Time passed: 2 1/2 months

John was standing off to the side of Greg's office, Sherlock pacing in front of the desk rattling off deductions, when his phone pinged.

He pulled it out of his pocket and saw he had a text from Mary.

Water broke. At hospital, want to join? –MM

John gaped at his phone for a few seconds before springing into action.

"Sorry I've got to go." He said as he walked out of the office towards the elevators.

Sherlock did a double take when he registered that John was leaving the room.

"Where are you going?" He asked a bit annoyed.

"Hospital!" John called over his shoulder, swiftly walking with a slight bounce in his step.

"What why?" Sherlock called back, a bit confused.

"Because I'm having a baby!" John exclaimed as he stabbed the button to call the elevator. He waited in front of the doors for a few seconds before heading to the door that lead to the stairs, deciding the elevator was taking too long.

He had barely gotten down two steps when John felt a hand on his shoulder. He stopped and looked back to find Sherlock leaning towards him from the landing, a nervous expression on his face.

"Do you want me to go with you?" The genius asked softly.

John smiled at the thoughtfulness behind the question and shook his head.

"No, you can stay here, finish the case. Just promise me you'll come when you're done."

"Of course."

John stepped up and gave Sherlock a quick kiss before jogging down the stairs.

"I'll text you if it's a boy or girl, in case you don't make it in time!" John hollered up the stairs.

"Don't you remember, I already know!" Sherlock yelled down before walking back to Lestrade's office.

John honestly couldn't tell you how he got to the hospital, all he knew was that he was at the right hospital asking the cheery young woman at the nurses' station of the maternity ward which room Mary was in.

"Please tell me I'm not too late" John exclaimed as he burst into the room.

The doctor looked up from her position in between Mary's legs to John. She gave Mary a quick look asking if he was allowed to be there, Mary answered with a quick nod before screwing her face into one of pain as she breathed through another contraction.

"You're just in time, I was about to have Mary here start pushing."

John nodded, took his jacket off and moved to his position next Mary's head, taking her hand in support. After what felt like hours and at the same time seconds, the room was filled with the cries of a newborn. Mary was laughing and crying when the doctor informed them it was a girl.

John was in a state of shock until a nurse placed his little girl in his arms. He smiled down at the bundle in his arms.

"Hello Alice. It's nice to finally meet you little lady."

Alice opened her eyes at the sound of John's voice. John's breath caught in his throat when her snowy blue eyes took in his face and she cooed contentedly. He looked over at Mary who was watching the two with a smile, wonder in his eyes.

"Let's go meet your mum Alice."

He had just barely placed Alice on Mary's chest when Mary closed her eyes and laid her head back.

All of a sudden there was a flurry of activity in the room. A nurse came over and lifted Alice off of Mary while another one was pulling John towards the door while calmly but firmly asking him to follow her.

John reluctantly followed the nurse to the waiting room on that floor.

"What's going on?" John demanded as the nurse started to retreat down the hall.

"I'm sorry sir but you're going to have to wait here. The doctor will answer your questions when she can." The nurse answered before swiftly walking back towards Mary's room.

John gulped because he recognized the side step. He started pacing. As time passed he felt like the room had shrunk. He didn't stop until a familiar voice said his name.

"John" the short blond looked up to see Sherlock in the doorway to the waiting area.

"Sherlock" John breathed out. He felt a little bit of comfort at seeing the genius.

"I thought you'd be in there with her, not waiting out here."

"I was, but something happened and they sent me here."

"What happened?"

"I don't know. One second I was handing Alice over to Mary, the next I was ushered out here and told to wait."

Sherlock was about to reply when John spotted the doctor walking towards them. John met her half way, Sherlock following him.

"Mr. Watson can I speak to you in private."

"It's Doctor, and Sherlock's my boyfriend so you can speak freely in front of him."

The doctor nodded, if she found the information odd it didn't show, "My mistake. There's no easy way to tell you this but Mary has passed away."

"What? How?" John asked urgently. He felt Sherlock's hand slip into his and he squeazed it, thankful that the genius was there when he got this news.

"She was hemoraghing profusely and we couldn't find the source in time to stop it, she died from the blood loss."

"What about Alice? What about my daughter?" John asked frantically.

"You're daughter is just fine; a healthy newborn. She's in the nursery if you want to see her." John let out a breath he'd been holding in relief and nodded.

"If you'll follow me then." The doctor said then turned and led the men to the viewing glass of the nursery.

The doctor disappeared then reappeared on the other side of the glass speaking to the attending nurse before sending John a sad smile and leaving.

The nurse moved between the bassinets and stopped gently lifting a bundle of pink blankets up and walked toward the viewing glass. She talked animatedly to newborn as she tilted Alice in her arms to show the infant to Sherlock and John.

At the sight of his daughter's thick head of sandy blonde hair and snowy blue eyes, John leaned into Sherlock who wrapped his arm around the shorter man in a side hug.

John was smiling sadly at Alice when he whispered out, "Oh Sherlock what am I going to do?"

"I don't know John, but whatever it is we'll do it together."