Chapter 7- More Planning

"Sherlock Holmes, you are not naming your child Atticus," Maddie stood in the kitchen of 221b Baker Street, hands on her hips, lips set in a way that Sherlock knew she meant business.

"And why not?" he retorted, "John suggested it, and it refers to a very great literary character. Atticus Finch was a good man. Besides, Atticus Holmes sounds much better than Julian!" Sherlock spat out the name as if it was disgusting to even think about. Maddie sighed and sat down. Sherlock tensed, not sure what was about to happen. Maddie had the annoying (annoying, but intriguing) habit of catching him off guard.

"Sherlock, please listen to me. I talked to John. He wasn't being completely serious when he mentioned Atticus as a possibility."

Sherlock muttered something about "so he's serious about Laura" but he, too, sat down and prepared to finish the discussion in a civilised manner. John was due home any minute, and they had agreed to narrow down the list to 5 each for boy's and girl's names. Maddie had talked to John earlier to find out his input.

"So, Atticus is out," Sherlock finally conceded, "But that means Laura is out as well."

"Deal," Maddie said, and she crossed off the offending names, "Now what about Edwin, Charles, and Joshua."


Three weeks after the names discussion, when Maddie was around 18 weeks pregnant, another sonogram was due. Sherlock had scheduled not only the early, 6 week one, but every appointment Maddie could possibly need during the pregnancy. As each visit to the hospital got closer, everyone around Sherlock could sense his growing excitement. In the few days leading up to the 12 week exam, John could barely get Sherlock to eat, only winning that battle with Hamish's help. Before this one, however, it was Maddie who tried to calm down the detective.

"Sherlock, we know the baby is in there. You speak to him every day, you play your violin, would you please just sit down, you're making me nervous!" Maddie's voice had steadily risen throughout her whole speech and when she was finished, Sherlock immediately paused his pacing and turned to her.

"Much better," she sighed.

"I didn't mean to agitate you…" Sherlock started, "I suppose I'm just anxious to see how much growth has occurred. And why did you refer to the baby as 'he'? We don't know the sex, and I thought we agreed to keep it that way unless we can't help knowing one way or the other."

"Yes, you and John were both adamant that it be kept a secret. I guess it just feels like a boy, and it's easier to choose a gender than worry about saying "he or she" all of the time. And I don't like always calling the baby Baby."

"Fine," Sherlock sat down and gave Maddie a quick smile, "But if you cause problems for my child because you referred to him or her as the wrong gender too often, we will have a very serious discussion."

"Works for me," Maddie rolled her eyes and pointed to the violin sitting in the corner of the room. Sherlock took the blatant hint and began to play a soothing melody.


In the examination room the next day, it was Maddie who was overly excited.

"I can't wait to see how much Baby Holmes has changed," she whispered excitedly to Hamish, who was sitting next to her and watching as the technician spread the gel over her growing belly. He grinned up at her, happy to be able to see first-hand the pictures of his sibling.

"Will we be able to see if Baby is moving?"

"Yep! I've felt something every so often. Right now your sister or brother is about the size of mango. There's hair and skin and pretty soon Baby will be able to taste things." Hamish smiled and took Maddie's hand.

"I'm glad you're our baby specialist, Ms. Maddie."

"I am, too, Hamish." Behind them, Sherlock and John watched the interaction. When the sound of the heartbeat filled the room, John laughed quietly at Hamish's expression.

"What do you think, H?" he asked.

"I think that's Baby trying to tell us he or she has been listening," he smiled, "Baby likes us."

"I should hope so," Maddie said, "You've been reading to him almost every day. And good stories, too."

"Her, actually," the sonogram technician interjected. Everyone looked at her.

"It says in your paper work that you want to know the gender only if it's very obvious. Well, there's always a margin for error, but you're having a girl."

John and Sherlock looked at each other.

"A girl," Sherlock breathed, "We've having a daughter."

"I guess the Atticus discussion was pointless, then."

Everyone grinned and went back to watching the Baby Girl Holmes as she moved on the screen, her strong, soothing heartbeat a lulling noise in the background.


Back at Baker Street, once Hamish had been put to sleep, John found Sherlock studying intently a still from that day's ultrasound.

"What's on your brilliant mind, Sherlock?" John sat down next to him on the sofa and stretched his legs out.

"I was just considering what traits she might get from me and what she'll get from Maddie." John looked wary, and gently pulled the picture from Sherlock's hands.

"No more of the 'what if she doesn't want to be related to me' thought, I hope."

"Nothing to that extent, no," Sherlock hedged. Seeing the raised eyebrow directed at his evasiveness, he begrudgingly elaborated, "I just don't want her to have a lisp." A small smile worked its way onto John's face.

"You're worried she's going to lisp?"

"Yes."

"Where did this come from? Do you think Maddie used to have one and learned to cover it up?"

"No, Maddie didn't lisp."

"Then why would…" John broke off, trying to think back, "Sherlock did you used to lisp?" Sherlock fidgeted slightly, unsure of whether he should deny it or not. The split second pause was all John needed.

"If she does inherit that trait from you, which I'm pretty sure isn't a hereditary thing, then we'll help her fix it if she wants to." Sherlock smiled his thanks at the quiet understanding and took back the ultrasound picture.

"So. What are we going to name her?" Sherlock asked. John grinned and got out the list of options.