So, we have a winner of the PLOT CONTEST! I am not going to tell which one, you'll just have to see. This is the sequel to Beyond This Illusion - although I have done a quick summary of what all happened, so you don't HAVE to read the first one. You may want to, though, just to get more details than what I have given you. AND NOW... on to the story...

(P.S. I have thrown in a major emotional moment for Sherlock - it brought tears to my eyes as I wrote it. BE PREPARED FOR THE FEELS)


CHAPTER 01 - Easier Than I Thought!

THE ROAD SO FAR:

JUNE 1st, 2013: Tabitha decides to spend a stormy night in watching Sherlock in her new one bedroom house. Unknown to her, the TARDIS is about to crash in her backyard. When the Doctor knocks on her door, the TARDIS throws out some energy, making her disappear into thin air.

SEPTEMBER 4th, 2014: Dr. John Watson is assigned to a woman who has no identification, and seems to not exist at all. She knows things about him, and Sherlock Holmes, that no one else should know. Detective Inspector Greg Lestrade puts her into Sherlock and John's custody while they figure out who this woman is.

Sherlock finds himself distracted by Tabitha, with her impossible story and arousing body. The Doctor finally finds them, and befriends the characters of the television show. Tabitha is under Mycroft's employment of sorts – keeping him updated with Sherlock's business while getting paid for it. After a while, it becomes clear that Moriarty's right-hand man, Sebastian Moran, has teamed up with the Doctor's enemies – The Weeping Angels.

She has befriended Mary, John's girlfriend, and Molly, who is dating a wonderful man named Victor, and starts to move on from her late husband, T.J. Of course, she still struggles with the choice of having the Doctor take her back to her universe, or stay in the current world. She also befriends the once-thought-dead Irene Adler, who pops up at the most random of times.

Tabitha finds out she is pregnant. Sherlock starts to learn how to cope with the idea of being a father, and Tabitha seems to be the only person who has the patience to deal with him. He finds himself falling in love with her, no matter how hard he tries to ignore all the emotions. After three months of the Angels getting steadily closer, they realize that Moran is holding someone of value in exchange for control.

The Statue of Liberty – their leader.

Sherlock's crew and the Doctor devise a plan to face Moran. It seems to go wrong at first. Tabitha deviates from the plan, John and Mary get captured, and the Doctor has to face the Weeping Angels once more. When Moran realizes he was just another one of Moriarty's pawns, he loses his head, giving Sherlock, Lestrade, and the Doctor a chance to intervene. The police takes care of Moran, and Lestrade and the Doctor have a conversation with the Angels that are in the room with John, Mary, and Tabitha.

The Angels and the Doctor come to a truce – everyone lives, just this once. The Angels get their leader back, and the Doctor and his friends are free to go this one time.

SEVEN MONTHS LATER

He couldn't sit still as he rode with Lestrade in the police car, the sirens blaring. Lestrade looked more panicked than he did, though Sherlock kept having to wring his hands and run his hands through his hair.

"Sherlock, you haven't said anything. Aren't you excited?"

"It's a natural occurrence."

"If you don't show a little emotion, Tabitha is going to knock you out!"

At that thought, Sherlock felt his chest tighten with panic. All the sentiment that he had been forcing back fell on him like a splash of water. His pulse raced, his breathing increased, and he felt nauseated. His mouth became dry, and he swallowed loudly. He looked at his phone, hand trembling, memorizing the date he knew would be in his mind for the rest of his life.

Friday, June 12, 2015 – 1:45pm

0000000000000000000

"She's ready to push! Come on in, Mr. Holmes!" Dr. Rory Williams called happily. Sherlock felt awkward in his scrubs, but he rushed in nonetheless. Tabitha had insisted that only Sherlock, Dr. Williams, and the nurse be present. He gulped as he took in the sight before him quickly – Tabitha in a hospital gown, sweating and huffing, with Dr. Williams finding a spot between her splayed legs. The nurse stood by her side, saying encouraging and soothing words to the woman in labor.

"Sherlock, get over here or leave the room!" The look on Tabitha's red face was not something he was going to argue with, so he rushed to her side, and she gripped his hand. He gulped and brushed the sweaty strawberry blonde strands from her eyes. She looked into his eyes with tears. Sherlock put on a determined face and pressed his forehead to hers.

"It will be over soon, all you have to do is push. Remember the birthing classes you made me go to?"

"Twice. You went only twice!" She grunted and clenched her teeth.

"The head is crowning! Get ready to push!"

"Yes, remember? You can do it, darling."

"Oh, god, it hurts!"

"Of course it does, you're giving birth to a watermelon-sized child –" Tabitha pulled her hand from his hand and smacked him across the face. He shut his mouth after that, his eyes wide with surprise, and let her grip his hand as tight as she wanted.

"Use that anger to push!" Dr. Williams ordered loudly with a chuckle. Tabitha cried out as she pushed, crushing Sherlock's hand in one and gripping one of her knees with the other. She gasped in air as the nurse congratulated her on being almost finished. "Alright, Tabitha, one more push. One more, and your son will be born!"

With a sob and a cry, Tabitha pushed one last time, and the next sound was a piercing shriek of a baby. Dr. Williams and the nurse cheered, and gesture Sherlock over to cut the umbilical cord. Tabitha burst into tears and flung herself back, exhausted. She put her hands over her face as she cried. Sherlock appeared next to her and kissed her forehead.

"Shh, we're almost done," he reassured her, with tears in his eyes. As they finished cleaning up the baby and delivering the afterbirth, Tabitha decided that she was going to sleep for a whole week. She was sore, tired, and aching to hold her newborn child. Dr. Williams proudly let Sherlock take the wrapped newborn into his arms. Sherlock stared down at the baby, a wrinkled, pink mass in his arms. It didn't look like much, his practical mind said to him, but the emotional side picked out all the unique features of his son.

He had downy hair on his head, as dark as his, and his mother's nose. His eyes weren't open, yet, so he'd have to study them at another time. The baby stretched and made noises in his arms. Sherlock took a shaky breath.

"Sherlock," Tabitha whispered, sniffing and wiping her tears.

"Oh! Oh, yes," he murmured, not able to speak louder than whisper because of the sentiment he was feeling. He looked at Tabitha, and realized this was the best moment of his life. He handed their son to her gently. He felt his hands tremble as the weight left his arm – the fear of doing something to harm such a small human on his mind. As Tabitha cooed and murmured to the infant, Sherlock took the time to memorize all that had happened in the labor room and stick it in a special place in his mind palace. He ignored everything but Tabitha and the baby. The nurse came beside Tabitha and instructed her on a few things, including helping the baby began to breast feed.

"This isn't so hard," Tabitha quipped with a shaky laugh as she helped the newborn latch onto her nipple.

"Not at all!" the nurse replied with a laugh.

"You might want to tell your crew out in the waiting room your good news," Dr. Williams suggested with a chuckle. "Why don't you spend a few moments getting acquainted with your little one as we get your overnight room situated?"

Tabitha smiled at the man, and the nurse busied herself around the room and with Tabitha, preparing mother and son for their trip to the overnight room. She motioned toward a small room where Sherlock could take the scrubs off and clean up before heading into the waiting room.

"I… I don't think I should leave her…"

"She's a nurse, Sherlock, she knows what she's doing?" Tabitha chuckled tiredly. She yawned just as the baby pulled away from her nipple. "Oh! Are you finished?" The baby let out a little cry, and Sherlock stepped closer to look down at it.

"Can I… can I touch him?"

"Seriously?" Tabitha asked incredulously, raising her eyebrow at him. "He's your son! Of course!"

"Right! Obviously," he replied, chuckling. He bent down and touched the baby's cheek. It was soft and plump. The little boy turned his head and made to suck on his finger.

"He's still hungry. Go tell everyone while I feed him."

"Right! Right. You'll be fine in here."

"Yep."

"I'll be back."

"I know."

"Immediately after I tell them."

"I expect that."

Sherlock felt giddiness slide into his body and mind as Tabitha grinned up at him from the bed. The baby had latched onto the other nipple, drinking greedily. Sherlock smirked and quickly changed out of the scrubs. He washed his hands and made his way out into the waiting room. It was crowded with people there just to welcome his child into the world. It was an odd sight to him, and it made him a bit uncomfortable to have this much support. He wasn't used to it.

Mary and John were seated next to each other, gripping each other's hands and watching the door. Lestrade, Donovan, and Anderson were leaning against the big window, gazing down into the parking lot. Mycroft and Anthea were both looking down at their phones, their fingers moving, as they sat in chairs. Molly and Victor both looked rushed from their messy clothes and unruly hair. They must have been busy doing… oh. Sherlock turned his attention to Mrs. Hudson, who was wringing her hands and murmuring next to John and Mary. The Doctor seemed to be conversing with the desk clerk.

He cleared his throat, and everyone turned excitedly toward him.

"He's here," he said. As soon as it left his mouth he realized how awful of that presentation of the good news was. "I mean, he's here, healthy, with Tabitha. Everything is good. You can… you can go now."

"Oh, please, like that's going to happen," Molly said with a snort of laughter. Everyone chuckled and stood up simultaneously. They surrounded him with smiles and pats on the back. Donovan and Anderson stayed back from the group, but sent him a smile and a nod of congrats his way.

"When can we see her?" Mrs. Hudson asked.

"Not all of you, they have to move her to a more comfortable room," Sherlock replied, pulling away from the crowd. "John, Mary, come with me."

John and Mary looked excitedly at one another as they followed the new father into the hospital room. The nurse was just about ready to take Tabitha, and her bed, to another room on the floor below. Tabitha had the baby in her arms, who was finished suckling her breasts and was sleeping. Sherlock looked at the frail little human with evident fear, and John snorted a laugh. It was returned with a glare from Sherlock.

"It's a baby. No need to be frightened," Tabitha joked tiredly, looking strung out but still beautiful. She handed over the baby to a nurse, who took it to the newborn area to get its own little bed taken to the private room. Sherlock, John, and Mary walked beside the hospital bed as two nurses pushed it to the elevator.

"Have you decided on a name, yet?" Mary asked, holding Tabitha's hand as they took the short ride down. Sherlock and John walked on the other side of Mary as the nurses pushed Tabitha toward the private room down the hall. Tabitha yawned.

"I haven't heard either of you discussing names," one nurse quipped.

"Sherlock doesn't discuss. He just figures it out," John laughed.

"It's a name, it needs to fit perfectly!" the other nurse smiled. They settled Tabitha into the private room, and her friends and fiancé stepped back to let the nurse do what needed to be done.

"I agree. It has to compliment the last name Holmes, but it also should have some emotional meaning to Tabitha," Sherlock stated, coming to Tabitha's side. John and Mary were surprised at what Sherlock said, but just hummed in agreement.

"Here is baby Holmes!" John and Mary stood up excitedly as another nurse pushed in the little baby bed that had the little one sleeping inside it. "He's sleeping now – Mommy should rest for a bit. It's going to be a rough first few weeks."

"He's precious!" Mary whispered, leaning with John over the small bed. The baby squirmed a bit in his sleep. He had on a blue sleeper. "He has Sherlock's hair!" She added with a quiet giggle.

"I can't believe you're his father, Sherlock," John commented as they pulled back.

"Why do you say that? He looks almost like me. The hair, most likely his eyes, his chin…"

"No, you idiot, I mean I can't see you as having a child," John said, rolling his eyes. They heard a small snore and turned to see Tabitha fast asleep. Sherlock felt better watching her, seeing how her body was relaxed and resting after such a painful ordeal as giving birth.

"I have a child now, John," Sherlock said, keeping his voice low. He ushered his friends out the door. "When Tabitha and the baby awake, I will call you. Tell everyone that Tabitha is resting. They can see her another time."

"I'll have Mrs. Hudson take care of your flat," John replied. He smiled at his friend with an odd look on his face, and Sherlock frowned.

"What?"

"Sherlock Holmes has grown into a real boy."

"That makes absolutely no sense," Sherlock mumbled as the couple whispered a goodbye. Sherlock knew that they'd take care of the crowd in the waiting room. Running a hand through his hair, he caught a glance of himself in the mirror. His hair was a mess, his skin a bit more pale than usual, and there were noticeable circles under his eyes. The purple button-up shirt he was wearing was wrinkled, and his shoes were hurting his feet. He frowned at himself, though it only took a moment to realize why he looked this way.

Stress. That was the reason. He heard a small noise and turned to see his son wriggling in his bed. He stared for a moment, not sure what to do. The baby made a louder noise, and Sherlock saw Tabitha murmur in her sleep. Quickly going through reasons for the cry, he concluded that the baby was not hungry or needed his diaper changed – that had just been done a few minutes before.

That left another reason – comfort. Sherlock swallowed as he stepped up to the small bed and looked down. The baby wriggled again, and let out a wail. Quickly looking over at Tabitha, who was starting to wake up, he decided that he could handle this. He gently picked up the baby. He knew from research the best way to hold and calm a baby. He pulled him close to his chest and made shushing noises. The baby quieted down, turned towards the warmth of Sherlock's chest.

"Sherlock?" Tabitha asked, groggy and unfocused.

"Go back to sleep, darling. I've got him."

"I know," she replied softly, quickly dozing off.

Sherlock's legs were weak, although he didn't understand why. Keeping his eyes on the sleeping, calm child in his arms, he made his way to the chair next to Tabitha's hospital bed and sat down. Sherlock studied the child in the quiet of the hospital room. In a little while he knew that the nurses would take him to give him a quick check-up before nightfall.

Suddenly, the baby's eyes popped open. Sherlock stared back, his breath stuck in his throat as he realized that he was the second thing the baby had laid those striking light blue eyes on. He let out a shaky breath as the baby's hands reached up and wriggled through the air. Sherlock tentatively reached up to skim the small fist with his finger, mesmerized at how small it was compared to his large hand. The baby made another noise, and Sherlock smirked as the tiny fingers circle around his long one.

"You aren't as annoying as I thought you'd be, little one," he murmured.