Prologue
Molly Hooper and Sherlock Holmes' are not a conventional couple; they didn't start with love. Of course Molly loved him, but he didn't care for her in that way. Their relationship was a one of convince because of a little girl who brought out a different side in Sherlock.
This all started when a little girl, Laura, was at the age of four and was left by her recently deiced mother to her father, Sherlock. John, Sherlock's flat mate, was worried about the little girl seeing as Sherlock barely even acknowledged her for the first six months she lived in the flat. Laura slept in John's room because he has moved into 221 C Baker Street with his girlfriend, Mary. John was concerned that Sherlock would never warm up to the little girl and so he and Mary came up with a plan.
Sherlock going out with Mary for weekend be back Tuesday
JW
The kid
SH
Yours to take care of. Just remember that you can't be late to pick her up on Monday.
JW
John
SH
There was no reply and so Sherlock was forced to watch the kid as he called her. She had not yet woken, so Sherlock rushed down stairs to talk to Mrs. Hudson. He knocked furiously on her door till if opened.
"Mrs. Hudson, going out, watch the kid." He turned to leave.
"No… Sherlock," Mrs. Hudson's voice broke.
"No?" asked incredulously.
"She needs her father Sherlock, so go be her father."
He stomped up the stairs and slammed the door behind him. Sherlock turned to see the little girl staring at him eyes wide and scared. What was he supposed to do with her?
She opened her mouth and beat him to it, "You don't have to do anything. Just do what you would normally do."
That day Sherlock sat on the couch and watched as Laura picked out book after book. He was a little impressed by the fact that even though she was only four years old she could read medical books and science journals without seeming to get bored. She didn't ask for food, if she was hungry she got up and fetched it for herself. That night was a different matter, she got herself ready for bed and right before she went into John's room she ran to Sherlock position on the couch and kissed him lightly on the cheek. He made no move as she pranced into the room and shut the door quietly.
Sherlock didn't know how long he had sat at the edge of his bed staring at the wall between him and her. 'I don't love her. I don't do sentiment.' Sherlock thought, 'She doesn't think of me as her father so why should I.' Before he could go any further with that line of thought he heard her scream and then again before he moved to make his way to her room.
Laura was screaming and looked to be searching blindly with her hands for something. He shook her gently, but she did not stir from the nightmare. A small part of Sherlock was clenched with fear and unknown guilt as he tried to wake her once more.
"Laura," he tried as he shook her again, "Laura wake up."
She awoke with a start and flung herself into Sherlock's awkward embrace, and that same small part felt relived that she was a wake and away for whatever the horror was. Laura trembled for six seconds before realizing who was holding her.
"Sorry. I… usually John is the one who saves me from…him."
"Who's him, Laura?"
"Uncle Jim." She said unshed tears in her eyes.