John often wondered when or if Sherlock would ever put his and Mycroft's feud behind them. As Sherlock had after much prodding explained to him, the feud was something that had been going on not since they were children, as John had believed, but something that had started when Sherlock had entered high-school. Sherlock had been a handful as a child of coarse, to intelligent and curious for his own good and with both parents slightly absent his care fell to nannies...and Mycroft. The two had actually gotten along quite well, with Mycroft's patience and love for his younger brother, he was able to really care for the youngest Holmes. Sherlock told him in one of the reflective moods about Mycroft taking him on adventures dressed as pirates ( to which john gave a snort of laughter at the mental image) to discover gold. The real trouble started when Sherlock entered university. As the finest private schools in all of England and well most the world, one wouldn't think it would be a breeding ground for sherlock's bad behavior, but it became the place his life spiraled downward for the first time. The brothers relationship had been strained ever since sherlock entered highschool, between boring lessons that he skipped and Mycroft's constant hovering it wasn't a good mix. It was also here that the Sherlock met Victor Trevor. Victor was a young man of high breeding and high intelligence, he also owned a sort of cunning charm that even the great Sherlock Holmes couldn't help but fall for. Victor targeted his weaknesses, his boredom, his clever nature, his hurt over his family, and his need for attention. He used these to pull the boy into a wave of drugs and rough sex, using his body and his mind for his little rich boy games. Sherlock didn't know any better though... It felt like this was the first person who cared for him...who wanted him for him. Mycroft however caught wind of the torrent affair and was shocked an horrified at seeing what his brother was reduced to. He swept Sherlock away, putting him in a rehab center and tearing him away from victor. It was Sherlock admitted to John when he was a little tipsy one night when they first started dating... Something that saved his life, but the damage was already done..the resentment and hurt feeling to hard to break, Sherlock always feeling as though the elder was waiting for him to trip up again. Mycroft always kept watch though, which annoyed Sherlock to no end, but John knew it was because he cared and loved his little brother. This was why John wasn't feeling the same conflict as his husband about telling Mycroft the news of their baby.
John looked over at Sherlock who was currently curled up on the couch, trying to stave off his morning sickness, one hand on his slightly swollen stomach and the other resting lightly on his mouth. Sighing the solider walked over to his husband and sat down slowly next to his head. Gently he ran a light hand lazily through the midnight curls. Sherlock moaned quietly at the burst of relief that the action brought to his nauseas self. He lent into John's hand and felt the petting grow more steady under his persistence. Sherlock curled himself up tighter as the wave of nausea rose up to new hight and he whimpered at the sensation he felt in his stomach.
" Oh god I'm going to be sick !" He moaned and practically threw himself off the couch and stumbled into the tiny bathroom, his head leaning into the toilet and his hands gripping the sides. John blinked a few times before sighing and walking to the bathroom after his husband. He frowned at the sight of Sherlock looking so miserable and he crouched down behind the man and rubbed his back as the other heaved. He kissed the back of the dark curls and after a few more heaves, Sherlock slumped against him, panting and making little whimpering noises.
" John...god I don't know how much more of this I can take. I just...I know it will be worth it, but I feel terrible" he said in a saddened tone. John kissed his head and sighed again.
" I know love, I'll pick up some ginger tea today, I heard it helps with nausea" he whispered and smiled softly. "Come on let's get you into bed, I know you haven't been sleeping well." He slowly helped his husband up and waited as he brushed his teeth. He then carefully held him up and they walked at a steady pace to the bedroom they shared.
Sherlock felt himself laid down and gave a small groan, curling in on himself as he felt the duvet slide over his clammy skin. " Don't forget the bucket" he said not wanting a repeat of the night before when he had felt so weak and sick that he had not even been able to bolt to the bathroom, just let himself be sick over the side of the bed...John had not been happy to clean that up,though seeing Sherlocks miserable and shameful face he couldn't even bring himself to be angry. John chuckled lightly and brought the bucket right away, kissing his loves head lightly.
" I'm going to go get that tea sweetheart and then I'll come and cuddle with you" he whispered as he knew Sherlock was on the verge of sleep. Sherlock nodded his head sleepily, thankful his stomach had calmed at least a bit. John looked at him one last time before exiting the room, just in time to hear a brief knock on the door, brows furrowed he went to answer it. He had no idea who it could be at, he looked at his watch, 2 in the afternoon. Finally getting to the door he pulled it open after there had been yet another soft knock on the door.
It shocked him a great deal to see a shamed face Greg Lestrade and a worried yet slightly angry Mycroft Holmes. Greg looked even more sheepish when he saw John, who could only wonder what the hell was going on. " Hey mate so...ummm Mycroft may have deduced me...and he may know about ummm the baby" explained Greg looking ashamed of his weak backbone when it came to his husband. John sighed and took a deep breathe before stepping aside and letting his brother in laws in. They both stood in the door for a moment before finally entering, Mycroft looking visibly worried which was a new look for him. He also looked pale and a big drawn, which John decided he would ask about later. After the couple stepped inside, Mycroft instantly rounded on John.
" Is he alright ? I know Greg said he wasn't working cases lately... I can't believe I didn't see this..." Mycroft eventually mumbled off his rant and slumped into a chair. John looked at Greg imploringly, who just shrugged like this had been going on for a while but he had no clue why.
John put a hand on the mans shoulder and when he looked up, smiled at him. " He's pretty miserable with morning sickness and hasn't been able to eat or sleep much...but he's happy and excited, we both are." Mycroft took a deep breath and nodded before standing up slowly, tacking it even more in the doctors mind that something wasn't right with the elder Holmes.
" I want to see him...if its alright" he asked looking a bit more calm.
John nodded and clapped him on the back " Your his big brother Mycroft, of coarse you can see him. Though I warn you be may be asleep at this point." The man nodded and then trekked up the stairs with all his usual dignity. John watched him until he was sure the man was out of ear shot, and then turned to Greg.
The man was looking pretty shame faced and was trying to look anywhere but the doctor. Finally he sighed and started talking " Look John mate I'm sorry ! He deduced me because I was looking to happy, then after a while of bugging me he finally got me to spill it and when after a few weeks I said Sherlock wasn't showing up to the scenes anymore...well he got so worried about he health he demanded I come with him here" he explained and rubbed the back of he neck.
" Look Greg, I married a Holmes to and I understand the pressure and especially with Mycroft I know he worries...so don't be upset, you probably saved the harrowing experience of getting Sherlock to tell him" John smiled at the D.I who looked very relived. " Now I'm going to go check on our boys" he said with a grin and walked up the stairs as Greg threw himself into an armchair.
John walked up the stairs quickly eager to make sure the two brothers weren't killing each other, though it was oddly quiet. When he reached the bedroom, the door was open and he peeked his head around and had to hold a hand to his mouth to suppress a gasp of surprise. Mycroft was sitting on the edge of the bed, his little brother's head cradled in his lap as he stroked the dark curls from his face. Sherlock's eyes were half closed, but he was whispering something that John was straining to catch. " I'm sorry so sorry..." He kept murmuring to the elder, John could see his hands clutched the fabric of Mycroft's suit. The older Holmes brother take a deep breath and pressed a soft kiss to his brothers temple and exhaled. " I know, I am as well, I just desire my brother back. I need you Sherlock. I'm...I'm having a child as well, but I don't..." He trailed off and tried to collect himself. At this point John had moved silently more into the room and he observed Sherlock looked more alert from his brothers confession, though he didn't interrupt. " Gregory already has a child with his ex wife and...they are estranged. He has said he doesn't really want anymore children because of that. I'm...I'm scared. I'm so scared" he whispered in a voice neither person in the room had ever heard from him before.
Sherlock reached up and wrapped his slender arms around his brother for a moment and then pulled back waving John over to the bed, having known he was there the entire conversation pretty much. John smiled gently at his brother in law and sat down next to his husband and kissed his cheek before turning to Mycroft.
" Greg loves you more than anything Mycroft, and he will lie this baby I'm sure of it. Just talk to him ok ? He can tell somethings wrong and he is quite worried about you." Mycroft nodded shakily at this and grasped John on the arm in thanks, kissing his brother lightly on the cheek before standing up with a regained sense of purpose.
"Thank you John" he said sincerely with a small smile, then proceeded to make his way down the stairs.
Greg practically leaped to his feet as he saw his husband hobble down the stairs, looking even more pale and unsettled. Greg took hold of him and gently sat him in the arm chair he had just vacated. " Myc ? What happened sweetheart ? Is Sherlock ok ?" He asked in haste, he had never seen his lover act like this and it was worrying him beyond belief. Mycroft just took a breath and tried to keep his dizziness at bay...damn 'morning' sickness. Greg let out a huff of frustration and caressed a hand over his husbands forehead and cheek, kissing him lightly.
" Tell me love. Whatever happened, I'm here always" he whispered to him and kissed his nose sweetly. This made tears almost spring up from Mycroft, who cursed his hormones internally and sat up a bit straighter.
" I really hope you still feel that way after this" he said cryptically before giving in. " I'm having a baby...our baby. I'm pregnant" he explained his voice soft and a tad apprehensive as he stared at his husbands shocked face.
Lestrade felt frozen, like an icy had was squeezing his throat and his stomach. " A child ?!" He questioned in disbelief his voice coming out much harsher than he meant it to. He watched as his husbands face crumple, looking shattered, but he couldn't bring himself to care as he back tracked hastily to the door of the flat, eyes trained on Mycroft. " I'm sorry...I can't I just can't..." He blurted out in his haste and then practically ran through the flats door out onto the busy London street.