"New life"

Holmes POV

Doctor Sheppard ordered me and Mrs. Hudson to take him the supplies he needed to operate on Watson. The poor man was awake but did not seem to pay much attention on us, he must be in great deal of pain and he looked exhausted. I tried to help him, holding his hand and offering words of comfort, that would not had made him feel better physically but at least he knew I was there for him.

At some point the doctor checked on him and nodded to himself. He bent down and told him that he was going to anesthetize him.

"Just try to relax and don't worry about anything." he added in a gentle and caring tone.

Watson did not fully comprehend the meaning of the doctor's words, for he did not reply, his gaze still remaining confused and pained.

"Thank you, doctor, I really appreciate it" I answered instead of him.

When the physician put a cloth soaked with chloroform on his mouth and nose , Watson made a little distressed sound but he relaxed soon and lost consciousness. I was glad of it, at least now he would not be in pain. That accomplished, Dr. Sheppard verified to have all the things he needed and then asked me to leave the room. I protested but he insisted.

"Please, Mr. Holmes, you are too involved. Once the child is born, you can take care of him. For now, just leave me the hard work!" he stated and gently but firmly guided me out of the room.

Through the door I could hear him talking to Mrs. Hudson, who had remained with him to give him assistance (she was good at that, much more than me), but most of the time I could detect only silence.

I tried to calm down, but found impossible to stay still so I started to pace nervously. After what seemed a very long time, the lady came out of the room but closed the door behind her. I tried to have a look of how things were doing with my friend, but she was too fast in the movement. I watched her in concern, she smiled at me and patted my arm.

"Don't worry, dear. It is almost over!" she assured me.

And disappeared down the stairs with a bundle of dirty towels, to return shortly in time with a pile of fresh and clean ones.

"Do you need any help in there?" I asked her, unsure if the answer I wanted to hear was a positive one. I knew myself very well to know that in my actual state I would not had been able to help or to do anything, I was just too nervous.

"Try to relax, Mr. Holmes. I will call you when we are done." And left me to wait, again, for what seemed ages.

When I thought I could not handle the waiting anymore, I heard a small but vigorous cry from the bedroom followed shortly by a muffled sound of joy from the landlady. Or child was born. I would had liked to storm in the room but I knew the doctor had not finished his work yet, for now he had to take care of the brave and unconscious man who gave life to our baby. I sat in a chair, this time knowing it was really over and in a short time I would had had my child resting securely in my arms.

Finally, the doctor came out and shook hands with me.

"Congratulation, Mr. Holmes. Come in here and see your child." He said.

I was truly happy for the birth of the child, but I was also worried about my Watson, and the question came out of my mouth naturally.

"Is Watson alright?"

"Yes, the surgery went very well. He is resting right now. He should wake up in a couple of hours or so. I had to put some stitches on his abdomen, of course, and they are going to hurt a little. I will leave something for the pain if he asks for it. Make sure he stays in bed for at least two or three days, better if he lies down so the stitches will heal faster. He needs to recover his strength, so try not to stress him. I think he will be up and around in a week or so. I am going to stay here and wait for him to wake up, then I will check on him once a day, if you agree."

"Thank you, doctor, thank you very much!"

"Just doing my job, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again without hesitation."

"You are a really good friend to us, thank you!"

He smiled at me in amusement, I should had been very pathetic in those moments but I did not care about it. I was just too happy and proud of my new family to think about what other people think of me.

Mrs. Hudson came closer to me holding a little bundle in her arms. She gently pressed the light weight in my arms, showing me how to hold it. "Careful with the head." She warned me, but in a very caring tone and tears in her eyes. "You had a beautiful girl!" she added, and left the room.

Enveloped in a soft light pink warm towel there was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. She was awake and watching me with curious blue eyes. Her body was so soft at touch and covered with wrinkles, like she had too much skin on her. Her little head was covered with s soft dark fluffy. She seemed so fragile.

I sat in the chair next to the bed where Watson was resting, holding her and caressing her with just one finger, probing her little body and feeling her react at my touch. She eventually gripped my finger in her little hand and assumed a clever expression, as if she had known I was his father. I was totally absorbed by her. After a while, she gave a small but cute yawn and fell asleep. I relaxed myself and waited for my friend to wake up, not moving my eyes form the child, afraid that if I had, she would had broken.

"Let me see her… " Watson strained voice made me startle, and I carefully shifted on the chair to face him. Still holding her securely in my arms, I bent down so to let him see his child. He caressed her with exquisite care, but so softly she did not even stir at his touch.

"She is beautiful. Let me hold her." He asked then, trying to get up, but he stopped when the pain in his abdomen reminded him of the stitches the doctor had put on him.

"You should lie still." I warned him. I carefully sat on the bed placing the sleeping child beside his father, in the centre of the bed, not wanting her to fall down.

"I am going to call Doctor Sheppard to check on you. Will you be alright with her, just a few minutes?"

"Yes, we will be fine."

When I re-entered the room with the doctor, Watson was watching his daughter sleep and caressing her. He did not want to be separated by her and the doctor had to manoeuvred around her to determine that he was doing well, all considering. He advised him to take it easy the next two or three days and assured he was going to return the following morning.

"Thank you very much, Doctor!" I said to him, guiding him to the main door of the cottage.

"Take care of them, both. See you tomorrow." And he left.

I went back upstairs and found the two persons I love most in this world sleeping side by side. I moved the chair on the other side of the bed, so to be able to see both the child and my lover clearly, and waited. For what and how long I did not know, I had lost my usual rational behaviohur, I was just pleased to see they both were alright.

I HOPE YOU LIKED THIS HAPPY END.

I AM PROBABLY GOING TO END AN EPILOGUE TO THIS STORY, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE LAST EVENTS FROM WATSON'S P.O.V. FOR NOW I AM PLEASED TO KNOW WATSON AND THE CHILD ARE WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

AS USUAL, REVIEW