There's Daddy!
Little Rosie was wailing in anguish, her tiny fists thudded the carpet in front of the fireplace. Her tear stained face was illuminated by the warm glow of the fire. John Watson jolted from sleep on the couch, he swung his legs over the edge but stopped mid-rise as Sherlock swept down and picked up Rosie. Sherlock bounced Rosie up and down while holding her close to his chest and whispering sweet nothings into her hair. Rosie quieted down until she was silent aside from gentle hiccups into Sherlocks shoulder. Sherlock gently moved her to his hip so that her face was looking up to him. Holding her in one arm, Sherlock wiped away the remnants of her fit with careful swipes from his thumb.
"There, there darling. You're okay, I'm here," he says lifting her up to place a soft kiss to her baby curls. Rosie waved her hands in enthusiasm and kicked her little legs in glee. Sherlock released a genuine laugh at the reaction and held her to him again.
"There's my little soldier," Sherlock whispers. Rosie releases a giggle when he blows raspberries against her cheek. Sherlock turns away from the fireplace and freezes when he notices John sitting on the couch watching him and Rosie.
"John! Umm, I-I hadn't realized you were home from work," Sherlock stuttered. He snapped his jaw shut and mentally berated himself, Sherlock Holmes did not stutter.
"Yea, I just came in a little while ago. I must have fallen asleep though," John explains scrubbing at his face with his hands.
"Yes, yes. Well- um, we've just been looking at cases and-" Sherlock stopped mid sentence and his eyes widened in horror, "I was watching her but she just wanted to walk about but I was watching her. I don't understand why she was upset!" Sherlock defends himself. John strides over to Sherlock and places a hand on his shoulder.
"Sherlock, it's alright mate. She's young, she cries sometimes," John reassures him. Sherlock shifts on his feet and Rosie wiggles in his arms reaching for John.
"I know you wouldn't let anything happen to her, Sherlock," John adds. Sherlock seems to snap back to himself and looks at the girl in is arms.
"Right, of course," he states in his usual "matter-of-fact" way. He hands Rosie to John with a gentle "there's Daddy!," whispered under his breath. John happily takes his daughter into his arms and looks at her little face and back to Sherlock. He stifles a content sigh at the sight of a very adorable silly face Sherlock shoots Rosie. He knows that if he acknowledges it, Sherlock would surely avoid him for the rest of the day.