Chapter Two

"Harry!" John exclaimed as she stepped across the threshold into the room with the light falling across her face. She looked healthier than John had seen her in a long time – her face was fuller and with much more colour than it had been in a long time; the bags under her eyes which had been so prominent were almost gone entirely; and her eyes had retained a sparkle which had previously been completely dulled by drink. The rejuvenated appearance was of some surprise to John, but it was nothing in compared to the shock he would experience as his eyes travelled down his sister. Despite the large puffy jacket that encompassed her from her chin to her knees, John could clearly see the bump that was at her midriff. She was pregnant. John was so stunned by this obvious fact that he was unable to speak; Sherlock kindly filled in the awkward silence.

"Would you like a seat?" He offered courtesy.

"Thank you." She spoke for the first time, sitting down in the armchair across from where Sherlock was seated and looking at the floor in embarrassed apprehension. "I've not seen you in a while John, I thought I should pay you a visit."

"But… but…" John struggled to vocalise the words to match the emotion that he was currently feeling. "You're pregnant?!" He finally got out words in a shocked statement; one of Sherlock's eyebrows had raised high up on his forehead and he was clearly feeling some amusement – probably because of the bluntness of John's outcry.

"Yes," Harry answered. "Seven and a half months."

"But… how?" John asked in confusion, as far as he knew Harry had still been living with Clara – he was sure that she would have notified him in they were intending on having a child together.

"I would have thought that was obvious John… you being a doctor and all." Sherlock smirked, his voice permeated with a state of hilarity, John glared across at him meaning to silence him – it worked as he suddenly looked reproachful.

"But – but I thought you were with Clara?" John questioned, feeling dreadfully behind on what was going on with his own sister. This question was obviously a loaded one for Harry, and she took an interest in her feet, looking rather uncomfortable.

"Not anymore…" She replied quietly; a long silence followed as John attempted to process this abundance of information. He sank down onto the sofa and stared at his sister in dumbfounded amazement and surprise.

"Shall I make a pot of tea?" Sherlock asked suddenly, getting to his feet. John rather suspected that he felt awkward at this interaction that was going on between him and his sister, and wanted to do something which would remove him from the situation. "Tea Harriet?"

"Do you have any decaf?" She requested quietly, not even reacting to Sherlock addressing her with her full name.

"I'm sure I can find some." Sherlock replied, then moved out of the living room and into the kitchen area – John could heart the kettle being filled and put on to boil. He should make use of the time while Sherlock wasn't in the room with them.

"What happened Harry?" He asked, trying to sound calm.

"Clara asked for a break." She started, "Quite some time ago, she said that she wasn't even sure that she wanted to be in our relationship any more, that she wasn't even sure of her sexuality… I didn't want to let her go and I think she felt obliged to stay, but I allowed her a break to explore and really find out what she wanted." Harry paused, fiddling with the sleeve of her jacket. "I didn't realise exactly what that would mean though. She still lived with me, but she kept going out – and one night she came back and she said she still loved me, but she had fallen for a man too. I thought maybe if I let the crush run its course then she would return to me in the end, but she started saying she couldn't choose between me and a man." This story was completely new to John, as far as he had known Clara had always been the decisive one who knew exactly what she wanted. "She started bringing Paolo round to the flat. I didn't object at first cause I thought that might drive her away completely. But then she started making hints and suggesting that maybe we should have a threesome or something like that; I didn't like the idea because I loved Clara and didn't want the water to be muddied by the presence of Paolo. After the fifth time of her suggesting it I told her I'd consider it, more to shut up about it that anything… but when I thought about it, I kinda thought that if we did have a threesome then maybe it would reawaken her feelings for me – so I agreed." She was getting a little upset, and John wanted to reach out to her, but at the same time he didn't want to interrupt her story. "The only thing the threesome actually did was make it clear to me that I don't like men at all, even his presence was disgusting, and when… when we did things I was repulsed by the actions. I tried to make sure that Clara had a better time with me than with him, but I don't know how successful I was…" She sighed, "Less than a week later I came here to find a letter addressed to me from Clara; in it she said she loved me and would always love me, but that she needed a fresh start and that she was going away with Paolo to Portugal. I can't help but think that she was using me and keeping me sweet until the two of them could run off together. Then four months later, I found out I was pregnant." She placed her hand upon the bump in her midriff. "I didn't believe it at first, but I couldn't ignore it for that long… I've stopped drinking completely and I've tried to do everything I can to make myself healthy; I thought I should come and visit you to tell you so that it's not a complete shock."

"It's certainly been a bit of a shock!" John replied after a moment, she nodded. It was at this moment that Sherlock reappeared carrying a tea-tray, it was the first time that I had seen him being so helpful and domesticated.

"Here we go… tea." Sherlock placed the tray down on one of the small tables.

"Thank you." Harry smiled, picking up the mug which was pointed towards her.

"My God Harry…" John breathed. "Why didn't you come and tell me sooner?"

"I dunno…" She shrugged. "It took almost a month for it to sink in, and I was over four months when I found out. I wasn't entirely sure what to do; it's taken me a while to get my head sorted out. I was already twenty three weeks when I found out, so if I had wanted a termination I had to decide within a week, and it's not really the kind of decision you can just make offhand…" John was staring at his sister, halfway between feeling guilty that he hadn't known about this and been able to help her, and still complete amazement at the situation playing out in front of him. Sherlock had sat back down into his armchair and was looking slightly uncomfortable, which was peculiar for him, about the intrusion he was causing for the siblings. "I thought I'd put the baby up for adoption, but I've kind of gotten used to the idea of having a baby… It'd be someone to look after and, well… you know." She shrugged again; John had always thought that Harry didn't want to have kids, she had said years ago that she would never want to bring a child into a situation where it wouldn't be able to have the best, and in the certainty that it's life would be a happy one – for this reason, John had dismissed her maternal qualities, but they had seemed to be reawakened when she discovered she was pregnant. "I had an appointment with the nurse yesterday and, well, she asked me whether I had thought about my birthday plans… I realised that I don't really have anyone other than you, so I was wondering whether you'd like to be there at the birth?" She posed this question rather airily, but the fear in her eyes showed that it was a more serious question than she was letting on.

"I… bu – I – of course!" John spluttered incoherently. "If you want me there, then of course!"

"Thanks," She smiled rather ruefully, and placed her hand upon her bump. "It takes a weight off my mind."

A/N: I'd love to hear what you think about this chapter!