Bye Bye Daddy:
The past few weeks at 221B passed with little excitement. John and Sherlock has settled into a routine in which Sherlock took care of Dora when she was happy and smiling, and John got stuck with the nasty side of Dora including her tantrums, diapers, and bath times.
Today, however, was different. John woke up early and prepared himself for work while Sherlock and Dora slept soundly. After he got himself together, he began to prepare a bottle for Dora to take to Sherlock.
Dora began to cry before John finished her bottle causing Sherlock to stir.
"John? John, Dora's crying!" Sherlock called.
"Could you grab her?" John yelled back.
Sherlock came into the kitchen moments later holding out their crying baby. "Here, she wants her daddy."
John pushed his arms back to his chest and handed him Dora's bottle. "Here, you feed her. I best be off. I don't want to be late." John said, grabbing his belongings.
Sherlock's face paled. "Where are you going?"
"To work, remember?" John sighed as it was obvious his husband had forgotten all about it. He had told Sherlock numerous times he would be returning to work today, but some things never stick with Sherlock. "We've talked about this many times."
"Of course we haven't, John. I would have remembered that. You can't leave. What about Dora?" Sherlock panicked. He couldn't care for a child alone.
"You'll be fine, Sherlock. I have to work. Mrs. Hudson is downstairs if you need her." John said, trying to leave, but Sherlock stopped him once more.
"But she wants her daddy." Sherlock held Dora in front of John's face. "Look at that face. How can you leave her?"
"She'll be fine with her father. I have to go now. I'll be home soon. Behave." John said.
"She's a baby, John. What trouble can she get into?" Sherlock mocked.
"I was talking to you. I love you." John kissed both of their heads and exited the flat leaving Sherlock and Dora alone.
"Well Dora, daddy's gone and left us." Sherlock said to the fussing infant he was holding. "Let's get you some breakfast." He headed back to his bedroom and settled down to feed Dora.
She downed her breakfast quickly and seemed satisfied for most of the morning. When lunchtime rolled around, however, things changed. Dora began to cry for lunch, but when Sherlock came to feed her again she refused to eat. She screamed and screamed and nothing Sherlock seemed to do would sooth her.
"Dora, please. What's wrong?" Sherlock pleaded. "Why are you upset?"
The louder Dora's cries got the more worried Sherlock became. When her cries became too much for Sherlock, he rushed downstairs and banged on Mrs. Hudson's door.
"Mrs. Hudson! Mrs. Hudson!" Sherlock called.
"What's wrong, dear?" The wonderful landlady said, opening the door.
"Dora. She's crying and…I don't know what to do."
Mrs. Hudson had never seen Sherlock so distraught. Not since the night he returned from the dead and showed up on Baker Street. "Come in, dear. Let me see her."
Sherlock handed Dora over and began pacing Mrs. Hudson's kitchen.
"I've fed her, bathed her, changed her, tried to put her asleep, played with her, everything, and she's still crying." Sherlock seemed close to tears himself. He hated feeling like he couldn't care for his own child.
"Babies can sense change, dear, and your Dora doesn't like it. John did most of the domestics when it came to her, and you took care of entertaining her. With John going back to work, you have to do it all, and Dora isn't too fond of that. John not being there to take care of her today has probably upset her. You need to find a way to sooth her." Mrs. Hudson led Sherlock to the living room, humming to Dora.
Dora's cries soon turned to whimpers as Mrs. Hudson calmed her. "Here, take her back upstairs and try to get her to sleep. She'll be fine, dear, but if you have any more trouble don't hesitate to call me or come back down. You are doing just fine, Sherlock. Take a breath."
"Thank you, Mrs. Hudson." Sherlock said, taking Dora back into his arms.
"Any time, dear. Good luck." Mrs. Hudson walked him to the door and kissed Dora's head. She waved at Sherlock as he climbed back up the stairs.
Sherlock took Dora back upstairs humming the same tune as Mrs. Hudson hummed to her, but Dora's cries picked up again. Sherlock went inside of his flat and began to pace the living room while humming. Dora's cries did not subdue
"Dora, love, please. Father's here." Sherlock begged. Then, he had an idea. He laid Dora in her infant swing and ran to get his violin. He sat near her and began to play softly, humming as he played.
Dora's cries turned to whimpers, and her eyes began to droop. Sherlock's playing got softer and softer until Dora fell asleep.
Sherlock sat back and breathed a sigh of relief. He finally got Dora to stop crying and sleep, and he felt exhausted. He put his violin away and tidied the flat, so it would be clean when John arrived home.
By the time he finished, it was half past four. John would be home in an hour or so and if he didn't get Dora up soon she wouldn't go to bed on time further disrupting schedule. He lifted her up out of her swing and moved to lay on the couch with the intentions of playing with her. He closed his eyes for a split second before waking her up and didn't open them until John came home.
An Hour Later:
John arrived home frustrated after a long day of work. In the month he'd been away looking after Dora work had piled up, and he wanted nothing more than to go home and sleep. He opened the door of 221B prepared to tell Sherlock to put Dora to bed and give her a bath himself, but the sight he saw made him forget about his unnerving day.
Sherlock was asleep on the couch with Dora sprawled out on his chest. Both of their mouths were hanging open, and they seemed very tired.
John crossed the living room and took a picture before waking Sherlock. "I'm home." He said.
Sherlock seemed slightly dazed. "Wh-what?" He stuttered shaking his head and trying to grasp what was happening. "How was work?" He mumbled as he realized what was going on.
"It was alright. How were things here?"
Sherlock debated telling John exactly what happened that day, but one look at Dora made him think otherwise. Sherlock smiled down at Dora before replying. "We had a great day."
And even though Dora was unsettled, it was all worth it, to Sherlock, to see his daughter soundly asleep in his arms. Sherlock and John had a feeling Sherlock wouldn't have any debates about keeping Dora on his own anytime soon.