As time marched on, John fell deeper for the Detective Inspector than he'd previously thought possible. At first, he just attributed it to the pregnancy hormones, but sooner or later he'd realized it was becoming much more than that. His logic and reason were telling him to run from this, before he gets hurt once more. But his heart...that was another story.

They sat in the living room of Greg's house, planning out when John would move in and leave his old place behind. When it was first proposed, he was dead set against it. "No theiving punks are going to drive me out of my home!" he swore. He soon realized that once again, he was letting his pride cloud his judgement. It wasn't as if he'd grown particularly attached to the place, he hadn't lived there long enough to. It wasn't in a really safe neighborhood, if there was such a thing anymore, and by moving in with Greg, not only would he have a bit more protection, but the loneliness he felt day after day would become a thing of the past.

There were arguments. John would compare Greg to Sherlock, only to offend the police officer. Greg would suffocate John with his constant concern over him doing the simplest tasks while nursing a broken arm as well as carrying two children. Greg's work kept him out of the house a majority of the week, and John argued it was no different to living alone. Greg sometimes grew weary of John's reluctance to further intimacy, even though he thoroughly understood the reason.

Despite all of this, they managed to work as a couple. They shared ideas for baby names and future careers for the twins. They respected and trusted the other with their lives, no matter how angry they got at each other, knowing all too well how quickly a life can be taken away. Though he worried for him greatly, John would never want Greg to give up his post at Scotland Yard. He understands how it feels to do what you love and help others no matter the cost. It was why he became a doctor and why he joined the Army. It was why he followed Sherlock to hell and back, and would have continued to do so had he not jumped.

John would think of Sherlock every now and again. Would he tell the boys about him? Will they only know Greg to be their second father? What would Sherlock say if he knew about the pregnancy? Would he have been happy? He never was too fond of children. These thoughts came less and less often as time went on. As much as he loved Sherlock, he couldn't forgive his actions and he couldn't spend his life and his children's lives trying to appease a ghost. He was certain Mycroft would try to get involved somehow, but he'd cross that bridge when he got to it.

He hadn't heard from Mycroft since the day he informed him of the money. He couldn't say he was bothered by it at all. He still greatly disliked the man for his role in Sherlock's death, but he can't say he was greatly fond of him before that, either.

John looked over to where his partner was sitting on the other end of the couch. Before he knew it, Greg had swooped in and saved him before he even realized he needed to be saved. He put up with his emotional baggage, his paranoia, and was thrilled to be a part of the twins' lives. Greg was showing him that it was ok to be happy again, and for that he'd always be grateful.

Sensing a pair of eyes on him, Greg turned from the TV and looked over to his partner.

"I love you," John wistfully stated while appraising Greg with the softest and most serene face he'd ever seen John make. Greg was momentarily stunned as this was the first time it had been said in their relationship. To be honest, he'd wanted to say it for a while, but he hadn't expected that it would go over so well with John now. Greg knew how important Sherlock was to John, he knew it from the moment he saw the two walk away from the scene with the murder of the taxi cab killer. Sherlock was also important to Greg. Greg respected Sherlock, thought he was amazing, but didn't let his personality and his intellect intimidate him. Sherlock was a challenge, but Greg considered him to be a friend. He was furious when he'd found out what Sherlock had done, not only to John, but to him as well. To lose a friend to suicide, to never know what you could have said or done to have kept them going, to never have the chance to try is one of the worst feelings in the world. Sherlock had thrown everything and everyone away when he made that jump.

"I love you, too." he gently responded. He honestly and truly did. He never saw it coming, but then who could. He was glad to be there for John and to have John be there for him. John saved him from an emptiness he which he wasn't even aware. John made him think about things, made him feel things, instead of burying it all in busy work. He admired John's strength and ability to love and hoped that his boys would come to know the full extent of that love one day.

He placed a hand on John's 7 and a half month baby bump and while gently stroking it whispered, "I love you guys, too." He was getting something he never thought would be possible, the chance to be a father. He'd wanted this for so long, but it was something that his ex never wanted, so he'd given up hope. He was going to get to do with them what he did with his dad. Family trips, sporting events, school plays, everything. If he could, he'd thank John every day he was alive for what he's given him.

He felt small thumps underneath his hands. Apparently, the boys were enjoying the attention they were receiving.

"So, when we finalize the move, we can get the nursery all set up and..."

The two settled in to a long chat about what was to come and all the joy that was to come with it.