"Daddy's just going to love your new onesie, baby girl," Molly cooed at their six month old daughter. "You're growing so fast."
Charlotte was mumbling unintelligible words. She had said her first word earlier that day and Molly was so excited for Sherlock to get home and hear it for himself. As if on cue, he walked through the door, John trailing behind him. Another case was successfully solved if you went by the look on their faces.
"There's my favourite girls," Sherlock smiled. He noticed the new onesie his daughter was sporting. It was white and had a chemistry beaker with a strand of DNA inside, blue and pink hearts above it. The words on it said 'made with love n' science.'
"I thought you'd like it," Molly beamed. "I'd love to take credit for finding it but it was actually your brother who purchased it."
"Really?" John laughed in disbelief. "I shouldn't be surprised." Mycroft was quite clearly wrapped around his niece's dimpled fingers. Sherlock lifted his daughter out of Molly's arms and into his.
"Dada," Charlotte spoke clearly.
"Did she just—?" Sherlock faltered.
"She's been saying it all day," Molly confirmed. John smiled and gestured to her from behind his best friend that he'd be downstairs with Mrs. Hudson and Rosie to give them a moment. Charlotte nuzzled her face in the crook of his neck, clinging to him. Sherlock's heart felt it might burst from all of the love he held for his daughter.
"She knows who I am," was all that left his lips.
"Mhmm," Molly replied. "Charlotte, where's daddy?" Their daughter grasped Sherlock's nose.
"So clever," Sherlock remarked in awe.
"Just like her father," Molly told him.
"Mm, and her mother," he added before happily pressing a kiss to his wife's lips.
Seven years later, The Holmes and Watson families were preparing for Halloween. 221B had been decorated like a mad scientist's lab complete with Jello made in a brain mold and skeleton standees. Rosie was dressed as Tinkerbell and Charlotte was dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast. When it would be time for the party, Sherlock and Molly were to be dressed as Frankenstein's Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein. Molly and Rosie were downstairs with Mrs. Hudson when John called out to them.
"I was going up to see Sherlock, right? Well, you lot need to come see this," he told them. "Got some of it on camera, I did." They all quietly climbed the stairs. When they reached the sitting room, Sherlock was still in his dress pants and white button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The ballroom scene from Beauty and the Beast played on the telly whilst he danced with Charlotte, teaching her the exact steps. She was a quick learner.
"Oh my God," Molly gasped, placing her hand on her heart.
"How precious," Mrs. Hudson added.
When the dance ended, they all clapped whilst Sherlock bowed as Charlotte curtsied before running towards Molly.
"Mummy, did you see? Daddy taught me the waltz!" she exclaimed with glee.
"I did!" Molly told her. "You were so good, sweetheart!" Charlotte crooked her finger, gesturing for Molly to lend her an ear.
"Daddy says he loves to dance with you and wants to know if you would like to," she spoke not so quietly.
"Why, I'd love to," Molly smiled. The sound of crying alerted them. "But first, I need to feed your brother."
When she returned, Sherlock was already in costume, much to John's amusement. When her baby brother began crying again, Charlotte reached out from where she sat on the sofa and Molly sat beside her to let her hold him. He was dressed as a pirate with a knit cap, eyepatch and bottoms.
"It'll be alright, Victor," she told him. "Don't cry." If you looked at both of them, you would see that each one had a perfect combination of their parents' physical traits. Charlotte had chestnut curls and cerulean eyes whilst Victor had onyx wisps of hair and chocolate eyes. They both ended up with Molly's nose and Sherlock's lips. As to which one had the petite gene, only time would tell.
Sherlock watched the children when Molly went to change into costume. Mrs. Hudson was holding Victor when she reappeared and finally took up Sherlock's offer on that dance.
It was a full flat when everyone else arrived; Greg, Mycroft and the Holmes parents who came to the city for the weekend. Their little home was bustling with laughter and revelry. Family had become the center of Sherlock's universe and he wouldn't have it any other way.
Author's Note: Thank y'all so much for going on this journey with me! It's been so much fun!