Hello! Baby Watson has arrived, about time too! This is the lead up to some big action in the next couple of chapters.

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favourited and is following this little story! Your continued support is so appreciated and I love reading everyone's comments.

Enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.

Chapter 10

A week passed quickly, Sherlock and Molly settling into a comfortable routine. After his promise to never drug her tea again she had compromised that if he didn't return to the flat by midnight she would go to bed. Surprisingly to Molly, only once in the last week had Sherlock not returned to the flat before midnight; he and John had been detained for the night when they had been caught trespassing on private property.

Molly was feeling particularly good, enjoying visits from Mary, who was about ready to pop, and her injuries were pretty much healed. She felt confident that she would be able to return to work soon and could hardly wait to get back to the job she loved so much.

At the moment she was currently working through her emails, an update on how the morgue was going in her absence making her laugh when Mike Stamford shared his frustration over her replacement. The sound of the door shutting down stairs had her glancing sideways, her eyes watching intently as Sherlock strode into the flat. Her breath caught as he ran a hand through his dark curls, the buttons of his grey shirt straining with the motion. She silently berated herself when she realized she was staring stupidly and quickly returned her attention to the laptop before her.

When she heard no movement from the direction Sherlock stood, curiosity got the best of her and she turned her head to glance at him, her dark eyes widening when she found him watching her, an unreadable expression on his face. Their eyes locked and Molly felt her heart flutter and heat rush through her as his beautiful eyes searched her face for a moment before he cleared his throat.

It had been happening more and more often lately. Molly would be doing something, reading, watching the telly, when she would feel Sherlock's gaze on her. She would turn to face him, finding him watching her, their eyes locking for a heartbeat before he would drop his stare and return to whatever he was doing. It unnerved her as well as thrilled her that she seemed to have his attention. When she had mentioned it to Mary her friend had laughed softly before muttering something along the lines of, "about time the idiot pulled his head out of his arse."

Molly hadn't known what to make of it but ultimately decided that she would wait and see what happened. Sherlock took a step towards her, his hands sliding into the pockets of his trousers.

"Molly – " he paused when his phone vibrated in his pocket and, with a quick glance at her, he pulled it out and answered it. Molly watched him intently when his expressions changed rapidly over what was being said on the phone, the one most prominent being shock as he slowly lowered the phone. Concerned, Molly rose to her feet and made her way towards him.

"Sherlock? What is it, are you alright?" His eyes dropped to hers and after staring at her silently for a few moments a smile slowly spread across his face.

"Mary is having the baby," he murmured and Molly squealed in shock before springing into motion. She hurried down the hallway to the bedroom and put her shoes on, grabbing her coat as she raced back down to the sitting room, finding Sherlock just as she'd left him. Without thought she reached out and grabbed his hand, tugging him along behind her.

"Well, come on! We need to get to the hospital," Molly exclaimed as they made their way down the stairs, Sherlock grabbing his coat from the hook on his way out the door. In the street he raised a hand and a cab pulled up in front of them. Wasting no time they got in, Molly's legs bouncing in excitement as she thought about meeting the new addition to the Watson family. After all the horror of being taken and tortured, and then suffering through the healing process and recurring nightmares, the impending birth was a lovely distraction. In her excitement she reached out and grasped Sherlock's hand that was resting on the seat between them. Realizing what she had done she went to pull her hand back when his fingers curled tightly around her own, trapping her hand in his. Molly looked up and found that he was watching her quietly, his pale eyes gentle, and Molly found herself smiling. Sherlock's lips curled slightly at the corners and Molly squeezed his hand before turning to look out the window. When Sherlock squeezed her hand in return Molly watched her reflection in the window, her smile widening.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSH

"Oh Mary, she's beautiful!" Molly gushed as she carefully cradled Elizabeth Rose Watson in her arms. Mary smiled, her expression conveying her exhaustion as she lay in the hospital bed and leant her head against John's shoulder, who sat beside her on the bed.

Sherlock stood to the side, watching Molly intently as she cooed at the baby. That infernal constricting in his chest had returned but he ignored it, his lips curling in response to Molly's laugh when the baby gurgled at her. Feeling eyes on him Sherlock turned his head to see John watching him curiously, Mary fast asleep on his shoulder.

"What?" If that sounded slightly defensive Sherlock would never admit it. John smiled.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing," John answered. "Thank you for being here, mate." The sincerity in his voice was easy to hear. Sherlock nodded and moved closer to the bed, his eyes drifting back to the baby and the woman who held her.

"She is beautiful, John," Sherlock murmured quietly. John smiled.

"That she is. They both are." At that Sherlock's gaze swung around to his best friend, his pale eyes narrowed, but when he met John's steady stare he felt heat rush to his face and dropped his eyes to stare at his feet. The sound of footsteps on the linoleum floor had Sherlock looking up as Molly moved back to the bed, little Elizabeth fast asleep in her arms.

"The little one's all tuckered out," Molly said quietly, lifting her gaze from the baby's peaceful features to the other occupants of the room. "As it seems mummy is too," she inclined her head towards the sleeping Mary. John nodded and stood carefully, resting Mary's head against the pillow before coming forward to take Elizabeth from Molly's arms.

As John was placing the baby in the crib beside the bed Sherlock started to towards the door. Molly watched him carefully, noticing the hard set of his shoulders and the tight clenching of his jaw. The detective quietly slipped out of the room and Molly turned to face John who came to stand beside her with a frown on his face.

"Sorry, John," Molly began gently. "Now that the baby's born I think Sherlock is worried that Moriarty will finally make a move."

John nodded. "I know. To be honest I'm terrified that Moriarty will do something." The retired army doctor sighed and turned to face her. "How are you doing? The nightmares-"

"I'm managing," Molly said, shrugging. "I don't think they will ever completely disappear but...but I'm doing alright. Funnily enough, living with Sherlock I've never felt safer." John and Molly shared a smile at that before a serious expression formed on John's face.

"Look after him, would you?" He asked softly, worry colouring his voice. "Lately, you're the only one he will listen to. And, truly, thank you for coming, Molly. Lizzy and Mary are so exhausted and that you were able to get Lizzy to sleep – "

"It's fine, John," Molly interrupted him gently. The poor man looked dead on his feet. "You need to get some rest, too. I'll look after Sherlock as much as he'll let me but you need to look after yourself. We'll always be here if you need us." They embraced before Molly left the room in search of the consulting detective.

She found him further down the corridor, the tall man pacing agitatedly back and forth across its width. As he was about to take another turn Molly carefully reached out and grasped his arm. He halted beside her, blinking quickly as if her touch had awoken him.

"They'll be fine, Sherlock," Molly assured. Sherlock gazed down at her for a long moment, his stare deep and penetrating and Molly felt her breath hitch when a flicker of what she thought was tenderness flashed through his eyes. The emotion passed quickly though for he pulled away from her and agitatedly ran his hands through his curls.

"Of course they will. Mycroft has his best men watching them every moment of the day. My own people have been keeping me informed as well. But Moriarty is clever. No matter what I have done in the past he has always been able to change the game just when I think I have him. Oh, it's infuriating!" Molly jumped a little when he raised his voice. "He will come after John now that he's vulnerable. Mary will be in no fit state to protect them for at least two weeks and then there is Elizabeth – " He froze in his tirade when Molly stepped into his path and rested her hands gently against his chest.

"I know you're worried, Sherlock. But until Moriarty does something all we can do is make sure that John and his family have all the protection they need. They will be fine, trust me," Molly finished firmly, smiling up at him. Sherlock stared at her intently, his eyes travelling over every inch of her face before locking with hers. His hands suddenly came up and pressed against her own on his chest and he moved closer to her.

"And you," he murmured and Molly stared at him, bewildered.

"Me, what?"

"You must be protected." Molly's eyes widened and she felt a shiver rush up her spine when one of Sherlock's thumbs circled gently over the skin on the back of her hand. The air seemed charged and she was suddenly finding it difficult to catch her breath. The moment was broken when an orderly moved passed them pushing a trolley and Molly stepped away from Sherlock. He didn't let her get too far however, keeping a firm grip on one of her hands as he began to lead her down the corridor.

"Come, Molly. There is much to do."

Thanks for reading!