Baby-Sitter
The night Mary went into labour was the night Victoria returned to Baker Street. She was found sleeping deeply on Sherlock's bed right beside the stairwell. So gentle and peaceful despite the coming scar on her lip and underneath her tear-duct. It was John who found her in the morning when he came back to collect some things for Mary. John moved into the room with a full bag for Mary and tapped his sister's shoulder to wake her, "Vic... Vic... She had the baby," John beamed. Victoria woke quickly and sat up, her eyes still hazy,
"Oh, is it healthy? Is it okay? Oh my God. Oh my, is Mary okay? Are you okay?!" gleamed Victoria and gave her brother a tight cuddle. John laughed with ahppiness until tears appeared,
"She is very healthy. Four pounds on the nose. She's allowed home tonight because the doctors said she's breathing 'confidently' on her own. They've given her booster jags and everything to get her home quick as possible. She's strong, Vic. She's so strong!" John started to weep, which made Victoria start to cry, "Can you believe it?!" he laughed and hugged Victoria again for a while, "I'll call you when I find out more info, alright? Have to go, Mary's herself. Sherlock went shopping for here and the baby. Do you want to come and see here or wait until she's settled back here?" John asked and wiped away his tears as he stood up. Victoria chewed her lip and stood up beside him,
"Well, Mrs Hudson will be buzzing about like a headless chicken. I might drop in tomorrow morning with some clothes for her," she smiled, "tomorrow morning? Around eleven, okay?" Victoria pecked John's cheek before he left for the hospital again. As she straightened up the flat, her heart soared miles high. Her neice arrived safe and sound. A healthy weight for a healthy little baby. Of course, extra care would be taken because she was so small but that would come naturally to her when she holds the baby in her arms tomorrow morning.
In the kitchen, Victoria flushed her face with cold water and scarpered before Sherlock came home with some groceries, her nerves and excitement building for when she woke up the next morning.
After a night of tossing and turning with excitement, morning came for Victoria. Up like a lark and into the shower she went. Exfoliating, waxing, conditioning- everything was happening. Straighteners were on, hairdryers were off. Makeup bags were opened and dresses were unzipped. Inside of her nude pink and white bathroom, she stood on pink marble in front of her grand mirror between the bath and the walk-in shower which took up half of the room on it's own. Her large jacuzzi bath had dresses hanging over the edge and there were boxes of shoes piled as high as the doorway. Today had to go absolutely perfect. Her hair and makeup had to be completely on point. Her cupids bow of lipstick had to be absolute and her eyebrows just had to be killer. There could be no half-arsed attempts today. Not today. Today, was her comeback from everything.
After plucking for loose waves and simple pink/nude makeup, Victoria had to decide on the perfect dress her little neice would see her in. It had to be just so. She raked through Dior and McQueen, unable to find her perfect dress. Her coat, shoes and handbag were already waiting to be used. Eventually, Victoria plumped for a mod-style knee length bodycon with a pale pink skirt and white top, broken up with a thick black belt. After slipping on her black cape coat, Victoria stepped into her new patent Louboutins and made way to Baker Street.
After being dropped at the main road, Victoria paid in an exhilerated rush. After dropping pennies, she apologies and almost ran down the street. The smile on her face was bright and her cheeks were almost touching her eyes. The wind rattled her teeth but Victoria didn't care. She was on top of the world. In her arms, she carried a small Tiffany's bag containing a sterling Silver baby brush with a pale pink tassel to show it was for a new baby girl. In the larger box beside it, a cast platinum and diamond Savoy fascinator with freshwater pearls that glimmered in an expensive, exclusive pink, almost identical to what was worn in The Great Gatsby. Slowly, the closer she came to 221B, the more her smile fell and she felt her stomach back up. Everything became very heavy around her, in her arms, inside of her- life she was suffocating on fresh, winter air. Nerves. Everything came into her mind today. Everything apart from who lived here.
Placing her hand upon the icy brass door handle, Victoria entered. There was a sense of freshness. Pine and lemon stung Victoria's nostrils when she turned to face Mrs Hudson's apartment. Her mouth watered and her throat made a niggle as if egging her on to go upstairs. She adjusted her eyelashed and rubbed her lips together before taking delicate steps up to the living room. From the second to top step, she heard cups being tinked with spoons and the gentle, hollow clatter of china. Reaching the top of the steps, Sherlock met her in the hallway, heading from his bedroom in a fresh suit and pair of shoes. His eyes seemed brighter than the last time she had met him. His hair was cleaner but his face was not as close shaven, "Can I take your coat?" he politely asked as though she hadn't shot near an important artery in his leg, "I'll sit it on my bed..." Sherlock said as she started to slip it off and juggle her bag and presents. As he walked away, Victoria watched and her brows slightly knit together and her mouth formed a light smile. With Sherlock coming back in a flash, he spoke before Victoria could even think ,
"We will discuss what happened. Just not today. It's their day," he smiled and put his hand on her shoulder, alighting her body with more nerves, "you look very lovely."
Sherlock pushed the door open for Victoria who had her hands full. The whole living room was hushed to almost silence. All eyes fell onto the beautifully crafted pink blanket which lay beneath the most gorgeous and sensitive little baby in a bouncer chair. Victoria felt her eyes water up when the baby opened up her eyes. She handed Sherlock her handbag and gave John the blue Tiffany's bag before gently dropping to her knees and kneeling in front of the bouncer. Her eyes shimmered with tears and Victoria stuggled to speak, "Sh-... She's so beautiful!" gasped Victoria, terrified to touch her in case she shattered, "What's her name?"
"Emily Victoria," hushed a tired Mary from the sofa who was directly aimed to watch her daughter. Victoria placed a hand to her chest and just took in what was in front of her. Tiny. Smaller than a normal baby. She had flushed red skin but dark hair. Her eyes were big and crystal blue. In her insulated pink babygro, her feet and hands seemed non existant. Her hands were in fluffy pink mittens and her feet had slippers on them which just seemed that little bit too big. Victoria smiled down at her niece and went to pick her up. Emily gurlged and took in deep breaths. Just sitting on the floor with her back to Sherlock's chair, Victoria clutched Emily so close to her chest, "You are so beautiful. My beautiful little girl. You're going to be so spoiled from me. I'll take you shopping and dress you up so pretty because your dad won't have a clue," laughed Victoria and she kissed the top of Emily's head, "Uncle Sherlock will take you on all of these marvellous cases and when you get tired, Mrs Hudson will bring you both some tea and biscuits. You're going to have such a wonderful life here in London. With mum, dad, Uncle Sherlock, Auntie Mycroft, Auntie Victoria and Mrs Hudson!" chuckled Victoria which gained a teeny smile from Emily in her arms.
For a while, Mary fell in and out of sleep on the couch, much like John who was just staring into space, "Take my room, save you walking upstairs. We can swap for the timebeing. Until you're stronger." Sherlock ordered at Mary who snapped away, "I'll bring down your essentials. John, can you carry Mary's... delicates?" He asked as he was already limping up the other flight of stairs,
"Will you be alright with her? If she needs anything, just wake me up. There's already milk in the kitchen and her nappies are in there too, just in case I'm really conked out." Mary laughed and made her way steadily over to her daughter in Victoria's arms. Mary gave Emily a kiss on the head and cradled Victoria's head for a few seconds, "You'll be alright with Sherlock, won't you?" she whispered and from the hall, Sherlock stated,
"Mary... You're doing it again. Victoria will be fine with Emily and I. Now, get some rest. Go."
Mary made her way to bed with John for only a few hours kip, just to recharge what was left of their batteries. Victoria managed to stand up with Emily still in arms and began to gently bounce her. It was now just her and Sherlock and she was adiment on not making the first move.
To Be Continued.