I've been wanting to post a new chapter here but I've been busy. Finally I could write it down and post it. Hope you enjoy.

John had left for grocery shopping. It was main task (as it always had been) now that he was back at living at 221B. After Mary's death, he and Victoria moved to Baker Street and they have been having a quite harmonious-tumultuous life in the flat. Mostly things sail smoothly according to the wind that blows. Victoria, or munchkin as Sherlock insisted in calling her, (because she's a lot smaller and lighter than a normal child of her age) was now four of age and going to nursery school. Whenever John or Sherlock couldn't collect her, Mrs. Hudson would go, and she looks after her whenever John and Sherlock are out solving cases. As I said, life went smoothly and as normal as it could be expected.

"Uncle Sherlock?" The sing-song sweet young voice of Victoria reached Sherlock's ears. The look on his eyes was inquisitive as he saw Victoria walking to him. She climbed on top of his legs and snuggled up on his lap. "Why do I have to go to school?"

"That's something you have to ask your father."

"I did already!" She said. "He said I have to go because I have to."

"Well, if he says so, he's probably right." Sherlock simply told her. He had stopped, as John said, filling Victoria's head with 'toxic ideas of rebellion against the natural order of the world'. If John's the father, he knows what's better for his daughter.

"But people go to school to learn, right?"

"Yes."

"Did you learn anything in nursery school?" Sherlock chose not to answer. His personal experiences about school were the 'toxic ideas' that John prefers that Sherlock keeps to himself. "I'm only four," She claimed. "what can I learn there?"

"If your father says you have to go, you have to go."

"Can't you help me faking being sick?"

"No."

"Please." She begged, looking into his eyes as he avoided eye contact. "Just for tomorrow."

"There are three reasons why children don't want to school. Number one, when they hit their teen years and want to skip classes, clearly not your case. Number two, when they are genius children and feel everything is utterly boring, again, not your case. And third, when they are bullied. Who bullies you, munchkin?"

"No-one." She said. Feeling Sherlock gaze intensifying over her, she continued. "It's just Ms. Langford who is always asking about you. She says she really likes you."

"Uhm," Sherlock hummed. "well, then I'll have a talk with your teacher and ask her to stop bugging you, alright?"

Victoria nodded her head and asked. "But can I at least stay at home tomorrow? I wanna stay with Mrs. Hudson, eating biscuits and watching telly."

Sherlock smirked, recalling his many successful feigned illnesses. Letting Victoria skip a day of nursery wouldn't hurt. Besides, she seemed legitimately tired of her Sherlock-obsessed teacher. "All you have to do is to pretend to be tired tomorrow morning and come to me. I take care of the rest."

Victoria sketched a full-teeth grin, telling him. "You're the best, Uncle Sherlock."

"Yes, I'm aware of that, now" He lifted up Victoria and put her on her feet on the floor. "go do stuff. I'm busy."

"Can I help you picking a case for you and Daddy?" She asked him, attempting to carry John's laptop.

"You better choose a good one this time."

When John arrived carrying the groceries, he saw Sherlock sitting in his chair with the laptop over his legs and Victoria fitted on his lap; the two looking avidly at the screen. Sherlock was reading the cases to her so she'd choose one.

"Victoria Elizabeth Watson," John spoke starting to get impatient. He never calls her Victoria (mostly he uses Tori) and let alone her full name unless he's reaching the edge. "get out of bed, we're gonna be late." Playing according to what was planned in the day before Victoria dragged herself out of bed and slowly walked to find Sherlock. "Where are you going?" John asked her, holding her clothing as she left the bedroom.

Sherlock was putting on his scarf and coat when he felt something tugging his trousers' leg. Looking down he found the little girl with a completely defeated look on her face, gloomily rubbing her eyes. Sherlock had to tip his hat off at Victoria; she could quite well fake being sick.

After looking here and there in the smallest of the places Victoria could have hidden herself, John finally stopped seeing Sherlock standing in the middle of the living room, having Victoria balled up on his arms. "I believe she is sick."

John's frown soothed as he turned overly concerned. "Come here," He tried to take her of Sherlock's arms, but she buried her face in her Uncle's chest. "let Daddy see how you are. Where does it hurt?"

"My tummy," She mumbled against Sherlock's shirt. "and my head."

"It's the flu, John. It'll be better if she stays at home; she might develop fever or get worse."

Sighing, John said. "I'll talk with Mrs. Hudson." As he was by the door, ready to go downstairs, he asked Sherlock. "Can you put her to bed, please?"

"Shh," Sherlock ordered as Victoria wanted to start giggling. "you're good at this, don't blow it now."

Mrs. Hudson accompanied John to the girl's bedroom upstairs. Sherlock covered her up to her neck and she feigned a very convincing coughing attack once she saw her father and the landlady. Seeing the complicit glance exchange between Victoria and Sherlock, Mrs. Hudson promptly recognized the girl wasn't sick. Only John, who as a father, was concerned and didn't notice any of that.

"Maybe I shouldn't go today-"

"That's silly." Mrs. Hudson told John. "You can go, I watch the little girl." She said as she pushed him out of the door.

"Let's get going, John," Sherlock helped, placing his hand on his back and forcing him to walk out the door. "Mrs. Hudson will take good care of munchkin."

"Mrs. Hudson?" Victoria asked in a very frail and low voice. "Can I have some of your chocolate biscuits to make me feel better?"

The old woman laughed and said. "Let's get you dressed. I know you're not sick."

Victoria jumped off bed, giggling. "Daddy is a doctor and I tricked him."

"Before being a doctor, your father is your father. He will always believe in you, love."