Hey guys so I finally got the chapter done! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving if you celebrate it, I'm thankful for all my amazing readers 3 Enjoy

9

The next morning John is up early with clear bags under his eyes as he sips his tea on the couch watching Shirley, still asleep in her crib. No, not Shirley, he didn't have the right to name a child that wasn't his. He looked at the child and thought back on Moriarty's words. Stuck in his daze, he was slightly startled when Sherlock came and sat next to him.

"What are you thinking about?" Sherlock asked, though already knowing the answer, he wanted John to tell him so he would know if he wanted to talk about it or not.

"Last night," John said taking a final sip of his tea and placing it on the table besides him, "Sherlock, what am I going to do about-" He looked at her, he had no right to name her, "the child."

"Shirley, her name is Shirley, it says so on her birth certificate." Sherlock said with a surprising amount passion in his voice.

"She's not my child, I have no right to name her." John said covering the bottom half of his face with his hand.

"Says who? Moriarty? Quite possibly the most mischievous, deceiving man on this planet and you're taking his word?" Sherlock leaned closer to John and put his hand across his back, resting on his shoulder, "You can't possibly believe that he was telling the truth can you John?"

Sherlock made a good point, why had he believed Moriarty so easily? He was shocked in the lack of faith he had in his own wife. Mary could never cheat oh him…could she?

"I guess I could ask Molly for a DNA test." John suggested.

"I think that's an excellent idea," Sherlock said, "Do you want to go alone?" John's hand met Sherlock's and he intertwined his fingers with him.

"I don't think I can." John said refusing to meet Sherlock's eyes. Sherlock leaned even closer and placed a soft kiss on John's forehead, "That's alright." He said.

"Sherlock, now might now be the, uh proper time, but, w-we haven't actually had a lot of it and we have a little now so I thought I could just… ask" John stumbled his words out, contemplating on whether or not to ask.

"John, what do you need to say?" Sherlock gave him a reassuring squeeze and John let his head rest on Sherlock's chest and decided to continue.

"What are we now? I mean, we're not just best friends now, are we?" John started off with confidence but failed to keep it as he progressed. Sherlock straightened up, and John braced himself for the worst, looking away and Sherlock placed his hands on John's face turning him towards him. He gently pulled John down to his chest.

"Listen," Sherlock said pausing for a moment to allow John to hear his heart beating rapidly, "Surprised I have a heart?" Sherlock gave a small laugh, "Don't, because it only beats for you." John slowly moved up to kiss Sherlock's soft lips. Not caught off guard, Sherlock returned his kiss, keeping it at a slow pace as he wrapped his arms around John. John was surprised he could keep the kiss going, considering how hard he was smiling.

Of course Sherlock would use science to show how he felt, John thought, nevertheless he gently pulled Sherlock on top of his chest as he laid down on the couch, letting his heartbeat speak for him. They laid there together, in almost complete silence, aside from there loud heart beats.

"I never thought emotions could be so enjoyable." Sherlock said and waited a few moments before he got up, "Come on John, DNA tests take a long time and Shirley isn't even up yet." John's smile slowly faded as he looked back to the crib, he was not ready to hear the results.


"John!" Molly cried and hugged him as he entered one of the labs in Bart's, "It's been so long, I'm so sorry about Mary."

"Thank you, and sorry, I've been meaning to catch up with you but-" John started.

"John its fine, we all grieve differently, you just wanted to be alone, I understand." Molly finished just as Sherlock's back appeared through the window of the door, walking backwards and opening the door with his back.

"I'm sure Sherlock's been helping you-" Molly was cut off when Sherlock came in revealing the baby, bundled up in a pink blanket in his hands, Molly gasped and quickly walked over, "Hello little cutie." She said smiling down on Shirley.

"Hello Molly." Sherlock chuckled and Molly jokingly rolled her eyes, "Hello Sherlock." She turned back to John, smiling harder than she already was.

"What's the little cutie's name?" She asked beaming. John slightly blushed and looked at Sherlock, "Shirley." Molly turned to Sherlock, then back at John.

"That's a lovely name." Molly replies and Sherlock is relieved with John's answer.

"But I would like a DNA test, just to make sure I have the right to name her." John solemnly said, wiping out all of Sherlock's relief. Molly quickly wiped her smile and nodded.

"Of course John, I just need a blood sample from both of you and I'll text you when the results are ready." John flinched at the thought of drawing blood from his potential daughter.

"Don't worry John, DNA tests were made for this purpose, they don't hurt." Molly promised, as if reading his mind. He nodded and watched Molly awkwardly walk away to get the syringes. John nervously looked over to Shirley, not wanting a needle to be jabbed in her.

"You're worrying too much, they really don't hurt, especially if they're coming from Molly." Sherlock reassured John as Molly came back with two needles in her hand, one moderately small and the other quite large. John was never bothered by needles, but seeing those two, he wanted to tell Molly to forget it and walk out of the room, but he needed to know the truth, even if it could break his heart.

John sighed and rolled up the sleeve to his jumper. Molly gave him a reassuring smile and stuck the needle in his upper arm, slowly drawing blood. She was right, it was painless but it didn't remove all of his worries, he was a soldier after all, he had become immune to small pain. He looked back to Shirley, speaking indecipherable gibberish and tugging on Sherlock's coat. Molly removed the needle and placed it in a small tray on a nearby table and walked back over to Sherlock with a smaller needle in her hand.

She gently removed Shirley's hand from Sherlock's coat and stuck the needle in. Shirley's babbling gained a twinge of pain and annoyance but Molly drew blood slightly quicker for her and removed the needle. John let out his unintentionally held breath. No tears, he thought happily. Molly gave Shirley a smile and passionately wrapped her hand around Shirley's arm.

"Absolutely adorable," Molly said smiling at John, "The results should be ready in about four hours, I'll text you when you should come back over." Molly nodded, grabbed the syringe off the tray, and walked out the room.

"I suggest we walk around London, as walking does help with stress." Sherlock offered.

"Sherlock, its bloody freezing outside, I just wanna go home." John said and started walking to the door. Sherlock nodded and trailed John out of St. Bart's and hailed a cab back home.


"So," Sherlock started as he took of his coat and placed it on the hanger, "What would you like to do now?" John placed Shirley in her chair with her stuffed animals and turned to face Sherlock.

"Rest." John said and crashed onto the couch.

"John it's only 12." Sherlock said walking over to the couch. John turned his tired face to Sherlock.

"I barely slept all night Sherlock just let me rest, please." John quietly said and Sherlock had to let him. He turned back to Shirley who was mumbling happily and playing with her toys.

He picked her up and the pink teddy bear she was playing with and went back to John. Hey put his free hand on the top of John's head and whispered, "We'll be downstairs with Mrs. Hudson, rest well." Sherlock lightly kissed John's forehead and turned to the door.

"Thank you Sherlock." John said as he headed out the door and down the stairs to Mrs. Hudson's flat.


Just as Molly promised, she texted John roughly four hours later to tell him the results were almost ready and he should head to St. Bart's now. John managed to sleep for most of the time and felt well rested. He put on his coat and went down to Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock.

John knocked on Mrs. Hudson's door and Sherlock came to open the door seconds later, letting John in.

"Hello Mrs. Hudson," John greeted, "Sherlock, Molly texted saying she wants us down at St. Bart's." John didn't want Mrs. Hudson to know why so he kept it at that. Sherlock nodded and they said their goodbyes to Mrs. Hudson then headed off to St. Bart's.

The cab ride there was mostly silent, both of them tried to make conversation but they couldn't. Once they arrived Sherlock took Shirley in his arms and reached into his coat pocket to pay the cabbie but John beat him to it.

They walked down the halls of St. Bart to try and find the lab Molly was in and spotted her exiting one of them.

"Oh, hello, the results aren't quite ready yet, it'll take a few more minutes." Molly said with a sweet awkward smile, "You two can just sit in the lab and I'll tell you when they're ready."

"Thank you Molly." Sherlock replied and led John to the lab next door. When John sat down Sherlock noticed his hands were tightly gripping the side of his seat. Sherlock moved Shirley to the left side of his lap and used his, now free right hand, to remove John's grip from the chair and intertwine his fingers with John's. John reciprocated and did the same with Sherlock's giving him a tight squeeze. They sat together for about two minutes when Molly came in with a wide smile on her face. She paused when she noticed Sherlock and John's hand together but quickly brushed it off and hurried over to them. John and Sherlock both stood up when Molly reached them.

"John," Molly said smiling from ear to ear, "you are the father." He let out a happy gasp and thanked and hugged Molly. Molly was hardly able to return the hug when he pulled away and hugged Sherlock, staying on him much longer than he did with Molly. Molly started feeling a little awkward and turned to leave but John pulled away from Sherlock and thanked her again.

"I'm glad I could help." She said and walked out to a different lab while John and Sherlock went to the exit.

"Well I say this calls for a celebration, dinner?" Sherlock said as a cab pulled up and opened the door for John.

"You, suggesting eating? Today is a bloody Miracle." John laughed, "Angelo's?"

"Angelo's." Sherlock told the cabbie and they were off.


When they entered they stood near the door waiting to be seated and Angelo came out of the kitchen to greet them.

"Sherlock, John!" He joyfully called but gasped when he saw a baby in John's arm, "You two have a baby?!"

"What? No-I- we're not, well we are but not-no I" John stuttered and Angelo laughed.

"What's her name?" He asked slapping John on the back.

"Shirley." John answered

"Oh, beautiful name for a beautiful girl!" He cried and laughed some more. He escorted them to a table and brought a high chair for Shirley. He brought them two menus and a candle in the middle of the table.

"Just like the first time huh?" John laughed and Sherlock joined him.

"Hello my name is Francis, I'll be your server this evening can I start you off with anything?" A short, thin, young man asked.

"Two waters and a warm glass of milk." Sherlock answered and Francis headed off, "What are you craving?" He asked John.

"Umm I'm in the mood for some steak, you?" He asked looking up from his menu.

"Just some fries." Sherlock replied.

"At least it's something." John said as Francis came back with their water and milk.

"Are you two gentlemen ready or do you need a few more minutes?" Francis asked.

"No we're ready, we'll have the steak, medium well, with a side of vegetable soup and some fries." John said and handed him the menus.

"Okay your order will be ready soon." He smiled and headed off to the kitchen.

"Well today was good." John said trying to start conversation. Sherlock chuckled at his attempt, "Very good indeed."

They made small talk and Sherlock dipped his spoon in the milk and managed to get Shirley to drink some until their food came. John dove in to his steak and mashed potatoes and Sherlock managed to finish all his fries.

"Wow, you actually finished your fries, I'm proud of you." John said genuinely, it made him happy seeing Sherlock eat, and not to mention feed his baby. John finished his soup and left 10 pounds on the table, an enormous tip seeing as their meals were free.

"Have an amazing night." Angelo called as they headed for the door.

"You too." They both replied and smiled at each other. Sherlock held open the door for John since he was carrying Shirley and hailed a cab.

"It got cold." John said as he wrapped Shirley tighter in his arms and entered the cab.

"Temperatures are going to drop next week, we should get Shirley some warmer clothes," Sherlock said, "221B Baker street." He told the cabbie their destination.

"Sherlock Holmes, I'm a big fan," The cabbie turned around, "and Dr. Watson I love your blog."

"Thank you." John replied while Sherlock just gave a courteous, obviously fake, smile.

The cab ride home was short and pleasant with John leaning on Sherlock's shoulder both playing with Shirley. When they got back home Sherlock handed the cabbie his money but he declined.

"On the house for Holmes and Watson, have a nice night." He smiled.

"Thank you, you do the same." John smiled and headed out the cab, "He was nice." He said to Sherlock as they went up the stairs.

"He wouldn't have been if he didn't know us." Sherlock said as he opened the door to their flat.

"He still could have been nice." John said and put Shirley in her bouncy chair with her pink teddy bear. He turned back to Sherlock who was walking towards him. Sherlock kissed John's cheek and rested his hand on John's shoulder.

"I had a great day John," He said smiling but his face quickly turned serious, "I'm sure Moriarty knows that we know your Shirley's father, and he defiantly will try to get us again," he paused, "don't let him get to you." Sherlock said and went to his room.