Daddy Loves You
Chapter Eleven: Four Months Later
"John, you have to see this! Come on, get up!" Sherlock exclaims excitedly, shaking John awake.
"Mm, sleep." John mumbles, curling back up under the covers.
"Oh, come on, John! You'll want to see this!" Sherlock exclaims, pulling John's hand roughly.
"Fine. C'min now." John mumbles, dragging himself up out of bed.
"Hurry!" Sherlock calls, running back to the living room.
"What's wrong?" John asks sleepily, following an excitable Sherlock to the living room.
"Just ssh, John." Sherlock snaps before turning to the little girl, "Ana, come here. Come on, Ana. Come to Uncle Sherlock."
John smiles softly at his partner; who's clearly oblivious to the natural adoration he has for the little girl.
His smile soon turns into a look of shock as his daughter crawls from the fire place into Sherlock's arms.
"Did you see, John? Did you see that!" Sherlock exclaims excitedly, looking up at his partner with a wide grin.
"I did. Yes, I did. She hasn't crawled that far before. Wow."
"I know, isn't she … What do you mean she hasn't crawled that far before? You knew she could crawl and you didn't tell me!" Sherlock snaps, looking offended.
"Sher, it was only a few days ago and we were working a case. You were in your mind palace for most of that time. I'm sorry. You were just busy." John replies softly, stroking his partner's curls.
"So I missed her first steps?" Sherlock asks sadly.
"Not yet you haven't. She's just learnt to crawl, but in a couple more months she'll learn to walk. And I'll make sure you see it with me, okay."
"It's a date, John." Sherlock replies with a smile, still holding onto Ariana.
"Come on, let's get this little one fed, shall we?" John smiles, picking up Ariana out of Sherlock's arms and walking to the kitchen. "Can you believe she's seven months old already. It only feels like yesterday when we had to carry her around. You won't stop her moving now. You'll have to keep a closer eye on her while I'm at work, otherwise she'll disappear."
"We'll have to get a safety gate, won't we?" Sherlock suggests, pulling Ariana's food out of the cupboard and pouring it into a bowl.
"Yeah, we will. We'll go shopping at weekend, okay?"
"Yes, definitely." Sherlock agrees, lifting the plastic spoon to Ana's mouth.
"Right, I'm gonna go for a shower and then I'll have to get ready for work." John smiles sweetly, kissing Sherlock's forehead before disappearing from the room.
x..x
"So, how's Ana doing?" The young woman asks sweetly, bringing John a cup of streaming hot tea.
"Cheers." John replies gratefully, taking the offered cup and inhaling deeply, "Yeah, she's doing great. She's just started crawling and Sherlock's acting like it's the most amazing thing in the world."
"So, he's really taking to this whole 'being a dad' thing then?" Sarah asks with a smile, not an inch of bitterness in her tone, just curiosity.
"Yeah, he is. I'm surprised really. He's grown in confidence in the last few months. When I first left him with Ana he was really worried, now I just have to tell him I'm off to work and leave him to it."
"Aww, well that's good then. I'll bet he'll be overjoyed when she can talk. He'll be able to do his deducing and have someone to listen while you're away." Sarah teases lightly, a soft giggle escaping.
"He'll be even more insufferable then. He'll have her learning all sorts of facts by the end of the week." John jokes, laughing softly.
"Well, I best leave you to your patients. Your first should be here in five minutes. See you later, John." Sarah smiles softly, giving a little nod before leaving the room.
"See ya later." John calls back with a smile, setting his brew down and pulling out his schedule.
x..x
Two hours later and all John wants to do is go home and be with his little family, but he still have five more patients and a long cab ride home before he can.
"John." Sarah greets with a smile, her head poking around the door.
"Hey, what's up?" John asks brightly, looking up at the young nurse.
"Why don't you go home and I'll take the rest of your patients." She offers sweetly, giving an understanding look.
"I can't do that, it wouldn't be fair on you, Sarah."
"John, every time I've walked passed your open door, you've been fiddling with your phone. Clearly, you want to get home and spend some time with Ana and Sherlock. I've no patients left to see so I can take yours without any trouble." She smiles reassuringly.
"It's fine, Sarah, only five left and then I can leave. Besides, I've barely done a full shift since Ana came along." John smiles back, a little guilty.
"These are the most important months of a child's life. You don't want to go home one day and find you've missed her first steps or her first words. They're moments that you can't get back, John. Besides, we can manage here. We're not exactly rushed off our feet, are we? Now, go on, get going." Sarah replies, a mock stern tone which leaves John knowing there is no way to argue.
"I'll pay you back for this, Sarah, I swear." John promises, pulling on his coat and collecting up his files.
"Oh, you just make sure you take lots of pictures and show me them. Then we'll be even." Sarah smiles, taking the files John hands to her.
"I will." He smiles back, kissing her on the cheek. "See ya tomorrow."
"Bye, John." Sarah smiles once more, before calling the next patient to her office.
x..x
"I'm back!" John calls happily, hanging up his coat.
"Oh, John, dear, that Sarah must be a saint for letting you finish early all the time. I hope you're grateful." Mrs Hudson replies, her serious tone slipping as a smile graces her features.
"Oh, more than, Mrs Hudson. So, how have my little loves been?" He smiles back at her, giving her a warm hug.
"They've been brilliant. I checked to make sure they were okay and, Sherlock has fed her at regular intervals, he's changed her twice and last time I checked, she was having her afternoon nap." Mrs Hudson replies with a warm smile, her pride showing in her features and tones.
"Brilliant. Well, I'll see you later then. I'll come get you when she wakes then she can see her Nana Martha, alright?" John grins, heading up the stairs.
"You're such a darling, John. And I'll be sure to see my little sweetheart later. Just you try and stop me." She says with a grin, heading back into her flat.
"Sherlock, I'm home." John says as he enters the flat.
"Ah, John, you're back. And earlier than usual. Did Sarah catch you moping over Ana then?" Sherlock greets brightly, a teasing tone to his voice.
"I was not moping, I just miss you guys when I'm gone." John replies sternly, kissing Sherlock's cheek.
Despite the fact that the two men are officially a couple, Sherlock is shocked at John including him in the things he misses when he's away.
"You missed me?" Sherlock asks without thinking.
"Of course I missed you, ya daft sod, I love you. And couples miss each other when they're away." John replies with a grin, checking the fridge for body parts.
He's silently surprised when he finds only food in there and closes the door gratefully.
"I missed you too, John. We missed you." Sherlock amends, still not used to sentiment.
"Aww, thank you." John replies with a loving smile, kissing Sherlock softly.
Sherlock smiles in response and blushes a little.
"See, I knew you'd get it." John grins, slumping down onto the couch.
"Get what, John?" Sherlock asks confused, turning to look at his partner.
"Sentiment." John replies simply, patting the seat next to him.
Sherlock nods in agreement and slumps down on the couch; his head in John's lap and feet hanging over the arm of the couch.
John pats his hair gently, listening to Sherlock's soft purr and smiling lovingly at the younger man.
"I love you, ya know. I never meant to, but I'm glad I did." John whispers, still stroking Sherlock's hair.
"I love you too, John. I did from the moment I met you, as sentimental and silly as it sounds." Sherlock replies distractedly, relaxing more into John's touch.
"I like sentimental Sherlock. He's lovely."
"Shut up, John." Sherlock replies, a hint of a smile on his lips.