For the first time in years John felt like his mother must have been a saint. How the hell had she put up with sleepless nights with two kids? His father left when he was young and his mother had done it on her own. She never raised her voice at them and she never hit them.
John was lying awake in Sherlock's bed.
He hadn't discussed it with Sherlock but he figured when they got the crib it would go in Sherlock's room. He knew at some point they would have to cross the road of Isabell having her own room but he didn't want to deal with that yet.
He glanced at the clock. Nearly six. No point in trying to go back to sleep. He needed to get up, get ready for work, and drop Isabell's prescription off at the pharmacy.
Then when he did get home Sherlock and him where going to have go shopping for the baby. She needed things and judging from Mycroft's text he had a shopping spree of sorts set up for them.
He went out to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee. Milk. He was happy to see there was still some left in the frig. He took his coffee into the living room and sat down in his chair.
"You look dead on your feet," came a voice. "But I guess that is to be expected."
John was shocked to see Mycroft standing in the living room. He nearly dropped his coffee.
"I was wondering when you were going to get up," he said looking at his watch.
"What in god's name are you doing here?" John snapped. "Sherlock has been trying to get hold of you for days."
"I'm sure he has," Mycroft said smiling at him. "How is little Isabell?"
"Sick," John said drinking his coffee. "As if you didn't know. I'm sure you know we took her to hospital last night because of an ear infection."
"Very quick John," he said. "I know and I've already taken care of the bill."
"Why did you do it?" the good doctor asked. "Why did you give us this child?"
"As much as Sherlock doesn't like to admit it he is the family type," he explained. "He always wanted a large happy family. We always want what we didn't have. After what happened this is the least I could do."
"Oh you mean nearly getting him killed?" John asked. "Oh yes. He does have a bit of a chip on his shoulder about that."
"This is my way of saying I'm sorry," Mycroft said glancing at his watch again.
"You late to start a war or something?" he asked rolling his eyes.
"I would have loved to talk to Sherlock but I am running late," he said already headed for the door. "Oh yes. You don't need to get ready for work. I got your leave pushed through."
John was grateful for that. He tried not to show it.
"John," he said turning to face him. "Sherlock and you were made for each other. If there is a god, which I doubt, he knew what he was doing putting you two in each others paths. Get the shopping done to day."
Without another word Mycroft slipped out the door. John groaned getting to his feet. He knew he didn't have to go to work but he couldn't go back to sleep.
Once he was awake he was awake for a while.
He put his coffee cup on the kitchen table, when up stairs and got dressed. He would go to the corner store get milk and something for breakfast. If the pharmacy was open he would drop off Isabell's script.
"As much as Sherlock doesn't like to admit it he is the family type. He always wanted a large happy family. We always want what we didn't have. After what happened this is the least I could do."
Those words for the first Sherlock's heard as he opened his eyes. He could hear Mycroft in the flat. No doubt he had come to explain his actions. Sherlock thought about getting up for a moment but then decided it might be best to stay out of this one.
"Oh you mean nearly getting him killed? Oh yes. He does have a bit of a chip on his shoulder about that."
John. He smirked at that one. No wonder everyone thought they were a couple. John was always right there to defend and protect him.
"This is my way of saying I'm sorry,"
"You late to start a war or something?"
No doubt Mycroft had looked at his watch. Sherlock let out a chuckle at one. John was starting to sound more and more like him every day. He reached over and shut the door. He decided to let them have their privacy.
He looked over and sat Isabell was still sleeping. Thank god.
Sherlock got to his feet and got dressed. He loved Isabell but he was grateful she was sleeping.
By the time he wondered out the kitchen he didn't see John. He noticed a pot of coffee was on. He got himself a cup.
He wasn't sure why but he even put a slice of toast in the toaster. Toast was one of the few things he would eat for breakfast. He noticed most of the bread was gone. He would have to get more.
He knew he had to stop putting it all on John. John did work all day. Of course he did too. More than usual lately.
He waited until the toast was done. He put butter on it and then headed into the living room. He had just settled down on the couch when John came in.
"What did Mycroft have to say for himself?" Sherlock asked.
"Oh," John said sitting down. "You heard that huh?"
"Only part of it," he said taking a bit of the toast.
"Not much," John lied. "He just wanted to see how we were doing."
"You look cute when you lie," he said. "You're eyes get all funny."
John's rolled his eyes. Cute?
"Look I'm not mad at Mycroft about anything," Sherlock confessed. "Perhaps it worked out for the best."
"I don't have to go in today," John explained. "Mycroft got me my leave."
There was a beeping sound coming from Sherlock's mobile phone.
"Why is my phone in the corner of the room?" he asked getting up to fetch it.
"I got mad and took it out on the phone," John explained with a chuckle.
"You got mad so the phone took a pounding?" he asked going through his messages.
"The phone had it coming," John said.
The two of them began to laugh like they hadn't in a long time.
"Mycroft re-send a text," Sherlock explained.
Mothercare - Oxford Street 515
Have fun. Everything is to be billed to me.
MH
He read it out loud.
"Yes he sent that one before," John explained. "And he reminded me this morning."
"Well I guess we better take him up on it," he said putting his phone down. "I'm going to see if Mrs. Hudson is up. I'm sure she wouldn't mind watching her while we get some shopping done."
"She is not her nanny," John tried to him but he was already gone.
John shook his head as he heard Sherlock calling her.
Mrs. Hudson gladly agreed to watch Izzy. John felt bad for constantly expecting her to help them. He would try to get her money for it later. Of course he knew she wouldn't take it.
The two of them had got through every "if she cries do this-" they could think of. Mrs. Hudson assured them she knew what she was doing and rushed them out of the door.
The placed looked so big as they pulled up in the cab.
"Now," Sherlock said as they got out. Since this is on Mycroft's bill go nuts. Get whatever you want. Let's call this our revenge."
"No problem," John said as they stepped inside.
They were greeted by a young perky lady who acted as if she had about eight cups of coffee.
"You must be the Holmes!" She said smiling. "I've followed the stories for years."
John started to protest at being called a Holmes but then decided against it. It wasn't worth the energy. Even though he wouldn't admit it he kind of liked the ring of it.
"Now everything is set up," she explained. "You just get whatever you want and it is to go on Mycroft Holmes' credit card. Now what do you boys need?"
"Everything from the bottom up," Sherlock said. She really need a crib."
"OK," she said smiling. "Are you looking for just a crib or a three in one?"
"A what?" he asked looking at John in confusion.
"A three in one means it can turn into a normal bed," John explained. They really are popular now."
"Well that sounds good," Sherlock said. "Why don't you just show us. And we don't want some cheap thing that will break. I want something that will last. Something you could pass down."
Pass down? John's eyes widened. Was Sherlock already thinking of another kid?
"Of course," she said. "We have some really nice things."
She started walking and Sherlock and John followed after her. At first John felt out of a place in the store. There were lots of women, some of them already with kids, but not many men. Then something caught his eye.
"Look," he said holding up a crib sheet set. "Strawberry shortcake."
The lady and Sherlock stopped and turned to look at him.
"Strawberry what?" Sherlock asked.
"Strawberry shortcake," John explained. "It was on during the eighties. She doesn't look the same anymore. My sister used to watch this."
"Whatever you like John," he said chuckling slightly. I don't want her raised to be a poodle though."
"This was a good show," John said shaking the sheet set at him.
"Well,"the woman said. We have a whole line of Strawberry shortcake things here. I can help you find more if you want."
"Sounds good to me," John said as they starting walking towards the cribs again.
Sherlock slowed down to walk next to him.
"Strawberry shortcake?" he asked. "The girls name is Strawberry? Isn't that a bit sexist?"
"Sexist?" John asked confused.
"Yes," he said. "Isn't that like when men call women cupcakes and things like that? Doesn't that normally get men slapped?'
John shook his head knowing it was going to be a very interesting shopping trip.