A/N: See! I'm doing better! Now, if only I can make Jaguar and Bijoux talk to me, I'll have updated all three! I hope you enjoy. BTW- I got some static about my songfic, so I'm taking it down. Just in case anyone was wondering where it went.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except Gabriel and Scarlett.
John started looking for Sherlock in the pub down the street from the flat. Wasn't that what normal men did when they were upset with their wives? Of course, Sherlock wasn't normal. Far from it. So it wasn't really a surprise when he didn't find him there. He tried calling him, texting him and even called Mary to see if she'd heard from him. It was strange but comforting that his best friend and his wife had the casually close relationship that they did. He often found them sitting at the table in the kitchen, either at their flat or at Baker Street, having tea and laughing together just the two of them. It didn't make him jealous, as some thought he ought to be. He was just glad that they got on so well. Mary would never make him choose between her and Sherlock as all the others before her had done.
After traipsing around Baker Street for the better part of an hour, John was on the verge of calling Mycroft. While it was a little more than creepy that the elder Holmes spied on his little brother, it did prove to be useful in times such as these. However, John didn't want to have to actually talk to Mycroft. It was different when they were all at Baker Street and the children were there, but one on one, Mycroft was still the stiff, shadowy government agent that annoyed him. Then he realized there was one place he hadn't tried. Speedy's. Sherlock hated the little café, not having much love for the owner or their disappointing pastries. John had a pet theory that Sherlock still held a grudge against the owner on Mrs. Hudson's behalf. After all, despite Sherlock's bitching, he held Mrs. Hudson in a class high above most others. The only people surpassing that great echelon were Molly, Gabriel and Scarlett.
John ducked inside, expecting that it would be a short trip, but to his surprise, there was Sherlock. He sat in a booth in the back of the dining room, looking sour. A cup of untouched tea sat in front of him. He was pouting. John didn't ask to be invited, just slid into the booth in front of him. Sherlock didn't even glance toward him. "So… I've been all over London looking for you. Almost called your brother."
"How charming that everyone calls Mycroft when they want to know where I am."
John ignored his snark and continued. "Think you'll come back to the flat? Mrs. Hudson made a delicious dinner."
"I'm not hungry."
Great. John loved it when the old Sherlock came back. The one that didn't eat or sleep. The one that was rude and impatient. He was always there, but usually only came out during a case or when someone was being particularly annoying. John knew he'd have to pull out the big guns. "Scarlett and Gabriel have been asking for you. In fact, Scarlett was quite cross when she realized you weren't eating with her."
"Scarlett is a child. She'll be all right."
John sighed. "For God's sake, man. Would you please stop pouting and come back to the flat? You've been gone long enough. Scarlett and Gabriel need you and Molly's worried."
Sherlock snorted. "Doubtful. She's why I'm here in the first place."
John sighed and sat back in the booth. They were silent for a time and the waitress came over with another cup of tea for John. "Look, mate," John said finally. "Molly was upset about Scarlett's accident. I'm sure she doesn't really blame you."
"I know she doesn't!" Sherlock snapped. "She's being completely irrational! She's angry with me because I don't want to have another baby right now and so she's looking for any excuse to shout at me."
"Maybe you should try talking to her without being an ass."
"Very funny—"
"I'm being serious, Sherlock. Try talking to her like an adult instead of an insolent child."
"I tried that—"
"Was that before or after the 'harvesting my seed' thing?"
"No, when she first brought it up. I was willing to talk."
"Oh I can imagine your willingness to talk. Let me guess, you said 'no' right away?"
Sherlock thought this over. "Maybe." He sighed and leaned forward, attempting to take a sip of his tea and then realizing it was ice cold. "Uggh… Doesn't she understand that we would have to completely change our lives to have another child? Who would take care of them? We couldn't ask Mrs. Hudson to watch two—three when Gabriel's not at school. Despite all of our dependence on her, she's not a young person anymore. Mary has Izzy to deal with."
"So when you're out on a case, you hire a nanny. What's the big deal?"
"Remember what happened with that horrible Mrs. Barrett?"
John sighed. "But then you found Mary. It will work out."
"What if it doesn't? And then there's the problem of space. The flat couldn't possibly accommodate all those children."
"Then you'll move. It sounds to me like you're coming up with every excuse in the book." Sherlock gasped and gave a look of shock. "Not that they aren't valid," John continued. "But they don't account for all the venom that's been exchanged."
"Look, I'm pressing my luck with the two we already have. Neither Gabriel nor Scarlett was a planned event. We've made the best of things and both of them are amazing only by Molly's influence and sheer dumb luck. What if we have another and I manage to mess it up? Or pass on some of my more unpleasant traits?"
"That's ridiculous, Sherlock. It isn't just Molly that's made them the miraculous wonders they are. You seem to have some idea that you're unfit, but it's just not true. Remember, I saw you with Gabriel from the first night and once you'd put your mind to being his father, you were brilliant. As for your unpleasant traits, everyone has unpleasant traits. And there's always some risk that we'll pass those on. But it isn't guaranteed. I see children every day that are born with all kinds of things: psychological disorders, disabilities, diseases—but their parents get through it and most of the time everything works out all right."
"So you think I should give in to Molly?"
John laughed and shook his head, taking a sip of his tea. "It isn't about giving in to Molly. It's not like you're buying her some expensive new toy. You're absolutely right to wait until you're both ready. All I'm saying is that you owe it to her to consider the possibility with an open mind."
OoOoOo
Gabriel laid on the couch with a book, finally deciding to filter out all of the hushed talk going on between his mum, Mary and Mrs. Hudson. It was obvious that there was something going on between his parents and he just wanted to stay out of it. They didn't fight often and almost never when he or Scarlett could hear them. He didn't like to admit it, but whenever adults shouted, he still cringed.
"Bre, I sit with you?"
Gabriel looked down to see his baby sister staring at him with her eyes wide. She knew something was up too. The tense air in the flat was apparent. "Yeah, come on," he said, helping her climb into his lap and settle down. She leaned back against his chest and threw her feet up on his knees. She forced him to hold his book with one hand so she could hold his. He knew it was only a matter of time before she was sucking on his fingers. Usually he'd protest, but tonight he didn't bother. It actually made him feel a little bit better. Truth be told, Gabriel was worried about his parents. Given what was going on at Katie's house lately, he was watching very closely for signs of divorce. Especially since he'd woken up with his mum on the bottom bunk the last couple of nights.
"Read book?" Scarlett asked, pointing at the book.
"It's a scary book, Scar. You won't like it."
"Read," she said.
He sighed. "Why don't you go get one of your books, Scarlett? I'll read it to you."
"Nooo…" she whined. "Read Bre book." Not wanting to argue, he decided just to read Night of the Living Dummy and edit out anything too grisly as he read. It didn't take long for her to get sleepy and push the book away.
"Scarlett, I was reading."
"No more read, Bre," Scarlett replied, putting his thumb in her mouth.
"Aren't you ready to go to bed? Izzy is already asleep in your room."
"No, thank you." Gabriel smiled, shaking his head. She was always so polite in her refusals. "Where Daddy, Bre?"
"He just went out for a while, Scar. He'll be back later. Probably after you go to sleep."
"I want to see."
"Well you can't right now, silly. So you might as well just go to bed. He'll be home when you wake up," Gabriel said, almost more to reassure himself than his little sister.
"I sleep wiv you?"
"No," Gabriel replied firmly. "You need to sleep in your bed."
"I not like my bed. Please, Bre?"
He sighed, looking around for the answer that might satisfy the little girl and not finding one. "Maybe you can sleep with Mum?"
"No, thank you. I sleep wiv Bre." She turned on her side, curling Gabriel's arm against her so that she could continue sucking his thumb.
OoOoOo
Molly was washing up the dinner dishes when Sherlock finally arrived back home. She heard him, but did not bother to acknowledge his presence. She wasn't exactly sure that she was ready to let go of everything. He didn't give her much of an opportunity, sliding up behind her and winding his arms around her waist to embrace her tightly, whether she wanted him to or not. At first she was hesitant, but the warmth of his body and the leathery scent of his skin broke down any defense she'd built around herself over the last couple of days. She found herself sinking backwards into his embrace, exhaling for the first time in days.
"I'm sorry," they said in unison.
"Oh… sorry," Molly said. "You first."
"No, you can talk first."
"Sherlock…"
He stopped her, stepping backward and turning her around. He steered them both to the table and sat, pulling her down on his lap gently. "Shush. I'm talking first."
Molly smirked and nodded. "Okay."
"First off, I'm sorry about all that 'harvesting my seed' stuff the other night. I was frustrated and I took it out on you. In case you hadn't noticed before, I do that sometimes."
"Only sometimes?"
"Watch it," he replied. "Anyway, I was being childish and I apologize."
"Okay," Molly said, playing with his fingers that were splayed against her thigh.
"And I'm sorry that I couldn't get to Scarlett in time to keep her from falling—"
"Sherlock, that wasn't your fault. I was just so upset. I didn't mean what I said."
He nodded. "And finally, I… I can't say that I'm enthused about us having another child right now. I'm still very hesitant. I like the way things are right now and I just think it would be so much easier if we waited until Scarlett was in school…"
"Sherlock—"
"But if having another baby will make you happy, you know I could never deny you that." Molly laid her head on his shoulder as he threaded his fingertips into the hair at the base of her skull.
"Really?"
"Of course. Though I would like to go on record as saying that we should wait."
Molly giggled and nodded. "Point taken. Why don't we compromise? We won't actively try to get pregnant, but we won't do anything to stop it."
"As in, you'll stop taking birth control?"
"Exactly."
Sherlock sighed and then fell silent for several seconds before nodding. "Whatever you want."
She threw her arms around his neck and he could feel the tension between them fall away in the blink of an eye. "I'm so sorry, Sherlock. I've been so mean the last few days."
"I think we've all been on edge. But now it's done." He kissed her forehead. "Let's go to bed. But don't seduce me." He winked, patting her backside as she rose from his lap.
"Aww… think I'm going to harvest your seed?"
"Possibly. You're devious, after all."
Molly giggled, rushing into the lounge, urging him to give chase. Then she spotted Gabriel and Scarlett, both asleep on the couch. "Oh… we better get these two to bed."
He nodded. "You take Scarlett, I'll get Gabe." The parents pulled their sleeping children into their arms, carrying them up to their rooms together.