Author's Note:

This was one long chapter to begin with so I split it up into two. Three chapters left after this! Thank you so much to all the reviews, subscribers and everyone who is keeping up with the story. I'm glad so many of you are enjoying the story so far!

Sherlock got up as soon as John answered the phone. He frowned and got up off the couch, ignoring the instantaneous pain it brought on. He made it to their bedroom, put on some shoes and came back out. "Come on, I'll go with you." So his fiancé couldn't argue he should stay behind, he went out the door and began going down the stairs. John was going to be there for Sarah, but someone needed to be there for John. What if something went wrong and the baby was lost? He kept his thoughts to himself, the army doctor would be plenty worried already.

John didn't even have time to argue, grabbing his coat and quickly following after Sherlock. No. No no no. This wasn't happening. He didn't want to think about it. He rushed past Sherlock, not even scoffing at the black car in front of the flat and eagerly climbing in. "No," he whispered out loud, dropping his head to his knees and running his hands violently through his hair. "Fuck, no, please." He took a deep, steady breath and shouted as he slammed his hand against the seat beneath him.

Sherlock had to steady himself on the hand railing to prevent himself from tumbling down the stairs as John brushed by. He hurried after his fiancé as fast as his pained feet would allow, clambered into the car and was grateful as soon as he sat down. Ignoring the burning sensation in his feet, he turned to John. "I'm sure it's nothing just like last time." He reached over and took the army doctor's hand giving it a reassuring squeeze.

The squeeze on his hand yanked him back into reality. John's gaze shot to Sherlock and he swallowed hard. How did he know? For all they knew he could be losing little Amy right now. After all the work, all the excitement. All the trouble. This wasn't fair. "How do we know?" He stated softly, his voice broken. "S-Sh-" He shook his head and squeezed Sherlock's hand without a second thought. It was his anchor. He needed it. The car stopped and John glanced once at Sherlock, smiling softly and exiting the car. "Sorry about your feet," he stated as he stood, glancing back into the car before walking around to help his fiancé from the car. He wasn't going into the hospital alone.

Of course, Sherlock had no way of knowing for sure. Thankfully the car came to stop and he got out with John's help. "They are fine. I'm fine." A lie but his fiancé had other things on his mind and worrying over his feet should be the least of them. He took John's hand, giving it another squeeze and walked into the hospital with him. They walked to the maternal ward and to the nurses' station to try and find out information on Sarah.

A young woman glanced at the two of them, her eyes settling on John hesitantly. "Doctor Watson?" She asked softly, looking down at her paperwork as she glanced down toward paperwork. "Sarah Sawyer... There was something wrong." She glanced up at him. "The child was born just fine, a month early but she's healthy." The young nurse bit her bottom lip as John's knees buckled and he leaned heavily against Sherlock. "Sarah didn't make it."

It felt like a train had hit him. What? Sarah couldn't just die, couldn't just bring Amy into the world and leave her without a Mom. "W-What?" He shook his head, praying that would knock the words out of his mind. Dead? No. "I'm sorry, that's- Is there another Sarah here? I thin-think you've got the wrong person."

Sherlock supported John and embraced him in hug. "Come on my dear doctor. Our daughter has been born. Don't you want to see her?" He needed his fiancé to concentrate on little Sandi and not Sarah's passing. He wasn't upset about it personally, but he didn't rejoice in it either. He was merely indifferent about the whole thing.

"No." John pulled away from Sherlock slowly, snatching up the charts and looking them over. "She was here a day ago!" He shouted, throwing the clipboard down and drawing the attention of everybody in the area. "And you fucking let her go! She could still be alive! Now my daughter doesn't have a Mum!" His arm moved across the counter, knocking over paperwork bins and other supplies.

"John!" Sherlock wrapped his arms around his fiancé's waist and turned the army doctor around to look at him, his head tilted down slightly so they could make eye contact. "Your daughter needs you right now. Our daughter needs us. Now man up and let's go see Amy." He kissed John on the forehead and drew him near for a close tight hug.

John took several deep breaths, closing his eyes and relaxing against Sherlock. Daughter. She was here. "Right," he muttered with a nod. Sherlock was here. He could do this. Another nurse, clearly a bit shaken, led them to the room where several other babies were, picking up a small pink bundle and placing it in John's arms.

The little bundle wiggled and made a small squeak, her mouth opening slightly before she curled into the warmth of John's chest. He tensed, glancing up at Sherlock before dropping his gaze again in amazement. "The child's name?" The nurse asked quietly, failing to hide the smile on her lips.

"Amy Sandoval Sawyer-Watson," John stated instantly, without hesitation. She opened her eyes and he let out a small chuckle. His eyes, of course. It always worked out like that.

For a moment Sherlock thought he was going to have to slap John in the face to get him to calm down. He followed after his fiancé, and leaned against the door frame to the nursery. He pulled out his cell phone and sent a text to his brother.

Sarah didn't make it. Baby is fine. Is there any way you can get John's tour terminated? I know you would have to go above the Old Man's head…or maybe talk some sense into him? If I tried, I would just make things worse… -SH

Mycroft's text was almost instant.

His entire company was killed today. Seven fatalities. He doesn't have a choice. His new company is waiting. -MH

John took a few steps back and plopped into a chair, holding the small bundle close to him and inspecting her curiously. His eyes. Sarah's nose. God bless her, his jaw line. "Hi there, Amy," he whispered, his finger moving to gently poke the tip of her nose. She studied him just as intently. Her hair was already a sandy blonde like his, a bit unmanageable. It scared him how much this little girl was already like him. She yawned and quickly fell back to sleep so John took the time to sit in awe at the small wonder in his arms.

Well, that was news that could wait. John had enough to deal with as it was. He glanced over to his fiancé and little Sandi and smiled faintly. He glanced back down at his phone and after a moment of thought sent another message to Mycroft.

Fine. Besides John, Amy doesn't have family or a legal guardian. With him at war, there could be issues of me claiming her since we aren't married yet. How soon can you push adoption papers though? –SH

Already taken care of. You doubt me, dear brother? -MH

John glanced up at Sherlock and smiled weakly. His eyes were wet, it was clear he was trying not to cry. He didn't know if it was because of the sleeping infant in his arms or the fact that Sarah didn't get to live to see her. "Who're you texting?" He asked with a sniff. The movement jolted the small bundle, a small cry escaping the pink blanket. Without a second thought John started to rock her, keeping his eyes locked on his fiancé.

Sherlock smirked faintly at his older brother's text and was about to reply when John spoke to him. He glanced up John. "Mycroft. I was updating him on the situation." True enough. He put his phone away and walked into the room. He slumped into the stool a doctor usually sat on when examining patients, just to get off his feet. He rolled it the rest of the way over John and Amy.

"Right." John smirked as the little girl calmed down, falling back to sleep like nothing had happened. "Look at her..." He glanced at Sherlock with wide eyes. Shock. Wonder. "She's... perfect." Her lips smacked together and she curled away from Sherlock in favor of the warmth radiating from John's stomach. "Sarah did a wonderful job." His lips twitched in a smile before he glanced at his fiancé. "D'you want to hold her?"

"Me?" Sherlock asked, because he wasn't sure if he knew how to hold a baby properly. Well, he did but now he was feeling nervous and anxious. With John going back to Afghanistan, it would fall on him to raise little Sandi alone until his fiancé could come back home. He supposed he might as well get the practice in now. "Yeah…sure…" He reached out to take the small bundle carefully.

John moved slowly and placed Amy in Sherlock's arms. She moved and opened her eyes, clearly a not displeased about moving around so much. Her gaze locked intently on the new person, a small squeak escaping her mouth. "Maybe you should talk to her," John whispered.

Sherlock smiled down at Amy. "Hi little Sandi. I'm going to be your other dad. I hope that makes you glad." He smirked a little because that time he hadn't meant to rhyme, it had just happened without any real thought. He held the small bundle carefully against his chest and made sure to support the head.

Amy closed her eyes at the sound of Sherlock's voice. "She likes you already," John said softly. It was endearing to see his fiancé with his... Their daughter. Amy opened her eyes again and kept her gaze on Sherlock. "Christ, Sherlock, we've got a kid." He reached out and gently ran a finger down Amy's cheek.

"Apparently she likes looking at me as well," Sherlock commented as his light gaze peered down at the tiny eyes looking up at him. He finally looked over to John. "Do you think they will let us take her home tonight? We will need to get special formula for her as well, I believe?" The thought of spending more time in a hospital than needed was not something he relished, but he couldn't imagine John leaving while little Sandi stayed. Well, he couldn't see himself leaving either if he was to be honest with himself.

John shook his head almost instantly. "Probably not. She's a month premature, Sherlock. They will need to keep her for a few days." His gaze lifted and almost instantly he decided that he was going to stay with his little girl over night. He was fairly sure that he didn't need to tell his fiancé twice. "The hospital has specialized formula for her right now." He leaned forward and gently met Sherlock's lips, unable to stop himself.

Amy squeaked a bit unhappily at the obstruction of Sherlock's face, taking several deep breaths before letting out a loud wail.

Sherlock nodded a bit John's words and then frowned when little Sandi began crying. For a moment he thought about shoving the small bundle to his fiancé's hands. No. He needed to get used to this, because it would probably happen a lot. He quickly recalled the books he had read, and began to gently rock the infant in his arms.

John had slowly started to lean forward to take Amy from Sherlock but the other man started to rock his arms and he sat back with a small grin. Sherlock was going to make a great father.

Amy quieted slowly, her little chest moving quickly as she tried to breathe, blinking her eyes rapidly.

"Think she's hungry?" John asked softly, studying Sherlock with a raised brow.

Well, that was easy enough. Sherlock glanced from little Sandi over to John. "Maybe. Did you know different cries mean different things infants want? With enough time, I should be able to distinguish them apart. Shouldn't take too long, I don't think." He glanced back to the infant in his arms, still rocking her.

"What, too early to see what that one actually mean?" John asked teasingly. He smirked toward his fiancé and let his gaze fall to Amy. The scene in front of him made his heart swell. His daughter, innocent and having no idea that her Mum had just died, in the arms of a man who wouldn't have done such a thing just a year ago. A nurse entered the room with a bottle and handed it off to John without a second thought. "D'you mind if I feed her first?" He asked softly.

Sherlock looked back over to John and matched his smirk. "Sure." He handed little Sandi over gently to his fiancé. "Tomorrow, would you mind if my Mum came over? She is very excited about the baby." He shifted a bit in the chair, pulling out his cell phone.

"Not at all," John stated as Amy latched on to the bottle and started to drink loudly. She swallowed as loud as she could, it seemed, and breathed heavily through her nose in order to get air. "I didn't think she would be very excited," he whispered, taking his eyes off of his daughter for a short moment in order to glance at his fiancé. "She isn't upset?"

Sherlock shook his head. "As she put it, 'it was the only way she would ever have grandchildren.' So, if she coos and ahs over little Sandi don't be surprised." He sent a text to Mycroft.

You should bring Mum to see Amy tomorrow. –SH

She has already found the address to the hospital. -MH

John laughed and slowly pulled the small bottle from Amy's mouth, yanking the sleeve down to his hand to wipe her mouth clean. "There you go," he whispered, his voice a bit higher than normal. She cooed as he placed her against his shoulder and gently started patting her back. "I hope she's always this low maintenance." He chuckled again and rested his gaze on the little girl lovingly.

Sherlock smirked a bit at his brother's text. Of course she had. "Looks like Mum will be here soon." He glanced to John and just then his mother walked in.

"There she is!" Nancy chirped, with a gift bag and a balloon that read 'It's A Girl!' She gave the gifts to her son and walked over to John and the baby.

John smiled bashfully at his fiancé and let his gaze travel to his future mother-in-law. "Hello, Mrs. Holmes," he stated shakily. She seemed more intimidating in person. Taller than him, that was for sure. Both the Holmes boys were tall, it came from somewhere. "Pleasure to see you again. This is Amy," he explained awkwardly.

The little girl twisted slightly in the pink blanket, her eyes adjusting to the new person in the room and narrowing slightly, much like John.

"Nancy," She corrected automatically. The Holmes mother peered fondly down at Amy. "She's beautiful. Has your eyes."

Sherlock smiled a bit as his mother and fiancé spoke. He sent another text to his older brother.

You can visit too, if you want. You're an Uncle now. –SH

Handling a situation with the Korean elections. Maybe later. -MH

John bit his bottom lip. "Oh, yes. Sorry." He took a deep breath and tried to keep himself calm. "D'you want to hold her, then? I'm sure she'd like that." He held the small bundle out and Amy twisted slightly in her blanket, desperate to get back to the warmth her father provided.

Nancy took Amy carefully, holding the infant to her bosom, cooing and talking softly to he bundle and completely ignoring the other two men in the room. She was clearly thrilled and enthralled with the baby.

Sherlock put his cell phone away after reading the latest text from his older brother. He peered into the bag. It was fair sized gift bag but not very heavy. He moved the paper around. There was a stuffed dog with over sized floppy ears, teeny tiny white shoes, a pink onesie, and a light yellow dress. He offered the bag to John, to see if he wanted to inspect the contents as well.

John watched Amy intently, glancing at Nancy before the bag caught his attention. He took it with a weak smile, glancing inside and taking quick stock of the items. Apparently Nancy already loved the little girl like her own. She had done more to prepare for Amy than he had. "Thank you," he responded with a tight throat, standing slowly. "I just... I need some fresh air." He set the bag beside Sherlock and stumbled from the room.

He couldn't do this. Not without Sarah. Amy needed a Mum and just minutes of her being brought into the world, she had lost that. How was he going to do this? He had to go back to Afghanistan, to his company, for six months. He slid down the wall, curling into himself, and slamming his eyes shut.

Sherlock frowned as he watched John leave the room. He glanced to his mother and she merely nodded. Words were seldom needed in the Holmes household at times. He got up off the small stool and left the room. He found his fiancé slumped against the wall and he sat down next to the army doctor. He wasn't sure what to say, so he took John's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

John didn't hesitate to squeeze Sherlock's hand back. "I know you don't want to hear this," he whispered, turning his head to look at his fiancé. "I miss Sarah." He closed his eyes, knowing they were already red from the tears that had started coming without his permission. "Sherlock, Amy doesn't have a Mum now. Sarah... she was so excited. I talked to her yesterday and she... Sherlock, she had so many things ready for her." His voice broke and he curled into Sherlock with a sob. Soldiers weren't supposed to cry but John was breaking. He was crashing and burning.

Lately, Sherlock had been getting better about saying the right thing in times like these. However, right now he was sure he wouldn't be able to find any words. So, without a word he wrapped John in a hug and comforted him as best as he could. He wanted to tell his fiancé everything would be fine and work out for the best but those seemed like trite and hollow words so he continued to hug John quietly.

This was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of his life, based on what everybody had told him while he was growing up. "I'm sorry. I should be in there being the best Dad I can to Amy, not some blubbering idiot outside." A hand gripped Sherlock's shirt tightly as he tried to compose himself. "She really is beautiful. I'm glad she didn't get my nose." He laughed softly, opening his eyes and looked up at his fiancé with a small smile. "And she likes you."

"It's fine. Perfectly natural response, given the situation," Sherlock replied. He gave a light kiss to John's head. "You think so?" He supposed his fiancé was right, she had calmed down for him pretty quickly. He wondered if she would always be that easy to sate or she would end up being a fussy a baby. He had read up on both and figured since he didn't sleep much anyway, being up all night wouldn't be that much of an imposition.

John placed several soft kisses along Sherlock's jaw, pulling away with a sigh. "When you comfort me like this I get so bloody turned on," he whispered in Sherlock's ear. It was in that exact moment he regretted telling his fiancé he didn't want to have sex until their wedding night. "I've been up here before. There's a supply closet two doors to the left and I've had dreams of taking you in there." He pulled away with a cocky smirk, moving slowly to his feet. "Guess I'll have to wait." He offered his hand to the man on the floor, glancing into the room and smiling. Nancy was going to make quite the grandmother.

Sherlock couldn't help but squirm closer to John from the kisses. Wait? Oh right. He cocked an eyebrow, smirking a bit. "Hey, waiting was your idea." He took the hand, standing on his feet as carefully as he could. Ignoring the urge to take his fiancé right there in the hallway, he moved back to the room. His mother was in the rocking chair, murmuring quietly to the sleeping baby in her arms.

"Never said I was complaining. I'm sure it's going to be well worth the wait." John followed Sherlock into the room and seemed to relax the moment he was near Amy. Sleeping. Content. Happy and innocent and not knowing what was really going on around her. "I'm so glad you like her," he whispered to Nancy, smiling warmly. "And you got her to sleep. I'll pay you to be a nanny while I'm gone," he half-joked.

Nancy smiled and shook her head. "Shhh…" She chastised quietly, indicating Amy sleeping in her arms. She got up slowly and carefully, and offered the baby back to John. When her future son-in-law took the delicate bundle she excused herself quietly and politely. She gave Sherlock a pat on the shoulder before leaving the room.

Sherlock sat back down in the doctor's stool. His feet did not like all the attention they had been getting lately. At this rate, he was certain his feet would never heal or at least not properly. He looked up to John holding little Sandi and he gave a smile.