Chapter fifty: Very well loved
Two months later,
"Easy." Sherlock says as he helps me out of Mycroft's limousine. "Ok, are you sure you don't stay in the hospital for the last few weeks?"
"Yes, Sherlock whatever-your-middle-name-is Holmes." I say as he takes ahold of my arms and guides me up the steps. "You're such a worrier."
"I am not!" he says. "There is always a distinct possibility that you could trip on the stairs. You always trip on escalators!"
"Escalators and stairs are different, one is moving and the other one isn't." I laugh. "Besides, I think I rather like getting treated like a queen with you catering to my every whim."
Sherlock rolls his eyes as he pushes the door open for me. "Don't get used to it."
"Then don't get me pregnant again!"
"I didn't force the issue."
"You know that I can't tell you 'no' and that's a fact!"
Sherlock and Linda giggle at our argument. Linda crosses her arms, mirroring her father. "Mommy looks pretty."
I groan as she pats my stomach. "I feel fat."
Sherlock rolls his eyes. "You look beautiful."
"Beautifully fat then."
"You look very well loved," he tilts my chin up. "and you are very, very loved."
I smile as Sherlock kisses me gently. The last two months had been very interesting to say the least. Sherlock and I talked, and I mean really talked. We talked about everything, our fears, our hopes, our dreams and our expectations. We shared the secrets that we'd been keeping from each other and we worked to resolve it between us.
Certain limitations had been set, like if Sherlock needed to 'cheat' on me again, or if I needed to 'seduce' someone. I was not looking forward to that, but, if it were for a case, everything would be discussed beforehand and reported afterwards. Nothing like showering together and definitely no sex whatsoever! Sharing beds was an option as long as one had pointed out clearly to the suspect that either spouse would instantly notice something amiss. I, was safe from having to explain much in that area, Sherlock had a harder job convincing the world that I was as intelligent as him.
Now, things were almost back to normal, Sherlock and I still had our little spats now and then. But we were pretty much back to our courtship/first marriage days. A groan from the kids caused us to pull apart. I turn away and ring the doorbell. Sherlock snorts and pushes the door open. "Come on, we don't need to wait for the butler. He's a dithering old fool anyway."
I shook him a look. "Sherlock!"
"Sorry Mom." I look down to see Sherlock taking his finger out of his mouth. He'd been biting his fingers lately.
Sherlock Sr. laughs at his son's apologetic face before rumpling his hair. "Don't worry, mummy was reprimanding me." I smile at them and Sherlock frowns at me. "What?"
"I just love when you let your emotional guard down with the children. It's so beautiful to see."
He says nothing as he reaches for my coat. I tremble as his fingers brush my neck. "Meet me in the library later?" he whispers in my ear.
"No."
"Come on." He begs quietly. "I'll make it worth your while."
I laugh. "No."
"Come on." He leans forward and purrs into my ear. "I owe you something, don't I?"
We actually haven't been intimate together; Sherlock was so concerned about hurting the baby that nothing John or I said would persuade him to make love to me. He insisted on waiting until I'd delivered the twins before we do anything like that. Still, there was quite a bit of touching, petting and kissing between us.
"Please." He presses a kiss on the pulse point of my neck. "It's going to be such fun." The doorbell rings and Sherlock groans. "That has to be John. He's the only one who rings when I'm getting ready to-
"Children are present." I remind him.
Sherlock opens the door and snaps at poor John. "You really have the most awful timing."
John frowns. "Hello to you as well." He looks at me and shakes his head. "He was having one of his handsy moments wasn't he?"
"Yes, he was." Mary comes in behind John, looking very sober faced. Things have been rather difficult with them lately. Mary says that John won't talk to her, she tries, but he won't say a word to her. I keep encouraging her to give him time. Poor John has been through so much. I clear my throat. "Right, Sherlock let's go find your parents."
Sherlock groans. "We actually want to find them?"
"Yes!"
He inhales and exhales deeply as he steps beside me. "And why are we doing this again?"
"Because we're both out of the hospital and I'm going to give birth in a few weeks. I think that's reason enough to get together. Besides, they want to see the children."
"Grandma! Grandpa!" Sherlock and Linda run towards their grandparents. Mycroft comes around the corner and they both let out a blood curdling scream before making these positively ridiculous faces at him. They couldn't have been more surprised if Frankenstein had come around the corner! Everyone, especially Mycroft, looked positively baffled by their reactions.
I look at Sherlock and find him attempting to keep from laughing. "Oh, you!" I snap. "What did you-
He laughs. "I didn't do anything!"
"I'll bet! Did you train them to scream when they see Mycroft's face?" I fight to keep from laughing. Sherlock laughs at me, causing me to burst out laughing. I cannot help but smile as he presses several kisses to my forehead. I turn aside from him and address Mycroft. "Mycroft," Sherlock kisses my neck and I jump. "I am so… sorry."
He nods. "Accepted Tammy." He glowers at Sherlock. "But it's not for you to say."
Sherlock's lips still on my neck, he pulls away, glowering at Mycroft before he helps me down the steps. "Why does everyone suspect I'm the one who's doing something?"
"Maybe it's because you're the child here and you act every inch of one." I hug Mr. and Mrs. Holmes. "Hello. Thank you for inviting us."
"It was our pleasure."
Sherlock stiffly hugs them. He initiated the hugs, so it was a start. I could see that his parents were equally surprised by his actions. I hug Mycroft around the shoulder. "Hello as well."
"Hello." He looks at Sherlock expectantly. "Hello brother."
Sherlock just gives him a cold stare. I clear my throat and glance around. "Will everyone excuse me for a moment?"
"Where are you going?" Sherlock asks.
"I'm going to investigate the kitchen for something to eat, if no one minds."
"Go on dear, help yourself." Mrs. Holmes waves a carefree hand. "When I was pregnant with Sherlock, I had the strangest cravings."
"Don't discuss it with her." Sherlock says. "She woke me up today at 2:00 in the morning to go get her a bag of potato chips!"
"I was hungry."
"You fell asleep after I got them."
"You took too long. Well anyway, thank you for the food suggestion. That sounds positively delicious." I waddle towards the kitchen. "I'll be back as soon as I find something."
"Take your time dear, the kitchen is yours."
"I will. I wonder if there's some ketchup as well." Sherlock falls in step beside me. I smile. "I am not completely incapable of finding myself a bag of potato chips and ketchup."
"You're seriously not going to eat those together are you? May I remind you that things that something's are best eaten separately. Honestly, some of the things you eat are positively disgusting together!" A huge cramp seized me and I grabbed his hand as I let out a gasp. "Tammy?" Sherlock's tone instantly turned from complaining to immediate concern. "Are you all right?"
I inhale deeply and announce very calmly. "My water broke."
"Oh God! John!" Sherlock shouts in terror. "John!" I can't help but smile at Sherlock's panic. "What do I do?!"
I laugh. "Calm down first, everything's fine."
"Everything is fine?! Everything is not fine!" John finally comes in the room and Sherlock shouts at him. "Where the hell have you been?" John jumps in surprise at Sherlock's outburst. "Tammy's having a baby and you're…racing a turtle!"
"I'm sorry John." I laugh lightly. "He's going to be a bit impatient. I don't need you; I've got a wait to go. My water just broke; we don't have to worry for a few more hours."
John nods. "Right. I'll see you later."
"Later?!" Sherlock shouts. "She's in labor!"
"You're a detective," John comments as he turns and walks away. "I don't have to worry about anything."
"Wait a minute!" Sherlock bellows. "You can't just walk away and leave her like this!"
"Sherlock, shut up!" I laugh. "I'm fine. Alexander and Scott aren't going to be here for a few more hours."
"Well…what am I supposed to do?!" Sherlock demands.
I shrug. "Help me find the potato chips and ketchup."
"GOD!" He shouts at me. "YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!"
I laugh and kiss him. "I am very serious. Come on, let's go." I let out a groan as a small labor pain hits me. Sherlock grabs ahold of my hands. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
He moves to pick me up and I step away. "Don't you dare touch me Sherlock, walking helps." I turn around and call loudly. "Mycroft!"
"What?" He says as he comes around the corner. "I heard all this shouting."
I laugh. "Will you take Sherlock out for a smoke?"
"What!?"
I laugh. "Just one cigarette, this once."
Sherlock stares at me in shock. "What? John!?" He shouts. "Tammy is clearly not well! She's just-
I cover his mouth with my hand. "Please, settle down."
"How can I settle down when-
"I'm fine. We'll go straight to the hospital after dinner."
"After dinner?!"
Mycroft places his hand on Sherlock's shoulder. "Come on brother. She'll be fine, she's done this before."
"Oh!" I call. "Ask Mary if she'll give me a hand. I suspected I was in labor so I brought a change of clothes."
"Tammy," Sherlock snaps. "this clearly qualifies as a lack of communication on your side!"
"I'm a mother. I was suspicious but I wasn't certain. Besides, you wouldn't have let us come here anyway."
"Tammy." Sherlock is now pleading with me. "Please, let's call an ambulance and get you to the hospital."
"Mycroft, get him out of here, now, please."
Sherlock protests as Mycroft drags him out of my sight. I blow him a kiss before turning and heading into the kitchen in pursuit of my snack.
