Tightrope

“So how long do you think we have?” Phoenix looked at the monitors around him his focus locked on one area in particular.

“What do you mean?” Derek asked stepping up beside Phoenix.

They’d returned to the townhome and were in the ballroom turned war room. Abby, with Penny’s help, had set up a large group of monitors while Spencer set up several boards around the room with different information on the case as well as several different maps of the areas where the group had struck.

“Before they send someone after me for daring to buck the system and start to cut off their heads?” Phoenix smirked as he looked at the monitor. “After all the body of the nurse has been found. Her heart gave out from fear…also Anderson’s had three assassination attempts already.” He looked at the different monitors that were following the disgraced lab manager’s passage through the system that was Scotland Yard and MI6. “James is dealing with those hidden within MI6 with Q…Mycroft has finally gotten his head out of his arse…” He sighed and took a drink of his water bottle. “This whole rigmarole is getting tedious.”

“I know you’re frustrated Tesoro (sweetheart, treasure, honey, darling) …but these things take time.” Tony walked up to them and wrapped his arms around Phoenix. It had been a month since they’d come to London to deal with this hell and still things were not happening as fast as they’d like.

“It’s still frustrating and I’m sick of the ghosts…I never thought I’d say that, and I hate that I’m saying that…But there have been ten more deaths since we came…” Phoenix snarled. “Even Robert was killed! I wanted that justice for he was the one that called out the first hit on me!” He stalked to the board with the different deaths that had happened.

They’d been surprised at the death of Robert as he was nephew of the man now in charge. He’d come into view of Phoenix ranting and raving about it being his fault that he was dead that he couldn’t just do what he was supposed to and die already. James and Sirius had both taken the bastard to the light though they didn’t follow through they weren’t about to let their son be stalked by a malevolent spirit when they could stop it.

“We’ve got the nurse that was chosen to ‘help’ the old bastard…then we’ve got the four remaining witnesses/victims that could be tied with the original case…After that we’ve got Robert, knifed in the back by his uncle who was one vindictive bastard…Every single assassin that was sent after Anderson was later found killed…and then here…this bastard that went after Sherlock…the man may be a pain in many arses, but he didn’t deserve to have that bastard go after him.” The last picture was a black and white of a man with piercing eyes that spoke of insanity, there was a smirk on his lips and scruff from five o’clock shadow. He was in a well fit suit and had his hair slicked back in place. He was one of the ‘misfits’ according to the views of the Death Mark killers. “I’m just glad that we were able to end his group of idiots before Sherlock had to fake his death to take out the bastards…really to think that would work…”

Phoenix shook his head, though he’d been amused at the different ways Sherlock spoke of how they could fake his death. Moriarty killing himself had been fitting in the long run, though when he did so Phoenix had been there and made sure that his spirit met with Phoenix’s parents. That had been even more amusing.

“I’m just waiting for the notice of the elder Bancroft’s death…” Pacing away from his mates he glared at the monitors that were tracking everything. “If only the bastards weren’t hiding…I’d burn their stronghold to the ground…I’m so sick of the cult…We can’t find any physical evidence and they have to keep records but none of it is online…I don’t think we’ll be able to end them but through killing the whole group.”

“We know love.” Derek came up and placed strong hands on Phoenix’s shoulders. “We know…”

“It will come…they’ll make a mistake…” Tony replied while keeping an eye on the outside security monitors that were on a separate wall from the CCTV monitors that they were going through. He cocked his head to the side. “In fact…I think they’ve made one…” He pointed to the picture on the outdoor monitor that was in the ‘blind’ alley. Thanks to the work of Q, Abby, and Penny the camera was completely hidden from view and only those that could sense electrical currents would be able to find it. “I recognize him from the information that James got us.”

“Mr. White…out of retirement it seems.” Q came over, he’d just arrived to visit as he wanted to check the monitors. “But why would he be working with them…”

“Unless they know something about him that would be the ultimate blackmail?” Phoenix spoke carefully as he studied the man, there was the shadow of someone behind him unseen to most. Very rarely did spirits show up on cameras even to those with the gift. “If we get rid of their blackmail…”

“Then he’d likely pull away.” Sirius whispered from where he stood watching the camera feeds as well.

“So what is the blackmail that they have on a gifted such as him…” Phoenix tilted his head as he watched the man before him on camera. White kept looking to the side where the spirit was before turning away with sorrow filled eyes. “After all another Spirit talker…”

“Does he have any dependents?” Spencer asked from where he was looking at the boards again as he continued to build the geological profile. Even though they had the help of the different spirits none of them could give them the location of the Bancroft manor.

“We don’t know…very little is actually known about Mister White…” Q said softly looking at the monitors.

“Well I think we should find out…” Phoenix crossed his arms as he looked at the shadowy image behind the man. “He’s got a spirit that won’t leave him alone…but he’s ignoring them…can’t get a good look at the being with him…”

“Are you sure that these are the last of the ones that were on their lists?” Aaron said as he stood beside the board with the most recent kills.

“I’m sure…they were the only ones that I could discover that had the connection we found…” Phoenix sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. Running his hands through his hair he pulled at the strands close to the scalp. He wanted to scream and rant. He wanted to rage at the fact that they’d been unable to save the last of the ones that remained from the list. He was pissed that all the victims had been wiped out. “They’re going to go for the mistakes next…”

“Mistakes?” Abby asked from where there was a crime lab set up in the corner of the ballroom with sterile walls around it.

“That’s what the Spirits are saying that they heard them called. There was a phone call after they had the people come after them. They heard the person on the other end tell them that they were still a useful Mistake…” Phoenix sighed sorrow clear in his eyes. “The ones that were taken out that were going after Anderson said that they were called Mistakes…”

“The assassins they send after people are called Mistakes?” Penny called out in shock and sorrow.

“Oh yeah…all the assassins that they train are culled switches that are Gifted and/or Carriers.” Phoenix looked over at the group with a shrug though his eyes held true sorrow in his expression. He blanked as he looked over in a corner as a shimmer happened. “aw hell…”

“What love?” Tony came and wrapped Phoenix in his arms again.

“They succeeded this time…” Phoenix pinched the bridge of his nose before looking over into the corner again. “Mum I don’t think that’s anatomically possible.” He smirked a little.

“What’d she say?” Gibbs smirked.

“Just that if Anderson liked to kiss ass so much that they could show him how to from the inside.” Phoenix chuckled looking over at the man before looking back at the monitors. “They’re in the system as well…” He snarled as he moved forward. He pointed at the camera that was showing Anderson moving around pacing the safe house he’d been put in while waiting for trial. “He can’t be here in spirit if he’s moving there…”

“So another mole…” Gibbs nodded as he looked at the information that Phoenix had just given and the man that Phoenix was saying was dead was truly right on the screen moving around and talking on the phone. “When was he given a phone?”

“He never had one…” Penny snarled before she saw what Gibbs had. “There have to be multiple moles to give him that and another to get the assassin in unseen…”

“They wanted you to focus on the one that got me the phone and not notice the glitch…” Anderson told Phoenix with a sigh as he finally was allowed to come over to the kid he’d wronged so badly. “I wanted to apologize for what happened with your parents and your godfather…Bancroft…the second was my father’s best friend.”

“Shit…” Phoenix pinched the bridge of his nose. “Bancroft’s business…”

“What about it?” Rossi looked up from the notes that they’d compiled.

“Remember what it is?” Phoenix snarled as he started pacing and pulling at his hair again. “A ‘protection and security business. They specialize in computers and cameras…” He stormed toward the computer that was showing the information from Anderson’s ‘safe-house’. “We cover every single microphone and camera in here…” He snarled. “The fucker’s back logged us by hiking on the link to this…” He was typing away on the computer and then turned to fire a fireball at the nearest window. It shattered in an outward blast, but the fireball kept going before dissipating. “I want the fucker dead all of them…” He pulled on his hair again. “I want this to be over damnit! Why can’t they just fucking die already!!!”

“It is very frustrating…” Spencer muttered as he looked at things before moving around the room with a bit of tape and covered all the webcams on the computers as well as any microphones that were in place.

Just as he reached the last one Phoenix was there with a snarl.

“Tell Bancroft that his little hitmen and his schemes won’t work…tell him that he is in for a reconning with his victims…I’m coming for him by the power of Hades and Hathor I am coming for him.” Phoenix then covered the mics himself as well as the camera with his silver eyes glowing. He turned to the others with a snarl on his face. “I’m done playing nice.” He looked at the spirits that had been following him since he’d arrived in England, even Mor was among the group. “You want revenge against Bancroft and his group then go…” His eyes were still flaring with the power. “Let them feel the wrath of their victims…give them fear like they’ve never felt. If they won’t meet judgement here let them know that the Judge is waiting, and the jury is already on their case.” His hands flared with the silver power of a spirit talker. It was a gift that few realized but when it was the first generation from Hades himself the one gifted was able to empower the spirits around them to interact with the one that had harmed them. “Let each generation feel the wrath that awaits them within the Pits of Tartarus…let them know that judgement is before them.”

The group that was within the ballroom watched in disbelief as the spirits that were filling the ballroom that they’d been unable to see all came into view briefly before they disappeared with wicked grins upon their faces. All of them had visible wounds upon them, some even missing faces or backs of their heads due to the gunshots that they took. Others looked like they’d been mauled by a creature due to the number of knife wounds covering them. They all would fit in a horror film for their wounds and the way they were transparent. The worst were the ones that were dressed in clothes fitted more to the 1940s as they were the family of the original Bancroft. Phoenix’s eyes held the spirit glow as he stood with his arms crossed looking out toward the area where Mister White had stood only to freeze in shock at the sight of all the spirits moving from the ballroom.

“Mister White if you’d join us…we’ve much to discuss including how to keep you and the one you’re protecting out of the hands of the Death Mark Killers.” Phoenix was looking directly at the man before he stepped back and moved to the computers again.

Penny and Q had been furious at the fact that they’d been back hacked so they’d turned it around on the person in the time that Phoenix had been dealing with the spirits. Phoenix looked at the image that was before them a man typing away only to freeze in shock and shiver with fear. A dangerous smirk flowed over Phoenix’s face as he watched.

“Hello bastards…” Phoenix whispered as he took in Albert Bancroft III and in the background his aging Grandfather. “We’ll have you shortly…”

“Kit…” Gibbs walked over and wrapped Phoenix in a hug, the ones who worked with him the most were slightly flabbergast at seeing the action before realizing that this was simply how it was.

“I just want this done Uncle Lee…I want it over so that I can live and be free from the past…so I can fully  bond with my soulmates and be what I know my parents want for me. I want to just…” Phoenix looked at his uncle with his pain showing clearly in his eyes. “I just want it over…”

“I know…I know kit…” Gibbs sighed and pulled him into an even tighter hug just holding him. “And it will end. Soon it will be completely over, and you’ll be free…I know you will.”

“I’ve got you!” Q crowed out as his fingers flew over the keyboard as he put a headset in so that he could make a phone call. “James…get the rest…M…we’ve got a spot and I’ve got the electric files that prove everything.” Q looked over at Phoenix with a smirk. “It’s because of Dr. Potter that I was able to make the needed connection to get the information. I feel he deserves to go with his team and join the others. We need to hit at each location simultaneously…sending the information for locations and proof now. Any further proof they can locate at the locations in paper form or electric that is not on network have it gathered…Yes Ma’am we’ve clear from the Queen that it is green on kill orders for those in the top spots. The underlings are to be picked up as they can, but deadly force is allowed for all.”

Mister White entered the room at the time with a raised eyebrow. He took in everything around the room before looking at Dr. Phoenix Potter who’d he’d been sent to kill only to find out some interesting information from his wife’s ghost.

“M’Lord…” Mister White bowed slightly. “I offer my assistance in the removal of the shit stain that is the Death Mark Killer Cult with the promise that my daughter is kept safe from everything. She has no knowledge of what I do, nor does she have any knowledge of what I’ve done in the past. She’s a psychiatrist in a special facility for her own safety.”

Phoenix just raised an eyebrow in response. “It’s up to the heads of the groups that are a part of this whether we let you help. We never touch an innocent and if your daughter truly is an innocent than she will remain untouched.”

“She’s a sub…I arranged her location to keep her away from the Cult. They found out about her somehow and have threatened to have her mated to one of theirs for ‘breeding’ purposes.” White said with a sneer. “Keep her safe and all my knowledge on the cult is yours. After all isn’t it the saying ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer’…”

Phoenix smirked in response.

Three weeks, that is how long it took to get all the people into place with the information that Q was able to gather for M and the Queen along with the President and all those in charge of the other countries where the information was necessary. Albert Bancroft the First passed away, though it was through the use of a drug in his IV instead of his medicine. His grandson had finished his ‘work’ and was now ready to take control of everything else. Q and Penny had intercepted several emails out to his contacts and how they were going to set up large attacks at the start of the year on centers, capitals, and other points of power to get their point across.

It was frightening to Phoenix when he looked at the extent that the Cult had reached around the world. He stood in his bedroom looking out the window as he pulled on the clothes that he’d chosen. He was dressed fairly formally with a shirt, tie, long vest, and fitted pants. He pulled his hair back in a ponytail leaving the shorter hairs on the top to cover his eyes. Stepping over to the bed he looked down at the last part of his outfit and sighed. It was a fitted jacket with armor enforcements on the shoulders. The whole of his outfit was armored in one way or another, mostly by being bullet, knife, and arrow proof. He pulled on the pair of motorcycle gloves that he had chosen for their skintight fit. Around him were sparks of his flames while his eyes were a mix, one silver one gold from flames. Taking a deep breath, he fastened the last buckle and looked toward the door.

“You don’t have to do this…” Derek stood, he was decked out fully in gear that would not look out of place in a swat team, though he was holding the helmet instead of wearing it.

“You can let us take care of all of this…” Tony said from behind Derek, he was dressed in a black with white striped button down and had a black suit coat with his badge already in the pocket ready. Like Phoenix’s outfit the suit was bullet proof, provided by Q who regularly had his section of MI6 fitted with suits like it.

“Oh, I know that I don’t have to do this…I need to.” Phoenix finished pulling on his gloves making sure they sit right. “My flames won’t settle, nor will I achieve any peace if I don’t see this through…” He smiled for his mates though it was a tight look in his eyes.

“Then we should head out. Gibbs is back in the states with Abs and Ducky to deal with those over there. As are Aaron and the others. We’re here to support you and to help with this set.” Tony said stepping up to Phoenix and brushing a lock of hair behind the man’s ear. “We’re here to help…so let us.”

“After this we’ll take a nice long vacation and just relax.” Derek smiled gently at Phoenix. “We’ll take the next steps when you’re ready.”

“Thank you.” Phoenix nodded before they moved to the vehicles. He was riding ahead on a motorcycle he was leading the attack and would do what he could to get a vocal confession or threat that would allow him to take the steps he needed to.

It took four hours to reach the Bancroft manor on the far edges of London away from all the damage that had happened during the war but slowly being built up around. The many elaborate spires and round rooms made Phoenix think of the Waddeson Manor house, the main thing that was missing was the size. It looked as if they’d taken only a quarter wing of the house and copied it. There was no large gardens or hundreds of rooms. Phoenix knew that the stone was to protect it from those with the gift of flame or any of the other gifts available out there but earth which is what most of the Bancroft family had though they denied any gifts after WWII. With a smirk Phoenix stepped off his godfather’s Royal Enfield bullet 500 original Motorcycle. He looked at the cameras that were set around the property and made sure that Bancroft knew he was there.

Phoenix didn’t move from beside his motorcycle he just stood there with a smirk and his flames dancing around him with a smug satisfaction. He knew that around the world several take downs were happening at the moment as he stood there. He felt his phone vibrate with a text but didn’t pull it out he just watched the door while leaning against his motorcycle with sparks dancing around him.

It took twenty minutes before Bancroft came to the entrance and stood with his arms crossed looking at Phoenix. Neither spoke as they waited Bancroft with a smug air around him, his sons were the Deans that had been ousted from the University that Phoenix had studied at. His nephew the professor. And it all lead back to this boy in front of him. Albert Bancroft was dressed in a three-piece grey suit with a full head of grey hair that he kept short. He looked younger than he was, but the eyes held the truth of his nature for they were a dead gold.

“You’ve caused me a lot of problems boy…” Albert spoke finally after watching Phoenix and being watched in return.

Neither man had a visible weapon, but Phoenix could see the spirits that were surrounding Albert and he could tell that they’d been giving him hell. Phoenix smirked as he saw that Albert was getting frustrated with his lack of response. Still Phoenix just lounged on the motorcycle watching him as he moved from the doorway a cane in hand though Phoenix knew that he had no need for the walking aide.

“You are the last of the Mistakes that need to be taken care of. You were never supposed to survive that night.” Albert snarled as he stepped down the stone into the drive. “You were supposed to die with your parents…just like Lord Black was to die!”

Phoenix still didn’t speak in response he only kept a smirk on his face. He felt his phone buzz two more times while still not pulling it from its pocket.

“But you see…I don’t need interference…I’ve almost completed Grandfather’s work. Even the waste of a breeder that was Taggart can’t stop the path of completion.” Albert snarled as he came out of the covered area in front of the house. “Even my waste of space nephew and sons can’t stop me from fulfilling grandfather’s grand work.” His phone started ringing making him snarl as he pulled it out. “What!” He snarled into the phone without looking at the caller id. His eyes went wide as he looked around then back at Phoenix. “What?” His eyes now held fear as he looked down and over his red tie saw the red spot. “No…” He looked back over at Phoenix who was still silent. The dot wasn’t directly over his heart it wasn’t a quick kill shot. “You wouldn’t…” There was a sound and then the red tie had a hole and the white shirt beneath started to show a spread of blood while Albert dropped to his knees. Phoenix squatted beside him with a smirk still on his face. “But why…”

“Because you and your group were always going to fail.” Phoenix finally spoke. “You wanted control over those like me and those you view as abnormal. But here’s the thing…there’s too many of us out there.” The sparks that were surrounding him were flaring into flame. “We were always going to stop you and yours…you made a mistake…”

“What?” Albert coughed.

“You came after me…” Phoenix patted Albert on the cheek leaving behind a burn mark in the shape of his hand. “And now…I’m doing what should’ve been done from the beginning. I’m burning your organization to the ground starting from the top.” Phoenix stood back up and stepped over Albert with no care in the world. He was wearing a pair of knee-high motorcycle boots, with hidden steel reinforcement in the toes and heels. “Know that your kingdom has fallen. And it has been ordered by the Queen herself.” He continued walking as he entered the house his flames still flickering around him though he didn’t let any of them fall and actually catch. He followed the path of the Spirits that had remained as the man was dying on the front drive. He looked around with a sneer when one of Bancroft’s toadies came rushing toward Phoenix with a knife. A roundhouse kick at the man dropping the knife and Phoenix was able to grab it before it hit the ground using it on him instead while it was wreathed in his flames. “The end is here.” Phoenix smirked as the man screamed, he made him think of Peter Pettigrew with his bulging eyes and buck teeth, though his hair wasn’t as scraggly. “And it isn’t in the favor of the Death Mark Cult.” He kept walking down the halls following the path of the female spirits that were cowering even in the afterlife and looking worn out.

“The end is here, and it is the beginning of an era of freedom…” He whispered as he opened the door that he was led to and saw the stairs that lead to a basement. Following them he let his flames flare slightly so that there was lighter.

Phoenix could see in the corner of the basement a bank of monitors and hard drives. Beside them was row after row of filing cabinets. But what drew his attention was the row of cells each holding a young woman or male all submissives that were collared with electric shock dog collars and chained in place. Each and every one of them was naked and covered in sores, bruises, cuts, and burns. They were starved but not to a dangerous degree yet. And two of the women were clearly pregnant, while another held a babe to her chest to nurse.

“Well fuck…” Phoenix ran his hands through his hair pulling it from the hair tie that held it back. He finally pulled his phone out of his pocket and without looking at the texts he received he pressed a series of pre-programed functions before pulling it to his ear. “We need a large contingent of EMTs here…those with torture or rape protocol training…we also need several CSIs…” He spoke as soon as he heard it connect. “There are ten survivors actively chained in the basement and a few babes as well…”

Phoenix moved back slowly when he heard the whimpers of fear from a few of the people in the cells he looked at the cabinets.

“There are thousands of paper files…there are seven four-drawer fireproof metal filing cabinets.” He went over and started trying to pull open the drawers with a smirk. “They’re not even locked…and all of them are full…” He flicked through some of the folders. “There’s records going back to…shit…there’s records back to when Bancroft’s father was alive…”

Phoenix looked around again and looked at the monitors, one seemed to track those that had been ‘tagged’ while another monitored the different camera feeds from different homes. “This is sick…we’ll need Q or Pen here…fuck…this is bad…” He looked over at one of the Spirits who communicated what the needed code was. “We need someone to crack this…Shit…” He entered the code and was glad to see that the timer started over but was still pissed by what he had found. “Those tagged…the tags are rigged…a code has to be put in every 24 hours or it will release something…” He looked at the spirit who’d helped him and raised an eyebrow at what he was told. “No fuck…shit…okay it’s a cyanide tab in the tags…and if it’s removed before being disarmed it will release the poison…if the code isn’t entered it’s released…if the person isn’t where they’re supposed ta be…you get the idea…” He nodded to the spirit that had helped. “Thanks to one of our hidden friends I was able to restart the timer, but it gives us 24 hours to figure out how to destroy the tags without killin the people that have them…”

Phoenix really wanted to burn the manor down after the rescue teams showed up and were able to get the collars and such off of the prisoners without killing them. He watched as the crime scene techs came through gathering up all the paperwork in evidence boxes.

“Those will go to the headquarters for the BAU in Quantico, Virginia. They will be given over to Dr. Spencer Reid and his team to go through.” Phoenix stated simply as the techs were trying to figure out where they were supposed to go.

“Now see here…” The head of the team straightened up and looked at Phoenix in shock.

“No…you will listen. Your labs are still being overhauled after it was discovered that Anderson was a plant that helped drug my godfather and assisted in the death of my parents. Your labs also were the ones responsible for the hacker that was able to block our connection and leave us unable to save Anderson from being killed. So, the information gathered with the permission from the Queen and from M of MI6 is to go to the FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia where the team that helped end this threat will receive it and go through the information to discover any others that were missed. We are ending this here and now. The Death Mark Killers Cult is finished. Anyone aiding them in any way will be removed from their positions and jailed. If they resist, they will be killed. End of story.” Phoenix smirked, after all my parents started this end…I’m just finishing it.”

Six months after the group went through the necessary steps to end the Death Mark Killers Cult, Gibbs was walking Phoenix down the aisle to his soulmates, his parents were there in spirit including Remus and Sirius. It was a beautiful spring day where it was 69 degrees Fahrenheit with only a few clouds in the sky. It was an outdoor wedding that fit the three bonding in the best way.

After they were married Phoenix stood from his seat in the middle of his dominate soulmates and raised his glass.

“It has taken a while to get here…” Phoenix smiled at his mates and those that were with them. It was primarily the teams that had helped them end the threat of the Death Mark Killer Cult. “We’ve struggled…we’ve fought…oh have we fought…” He smirked at Derek and Tony for they had many arguments while he was in protective custody. “We’ve set fire to the world in unique ways.” He chuckled, those that knew what he was talking about bit back their own laughs, he’d set the bed and house on fire the first time he’d had sex with his mates after they had finally hunted down the last of the cult. “We’ve saved those we could save…we’ve gotten justice for those we couldn’t…” He looked at the few survivors that they’d invited that were willing to come as well as the spirits that were standing around the room with smiles on their faces, their wounds healed with the deaths of the worst of the offenders. “I won’t regale you with much more…only let you know that in another five months, yet another adventure will be coming our way…” He smiled with a soft look in his face as the Derek and Tony stood beside him. “The Morgan-Potter clan will be welcoming a new addition at that time.” Tony had jumped at the chance to leave his father’s last name behind.

There were cheers as the announcement was made and the rest of the reception went on. It was going to be a new age indeed. Gibbs smiled gently at his nephew; he’d been the only one they’d told prior to their reveal. They’d wanted to wait until they were four months and were out of the worst risk for miscarriage. He was happy for the kid more than he could say and had promised that he’d do everything possible to make sure that his mate came home to him. He’d even let Phoenix scorch him a little after a fiasco with a newbie on their team that had gotten Tony shot by the Marine, they’d been chasing two weeks before their wedding. But for now, he sat back and enjoyed his bourbon as he saw Phoenix throw his head back in laughter, he was wearing an outfit similar to the one he’d worn when they took down Bancroft only without the metal of the shoulder guards and with it being a deep teal and navy blue in colors with hints of silver.

*~*~Time Jump~*~*~Ten years later~*~*

“Joseph Hank Morgan-Potter you put that down right now!” Phoenix called out as he exited the doors to the garden from the manor. “Michael James! You better not be teasing your brother…” He placed his hand on his slightly extended stomach as he felt the little one kick from within. “Easy little flower…Mama needs a rest…” He sighed, he’d become Mama to all of his kids through teasing from Uncle Lee and Uncle Dave, but he’d had his payback as he’d gotten the kids to call them grandpa.

It had been a surprise to everyone when Gibbs and Rossi had discovered that they were soulmates so late in life, each had one prior in their wives that had died, and they were blessed with second chances. They’d figured it out when they were helping with the case but kept it quiet until the day that Michael had been born when they’d arrived at the same time with Gibbs wearing one of Rossi’s FBI shirts and Dave wearing one of Gibb’s faded NCIS shirts.

“How is our little Amaryllis flower doing love?” Derek came up and wrapped his arms around Phoenix placing a gentle hand on his stomach over where they could see a foot from time to time pressing.

“Treating me like my bladder is a football…I think we’ve got a star player here…” He kept a hand on his stomach beside Derek’s. “I still think we should name her Amaryllis Diana…”

They had all become very close friends with Spencer and had been beside him as Diana lost herself to Alzheimer’s before finally passing two summers ago. Derek had left the BAU at the same time as Tony had left NCIS after one too many close calls. They had the funds and means to retire and so they’d moved with Phoenix and the children back to his family home in England. It was where they still were and where Lily and James continued to watch over him with Sirius and Remus beside him. Rossi and Gibbs had moved into the caretaker's cabin on the far edge of the property wanting to remain close as Rossi had become like another uncle when they were originally in England hunting the cult.

There were attempts from several to restart it but thanks to the work put in place by the BAU, MCRT, MI6, and the Yard there was few who were able to get farther than making a few minor waves. The babes born from the survivors in Bancroft’s basement were excelling thanks to the scholarship funds set up for them by the Queen using the money seized from Bancroft and his followers. Whole families lost their lives, and their titles were instead given to their victims.

 New changes were still being made in the other fields were it was no longer lawful to keep Submissives or Carriers from holding any position in law enforcement or military. It had started with how he’d taken down first Bancroft and then the others that had come after him for revenge even when he was pregnant. He was granted amnesty for killing those that had come after him with the intent to harm. He had cameras in all the main areas of his home both when they were still in the States and here at the Manor.

Sherlock was due to arrive with John later to have a short vacation from Mycroft’s hovering. His sister had finally died in the asylum that she’d been placed in, she’d been furious that nothing she tried to do to manipulate Sherlock into being her Dominant worked. She refused to acknowledge that Sherlock was a submissive who had been attempting to hide the fact from the world and it with the addition of his gifts were what mostly led to him doing drugs and shutting down. With the arrival of John in his life and finding his soulmate in the kind Dominant doctor had changed him. Oh he was still an emotionless ass to most people and ready to tell them a few hard truths even when they didn’t want to hear them. But thanks to John they’d been able to have one child that they named Victor in honor of the friend that Sherlock had as a child that his sister had murdered. Mycroft and Addison had been ecstatic but worried as it had almost killed Sherlock to carry the child to term and birth him. He’d been born within four days of Michael, and they were best friends. Turned out that the Holmes family manor, Musgrave Hall, was the neighbors and had been rebuilt by Sherlock after he’d found out the truth into the reason it had been burned down. Phoenix had helped him find the well where Eurus had imprisoned Victor. Sherlock had then been able to finally return Victor’s body to his family.

Addison, Q to most, had finally gotten his soulmate James to take up a training position in MI6. He was now helping those that needed it with extraction after the attempts to kill M and James at Skyfall Manor. Thankfully with the help of Phoenix and others who were close at hand at the time they were able to save both M and Bond, though Skyfall was destroyed and now Q and Bond lived in an old Victorian Townhome in the middle of London where the security challenged even Sherlock and was constantly tested by the man, in the excuse that he was making sure that they were safe.

“James sent a new picture…” Phoenix smirked when his phone pinged. He pulled it up and had to laugh. Q was attempting to wake up after falling asleep in his home office only to see that his two cats were messing with one of his research books. Because of things that had happened in his youth Q was unable to have children and the cats had become his kids. The little cats were Scottish folds . One was light colored and named Winston, though James liked to call him Gizmo. Then they had a grey one that Q had named Einstein, but James called Goofball. “You know that the breeder has another litter and that we’ve been talking about getting Michael a pet to care for all on his own.”

“I was thinking more along the line of a dog.” Derek sighed, he missed Clooney, the old hound passed two years ago from old age and he was finally willing to get another pet.

“You know that if we got another dog that you would be the one to take care of it.” Phoenix smiled dropping a quick kiss on Derek’s lips.

“Are we sure we want something when we’re going to have a baby again crawling around?” Tony asked as he stepped out and handed over some water to Phoenix. “After all this one was a surprise…” He placed a soft hand on Phoenix’s stomach and dropped a kiss on his mates’ lips. They had been surprised when Phoenix had found out that he was pregnant again, they’d not been trying and had been warned with Joseph not to try for another. Phoenix was being watched over by several doctors, one of whom had actually moved into the manor for the length of the pregnancy. Even though Phoenix was only 31 it made it was a high risk pregnancy. No one would be able to talk Phoenix into getting rid of the baby when they’d discovered the pregnancy.

The doctor living with them was confused as to why he’d been told not to try for another as there was nothing they could find that would harm Phoenix and in the investigation that had instigated they’d found that the doctor had been one of those attempting to cull carriers, thankfully Phoenix was able to have the babe naturally when Joseph had been born and they weren’t even near the hospital with the culler as the news was calling him. If he’d had a c-section like the doctor was attempting to talk him into he’d have removed the chance of carrying another child without any input from anyone else.

“ ‘ow much longa fo’e p’incess is he’e?” Joseph, who was five, asked as he skipped up to his parents, he was still struggling with saying his r’s and if there is a h or s at the beginning of a word he tended to drop it.

“It could be any day baby…” Phoenix smiled down at his little boy.

“I’m no’ de baby! P’incess de baby!” He pointed to the belly of his mama.

“That’s right…but you and your brother will still always be my babies even with Little flower here.” He rubbed over his belly again as there was another kick and this time there was a tightening of his belly, Derek and Tony looked at him as they heard him take in a deep breath. He shook his head subtly at the pair before looking back at the kids. “I’m sure your little Princess is excited to get here but these things happen in time…”

“What about Vick?” Michael asked as he walked over holding the glider that his parents had gotten him at his last birthday. “He said he wanted to try out a race with our gliders.”

“They’re arriving at Musgrave later this evening. Uncle John had to take a quick stop at the clinic as one of his patients called in with concerns.” Tony said softly with a smile to his boys. “How bout we go and fly your planes for a while so you can practice to beat Vick.”

“Okay!” Michael dashed forward and grabbed his father’s hand before pulling him away. Michael was clearly Tony’s offspring while Joseph was Derek’s.

“Have you heard from Spence recently?” Phoenix looked at Derek with a smile.

“Not recently…” Derek knew that Phoenix talked to the other genius daily.

“He and Abby are expecting again…” Phoenix smiled proudly. “They just entered their fourth month and got the all clear.”

Spencer and Abby had found out that they were soulmates like Gibbs and Rossi in the aftermath of the D.M.K. Cult case. They’d bonded while on the case by eloping in Gretna Green much to the amusement of the rest of the group. Abby had been pregnant with their first kid before they’d even left England and finished the case. Since then they’ve had four other children. There was Rose Marie the first daughter who had Abby’s dark hair and Spencer’s curls and eye color, who was coming up on eleven. Next was Nathaniel Rogers, the first son with the opposite of his older sister in color and temperament who was 9. Then there was the twins Isabella Faith and Sophia Hope, identical girls who looked like a mini Abby, who were five. The fifth child was another boy whom they named Gabriel Liam and was a miniature Spencer, even to the point of having the intelligence already showing through at 3.

“Abby has said firmly that they were having no more after this one after all at 42 she’s reaching the age where it wouldn’t be smart. Her doctors have also advised against having any more would be dangerous to her.” Phoenix smirked as he thought of the energy they both needed to take care of the five children they have. “She’s having twins again.” He chuckled. “They’ve finally gotten an official diagnosis that Gabriel is fully deaf like Rose.”

“The struggles they’re going to have…and we thought we had it bad with the two we have and the third on the way.” Derek chuckled. “They’re going to have to sit on her…I still remember Tony’s look of shock when he saw her for the first time not wearing her platform boots.”

“I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head.” Phoenix chuckled as he breathed through another contraction.

“How far apart are they?” Derek looked at Phoenix with a knowing eye.

“They’re only now getting close together. They’ve been happening since yesterday and even through the night, but they were two hours apart yesterday and only went into the hour or forty-five minute zone overnight…” Phoenix gave a tight smile. “This morning it picked up a little but their still twenty minutes apart.” He looked soothingly at his mate that was beside him. “My water hasn’t broken yet though I have let Cameron know that the contractions are happening. They just ask that I inform them when it gets to 5 minutes apart since we’re doing this here…They still see no problem with us doing so since we have that room set up as a surgery and hospital room if there is any need for it. Molly was amused at the fact we went to the steps we did.” The white haired head housekeeper had been upset at first that they were changing one of the rooms so dramatically but then when she found out the reason behind it she’d quickly agreed with it so that the baby could be born here at the manor instead of somewhere else.

Five hours later they finally assisted Phoenix into the delivery room while Sherlock and John took the boys back to the Hall so that they weren’t underfoot. Gibbs and Rossi were off on a hunting trip and out of phone range, though Q would get a hold of them when the time came. Another three hours passed before the screams of a person giving birth were heard echoing through the halls.

Cameron smiled as they caught the squalling infant in their hands, she was clearly a child of Derek in her café mocha skin color. They allowed Derek to cut the cord and placed the still screaming infant on Phoenix’s chest allowing the skin to skin contact that she desired. They looked at Phoenix in shock as the contractions started up again before looking at the others in the room. One of the nurses that had been brought in by the housekeeper came and took the infant for measurements with her father walking beside her hovering.

“I have to push again!” Phoenix yelled out in pain before looking at Tony. “Something isn’t right…” He looked over in the area where his mother hovered, and she had a soft smile on her lips and tears in her eyes. “Mama! Something’s wrong!”

“It’s going to be alright baby…I promise this is a blessing…nothing is wrong…you just have a little surprise coming…” Lily whispered as she placed a gentle kiss on Phoenix’s head brushing her hand through his hair though others couldn’t see her didn’t mean she couldn’t comfort him.

“There’s another baby!” Cameron squawked as they checked what was going on. “I see another head!”

“What the FUCK?!” Tony and Derek both shouted in shock as they turned back toward the doctor and what was happening.

“Push when you need to Phoenix!” Cameron instructed. “Peter get the suture kit! Trinity get an extra blanket!”

What followed was a half hour of chaos as Phoenix delivered another daughter, this little princess a clear child of Tony.

“A heteropaternal superfecundation…never thought I’d experience delivering such…” Cameron whispered giving the term for a set of twins born of two different biological fathers. They looked at Phoenix with a smile. “Another beautiful little girl…” They placed the infant on Phoenix’s chest again before going back and helping him pass the afterbirth and then sewed up the small tears that had happened during the birthing.

“What will you name her?” Peter asked looking over at the pair with another birth certificate ready to be filled out.

“Camellia Shannon…” Phoenix whispered looking at the infant on his chest before looking at Tony who only nodded in agreement. “And Amaryllis’s middle name is Francine.” He looked at Derek with a soft smile. He simply nodded in response knowing that it was fitting for the infant still in his arms.

Peter came over and with a gentle touch gathered the baby up to bring over for her weight and length to be recorded.

“Miss Amaryllis Francine was born at 9:58 pm on May 23, 2017, coming in at 2.4 kilograms and 44 centimeters even. While Miss Camellia Shannon…is 1.9 kilograms and 41.8 centimeters, born at 10:30 pm.” Peter read out as he filled out the information on the charts and certificates. “Everything checks out just fine for lungs and heart.”

“Now we’ll know what Spencer and Abby are going through…” Phoenix chuckled as both little girls were brought back over to him and placed in his arms against his chest. One of the downsides of being a male carrier it was hard for them to develop the needed glands to be able to breast feed and Phoenix was one of those that was unable to do so. But he was also grateful at the same time because he loved watching his soulmates feeding the children. “What an adventure we’ve been on…” He whispered gently as he kissed the tops of each girls head. “Pride, Perfection, and Gratitude fit so well for my darlings…you are going to be so spoiled and have such fierce protectors in the forms of your big brothers, Uncles, Aunts, cousins, and grandparents. You’ll be so loved…I’m so honored to have this time with you…I love you both…” His eyes were tired as he looked at his mates. “Thank you for them…”

“Of course love…” Derek stepped forward as he cupped Phoenix’s cheek. “I’m so honored to have the prince and princess you have given me…and the life I’ve gotten to share with you.”

“You’ve blessed us love…” Tony came over and kissed Phoenix gently before he took the little girl that belonged to Derek while Derek took his little princess. “We’ve got them love…you can rest.” Tony’s eyes showed he knew what was happening. His phone on the table showed he’d already called the family.

“I can’t stem the bleeding…he’s hemorrhaging! We’ve got to get him to the operating room!” Cameron shouted out as Tony and Derek stepped back and the two nurses that had come with rushed to move the bed into the sterile room that had been set up if they needed to do a c-section.

Two days later Phoenix woke up to the sound of beeping from a monitor and looked over to the corner where his parents were standing wrapped in each other’s arms. They had a gentle smile on their lips and tears in their eyes.

“Too close darling…way to close…” James whispered as he came over and kissed his son’s head. “We’re not ready for you to join us yet…”

“Sorry…” Phoenix whispered before putting his hand gently on his stomach where there was residual soreness from the operation to stop the hemorrhaging that had happened. He looked over as he heard the door open and saw as Uncle Lee stepped in carrying Camellia in his arms with a tender expression on his face, she already had a hint of red hair that came from Phoenix’s mother. “Hey Uncle Lee…”

“You kit are in trouble…” Gibbs sighed as he looked at his nephew. “You’re not supposed to head to the grave before me.”

“I wasn’t trying…Camellia there was a complete surprise.” Phoenix smiled softly and had sorrow lining his eyes.

“I get that kit…” Gibbs shook his head in exasperation before fondness took over his face. “I heard what you chose for the middle name…thank you.”

“Of course.” Phoenix raised the hospital bed, so he was sitting up more and looked over as a completely smitten David Rossi came in carrying Amaryllis. “Are my princesses settling in well? What do the princes think of having two sisters?”

“They’re doing fine all four kiddos are doing just fine. Your husbands are taking time with your boys, so we decided to take time with these two.” David explained gently as he continued to feed the little girl. “Has Leroy told you anything?”

“He just got in here and scolded me.” Phoenix shrugged. “I’m guessing though that to help with the hemorrhaging they had to remove the uterus…”

“I’m sorry kit…” Gibbs looked up and Phoenix knew that he was right.

“I expected it to be honest…when I realized something was wrong I just knew…” Phoenix sighed. “I’m just glad that the girls lasted to 39 weeks instead of the usual 38…and that I was able to carry them to turn and they are healthy.” He smiled as he saw a little arm reach up from the pink swaddle blanket that Camellia was wrapped in. “I’m just glad that I was able to give both of my soulmates children.”

“They wouldn’t have cared in the least…they’re just glad that they had thought to have the operating room installed into the manor so that if something happened. There was no way that they’d be able to get you to the hospital in time if they hadn’t.” David explained gently.

“I still have years yet to give to the pair and I’m not going to let my children grow up without me there if I can help it…” Phoenix smiled. “Did we tell you that Michael manifested a spark the other day?”

“A Spark…lighting or fire?” Gibbs sat up with happiness shining in his eyes.

“Lightning…” Phoenix smiled. “While I caught Joseph bringing different flowers into bloom that shouldn’t be yet for this time of year.”

“Hot damn a lightning and earth gifted!” Gibbs smiled as he leaned back and looked down at the little one in his arms. “Are you going to gifted…I bet you are just like your mama. You and your sister are going to be amazing.”

*~*~*Fifty years Later *~*~*

Phoenix lay in the lounger that had been created by Michael for his three fathers to lay on and enjoy the garden at the manor. He gave a sigh as he lay between his mates, they had all wanted to come out and enjoy the sunset. They’d celebrated with their family sixty years of marriage three days ago.

Michael had brought his soulmate Rose Marie, and their four children. He was 6’2 and the body of a runner. He had three daughters that were showing signs of gifts and the intelligence that was common in all the Morgan-Potter children.

Joseph had brought Roger Cameron, the adopted son of James and Q, he’d been orphaned in a case that the pair had been working on for MI6, he'd been altered by some madman to have tiger like features in having ears, tail, and claws. Joseph had grown to be six five and pure muscle giving Derek a run for his money in size, he’d also thrown several people on their asses with their opinions that submissives and/or carriers were delicate and petite with how he’d turned out. He specialized in being able to bring back plants that were going extinct with his Grandmother Lily’s earth gift. He and Roger had three children, two boys and a girl. The little girl was born with the features of a tiger like her papa.

Both boys had gone into police work, though Michael had gone into the military first having joined the Marines after hearing about the work of his Grandpas Lee and Dave. Joseph had gone into the Yard and taken it by storm making his Grandpas James and Sirius proud as can be.

Amaryllis had found that she wasn’t interested in any sex. She had four ‘furry children’ two dogs and two cats along with a bearded dragon that she allowed to ride around on her shoulder as often as she could. She was a petite 5’2 and the body of a dancer, she had been a star on the stage of the Russian Ballet much to her parents delight. She was spirit gifted like Phoenix allowing her to learn from the greats of the ballet that have passed before her. She’d danced for years with grace until retiring and turning to teaching students what she’d been taught in the world of dance.

Camellia had gotten her Grandfather James’s air gift and used it to become a pilot in the Royal Airforce and excelled as all the children had. She’d retired and joined NCIS in a liaison position that made possible due to her Papa Tony. She’d adopted five children after her soulmate was killed in action and she was wounded in such a way as to be unable to carry.

Each of the grandchildren had a child of their own if not multiple. Phoenix had delighted in holding the youngest great-grandchild born to Camellia’s little Bryony who had been named Sirius James. He looked over to the side and saw standing with smiles on their faces were James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Gibbs, Rossi, Shannon, Kelly, and the other members of the family that had gone before them. He knew then that it was time and couldn’t help but smile that he had his chances to make sure that his children knew that he loved them so much. Derek was the first to slip away in his sleep that evening when they were in their Alaskan King bed after watching the sunset. Tony followed shortly after with a soft sigh. At last Phoenix gave a gentle smile in his sleep and let himself slip away. Standing looking down at the bodies on the bed he chuckled. They were wrapped around each other as they always had been since they finally gave into the bond that they had with each other.

“Let’s go love…we can stop in and check on the kids from time to time but it’s time…” Derek whispered after having hugged his mom.

“I know…I know it’s time…I’m ready…” Phoenix smiled as he looked at his family and was wrapped in their arms with his mates staying close. He whispered a soft goodbye as Amaryllis stepped into the room to see if her mama wanted to get some hot chocolate with her since she wasn’t able to sleep. “We love you baby…you and your siblings. We’ll always be with you.” He smiled at her as she looked up at the sound of his goodbye. She gave a sob of mixed grief and joy; she was glad that they went together in their sleep, but she was so sad that they were gone.

“Love you all…” She whispered back before she left the room to alert her siblings, they were all staying at the manor for the anniversary party and family reunion that they had been there for. At least they could all be there now when it was time to say goodbye.