The Winter Willow

by SuperWhoLockian75

After a drunken night in a bar w/Sherlock Holmes, John's younger sister Faith finds herself with more than just a nice memory. 9 months later she decides to visit him on New Year's Eve, then all hell breaks lose when Faith goes into labor right in 221B. Now it's a matter of time before the child is born & Sherlock has to decide whether or not he wants to become a father after all.

1. New Year's Eve, a Bar, and a Memory

Note: The character Faith Watson in this story is an OC from my friend TardisChic who is also on this site. Feel free to check her out. :)

The night was cold and yet so full of warmth at the same time. It was New Year's Eve in England and London was practically bursting with people waiting for the fireworks at the stroke of midnight. Big Ben would explode with color and everyone would cheer and embrace their "special someone", everyone except for Faith. She was currently hanging out at her favorite pub with a couple girlfriends who she knew would be getting lucky later in the night. She, on the other hand, was being responsible sitting and sipping at her lemonade considering the almost-ready baby in her belly. And she had one person to thank for that baby.

Sherlock Holmes.

It had happened right in that bar 9 months ago. He had just finished a rather challenging case, so he told her, and was weirdly chipper about it. Her brother and Sherlock's friend, John Watson, had explained to her what he could of Sherlock's fondness for crime and puzzles, and it was rather… odd. But he was odd, and watching him explain and deduct incredible things in front of her while having this beautiful gleam in his ice-blue eyes, you could say, is where Faith first grew fond of him. Sherlock was in no way ordinary, not by a long shot. From his tall, lean figure to his raven-colored hair, as well as his high cheekbones and strangely-shaped lips, he was a sight to behold. His feline eyes and long face only added to its oddness.

Sherlock wasn't really Faith's type, but they both had too many drinks in them and the night was young. John had just left with a possible girlfriend and didn't necessarily realize he had left her alone with Sherlock, but that was A-OK by her. It gave them a chance to talk at least. And man, did he talk. Deducing everything he could around them at a million miles an hour while she could barely keep up. She didn't, and still didn't, quite understand how he could think like that with several glasses of wine in him. But she drew to him like a moth to a flame and, thinking back now sitting in that same pub, she couldn't exactly say she completely regretted what came after the wine and deductions. Although the thought of how John would react to this did cross her mind a few times.

Faith smiled and took another sip of her lemonade, hearing the count-down to midnight on the telly and, frankly, from all over the whole city. She was usually a social butterfly, going around to everyone to see how they were and what was new, but she wasn't quite feeling up to it tonight, which her friends understood again considering her little bun-in-the-oven. Everyone in the bar cheered and shouted "Happy New Year!" once the countdown stopped and Big Ben burst with fireworks. Hugs and kisses were visible everywhere and even Faith couldn't help but hug her friends with the energy in the room. She also couldn't help but think of Sherlock, though, and whether or not he had someone to share the occasion with. Faith knew he and John shared a flat together, but that didn't necessarily mean they were together tonight. Maybe she could…

"No, he's probably busy." Faith muttered to herself. Besides, she still hadn't gotten over her anger at him for doing this to her in the first place. She glanced outside at the bust and slightly crowded streets, all the people looking at the fireworks and huddled together in the cold. Faith smiled and looked back at her friends, thinking differently about Sherlock.

"Hey guys, I gotta go. There's someone I need to see." One of her friends groaned.

"Aw Faith, you can't leave now! The party's about to start." She glanced around and gave a cute guy a wink at the bar. Faith laughed.

"Maybe for you girls, not so much me these days. I'll call you later." Faith said while exiting the pub. Her friends waved at her through the window and she waved back. Luckily she hadn't forgotten her brother's new address. She flagged down a cab and slid inside.

"221b Baker Street please." Faith told the cabbie. He put the car in gear and started down the road.

It had been quite a while since Faith had seen Sherlock Holmes, and she thought it was about time they reconnected and, if she was lucky, perhaps restart the old flame that they once had. Besides, it was a new year, and anything was possible, even miracles.