A/N This work was not written for profit, no copyright infringement intended. Enjoy!

Mrs. Hudson was enjoying herself, too. She and Violet had been neighbours when they were both still single, and she had known Sherlock since he was a baby himself. She spent a few minutes catching up with her friend Violet on the news in their lives. She was clearly happy to be included among the family, as Sheri's honorary grandmother.

When Sherlock heard a faint noise from the bedroom, he got up and went to check on Sheri. She was not yet crying, just shifting about and fussing a bit. Sherlock checked her nappy and picked her up and lay her on the bed to change her. With that problem resolved, he lay her back down in her cot and picked up his violin. John looked in a few minutes later to see their daughter looking content and just about back to sleep, with Sherlock playing softly to her. He didn't think his love noticed that he had come into the room, as he had his eyes closed whilst he played. John took another sneaky photo with his phone and went back to the dining room.

The rest of the evening was relaxed, with all of them watching some telly before bed. Sheri had awoken again and Mummy fed her, handing her to John when she had finished. He took her back and lay her in her cot, and they got ready for bed, both sleeping quickly after they lay down, even in the unfamiliar room.

The next morning, John awakened with a start. He hadn't heard the baby at all in the night – oh, no! Why hadn't he heard her? He was going to be a rubbish father if he couldn't even wake up when their daughter cried... When he turned over and got his eyes open properly, his heart racing, he saw Sherlock sitting in the rocking chair, with Sheri on one shoulder, rocking her gently.

John got out of bed and walked over to his husband and said, "Why didn't you call me when she woke up?"

"I could see that you were knackered, and I knew I wouldn't be sleeping anyway once I was awake the first time. There was no need for both of us to be awake. It's fine, love, I'm all right. I'm certain there will be plenty of nights when I am the tired one and you are up more of the night with her - don't take on so. I was just about to go out into the kitchen and see if Mummy has any coffee on – do you want to come with us?" he unfolded himself from the rocker and headed out of the room. John tagged along after them.

Mummy had indeed started a pot of coffee, and was waiting to make breakfast for her boys. As she cooked, she said casually, "Oh, Sherlock, your brother is coming over today with Anthea. She seems a nice girl, don't you think?"

"I think Anthea is just the sort of woman that my brother needs in his life - she won't let him walk over her, I can tell you! She is equal to the challenge," replied Sherlock, grinning at John as he finished talking. He placed Sheri in a small reclining seat on the table, so she could see what was happening, and buckled her in safely.

His mother went behind him and swatted him playfully on the shoulder. "Oh, stop it, you! I swear, you and your brother will never stop with the bickering! You're both old enough to know better!" but she was smiling as she said it. John had to laugh - Mummy was indeed a force to be reckoned with in this family.

Sheri decided it was time for her breakfast, as well - John gave her the bottle this time, letting Sherlock eat first. She greedily took the formula, and protested when her Daddy stopped her long enough to bring up an impressive belch. Everyone laughed at her indignant expression at being interrupted - she looked so like her Papa when she did that! She managed to finish the bottle without further ado, and John took her back to the bedroom for a quick nappy change. When he came back out, Mummy had just placed his plate on the table, and gladly took her grand-daughter from him to hold. She took Sheri out to the sitting room so that Grandpa Holmes could also visit with his new little grand-daughter. Both were so busy talking to her that the boys were done eating and joined them before they realised that much time had passed. Sherlock's father held her on his lap, facing him, with her feet tucked into his long hands (so like Sherlock's) and was making silly noises. She just gazed at him for now, but Sherlock was sure she would soon enjoy it as much as all his little cousins had.

Two hours later, Sheri was asleep in her cot when Uncle Myc and (soon-to-be-Aunt) Anthea arrived - not in one of Mycroft's long black cars. John noticed that Anthea wore her engagement ring, and everyone congratulated the couple. Mycroft actually looked happy, and was more relaxed than John had ever seen him. Apparently, Anthea was agreeing with him. Mummy caught John's eye and winked at him - obviously, she thought so, too.

Sherlock went back into the bedroom and brought out their daughter, to smiles all around. He handed her to Anthea, who was reaching out, and settled her with a cloth in case of explosive belches. She immediately held Sheri close and began talking softly to her. After about fifteen minutes, Mycroft took his niece and smiled as he looked at Anthea - oh, yes! Sherlock was right - they had been talking about a family already! Good for them, he hoped they wouldn't have any problems - what was he thinking? If there were problems, they could also make use of the Baskerville labs - silly of him not to think of that (there was always something!).

Sheri started to cry, and John took her from Anthea, going back to see if she needed changing again. After her nappy change, he tried to get her to settle, but Sheri wouldn't stop crying. John sat in the rocker and rocked, talking to her, gently singing an old lullaby, but nothing seemed to work, and she was soon wailing louder than he had yet heard her. After a few minutes, Sherlock appeared in the doorway with a concerned look.

"Is anything wrong? Does she feel warm?" he asked. John had thought of that, but she didn't feel at all feverish. Still, he got out the baby thermometer and checked her temperature anyway. It was normal.

"Nope, her temp is normal, and no sign of a cold or nasal congestion. I've tried rocking her and singing to her, she just seems miserable and I can't find any reason so far," John answered, looking somewhat nonplussed.

"Why don't you let me try? She's been crying for nearly half an hour. Not that I know of anything else, but she is getting rather frantic there. You can go back out and I'll just try, here," Sherlock told John, who was looking rather frazzled, as well. He handed her to Sherlock and went back out to the sitting room. Sherlock re-swaddled Sheri, put her up on his left shoulder and gently rubbed her back in small circles whilst softly singing to her, just a tune, really - one of Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals, the Swan. After only about five minutes, the baby girl settled down and began sucking her thumb, and cuddled into her Papa's shoulder. After he walked the room for a few more minutes, Sherlock chanced sitting in the rocker. Sheri remained calm and was soon getting drowsy, having cried herself out. About ten minutes later, Sherlock stood and lay her in her cot, and after staying a few minutes to be sure she was still asleep, he returned to the group.

Thanks for following along this journey with our boys- thank you!

~joan