A/N: So I just wrote a chapter that is a bit linked to this one and I can't wait for you all to read it, but first we need to get through some filler plot in order to get to that chapter. I hope you like this one, it might be a bit unexpected much like the last few (but again it was the natural progression of where I wanted this story to end up).

Time Passed: 1 1/2 months

xXx

Greg answered his mobile a bit confused to see a number he didn't recognize.

"Detective Inspector Lestrade."

"Hello Greg, I was wondering if you could help me get a hold of John." A vaguely familiar female voice asked over the phone.

"I'd be happy to help if I knew your name and why you want to get a hold of him."

"My name is Mary Mortsan, you might remember me from the Maiden's Head. I was the one to call you on nights John had too much to drink. As to why I want to get a hold of him is between the two of us."

"Ah yes Mary. If you give me your number I'll pass it on to John when I see him next."

"Alright just make sure he knows it's very important that he contacts me."

Mary relayed her number and hung up after making sure Greg had it down.

Later that day when John was picking up his and Sherlock's checks for the last case, Greg handed John the paper with Mary's number on it.

"What's this?" John asked curiously.

"You remember the bartender from the Maiden's Head, when Sherlock was gone."

"Vaguely, that time was hazy. Her name was Mary right?" John said embarrassed his poor coping habits were being brought up.

"Well she called me today looking to get a hold of you; said it was very important you contact her."

"I wonder what she'd want? I hope I didn't leave any bills unpaid."

"I don't know, she wouldn't tell me a thing."

"Thanks I'll let you know what she wants if I can."

John pocketed the checks but kept the paper in his hand. As soon as he exited New Scotland Yard he pulled out his mobile and dialed the number.

"Hello"

"Hello Mary, this is John Watson. Detective Inspector Lestrade gave me your number and said it was important that I called you, though you wouldn't say why."

"Yes, I need to talk to you but not like this. Could you come to the Maiden's Head to talk."

"I'd prefer not to, could we possibly meet at a cafe and talk over coffee."

"Tomorrow then." John gave her the address to the cafe that he and Greg frequented to talk about life with their respective Holmes', before Mary hung up.

He stood there for a few moments staring at his phone wondering what the petite blonde could want before hailing a cab and heading home to Sherlock.

xXx

John was almost a half hour late for his meeting with Mary; he paid the cabbie and briskly walked into the cafe glad to see her sitting in a corner. He walked over an apologetic smile on his face.

"Hi Mary, sorry I'm late, got hung up at hospital." John said sitting down.

"Oh are you alright?" Mary asked concerned.

"What? No. I'm fine, I'm a doctor." John clarified.

"Oh I see."

John tapped his fingers idly on the table.

"So you look better than I last saw you."

"Yeah. I've stopped drinking. You see my boyfriend is Sherlock Holmes and well I didn't take his faked suicide very well" John replied hesitantly.

"Are you still together?"

"Yes, we've worked through most of our issues" John replied with a small smile.

There was an awkward pause between them. John cleared his throat and tired to remember something about the blonde woman.

"Oh how is your father? Is he doing better?"

"He died a few weeks ago." Mary replied sadly.

"Oh I'm sorry." John apologized and looked down. He noticed a distinctive bump on Mary's stomach that any trained doctor would recognize.

"So...you're pregnant."

"Yes." Mary confirmed.

"Congratulations. Who's the lucky father?"

"That's part of the reason I asked to meet you"

"Oh?" John asked a bit confused.

"You're the father of this baby"

"What we never-" John spluttered.

"I had a feeling you wouldn't remember, you were pretty smashed"

John just sat there in shock, processing the information.

"I don't expect anything from you, but I just thought you should know." Mary said before getting up and leaving.

John continued to just sit there, too shocked to move. Greg walked into the café in search of the reminder of his childhood, when he saw John. He ordered his coffee and pain au chocolat, and walked over to where his best friend was sitting.

"Hey John what are you doing here?"

John looked up at Greg, the shock still evident on his face.

"Hey mate what's wrong? Is Sherlock alright?" Greg asked worried, sitting down across from the little blonde.

John shook his head and found his voice.

"Sherlock's fine, but I'm not."

"Hey you can tell me anything. What is it?" He wanted to know what had his best friend so spooked.

"I'm a father Greg."

"What?" Greg asked wondering if he heard the little blonde wrong.

"Apparently during Sherlock's absence me and Mary were together at least for a night and she's pregnant." John relayed numbly.

"What? Wow…..What are you going to do?" Greg asked. This was a lot to take in.

"I don't know." John replied. It was all crashing in on him, what was he going to do? He never expected anything like this to happen to him. The former army doctor buried his head in his hands trying to figure out what he was going to do.

"Well you have to tell Sherlock."

"What?" John asked, lifting his head out of his hands.

"You can't keep this kind of thing a secret John, especially if you want to be involved in your kid's life."

"Of course I want to be involved, but how do I tell him?"

"You and I know it'd be for the best if you're just straight with him."

"You're right." John wipped a hand over his face. "I don't know what to do Greg."

"First talk to Sherlock, then you two can figure it out. You also need to let Mary know you want to be involved."

"Right" John got up to go home, but paused and looked back at Greg. "Thanks mate."

"Anytime."

xXx

John walked into the flat, half hoping that Sherlock wouldn't be home. He would never be ready to tell the man he loves that he fathered a child while he thought the genius was dead.

He didn't have such luck when he looked in the kitchen, Sherlock staring intently in his microscope.

Better now than never.

"Sherlock, I need to talk to you."

"Can't it wait John, I'm observing the most fascinating reaction."

"No Sherlock, this really can't wait." John said solemnly.

Sherlock looked up at John's tone and saw the serious, haunted look in the little blonde's eyes.

"John what is it?"

"I'd prefer to tell you sitting down."

"I'm fine where I am, John just tell me what's wrong."

John sighed and decided this was it, he'd just tell him and deal with what ever came of it.

"I'm a father Sherlock."

"What? How? You haven't dated a woman since the boring teacher."

"You mean Jeanette?" This certainly wasn't a reaction he was prepared for. "I mean that's technically true but you don't always have to be dating someone to have sex."

"I know but when?" Data, Sherlock needed more data. He could not give a proper reply if he didn't have all the information. This was his John and he didn't want to believe his John had cheated on him.

"It was while I thought you were dead. I must've been so drunk that I blacked out because I don't remember the night."

Sherlock took a deep breath in through his nose. He can't really be upset by this, but that doesn't stop the aching in his heart.

"I see. What are you going to do about it?"

"You're not mad?"

"You thought I was dead. If I were to really die, I wouldn't want you to be miserable for the rest of your life, I'd want you to move on. Plus you were drunk to the point you don't remember. If anyone's to blame it's me for not telling you I was alive."

Sherlock was trying to be logical about it all but that didn't fool John for a second. He could see the pain in the genius' eyes.

"Oh Sherlock this isn't your fault."

"It is really" Sherlock said the sadness creeping through his voice.

"No its not." John walked over to where the Sherlock was sitting on his stool. He wrapped his arms around the dark haired genius and placed a kiss to his forehead.

John rested his head on Sherlock's, holding his lover close, and they stayed like this for a few moments before Sherlock spoke up.

"I don't want to lose you." He said in a quiet voice.

"I'm not going anywhere as long as you still want me; to be honest I thought that's what would happen when I told you."

"I could never leave you, especially for something that is essentially my fault."

"Will you stop blaming yourself." John chided.

"No" Sherlock paused. "What are you going to do?" John sighed, he wasn't going to change the stubborn genius' mind.

"I want to be there for my child and that means building some kind of relationship with Mary."

Sherlock tensed a little at this. John pulled back just enough to look Sherlock in the eyes, but keeping the genius in his arms.

"Don't worry I mean a relationship that isn't romantic in any sense of the word, that I reserve just for you." John said comfortingly.

Sherlock relaxed in the blonde's arms and placed a kiss to John's cheek.

"I also want you to be a part of this child's life."

"What? Why? I'm rubbish with kids."

"No you're not. I see how you interact with Greg's kids, you're great."

"Well they're not insipid idiots like the rest of the world's offspring."

"Neither would this child if they have you to teach them."

"I suppose."

"Will you go with me when I meet Mary next?"John asked nervously. Sherlock was going to refuse but the look in the blonde's eyes caught at his heart and he crumbled.

"Alright."

"Thank you Sherlock." John said before kissing the genius.

Surprisingly there was no tension between the two as they spent the rest of the evening quietly in the flat.

xXx

I have a bit of an announcement.

I'm very close to finishing the story.

After I'm done writing I may change my posting to once a day instead of once a week.

I'll let you all know when this momentous occasion has occurred.