Second Time Around:
Nine months had passed since Sherlock and John decided to have another baby, and they hadn't heard anything from the agency. Life went on, however, even if it didn't include their second child.
Dora's fifth birthday came and went and was celebrated by throwing her first slumber party. John and Sherlock allowed her friend, Elliot, to stay over, and the girls enjoyed a night of board games, Disney movies, and sweets.
Dora was almost finished with her time in nursery school. She doesn't get on with the other children, but that didn't matter. She had Elliott and that was all she needed. She would be done with nursery school at the end of June, and, in July after a week off, she would go to an art camp for children who would be enrolled in primary school for the upcoming term. Well, they called it an art camp; it was a group of some of the nursery school kids and teachers doing kiddie crafts in an attempt to make nursery school seem more exciting for the kids. Dora was thrilled, though, as it seemed more appealing to a child than going to normal school.
Dora counted down the days and with only two weeks left in June, there were three weeks left until camp began. "Daddy, I only have twenty-one more days until camp. Did you know that?" Dora asked as she got ready for school.
John laughed at her enthusiasm. "Yes, Dora, I know. Let's not get to ahead of ourselves, now. You still have two more weeks of school." He bent down and tied her shoe as she scowled.
"Why do you and Father have to ruin everything?" She said dramatically. Both Sherlock and John had reminded her that camp doesn't start until school ended, and Sherlock, already annoyed with her count down, had suggested she wait until school had let out to count the days until camp.
John laughed again causing Dora's scowl to deepen. "Alright, love, Elliott's mum should be here. Tell her thank you for the ride. Father will pick you up. Have a good day."
"Bye, Daddy." Dora gave him a brief hug and ran out to the car, and John hurried to get ready for work. He needed to go in early and he was already running behind when his phone rang.
"Hello?" John answered, struggling to balance his phone between his head and shoulder so he could put his shoes on.
"Mr. Watson, this is Catherine. I've spoken with a couple who are interested in talking to you and your husband about adopting. Are you interested in coming down?" The agent replied.
"What? Really? Um, yes. That would be lovely. When did you have in mind?" John's shoes lay forgotten on the floor as he gave his full attention to the woman on the phone.
"That's the thing, Mr. Watson. The couple is interested in talking to as many people as possible as soon as they can. We need you and your husband here this afternoon to meet with them or else they may move on."
"Right, what time?" John raced to find a spare bit of paper to write down any information he may need as Catherine began to speak again.
"They'll be down after lunch, around one thirty. Can you make it?"
"Yes, of course. We'll be there. Thank you." John hung up the phone and ran to the bedroom where his husband was still sleeping. "Sherlock! Wake up!"
Sherlock groaned and rolled over clutching the covers tightly. "Go away, John."
"Sherlock, Catherine called. We've got to go down to her office this afternoon."
"Why?" Sherlock grumbled, still half asleep."
"Really, Sherlock. For a so-called genius you can be a bit of an idiot in the mornings."
"Shut up, John."
"There's a couple who wants to meet us. This could be it, Sherlock. Get up. I have to head to work. I'm already late, but meet me there at one thirty and not a second later." John rushed out the door leaving a dazed Sherlock behind.
Sherlock arrived right at one thirty, and he and John were called back minutes later.
"Hello, Mr. Watson, Mr. Holmes. I'm glad you could make it" Catherine said as John and Sherlock took their seats.
Sherlock looked at the couple seated across from them. They were young, in their early 20's he guessed. They looked like university students, and they seemed very, very nervous.
"Hello," The woman started before Catherine could introduce them. "I'm Maddie and this is Josh. Nice to meet you." She offered John a small smile, which John returned with one of his own.
"Nice to meet you, too. I'm John and this is my husband, Sherlock."
Sherlock nodded at the couple causing John to give him a look. He should know that acting like this was beneath him wouldn't help.
Sherlock took the hint. "Nice to meet you."
Maddie smiled, but Josh remained silent.
"Alright, Mr. Watson and Mr. Holmes, you know how this works, but Miss Clarke and Mr. Murray don't, so I'm going to outline what I'm here for. My job is taking care of the paper work. You four decide what you want and if this is something that works for you then I make sure everything is done legally. I'm also here to help you after the adoption, but we've already discussed this. If you have any questions feel free to ask me." Catherine explained.
Maddie nodded and turned back to Sherlock and John. "So, you have a daughter?"
"Yea, Endora. She turned five in February." John said grinning.
"And how do you get on with her birth parents?" Maddie asked.
Sherlock and John shared a glance. "We have a closed adoption with Dora. We never even met her birth father." John explained.
Josh stood. "We should go, Maddie. I told you this wouldn't work."
"Hold on. Hold on. Just because Dora's birth parent's wanted a closed adoption doesn't mean we are opposed to an open adoption. Let's just talk." John begged. They had waited many months for this chance, and John didn't want it to pass them by just because they had no experience with an open adoption.
Josh seemed angry. "What's there to talk about? You tell us what we want to hear and then you run off with my kid and we never see you again? You aren't entitled to it just because your names are on the list."
"That's not what we are here for, but if you think that someone is going to run off with the baby then maybe adoption isn't for you. You do realize that by agreeing to an adoption, opened or closed, you are agreeing to give up all parental rights. You are allowing somebody else to become the parents of this child and even if you are around in the child's life you can't play parent whenever you want. Yes, you will always be the baby's biological father, but this isn't like a permanent babysitter. Whether you go with us or someone else, they will be the parents, Josh." John lectured. He couldn't believe this man. He seemed to think he could give the baby to someone else to take care of the baby whenever he didn't feel like being a parent, and he could come back and play with the baby whenever it seemed fit.
"John." Catherine said. "Let's calm down. Mr. Murray, you seem to be unsure about this adoption. If you aren't sure, then you don't need to continue pursuing this, but if you are then you either need to calm down and talk to these gentlemen or to another couple. Mr. Watson, think of Dora. Imagine how hard it would be if you had to find another family to raise her. Please give Mr. Murray some consideration. Now, maybe we should call it a day."
"No!" Maddie yelled. "Josh, sit down. We can't give this baby the best home possible, and they might be able to. We should at least talk to them"
Josh reluctantly sat down beside her and glared while Maddie continued.
"So, your daughter, she'll be in school, then, when the baby's born. That's nice. I wanted the baby to have a good family. So, if we were to go through with this, are you willing to let us be involved?"
"Of course. You are potentially giving us the best gift we could ever hope for. As long as it is clear, we are the parents not babysitters. I have no problem with you being involved as the birth parents, but I don't want you to think that every time you are around the baby isn't ours." John said.
It was Sherlock's turn to glare at John. Sure, he was open to the idea of an open adoption, but after Josh's outburst he couldn't be sure if he wanted him near Dora, whether that meant sacrificing this adoption or not, he had to be sure she was going to be taken care of.
John understood the look of concern on Sherlock's face, and Maddie seemed to notice his unease.
"Why don't we just start over? Josh, you wanted a family with another child and they are the only ones with a child we both liked, ok. Just apologize and behave. You said yourself you didn't want to give up university to raise a baby, so we have to find someone." Maddie was desperate. She liked what she read about Sherlock and John, and she didn't want Josh to ruin it because he wanted everything to go his way. They were parents now, even if they chose adoption. He couldn't do that.
"Fine, sorry. I just don't want the baby to grow up thinking its parents skipped out on it. I want it to know we care." Josh said.
"That's understandable. If I had to do what you're doing, I would want to be sure my child knew I cared for them, so I agree. Let's start over. I'm open to an open adoption. Are you, Sherlock?" John asked.
"I think it's wise we all get to know each other a little better before we make a lifelong commitment to each other. Don't you, Miss Clarke?" Sherlock sat forward in his chair with his hands clasped together.
"Yes. Yes, I think that's a good idea. Why don't we meet for lunch? I'd like it if you brought your daughter. I'd like to meet her, if you don't mind." Maddie suggested.
"Alright, we'll meet you for lunch tomorrow, our treat. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to pick our daughter up from school. She'll be unhappy about having to stay late.
Sherlock left and John followed, praying tomorrow would go better than today did.
Author's Note: Thank you RainyDays-and-DayDreams for reviewing.