Prompt: The Woman shows up at 221B Baker Street demanding to see the child she'd left there.
Disclaimer: Sherlock Holmes and all of its characters belong to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock the series belongs to the BBC.
Written for jesusdoesnotpayrent on tumblr.
A Visitor Unexpected.
It had been an eventful morning for the Watson-Holmes house; beginning with John finding a human hand in the bathroom sink ("Sorry Papa homework for Aunt Molly!") followed by Sherlock stepping on and consequentially breaking a very nice train that his brother had bought for Hamish ("Mycroft you idiot who buys an eight year old something as whimsical as a toy train!"). Finding a few moments to finally drink his freezing cold tea; John sat down in front of his laptop to catch up on his blog. He heard the door open and in walked Mrs. Hudson with an expression on her face one would acquire upon seeing a ghost.
"She's here."
Sherlock's eyes flew open and he bolted from the sofa; startling both Jon and Hamish.
"Who's she?" Hamish asked. Not receiving an answer from any of the three stilled adults; he turned his blue grey eyes toward Sherlock. "Dad? Who is she?"
"Go finish your homework Hamish." John said, stirring from the initial shock. "In your room."
"But I want to know who she is." He replied with the same curious expression that graced his dad's face on a frequent basis. "You have always told me that if I was old enough to ask I was old enough to find out."
It was Sherlock's firm reprimand that sent the boy to his room. "Your Papa said room Hamish!"
He grumbled the whole way to his room ignoring both his parents and who he called Nanny Hudson before slamming the door behind him.
Sherlock grasped Johns hand as he began to descend the stairs leading to the one person he never thought he'd see again.
The Woman.
Irene Adler looked no different that she had that night all those years ago with a bundle in her arms...
It was almost midnight and the only sound that resonated around the flat was a soft violin melody. John had long since fell asleep on the couch; leaving Sherlock bored again and he decided the best thing to do was to occupy himself with a lullaby. A ring at the doorbell struck a sour chord (literally) and sent the consulting detective down the stairs. He flung the door open and frowned at the visitor. "What do you want at this hour?"
Irene stood there looking tired and pale. Before he had a chance to ask again she placed a small bundle in his arms carefully; speaking only as she turned away.
"It's a boy. Congratulations."
He lifted the corner of the blanket and grimaced. "Why are you giving me a baby?"
"Because you'll make an excellent father." She replied, climbing into a waiting car.
She was gone in an instant and the boy began to cry. With a look of horror he held the baby out at arm's length and ran to his landlord's door. "MRS. HUDSON!"
In an instant every possible reason for her visit flashed before Sherlock's eyes making the first words to her: "no you cannot take him he is mine."
"I'm not here to take him from you Sherlock. I just want to see him." She said with a hint of a smile on her face.
"No one has heard from you for eight years and now you show up out of the blue and you want to see him?!" John was livid, squeezing Sherlock's hand tightly.
The action did not go unnoticed by Irene, her eyes catching the ring nestled on his finger. "When did this happen?"
"What business is it of yours?" Sherlock remarked, pulling John into his side.
Her eyes flicked to John. "I only want to know what kind of house he has grown up in."
"Having a newborn thrust into your life changes a person. We were both suddenly responsible for a tiny human being and yes it drew us closer together. I'd loved him before and I love him still. Only more now." John said as Sherlock stood taller with pride. "We got married three years ago in July."
"Kinky." She said causing both men to blush. She slowly pushed them aside as she walked into their flat. "So how did it happen?"
With an indignant huff Sherlock followed her up the stairs as John explained. "It started when he was ten months old..."
There was yet another murder on the streets of London bringing Greg Lestrade to their door. He laughed at the sight as he entered. "Well isn't thing the picture of domestic bliss."
John walked around their flat the infant in his arms; screaming like he was the latest victim while Sherlock sat in his chair rubbing his temples. "Bugger off Lestrade!" John said jigging the baby up and down in his arms.
"We've got another one." Greg said. "Windsor Estate, the lady of the manor was found face down in the reflection pool"
Sherlock leapt up at the chance to leave the house and his screaming son behind. He threw on his coat and scarf immediately before giving Hamish a kiss on the top of his downy head. "Daddy loves you, be good for Papa."
Greg laughed again and called to the detective descending the stairs. "You forgot to give your wife a kiss!"
No sooner had John thrown a teething ring at the DI did Sherlock come back up the stairs. He kissed John on the lips; stunning the poor man to stillness. With a wave of his hand he was off again followed by an equally stunned Greg.
"Sounds like a storybook romance." Irene laughed; seating herself in John's chair. She looked around the room and could not help but smile at the sight of the obviousness that a child lived there. A few kids' books on the coffee table; a crudely made diagram of the human respiratory system.
"Nothing I do is so cliché that it may have come from a book Miss Adler." Sherlock spoke finally. "I am a logical kind that has no time for such trivial things as romance."
"It's true." John remarked. "We didn't speak of it until after Hamish's first birthday..."
"Wiggle fingers!" John smiled at his laughing toddler, who wiggled his fingers back. "Wiggle fingers!"
"Phalanges, John, its wiggle phalanges."Sherlock said from the sofa where he was spread out. "I will not have out son grow up idiotic."
John blushed at the casual use of his flatmates casual use of the term 'our' when referring to the boy. "He's not got your genes Sherlock; he's not going to be as intelligent."
"Intelligence is not bred John, it is acquired. You have met my parents you should know that." He kicked his legs off of the sofa and walked over to the dark haired boy, wiggling his fingers. "Wiggle phalanges for daddy Hamish."
Hamish laughed and wiggled his hands at Sherlock. "Papa!"
"No Hamish I am daddy, John is papa." He said with a frown before pointing to himself and then John. "Daddy, papa."
Hamish pointed a chubby finger at him."Dada papa!"
John picked him up from his blanket on the floor and placed him into his walker, smiling as the boy took off around their small flat instantly. "Sherlock we need to talk."
"About your incorrectly naming body parts, yes we should." He replied, taking up residence in his favourite chair.
"No about that kiss you gave me two months ago." John had dwelled on that day since it had happened. He knew already that he had developed more that friendly feelings toward the strange man when the baby had come along; but little things had brought them closer to the surface. Little things like Sherlock's insistence on hyphenating their names when selecting a name for the baby ("Hamish Gregory Scott Watson-Holmes is a perfect name for you.") and when he baby talked medical terms ("This idiot died from a crushed larynx didn't he, didn't he.") The thing that had stolen his heart happened just after Sherlock had kissed him. John had overheard him talking to Hamish the one day while he was getting him dressed to go for a walk. He was putting him in a replicate of his own black coat, telling the boy that 'now we're both going to look pretty for papa'.
Sherlock tinged pink and avoided John's eyes. "Yes I kissed you, but I am not one for romanticized flim flam. I do however hold you in the highest regard and if you would care to pursue a romantic relationship I would be a willing participant."
"You make it sound like I should be offering you a contract to sign instead of a date." John mumbled sarcastically. "Do you have terms too?"
"Of course I do John don't act stupid it does not suit you." He said finally catching Johns widening eyes. "I will accept no less than two dates a month, nothing that bores me so we shall choose together. There will be no silly marking of the calendar to remind you of when this began. We are not teenage girls John, we are men. As I am sure you are aware sexual scenarios are not something I am often involved, therefore do not know how to interpret silent signals so once we have reached a point where we will be engaging-"
"Stop there, please." John threw his beet red face into his hands, stuttering out his next sentence somewhat incoherently. "Sex is something that requires complete trust and love, and I cannot see it in our immediate future."
"You do not trust me?" Sherlock asked indignantly. "You have my unwavering trust even though you are an idiot sometimes."
"You have my trust but I am not quite in love with you yet." John replied. "Yes we are closer as friends because of Hamish we kind of had to be, but he had brought out a side in you I never thought existed."
"It is basic human nature to nurture our young." He said; eying the doctor that was inching closer. "What are you doing?"
"And you call me an idiot." John said with a husky chuckle as he leaned over the side table to capture his lips.
"Hamish closes that door and get back to your homework this instant!" Sherlock snapped upon hearing the door creak.
"You named him Hamish?" She asked.
"You left us with no information on his whatsoever, poor boy had to have at least a name!" John yelled, rising from his seat as he began to pace the floor. "We had to ask Mycroft to help us with the legal proceedings, we officially adopted him so he needed a name and I won't even get into the hassle we went through trying to figure out who his father was."
"Do you plan on having an active role in my son's life Miss Adler?" Sherlock, who had remained silent until now, asked. "Because I will not allow him to be in or around your chosen place of business."
Irene's jaw locked into place as she addressed him with steely eyes. "He is my son by blood Mr. Holmes.
"HE STOPPED BEING YOUR SON THE MOMENT YOU DROPPED HIM INTO MY LAP!" Sherlock yelled; furious with the claim she now made. John quickly sat down beside him and touched his arm to calm him.
"Papa is she really my mother?"
Three sets of eyes turned toward the now open door as the nervous young boy stood clutching the dripping wet hand that had spooked John that morning.
"Hamish sweetheart would you like to come and say hello to Miss Adler." John asked tentatively. Hamish was just as bright as his daddy and this kind of situation might upset him.
"He was still only a boy; walking toward his papa and sitting on his lap. "Hello Miss Adler are you my egg donor?"
"What?" She said, justifiably confused.
"Well my father's explained to me that one night The Woman dropped me off in my daddy's arms, and papa said it was because she thought they'd make the perfect parents." He explained to her eloquently. "Well I did some research and discovered that in order to make a baby you need both X and Y chromysomes."
"Chromosomes, son." Sherlock corrected gently.
"Thank you daddy; you need both chromosomes and since daddy and papa are both me they could not have provided either the egg of the womb to carry me fully term." He puffed his chest out with pride. "Therefore I have deduced that if you are indeed The Woman then you are my biological mother."
"Very nice deduction Hamish and you are one hundred percent correct." She said as she leaned closer to him. "I am indeed your mother."
He nodded before wrapping his hands (and the severed one) around John's neck ad squeezed. ""It was nice to make your acquaintance Miss Adler but I have all the muscles of every phalange to memorize before supper time."
"I told you using the correct anatomical vernacular would be beneficial." Sherlock said; affectionately grazing his thumb over John's hand. "So as you can see Miss Adler Hamish is growing up in a perfectly good environment."
"I can see that but I would still like to be a part of his life." She said casually, as if discussing a business proposition. "How about joint custody?"
"Absolutely not. He is fully ours and had been for years now." Sherlock dismissed the notion immediately.
"Do not make me involve a lawyer Sherlock." She said harshly. "He is my son and I demand my right."
Sherlock glared back. "Do not make me involve my brother."
"Too late for that I'd say."
John looked at the new arrival before running a hand through his salt and pepper hair. "Too many people in my tiny front room – anyone for tea?"
"Please dear brother-in-law." Mycroft said making himself comfortable in Johns now vacated seat.
"What are you doing here brother?" Sherlock asked tiredly.
"I find it amusing that you seem to think that just because you are married now that I do not maintain surveillance." Mycroft waved his hand dismissively. "Now let me assure you Miss Adler that any legal action on your part will be met with swift retaliation. My client is quite fond of young Hamish as is my clients per corgis. If you wish to remain in business with your more influential clientele then you will leave my family be. If my nephew wishes to get to know you then so be it; but as it stands you abandoned him on the doorstep of Sherlock Holmes and fell from the planet. Even if this was to go before a judge you will not only be fighting my brother but also myself do I make myself perfectly clear?"
"Crystal." she said through tight lips.
"Wonderful now I think it best you run along because I believe it is Operation night." He turned to Sherlock who nodded.
"You've gone soft Mr. Holmes." Irene laughed somewhat bitterly. "I never pegged you for the board game type."
"We aren't going to play a board game you daft woman." Sherlock chuckled. "We're going to dissect a cadaver."
XOX
John was almost asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow that night. It had been a long, emotional day for the family, and Sherlock was still in Hamish's room coaxing him to sleep. Just because he was above average intelligence did not mean that the poor boy had not suffered some emotional trauma. John could vividly remember the day that he and Sherlock had pulled him from his new school and began homeschooling. ...
John was finishing up his work at the practice when his mobile rang. He frowned and glanced at the caller display before answering. "Hello Sarah, is everything okay?"
Their nanny talked quickly and in a panicked tone. "Doctor Watson, Hamish was in a fight at school and I cannot get hold of Mr. Holmes."
"What happened?" John was already on his feet and pulling on his coat. Hamish was not one to scrap with other boys.
"He said that a boy at school teased him about his intelligence and then his parents." The girl said softly, she was only nineteen and did such a wonderful job with his son.
"I'll be there right away." He replied, hanging up the phone. "Mary I'm taking off Hamish was in a fight at school."
His blonde nurse poked her head into the door with a worried expression on her face. "Is he okay?"
"As far as I can tell yes but he was getting teased about me and Sherlock being his parents." John was livid and if the look on Mary's face was any indication so was she.
"Go I'll finish cleaning up here." She said, handing John his bag.
He took a cab home; not his usual bus and stormed in the door of his flat with a face like thunder. He marched up to his son and examined his black eye. "What happened sweetheart?"
The six year old sighed and stared at his papa. "I asked Jamie Parker to play trains with me and he said that he wasn't allowed because his daddy said I was the spawn of a couple of fag and that you and daddy are going to hell. Is that true papa?"
Johns jaw locked and he sighed. "No sweet boy, we aren't going to hell but Mr. Parker will be once Uncle Mycroft finds out."
Hamish allowed his father to envelope him in his arms. "I don't want to go back to school papa, I'm smarter than all the other kids and I will defend you and daddy but a punch in the face hurts!"
"Sarah can you keep an eye on him while I call Sherlock?" John asked, pulling out his phone and hitting the speed dial. "Sherlock you need to come home right away, Hamish was in a fight at school."
He heard Sherlock sigh before agreeing to come home and he turned back to his son. "Now this is very important that you to not lie to me about this alright?"
The boy nodded from Sarah's arms.
"Did you hit him back?" John asked.
Hamish nodded a little sheepishly. "I know we're not supposed to demean ourselves by reacting to such stupidity, but papa he called you evil! My papa is not evil! You showed me how the circulatory system works and how to properly perform surgery on a broken limb! You even showed me that daddy can be a big softie."
John blushed and coughed into his hand as he caught the amused look of their nanny. "Sherlock is to never find this out Sarah but if he is being especially belligerent let him have a cigarette."
"But I don't smoke." She said.
"There will always be a pack in a hollowed out copy of a Stephen King book." John told her, running a hand over his face. "You can go home early tonight Sarah, Sherlock will be home right away."
"Have a nice night then Doctor Watson." She gave Hamish a kiss on the top of his head and left as Sherlock came in.
"What happened son?" He asked as he walked in, removing his scarf.
"Jamie Parker called me a fag spawns so I hit him." Hamish told his daddy sheepishly.
Sherlock crouched down to look his son in the eyes. "I have never been more proud of you, my boy. There is nothing wrong with what your papa and I do in our bedroom nor is there anything wrong with the love we have for each other or you alright?"
"I told him he was a closed minded bigot!" Hamish said excitedly. "And then I punched him!"
They had taken the boy to Speedy's that night for dinner and let his choose whatever he wanted from the menu.
John's eyes opened as he felt a hand touch his cheek. His worried eyes came up to meet Sherlock's tender ones. "Hey is he alright?"
"He's fine love." The dark haired man replied. "How are you?"
"Worried." John replied honestly watching his husband strip down to his boxers for bed. "What if she comes back? What if she does get a lawyer involved? I can't lose my boy."
Sherlock climbed into bed with a roll of his eyes. "Then Mycroft will help us fight back. Now we have all had a long day and I need some cuddles."
John laughed and allowed his husband to pull him close; shoving his nose into John's greying hair. It was moments like this that they lived for. When the entire world was asleep Sherlock allowed himself to step out from within himself and show his lover how taxing a day had been on him.
Once John was asleep, Sherlock's mind wandered to a place he did not like. Irene Adler was not one you told no to. This fact scared him to his very core, and for the first time in his life Sherlock Holmes was scared.
Never matter, because now he was prepared. John and Hamish were his family; and his family was something that he would not allow to be put in jeopardy.
He kissed Johns bare shoulder; smiling at the soft sigh the doctor emitted before snuggling deeper into his chest.
Miss Adler did not stand a single chance.
XOX
Hope you enjoyed my first Sherlock fic, it was inspired by a post on tumblr, and written for one of my most favourite people. To date I have not fully read any parentlock, but my lovely friend showed me a picture and I was in love! This will probably be one of three parts, we are working out the general plot through text and it is hashing out nicely.
Roxy x