have to travel.

Eliza had read through with me and had encouraged me to take the role. She was apparently a huge Sherlock fan, the older the better. In the end I called Mickey back and told him I'd changed my mind and would do it. We still had plenty of time and Mickey had already talked to the director about working around the baby appointments and he'd assured Mickey that they'd make it work.

"I swear I spend most of my time in the bathroom already. I may have to move a bed in there before we get to meet the babies." Eliza grumbles.

We'd started turning the room nearest to our bedroom into the nursery and that's where we spent the last couple of days. We'd had the big objects delivered yesterday and we were slowly getting them together, or I was since as she said she spent most of her time coming and going from the bathroom.

I was currently lying on my stomach on the floor rereading the directions for the cribs for the third time but I couldn't help smiling when I looked up at her. She may have grumbled but she was staring at her growing belly already in love with them.

"We'll make it darling. You look radiant if it makes you feel better."

She looks at me and smiles, the same look of love still there but for me this time. She smirks when she sees I hadn't got anything together while she was gone and I stick my tongue out at her making her laugh.

My mom and sister were going to come over for Christmas on Friday. Katy would also be joining us though that was to be a surprise for Eliza. This was going to be our first real holiday together and I wanted to make it extra special.

Katy was going to fly in Christmas Eve and a car would bring her here and I'd slip her in without Eliza seeing her. Eliza already knew my family would be coming in; even Sarah and her husband were flying in from India and my dad and his lady friend coming in from Scotland so they could meet her. Everyone knew what Eliza's final gift would be; I was going to propose.

Christmas is Eliza's favorite holiday; not because of the gifts, or even the food but the sense of magic and kindness that it brought along with it. Katy had said it'd be the perfect time to pop the question and hinted at they'd discussed the possibility of us getting married and said Eliza was in favor of the idea. I knew having a child together when you weren't married wasn't uncommon anymore but I was old fashioned.

"Do you want some help?" She asks and sits down beside me, folding her legs under herself neatly.

"Please. I think my eyes are beginning to cross."

I hand her the instructions and take my glasses off. Closing my eyes I rub my eyes with my thumb and index finger, only half joking about them crossing. The cribs were the last things we had to assemble and my eyes were tired.

"Can you hand the bag of hardware please?"

I put my glasses back on and hand her the bag, half rolling so I'm braced on my elbow watching her. She reaches and grabs what she wants and then tears the bag open with her teeth. In less than a minute she has the bottom mostly done and looks at me smugly.

"I could've done that."

"I know you could've love. You just wanted me to have something to do." She teases.

"Exactly."

She finishes the bottom and then I help connect it to the sides. The second one goes quicker and then I help her up off the floor so we can push them into place. She wraps her arms around me as we gaze around the room and I hold her close, leaning my chin on the top of her head. Two beds, two changing tables, two gliding chairs with footstools, two tall dressers in the middle of the long closet and the nursery was complete aside from picking a color.

"I still like the emerald green."

"Then emerald green it is my love." I chuckle.

We'd talked about paint but had ended up deciding to wait until we found out genders. Green is Eliza's favorite color though and I didn't mind it. It was gender neutral and the Loki tie in didn't hurt either, since playing him had been the reason we'd met. We'd find out genders just after New Year's anyway.

Her phone buzzes in her pocket and she pulls away just far enough to pull it out. She puts her back to my chest and I keep my arms around her while she opens the text.

"Henry is coming in for Christmas with his family and wants to come over and go over the scripts he has done so far." She says, looking up at me.

"Sounds good to me, what do you think?"

"I am curious." She admits, "But it's Christmas."

"He's aware of that darling. Invite him for Christmas, we have the room."

"You sure?"

"My mom and sisters may faint but yes I'm sure. He's more than welcome."

She laughs and types a quick invite message that's quickly followed by him saying he'd be here. I lean down and kiss her forehead as she leans back against me closing her eyes. I sway us gently and just hold her in my arms. Our peaceful bubble is popped as her phone starts ringing this time. She looks at the screen and I feel her tense.

"Why is my dad calling me? He never calls me."

"Answer it and find out. I'm right here if you need me."

I pull her with me to one of the rocking chairs and pull her into my lap as I sit. She takes a deep breath and swipes to answer, putting it on speaker.

"Hello?"

"Hi, it's dad."

"I saw that when I answered. What can I do for you?"

"I wanted to apologize for what your mother said the last time you two spoke." He says after a moment of silence. "She was way out of line."

"It's fine. I've come to expect that sort of thing from her."

"But you shouldn't have to. I know we haven't been the best parents to you but I'd like to start over if you're willing. We were wondering if we could take you both out to lunch."

"I don't know when we will be back state side dad. But if you're serious we can do lunch when we make it back."

"I meant today. We're currently in a taxi headed to our hotel here in London."

"You flew over here? You're scared of heights."

"Trust me it was not the highlight of my years but I thought it'd be the best way to show we were serious about changing how things have been. If you're busy today that's fine, we're here until after New Year's."

She looks at me wide eyed and I have to swallow the laugh that bubbles up. She looked like a deer in the headlights and I honestly couldn't blame her. Them being here was a huge step considering they'd never gone to New York to see her. I smile at her and node; we didn't have any lunch plans. If it started going poorly we would just leave.

"Did I lose you?" He asks.

"We're still here. We can do lunch. Did you have a place in mind?"

"Not at all." He chuckles.

"Tell the driver to take you to Nambu-Tei. An hour from now good?"

"Perfect. Thank you Eliza."

She hangs up and sighs. I rub my hands up and down her arms and kiss her shoulder lightly.

"Why Nambu-Tei? Do they like Japanese food?"

"Yes, but there's something nearby I know my dad will like seeing; two birds, one stone."