One year later
The flat was busy as Sherlock and John got the place ready for Isabell's first birthday. John insisted that Sherlock clean the flat. John went to out to get the cake and was shocked to come home to a clean flat. So Sherlock knew how to clean when he had to. John would have to remember that.
John considered baking a cake for a Izzy but had decided it against it a last moment and bought a cake. He really wasn't a good baker and Sherlock could barely make an egg.
Despite the rough first start their lives had come together. Sherlock still hadn't made up with his mother but in general their lives were coming together.
"Dadda!" Isabell cried from her seat in the highchair. She knew something was going on but she wasn't really sure what it was.
"Right here," John said, picking her up.
The island in the kitchen was laid out with a large cake featuring 'Hello Kitty'. There were bowls and chips and dip as well. John wasn't really into party food but he knew those were the kind of things his mother would have set out.
A small pile of presents was sitting on the coffee table. They were still waiting for their guests to arrive.
"Is everything in order?" Sherlock asked, taking the lid off the cake.
"Yes," John said sitting down with the child on the couch. "Everyone should be here in a minute."
"Hello boys," Mrs. Hudson said, walking into the room.
She had a present in her hands. She sat it down on the pile.
"How is the birthday girl?" Mrs. Hudson asked sitting down next to John.
"Oh!" Isabell cried, trying to reach out for the colorful boxes.
"Not yet Darling," John said chuckling.
Before long the flat contained the only friends they really had; Mrs. Hudson, Lestrade, Molly, and even Sarah. Mycroft had sent a present but he hadn't shown up.
"See the candle?" John asked sitting down with Isabell at the island. "Blow it out. Can you do that?"
Sherlock stayed back with a smile on his face. Parties weren't really his thing and he felt out of place. It would be a while before he got used to those kinds of things.
Isabell made a whining noise and looked at her father.
"Alright, I'll do it with you," John said. "Blow!"
Isabell gave an attempt but didn't quite make it. John blew out the last of the flame.
"Itty!" She said pointing at the cat in the middle of the cake.
"Kitty," John corrected. "But good try."
Sherlock took the child as John cut up cake. He walked into the living room and sat down on the couch with her.
"Uh!" she groaned pointing at the presents again. "Dadda!"
"Come on in here," Sherlock said as people got their cake. "Izzy is getting impatient."
Everyone found a place to sit in the crowed sitting room. Molly picked up and present and handed it to Sherlock.
"Come on Izzy," Sherlock said starting to open it. "Let's get this paper off and see what it is."
A bag of building blocks was inside. They were different though. Instead of the normal letters on the side they had symbols for the Periodic Table.
"Perfect," Lestrade said with a chuckle.
John shook his head as he took them and placed them on the floor under the coffee table.
"Am I late?" said a voice from the door way.
Sherlock looked up to see his mother standing in the doorway. She was forcing a smile and holding a present.
"No," John said taking the gift from her. "You just have a seat. We're opening presents."
Even though Sherlock didn't really want her there he didn't say anything. He didn't want to make a scene in front of everyone and he didn't want to upset Isabell.
"Let's open Grammy's present next," Sherlock said handing the package to Izzy.
She started to rip around the edges a little bit but still needed help from Dad.
"Itty!" Izzy yelled when she saw a stuffed Hello Kitty doll.
Fifteen minutes later Izzy had new clothes, a toy phone, a couple books, a farm play set, and some bath toys.
In the end Izzy found herself sitting on the floor playing in the wrapping paper.
"Spend a fortune on toys and they want the paper," Sarah said with a laugh. "They're like that for a few years."
Everyone had left after an hour. The only one that remained behind was Aaliyah. She had volunteered to help clean the dishes.
John was upstairs in Isabell's room finding a place for her new things. Sherlock found himself standing in the kitchen watching his mother.
"I believe you," he said out of nowhere.
"About what?" his mother asked, not looking at him.
"I believe you didn't know it was Moriarty," he said. "I've given it a lot of thought and I do believe you."
"Thank you," Aaliyah said placing another plate in the dish drainer.
"I guess I was a bit hard on you," the detective said. "I just didn't know how I was supposed to react."
"You don't have to say you're sorry," she said, turning to look at him. "You have nothing to be sorry for. It's water under the bridge. I just want to see you. I want to see you, John, and Isabell."
"We can do that," Sherlock said. "Where are you staying? When I last saw you, you said that you didn't have a place to go."
"I've been staying with Lestrade and his wife," she explained. "I made him promise not to tell you."
"How is that working?" Sherlock asked. "I mean, he and his wife are happy together."
"Oh please," she said waving a hand at him. "I've got almost enough money saved to get out of there. Greg is not my type."
"That's good," he said, very relieved by her reply.
"And how are things with you?" she asked glancing over her shoulder at him. "Things with John good?"
"Fine," Sherlock said smiling a bit. "I mean I think he wants to get married. He keep hinting at it and he uses my last name sometimes."
"Are you going to ask him?" his mother asked as she finished the dishes.
"I don't know yet," Sherlock said looking at this feet. "I haven't made up my mind. I don't see what the big deal is anyway."
"Think about it ok?" Aaliyah suggested drying her hands. "I hate to run but I have to go. I have to be at work soon."
She walked over and picked Izzy up.
"I love you little Izzy," she said kissing her head. "Be good for your parents."
"Dadda," she said looking over at Sherlock.
"Thatta girl," Aaliyah said before placing Isabell back in the pile of paper.
She gave Sherlock a little wave before she slipped out of the sitting room. Sherlock sighed as he started to put away the left over cake. His life really was never going to be same again.
END