It would be several months before he received the text from Molly. Tomorrow, it read. For all of the preparations they had made, Sherlock didn't think he was ready.

Mrs Hudson offered to watch Will and they spent a lovely, unhurried morning together. John insisted on helping collect the needed sample, and as much as Sherlock whinged that this was completely unnecessary, he was beyond pleased at the prospect. They sat on the bathroom floor, John's chest pressed against his back, his voice gruff in Sherlock's ear as he explained in minute detail all of the varied and unseemly experiences he planned to inflict upon him in the coming days. Sherlock's head fell into his shoulder, and he came with a throaty moan against John's even strokes. John's dexterity amazed him: not a single drop missed the small cup he had nicked from Bart's. To show his gratitude, Sherlock pushed him to the floor and wrapped his lips around him.

John's cheeks were still rosy when they climbed into the cab that would take them to Bart's. It was a good look for him. Sherlock found he particularly enjoyed the way the colouration increased when he nudged John's temple with his nose and kissed his cheek. John replied with a half-hearted grumble regarding common decency and public displays of affection that Sherlock was happy to ignore. His snub of John's protestations was only encouraged by the warm hand that sat a bit higher than normal on his thigh. If he thought about it, the wave of affection he felt for John and, to be honest, most of mankind in the present moment would baffle him. He decided not to think about it, choosing instead to nip John's ear and encourage his flush and creeping hand.

It was quiet at Bart's: a rare occurrence for the time of day. They went in through the back door out of habit, John rambling about needing to pick up more shifts and the action sorely lacking in private surgeries. Sherlock listened and offered his condolences. He wasn't sure why. But, well, it was John. Exceptions must be made.

It didn't take any time at all to reach the lab. Molly was already inside, looking pale and more jittery than normal. Sherlock offered a tight-lipped smile while John gave her a hug and exchanged pleasantries that failed to go anywhere. He cleared his throat and sat down on a stool near the door. Sherlock tapped on the metal worktop and nodded. Molly pursed her lips. Her hand found the pocket of her lab coat and fiddled with the 50p left over from her lunch in the canteen. No one knew what to say.

At long last, Molly took a deep breath and set a Petri dish on the worktop. Sherlock's gaze was unwavering.

'Is that it?' he asked. She nodded. They both studied it a moment, a small bit of plastic full of immeasurable biological power. Sherlock had to remind himself to breathe. He took great care to unbutton his coat, pulling a sealed cup from his inner pocket. He stood it next to the Petri dish.

She swallowed. 'Is that-?' she asked. He nodded. The plastic gleamed beneath the fluorescent light.

They looked at each other, twin bemused smiles on their faces, each wondering if this was really about to happen. It all made perfect sense when they thought about it. Midnight coffees and arguments over cooling corpses and frustrating Christmas parties; it was as if every moment between them over the past ten years had led to this.

John slipped off his stool and swore. They both flushed and looked away, the moment shattered.

'Right,' Sherlock said.

'Yes,' she replied.

'We should- Hm.'

'I agree.'

'Suit up?'

'Good idea.' She shuffled away to gather supplies. He tugged off his coat and tried to clear his mind.

'Everything okay?'

'Yes, John.'

'Only it seemed a bit awkward before.'

'Nope.' He fiddled with his phone.

'Like…randy. Sort of.'

'Why don't you go down to the pub for a while?'

'Wh- Sorry?'

'The pub. Across the road. Lovely chips. You should go there. Now. Shan't be long.'

John stared at him. 'You want me to pop down to the pub alone while you try to conceive our child.'

'Lestrade will meet you. He's just texted me.' Sherlock flashed him his phone screen.

'I should grab a pint with Greg while you get Molly pregnant?'

'While Molly and I fertilise her ovum with my sperm, yes.'

John stared. 'Sorry, do you not realise how incredibly cocked up that is?'

'Well, I wasn't around when you and Mary-'

'Well, we weren't together!'

'Well…'

'No- Sherlock. That was completely different.'

'I don't see why.'

'Because I was married to her!'

'…No, you weren't.'

'I was about to be.' Sherlock fiddled with his phone again. John seethed. 'What are you doing?'

'Telling Lestrade to meet you here. You clearly won't see reason.'

'Jesus- Sherlock! Could you please just- Are you completely insane?'

'Not completely.'

'Sherlock…'

'The act deserves a bit of privacy, don't you think?'

'The act? What act? This looks like one of your experiments!'

'Then why are you so averse to leaving me to complete it?'

'Don't be absurd.'

'You said yourself it's just an experiment. So why is it bothering you?'

'I-' He stopped and sighed. He counted to ten. 'You may have a point.'

Sherlock's hand found his hip. 'John, darling-' John's cheeks flushed. He rolled his eyes on a huff. Sherlock smiled and pulled him close, dropping his voice into his chest where John seemed to enjoy it so much. 'This morning? In the loo?'

He swallowed, forcing his breath to stay steady. 'What about it?'

Sherlock bent to press a kiss to his neck. 'There's no one else who does that for me.'

'I should think not.'

'There's no one else I'd want to do that.'

He cleared his throat. 'Which bit?'

'Every bit.'

'And that's supposed to make me feel better?'

'John?'

'Yes?'

'There's no one else I'd do this for, either.' He pulled back, searching John's eyes. 'Alright?'

He returned his gaze, taking his time to determine what he saw there. He nodded and looked away. 'Yeah, okay. Fine. I get it.'

Sherlock pulled him close and kissed him. 'I love you.'

'You should.' He took a deep breath. 'At least it's Molly.'

'What do you mean?'

'I know how hard she'll slap you if you try anything with her.'

Sherlock grinned and kissed him again. 'We won't be long.'

'I know.' He smiled a little. 'Don't be surprised if I'm into my cups when you see me.'

'I'll have Lestrade keep an eye on you.' John nodded and pushed him gently away, leaving the lab just as Molly returned. She looked at Sherlock with wide eyes. He nodded. Her lip twitched on a smile.

'Thank you.'

'Of course.'

'That must have been hard for you.'

'It was nothing.' He smiled and took a pair of gloves from her hand. 'Shall we?'