Thanks for the support guys! I'm so glad people are enjoying reading this as much as I am enjoying writing it. Here's Chapter 4. Bedtime and tantrums are tackled in this chapter. It will be fun to see how Sherlock reacts to this, haha. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 4
It was late by the time they got back to the flat. Addie was nearly asleep on Sherlock's lap when they pulled up. He nudged her and took her hand to lead her upstairs, her sleepy body allowing him to pull her along. She let out a big yawn and settled herself on the couch, curling up near the armrest. Sherlock and John were taking off their coats to get more comfortable unlike Addie who had simply curled up and dozed off. Her eyes were at half-mast when she felt someone shaking her shoulder.
"Time for bed, Addie. Let's go get you into some pajamas," Sherlock said.
Addie simply extended her arms up to him in a gesture to be picked up. Sherlock grudgingly obliged realizing that Addie wouldn't move of her own accord. They made a pit stop at the loo to brush her teeth and use the toilet. He then carried her into her room and helped her change, thankful once again for the mysterious kid clothes that seemed to magically appear in their flat.
"Whose room is this?" Addie asked, stifling another yawn.
"This is your room Addie," Sherlock explained.
"I have my own room?" Addie said, shocked.
"Yes. Your very own. Cool, huh?"
Addie suddenly looked sad and scared. She quietly looked to Sherlock and nervously asked, "Do I hafta stay in here all by myself?"
"You don't like your room?" Sherlock asked.
"No, I like it very much, it's just…big. And I don't wanna sleep in here all alone," she replied.
Sherlock seemed to be contemplating something carefully. He forgot how clingy and needy children were. Always having to be close by an adult and always afraid to be anywhere alone. He supposed she could sleep on the couch while he and John watched crap telly, then he could simply move her to her own bed later.
"Alright then, I've got an idea. How about you come out to the sofa with me and John and watch some telly? Then you won't be all alone if you do fall asleep. How does that sound? You like that idea?"
Addie nodded and attached herself to Sherlock once again, insisting that he carry her to the living room. He settled them down on the sofa, Addie's head in his lap, his arm draped across her back, John sitting in his armchair nearby. It took one half episode of some crap talk show for Addie to drop off to sleep. Her even breathing soothed him and the handful of his dressing gown clenched in her fist brought a smile to his face. He'd never admit it, but he rather missed this. Having someone love him and adore him so innocently and rely on him for everything.
When both he and John were ready to nod off right where they sat, they finally decided to call it a night. John attempted to help Sherlock get Addie into his arms without waking her, but he stumbled into the coffee table and jolted her awake. He shot Sherlock and apologetic glance and tried to 'shhh' Addie back to sleep. Addie was now awake though and aware of her brother taking her to her own room.
"Sherlock? I don't wanna sleep in my room. Can I sleep wif you?" She asked giving him her most pathetic puppy look.
"Addie, you really must learn to sleep by yourself. Once you go to sleep you won't even notice you're alone," Sherlock said.
"Yes I will. I don't wanna Sherlock!" she whined, clearly overtired and clearly in need of sleep.
"Addie, please. Just go to sleep," he begged her.
"But I can't! I want Harvey!" she yelled tearfully.
"Harvey? Who's Harvey?" John asked, walking into the room when Addie yelled.
"Her teddy. She won't sleep without it," Sherlock replied sounding utterly exhausted.
"I'm assuming we are no longer in possession of Harvey," John said.
"Correct."
"Well, can we maybe improvise? Find a suitable substitute?" John suggested, very much wanting to just go to bed as soon as possible.
"I suppose," Sherlock said racking his brain for ideas. "The skull won't do. Far too uncomfortable. A blanket, perhaps? No, Addie was never one for blankies. Ah ha! I've got it! The Union Jack pillow. It's perfect size too."
Sherlock rushed off to grab it while John's tired brain was still trying to catch up. Soon enough Sherlock returned and presented the pillow to Addie. Addie took it and tried it out, snuggling with it and holding it for a while before she nodded in approval.
Sherlock sighed audibly and left to go to his own room, utterly content to sleep this exhausting day away.
"Sherlock?" Addie's unsure voice spoke up.
"Yes?"
Addie's reply was to run to him and throw her arms around his leg. "Night Sherlock," she said, squeezing him tight.
Sherlock returned her hug with a pat on her back and a hand through her hair. "Goodnight Addie. Sweet dreams."
Addie crawled back in bed and snuggled the Union Jack pillow close to her. He turned to leave the room when a small sleepy voice called out.
"I love you Lockie."
Sherlock stopped dead and turned to look at her. She was already fast asleep and curled around the pillow. He allowed a fond smile to creep onto his face. "Sleep well, love." He replied as he quietly shut the door.
Morning came way too early with Lestrade calling in a murder-suicide hot off the press. It was clear that none of them had gotten enough sleep as they were all a bit cranky.
"Addie! Eat your toast or you won't see that puzzle game for a week!" Sherlock scolded.
"I don't like marmalade!" she complained.
"Well it's all we've got so it's either that or starve!" Sherlock replied, not meaning to sound so harsh.
Addie scowled but finished her toast anyways. Breakfast finished, Sherlock ushered Addie to the bathroom to brush her teeth and use the toilet, encouraging her to go then since he didn't know when one would be available next.
Getting her dressed was another fight. Addie didn't like anything in the boxes and was insisting on wearing her slippers out.
John was the lucky one who got the task of convincing Addie to wear her trainers after Sherlock had yelled and stormed off. She was more obliging with John and soon she picked out a pair of trainers she liked. He left her to get dressed while he went to change himself. He met Sherlock in the living room as they waited for Addie. Soon enough she came out holding her game and frowning.
"My jumper is itchy," she pouted as only a four-year-old can do.
Sherlock rolled his eyes and bit his tongue.
"Sherlooock, it's bugging me!"
"Deal with it Addie, I'm done with your complaining," Sherlock said fed-up and annoyed. "Come on John. Addie can join us when she doesn't feel like being a drama queen anymore."
He turned to walk out the door.
"Sherlock…?"
"WHAT?!" he said, losing his temper.
Addie replied in a small tentative voice, "Can you do my laces? I dunno how to tie."
Sherlock exhaled and calmed himself down, feeling guilty for snapping at her. He beckoned her over then bent down to tie her shoes. Addie then grabbed her coat and looked up at him. "Ready," she said.
The cab ride was uneventful and Sherlock was relieved when it seemed as if Addie's crankiness was wearing off. She was silent and contently sitting in her seat not scratching at her jumper or kicking her shoes. She was now behaving and calm and he hoped she'd stay that way.
A text from Lestrade had them detouring to Scotland Yard. He wanted to show them the details of the case before going to the scene, to give the police enough time to get out before he brought his team in.
Ten minutes later they were in Lestrade's office, the three of them gathered around his desk and Addie playing her game in one of his over comfy armchairs.
"Alright then, we got it all? Good, let's move out," Lestrade said.
Sherlock bent down to Addie's level and lowered her game from her face. "Addie, I need you to stay here alright? Donovan will be…"
"You mean Miss Sally?" Addie interrupted.
"Yes, Miss…Sally, will be here so if you need anything you find her ok?"
"How come I don't get to go wif you? I didn't get to go last time neither," she pouted.
"You know why, Addie. I'm not telling you again."
"But it's not fair! I wanna go!" she said and kicked her feet
"Stop this nonsense, you are not going and that's final!"
"But I wanna gooooo!" she said jumping to her feet, her voice getting louder.
"You can't. Now sit down, be quiet, and stay here," he said, taking her arm and pushing her down onto the seat.
"I wanna GO!" she screamed, jumping to her feet again.
"And I said you can't! Now stop this pointless yelling immediately!" he said with a forced calm voice.
"NO!"
John thought he should try his hand at calming her down, seeing as he was able to get her to put her shoes on that morning. "Addie, the sooner you sit down and are quiet, the sooner we will be able to leave, and the sooner we will be back. You want us to come back quickly, right?"
"NO!" Addie yelled and pushed John away then kicked his shin. He yelped in pain and backed away.
Sherlock grabbed her around her waist and gripped her tightly, not caring when she winced. Addie wasn't happy about being man-handled and first chance she got she swung her arms at him, catching him in the face.
There was a long silence and no one seemed to breathe or move. Lestrade wondered if he needed to interfere to keep Sherlock from killing the child.
When Sherlock finally spoke, it was deathly calm and hardly above a whisper, "Adelaide Holmes! You will sit down in that chair and behave! Now!"
"NO!" she shouted at him again before going off into a full blown tantrum. "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOOOOOO!" She was now kicking and screaming and writhing in Sherlock's grasp.
John and Lestrade put their hands over their ears and winced, begging Sherlock to make it stop. Sherlock was completely and utterly fed up with Addie's antics. He swung his hand back and landed three firm swats to her backside.
As if turning off the switch, Addie stopped her tantrum and looked up at Sherlock in shock. Then another switch flipped on and she completely melted down, wailing and crying loudly. He forced her into the chair and held her there firmly.
"I will not accept this behavior! At all! You will stop this NOW and you will stay here until we return. Do I make myself clear?"
She didn't respond. She simply sniffled and wiped her eyes as she continued to cry. Sherlock took out his phone and started dialing.
"Who are you calling?" John asked.
"I'm calling Mycroft. He can deal with her now. I'm done."
The call was placed and Mycroft was on his way when John, Sherlock, and Lestrade were finally ready to leave.
"Well that was quite a display. She really knows how to throw a tantrum. And she's got quite a kick on her," John said.
"She's overtired. She didn't go to sleep until late and we had an early morning. She needs a nap," Sherlock sighed. "Is your leg ok?"
"Yeah it's fine. Barely even a bruise. It's not a big deal."
"Even then, her behavior was unacceptable and I'm embarrassed at her display," Sherlock said.
"Well, I do have to say, you are downright scary when you're angry. Even I was afraid," John said.
Sherlock smiled and shook his head.