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Angela P.O.V.
Once I knew we were without listening ears on us, I started to argue with Mycroft: "I used to be your 'favorite niece', as you put it. You were always spoiling me, and I used that for my gain. I later thought it was just to piss off Mom and Daddy, or to groom me to be manipulating like yourself!” Him and Sherlock gave each a tiny nod, John just seemed shocked. I then admitted: "But you also did it out of remorse. You monitored my development, and when you saw I wasn't just intelligent, but also highly compassionate, you started to regret your choice.”
"Is that, why I had you join MI6?”, Mycroft quickly asked. I knew he tried to buy himself time, distract me from Sherlock's backstory, by making me tell mine. But as John still had no clue of anything from my past, and seeing Mrs. Hudson eyeing me with disbelief, I gave in and scoffed: "Perhaps. Not that you actively opted for it. But sure, I could see it as one of your long term plans.” I turned towards him, and could see his discomfort, as if he could feel remorse for something his future self did. He can't even feel remorse for his actions now!
So I recapitulated: "When I joined MI6 it partly was to rebel against my parents. I had idolized you as a teen, thinking how much power you had, what luxuries you could afford, not just financially. I did my best to impress you, and I was rewarded with your respect. You said I was the best agent that served her majesty in a long time, and I knew you didn't favor me during my training, rather the opposite, so I was more than proud.” I saw the slightest flicker of approval in his eyes. Of course he liked to hear this. But I continued with a frown: "You made sure I was send to every mission that would interest me, and you always gave me ample opportunity for a vacation. You'd tolerate my caprices, and keep John and Sherlock informed of how I was doing, so they wouldn't worry too much. I had quiet the life...”
I had to turn away. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of admitting, that working in the Secret Service actually had been as fulfilling as Sherlock imagined it. I looked at the table and confessed quieter: "However, I did start to long for a family. I wanted to settle down, and try this 'boring normality', as you called it, even if perhaps just a few years, until my children were old enough. You did your best to delay my decision as long as possible, perhaps hoping I'd think I was too old to have the kids myself one day. But I put my foot down eventually, and returned home, to start a new life.”
I was now talking more to John, Sherlock, and the nice Mrs. Hudson, as they listened attentively: "I joined Mom and Daddy on a quest soon after. Nothing major, almost boring to me. But we needed to meet up with the O'Moore's, and I was surprised to see how Michael had developed since we last met. He was this self conscious timid nerd when we had parted ways, but somehow he had found his field, and become pretty independent. He was also single.” John and Mrs. Hudson smiled understanding, Sherlock kept his blank face, listening for more useful information, as I continued: "We dated for a while, moved in together, and pretty much already planned how to built a nest and where we'd send the kids to school, once we had them. But we tried and tried, and nothing happened. And it was Michael, who came up with the idea, that it might have to do with my genetics.”
"Hah! See?”, John tried to defend him, "Not that uninteresting, ey?” I smiled at him, and Sherlock did me the favor of not interrupting. Neither did Mycroft, though I could see in the corner of my eye, that he found it a most uninteresting tale, but hoped we might get too caught up in it to pry at the east wind further. But I wouldn't let him get away! I could play the long game too, so I clarified: "I knew that I would never get an honest answer from a doctor, if I tried to research the normal way. If something fishy was up, there was only one person who could be responsible, and that person would be able to cover their tracks too well. So, instead of that, me and Michael went on vacation.”
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Mrs. Hudson furrowed her brows, and asked confused: "I'm sorry for seeming slow, dear, but what difference would that make? Did you hope a change in the surrounding could help? I know it works for many couples, but if you really are infertile, what good would that do?” I heard Mycroft inhale annoyed, having trouble holding his tongue at this dragged out report. But his brother just registered his reactions, and so didn't complain, as I gave the old lady an open look, and explained: "It wasn't to change my own perspective, but that of my uncle! At that time, Sierra Leon was one region I knew MI6 had trouble monitoring. China had been trying to infiltrate more systems, and this was one of the hot spots. That is why we went there. Stayed a while. I bribed a doctor. And then we went home.”
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The old lady was still confused, but listened attentively, as I went on: "I made sure we'd land at an airport near Mycroft's current head quarters, on a date I knew I would meet him there. That way, it wouldn't seem too odd to come to him first.” "Oh dear lord.”, Mycroft hushed, pale. I growled: "What, it even works now?” John tried to ask: "I don't get it, why did you need to meet him?” "For Gods sake, you goldfish are slow!”, Mycroft huffed at him, but shut up when I gave him an evil eye, so I explained to Daddy: "John, acting convincingly was one of my specialties, so when I was being all thrilled while going up to my 'uncle Mycroft' that day”, I made sure to give the air quotes, hearing Mycroft sigh a little, disappointed, "he really fell for it. When I pulled out the blurry ultra sound they still used in those backwards countries, crying happy tears, and chirping: 'I'm pregnant!', what do you think he did?”
It was Mrs. Hudson who correctly guessed: "He spilled the beans, because he couldn't believe it?” "Pretty much so.”, I agreed, "He cried: 'That's impossible!', took the picture, trying to pin point where it was taken, and was already dialing up his agents to find out, whether it was a conspiracy I had overlooked, or some miracle invention. He was so absorbed in sensing malice elsewhere, that he forgot who was standing in front of him!”, I turned to the smug coward, who looked so uneasy at me, "Her majesties greatest agent in a long time, as he had said himself. So when I confronted him, dropping the charade and telling him, he could call back his hounds, as I had been the one to bribe the doctor, he wasn't able to come up with a good enough lie.”
I turned back to Mrs. Hudson: "So yes. He confessed. And tried to apologize. The only reason I didn't crack his skull that moment, was that I didn't want Michael to get into trouble.” This time, both Holmes' eyed me confused, and it was John who guessed correct: "Because he was in on it, and he brought you to Mycroft?” "Jup.”, I nodded. "But why would you care...”, Mycroft tried irritated, so I yelled: "Because I liked him! I'm compassionate, remember? The thing you're most afraid of! I care about the goldfish, I'm one of them!!!”
He shook his head in disbelief, but I repeated: "I belong to them! It's different from what you think! I didn't become the best despite my emotions, but through them! I was only blessed with being able to define and focus them better than most people. And maybe that's even thanks to you!” Mycroft raised his brows bewildered, so I made clear: "You made sure, I was bred to be resilient! That's why I was surprised that of all things to be lost, it was fertility, reproduction, so closely tied to growth and healing. I knew you had to be involved.”
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Things quieted down after this little outburst, only Mrs. Hudson sighed: "Oh you poor girl!”, with compassion. I was touched, but brushed it aside, facing Mycroft again, to prepare the final blow: "You tried to make good on your mistake, trying to earn back my trust. You told me about our family history.”, his brows rose in fear, "How genius ran in the family. Along with some nastier shit, like incest and homicidal behavior!”, now John's rose too, "How the men would usually be immensely clever but cold, sometimes presumed autistic, unless their cognitive skills were somehow damaged.”
I turned to Sherlock who was very attentive, when I elaborated: "Like your father, who nearly drowned in a puddle as an infant, and who turned out normal for any other family, but painfully slow witted for a Holmes.” Then I continued: "But all the women in the direct line, though also overly intelligent, turned out to be more plotting, malicious, sadistic and cruel.” John stepped in with a question: "Hang on, then why didn't he just make you a boy?” I shrugged at first: "Maybe he wanted to, but you had...”, then I had to stop myself.
I didn't want to cause John even more hardship, as he was only getting adjusted to the news of him and Sherlock, but I had to make it clear, so I tried to explain very delicately: "Before you had me, you already had a daughter once! And you missed her very much. You even gave me her name as a tribute.”, I could see this shook him, but not as much as before, and I closed: "I wouldn't be surprised if Mycroft indeed tried to opt for a male offspring, but Sherlock would've made sure you'd get a baby girl. If it had turned out to be a boy after all, he would have suspected foul play.”
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