"Scarlett...Scarlett..." Sherlock nudged the sleeping figure next to him as the girl protested at seven the next morning, her arm draping over Sherlock's pyjama covered stomach as he simply just rolled his eyes at her and she mumbled.
"Humph..." she complained. She hadn't gotten to sleep until about three in the morning and so what did he truly expect after a four hour rest?
"You need to wake up or you're going to be late for work," he told her and then felt her head roll onto his shoulder and her breath tickle his neck. Sherlock simply just muttered under his breath and then pushed her body from his and climbed from the bed, reaching for his dressing gown and sliding into it before noticing how she had taken to using his pillow, her eyes still closed.
"Scarlett," Sherlock complained at her. "You do realise that if you don't plan to move now then you shall be late for work and then it shall somehow be my fault for that occurrence even though I did inform you that you needed to wake up?"
"Shut up," Scarlett whispered and grabbed the duvet, pulling it closer around her body. Sherlock shook his head at her and then moved out into the hallway.
"I'll fetch my violin then, shall I?" he asked her as he walked away and then he heard the faint mumbling of her swearing. With a knowing smirk, he flicked the switch on the kettle and began to place cups down onto the worktop, the sudden realisation of last night hitting him. He was going to be a father whether he liked it or not. Of course he had to wonder if the teddy bear was slightly over the top for him, but, he had to prove that he did care about Scarlett...and...well...he would obviously have to care about the child. After all, it was to be his.
"Morning," a sudden voice said and Sherlock felt slender arms work around his waist and a head rest on his back, just next to his shoulder blade as he began to pour the boiling water into cups.
"You seem much more responsive," Sherlock informed Scarlett and the girl just simply shrugged.
"The realisation that you could possibly deafen me made me more alert," she murmured.
"Well on that violin it is possible...it is still not correct," he complained and she rolled her eyes.
"You're unappeasable," she whispered. "So are we still alright?"
"I am completely fine," Sherlock told her.
"I meant...well..." Scarlett didn't know what to say as Sherlock began the stirring of a spoon in his tea.
"You meant are we okay after everything we discussed last night," Sherlock stated. "And did the fact that I already told you I won't abandon you not appease your curiosity?"
"I just wanted to make sure Sherlock," Scarlett told him. "It's a big thing."
"So you keep telling me," Sherlock muttered and drank some of his tea.
"I'd best be getting ready for work," Scarlett said, tapping her hand gently onto Sherlock's stomach before she moved over to the bedroom again and left Sherlock stood looking after her.
...
"Two visits in less than a month," Sherlock commented when he opened the front door at quarter to five in the evening to see his brother stood there, a knowing smile was plastered on his face as he looked at Sherlock. "Should I be honoured? Actually no," Sherlock drawled, "I'm more disturbed to be honest with you. And disappointed, you didn't even bring food with you this time."
"Daddy Sherlock, dear brother?" Mycroft spoke and Sherlock's face remained emotionless as he looked at his brother on his doorstep.
"It would appear so," Sherlock spoke. "I would ask how you know but it seems that you have people all over who are watching my every move."
"Well," Mycroft shrugged, "when you're little girlfriend runs into a clinic and demands to be seen by a Dr Watson then news spreads when she was in hysterics."
"Such a fountain of knowledge, aren't you Mycroft?" Sherlock replied sarcastically. "So what can I do for you?"
"Well I have a case I need you to see to," he told his little brother. "And also to gloat."
"You've openly admitted that you're about to gloat?" Sherlock checked. "How petty of you."
"I did tell you Sherlock," he chuckled as Sherlock decided to take the conversation indoors, moving up the steps to the living room and settling himself down into the armchair, twirling his gun in his hand as Mycroft remained stood opposite him, an umbrella in his hands in case it rained on him.
"I hate to tell you dear brother," Sherlock said sarcastically, "that I am extremely busy."
"Decorating for a nursery?" Mycroft asked and Sherlock scowled.
"Actually no," Sherlock replied. "I have far more interesting things on my mind than such mundane things like decorating."
"So what do you think to all of this then Sherlock?" Mycroft asked. "The only man I could never imagine being a father."
"Such a lovely compliment," Sherlock drawled. "And how I feel is none of your concern."
"So have you thrown her out?" Mycroft asked.
"She is called Scarlett," Sherlock replied. "And she is still living with me as she also does pay the rent and so is entitled to stay here."
"Bit docile though, do you not think?" Mycroft asked. "That the girl forgot to take her pill? I mean...are you sure the girl isn't just after money from you Sherlock?"
"You're amazing Mycroft," irony was laden in Sherlock's voice. "The way you come in here and then make completely wrong assumptions is just ridiculous."
"I was only wondering Sherlock," Mycroft replied with a shrug. "But I did warn you about the birds and the bees Sherlock..."
"Didn't you just?" Sherlock replied, sounding bored. "Now, the real reason why you're here if you would Mycroft because I'd prefer for you not to stay too long."
"So you're interested?" Mycroft checked.
"Enthralled," Sherlock replied, sounding anything but.
"Sherlock!" a sudden new voice called into the flat and Sherlock groaned in his head as he saw Scarlett enter the doorway to the eyes of Mycroft.
"Miss Jenson," Mycroft greeted her. "I do believe that a congratulations is in order...carrying Sherlock's child...I really can't imagine much more of a hardship."
"Well," Scarlett replied. "I can't think of anyone else I would rather have a child with...I mean, can you imagine the brains this one is going to have?" Scarlett patted her stomach. "I'm looking at an Oxford education already."
"On your salary?" Mycroft grinned and Scarlett simply just shrugged.
"But if their uncle is going to be running the government then I am sure he would pull a few strings? Families do that for each other, don't they?" she pushed Mycroft and Sherlock couldn't help but smirk at how she was pressing his buttons.
"We're not related," Mycroft informed her.
"But this one inside of me is going to be related to you," Scarlett replied.
"Apparently so," Mycroft responded. "And marriage isn't on the cards?"
"It's a piece of paper," Scarlett shrugged off. "I know Sherlock isn't going anywhere," she said, but it sounded more like a warning to Sherlock as she stood there and her eyes narrowed in his direction.
"A child out of wedlock," Mycroft shook his head.
"And a child in wedlock is still the same Mycroft," Sherlock replied. "Now is there a reason as to why you're here or are you just trying to provoke a reaction from Scarlett and I because, if so, you're failing terribly."
"I'll send a car for you tomorrow morning at seven on the dot," Mycroft replied.
"I didn't say I would take the case," Sherlock replied.
"Oh you will do," Mycroft said as he walked away. "If you want your child to get into Oxford that is."
Sherlock and Scarlett heard the door to 221B Baker Street slam shut before they spoke.
"I'm sorry Sherlock," Scarlett said to him. "But you're brother is an arsehole."
"Apologies not needed," Sherlock promised her. "I know that for myself...of course if he thinks I shall be going anywhere with him tomorrow then he is delusional."
"But you have no case on," Scarlett removed her coat and hung it up before taking off her patent heels.
"And I'll find something instead of looking through his," Sherlock told her.
"I hope so," she pursed her lips. "Every night I come home I worry if you've destroyed anything else of mine."
"No need," Sherlock promised her. "I've started on John's possessions."
"I'm sure he loves you for it," Scarlett mumbled. "And...well...I need to ask you something..."
"No I'm not leaving you for the millionth time Scarlett. I don't know how many times you would like me to say it for the very sentence is becoming boring to speak aloud."
"Work is having an office party Sherlock," she told him. "On Christmas Eve...and...will you come with me?"
"As in a formal dinner and dancing? The usual type of posh party?" he checked with her and she nodded.
"Well?" she asked him and he shook his head.
"No," he said. "Not my area."
"Please," she pleaded with him. "I'll make it worth your while."
"Really?" he raised his eyebrows suggestively and she rolled her eyes.
"You're coming Sherlock," she told him. "That's all there is to it."
"Make me," he folded his arms childishly.
"Oh don't worry," she whispered, "I will."
...
A/N: So I managed to get another chapter in today. I know it's late but it is out! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and hope you are all enjoying the story!