Chapter Twenty-seven: Settling

Three weeks since the initial phone call and everyone had finally managed to get together for a video call. Stephen set up his upgraded laptop on the table. Realizing that video calls may very well become a norm, he wanted to make sure that he had a screen large enough for everyone to fit and see.

"What if they don't like me?" Christine fretted.

"They'll love you," Stephen assured her. "If for no other reason than because you love me for who I am. And because I love you." He pecked her cheek before checking connections. He'd studied his old phone to see if he could figure out the interworld communication capabilities. He'd uncovered a couple garishly colored bits that he guessed were gummi pieces. So, when he'd gotten his new laptop, he'd slipped a gummi piece into the inner workings. He hoped that would be enough to help him get a connection. "Wong! Mordo!" he called. "Estimated call time: two minutes."

"We're coming," Mordo said, plopping into the chair beside him. "Aren't you dressing up?"

"Lounge day," Stephen answered. Yes, he was currently dressed in a slightly oversized hoodie and comfy sweatpants. But he'd spent the last two weeks running around being an overdressed wizard and neurosurgeon. He'd earned this.

"Any last minute warnings?" Wong asked, waiting for Christine to sit beside Stephen before settling on her other side.

"Be prepared to have your entire life story deduced by the most mundane thing on your person," Stephen said as a call tone sounded. He accepted the call.

"Hey!" The greeting and variations of it exploded between both sides for the next few seconds as Sherlock, John, Molly, and Kayla appeared on the screen.

"It's been too long, Stephen," Kayla said.

"Oh, I know it," Stephen answered. "Introductions. To my left, Mordo. Dour face on my right, Wong. And right beside me," he wrapped his arm round her shoulders, "the love of my life, Christine."

Christine looked up at him with a smile before focusing on the screen again.

"I'm John," John said. "You can guess who Sherlock is. The lovely lady beside him is Molly. And the beautiful lady next to me is Kayla." He stole a quick kiss on her cheek, prompting a teasing slap to his chest.

"Congratulations are overdue I see," Sherlock said.

Stephen rolled his eyes in good humor. "For what, dear brother? And why overdue?"

Sherlock rattled off, "Christine is wearing a ruby and diamond ring set in silver and rose gold. Unless fashions are vastly different between worlds, that is a custom piece. She has also taken special care of her makeup and clothing choices, trying to go for a relaxed chic. An attempt to impress without making it overtly obvious. This would indicate either an engagement or a wedding. Stephen's finger is lacking a ring, thus an engagement.

"While cared for, the ring has signs of being worn for some time. It has occasionally been removed, possibly because it would snag the latex gloves required in her profession as a doctor and surgeon, so it has yet to adhere to her finger. That makes exact time a little difficult to determine but I'd say six months overdue." Sherlock raised an eyebrow in silent challenge.

"Off by about a year," Stephen answered.

Sherlock scowled, snapping a finger in frustration.

Yapping exploded as a bundle of silky auburn fur started leaping into Sherlock's face.

"Nemo, down!" Sherlock ordered.

The pup continued to wiggle happily against Sherlock's chest until Sherlock grabbed hold of him.

Stephen chuckled. "Since when did you get a dog?"

"Two weeks ago," Molly answered. "According John, it's a . . . how did you put it?"

"Don't know if it's early, late, or on time birthday present," John supplied.

"You named a dog after a clownfish?" Christine asked.

"Captain Nemo," Sherlock drawled. "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. French classic."

"Oh, sorry," Christine said.

Sherlock shrugged. "Not everyone has the patience for it."

John lightly smacked Sherlock's shoulder. "Bit not good. So," he turned back to Stephen, "care to share what you've done before Sherlock deduces it out of you?"

"Everyone comfortable?" Stephen asked, leaning back.

"Now I get why you called lounge day," Mordo said.

"Holmes don't do anything by halves," Stephen said.

"Everyone's as comfortable as we will be," Molly said.

"Okay. Well, first," Stephen started, "I called Riku to help me get off world when I realized my magic and our world weren't mixing well."

Hours passed as Stephen recounted what had happened for the past five years, focusing at the start and the past year. Mordo and Wong filled in important information on Kaecilius and the Ancient One. Christine offered insight on various happenings, especially Kairi's appearance. Once the story was finished, Stephen felt drained and exhausted.

He sank back, closing his eyes. Christine's kiss to his cheek prompted a weak smile and a slitted eye.

"Wow," Molly murmured.

"You doing okay?" Kayla asked.

"Relatively at least," Stephen answered.

"He's actually recovering better than my Stephen," Wong put in. "He didn't do more than hint what he went through with Dormammu for over a year. It's roughly half that time." He smiled a little. "Then again, my Stephen didn't have near the same amount of support."

"And that's not gonna change," Christine said, squeezing Stephen's hand.

"Agreed," Mordo said.

"Quadruple, here," John said.

"Is there a date set?" Sherlock asked.

Stephen chuckled as his mind shifted to follow Sherlock's tangent. "We wanted to make sure there was the possibility of you being able to come to the wedding before we decided."

"Hm," Sherlock said. "Unanimous approval. How soon can everything be arranged? Or shall we fly over to help with all the arrangements?"

"Thank you," Stephen said, rousing himself. "Um about," he turned to Christine, "a month?"

"Two," she supplied.

"Two months, and you don't have to," Stephen said. "It would appear rather odd if you all just disappeared for two months."

Sherlock shrugged as though it would be nothing.

"Do you have your dress picked out?" Molly asked.

"Your colors?" Kayla asked.

"Yes, I can show you when it's just us girls," Christine answered. "Stephen and I chose navy blue and heather gray."

"Please, do not descend into female prattle," Sherlock drawled.

Molly lightly slapped him.

"While I may have worded it better," John said, "I agree with the sentiment."

"We'll refrain then," Kayla said.

"But before we shut it down completely," Christine said, "would the both of you like to be my bridesmaids?"

"We'd be honored," Molly said as Kayla nodded eagerly.

"Sherlock, John, groomsmen?" Stephen asked.

"Of course, Stephen," John said with a wide smile.

"Fitting dates," Wong said.

"We can discuss over the phone," Mordo said. He smiled. "I think that Stephen is due for bed."

Stephen rolled his eyes. "I'm not a child."

"No, you've just been running yourself ragged and staying up all hours," Mordo countered. "And you have training in the morning."

"Mordo—" Stephen started.

A strain of violin music slipped through.

Stephen turned back to the screen to see John looking thoroughly amused, Kayla smiling, and Molly adoring, all their focus on something out of the camera's range.

John turned their device so that they could see Sherlock standing at the darkened window, playing his violin.

Sherlock raised an eyebrow. "I may tolerate and encourage your differences from me, but I refuse to let you fall to my vices."

Stephen chuckled, the violin music already relaxing his mind. "Okay, point taken."

"We need a recording of your music, Sherlock," Mordo said. "This is the fastest I've seen Stephen settle down."

"We'll see if we can get a cd to you when we come for fittings," John said.

"The entire lot of you will be conspiring against me from now on, won't you?" Stephen asked, slumping down.

Christine lightly finger-combed his hair. "Only for your own good," she said. She kissed his temple. "Now, relax."

He rolled his eyes with a tired smile before he settled down beside her. He continued to half-listen as his two families continued to get acquainted with each other. But slowly, their voices and Sherlock's violin faded into a pleasant lullaby. As he drifted into sleep, he couldn't help thinking, This is my life, and it's perfect.


Author's Note: I had to give everyone a chance to meet and catch up. I enjoyed getting a chance to see them interact. And I'll confess to being inspired by some of the photos for Dr. Strange's latest appearances (at they were latest appearances at the time of my writing in Nov-Dec 2021). I had to let Stephen have a chance to lounge in his sweat shirt.

Kayla is borrowed from and with the permission of GoodShipSherlollipop.

Welp. Only one installment left. See you there next week.