Surprise!
"John..."
"I'm not in the mood, Sherlock."
"I'm sorry that I forgot about our dinner plans. I'm not used to-"
"Yeah, you're not used to being around people," John mutters, "because you bloody well lied to us for three years while we thought you were dead."
"John, listen to me. There's something that I need to tell you. John. Listen!"
Sherlock grips John's shoulders, stopping him in his place.
"Get off of me, Sherlock, or I'm going home."
"To Mary." Sherlock's voice is sarcastic.
"Yes, to my girlfriend. To the only one I've managed to keep because you haven't been around," John says, bitingly.
Sherlock releases John's shoulders. "Your heinous choice of women has had nothing to do with me."
"Give me your key."
Sherlock hands over the key to Baker Street. "I have a... I have a confession to make."
The words don't faze John as he unlocks the door and steps inside. They are immediately greeted by the sound of a crying child.
"Shit," Sherlock mutters, before taking the stairs two at a time to the second floor of the flat.
John doesn't move immediately, eyes wide. But then he follows Sherlock up the stairs quicker than he has moved in the past three years.
Sherlock is standing in the middle of the living room, his arms expertly hugging a tiny infant to his chest. He doesn't look up as John enters the room, instead presses his pale lips to the infant's forehead.
"Sher..." John starts, but falters.
The infant's cries have already quieted since Sherlock has picked it up. The distressed whimpers, too, fall into silence as Sherlock gently rocks the child.
John finally finds his words. "Sherlock. Sherlock, what... who's the kid?"
"Her name's Spring," Sherlock murmurs.
"Spring? Like the season."
"Yes."
"Alright..." A silence descends, which John breaks. "Sherlock, whose kid is she and why is she here?"
Sherlock looks up. "Mine. She's... she's mine."
John just stares.
Sherlock smiles awkwardly, looking shy, almost embarrassed.
"Surprise, John. I have a daughter."
Cue the dramatic music, the readers panicking, and all total chaos because Sherlock has a daughter?
Relax. I know it's a bit AU (but it's after Reichenbach, so who knows! :p). But I'm the like the Queen of In-Character. As Douglas Adams would say: don't panic. This is just the teaser chapter. Explanations will be given. (Not to mention lots and lots of adorable Sherlock and John moments, but, later.)
I do not own Sherlock. Thank you!