Chapter Ten: It's A Family Affair
AN: Again, I've jumped ahead a few months now. So this is the last chapter guys :) I hope you've all enjoyed this little AU xxxxx
"Morning, sleepy." John grins from the kitchen table at Sherlock.
Sherlock; who is currently only wearing a bed sheet, stretches up and the action results in said sheet sliding down to reveal Sherlock's pale chest. John makes a noise of approval as his eyes wander downwards and as he looks back up, Sherlock's wearing a sly smirk on his lips.
"Stop that." John snaps without heat.
"Make me." Sherlock replies, continuing to smirk.
Before the detective can even blink, John is out of his seat and has him pinned to the fridge, kissing him hungrily.
Sherlock moans low in his throat causing John to grind into him forcefully and moan in reply.
"When you two are quite finished." A voice interrupts from the doorway.
"Mycroft." Sherlock growls, glaring at his brother.
"You could knock, you know." John adds, moving away from his partner.
"Yes, well, if you wouldn't insist on such behaviour near an eating area."
"I swear to God, Mycroft. I will fu ..."
"Daddy!" Harriet interrupts, running into the kitchen and hugging her dad.
"Good morning, sweetheart." John smiles brightly, picking up his daughter and kissing her nose.
"Brother dear, if you mind making yourself somewhat presentable." Mycroft says, looking his brother up and down.
Sherlock glares before turning and heading back into the bedroom to get dressed.
"Ah, Myc, there you are, love." The Detective Inspector grins a little breathlessly as he enters, leaning in to kiss his partner. "Hey, John."
"Coffee, Greg?" John asks with a smile, setting Harriet back on her feet.
"Ta, mate." Greg smiles gratefully, sitting down at the kitchen table.
"So what do we owe the pleasure?" Sherlock asks with a sneer, as he returns fully dressed.
John unconsciously sighs in disappointment and Sherlock flashes him a wicked grin, causing his partner to blush.
This doesn't go unnoticed by Mycroft either; who rolls his eyes in reply while Greg just grins at the two men.
"What's going on?" Harriet asks, looking between the four men.
"I'll tell you when you're older, darling." Sherlock replies, ruffling the little girl's hair.
"Everyone says that. Why do you all have to act so grown up?" Harriet sighs Sherlock's signature put-upon sigh.
"Oh God, she's turning into a mini you, Sherlock." Greg chuckles, motioning the little girl over.
"Is that a bad thing, Uncle Greg?" She asks as she climbs into his lap.
"Not really, no, love." Greg replies, wrapping his arms around the child.
Mycroft's heart swells at the sight and makes a noise very close to a whine, in the back of his throat.
Sherlock just smirks and says, "Getting broody, brother mine?"
"What?" Greg asks, looking up at the two brothers.
Mycroft blushes with embarrassment and looks at the floor.
John flicks Sherlock on the arm in warning as he goes to sit in his chair.
"What was that for?" Sherlock snaps, glaring at his partner.
"Don't be mean, Sherlock. It's not a joking matter." John warns, fixing Sherlock with a warning look.
"Are you, Myc? Is that what the past few months has been about?" Greg asks carefully, looking over at his partner with concern.
"Ah, so that's why we haven't been graced with your presence then." Sherlock smirks, eyeing his brother.
"Sherlock, I swear to God ..."
"John, you swear to God a lot for someone who doesn't believe there is one." Sherlock interrupts, still smirking.
"Stop it. It's not funny, Sherlock." John growls, standing up from his chair.
Sherlock has the decency to look suitably chastised and takes a step back.
"Myc, I think we should talk this over in private."
"Mummy wishes to see you and your new little family, Sherlock. This Saturday evening. Don't disappoint her." Mycroft replies, glaring at his brother. "Gregory."
"Right." Greg nods, lifting the girl off his lap, "Sorry, sweetheart, we've got to go."
"We'll see you Saturday then, Uncle Greg, Uncle Mycroft." Harriet replies with a smile, walking back over to Sherlock.
"I was wrong, John. She's definitely a mini you." Greg grins, grabbing Mycroft's hand and walking out the flat.
Sherlock glares at their daughter and is about to say something when Harriet interrupts, "Don't give me that look, Papa. We're going and that's final."
"Definitely your daughter, John." Sherlock scowls, flopping down onto the couch with usual dramatic flare.
"I taught you well." John whispers with a grin, ruffling his daughter's hair. "Come on, breakfast."
x..x
"We're not going, John." Sherlock says suddenly after four hours of sulking.
"Going where, love?" John asks distractedly, preparing tea for everyone.
"To my mother's on Saturday." Sherlock sighs his usual sigh.
"Yes, we are, Sherlock." John replies without turning away from the boiling pan.
"Why?"
"Because you're parents want to see us, love."
"Yes, only because they want to interfere, John."
"I'm sure it's not like that, Sher."
"Harriet won't want to go." Sherlock argues, sitting down on the edge of the kitchen table.
"I believe that Harriet was the one who agreed." John replies, finally turning around to look at Sherlock. "How old are you? Get off the table."
Sherlock reluctantly drops back onto his feet and puts his hands on his hips.
"Really showing your maturity there, Sherlock." John adds sarcastically, quirking an eyebrow.
"But, Jawn, I don't want to go to Mummy's." Sherlock sighs childishly.
"Still not helping your case, love."
"Fine. But we only stay for two hours. Deal?" Sherlock bargains, looking at John hopefully.
"Good boy." John smiles, leaning over to kiss Sherlock's pout away.
x..x
"Sherlock, dear, I'm so glad you could make it." Mummy Holmes greets with a bright smile, hugging her son tightly. "Aww and is this John? So lovely to finally meet you, my dear." She adds, giving John a hug too.
"Mrs Holmes, nice to meet you ..." John replies before being interrupted by Mummy Holmes.
"Oh, darling, call me Violet. Mrs Holmes is so formal."
"Violet, this is our daughter Harriet."
"Harriet, why hello, sweetheart. I tell you what, I think Mycroft's made some cookies in the kitchen. Would you like one?"
Sherlock scoffs in response but Harriet's face lights up before she nods and runs off to the kitchen.
"You too haven't been together that long, have you? The girl is nine, Sherlock." Mummy Holmes practically shrieks, clearly hurt that her son would hide the relationship so long.
"Oh, um, you see, Violet, I adopted Harriet before me and Sherlock got together. She had just turned eight when we met." John replies carefully, not trusting anything Sherlock might say.
"Oh, thank goodness. I just thought … Well, never mind that. She's such a lovely little thing, John. And it's so nice to know that my little boy has a family at last. I always knew he'd find the right man, one day." Mummy Holmes smiles brightly.
John looks over at Sherlock and smiles, grabbing his hand and linking their fingers.
"Now, come on, you little love birds. I think tea is almost ready."
Sherlock glares at John before the doctor leans in and kisses him softly.
"Come on, love. Just two hours, we made a deal." John whispers against Sherlock's lips.
"Alright."
x..x
Unfortunately, Sherlock has forgotten that tea with Mummy usually involves alcohol and some childhood stories of how Sherlock was "such a cute little baby" and "he loved to play pirates"; much to Sherlock dismay.
"Aww, you sound like you were adorable, Sher. Bless your cotton socks." John replies with a tispsy giggle.
"Bless my what?" Sherlock asks with wide eyes.
"It's something my ma used to say. It's when someone's really cute, you say 'bless their cotton socks'."
Sherlock rolls his eyes and reaches over to move John's drink away from him.
"Hey! That's my drink." John snaps, hiccuping at Sherlock.
"You don't want to turn into Harry now, do you?" Sherlock asks, moving the drink away.
"Papa!" Harriet yells across the table, folding her arms and glaring at her father.
Sherlock's parents give a horrified expression, while Greg looks awkward and Mycroft glares at his little brother.
"It's alright, Harriet. He's right." John sighs, standing up to get a glass of water.
"No, John, I was wrong to say that." Sherlock says, grabbing John's wrist as he passes, "I'm sorry, forgive me, please." He adds, standing up to face his partner properly.
"In front of your parents, Sherlock. You said that in front of them. Do you know how much that hurts?" John whispers, a tear running down his cheek.
"I'm sorry, my love." Sherlock replies simply, leaning in to kiss John softly.
"Oh, there's no harm done, dear. We all have our skeletons. It's nothing to worry about." Mummy Holmes announces brightly, standing up to get the cupcakes she made earlier.
"My brother likes to smoke that, um, weed stuff. And my sister's an alcoholic too. It's just siblings for you, John. They like to try our patience." Mr Holmes adds with a reassuring smile.
John smiles back, feeling relieved that Sherlock's outburst hasn't made the Holmes Family think bad of him.
The pair retake their seats and Harriet's glare finally subsides into a more neutral expression.
"Twenty minutes." Sherlock whispers in his partner's ear.
"What?" John asks in confusion.
"You said two hours. We've been here two hours and forty minutes. So we'll leave in twenty minutes."
"I should make you stay all night, after your little … announcement." John hisses, kicking Sherlock under the table.
Sherlock's hand drops to John's knee and he squeezes it before leaning over and kissing John's cheek, whispering, "I really am sorry, John. I didn't mean it."
"I know, love. It's fine." John replies, smiling at his partner and squeezing the other man's knee in return.
"Aww, look at you two, all sorted I see now? Good. Now, have a cupcake, dears." Mummy Holmes smiles, holding the plate of goodies out for the pair.
"Mmm, these are beautiful, Violet. Wow, what an amazing cook you are."
"Why thank you, John. It's nice to be appreciated around here." She makes a pointed look at her sons; who just bow their heads in shame.
Greg and John share a knowing smirk over their heads.
"Take a cupcake now, Mikey, dear." Mummy Holmes adds, holding the plate under his nose.
"But ..."
"Shut up, you're wasting away, Mikey. Just look at you."
Sherlock scoffs in response and receives another shin kick from John.
After a pointed look from Greg, Mycroft relents and takes a cupcake off the plate and starts to nibble on it.
Greg smiles encouragingly and even wipes a bit of icing off his nose before licking it off his finger.
"I'm trying to eat, here." Sherlock snaps, glaring at the pair.
"You can't say nothing, you let me feed you strawberries last week." John smirks at his partner.
"Jawn." Sherlock sighs his put-upon sigh.
Harriet just giggles from across the table before devouring her own cupcake.
x..x
"It's such a shame you have to go, boys. Your father and I were having such a lovely time." Mummy Holmes says sadly.
"I know, Mummy, but I think all the excitement has worn poor Harriet out." Sherlock replies, shifting the girl in his arms and rubbing her back.
"Aww, the poor mite." Mummy Holmes sighs, a warm smile gracing her features as she strokes the girl's hair. "And what about you two?"
"I'm afraid Gregory and I both have to be up early tomorrow. Otherwise, of course, we would stay longer."
"Alright then, you boys get off then, I'll see you soon." Mummy Holmes smiles softly, giving them all one last hug before shooing them out the door.
Once the door closes, both Holmes boys breathe a sigh of relief and their partner's roll their eyes at them.
"Come on then, Harry, I'm sure you can walk from here." John says to his daughter.
"John, she's ..." Greg starts, before he's interrupted.
"But Daddy ..."
"Come on, Daddy's right. No need to pretend to be asleep now." Sherlock replies, setting the girl down on her feet.
"God, what are you two like? She's a manipulative one, that one." Greg chuckles, grabbing Mycroft's hand.
"Thank you, Uncle Greg." Harriet smirks, and there's no doubt who she got that look from.
"I bet a hundred quid, she's a nut-job before she turns fifteen. And then you'll both be sorry."
John and Sherlock just smile at each other and link hands.
"Ah, just in time. John, Sherlock, the car's waiting." Mycroft smiles, pointing at the car that's just pulled up.
"Thanks, Mycroft." John smiles in return, "See you next week, yeah, Greg. Drinks at the usual?"
"Course, wouldn't miss that, mate. Bye, guys."
"Bye, Uncle Greg. Bye, Uncle Mycroft." Harriet replies brightly, jumping into the car.
"We should get one. I think you'd be a great dad." Greg comments, as the car pulls away.
"As would you, my dear." Mycroft smiles warmly, leaning in to kiss his partner.
"It's settled then. Let's have a baby." Greg smiles, pulling Mycroft to their own car.
"Yes, let's."