Bringing Back Traditions

Genre: Family, Romance, FUTURE FIC

Pairings: Rosie and Julian

Main characters: Rosie, Julian

"Do you remember the year you stayed over for Christmas?" Rosie asked Julian, as they settled under their covers after a long, busy 23rd of December.

"Which year, Rosa?" he asked, rolling over to wrap her in his arms. "As I recall, we had that tradition for several years. Oh, I'm so glad it's started up again though," he said lightly. "Hearing our dads and uncles read that old Christmas story, well it hasn't seemed quite like a proper Christmas without that."

Rosie wiggled a bit, settling herself to her satisfaction into her husband's arms. Bringing her hands up, she grasped his loosely and comfortably, grateful the morning would have him on a day off from work.

"The first year, darling," Rosie said. "The year Maisie got into my bedroom and I thought…"

Julian chuckled lazily. "And I told you, as I recall, that when we were grown up and married you'd find out for yourself that I don't snore…"

"Well," Rosie admitted with a small giggle, "you weren't lying. I should have known better, but to be absolutely fair it was late and as I recall I believed Maisie was upstairs."

"Maisie had the full run of the entirety of 221 Baker Street, sweetheart. It was sheer coincidence she woke you up and made you believe it was me keeping Father Christmas away."

"Do you suppose our baby will know the same traditions, now that we've re-awakened them as such? There aren't many little ones yet. Ours and Johnnie and Josie's are the only ones, really, and they won't even have their first Christmas until next year."

"I've no doubts or worries love, she will know what we knew. Gareth and Daniel are still young enough to appreciate them. And I suspect that Greer and Sam will grace us all with a little one, one way or another, before too many years have passed." Julian spoke with confidence, borne both of his experience with their family, and his profession as a Detective Sergeant with New Scotland Yard.

Rosie took a deep breath, reflexively tightening her grip on her husband's hands, draped so comfortably over her baby belly, now nearly maxed out as her due date rapidly drew nearer.

"I can't WAIT for tomorrow, darling," Rosie said with joyous contentment. "Christmas Eve, at HOME, at Baker Street. Oh, I yearn for it already!"

"I know what you mean," Julian sighed with a smile. "I'm glad our dads and uncles have decided to pick it up again. After Mrs. Hudson passed it seemed they'd lost the heart to do it these past several years… And I've been craving your dad's … our dad's, I mean," he corrected himself, "gingerbread for WEEKS. It's the strangest thing, Rosa Rose, it's like I can't get enough of molasses and ginger. I actually get CRANKY if I'm denied it. Thank God Greer learned it from your dad… OUR dad I mean. She's kept the team supplied more often than not these days."

"You mean she's kept YOU supplied. Darling you're her superior, a little bribery goes a long way. When a Bailey is happy, everyone is happy," she giggled. "Anyway, I completely understand. I've been craving Uncle Greg's turkey stuffing. Oh, I'm so glad the wait is nearly over, it's been driving me MAD."

Julian thought about Uncle Greg's stuffing, and his belly nearly gurgled with the thought. Thinking instead of his latest obsession, he mused, "The gingerbread… sympathy cravings, do you suppose? Or just dad's baking prowess?" Julian mused curiously.

"A bit of both, I suspect," Rosie replied with a small giggle. "Believe it or not, I'm even craving Uncle Sherlock's Christmas pudding. It's the one thing he actually learned how to make and it's DIVINE…" she trailed off sleepily.

Julian, while thinking that Christmas pudding, though it had its own merits, was definitely an acquired taste that he himself had yet to acquire, sensed his wife was fading fast, and with good reason, as his thumb absently stroked her baby bump, where he'd just felt a solid kick from their apparently restless daughter. "I love you Rosa. Sleep well, dream better my wife, Happy Christmas," he whispered softly, as his lips brushed the skin behind her ear in a delicate kiss.

Rosie's hands tightened around his ever so briefly. "I love you Jules. Happy Christmas, my husband," she said, as she drifted into peaceful slumber.