Hello everyone.
As promised a new chapter. I was actually going to make it even longer but didn't want to keep you guys waiting anymore.
See first chapter for disclaimer.
The next morning, while Emma was eating breakfast, Amelia knocked loudly on Sherlock's door.
"Sherlock can you hear me?" she said. She waited until she heard a sort of hmm from behind the door to let her know he was listening. " Clean yourself up, and then come have lunch with us later. EJ wants to see you." Amelia walked away satisfied, certain Sherlock would come out later. But the lunch hour passed and Emma and Amelia ate, but still no sign of Sherlock. Near dinner time Amelia went to his door again.
"Sherlock, I'm serious come out here. Emma needs to see you." She stated firmly, "I expect you out here in a few minutes."
But soon dinner time was over, and still bedtime came upon them and still no sign of Sherlock. Amelia tucked Emma in again with a smile on her face, but she was absolutely furious at Sherlock.
"Auntie." EJ asked, "Are you sure daddy in't mad at me? At us?" Amelia took a deep breath.
"Don't worry sweetie, I'm sure he's not mad, he's just sad, but I'm sure we'll see him soon."
"Okay, goodnight Auntie." Emma said.
"Goodnight EJ, are you gonna be okay tonight?" Amelia asked her small niece.
"Yes." Emma replied confidently. Amelia gave her niece a kiss and left her door cracked.
Amelia did everything to keep herself busy until Emma fell asleep.
After Amelia had checked on Emma twice, to be sure she was asleep, Amelia walked with purpose to Sherlock's door.
"Sherlock, open the door, we need to talk." Amelia's words were loud enough for him to hear but not loud enough to wake Emma. Yet there was no answer from beyond the door, Amelia knocked again.
"Sherlock. Open this door before I force my way in." Amelia demanded. Still she received no reply, Amelia pulled a bobby pin out of her hair. While Erica and Sherlock had been dating, he had taught Erica how to pick locks, a lesson Erica had repeated to Amelia on one of their sister nights in. Amelia picked the lock soon enough and opened the door.
"Sherlock, we have to….." She dropped off. When she entered the room she saw Sherlock sitting against the wall, with syringes by his side and what was clearly drugs on the table. Amelia quietly closed the door behind her, Erica had known of Sherlock's drug problem, and broken it, but now that she was gone…
Amelia quickly strode over to Sherlock and felt his pulse, it was fairly normal so he had probably had his last dose much earlier in the day. She quickly picked up Sherlock under his arms and dragged him to the couch, he started to moan a bit, so he was close to waking up. She then took all the syringes and drugs on the table and threw them away and closed the trash bag. Amelia made her way to the kitchen and made a sandwich and a glass of juice, and carried it into Sherlock's office. She wiped down the table and put the food on it, and then Sherlock started to really wake up. Amelia shut the door in case things got loud, and stood over Sherlock with her arms crossed.
Sherlocks POV:
Sherlock woke suddenly. He felt like he had gotten hit by a bus, coming down off a high was never pleasant. But the effects were well worth it if it distracted him from his pain for a while.
Erica had been his everything. He didn't know what to do without her, she had shown him a whole new perspective on the world. She had shown him beauty, had taught him what she believed and why, he had never really paid attention in church until she came along. She had helped save him from so many things, and yet in the moment he should have protected her the most, he had been useless. The grief and guilt that riddled him everyday was non-stop, he almost felt he was betraying her in turning back to his drug habit. But what did it matter, she was gone.
He realized he had become lost in his thoughts again, that meant it was time for another dose. But to his surprise he looked and saw his table was clean…..and had food on it? At first he almost thought….no she was gone now. When he looked up he almost thought he could see her, except her hair was dark….no auburn..Amelia. He closed his eyes and groaned.
"Yeah I'd make that noise too."
He looked up and saw her with her arms crossed.
"It was not a pretty picture when I walked in here." She said.
He closed his eyes again. "Why are you here?" He half mumbled.
"Well you're so clever, figure it out." She replied, her eyes hardening. They softened again a moment later.
"Sherlock? What are you doing?"
"You saw what I was doing when you busted your way in here."
" No, I mean what are you doing."
Sherlock sighed. Parks women had this uncanny way of asking something completely different than what the words sounded like. And he was too tired to think hard enough about what she could actually mean.
"Too down after coming off your high you mean." She said. Had he said that out loud?
"What I mean Sherlock is what are you doing with your life."
"What life?" He said sarcastically.
"Sherlock, look at me" She said in a voice that brooked no argument, but at the same time was firm that he couldn't help but listen.
"Haven't you forgotten something."
" I don't forget anything, sometimes I wish I could." Her eyes softened even more.
"Haven't you forgotten someone?" She said gently.
His eyes widened
Emma.
"She hasn't stopped asking about you, you know. She's afraid she's going to lose you too."
He didn't answer, he was too wrapped up in a memory.
*Flashback*
Erica was 8 months pregnant, and he had just come in from a case far too late.
"What are you still doing up?" He asked. "You should be resting."
"Well," Erica replied, putting down the book she had been reading, "I guess I'm waiting up for my husband. To, you know, make sure he comes home tonight."
Sherlock sighed.
"You know my cases sometimes cause me to keep unconventional hours, and while it was okay that you waited up for before, you have someone else to worry about now."
Erica laughed.
"Oh Sherlock, just because I'm about to be a mother, doesn't mean I'll stop worrying about you." She smiled
"That's not what I meant, you know it, I know it. I bet the little one even knows it. Stop distracting me from the fact that you're up."
Erica's smile lessened slightly.
"I meant what I said, I worry about you Sherlock, and it isn't just me."
Sherlock gave her a puzzled frown.
"Sherlock, every time I have tried to lay down to sleep tonight, this little one has persistently kicked me in the ribs until I have gotten back up." Erica continued, rubbing her swollen stomach. "It's as if she knows when you're not close by, that you still haven't come home yet. Between her, and my own worries, it's impossible to sleep."
Erica wore a smile again as she rose from the couch, walked over to him, and took his hands in hers.
"I don't know if you've noticed yet, Mr. Holmes, but everything is about to change, already has changed." She put both his hands on her stomach, "When this little girl comes into the world Sherlock, we'll be Parents. Honest to goodness parents. Do you know what that means? It means that we can't be selfish anymore. We have someone else to think of now. If something happens to you during one of your cases it won't just be me you leave alone anymore." she looked imploringly into his gaze. "It will be her too." Erica's eyes seemed to glisten with tears.
Sherlock looked into the eyes of the woman he loved, she was his world, his everything. And so was the little miracle she carried inside her. He knew he needed to make a decision.
"I finished the case tonight," he said, " And it will be my last case." He said with finality.
Erica shook her head. "No Sherlock, that's not what I'm saying," she smiled a little. " I would never ask you to give up something you love, I'm just asking you to be careful."
Sherlock smiled back at her "That's one of the reasons I love you, and It's one of the reasons you will be a great mother." He continued. "Nonetheless it will be my last case…"
She was about to interrupt him, and he put a finger to her lips.
"...for a while. My last case for a while. I planned to stop anyway, especially while we have a newborn. WIth the due date drawing near it won't hurt if I stop a little early, because you Mrs. Holmes are my whole world and so is our little girl."
Erica smiled. "And that Mr. Holmes is why you will be a great father." They shared a smile
"But" she added, " The due date is still some time away, promise me you'll treat yourself to one more case before we become parents." She said with a smile.
Sherlock grinned , "I promise."
" Good." Erica said. "And now we have another name to add to the list."
Sherlock looked at her questioningly.
"SInce this little girl is going to be our whole world. I think we should name her Emma.
Sherlock smiled.
*End of Flashback*
Sherlock would have kicked himself if he could. He had done the one thing she said they couldn't do anymore. He had been selfish. He had been so caught up in his own grief that he had forgotten his little girl. His Emma. Who had just lost her mother, and yet hadn't bothered him, had spared him the pain of telling her. And while he had been locked away with his drug habit she hadn't stopped asking about him. Hadn't stopped worrying. He still had someone to worry about him, still had someone to care for.
"Where is she!" he half yelled, almost cried.
"Shhh" Amelia said, "She's asleep by now."
Sherlock sighed. Half in relief, half in despair.
"She cried for you last night." Amelia said sadly, " She tried not to show it, but when I came close she asked me if you were going away like her mother did."
Sherlock almost stopped breathing.
"Look Sherlock." Amelia said factually, "I know you're heartbroken, I know you're angry, and sad, and lonely. But so am I, and so is she. If it was just you and me who were heart broken, then I would leave you to your own methods of coping." She laughed painfully. "Heck, I might be tempted to try some myself. But it's not just you and me Sherlock. It's her too. ANd i don't think she could bear to lose anyone else! SO don't you dare break that little girl's heart William Sherlock Scott! Because if you break her heart you won't just break the sweetest little girl in the world! You'll break what's left of Erica too!" Amelia was almost shouting now. It was only the presence of the sweet little girl sleeping down the hall that kept her from screaming at the top of her lungs.
Amelia took a deep breath. "I love you like a brother, Sherlock. But if you break Emma I will not be held responsible for my actions." She took another deep breath. "There's a sandwich, some juice, and a dose of Ibuprofen. Take them. Don't. It's entirely up to you." With that Amelia walked out and shut the door to his rooms. Sherlock lingered for what felt like hours, staring after her, and thinking on what she told him. Eventually he slowly reached for the things on the table.
Next Time: Sherlock decides to be the parent Emma needs, and the detective needed to solve a case. Please Review. Knowing anyone is still looking at this fic would be a great comfort.