"Charlotte."

"Hm?" I moaned rolling over and snuggling deeper into my pillow. It was then I heard a shrill crying and groaning, I threw the blanket back and pushed myself into a sitting position. Sherlock was rocking back and forth looking down at me, Bryna in his arms. "What?"

"She won't quiet down."

"Have you checked her diaper?" He gave me a terrified look. I huffed and pushed myself out of bed. I took her from him and walked slowly upstairs to the nursery to change her, Sherlock following me. "You know, you're going to have to learn to do this on your own."

"It's messy."

"Coming from the man who pokes around at murder scenes with dead bodies. Bryna, your daddy is strange," I yawned laying her carefully down onto the changing table. "Hand me a clean nappy please." He placed one on the table as I unsnapped Bryna's onesie. "What time is it?"

"Almost six," he said over my shoulder.

"So much for getting back to sleep then."

"You can go back to bed for a bit," he said as I handed him the dirty one with the wipes I used.

"I'll go lay on the couch, but I won't be able to get a proper sleep now. I'm really quite shocked she slept for most of the night." Sherlock gave the slightest of twinges. "When did she wake up?"

"Briefly around one."

"And she went back to sleep?" I asked as I finished dressing her again. "I would have thought she'd want to be fed."

"Do you forget pumping after dinner?"

"Oh yea…"

"It's been a week Charlotte. I'm sure I can handle heating a bottle up," he chuckled.

"Coming from the man who can't handle changing a nappy yet," I said making a face at Bryna who blinked up at me.

"You know, if you're this tired, then maybe we should just come right home after Bryna's check-up."

"No, I need to stop by the pub and pick up something. It'll take two seconds, I swear."

"That's what you always say and then you end up talking to everyone forever and two hours later, we're finally leaving." I glared at him as I wrapped Bryna in her blanket. "Don't give me that look. It's true and you know it. Then there's the fact that if we take Bryna in, everyone at the pub is going to run over and crowd her and want to hold her and while being out in public is good to build up her immune system, do you really want to introduce her to the pub atmosphere so early? I propose either I go pick whatever it is up or have Mary bring it home with her."

"Daddy thinks he's so clever," I cooed at Bryna as I picked her carefully up off the changing table. "Do whatever you think you must. I'm going to feed her downstairs so I can watch telly."

"Yes Charlotte," he drawled and even though I couldn't see it, I knew he was making some sort of face at me. "I'm going to go walk Gladstone."

"Fine."

"Need anything before I go?" he asked as he followed me down the steps.

"Nope. At least nothing that couldn't wait until you get back. I am going to jump in the shower upon your return."

"Ok," he said as I situated myself in his arm chair, propping my feet up on the ottoman I bought while I was pregnant. He walked over and kissed me on the forehead before calling Gladstone to him and hooking the leash and leaving the flat.

I fed Bryna and then settled her on my chest as I watched some mindless telly, throwing the blanket from the ottoman over the two of us. I ended up dozing off slightly, which was fine until an unfamiliar cough woke me up, startling me and thus startling Bryna out of her sleep. I carefully adjusted her to jiggle in my arms, trying to quiet her and look over to the door to see the stern frame of Sherlock's mother standing there with a tiny smile on her thin face.

"I would have expected to hear from you and my son that my granddaughter had been born rather than Mycroft."

"Oh," I said realization dawning on me that I had missed making that phone call. "I'm sorry. It was a bit unexpected."

"So I heard," she said as she looked around the flat. "I'm not upset with you darling. Sherlock really should have informed me, but I know my son all too well and would not be lying when I say that it doesn't surprise me in the least he himself didn't call me. He didn't even tell me he had a girlfriend." I nodded my head in agreement as Bryna continued to fuss. "May I?"

"Um, yea," I said as she walked over and I carefully passed over the wriggling bundle. Mrs. Holmes sat down in the chair opposite me and cooed down at Bryna who was still whimpering. "Would you like some tea? I can put the kettle on."

"That would be lovely," she said with a smile as Bryna seemed to quiet the longer she held her. "You said Bryna right?"

"Yes."

"It fits. Is she a good baby?"

"So far," I said as I filled the electric boiler with water and turned it on. I pulled down the tea things and set about the kitchen. "Knock on wood, she's not fussy."

"And how's my son?"

"More than helpful. He's gotten up with her in the middle of the night a few times. I'd say she has him ensnared. It's shocking to be honest."

"Good. I'm glad. I'd hate for him to be his usual self." I brought out the tea for her and placed it on the side table next to the chair. "Thank you. And this flat is suitable for you?"

"Yes of course," I sighed as I sat down.

"I would think you'd want a proper house."

"Not at all. I like living here."

"Do you plan on more children?"

"I kind of just want to get through the first one first before that discussion happens. Your son never exactly wanted children to begin with, let alone a relationship, so I think there's a lot both him and I have to get used to. But as his mother, you should know all this."

"I do," she replied.

"Then why are you asking?"

"Because I want to hear your thoughts. I've been hearing my sons' thoughts for years. You are new to the family, a new perspective so to speak, one I wish to hear from."

"Why?"

"Because I happen to like you. And since you are important to my son and the mother of my granddaughter it comes without saying that I want your opinion on things."

"Well ok then," I chuckled not sure whether I should be flattered or concerned about this fact.

"Though I must suggest you do something about the access to this flat. My assumption is that her room is upstairs?" I nodded unsure where she was going. "I will have to talk to your land lord about renovating something."

"We have a security system."

"Which you seem to not set. Sherlock is not here and I was able to just walk right in, no problem what so ever."

"And if you weren't holding my daughter right now, our dog would be on you in less than five seconds," Sherlock said from the doorway. We both turned to see him standing there, Gladstone at his feet watching his mother with all the intensity he could muster. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting my granddaughter and daughter-in-law."

"Charlotte and I aren't married."

"Might as well be," his mother smirked. "Thank you for the phone call."

"I didn't phone you," he replied as he hung his jacket up on the back of the door along with Gladstone's leash.

"Sarcasm Sherlock," I muttered.

"I'm glad someone can translate for you," his mother said giving me a wink as he glowered at the two of us.

"You came, you saw, now leave," Sherlock huffed.

"Sherlock!" I snapped shocked by his rudeness to his own mother. He avoided my look and kept eye contact with his mother.

"What?"

"Knock it off, right now."

"Why?"

I glared at him, "She's your mother and we were having a nice conversation before you interrupted." I saw his jaw clench and rolled my eyes, standing up. "Is it safe for me to go shower?"

"If you must," he huffed. I looked over at Mrs. Holmes.

"Fine by me darling," she smiled. I walked over to Sherlock and kissed him on the cheek.

"Be nice, I'll be right out."

"I make no guarantees," he said, the corner of his mouth twitching up in a smile.

"I mean it," I hissed walking back to our bathroom.

I undressed quickly and for as much as I would have loved to just stand under the warm jet stream of the shower and just enjoy the peace and quiet for a moment, I knew I couldn't be too long if I didn't want bloodshed in my living room. I had no clue what leaving Sherlock alone with his mother would result in. I dressed and towel dried my hair the best I could before heading back out to them. Sherlock was alone, Bryna sitting in her swing while he tapped away on his computer.

"Where's your mum?" I asked.

"Left."

I picked up my mug and took a sip of the now cold tea, "You weren't rude and made her leave did you?"

"Of course not. She had an appointment, this was merely a side-stop on her way since it's at the college," he huffed. "Said she would talk to you later."

I yawned and sat down in the chair opposite him. "Are we almost ready to go then?"

"I suppose."

"Ok, I'll start getting Bryna's things together," I said pushing myself back up out of the chair.

"Why is it again you want to stop at the pub?" he called.

"I had Billy marinate steaks for dinner tonight. Remember John and Mary are coming up?"

"Yes I remember."