Whoo, new glasses so new chapter :D
A week later Benjamin was standing outside the door, ringing their bell and John cleaned up the last things in the flat and started the boiler while Sherlock hadn't lifted a finger all day. Baby had a grow spurt making Sherlock gain weight fast and he was almost as tired as under his first trimester. He felt weak and weary constantly and would almost always be found in his chair, sipping his tea.
"Sherlock?" he asked and made his way over to the landing. "Could you fill the pot when the water's done?" The detective gave nothing more than a silent hum and John ran down the stairs. The doorbell rang again as he reached the door and he pulled it open to lay his eyes upon a tall, well built man with short blond hair and glasses with black frames. "Well, hello." Benjamin took his hand and shook it well.
"Hi. Nice to meet you in person. Is everything alright?"
"Yes." John smiled and let him into to hallway. "Everything's just fine. It's just up the stairs and through the door." He fled the tall man up to their flat, making some easy smalltalk just to ease the tension and when they reached their floor Benjamin had a good look around in their sitting room that now was missing a Sherlock.
"Wow, so this is were the mysteries are solved." he chuckled and turned to John who grinned stupidly. "Sorry, I'm not here to pry in your work. It's just weird when you've had a thought of how something's gonna look and then get proved wrong. It's a lovely home to say the least."
"Well thank you." John chuckled and showed him over to the little table under the stuffed bullhead. "Tea?"
"Than would be lovely, thank you." The backpack landed on the floor with a thud and the man sat down by the right window, gave the flat another look when he saw the known detective step inside and he flew up again. "Ah, Mr Holmes?" Sherlock forced a smile to his lips and took his hand, made his usual observance before incising to be called Sherlock. "Alright, Sherlock then." Benjamin's dark eyes sunk to his bump and he smiled widely. "Excuse me for staring but I haven't seen a pregnant man in real life since me my self were. How are feeling?" The detective sighed and waved the whole thing off before sitting down in front of him.
"You should know." he groaned as he tried to find a comfortable way to sit. "You've been in the same seat as I."
"So, sleepless nights, constant kicking and squirming and considerably tired then?" Benjamin grinned and sat down again. "Yeah, I know how things can be in your stage." Sherlock frowned and tilted his head to the side.
"Then why did you feel the need of asking?" he required when they heard the rattle of china and John made his way with the tray to the little table.
"Shut up, Sherlock." he spat and sat the weight down. "Show some politeness." But Benjamin didn't seem to be offended but the thin smile was still there, which was odd to them both. They didn't do well with new people, they never had.
"Don't worry." he smiled and thank John for the cup and saucer. "I'm not easily susceptible."
"Good." Sherlock said sharply and dropped two spoons of sugar into his drink. "I might have a way of scaring people off."
"Might?" John scoffed.
"Shut up, John." Benjamin looked between them both while biting down on both of his lips, he knew very well he couldn't laugh at them even if he wanted to.
"Well, you're just like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, aren't you?" he asked and reached for one of the little biscuits on the tray. "Lovely."
"Are you mocking us, Mr Tate?" Sherlock asked and furrowed his brow as he observed the man before him. "Or is this just humour I don't seem to understand?"
"Humour." Benjamin said quickly without taking his eyes of him or kill his smile. Sherlock pinned him to the chair, staring at him firmly like he needed to break into that man's brain and understand who he was. Suddenly a little smile twitch the detective's lips and a dark chuckle left him as he broke their contact.
"Good." he smiled. "Very good." The tension disappeared from the room and John could finally relax on his seat, Sherlock had finally accepted the man and they could now begin with what they were really here for.
"So..." he murmured and stirred his tea with the silvery spoon and looked at the little map of Britain painted on the china. "Benjamin. Wanna take us through it?" The man nearly jumped on the chair when he remembered why he was hear exactly and tossed himself after his bag.
"Right, right." he smiled and brought forward a notepad and a ballpoint pen to take some notes. "Sorry, I'm just so taken by talking to you both." Sherlock made a small grunt and rolled his eyes when no one could see him but secretly he thought that John had done a good job finding him. This man might be a little starstruck, but he sure knew how to handle him. "We're just gonna talk today, maybe take a tour around the flat so I can get a good view with what area we've got to work with 'cause I guess that you'll wanna move around a lot while all this is happening."
"Very much so, yes." Sherlock answered simply and rubbed his side where two feet kicked eagerly.
"Good." Benjamin smiled and clicked the top of his pen. "So what week are you in?"
They talked throughly about how the upcoming weeks would be and put up a schedule with Benjamin visiting them every week until the delivery do do checkups as well as get to know them better so the d-day would be based on trust. They went through different ways of help with pain, such as breathing, vocalising, hypno, hot water, relaxation but even if Sherlock didn't seem interested John knew that he was listening. They discussed options if things would take a bad turn or if things became to overwhelming but the detective had just waved the whole thing away. He was sure that there wouldn't be any problems.
They laid out a plan of the 'perfect' birth together and decided when they wanted Benjamin's help and not but all three of them new how things could chance when it was time and things became real, and when Benjamin shared his experience with them Sherlock started to understand what exactly he'd gotten himself into. He spoke about terrible pains, out of body experiences, in body experiences and even bloody orgasms. Sherlock had no idea what to say about that than just shake his head in disbelief.
"I didn't have one." Benjamin laughed in embarrassment. "But it's possible. Odd, though."
John filled their cups with a second portion of tea and cleared his throat.
"So, should we take that tour, maybe?"
"Yeah, sound good." he smiled and got up. "Just to get a clear view what we have to work with." Sherlock placed his hands on the table and pushed himself up with a grunt.
"You do that, John. I'm gonna take a nap."
"Okay, you do that." Benjamin smiled and took his hand again. "You're gonna need all the rest you can get."
"Thank you." the detective sighed and rubbed the bottom of his bump. "We'll see each other next week then."
"Sounds good."
He retreated up to the bedroom, as always left short of breath as he reached it and collapsed on the bed with a loud groan. There had been an odd feeling in his stomach all day, starting this night. Muscles twitched and squeezed around the very active baby and he guess that was the Braxton hicks that had started. So this was what he had to deal with for the next six weeks. Jesus, he couldn't wait for this baby to get out.
He heard the low voices and small laughs coming from downstairs and he tried to listen but it was impossible. The noises from the streets drowned them and he decided to get some sleep instead. The pillow was tucked in between the mattress and his stomach and he covered himself with the thick duvet. Somehow he felt better than yesterday, mentally that is. It was like he'd made himself prepared for what was coming. He wasn't as wind up anymore.
"It's a girl you know." Benjamin smiled as he gathered his things by the table. John laughed and started to gather the cups and crumbled on the table.
"I think so too." he said happily. "But don't tell Sherlock I said that."
Benjamin grinned and flung his bag over his shoulder. "Noted." He turned to John and pulled a couple of brochures out of his pocket. "Here, take these. Read them through and if there are any questions just call me. The number's on the back."
Then he insisted that he didn't need to be followed down the stairs and with that he was gone. John stood in the middle of the landing with the brochures in his hands with only one thought in his head. He needed more tea. Things just seemed so unreal at the moment. He was having a bloody baby with the bloody Sherlock Holmes, of course it seemed unreal. Never in a million years would he've guessed something like this. A baby that would be the perfect mix between the two of them whose head they could fill with whatever they wanted. It was amazing to say the least. A little baby Watson-Holmes that would run around this house, laugh, scream and slowly learn to talk. What an amazingly unexpected life they had before them.
"John?" He woke up from his pondering and looked up from the cup he never even noticed that he's started making. "I'm peckish!" John giggled and went over to the fridge.
"There are some leftover italian! Would you like that!?"
"It doesn't matter!" Sherlock called back. "Just bring it upstairs!" With the leftovers in the microwave John swallowed his tea, snacked on some salted crackers and put the used cups in the dishwasher. "Now John!"
"Yes, it's coming!" he chuckled and plated the hot food in a bowl. He hurried up the stairs with the portion and a huge glass of water and found Sherlock lying on his side on the bed, the dark curls draped over the pillow and no signs of moving. "What, am I gonna feed you too?" With a loud sigh he heaved himself up and leaned back against the wall. "Careful now, it's hot." He took the bowl and stirred the pasta and and sauce with his fork. "Wanna watch some telly?" Sherlock agreed with a loud sigh and started stuffing his face shamelessly.
There was nothing on more than boring sitcoms and talk shows, but that didn't seem to bother the detective who else wise was easily annoyed by most of the tv-shows. He ate his food in silence with John snuggled close, arm around his neck and his hand playing with the testes of curls.
"I've been having hicks." Sherlock said suddenly while chewing his mouthful of pasta. By those few words his husband turned to him with a big frown and the hand seized to play with his hair.
"Really?" he asked with an ounce of worry in his voice. "How does it feel?"
"Like a small squeeze." the detective answered and cleared his throat as the terrible heartburn made itself reminded. "Nothing painful, just slightly annoying." He put the bowl away and rubbed his chest.
"You're done already?" John asked and looked at the portion where two thirds were left behind. "You ate nothing."
"I can't swallow another bite." he groaned and felt the terrible heartburn rise up his throat. With a throat clearing sound he rubbed a hand firmly across his chest and felt the slight pain of it. "He's taking up to much room." As always John smiled at the discussion or even just the thought of their baby and he rubbed a warm hand over his swell.
"Let's hope you drop soon." he sighed. "It'll be a huge relief for you eating and breathing wise."
"Yes, but it'll make me waddle like a duck." he complained. "I'm not looking forward to the bowling ball."
"I know, love." John murmured and pressed a kiss to his temple. "But we're closing in to the end. If our little boy or girl's got your patience I believe we'll have him or her days before your due date."
"I wouldn't argue to that." the detective chimed and wiggled himself further down under the cover to get comfortable. "This child is bringing me nothing more than pain and uncomfortable things." John smirked and crawled as close as he could get to him, rubbed his waist as he gazed upon the lovely bump.
"Don't listen to you daddy, little one." he murmured and placed his head on Sherlock's chest where he could hear the drumming heart. "He's a real tosser. Don't believe him when he says those things." Carefully he peeled up the shirt covering Sherlock's stomach and touched the stretched skin that hid their little boy or girl. "Hi baby."
"He can't understand you." Sherlock murmured and carded a hand through his short, sandy hair.
"I know." he sighed and kissed the top of the bump. "But he or she needs to know out voices. It can hear you know. Does ears are not for nothing."
"I just wished more people could use them." Sherlock sighed ironically and John giggled where he laid with his ear almost on Sherlock's bump. "Our son will be the brightest boy." The detective sounded both proud and joyful when he said those words and he took John's hand in his so they both could feel the twinges and kicks.
"Or daughter." John reminded him once more. "She would be the brightest girl."
"She would indeed." Sherlock agreed with some contempt. "But it's not a girl."
"It might be."
"But it's not." Sherlock smiled and played with his fingers across John's neck, he knew how much his doctor enjoyed that he a small hum was uttered.
"I'll tease you a very long time if you're wrong'" John mumbled tiredly and kissed Sherlock's slim fingers.
Suddenly one day the least welcome person stood upon their doorstep and Sherlock sighed in disgust upon the sight. The man with hair like fire gazed upon him with his ridiculous grin and tapped his umbrella to the floor and inspected his brother from head to toe before any of them said a word.
"Hello, brother." he chimed with s dragging voice and took one step into the flat. "It's been a while." Seven moths to be exact and Sherlock hadn't been unhappy with that at all. He took a big sip of his raspberry leaf tea that had been rumoured to induce labour and walked heavily over to the armchair. "You look extraordinary well nourished." The detective gave a loud groan and rolled his eyes as his brother sat down in John's chair.
"Well." he sighed and rubbed a and over his waist. "As soon as I've delivered I'll still be classified as underweight according to my husband."
"Ah, yes." Mycroft grinned and braided his hands together. "Husband. Still getting used to those terms."
"Hm." Sherlock mumbled and without him noticing his hand drifted to his waist where he were receiving eager kicks like the baby was protesting to Mycroft presence. "It's been three years, you should be by now." The brother smirked to himself and crossed his long legs. "You were even there to see it with your own eyes."
"Yes, and now I'm here to see this with my own eyes." he said and tossed his bump a glance. "I knew you were pregnant but I needed to see it for myself to be sure. It looks quite heavy." Sherlock scoffed and rolled his eyes, feeling the dull pain in his back and from all the hicks that been bothering him today. "When are you due? I seem to have forgotten." The detective sighed and gulped the rest of his tea.
"In almost two weeks." he answered while pushing back on the feet. "Me and John are playing the so called waiting game. Can't be soon enough though, this little monster is really bothering me at the moment. He needs to get out soon or I'll go crazy."
"So it's a boy." Mycroft smiled like some pride just nested in his chest. "Mother will be happy. Is it confirmed?"
"Might as well." Sherlock snickered and rubbed his bump with both hands. "I don't think I know how to handle a daughter to be honest." Mycroft laughed and shook his head.
"I don't think you'll need to worry about that." he grinned. "The Holmes family is famous for producing intelligent boys." That actually managed to calm the detective a bit. The reason for him convincing everyone about this being a little boy was more a fear that he had no idea how to handle a girl. Their teenage years could be horrid, he didn't know how to handle something like that.
"I just need to go to the bathroom." he sighed and tried to get up from the chair, but there was no success. It was impossible to do anything in this state and he fell back in the chair with a loud groan which, of course, brought a smile to Mycroft's slim lips.
"D'you need help." He might be too ashamed to admit it but he wouldn't get up from this chair otherwise.
"Yes." he mumbled and reached his arms out. His brother got up, grabbed his hands and heaved in up on his feet when a loud, painful groan left the detective. Mycroft's eyes widened when he saw his little brother bundle up his face and he cursed by the muscles tensing around his stomach. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." he groaned and rubbed the bottom of his belly. "Just those frigging hicks." He waddled heavily out to the kitchen with his brother's eyes burning his neck. "I'm fine, Mycroft. Make yourself some tea."
When Sherlock returned to the sitting room his brother sat in the armchair, sipping his tea in the company of John who'd returned from work with multiple bags of groceries and the detective browsed quickly through the wares. To his liking John had gone full out to stock their kitchen for the upcoming days. He'd done this every weekend for the last four just in case the day arrived when they would be to busy with childbirth and couldn't afford to be out of snacks and protein. The bags were full with chocolate, cakes, fizzy drinks, fruits, chicken, bread and toppings and Sherlock gave into the urge of making himself a marmite sandwich.
"Sherlock?" John called from his armchair when he heard the rustling. "I was thinking about making some dinner soon! Maybe you should wait?"
"No." Sherlock answered simply and smeared the marmite over the white bread and folded it in half before joining them in the sitting room once more. Mycroft smiled at the sight of his little brother eating, there was a sight he hadn't seen in years. Maybe this pregnancy brought more good things then just an offspring. The very pregnant man fell backwards down on the sofa and placed his legs on the table, sighing angrily when he realised he'd forgotten the laptop on the desk.
"John." he whined and pointed at the devise while chewing his sandwich. With a smirk John fetched it for him, he did anything for him these days without protesting. If it always could be like this, Sherlock thought and licked his fingers before grabbing the computer and balancing it on his bump.
"Thank you my dearest, now get me a glass of milk."
"Oh you bad man." John grinned but disappeared out to the kitchen without another world.
"Well you've got him wrapped around your finger, don't you?" Mycroft smiled and sipped his tea while eyeing his brother.
"Not just the little finger." Sherlock joked and opened several tabs to update himself in the criminal media.
"Here you are, love." John sighed and held out the glass for him which he took without looking or thanking. The doctor scoffed and returned to his chair to socialise with his brother-in-law.
"So." Mycroft began and crossed his legs. "Homebirth?" The question came from nowhere and Sherlock looked up from the screen. "That must have been an easy decision for you?"
"Oh yes." he sighed and rubbed his feet together. "I don't think the hospital environment would do any of us any good." His brother grinned and nodded in agreement.
"I think it's for the best." he smiled. "And this Benjamin seems like a fitting carer. Just remember that a trip to the hospital goes faster with my help than the ambulances."
"Yes, we've already discussed that." John said. "And I saw the stroller in the hallway. Thank you for that." The detective looked up again and studied his brother.
"You've brought our stroller?" he said eagerly.
"Of course I did." he wrapped both his hands around the cup. "I thought that as the time draws nearer I should probably pop by and give it to you. See it as a small gift if you will. The other one comes when my little nephew or niece is actually here." John sighed in happiness when he thought of him and Sherlock walking the park with that beautiful stroller. People would certainly turn their heads when they saw that antique piece. Their son or daughter would surely be spoiled with an uncle like Mycroft.
"Thank you." he murmured and turned his head to Sherlock to see him rubbing his waist. "We are surely drawing nearer."
We are surely drawing nearer, but for now I'll just leave it here. Next chapter will be up soon. But leave a review and I would be so happy!
