Mary came over the day of the baby shower. She hadn't seen Sherlock since she told him no and she was worried about how his family would take it that they weren't together anymore. She didn't want their money or presents anymore. If she could get Mary to let them know they didn't have to come it would be easier.
She would be less panicked about the day coming. As it was she was nervous to see if Sherlock would even turn up.
Mary has very gender neutral decoration and John had stayed away with Rosie and she could assume he was with Sherlock. She hoped at least.
She sat there, the ridiculous mommy to be sash around her like the people coming wouldn't be able to tell. She had about enough of the festivities when they hadn't even started yet.
She was 38 weeks, having fake contractions and feeling just as she figured she would when Sherlock would have left her. Lonely and miserable.
And like a poet once said... once miserable being finds other miserable beings... only then is it happy.
Molly was in a sour mood, the baby kicking like it was in protest of being away from Sherlock and she had to admit... she was already annoyed that he didn't try harder.
Made her realize he wouldn't stick around when things got hard. When the baby fussed too much or got sick. She made the right decision.
"Mary..." Molly callee from the kitchen when she couldn't reach her favorite tea.
"Yes honey?" Mary came in, wide smile on her face and waited.
"He put my favorite too far up. I can't find my stool and I want some. Can you climb up and get it?" Molly pointed at the top shelf and Mary nodded and went to get one of the chairs.
Getting it down and handing it over to Molly she noticed how upset she was. "What's the matter?"
"I was okay with having the baby on my own... then he waltzed in here... saying all the right things," Molly wipes her eyes, she had tried to tell herself not to cry today. "Then I say no and he leaves and just dropped me. I was right. And I didn't want to be."
Looking at Mary, Molly could tell she didn't get it. She she explained about her worries and how Sherlock had every right to walk away from her and the baby.
"Oh love... he didn't want to leave you. He just figured you would call when you wanted him here." Mary hugged Molly for a long time before Molly had to head to the loo to clean up.
It took a half hour to get the rest of the flat set up for the baby shower. And only ten more minutes for people to show up.
She was sat on the rocking chair Mary pulled out of the bedroom and hugged the propel who showed up. Then John and Rosie walked in. He smiled, kissed her cheek and winked before nodding walking to see Mary.
Rosie reaches for her and John, not worries about what the extra weight would do to Molly since she was sitting offered her up.
Rosie climbed gently kicking the belly trying to get to Molly's face. And then... the unexpected happened. A cramp hit Molly and she pushed Rosie away from the belly and whines sharply.
"John." She called and she saw him look over and wrap up the conversation before getting Rosie. She sat back, out of breath a bit and moved her hips. That was a new kind of cramp.
She closed her eyes when everyone left her for a moment and was surprised to be kissed on the lips. She opened her eyes and squinted to see Sherlock standing there, kneeling quickly. "Hi."
"Hi." She whispered back and he smiled softly.
"Brought my parents. They were a bit late, apparently they ripped the wrapping paper and needed to re wrap it." He told her and Molly looked over his shoulder to see them waiting to say hello.
"Help me up." She told him and he nodded and moved to her front. He helped a bit but as soon as she was pushing herself up she felt the cramping away and then... a gust of water. "Oh no." She looked down at the wet dress and sash and then up to Sherlock who looked surprised.
"John!" Sherlock shouted and looked back to see his friend looking over. "Get the car!"
"For what?" John asked and loved his way closer before noticing why they needed it.
"Oh dear..." Molly gulped and looked to his parents. "Guess this is the gender reveal we were promised." His mother joked and she smiled softly before the cramps... Well contractions, hit her again and he legs nearly gave out.
"Sit back down." Sherlock pushed on her hands a bit and she looked back to make sure the rocking chair was close enough.
"Shall we all head out... looks like this Baby shower is turning into a welcoming party!" Mary started shouting that she was sorry and that babies had their own timeline and that while their gifts were appreciated they would need to leave them and head out.
"Wait..." someone shouted and Sherlock looked to see one of the doctors from Bart's. "What's the gender?"
"You'll know soon enough. Out." Sherlock waved his hands at him and went to help Mary move the presents people were just leaving near the door.
He heard Molly gasp and looked over to see her trying to reach for her tea. That ended in another contraction.
"How far away did he park." Sherlock muttered and looked outside for the car John had.
"Sherlock, be a good man and get Molly up and rub her back." He heard Mary inside and he walked back in, noticing how his mother was in her kitchen at the stove warming more tea for Molly.
"Should she stand-"
"Yes Sherlock." Mary told him taking a bigger present back into the baby room.
"Okay." He hadn't thought it possible but all the knowledge he had read up on for Molly and the baby were nowhere to be found. He realized he was slightly panicking and his mind couldn't focus.
Molly held her hands up when he got closer and he lifted her, taking most of her weight and his hands went to her lower back, like he usually did he rubbed with just a bit of pressure.
"Ready!" He looked over to John and glared before feeling Molly take a cautious step. "Where is the baby bag?" He asked looking around and Sherlock looked at him.
"Next to the crib." Sherlock told him and moved to help Molly walk. The contractions weren't a problem until she was sitting and waiting for John and Mary to get Rosie settled.
Sherlock kept his hands on her back, rubbing and making sure she wasn't in pain. Once they were pulling up to the hospital she reached over, grabbing his knee and squeezing it so hard he was sure he would have scars from her nails.
He kept quiet though. His pain was nothing compared to a baby trying to push its way out of Molly.
He helped her into the wheelchair and grabbed the baby bag from John and they went to sit in the waiting room while he went with Molly to be checked in and then checked out in the delivery room.
He paced as they waited for their doctor and Molly tried her breathing techniques.
"Have you been having cramps all day?" He asked once he started counting in between her contractions.
"Just before Mary got there. Then Rosie kicked me softly and that's when they really started hurting." She told him and tried to push her legs open but still keeping the gown between her legs.
"I should have been around."
"I didn't make you go." She told him in a small snap and he looked to her and she winced and moved her right side.
"You told me no." He told her and she huffed.
"I'm not trapping you. This isn't you baby Sherlock. If you want to change your mind you can. The baby is going to be loud and noisy and get spit up everywhere... it's not your ideal life." She told him and looked at her belly. "I did this. And you don't have to be here."
"Well I am. I am right here. Like I said I would be. The baby is going to be noisy and smelly and I can't do anything about that. It's how babies are."
"And if the baby looks like the donor... nothing like you or me. What then. Just another reminder that it isn't yours. That you could leave any time you wanted."
"I already told you I didn't want to leave." He rolled his eyes and looked around before hearing a doctor knock.
"Hello! Heard you went into labor at your baby shower." The man pushed his way in, getting gloves, washing his hands. Making idle conversations and weeding his way through the tension on the room and moved to sit in front of Molly. "Shall we see how far apart you are?" He asked and she nodded.
He set the bed up to be more of a holster and she slid her legs in and Sherlock moved to her, holding his hand out to her and as the doctor checked she squeezed his hand hard. "You're only about 4 centimeters. Might be a while yet." He told them and Sherlock nodded and he said he would be back in an hour to check again.
"Why do you think I would even want to leave?"
"Because you love your Belfast and quiet." She whispered and he held her hand a bit tighter.
"No. I love you. And the baby. Mine by blood or not. I already told you. It's mine. If it comes out with red hair and green skin I wouldn't care."
"But you could. Later."
"Molly-"
"You change your mind so fast on things Sherlock. What if it's got colic and you can't sleep-"
"I rarely sleep as it is. I would stay up with him or her while you got rest." He told her with a shrug and she sighed and shook her head. "And I don't change my mind on the most important things."
"Like what?"
"How I take my coffee. You're just like my black with two sugars. Constant." He leaned over, hand on her belly, lips skimming her forehead and she sniffles.
"Then why did you leave?"
"You locked me out of the room. I figured I upset you somehow and went to John." He told her and she nibbles her lip before sighing. "I am with you because I want to be Molly. I want you and this baby... and trust me... I am never going to decide otherwise. You're stuck with me."
"And you're stuck with me then." She told him and he smiled wide. Digging through his pants and then pulling out the same ring.
"I was going to ask again in front of everyone." He told her and she laughed. She would have said yes if he asked again.
"Ask again." She fueled her fingers up and he paused and looked up at her.
"Molly Hooper... will you please marry me?"
"Yes I will." She straightened her fingers and he slipped the band on perfectly.
"Good because you're never going to marry anyone else." He kissed the ring on her hand and moved to sit beside her.
"What's your guess Sherlock." She rubbed a hand over her belly and he leaned his head down and kissed her bump.
"Girl." He told her seriously and she shrugged and bit her lip.
"And if it's a boy?"
"Guess I'll be in charge of potty training." He laughed lightly and made her giggle.
"And a girl would eventually be in love with a boy." She told him and saw a tick in his jaw.
"When she's 25 maybe." He said and kissed the bump.
Molly and Sherlock waited and suffered through the arduous waiting until she was ready to push.
He held her hand, her leg, and gave her small kisses despite her being sweaty.
She pushed a baby into the world just before the day was over. A little girl, 8pounds, 7 ounces. Dark fluffy hair, grey eyes. A button nose and a small mouth.
She looked like Molly.
Sherlock held her first while Molly finished delivering the afterbirth and he brought her over, letting Molly see her.
"Ten fingers ten toes, clear airways... and working lungs and vocal cords." The doctor laughed as he finished up with Molly.
"She's perfect." Molly whispered and held out her hand so she could touch the baby.
"Just like her mummy." Sherlock told her and kissed her forehead.
"Let me wipe my hands." Sherlock knew she was just nervous, and he knew he was as well, but it faded as soon as she was handed over. He watched her wipe her hands on the blankets before nodding to him.
He passed his daughter to her and she formed her arms around her like the baby was always there. She cooed down at the little girl and Molly felt tears coming back to her eyes.
"What's her name going to be?"
Sherlock looked up at the doctor as he cleaned himself up. The placenta would be saved as well as the cord for the baby may she or her future siblings ever need it.
Sherlock got to watch Molly for the first hour of motherhood, and nothing would ever top it.
She cooed and beamed with pride. She smiled at him and at the baby, and when the nurses came in with the birth certificate he waited until the hour was up to ask.
"What's her name?" She hummed and looked over her face before looking at him.
"What do you think?" She asked him and he moved closer and looked over the baby girl again.
"Angel?" She night look squishy now but he knew, with out a doubt she would grow up looking like Molly, a perfect Angel.
"No... we're not religious enough for that." Molly nixed that and rocked the baby again.
"Lily?" He offered out knowing Molly enjoyed yellow Lillie's more than any other yellow flower. "Or Iris."
"I like... Lily." She looked down at their baby and whispered the name. It was perfect.
"Lily what?" Sherlock wondered how many middle names she would have and Molly surprised him two. "Shall I go get the godparents?"
"Yes please." She begged and he nodded and walked off. Leaving her to fill out the forms.
Coming back she had just finished and put the pen down. He walked over and looked at it.
Name
Lilabeth Johanna Mary Holmes
Mother
Margret Elise Hooper
Father
William Sherlock Scott Holmes
He paused for a moment and just started. He had assumed he would have to battle her over changing the last name. But now... now he realized that Molly believed in him. And believed he would be here for her and Lilabeth forever.
"I thought we went with Lily."
"It will be her nick name." She told him and he nodded and smiled as John seemed more speechless than his wife.
"She's got your everything." Mary got to hold her first, letting Molly's arms rest and Sherlock moved in to sit next to her, one long leg on the bed and the other on the floor.
Molly leaned her head against his shoulder and soon he had it wrapped around her and before he knew it she was sleeping peacefully.
Once John and Mary left he was happy his parents brought his brother. While Mycroft didn't care for seeing random pictures of Rosie, he did seem to be somewhat intrigued with Sherlock's daughter.
He let them each hold her before she finally started to use and it was time to teach her how to latch on.
He and Molly worked at the process. For weeks after the birth he barely left her side let alone the flat. She had come home to a new bed, the most beautiful bassinet ever, and all the presents still unopened.
She fed Lily every night while Sherlock read a book to her.
Less than a year later Molly was pregnant again. This time... it was definitely Sherlock's baby, and while she had wanted to be "in the best shape of her life" when they got married he finally talked her into an elopement. Which turned into everyone being there at the chapel when they said I do.
Despite not being Sherlock's, Lily grew into her dark fuzzy hair and through the years ended up with thick curls that made her never question her true father. As far as everyone was concerned she was Sherlock Holmes oldest daughter and just like her mother.