One Year Later

'But what if they don't like me at school?'

'Why would you think that, bug? Everyone seems to like you.'

'Tha's nursery school. Primary's different.'

John rolled his eyes. 'And you're the expert, are you?'

'Yes.'

'I think you've been spending too much time with your father again.' He knelt down and adjusted the straps on Will's rucksack. 'It's okay to be nervous. You know that, don't you?'

''M not nervous.'

'Of course you aren't.'

''M no-ot…'

John grinned and kissed his forehead. 'Tie your shoes, bug. I'll go find your father.'

'He's in the bedroom.'

'Getting dressed?'

'No…'

'Christ…' He headed for the suggested space, sighing when he reached the doorway and the sight of a huddled lump in the middle of the bed. The baby grinned at him from its summit. 'Sherlock.'

'John.'

'We have to go.'

How he managed to tunnel out and glare at his partner without sending their infant flying was beyond John, at least at so early of an hour. 'Good. Let's go; all set here.'

'Trousers, Sherlock.'

'Needless. I'm just coming home to shag you anyway.'

He rolled his eyes. 'That is definitely not happening if you don't put on some trousers. Now, preferably.' Sherlock pouted and squirmed out of bed. The baby flopped on his back and giggled. John made a face. 'Cor, never mind. You need a wash first.'

'Unnecessary.'

'What, because you're just coming home to get dirty again?'

'Not at all. Well, yes. But more importantly, this presents an accurate depiction to any potential usurpers. It's all biology, you see.'

John wondered for the tenth time in the last two hours if he was going mad. 'What the fuck are you on about?'

'Scenting, John! Pheromones! Olfactory evidence that you are claimed!'

Perhaps Will had snuck something into his morning cuppa again. Yes, that may be a suitable explanation. 'Are you suddenly paranoid that one of the mothers at Will's school is going to try and get a leg over on me?'

'Or fathers. Perhaps a teacher. You're quite a catch, John; you seem to be unaware. I doubt the rest of the world is so oblivious.'

He found himself wishing that whatever Will had used had been a touch stronger; it seemed to have plenty of hallucinatory effects without a shred of euphoria attached to it. He shook his head. 'No, I'm not doing this today. You have a shower and you have it now or we are leaving without you and you aren't getting anything from this particular "catch" for a week.'

'But, John-'

'And I will not hesitate to increase that to a fortnight. I mean it, Sherlock.'

Sherlock pouted but, miraculously, did as he was told. He was showered and dressed in three-and-a-half minutes, looking more polished than John could manage in under forty. He tried not to sulk as the four of them crowded into the back of a cab and sped toward Will's school. The baby patted his head and cooed consolingly.

The schoolyard was crowded with squealing children and huddled parents. A lone teacher attempted to herd the students inside. Will tumbled out of the cab and stilled.

John crouched next to him. 'Hey.' The boy turned, his blue-green eyes wide and terrified. 'You can do this. Alright?' He took a moment to nod. 'Just another day like any other. Just another puzzle. Okay?'

'Okay,' he whispered.

'You're going to meet some new people and make some new friends, and you're going to come home and tell Dad and me all about it.'

'Okay.'

'And then you and Dad can sort out who's left-handed and ate toast for breakfast by which way their shoelaces are tied and make me mental.'

He bit back a shy grin. 'Okay.'

'Okay.' He kissed his cheek. 'Give 'em hell, bug.'

'Okay.' Will turned to find the baby plopped on the pavement at Sherlock's feet, peering up at him. 'You'll watch 'em for me, won't you, Mish?' Hamish grinned and giggled. 'Don't let Dad eat my biscuits, okay?' He grabbed Will's pointing finger. Sherlock muttered something about conspirators and lack of corroborating evidence that Will made a point of ignoring. John stifled a laugh. He thought he saw Sherlock smirking out of the corner of his eye.

'Off you go, darling,' Sherlock rumbled. Will looked up at him and smiled brightly. He was across the schoolyard in a blink. John took a breath.

'He'll be fine, John.'

'I know he will.'

'They'll both be fine.'

John chuckled and scooped Hamish from the pavement. The baby squirmed in his arms until his thin black curls were tucked against his throat. John took hold of Sherlock's scarf and pulled him down for a kiss. 'Of course they will. They've got you.' He turned and headed back toward Baker Street, blowing a raspberry against Hamish's cheek. The baby shrieked and tugged at his jumper with glee. 'What do you think, bean? Should we pick up more biscuits for your dad? I don't think Will's stand a chance otherwise…'

He could feel Sherlock's smile on his back for half a block before he came back to the world and raced to catch them up.