A/N: Hey kids! Sorry this took so long. Trying to catch up from being sick and preparing for the Imaginarium Convention in Louisville, KY- it's made me slow. I hope you didn't forget me! I hope you enjoy! Thanks again for all of your comments. I promise, the next chapter will have lots of Sherlolly baby fluffiness.

Mycroft gave a smug grin and went back to the waiting room. Evidently sleeping underneath a sick Isabel Watson was preferable to witnessing the scene that was surely coming from Sherlock and Irene Adler. "What the hell is going on?" Irene asked, folding her arms.

Sherlock sighed. "What are you doing here?"

"Gabriel. The school called me because he and Jada were supposed to go home with Katie Adams. They didn't show up and Katie's mother freaked out. The school couldn't find anyone else so they called me. I go rushing over to Baker Street because I couldn't raise you on your mobile and the man from the shop next door told me that all of you had gotten into an ambulance! I still can't find Gabriel and…"

Sherlock silenced her tirade with a raised hand. "Gabriel and Jada are here. I'm sorry, I didn't think about them going with Katie today. Molly had the twins."

Irene gasped. "Oh that's wonderful! Is she okay?"

"Yes, but she had them at home and now she's having some minor bleeding. Can you take Gabriel and Scarlett home and stay with them tonight?"

"Of course," she said. She shook her head, chuckling and trying to process what he'd just said. "I never pegged you for the crunchy granola- have your baby at home type."

"I'm not," he sighed. "It wasn't exactly planned."

"You don't do anything normally do you?"

"Look who's talking." Sherlock didn't look at her, but at the floor. It was obvious that every nerve he had was standing on end and he was one tick away from pulling at his hair.

"Sherlock," Irene began, laying a calming cool hand on his. "Are you all right? You look positively unhinged." It was a bit scary. The great Sherlock Holmes was visibly shaken. His skin, always pleasingly pale, was pasty and his eyes were nearly black, obscured by dilated pupils. He was also wearing a tattered pair of jeans and a teeshirt that looked as if it had been pulled from the laundry hamper. "I've never seen you like this."

"I'm fine. Just exhausted." He took a step and stumbled over his own feet. Irene steadied him and managed to make him sit down in a chair.

"You are not fine, Sherlock," she said. "You look like death and can barely hold yourself up. What's going on? You aren't high are you?"

He rolled his eyes and pushed his hair out of his face. "Of course I'm not. It's just been a difficult day. The babies came much faster than expected, so we couldn't get here. John delivered them and everything was fine until we got into the ambulance to get here. Molly and I were talking and…" He stopped and Irene gasped, seeing that he had actual tears in his eyes. Real ones. Not the ones he used to get what he wanted or gain entry behind locked doors. But real, human tears. Sherlock had been terrified that he was about to lose the love of his life. It took her aback. "We were just talking and she just… went quiet. When I was using, I used to see people do it all the time. They'd just stop in mid-sentence and kind of nod off in slow motion. That's what she did. At first I thought they gave her something…" He shook his head as if trying to push away the bad memory. "And then there was blood… there was so much blood…"

Irene put her arm around his shoulders, pulling him into an embrace. He almost pulled back, but the exhaustion and unfamiliar emotion took over and he let her. After all, no one was around and for better or worse, they were intimate friends. Despite all his efforts to the contrary, Gabriel was their child and because of that fact, they would forever be bound to one another in some capacity. "There now, everything's going to be all right. Where is Molly now?"

"Sleeping," he replied, his voice muffled. "She looks terrible. I don't want Gabriel and Scarlett to see her like that." He sniffled and rubbed his eyes as he sat up. "They're going to ask questions, but… I just don't want them to see her that way."

"They'll be so excited about the babies that they won't notice—"

Sherlock scoffed. "Gabriel will know something's up. When Scarlett was born he was there for everything except the main event. He's going to wonder why this time is different."

"Then you'll tell him what happened, assure him that she's going to be fine and be done with it. Don't make things so complicated. He's an intelligent child and he knows you wouldn't lie to him. He can take it."

Sherlock nodded and stood. Irene followed and took a tissue from her purse. "Here. You look like Hell."

He peered down at her with narrow eyes. She could tell he was replacing that mask of arrogant indifference, but he took the tissue. "Stop it."

"What?"

"Being… nice."

"I'm always nice."

"No you're not. Stop it." He turned and started back into the waiting room to retrieve Gabriel and Scarlett. He held the door open for her and smiled as she passed. He would never say thank you, but men like Sherlock didn't have to.

OoOoOo

"Is he supposed to look like that, Daddy?" Scarlett scrunched her nose in displeasure as she peeked through the glass at her new brothers. Will and Finn fussed, clearly not happy with the swaddling situation. They wriggled and shrieked, their tiny faces scrunched up angrily.

Sherlock chuckled. "Yes, darling."

"Are you sure? I don't think they're done yet." Sherlock and Gabriel laughed.

"You looked like that too, Scarlett," Gabriel answered. "And you were bright red. And you cried all the time."

"I did not!" she protested. "I was a good baby. Wasn't I, Daddy?"

Sherlock smirked. "You were a very opinionated infant, Peaseblossom," he replied, kissing her cheek affectionately.

"What's that mean?"

"It means you cried all the time," Gabriel said, waving at his baby brother. "Can't we go in and hold them?"

"Not yet," Sherlock replied. "They're still checking them out and making sure they're okay. But you'll have them all to yourselves for a long time. No worries." Whether subconscious nor not, Scarlett immediately snuggled closer to her father. It was obvious that she was stuck between being very excited about her brothers and being very jealous of them. She also seemed to be considering the possibility that not only would she have to share her parents, but also her Bre.

"When can we see Mummy?" Scarlett sighed, laying her head on Sherlock's shoulder. She was done staring at the babies and had moved on to more important things. "I miss her."

"You saw her this morning," Gabriel said.

"I want to see her again," Scarlett snapped. "Can't we go see her, Daddy?"

"Not just yet. She's sleeping." He turned and started down the hallway, beckoning that Gabriel should follow. They stopped at the elevator and Gabriel punched the arrow button. Scarlett squirmed to get down. She wanted to be sure that she would get to push the number button inside.

"I push the button, Bre!" she said, bouncing excitedly. Gabriel lifted her up to hit the button that would take them to the floor with the waiting room. It took three tries, but finally the button lit up and the doors closed. The elevator began its quick descent. Scarlett gasped and giggled as she took Gabriel's hand. She loved elevators. They stopped on one floor and the doors opened. Two orderlies got on, wheeling an old lady, about the same age as Mrs. Hudson, in a wheelchair. She was wearing a scarf on her head and an oxygen mask. Scarlett's eyes were wide and Gabriel suddenly noticed that his sister was staring at the lady.

"Scarlett!" Gabriel hissed. "Don't stare at people."

"She got a mask on, Bre!" Her tone was one of admiration, not taunting.

"It isn't nice." Gabriel tugged on his father's arm and pointed at Scarlett. But it was too late, Scarlett was already introducing herself.

"Hello," she said to the lady. "Why do you wear that mask?"

The lady pulled the plastic mask aside and smiled warmly at Scarlett. "It helps me breathe, dear."

"Oh." Scarlett seemed to think this over, wondering why someone would need a mask to help them breathe. It was covering her nose and mouth. Wouldn't that make it harder to breathe? She pushed her hair aside and pointed to her hearing aid. "I got a robot ear. It helps me hear."

As they reached the waiting room, Scarlett had perked up again and immediately climbed into Irene's lap, telling her all about the twins. Gabriel hesitated at the door and tugged at his father's arm again. "Dad?"

"What is it?" Sherlock asked, leaning down to Gabe's level.

"I wanted to ask you a question."

"Hmm?"

"Mum's okay isn't she? I mean, she's not dead and you're just not telling us, right?"

"Of course not, Gabriel. She's fine." Gabriel nodded, not really sure he believed his father. "She was a little sick after the babies came, but I promise she's going to be fine. She just needs to sleep for a while." Something was still bothering him. Sherlock could tell by the tense way his eyebrows were knitted and how he chewed on his lip.

"Dad… I was kind of… mean to Katie earlier. While we were walking in to school."

"How so?"

"I guess I said something about her mum and dad getting a divorce because her dad was dating other girls," he paused and then blabbered out. "But she was mean first! She said I wasn't smart enough to multiply!" He sighed heavily and kicked the wall with the rubber tip of his trainer. "What if she doesn't want to be my friend anymore?"

"If John decided to stop being my friend every time I said something I didn't mean, we'd have parted ways long ago. Trust me, she'll forgive you. Call her when you get home and apologize."

"But we might not be home for a long time," Gabriel sighed as he stomped across the room and flopped unceremoniously into a chair. He was worried about his fight with Katie and his father hadn't been much help, restless at the hospital and tired from their long day. The excitement over seeing the babies had been quieted and now his mood was dark.

"You'll be home after dinner," Sherlock said. He sat down between Irene and John, leaning his head back against the wall and wishing for all the world he could have a cigarette. They all sat silently for nearly an hour with only the sound of Gabriel's game and the occasional announcement over the intercom. Sherlock wanted to go back to be with Molly, but he knew how important it was for her to sleep. Besides, he'd rather Mrs. Hudson sit in the comfortable chair at Molly's side than in the hard chair in the waiting room.

Scarlett was on her knees in Irene's lap, fiddling with the long strand of curl that had escaped from the clip she wore. Irene didn't seem to mind and went about checking the messages on her mobile phone. While they were gone to see the babies, John had come back wearing scrubs. Obviously he'd been drafted into helping out for a bit. Mary had long since taken the ailing Isabel home, but Jada had insisted on staying to see the babies. Since John was staying, he didn't kick up much of a fuss and now she sat in his lap, practically asleep.

"Where is Mrs. Hudson?" John asked. "Did she go home?"

"No. She's sitting with Molly so I could come out here with them. I'm trying to make her go home, but she won't listen to me."

"We're going home, Daddy?" Scarlett asked, attempting to braid Irene's hair as she'd seen Molly do so many times before. "Good. I'm bored."

John snickered. "I love karma."

Sherlock ignored him completely. "We aren't, but you are. Just as soon as your mum wakes up enough for you to see her."

"You aren't coming home with us?" Gabriel asked.

"I need to stay with your mum tonight." Gabriel looked stricken. Luckily Scarlett wasn't paying attention or she would have protested loudly. Gabriel nearly protested himself. Despite being eleven, Gabriel's past made him very uneasy when his parents were absent. Especially his father. There were times when he rigorously asserted his independence, but in the dark of night Gabriel wanted to rest easy in the knowledge that his father was standing watch over them all. And while he liked Irene and had warmed to her considerably, she was not his parent. "Well don't look so frightened, Gabe. Irene will be with you. It's just one night."

"We'll have lots of fun, Gabriel," Irene said, ruffling Scarlett's hair. "Won't we, Scarlett?"

"We can play Snakes and Ladders until Daddy and Mummy come home," Scarlett agreed, as if this solved everything.

Sherlock was willing to let her solution stand, but Gabriel was seemingly eager to stir up trouble. "No we can't," he said. "Mum and Dad won't be home tonight. Maybe not tomorrow either."

Scarlett dropped Irene's hair and scrambled to the floor in front of her father. "You not coming home with us?"

Sherlock pulled her closer, shaking his head. "Not tonight, Peaseblossom. I'm going to sleep here at the hospital with your mum and Will and Finn." He should not have mentioned the twins. Scarlett's face immediately turned red and it was obvious that once again she was trying to hold back her tears. "Come on, Scarlett. Don't cry. You won't be alone. Gabriel and Irene will be there with you. And you'll watch telly and play with Cat, just like always. You'll go to bed—"

"Who will read me a story?" she whimpered.

Sherlock looked to Gabriel, but he was no help. He turned around, going back to his tablet. Gabriel was tired of comforting Scarlett today. No one bothered to comfort him. "I'm sure Irene or Gabriel will read to you tonight."

"They won't do the voices," she replied with a pout.

"You don't know that. Perhaps they will."

"No they won't!" Scarlett rubbed her eyes. "Who will kiss me goodnight? And what if I have a bad dream?"

"You won't," Sherlock tried to reason.

Gabriel chuckled sarcastically. "See, Scarlett. It's no fun being older is it? Nobody cares about what you want anymore. Get used to it."

"Gabriel!" Sherlock snapped. "That's enough."

"What? I'm just telling her the truth."

"No you aren't! You're being a pain."

Gabriel stood up and practically threw his tablet aside. "I am not! You said yourself that Scarlett is going to have to grow up. Adults always say that when they get tired of you and want you to leave them alone!"

"What is wrong with you?" Sherlock asked, genuinely puzzled by Gabriel's sudden venom. "You know that's not true. And I don't see what this has to do with my staying at the hospital."

Seeing her father and Gabriel fighting this way made Scarlett even more upset and she began to cry openly. Irene tried to pull her over to comfort her but she was having none of it. "Daddy…"

"Oh, whatever Dad! As soon as Scarlett got here, I might as well be invisible. Now that the twins are here, she'll be invisible too and I'll have to take care of her! It isn't fair!"

"Gabriel!" Irene said. "You stop talking to your father that way right now!"

Gabriel laughed and turned a cold gaze on her. "You stay out of it! You aren't even my mother. You don't give a shit about me anyway!" Everyone was stunned to silence. Gabriel even looked surprised by his own words and before anyone could reply, he bolted from the room.

Scarlett's whimpers turned into heavy sobs and she tried to crawl into Sherlock's lap. "I want to stay with you, Daddy," she wailed. Sherlock embraced his daughter, kissing her forehead softly and brushing her hair back from her hot little cheeks.

"Aren't you going to go after him?" John asked, shifting Jada to his other side. She'd barely stirred during the row.

"Nope," Sherlock replied, keeping his tone low and soothing. "He won't leave the hospital and I'm not going to play his game today. He's being manipulative and essentially throwing a tantrum."

"Wonder where he gets that?" Irene and John chimed in unison.

"Funny." He kissed Scarlett once more and she quieted. After several minutes, he set her on the floor and stood up. "Scarlett, go with John, Irene and Jada to get something to eat."

"I not hungry, Daddy," she sniffled, rubbing the back of her ear.

"But you will be," he said, kissing her again and wiping the tears collected under her eyes with his thumb. "And when you come back, we'll go see Mummy. Okay?" She reluctantly took Irene's offered hand, staring back over her shoulder at her father as they led her away.