Sherlock broke away from Mycroft at the sound of distress in John's voice and looked the doctor with concern.

"Where, Molly?!" John had started pacing the room like a caged animal. He kept looking towards the door to the office like he would bolt. "I'll get there as fast as I can. You can't leave. Call me if anything changes." He rang off and stopped his pacing, looking down at the phone in his hand. "Damn!" John kicked at the chair he had stopped by.

The high Sherlock had felt was ebbing and he could feel a black mood closing in around him. He pushed back against it with all his might, using the full force of his love of and concern for John to keep it at bay. "Mary..."

"Has gone into labour," the doctor finished for him. His left hand formed a fist. He couldn't drive, neither could Sherlock, not in his current state. Mycroft's presence was required here. Greg... No, Greg was needed to watch over the brothers until medical help arrived. The chair suffered another kick. "How long until your people get here, Mycroft?"

The government official looked at him as he rubbed at the bump on his head. "Less than five minutes. I'll have one of my men take you to hospital, of course." He looked meaningfully at Sherlock.

John's eyes followed his. He stepped forward and took the detective by the shoulders, looking him in the eyes. "Go with Mycroft. Do what has to be done, then come to hospital. I need you there with me. Promise me."

Sherlock felt completely conflicted, unsure if he was being rejected or not. Coming down from his recent high didn't help him understand in the least, but the pain in John's eyes spoke to him. "I promise. I'll come."

John burst onto the maternity ward and went straight to the nurses' desk. "I'm John Watson. My wife..."

"John!" Molly called out as she rushed to him and hugged him. "She's right this way. I was just about to call. You're a father and, oh, John! She's beautiful!"

"I'm a father? She's okay? They're both okay?" He looked, sounded, and was completely stunned.

"Yes." Molly hugged him again and pulled on his arm, urging him along. She waved at the nurses behind the desk who smiled back at her.

At the door to Mary's room, Molly gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Now that you're here. I'm going to go. You two need time alone with your daughter."

John started to push the door open, but paused. "Thank you, Molly." He turned back and stepped into the room.

Mary looked up from studying the face of their daughter to see who was entering. Her face lit up. "John," she said holding out a hand in his direction. "Come look at her. She's perfect. They said she won't even have to stay in hospital longer than normal."

Placing his hand on his daughter's head, he bent and kissed Mary. "I was so afraid for you both."

"I know." The new mother lifted the baby girl in her arms. "You can hold her, you know. She won't break."

"I've held babies before." John took her in his arms. "Are we still going to call her Nadyia Ailis?"

"Hope and honesty? I think so." Mary smiled at her husband and daughter. Hope and honesty were two things she hoped to give them in the future. Honesty. It was time for that. "John?"

"Hm?" He glanced at her, then looked at her more seriously. "What's wrong?"

Mary let her head fall back against the pillow and her eyes fall shut. "I know you love Sherlock. I'm not angry about it. I'm not angry with either of you." She opened sad eyes and looked at John. "You can't help who you love."

The doctor looked at his wife, completely blindsided. "Does anyone ever actually listen to me? I'm not gay. Really, actually, not gay."

"But you love him." John started to speak, but she held up her hand. "You need to figure out what you're going to do. I'm not giving you an ultimatum. It's just... Sherlock's so fragile right now. This whole thing isn't fair to him."

"I'm not going to leave you and Ailis," he reassured her.

"And Sherlock? You can't leave him either." Mary looked at him sympathetically. "That wouldn't be fair to either of you."

John kissed his daughter, not wanting to think about the whole mess, but he had to. "Then what do you suggest?"

"You need to commit to spending time with him. Two or three days a week. Maybe even sleep over sometimes and just do the things you've always done together."

"But you'll need me with the baby."

Mary laughed. "We'll be just fine without you a few nights. I promise, John."

"Maybe." He sat on the edge of the bed and lay Ailis between them. "I'll think about it."

"And, John." Mary looked at him seriously. "Think about just how much of yourself you can give him."