Notes: Hello and welcome back if this is your first time reading this fic thank you for joining. Sorry, it took me longer than I said it would to upload this chapter. I had to write another essay for class which was just a tad bit more important but better later than never right. So here's the chapter enjoy!
Sherlock stood at the door of Molly's flat. It crossed his mind that this was the first time that he had ever been here. He made a mental note to remember this place - it might come in useful for a case in the future. He checked his watch. He was two minutes earlier than the time that he and Molly had decided. He knocked on the door anyway. It wasn't long before it opened.
In front of him was Molly, her hair was up in a ponytail like it always was in the lab, though she wasn't wearing one of her normal jumpers due to the heatwave that London was experiencing. She was just in a plain yellow top and jeans. It made Sherlock smile slightly; this was definitely a Molly Hooper look.
"Hi Sherlock, good to see that you have made it. Do you want to come in?"
"Well, I didn't plan to spend dinner out here," Sherlock said as he walked into the flat.
"Okay well, this is going to be fun," Molly said as she shut the door.
"Where's Sam?" Sherlock asked.
"She's in her room I'm sure she will be out in a moment when she hears your voice."
Sherlock looked around the flat. It was very big. There was a kitchen with a few islands; from what he remembered about Molly from university was that she loved to cook, and this was a dream kitchen for her. He walked past a wheelchair that was folded up against the wall. He guessed that it was the one from the pool the other day. As he walked into the living room/dining area he saw many pictures of Sam, some being school pictures, others of her and Molly at the beach. There was even one of Sam when she couldn't have been any older than seven with his parents stood outside their house in the country.
"She knows my parents?" Sherlock asked as he pointed at the photo.
"Oh yes, they get on really well. Sam loves them and they love her. She spends most school breaks with them. The only time in the holidays she is not with them is when she goes and stays with my brother and his family in America, but that's mainly in the summer." Molly felt herself rambling on and mentally told herself to shut up.
"So, turns out condoms don't always prevent pregnancy," Sherlock said. "Never thought I'd have kids, never particularly wanted them but I guess here we are."
"Yes," Molly said slightly trying not to show that the comment hurt. She turned away and called, "Sam your fath- Sherlock is here."
Sam had briefly heard her parents talking in the living room. Sherlock's voice was just that bit louder than her mother's, so she had heard every word that he had said. Sam stood by her door giving herself a moment before she walked into the living room.
Opening the door she walked into the living room. As she got closer to Sherlock she wasn't sure whether she should hug her dad, and at the last moment she put her hand out so he could shake it.
"Hello Sherlock, good to see you again. I'm glad you finally know about me. At least now Mycroft and others-" Sam said, turning to look at her mum, "don't have to keep me hidden from you. I hope you're going to step up and actually be a part of my life and not just bugger off when things get too difficult."
"It's good to see you too, Sam. I'm glad I finally know about you. I'm going to be in your life," Sherlock said before he realised the words were coming out of his mouth. "I brought you something," he said as he pulled a neatly wrapped package from his coat pocket. As he handed it over, he remembered what John had said to him earlier that day. He just hoped that John would be wrong, and Sam would like it.
John walked into the living room of Baker Street to see Sherlock trying to wrap up a teddy bear. He seemed to be getting more and more frustrated with the paper each time he tried to stick it together, and to make matters much worse he had Sellotape stuck all over his hands.
"You alright there, Sherlock? Do you need a hand?"
"Does it look like I need any help?" the detective snapped.
"Yes, it does," said John.
"It's not easy like a box or a book; it's a stupid shape and it's ridiculous - nobody can wrap this."
"Look, I'll help you." John offered, sitting down in his chair.He took the wrapping paper and the gift from Sherlock and began to wrap it while the detective set to work on freeing his hands. "This is for Sam, isn't it?"
"Well, I certainly didn't buy it for you," said an annoyed Sherlock.
"Sherlock, I'm not saying your present isn't a bad one, it's just, do you think it's a bit young for Sam?"
"Gavin suggested I buy her a gift, so that's what I did."
"Oh, and what did you do type into Google 'what's the best first gift to buy my daughter?'"
Sherlock shifted in his chair so he didn't have to look at his roommate. "Possibly," came his reply.
"Though there is that old saying it's the thought that counts," John said as he finished wrapping the last bit. He got up and handed it to Sherlock. "I hope everything goes okay tonight, mate."
Sam looked at her mum as she took the gift from Sherlock. Molly gave her a warning look that Sam knew meant to be nice. She looked at it slightly but couldn't work out what it was. She slowly started to pull the wrapping paper off to reveal a small teddy. The teddy bear itself looked like an old-fashioned detective with its Victorian style clothing, pipe and magnifying glass reminding Sam of the books her grandad read to her before he died.
Sam wasn't going to lie that she found the present really sweet but at the same time, she felt too old for it. "Aw it's so cute," she said in a voice that didn't really sound like her own.
Sherlock could tell that she was putting on a face to make him feel happy. Maybe John was right, she probably was too old for the gift. "I thought 'cause I'm a consulting detective it would remind you of my work."
"Sam, what do you say to Sherlock?"
"Thanks, Sherlock I love it."
"How about we have some dinner before it all gets cold and we can all maybe talk. I went out and got dinner just before you got here, Sherlock, I hope fish and chips is okay with you?" Molly asked as she guided everyone to the dinner table.
"That's perfect - fish and chips is one of my favourites," Sherlock said.
"Mine too," Sam said quickly.
"See, you two have something in common already." Molly smiled. "Sam, I thought you could sit at the top of the table so Sherlock and I will be on either side of you."
"But that's where Grandad used to sit. We don't use that spot cause it's his," Sam said.
"Sam, it will be fine for one night. I know Dad won't mind you using it."
Sam listened to her mum and walked over to the chair. She stood by it for a moment.
"Do you need help getting on the chair?" Sherlock asked. "I could pull it out for you if you'd like."
"If I need help, I'll ask for it." Sam said abruptly as she sat down Molly gave her daughter a warning look. "But thanks for the offer," she quickly added.
"Sherlock, do you want to sit in that chair?" Molly suggested, pointing to the chair on the opposite side of the table.
"Oh, okay," he said, taking his seat.
Molly left the two alone while she started to dish out the food. "I got you a piece of cod -that's what you always had in Uni?"
"Yes. That's lovely, thank you, Molly. Do you need any help?"
Molly found it odd hearing Sherlock be so polite, but she knew it was because Sam was there, and he was trying to be nice. "Sherlock, you're fine; why don't you and Sam talk and get to know each other a little bit?"
The moment Molly said that, all the questions he planned to ask his daughter left his mind. What do you say to your child you've only just met who was practically a teenager? "So um, what's your favourite and least favourite subjects in school?"
Sam rolled her eyes. He went for basic question number one. "I hate Maths and Science - they're boring and I don't understand them."
"You hate science," Sherlock said, shocked. He almost wanted to laugh - how could his and Molly's child hate science? "Molly, can you believe she hates science?"
"I know, crazy right? What are the chances?" Molly responded as she walked into the room carrying two plates of food in her hand and put them down in front of Sherlock and Sam. She left again to go grab her own and then sat down opposite Sherlock. "You'd think she would be some science whiz but sadly, no."
"So, what subjects do you like?" Sherlock asked.
"Well, I like English 'cause I love to write, but also drama. Pretending to be someone else is fun plus Grandma and Gramps always take me to the theatre when they come to London."
"Gramps?" Sherlock asked, slightly shocked.
"That's what she calls your father," Molly put in.
Sherlock found it strange to hear his own father be referred to in that way. After a couple more mouthfuls of chips, he started to ask more questions such as what were her favourite TV shows, books; what she liked to do in her spare time.
After a while, Sherlock began to run out of questions and things got a little bit quieter, that was, until Sam asked a question. "So, Sherlock, how does it feel to have a child, or do you wish the condom worked?" Molly almost kicked her as Sherlock nearly choked on his mouthful of fish.
"Sam," Molly said using her mum voice "you shouldn't say that."
Sherlock who had now cleared his airway spoke: "Molly, it's fine."
"No, Sherlock, Sam can't talk to people like that; it's rude." She looked at her daughter. Apologise to Sherlock, now."
"Mum, I only said it because I heard him say he never particularly wanted kids in the first place. I just wanted to know if his opinion had changed."
"Yes, but that is something we don't discuss at the dinner table. Are you going to apologise?"
"But, Mum?" Sam tried to say.
"I think you should go finish your food in your room. When you've finished and think you are grown up enough to say sorry then you can come back out and join us."
Sam got up and grabbed her plate as she walked down the hall. As Sherlock watched her go, he quickly asked Molly a question. "By any chance, does Sam have a TV, laptop or phone in her bedroom?
Molly's eyes went wide; she knew that all three were in her daughter's room. "On second thoughts, go eat in the guest bedroom. The same rules apply, come out when you know you are ready to say sorry." Molly was sure she heard Sam mutter something under her breath as she walked into the guest bedroom. "Don't make me ground you because you know that I will if I have to," she called.
Sherlock expected the guest bedroom door to slam but it didn't. "Sorry about Sam. She's not normally that forward. Well, she can be sometimes, just not to strangers. Not that you are a stranger, but you're just new to her." Molly trailed off.
"Molly, it's fine," Sherlock said as he picked up a napkin that was on the table to wipe his hands. "I've had far worse things said to me. You seem to have done a good job with her."
"I try my best. My dad was good with her when I was getting back into university, and now your family helps a lot, especially Mycroft."
"Mycroft," said Sherlock sceptically as he raised an eyebrow.
"I know it comes as a surprise, right? He always makes sure she has the right medical care and actually pays for her to have it privately."
"Is that all going okay?" Sherlock asked.
"Well it's lifelong, it's not going anywhere, but yes, things are going okay for now. She does have surgery coming up in the summer holidays. You can come visit her in the hospital if you'd like, depending on whether you have a case or not."
"If she wants me there, I will be there, case or no case. I could be there on the day if you'd like"
Molly thought about this for a moment. "I think I'll leave it up to Sam."
As Molly finished talking, Sam left the guest bedroom with an empty plate. She walked over to the table and stood next to her mother. "I would like to apologise for my behaviour earlier, and it was wrong of me to say what I said." she said grudgingly.
Molly wasn't completely convinced but would let it slide just this once. "I accept your apology. Sherlock, do you?"
"Oh, er yes, of course," the detective said uncomfortably.
"Right, with that settled, Sam, you will be doing the washing up tonight, just so I know you are really sorry for what you have done."
"What, really?" said a frustrated Sam. "But I've already said I'm sorry."
"That might be so but kitchen now, please." Molly gestured towards the kitchen. "Oh, and you can make sure Toby gets fed while you are in there too, please."
"Molly? Can Sam really do the washing up I mean is it safe for her to do because of her…" Sherlock started to point at his legs.
"It's her legs that don't work, Sherlock; her hands work perfectly fine for what I have asked her to do. Don't try and give her an excuse to get out of it because she will use it, believe me."
Sherlock felt slightly upset that he got it wrong. "Oh, okay."
"Though if you're that worried you can supervise her if you'd like," Molly said, handing him her plate.
He took the plate and picked up his own. Once in the kitchen he saw Sam stood on a step to help her get to the sink. Height really was something she had got from Molly and not himself.
"I've already put Toby's food out." Sherlock looked down and saw a slightly tubby cat he stepped over it to get to the sink. "I wash, you dry," Sam said as he took the plates. "Tea towel is just there."
"Okay," Sherlock said as he picked the tea towel up and started to dry all the objects that had been left on the draining board. "You'll have to tell me where all these go afterwards."
"Can't you deduce where they go?" Sam challenged.
"Yep," the detective said in his normal manner, "but I would rather have you tell me."
The two set to work in getting the washing up done and put away. They got into a nice little routine, that was until Sam spoke once again. "Mum told me you were not nice to her at Bart's yesterday."
Sherlock felt like he'd been put on the spot. "She did?"
"She didn't tell me the specifics, just that it wasn't nice and that it upset her. What she doesn't know is that I contacted Mycroft, he's pretty useful to have him being in charge of the British government and all. He was able to get full audio of the conversation."
"Oh," Sherlock gulped.
"I want to make one thing very clear with you, Sherlock. I'm going to give you two chances. If you ever treat my mum like that again and disrespect her, whether with me present or not I will know about it. If that is done twice, I don't want anything to do with you. My mum has kept me safe for all these years. Do you think it's been easy for me not having a father figure in my life, not having a normal family like other kids? No, it hasn't. This is new for all of us, and I want to make it work if that's what you want."
"Yes, that is what I'd like if you wish."
"So be nice to my mum, she's my family, and I don't like seeing her upset, she also works very hard at her job, and looking after me is not easy."
"I understand," Sherlock said. He found it odd how intimidating a twelve-year-old girl could be when they had a point to prove.
"I am sorry for what I said earlier. I know Mum doesn't believe me, but I am."
"I know," smiled Sherlock.
Sam finished drying the last thing and handed it to Sherlock. Once it was away, he passed her the towel so she could dry her hands. "Sherlock, would you mind helping me down?"
"What do I need to do?" he asked.
"Hold out your hands and let me hang on to them while I try to get my feet to work."
Sherlock did as he was instructed and was able to help his daughter.
"Thanks," Sam said shyly.
"Sam, I just want you to know, yes, the condom should have worked, quite frankly I rather it would have been nicer, but as I've now found out, its only something like 97% effective but hey, you're here, so I mean I guess that's good. I get to try this parenting thing." Sherlock laughed slightly as if he was telling a joke. A joke that only he got.
"Yes," Sam said, forcing smile on to her face.
Molly walked into the room. "Aw, you've both finished, that's good. Wasn't that hard was it?"
"No, Mum," Sam said.
Molly knew Sam wasn't okay - something had happened. "You okay, love?"
"Fine Mum, just feeling a bit tired." Sam faked a yawn.
Sherlock saw this and took it as his cue to leave. "I think I'm going to leave you both. Thanks for this lovely evening."
"Thank you for coming over, Sherlock," Molly said. "You're welcome to come over again sometime."
"I'd like that."
Molly turned to Sam and gave her a nudge. "Yes, thanks for coming over," Sam said uninterestedly.
Sherlock stepped forward to try and give her a hug but at the last minute she stuck her hand out for him to shake once again.
He felt a sting of pain go over him. He couldn't work out what he did to upset her. "Maybe I can take you out on a case sometime." Molly narrowed her eyes at him "One your mother approves of, of course."
Sam put a smile on her face. "That would be nice."
Molly could sense the tension from her daughter. She quickly wrapped up the conversation with Sherlock and got him out of the flat as quickly as she could. Once back in the flat she saw that Sam had moved to the living room with her phone in hand.
"Sammy, what's wrong?"
"Nothing Mum, I don't want to talk about i."
"You sure?"
"Yes, Mum I think I might go give my grandparents a call, then I might go to bed."
Molly looked at the clock on the wall - it said 6:30 pm. "Are you sure you're feeling okay? You're not ill?" She walked over and put her hand on Sam's head. It was a normal temperature.
Sam moved her head away from Molly. "I'm fine, just tired, I promise." Sam got herself up off the sofa. Before she walked to her room, her mum kissed her on the forehead. "Love you, Mum"
"I love you too, don't forget to take your tablets."
"I won't."
"'I'll come and check on you in a bit. Shout if you need anything."
"Will do." Sam walked into her room and shut the door. Now she was alone she let herself cry. Flinging her body on the bed she cried into her pillow, hoping her mum wouldn't be able to hear her. When she felt slightly more okay, she sat up and grabbed her phone and dialled a number. Even though she was still crying she wanted to hear his voice. It wasn't long before he picked up.
"Hello sweet pea, how nice of you to call. Are you okay?" came the voice on the other line.
"Gramps," Sam said through tears. "I've met him and well I-" she gulped for air, as more tears came. "I don't think he really wants me."
Notes: So that's the chapter. What did you think about Sam was she a bit out of line or did she have every right to say what she said to him. Now she has involved the grandparents expect to see more of them very soon.
I hope you like this chapter. If you could be so kind as to just leave a little review to let me know what they think. They defiantly help with getting chapters written faster.
Also, thanks to goodshipsherlollipop for beta reading this more me. Thank you :-)