7 Months Later

The flat was a mess.

Irene was busy typing away in Sherlock's laptop, replying to emails swiftly. Her inbox bursted with invitations, all of which from influential figures, trying to get a slot in the busy schedule of Irene's network. It was her life now, no longer the one doing some recreational scolding but rather training other women to do so. She wanted to ensure that her 'trainees' were safe and will not be forced to do anything they would never want to do. Embrace sexuality and use it as a skill, she said. It was empowering not just for her but for all of them.

Some of them were even from Sherlock's homeless network.

Of course, this received some headshaking from Mycroft, one that Sherlock reciprocated with an eyeroll.

Another email came in that sent a huge smile on her face. It was from Sherlock.

"Figured you won't pick up your phone, judging by the state I left you in earlier, thus this email. Completely wasted my time here. I bet Mycroft is thrilled. I could have just stayed at home and spent time with you and the children. See you in 30. SH."

Irene's smile grew wider as she replied. "You've turned down knighthood thrice now. A small party in your honour couldn't be that bad. xx."

"You know I hate parties." Sherlock answered immediately. "And you made it more antagonising by not accompanying me."

"Oh stop being a drama king! Just hurry home. Judging by the look on Ara and Hamish's face, they miss you so much already." Irene typed, a giggle forming in her lips.

More than a year. It has been that long since she settled down with Sherlock Holmes, the humble flat in Baker Street shared with their twins, Arabella and Hamish. It looks alarmingly unchanged, from the dusty bookshelves to the bullet-hole ridden smiley face on the wall. It was their decision to never change the circumstances. This setup may not be the best to raise children for most people, but as Sherlock would word it, their family is not 'the commonwealth'. They have no expectations for their children to grow up and be like both of them, no expectations or limitations whatsoever. Both of them knew what it was like to strive in the world with no one to understand, with no one to actually relate to until they met their friends and each other. It was a long haul, an antagonising wait to find people who accepted them and they wouldn't let their children feel that pain.

/

"Sherlock Holmes! Where are you taking my daughter?" Irene exclaimed, seeing Sherlock in full consulting detective gear with Arabella in his arms.

Sherlock rolled his eyes. "Just a crime scene. Double murder… And I took Hamish to the last one."

Irene's jaw dropped, her hands on her waist. "You took Hamish to the last one?!"

"Yes. When you were out shopping with Mary, Molly and Mrs. Hudson." Sherlock replied casually. Seeing that Irene was taking out her phone, Sherlock continued. "No use phoning Lestrade, you know."

/

Irene walked over to their bedroom, their children on their respective cribs. She watched as her twins breathe almost in unison, features a combination of hers and Sherlock's. As early as 4 months old, Sherlock started bringing them to crime scenes, assuring her that he wouldn't take them unless he was absolutely sure nothing dangerous will occur. Much to everyone's approval except her own, this became some sort of a tradition.

But she had seen this coming, of course and whether it is Hamish or Arabella, both come back to their home with their dimpled smiles, already in appreciation of their father's work.

/

"Good morning... " Irene heard Sherlock whisper in her ear. She met his lips, his hands immediately trailing the hem of her shirt. Moans started to escape her mouth as his kisses grew more demanding, fingers flying to the skin on her back. Her lips moved to his neck, his breathing starting to get shallow as her fingers flew to his er-

A cry.

Irene and Sherlock snapped out of their reverie, both alarmed by the sound of crying echoing inside their bedroom. Sherlock sighed and Irene laughed, both of them remembering the cribs where their children lay. The detective stood up and reached over Hamish, planting a chaste kiss on Irene's lips before shaking his head affectionately.

"I forgot we weren't alone anymore." he said, chuckling.

Irene giggled as she saw who among the twins broke the steam. " Well, it wasn't the first time we were interrupted by a Hamish."

/

Sherlock arrived at the flat, throwing off his scarf on the couch. Irene went over to greet him, arms wrapping around his neck and he leaned down to kiss her.

"Are the twins asleep?" he asked, eyes searching the room.

Irene gave him a pout. "And just when I thought I was still your favourite person."

Sherlock grinned, his arms circling on her waist. "Is that sentiment I hear, Ms. Adler?"

Irene rolled her eyes before giving him a smile. "If we were to talk about sentiment, Mr. Holmes, I'd say we have the perfect examples right on those cribs." She said, untangling herself from him as they headed to where their children were.

Sherlock reached down to Hamish and Irene carried her precious Arabella, both beaming over the child on their arms.

"How's my boy?" Sherlock asked, planting a kiss on Hamish's forehead. The child giggled, reaching for his father's curls lovingly.

"He's been quiet the entire day. Sleeping, actually. I guess he was bored without you around. I'm jealous." Irene joked, leaning on Sherlock, who kissed her hair.

"Well it's his turn to come to my next case." Sherlock said and at the sound of that, Hamish smiled even wider. Arabella huffed, pouting her lips, leaning her head on Irene's shoulder.

"Somebody's a daddy's girl." Irene said, kissing Arabella on the nose. "How about I bring you to my next meeting? Would you like that? Maybe I'll even buy you your own riding crop!" Arabella laughed, her blue eyes twinkling at her mother.

"She can have mine." Sherlock mused.

"No. You used that on dead people. My baby girl will have her own." Irene said, both of them laughing. Sherlock rolled his eyes mockingly at Irene and told his daughter, "Spoiled child, now, are you?"

In the middle of the teasing and the laughing, Sherlock and Irene suddenly froze.

"Ma… Ma…" Arabella started saying and Hamish soon mimicked. Sherlock and Irene just stood there, watching as their babies wriggle in their arms, still uttering a syllable.

"Ma... Ma… aaa..." Hamish mouthed, making Irene smile.

"Ha! Guess who's their favourite now?" she mused, a triumphant smile on her face.

"Da...Da…" Arabella then uttered.

"You were saying?" Sherlock replied smugly.

Irene rolled her eyes, nodding to Hamish. "Come on, dear. Say it… Mama…"

Sherlock's eyes flickered and Irene caught the look before Sherlock started to laugh uncontrollably. "Erm… Irene… I don't think they're trying to say Mum or Dad…"

"Then what…" Irene started when the twins, almost in unison, started to utter both syllables together.

"Ma...da…. Ma… da…" Arabella and Hamish started to say, almost non-stop, both laughing and arms flapping and clapping as they did. Their eyes grew wide as if expecting a sign of pride in both their parents.

"Oh for the love of… Sherlock Holmes! Really?! The first word of our children is 'murder'?!" Irene exclaimed and Sherlock bit his lip to stifle his laughter.

"Well, they could be saying mum and dad but then you should also welcome the possibility… Don't you even find this funny?" Sherlock remarked, shoulders trembling from trying to control his amusement over the situation.

Irene stared at Sherlock, then at their children who still kept on mumbling the word as if it was as innocent as her initial expectation, unable to keep a straight face anymore as she joined Sherlock's laughter.

This is a story they would never get tired of telling, a memory that has no chance of fading.

(A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you so much for following this story. Tell me what you think and I hope you still stick around for my next work which is a fast forward to 16 years, the story revolving around the teenage Arabella and Hamish Holmes with 19 year old Elizabeth Watson as they take on Baker Street, of course with flashbacks from their childhood and still bits and pieces of Adlock. You can all reach me via tumblr with the url throughtheparadox! Thanks again and stay awesome y'all! xoxo)