The Man With The Umbrella

- 47 -

Singing sea shanties was something that was deeply missed from Amelia's childhood...

That's probably why she found herself at the local tavern; The Swan, with her daughter and her parents at eight o'clock at night.

Amelia was at a surprise with herself that she even cared to recognise faces sitting in their usual seats from over twenty years ago.

The again, father always had a way to make friends in the local pub, she thought with a smile blessed to her face.

"Amelia Watson. As I live and breathe. Is that you, doll?" An older gentleman asked wearily. Colin Groves was his name and it was someone Amelia definitely remembered. "Uncle Colin!" The woman squealed in happiness. He wasn't her real uncle by any means but he served in the Navy with Reginald so Amelia called him uncle out of respect plus to her, it seemed right to do so.

Amelia was springing to the balls of her feet eagerly waiting for the older man to stand before she attacked him with an emotional hug. "Oh, I didn't realise how much I missed you." Amelia mumbled into his shoulder. Colin did nothing but laugh, gripping the girls waist a little tighter to swing her around in a circle. "Oh, pet. You've been deeply and sorely missed. When you left for Harvard it was as if the light to this depressin' place, was turned off." He agreed.

Light. For some foolish reason, Amelia was sorely reminded of all that time ago when Anthea stated her code name was, Aurora. She reflected on the night she first kissed Mycroft, how she questioned why her code name was such a thing. Because you are vibrant, he had stated in that stoic quirk manner of his.

She sighed out a sullen breath before painting a smile on her face as she pulled away from the man. "Well, I'm back! I'm on holiday, would you believe?" She threw to question back rhetorically in sass.

Colin pulled away from the girl he saw as a niece and pointedly looked around the bar. "So you're spending your time in the west of Sussex? No offence, sweetheart but this is a shit-tip!" He delighted in amusement. Amelia shared a comfortable laugh before pulling her daughter close. "Perhaps so but nothing beats the roots of home." Amelia smiled in grace. "This is my daughter, Viola. Viola, love. This is Colin but I call him uncle because he's the best!" Amelia quickly introduced.

Viola stepped forward to shake the man's hand. "Hello, sir." She greeted. Colin smiled down to the young girl. "Hello. Oh, you're a sweetie-pie." He returned before pulling Viola into a hug and rubbing her head gently. "She's adorable, Amy!" Colin looked to the pregnant lady. "Thank you but don't let her looks fool you." She laughed. "Yes, she's definitely your child." He agreed.

Kneeling down to Viola, Colin fiddled with his wallet before placing a five pound note into the girls hands. "Choose a few sea shanties to play and we can all watch your mother sing and put a spin on this tavern of depression." He mumbled gently.

Nodding her head, Viola took the note of money and skipped away to the karaoke machine to choose some songs. "Oh, uncle Colin! I can't sing." Amelia blushed lightly from embarrassment. "Nonsense, dear. Sing!" He ordered jokingly.

As Maggie levelled out a chair close to the table, the uncle and father held Amelia's hands leading her to stand on the table.

"Doris, love, give us the microphone." Colin's voice hallowed to the bar lady. Bending behind the back of the booth, she switched the device on and passed it over. "Ladies and Gentleman..." Colin spoke into the microphone, grasping the tavern full of peoples attention. "For one night only, please give it up for our dear lady, Delilah!" He cheered causing others around sitting in booths and around tables to smile and clap.

He passed the microphone to Amelia with an encouraging smile before taking his seat. Colin, her parents, Viola and the others dotted around the pub started to clap to the beat of beloved sea shanties as Amelia began to sing.