A/N This work not written for profit- no copyright infringement intended.

Out in the sitting room, John could hardly believe it when their daughter stopped crying just a few minutes after Sherlock took her. He'd have to ask him what he tried, so he'd know for the next time. Sherlock was certainly doing a fine job of parenting - of course, he was keenly observant – perhaps he had noted something about Sheri that John hadn't. He shook it off mentally - no use worrying about it now, she was settled. As he was thinking this, Sherlock returned to the group.

"All right?" John asked.

"Yes, she must have been getting tired, she settled down quite quickly for me," his husband replied, going out to the kitchen and getting a cup of herbal tea with honey. He was hoping to get some sleep tonight, and wanted to keep away from caffeine the rest of the day.

Chamomile in hand, Sherlock turned to Anthea. "Do you have what you said you'd bring for us? I'll go and fetch it, if it is in the car." At her nod, he took the car keys and went to the silver-grey car in the car park - Anthea's personal vehicle, and so different from Mycroft's usual government ones. After rummaging in the boot for a minute, he returned with a large package. Inside were a long piece of cloth and one item that looked like a rucksack to Sherlock's parents. They looked at Sherlock with questions in their eyes, and he grinned.

"These look just perfect, Anthea - thank you for taking care of this for us! I was doing some reading the other night and thought these might come in handy. Now, let's see here..."

Sherlock took the long piece of cloth - in a charcoal grey that was about the colour of his Belstaff - and began wrapping it around his slim frame. It took a few minutes to get it right, but he soon had a compact bundle snugged around him, with a middle area just right for holding their daughter. He spun around and grinned.

"This will be just what we need, I am sure. Everything I've read says that babies are more secure and happy when they are worn around for the first few months. This papoose will do very nicely. Now, let's see this one," Sherlock said as he removed the wrap and picked up the thing that looked like a rucksack to show his parents. He beckoned John over to stand in front of him.

As he unfolded it, they could see it was some sort of a sack to hold an infant in. It was black and had a set of straps that adjusted and buckled around the wearer in either the front or on the back. Sherlock also spent some time adjusting this and trying it on John, nodding as he did so.

"This one may be more appropriate for wearing for a longer time, or outside if it is chilly weather - although the wrap can keep her quite warm. It's a bit easier to put on and adjust with Sheri in it than the wrap - I thought that John might prefer this one, but we'll see what he thinks," he said, twirling his husband around once he had fastened all of the straps and buckles. Mrs. Hudson grinned at this, seeing the detective and John dashing out the door, with their daughter in the pack, in her mind's eye. She hoped that DI Lestrade and the gang were ready for Sherlock plus his daughter all at once!

Taking the front pack off John and carefully folding it on a table with the papoose wrap, Sherlock then sat down to finish his tea. He accidentally fell asleep for a few minutes, and jerked awake to find John and the rest of the family smiling at his impromptu nap. "Don't suppose I can get away with the Mind Palace thing, eh?" he said, shaking his head and yawning.

"Not a chance, brother mine," Mycroft piped up, arching one brow. "We are on to you now."

Anthea smiled beside him and stage-whispered, "Not to worry, Sherlock, he does it, too," which occasioned a huge grin from the younger Holmes sibling, who winked at her conspiratorially. Her fiancé made a face at her at being outed.

"Well, in my defence, I was up with Sheri for most of the night – I didn't want her to wake John, so I - erm - held her most of the time in the rocking chair. He just looked all in, so I -" Sherlock started saying, but was shushed by Mummy.

"Nothing to apologise for, dear, newborns are quite demanding creatures. You'd never suspect it from their size and cuteness, but they are very adept at getting what they want from you. If your brother hadn't given me a break, I might have gone completely mad the first few weeks after you came along! Your father was so busy at work, there was no such thing as paternity leave back then. Myc was so good with you. I've never believed all his bluster about not caring – what a lot of nonsense!"

Anthea giggled and Mycroft tried very hard to look annoyed, but failed. Sherlock snickered at Mycroft and Anthea, then Mummy and Dad were smiling as well – having a bit of fun at his big brother's expense was always good as far as Sherlock was concerned.

It was soon time for lunch. Sherlock checked on Sheri, and saw that she was fast asleep, so he joined the rest of the family. John and Sherlock had some of Mummy's excellent potato soup - it was one of Sherlock's favourites - and another cup of decaf tea with honey. After the meal, he and Mycroft washed and dried the dishes as per their usual when at their parents' home. The brothers then joined the rest of the family in the lounge, where a discussion of what film to watch started. The ladies won and put on Wuthering Heights.

Sherlock sighed and opened his kindle to continue the novel he was reading. He was sat in an armchair out of the centre of the room, so that those who were watching the telly could see more clearly. He was also on the side nearest their bedroom, so he could hear Sheri if she woke...

The next few days flew by, and it was soon time for the new family to return to Baker Street. The boys were excited to have her home at last, and to introduce her to her home. The first evening, as they settled in to watch some telly, with Sheri in her cot in their bedroom, Sherlock and John could hardly believe that their dream had come true - one they thought was an impossibility.

Thanks to everyone who is going along with this story. Enjoy!

~joan