Ok, y'all. The plot bunnies are running rampant in my mind on this story now. Sit back, this could take a while. LOL Not this chapter, this story. Just got a few new levels. *winces*

Bit of mature content towards the end.

Chapter 29

"Burn it. " Molly said, her voice cold, holding Sherlock's head in her hands.

"I want to see what it says. " Mycroft said.

"Who the fuck cares? Don't you see your brother? "

"Yes. But she hasn't contacted him in...perhaps...fifteen years? Since Uni, certainly. "

"Again, who cares? "

"Sherlock doesn't like not knowing things. It will bug him. "

"What the hell? " Molly said, not understanding.

"Mycroft is right. " Sherlock said quietly.

"What's that, my love? "

Sherlock sat back up, placing his fingers to his suddenly aching head.

"Side effects of allowing ones human nature to run amok, I'm afraid. I locked it away for a reason. Not that I regret that. " He added the last part quickly, when he saw the sadness in Molly's eyes.

"I just need to balance. Save caring for those who deserve it. But I do want to find out what the hell she wants after all this time. " he said, kissing the comment she was about to make into silence. " Read it, if you please, Mycroft. "

Mycroft opened the envelope and read it out loud.

mmmmmmmmmm

Sherlock,

I have been reliably informed you have suddenly acquired a wife and child. For this, I suppose you will not accept congradulations from me. I do not expect you to. I lost that right a long time ago.

I could tell you I have regrets. I do, really. I have kept track of your life, believe it or not. I am indeed proud of the man you have become.

Sherlock, I have, in my long years on this earth, have many regrets. You are not one of them. My treatment of you is.

I know it is late. But I fear I have to say these things to you. I would rather say them to you personally, but I know you will not likely allow me that. But I truly hope you will.

My son, I don't deserve it, but I need to see you. And your family. To know you will be alright. To see my grandchild.

I don't have long, Sherlock. Dr. Mattheson said weeks if I am lucky.

I have things I want to give you and your family. I would prefer they be given by hand.

Allow me this. Please.

With deep regret,

Violet Holmes

mmmmmmmmmm

"No. No way. I will not allow... " Molly started.

"I agree. She doesn't deserve forgiveness. " Mycroft cut her off.

" Why? " A small voice hovering in a corner near the hall sounded, making three heads spin around.

"Laura, you are supposed to be in bed. " Molly said with a wobbly smile.

"Nightmare. " Laura said, clutching on Gabriel's fur.

Sherlock adjusted himself and held his arms out to her. "Come here, love. "

Laura backed up and shook her head. Sherlock frowned.

"What is wrong? "

" Was grandma mean? "

Sherlock dropped his hands " In a way, yes. "

"She hurt your heart? "

" Yes. " Sherlock croaked out, not able to think of a way to put it.

"Like you did to Molly? "

"Not quite. "

"But you were mean to her. And she forgave you. "

"I will never forgive myself for that. But yes, she did. "

Laura's eyes filled with unshed tears and her lips quivered.

"What if I am mean when I grow up? Say mean things. What if I am... " She suddenly looked very afraid and Sherlock's heart clenched.

"...like me. " he said, finally, shame filling him. Laura nodded.

" Baby, I will never...EVER ... you are my child! "

"I have always been your child. You weren't like you are now when I came here. "

" I didn't know you yet. I'm sorry for it. "

"Maybe she is too. Because she didn't know you. "

"Laura, I know its hard to understand, but... "

Laura kept shaking her head.

"... and maybe you don't really know her. There are things I want to ask you. But I'm scared to. "

"Never be scared of me. "

"Not you. My questions. Aren't there things you want to know? Things only she can tell you. If you don't go there, you will never know. Why was she mean? "

"I already know that. "

"Does she hate you? "

"I don't know. "

"A mother can hate a child? You said... "

Sherlock sighed. Every argument he had was lost in those big blue eyes staring back at him.

"Fine. We will go. Mycroft, send a message. We will go day after tomorrow. If you can hold down the fort while we are gone, Im not sure how long... "

" No. "

"No? "

"If you think I am allowing you in that house to do this without me there, you are mistaken. Think, Sherlock. Undoubtedly, do to the circumstances, HE will be there. I wasn't there for you then, but I will be DAMNED if I don't stand beside you now. "

mmmmmmmmmm

The next morning, Lestrade met them as they walked into the station. John was just inside as they came in.

"What? Didn't think I would miss this, did you? " He chuckled.

"Ready to give this a go? " He said, looking down at Laura who simply nodded.

As they walked past going to the evidence room, they were greeted warmly, especially Laura, only stopping once. They unfortunately had to hold back Gabriel, who stopped to growl at Anderson.

Sherlock smirked.

Once they were in the room, Gabriel went crazy. So many smells he had been trained to spot out. Laura took her time, pacing the aisles with her hands resting behind her back head held high, almost haughtily, and her eyes keen. Molly had to smile. The little girl was the very image of her father.

"You know, perhaps she will be a consulting detective too. It can be a family business, you know? All she needs is a Watson. "

"She has one. " Sherlock smiled, nodding at Gabriel

"Im sorry, so Im the dog now? " John replied with mock irritation.

"I say fetch...and there you go... " Sherlock grinned, eyebrows raised.

"Unless it's coffee. " Molly chuckled.

"True. " Sherlock kissed her on the top of her head.

It took several long minutes, till Laura finally pointed to area of the room.

Lestrade walked over there and went through the paperwork.

"Two weeks ago. Drugs bust. High end. Meth. "

That narrowed it down. They went into Greg's office while he pulled up the files on drug offenders.

"Now, how long should we go back? "

Sherlock thought on that a moment.

"Would be a while. Try ten years to start. "

After two hours, Laura didn't recognize anyone.

Sadly, Sherlock...did.

"Laura, go with John and get a snack, will you? I need to talk to uncle Greg. "

With a meaningful look at John, Sherlock merely accepted his friends nod as understanding.

"What was that about? You looked like you'd seen a ghost. " Molly said, gripping his arm. "Is it one of yours? " She asked a little afraid to know.

"No. "

He shooed Greg away from the computer and stared at the picture in front of him, a faraway look in his eyes. Molly leaned over him to see, understanding dawning.

Miss Darcy Helena Huntsworth Aged 16 at the time. Arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. In custody of Stratford home for girls. Status, runaway.

"Give me her file. " Sherlock said to Greg. "Please. "

A few minutes later, Greg handed a relatively thick file. He opened it up to see several pages, almost all dealing with her running off from one care agency or another.

"She was abused. She... she had to run. " Sherlock said, to Molly's unasked question.

"Poor thing. She was so pretty. "

There were some pictures supplied by the care agencies whenever she'd turn up gone.

"Can I have these? For Laura? She should know what her mother looked like. Even if they aren't great pictures. Since she is officially deceased, I don't see why this file should miss them. "

"Sherlock... " Lestrade started, knowing it was well against policy.

"Please...Greg. "

Greg sighed and nodded. He'd take the flak for this.

Sherlock flipped through more pictures and paperwork. Finally, under one paper that headed "Known associates"... he stopped cold.

There, beside the neatly typed Holmes, Sherlock, was a picture of himself next to her. If they didn't know it was a drug exchange, it would have almost been touching. Sherlock was smiling down at the young girl, his hand holding hers and hers on his chest.

The passing of money and drugs.

But Laura didn't need to know that.

mmmmmmmmmm

After two more hours, Laura still hadn't found anything. They made arrangements to try again once Sherlock got back to London with his family.

That night, Molly was busy packing, watching her husband putting on his pajama pants. Admiring his lovely bottom. Shoving the thought aside, she told him to hurry and get Laura from the bath.

He stood up and Molly watched him go. She knew he needed privacy with his daughter for the moment.

Sherlock sat on her bed once Laura was dried and put on her nightgown.

"I... have something for you. I don't know how you will take it. "

The curiosity in Laura's eyes make him wince. He wasn't at all sure anymore of this. But he went forward with it anyway.

"This... there is a photo. You know... " He couldn't form a sentence.

Laura watched him then glanced down at the object in his hand. She reached out and tugged it out gently, appraising eyes going over it.

"My mother? "

"...yes. "

Laura looked at the picture pensively.

"She was pretty. "

"Yes. She was. Which explains why you are so pretty. You certainly didn't get that from this mug. "

"You are smiling. "

"Yes. "

"Did you love her? "

Sherlock swallowed. " I liked her. She was a very sweet girl. But... but I didn't know love, till you came along. "

"And she's smiling. She's looking at you the way Molly does. I think...my mother loved you. "

"No. We were friends, darling. Nothing more. "

"Well, SOMETHING more. I'm here, am I not? "

Sherlock had to laugh.

"THAT, my darling, is a conversation for when you are MUCH older. "

"When I'm five? "

"More like THIRTY-FIVE. " He said, bending to tickle her.

"Or married. "

"No. Not allowed to marry. "

" Yes I will. I will be a famous scientist. I will work at Bart's like Molly. "

"Is that so? I thought you would be a detective. Help me with my cases. You will get the information the police don't want to give me, since you are their little princess already."

"I will be princess of Barts instead. I will help you solve cases. One will bring me my husband. Like it did for Molly."

"How do you figure that? " Sherlock said in a small huff.

"She met her prince charming working at Barts... "

"More like... her prince uncivil. "

Laura laughed at that, then became very quiet and thoughtful.

"What's wrong, Laura? "

"Will... will gramma like me? "

"I wouldn't worry about it. Everyone who meets you loves you. "

"But I don't want to be mean to her. Since she's sick and all. "

"You won't. "

"Unless she's mean to you. " Laura stated firmly, then closed her eyes to go to sleep.

mmmmmmmmmm

Molly paced the room waiting for Sherlock to get back. He already had so much on his plate. How would she ever add this too? But she wanted him to know. She was already starting to show, a ever so slight hard bump to her stomach that seemed to appear overnight. She tried to evade any circumstance where Sherlock could feel it. Now, she had no choice. Most wouldn't notice. Sherlock would. She was fortunate what few symptoms she'd had lately could easily be attributed to the stress she'd been under.

30 minutes earlier:

When Laura got into her bath, and Molly had started packing, Sherlock came behind her and put his arms around her from behind. Molly stiffened a bit and gripped his hands in her own to keep them from her belly. She turned in his arms to be rewarded with a firm kiss.

"Its been a while, Molly. Haven't you missed me? " He said, placing his hands on her bottom and giving a firm squeeze, bringing her close enough to him for her to feel he was already getting hard.

"Very much. But Laura is still up. "

" She's in the bath. Can't hear us. "

"She won't be in long enough. "

"I can be quick. "

"Sherlock... "

Sherlock pulled away from her with a soft groan and plopped onto the bed.

"I'm sorry, Sherlock. " Molly said, biting her lower lip.

"Its fine. I'm fine. "

"No. You aren't. "

"I understand. If we do this quick, you might not... I was being selfish. I apologize. But I... need you, Molly. Nothing. Nevermind, it can wait. "

Molly eyed him.

"Well, you can't very well go get Laura with that... " She said, looking down at the tent pitched in his trousers.

"Stop talking a while and it will go away. "

"Concentration? "

"Your voice. "

"Oh! And I thought it was only you that had a voice that could do that. "

"Apparently not. But that little piece of information will certainly be good to have. Will not be deleted. "

Molly chuckled. She watched him as his eyes closed as if going to his mind palace, and thought. They had six minutes before Laura's bath would be too cool for her. The child was like clockwork. Plenty of time.

Molly debated her options. She knew she couldn't get too close to Sherlock until she told him about the situation. But she needed him too, so it would have to be told tonight. But not yet. She thought to go down on him, but Sherlock tended to test her gag reflexes too much during that act to risk her mild nausea from taking over. Throwing up on ones husband during oral was not something Molly wanted to think of the ramifications of. That left her one option.

With a smile, she slank down to lie beside Sherlock. She laid her head in the crook of his neck and slid her hands down to rub at the bulge. Sherlock groaned.

"Molly, you are quite the master at mixed messages. "

"Shhhh... this is for you, love. "

She kissed the side of his face before running her tongue along his ear. Her hand undid his trousers, slowly unzipping them and taking his length into her hand. Sherlock seemed to hold his breath as she began to stroke him. Molly's eyes darted between the blissful looks of pleasure on her husbands face, and the clock.

Sherlock pulled Molly's face over to kiss her deeply, letting her catch his moans into her mouth, his tongue sliding along hers at the same rhythm as her strokes. Molly felt her own throbbing but tried to ignore it. There was time for that later. Sherlock would take care of her needs...later.

She was so lost in Sherlock's reactions she forgot to look at the clock for a moment. Glancing up quickly.

Three minutes. Damn.

Molly sped up her strokes, gripping him tightly. Sherlock gripped the pillow behind his head and his breathing quickened.

"Ah... ah... just a little faster, baby. Almost there... " he said quietly but breathlessly.

Molly did as she was instructed and watched as his body tensed up and his hips bucked. She bent to take his final groan into her mouth to mute it, as she felt his hot release smother her hand. With one more quick kiss, she handed him a tissue from the bedside table and used it to wipe her hand. His shirt, however... Sherlock looked at it with distaste.

Molly chuckled at the look on his face as he saw the wetness.

"I'll start laundry. You go get Laura. Its about that time. "

Back to present:

Molly smiled at the memory, but the smile left as soon as Sherlock came back to the room, now in his pajama pants.

"Well, Laura is asleep. Coast is clear, so to speak. Now come here... " Sherlock said, coming over the bed towards her.

"Not...yet, Sherlock. We have to talk...first. "

"Really, Molly. This is getting tedious. If you simply don't want sex, come out with it. " He said getting on his back, his grown man tantrum brimming at the surface. Molly set the suitcase off the bed and went to sit on her knees beside Sherlock.

"I never said I didn't want to. I said we have to talk first. "

"I don't want you to talk. I want you to moan. " He said suggestively, his eyes still closed.

"Sherlock... "

Sherlock opened his eyes and rolled over, biting at her skin through her dress.

"Did I tell you today, i love this dress on you? "

"N...no. Its just a simple sundress, Sherlock. "

"Its lovely. In many ways. Makes much more...accessible. "

With that, Sherlock's long fingers snaked their way up Molly's thigh up under her skirt. Molly was finding it hard to think. All the speeches she had mapped out were quickly leaving her brain as Sherlock's fingers slipped under the seem of her panties, making small circled over her sensitive nub.

"Gah... Sherlock... you need to stop. "

"You want me to stop? " He purred, pressing harder.

"No. But I need you to. "

"Sorry. Don't want to. " He said getting up and pulling her down under him. He started trying to pop the buttons, with success, from the front of the dress as me made his way down. Finally, with the bottom of her skirt around her waist, Sherlock began running his tongue along her thighs as his hands went from kneading her breast down farther, with the intention of cooperating with his mouth. When he got just an inch from where the bump was, Molly squealed.

"Sher...lock! I need to tell you something. Please stop! "

Sherlock was bumping his nose against the panty barrier between him and her already soaked heat.

"What do you have to tell me, love? " His hot breath against her made her grit her teeth.

"Damn it Sherlock! I'm pregnant! "

Molly almost laughed as she looked down to see nothing but a mop of dark curls topping a squinting pair of ice blue eyes staring at her from just over her mound, when his hot breath hit her again.

"You...are...what?! "