Baby Talk and School Days:

"Let's have a baby." Sherlock announced early one morning.

"Excuse me?" John asked, choking on his coffee.

"I'm not repeating myself. You heard me just fine." Sherlock said not looking up from his work.

"What brought this on? I had to beg you to agree to adopt Dora." John was shocked. His husband was a wonderful father to their four-year old daughter, Endora Holmes, but John didn't expect Sherlock to ask for another child without prodding.

Sherlock shrugged. "Why not?"

John knew Sherlock wasn't likely to ask again. If he wanted this, he had to jump on it now. "Are you sure? Because you don't have to say you want another baby because you think I do. "

Sherlock didn't glance up. "Research says the older Dora gets the more difficult it will be to introduce a new family member. We may not be as lucky this time in finding a baby, so why not put ourselves on the list now if we want another one. It's better in the long run. Honestly, John, don't you think?"

John paused for a moment, debating whether or not to be angry. He decided against it as it may ruin the chance for further discussion of children.

"Well, as long as you're sure, Sherlock. I don't want to start the process and then you decide you want to back out." John said.

Sherlock glanced up at him for a moment before returning to his computer. "Why would I encourage you to bring anything into my flat that I don't want? Your comprehension skills are severely lacking this morning."

John rolled his eyes. "Well, if you're sure then I can call Catherine in a bit and have her put us back on the list." John grinned at Sherlock, though he didn't look up.

He couldn't believe Sherlock had suggested adopting another child. He was beyond thrilled and wanted to get everything squared away as soon as possible.

John managed to refrain from rushing to call and get everything settled. Instead he waited a few days to make sure Sherlock didn't change his mind before calling the adoption agency they used to adopt Dora. Finally, he got their names on the list and the couple went about their lives as normal, trying not to change too much in Dora's life before they found a baby. It would change enough then. However, as she grew older her life was changing anyway.

Dora was growing fast, and not long after John and Sherlock made the decision to have another baby Dora was due to start nursery school. She would be entering primary school the following year, and John didn't want her to start without having some experience in school. So on the first day of September, John woke Dora up to get her ready for nursery school just as he would for the next several years. She was dressed in an old tee-shirt and shorts combo, though John fought for her to wear something decent. She had a tiny purple bag with the few supplies she needed, but she didn't want to go. She ran to Sherlock for support.

"Father, don't let Daddy take me. I don't want to go. I want to stay with you."

"Now, Dora, as much as I love spending time with you, you have to go to school. You remember Anderson don't you?" Sherlock asked, ignoring John's questioning look.

Dora nodded, holding on to Sherlock's leg.

"Well, if you don't go to school you will end up with the same IQ level as him, and you are too smart for that. So you go with Daddy to school, and then once you come home I'll teach you a song. Would you like that?" Sherlock asked.

Dora nodded. She had been begging her Father to teach her to play the violin for a while, so she jumped at the chance to learn. She gave Sherlock a kiss and bounded over to John.

John laughed at Sherlock's uncharacteristically kind behavior.

"Shut up and take her to school, John. Don't you have to get to work?" Sherlock replied.

John laughed once more and set out for Dora's school.

John led Dora into her new classroom. "Look at all the kids, Dora. You'll have someone to play with besides Father and Mrs. Hudson. It'll be fun."

Dora glared up at him. "They look boring. I want to go home."

John rolled his eyes. Sometimes, Dora could be exactly like her Father, stubborn. "Well, you have to stay here for a bit. Then Father will take you home." John bent down to her level and hugged her. "I love you. Have a great day. Father will pick you up at lunch time, okay? You can last until then, right?"

Dora shrugged as John led her over to the teacher and waved goodbye.

"Hello, Dora. I'm Ms. Ellis. Why don't we put your bag away then you can join the other kids, okay?" The young, red-headed teacher said, leading her over to the small cabinets each child stored their stuff in. She opened up the one with Dora's name on it and took her bag, then sent her off to play.

Dora scanned the room. It was nothing special. Sure, it held more toys than she had at home, but they were a ratty collection of mismatched items that had been donated to the school. The children were nothing special either. They seemed ordinary and boring which didn't appeal to her. She was used to the excitement and commotion of 221B. It made everything else seem boring in comparison.

Dora headed to the table in the back with coloring supplies. She loved to color and draw, so that was the only thing that didn't seem boring. She wasn't there for long when a blonde girl her age joined her at the table. "Can I color, too?" She asked.

Dora shrugged, not looking up.

"I'm Elliott." The girl said, smiling.

"Dora." She muttered.

Elliott became quiet allowing the girl across from her to finish her picture, and she started on hers. The two girls worked silently beside each other until their teacher declared it was time to go outside.

Dora and Elliott followed the other kids outside and stood awkwardly a safe distance apart from not only the other kids, but each other.

Elliott, like Dora, found the other kids boring and didn't know what to do.

Dora inched closer to Elliott and asked, "Want to go over to the swings?"

Elliott nodded and raced Dora to the swings beating her by several seconds. "So," she started. "What do you like to do play?"

Dora shrugged, "I like to draw and play board games with Father and Daddy."

"You have two dads?" Elliott asked, intrigued by the notion. "I only have one and a mum and two brothers. Mummy said I'm going to have a sister though. What's it like with two dads?"

The girls exchanged stories of their family life until the teacher herded the children back inside. It was already lunch time and Sherlock was late, but Elliott stayed later than Dora, so the girls continued talking and searching through the toys to see what they could find.

Sherlock arrived an hour late, and Dora rushed over to him the moment he walked through the door. "Father, Father, Daddy said you would be here at lunch time. Where were you? I made a friend. Want to meet her? Her name is Elliott, and she has a mum. Why don't I have a mum? Are you going to be late every day? Why-" Sherlock cut Dora off by picking her up and saying, "Sorry, I'm late. Where is this friend?"

Dora led him over to Elliott and introduced them, but Sherlock and Dora were soon rushed out the door as Ms. Ellis had declared nap time.

Sherlock held Dora's hand as they flagged down a cab.

"Father, will you be there on time next time?" Dora asked.

"I'll try, Dora. But see, it wasn't so bad. You'll have to tell Daddy all about it once he gets home."

Sherlock smiled at Dora's enthusiasm. It was a bittersweet day for him. Of course he was thrilled Dora was making friends, but it was also sad. Sherlock hoped if they had another baby it would take its time growing up. He didn't like all these new changes.

His little girl was growing up, and Sherlock didn't like it one bit.

Authors Note: Thanks again to RainyDays-and-DayDreams for your review and your continued support.