Rosie's Promise

Genre: Family

Pairings: John and Alex, Greg and Molly, Sherlock and Sally, Rosie and Julian future hinted at

Main characters: Ensemble, introducing Daniel Morstan Alexander Watson

Greg tried not to roll his eyes at this moment.

At least, it occurred to him, he was in labour and delivery, properly, with no heroics expected of him. All he needed to do was offer a few fingers to break (they'd heal in plenty of time for guitar lullabies anyway, he thought, brushing the worry off), and some words of support (ask anyone at Baker Street - Greg knew his words of wisdom - and the wisdom to know when - and when not - to impart them).

He wasn't, after all, on the edge of a forest called Dewar's Hollow on the moors, delivering who would ultimately come full circle to become one of his most valued team members.

He wasn't trapped somewhere in a city wide power outage finding himself in his most awkward of "awkward moments", catching twins from one of his Detective Sergeants, now beloved neighbours and extended family.

He was merely an impromptu birthing coach, in a proper birthing setting.

No pressure, no stress.

But damn Sherlock Holmes and his bloody follies, taking John away when Alex was in labour.

So admittedly, she was a week and a half early, and nobody could have truly predicted this. John was a doctor, still he should know better.

When John finally arrived, Alex, still laboring, grasped his hand, indicated with a death glare that Sherlock had better bloody well stay too if he knew what was good for him, and gripped Greg's hand even harder, letting HIM know in no uncertain terms that he was going anywhere either.

From there, she had allowed herself free rein to begin giving birth in earnest.

Greg and John thought they felt a few fingers crack, while Sherlock took a spot at her head, gently cooling her fevered brow with an ice water cloth, and whispering to her in his most soothing baritone.

Daniel Morstan Alexander Watson would find his way into their world with haste. They would learn through the years, that their Danny Boy had little patience for fools, and even less for a fool in himself… thus proven in his very first moments, with angry cries and impatient latching to his mother's breast. Only then satiated would he allow himself to meet the rest of his extended family without protest.

John's eyes brimmed over to overflowing at the hearing of Alex's final decision to their son's name.

"Daniel" he had expected, as he had been calling the baby "Danny" unconsciously since the moment of discovery that Alex was pregnant.

It fit for a girl or a boy, really. Daniel for a son would be marvelous, but Danielle for a girl would be no less welcome. He was already wrapped around one little girl's finger. What was one more?

"Alexander" as well, was not a surprise. It was a good name, a solid name. An inarguable name.

A beloved name.

"Morstan", however, was unconventional, and an unexpected acknowledgement of the other part of his heart, and Rosie's, held dear by one now departed, and loved for that very reason by the one who now held those same hearts in the places that dwelled in the present.

Mrs. Hudson, for her part, lost all decorum, fleeing the room to cry like a baby with wordless joy, with an alarmed look from Sherlock, who promptly followed her in sonly concern, finding after all, that it was simply an overwhelmed heart at play.

Greg stayed, watching, knowing Mrs. H was in good hands, and instead occupied himself with the greeting of what would ultimately, gratefully even, be this final new little resident of Baker Street.

"You've some shoes to fill, Young Dan," he said softly to the newborn in his arms. "But no worries laddie, they're your own shoes, and they'll fit you perfectly." He gently caressed the newborn's forehead, grateful he'd said his piece before his voice caught, before handing him over to Molly.

"Well, little man," she said softly. "You're a welcome sight, aren't you. You've two mums you know. Well, three. No… four… okay, five mums. I'll stop counting now. You've your mum, and me, and your Auntie Sally, and your great beautiful Auntie Hudders, but you've got your mummy Mary in spirit, because I know she's here right now, beautiful boy."

Molly handed the baby over to Sally, who managed to wipe away a tear just as Sherlock returned with Mrs. Hudson, now composed and beaming.

"Well you've a right nerve young man," she said softly. "Not much patience, hey? Well no worries, I've no patience for fools either, little one. Let's not suffer those fools gladly together, hey? Your Auntie Sally will always stand by you for that."

Sally, seeing Mrs. Hudson's return, handed the baby over to their beloved matriarch.

"Well, look at you go, little man," Mrs. Hudson managed to say. "Mind you're the last now. Our little home is filled to bursting with your arrival. I fear we shan't take much else. Oh, but you're a handsome little one, our beautiful, beautiful boy." Mrs. Hudson finally tore her eyes away from him long enough to look up and smile, an errant tear still cascading down her cheek.

She passed him over to Sherlock, who simply smiled. "Obvious, really. Your name. One day you'll understand it Mr. Watson, but in the meantime, I'll try my best to drop hints to it. But a word of advice, young man," he said, smiling his classic Sherlock smile. "Your sister won't put up with any nonsense. Mind you heed her words, for she knows what she speaks of. She's a wise one, our Rosie. She won't lead you astray, little lad."

Rosie, for her part, wished for all the world that Julian could be there with her, but of course, he couldn't. So she alone took her turn holding Daniel. She knew, after all, that before the week was out, her Jules would have his turn at holding this baby brother of theirs.

"Hi, little brother," she said softly. "Mind you listen, now. Uncle Sherlock is very clever, you'll learn that. Our daddy is so very smart, and he'll never let us go astray." John, standing by, felt his composure failing at this.

"Mummy is so very strong, and she loves us so. If you hurt her I'll smack you silly, mark my words," she promised, "because I'm your big sister and I CAN, and I WILL." Alex grimaced at this, before realizing what Rosie really meant.

"Uncle Greg is very, very wise. When all else fails, go to Uncle Greg, because he'll know what to do." Greg took a sharp breath, letting it out with a look to Molly.

"Auntie Molly and Auntie Sally are our other mums," Rosie continued. "When mummy says no, we may still have a chance with them. Remember that too, handsome little one. And if they fail us, we may still have Mrs. Hudson. She NEVER says no." Rosie practically winked with a conspiratorial gleam in her blue eyes.

"But most of all," Rosie said, without a single tear from herself, "I'm Rosie. I'm your big sister, and you'll soon enough meet Jules and he'll be your big brother too, because I'm going to marry him someday. We will stand by you forever and ever, because that's what big sisters and big brothers do. That I promise to you Danny."

"Now there's one other person you need to know about," Rosie said solemnly, "but I don't know much about her." Finally breaking her gaze from her newborn sibling, Rosie looked up to the adults in the room.

"You are named Morstan because you're strong and determined," John said, leaning over Rosie's shoulder to speak to his newborn, thinking back to some of the earlier troubles Alex had had with her pregnancy.

"Mary Morstan is your family, though not by blood," Sherlock said softly. "Blood may be thicker than water little lad, but water runs deep. Trust me on this. Her legacy will be yours."

"Mostly," Greg said, smiling, "you are named after two women who love fiercely and without doubts or waver. One day, our little laddie, you'll understand that too, and if you have trouble, I promise you we'll all be here to help you to understand."

Alex, spent but overjoyed, simply smiled with exhausted contentment as she took her rightful turn holding her son.

Greg shared a look with Sherlock, before both men indicated wordlessly that they should vacate the room and leave this new addition with his family for the time being.

Daniel Morstan Alexander Watson, after all, had had a very eventful day of it. He had earned his rest.

There would be time enough, later, to learn the ways of his fellow Baker Streeters.