Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock or anything.

Author's note: Please review! Thank you!

Evening came around and Sherlock and John were rushing around trying to get ready to go out. Everyone was in the living room. John came through in a very nice suit. Hamish was toddling beside his daddy, holding onto his hand. John picked him up and Kate stood with a smile "John, you look lovely."

"Thank you." John smiled "Sherlock should be down soon, he was just getting out the bath last time I saw him. Anyway, it's only seven. Hamish goes to bed at about eight. He has a bottle of warm milk; test it on your wrist. If he's still not tired then read him a story, there are loads amongst his toys over there. He should be fine; he's had a bath and is in his pyjamas. And he says he'll be as good as gold. But if there is any trouble we've written down our phone numbers and the places we will be." John passed her a piece of paper "If he really has trouble sleeping, which can happen, then do this." John repositioned Hamish in his arms so his son was cradled against his chest. He swayed gently and said "Just talk gently to him, he should be fine though." John smiled "And make sure he goes for a wee before bed. Just to make him as comfortable as possible." John added.

"Got it." She smiled "We'll have fun and we'll be fine, won't we, Misha?" she asked, tickling his chin as John sat him up in his arms properly.

"Yah!" Hamish said and giggled.

"Thanks again for doing this." John said.

"Oh, don't worry about it! I'm looking forward to it!" she smiled.

Sherlock entered in a nice suit, his hair styled perfectly. John's jaw dropped and Sherlock smirked "What's wrong, John? So used to seeing me with sick on my shoulder, grass stains on my trousers and messy hair that I have this effect when I smarten up?" Sherlock asked.

"Well… you have to admit we both haven't looked our best for two years now." John shrugged, managing to gain some composure back.

"Well, it's better to spend time having fun with Hamish rather than standing in front of a mirror." Sherlock said.

"Quite right." John smiled and Sherlock took Hamish off of John and gave him a tight cuddle.

"You will be a good boy tonight, Hamish?" he asked.

Hamish nodded into Sherlock's neck. Sherlock kissed his temple and said "Say goodnight to daddy."

"Night night, daddy." Hamish cuddled John.

"Love you." John said and kissed Hamish's cheek.

"Love you too!" Hamish smiled.

John passed Hamish to Kate and the little boy said "Wa' appeneen?" he asked.

"What's happening? Well, papa and I are going to go out together and you'll be looked after by Kate and William. There is a cot in their room for you because we'll be back late. But we'll come and get you and take you back to our room when we get back, alright?" John said with an encouraging smile.

"I wan' you!" Hamish reached over for John.

"No, darling." Sherlock said.

"Papa, wan' you!" Hamish insisted.

"Not tonight." John said "But you'll have lots of fun with Auntie Kate, okay?" John smiled.

"Wan' you!" Hamish demanded.

"John, we've got to go now or he'll get worse." Sherlock said.

"I know. Night night, sweetheart, love you." John kissed his cheek and stood back. Sherlock kissed the same cheek and said "I love you, good night." And the two left, their hands entwined as they walked.

"God, every time, I hate leaving him." John groaned as they walked out to the car.

"He's fine. Mycroft and Greg are there just in case. He's just a bit…" Sherlock trailed off.

"Clingy?" John asked.

Sherlock nodded and they got in the car and went to the restaurant.

When they arrived they sat down and John frowned "I have something in my pocket…" he said with a frown and delved into his trouser pocket.

Sherlock got the menu out and looked up when John brought out a little toy car. They both laughed "Goodness, how did that get in there?" John asked.

"Hamish, of course." Sherlock smiled "Cheeky little baby."

John chuckled and put the little car on the table between them. Sherlock took John's hand and said "How about we share a meal. I'm not that hungry."

"Alright then. I must say, you're handling the 'no cases' thing well. I thought you'd be climbing the walls by now." John said.

"Well, you and Hamish are entertaining, and I do so enjoy working out all the staff's lives at the palace." Sherlock explained.

John went still and silent "Oh, Sherlock. Was it you who made that lovely maid… Haley, I think her name was, cry? It took me ten minutes to calm her down. Kate called her a cab and she had to go home she was so upset." John asked, exasperated.

"The pregnant girl? Young amongst the staff, quite tall?" Sherlock asked.

John nodded.

"Then yes, I may have mentioned her current predicament." Sherlock said.

"Great. Just great." John sighed.

Back at the palace Hamish was sat on Kate's lap with Lestrade sat opposite them on the floor of the living room.

"It's time for sleep now, Hamish, okay?" Kate said after looking at her watch.

"Daddy? Papa?" Hamish looked around.

"No. They'll see you after you're fast asleep. Much later." Kate said gently.

Hamish's face went from curious to distraught in just a few seconds and he started to cry "Daddy! Papa!" he called out.

Greg took Hamish from Kate and said "Come on now, don't be silly. How about, we ring them and say night night?" Greg suggested.

Hamish's tears slowed "Wing wing?" Hamish asked.

"That's right." Greg smiled and Mycroft was already picking up his phone and sitting beside his boyfriend on the floor.

Once they answered he said "Sherlock, Hamish wishes to say goodnight."

Mycroft nodded at the phone and put it on loudspeaker "Just give it to him." Greg said.

"Not a chance. The last phone of mine he held he broke." Mycroft said and then said to the phone "Are you there?"

"We're here." John's voice rang around.

Hamish's face was so joyful at the sound of his dad, he giggled and clapped his hands happily.

"Hamish?" Sherlock asked.

Hamish got more enthusiastic at the sound of his papa "Papa! Daddy!" he squealed.

"You don't sound very sleepy, mister." John said.

"He will be. He's just excited about this phone call." Greg said.

"Ah! Are you going to bed now?" John asked.

"Yes! Night night?" Hamish asked.

"Night night, Misha. We'll be home later." John said.

"Where you?" Hamish asked.

"We're in a restaurant." Sherlock answered.

"Yummy?" Hamish asked.

"Yes, very yummy." Sherlock agreed "Goodnight, darling." He said.

"Night. Love you!" Hamish added.

"We love you too." John said.

Mycroft took the phone off of loud speaker, spoke briefly to Sherlock, and then put it down.

"Better?" Greg asked Hamish, who nodded and stuck his thumb in his mouth contently.

"I'll take him up with a bottle, then." Kate reached out and took him from his Uncle Greg.

Kate was sat on the edge of her and William's bed with Hamish cradled in her arms. She was feeding him a bottle of milk and he slowly guzzled it down, his eyes drooping.

William opened the door and tip-toed in. He sat himself beside his wife and smiled down at the little boy "No sudden movements or loud noises, he's nearly asleep." Kate whispered and William nodded in understanding.

"Goodness, he looks like Sherlock. And John of course, in the eyes and hair." William commented and Kate nodded.

"They adore him." Kate said fondly.

"They do indeed. I don't remember Sherlock ever being so… happy. Or smile so much. He is completely in love with John, and Hamish is his pride and joy, you can see it when he looks at him, complete adoration." William said.

"We'll have our own soon." Kate said "I think I might talk to John about it. He's had Hamish, he knows what I'm going through. And I just feel more comfortable around him than a clinical doctor or anyone else." Kate said.

"That's a good idea." William said and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"I hope our baby is as happy as Hamish is." She said.

"I'm sure he or she will be." William said gently.

"We'll make it so." She nodded just as Hamish finished the bottle "Do you want a hold?" she asked William.

William held his arms out in a position of readiness to cradle the boy. He took Hamish and the boy gave a few mumbles and started sucking his thumb contently.

"John gave me this for him to hold." Kate got up and brought back a jumper "Both John and Sherlock wear it, and it's one of Hamish's favourites, apparently he likes to cuddle them when one of them wears it, it's a nice material. And it smells of them, so it may make it easier for him to fall into a comfortable sleep." She explained and tucked the black and white stripy cardigan under Hamish's arm. Hamish's small hand gripped onto it and he gave a content humming sound. After only one minute his eyes fell shut and he was fast asleep. William stood, went over to the cot, and gently lowered the baby into it. "There we go." He said quietly with a smile.

"He's a handful, but a cute handful." Kate whispered.

Sherlock and John had just gone to the cinema to see Cloud Atlas and John happily talked about it while Sherlock experimented. Sherlock hummed in all the right places, but he was mostly concentrating on the real mind-stimulation which was his experiments. In the end John started to help Sherlock and they did a few experiments that Sherlock had been thinking about for a while.

"Oh, time to go home now, love." John said.

"One more minute. I just need to finish this up." Sherlock said monotonously.

"Alright." John started packing other pieces of equipment and such away and later they were driving back to the palace.

"I hope Hamish settled alright." John said while Sherlock leant into his side.

"I'm sure he's fine, we didn't get any phone-calls." Sherlock reassured his husband.

"Here we are, sirs." The driver pulled up and John thanked him. They went into the palace and were shown to William and Kate's rooms.

John stopped Sherlock just before they went in.

"I really enjoyed tonight." John said.

"Me too." Sherlock smiled.

John leant up and Sherlock kissed him gently and lovingly but pulled away before it got too heated.

John knocked gently on the door and in a few moments William answered in his dressing gown and pyjamas.

"Come in." he welcomed them.

The couple went in and Kate waved at them from where she sat on the bed, reading a book.

"Was he alright?" John asked, leaning over the cot.

"He was fine. Very good." Kate smiled, standing.

"Oh good." John nodded and picked him up.

Hamish slowly woke up and tiredly said "Daddy?"

"Yes, sweetheart. We're back." John stroked his hair gently.

"Papa?" Hamish asked.

"I'm here." Sherlock took Hamish from John and had him in his arms so Hamish's head was resting on his shoulder.

"Tiyad." Hamish said and yawned then put his thumb in his mouth. John reached into the cot and brought out the jumper.

"Thank you for looking after him." John said politely.

"You're quite welcome." Kate smiled and watched as Sherlock rocked Hamish gently. With one arm under his bum and the other holding his back while that hand cupped the back of his head. Sherlock pressed a gently kiss to the side of Hamish's head. He treated the child so delicately, it was a heart-warming sight.

"Goodnight then." John smiled.

"Goodnight." She gave them a little wave and they left.

Once John and Sherlock were tucked up in bed, curled up facing each other, John said "It'll be good to see dad tomorrow."

"Mmm… yes. Hopefully my parents will behave." Sherlock said.

"Gosh, I hope we don't have another debacle like that Christmas. Dad was distraught." John said.

"My father did call you fat. I was just as furious as your dad. How dare he call a five month pregnant man fat!" Sherlock was frowning just at the thought.

"He was just a bit drunk, Sherlock. He apologised the next day." John said.

"Hmm, I'm still not happy about it." Sherlock grumbled.

John giggled "That's cute of you. But don't worry; I can take care of myself with these things." he kissed Sherlock gently.

"Just… keep any sauces away from your dad at dinner." Sherlock said.

"Indeed. Gosh, he'll be happy to see Hamish." John said.

"Yes. He always is." Sherlock said.

John shared a smile with Sherlock then snuggled in closer with him and they fell asleep with mumbled "I love you"s.