A/N a warm hug goes to Stephanie and Galem, thanks again. I appreciate it a lot. And also a warm thank you, to everyone who´s reading and following. I was faster, this time, did you notice?

It was still snowing, when John, Sherlock and Carys wrapped themselves up in some warm clothing and made their way into the park. Carys giggled, she was thrilled, she stuck out her tongue to catch the snow.
John started laughing and after arriving at the park, he did the same.
"This looks silly, John," Sherlock stated, smiling.

John laughed again. "That's what I always did as a child, Sherlock. Isn´t it funny, we forget about it? "
"We forget about what, John? "
"Being a child, Sherlock. We are so busy with the world, we forget to have fun. You have said it yourself, children need to have fun."

John put on a slightly devious expression. "Were you actually ever lathered correctly, Sherlock?"

"Lathered ?" Sherlock repeated . "I ... um.. . I shower alone, so I usually soap myself..."
Before Sherlock was able to finish his sentence, he was already lying in the snow. His face was covered with snow, much to the delight of Carys, she was laughing and giggling. "Oh, Carys wants to do that, too", she said.
"You better not get up now," John whispered and took Carys out of her cart . "I 'm gonna make a really nice snowball for you, what do you think, cutie?" Carys nodded.

" But I don´t want to freeze up, John," Sherlock grumbled.
"Don´t be such a girl, Sherlock. A cold butt has never killed anyone."
Sherlock turned around and propped his head with his hand.

"So, we´re going to start that butt-discussion again? Although I must say that your´s is more luscious, while I seem to have a somehow bony one." Sherlock said, sounding as innocent as possible. "Maybe we can compare them tonight, Jo...?

"Exactly, Carys. Well done. And now rub his face, Sherlock Papa likes this," John´s grin was dirty.

oOo

Emma quickly hid behind a tree before Sherlock or her little one could see her. Her conscience had left her no peace. Emma googled Sherlock up in an internet cafe and so she got his address. She was standing at the corner of the street, when Sherlock and another guy came out of the house, with Carys. She followed them, very carefully.
Her little girl made a happy impression, Emma was relieved. She was glad, her feelings didn´t deceive her. The guy in Sherlock's company also made a nice impression on Emma. The Bachelor John Watson, Emma knew him from his blog. And the two of them seemed very familiar. Emma heard Carys laughing, she took a deep breath. Carys was fine.

They now moved on now to a small hill of snow, the park administration had piled up. She had to chew the laughter, when Sherlock was folding his long legs and sat down in one of those plastic sliders. Carys was sitting in front of him and he held her very close, to make sure, she doesn´t get hurt. He was sliding with Carys through the snow, gently.

"Again!" Carys now whooped, placing a wet kiss on Sherlock´s cheek.
Emma suddenly noticed, Carys was missing a father. Having a mother, wasn´t enough for the little girl. She was special and smart, she needed a lot more, than Emma was able to give her. There had to be some changes in her life, Emma decided. But first she had to find a job and settle her debts with the landlord. Emma felt a chill, running down her back, to go to bed with him, was not an option. At least Carys was in good hands. "I love you, my darling," she whispered softly and disappeared back into the falling snow.

oOo

"Well, little one. That's it, for now." Sherlock was sliding two more times. In the meantime, however, he became really cold. Carys 's eyes widened and she blinked at her replacement dad.

"Carys again, please?"

Sherlock snorted, "just one more, young lady. All right? "

The little girl nodded, "Carys will slide with Sherlock Papa. And with John."

"You've heard her, Sherlock. One ride with you and another one with me. She´s a clever girl, reminds me of someone, I know. Parenting is not quite so simple, right? Seems like Carys is schooling us."

John had a lot of fun, this afternoon. It was just nice to see, how the master of manipulation found his mistress. A glance from Carys was enough and Sherlock melted away like butter in the sun. John liked this all new Sherlock. He was less grim and he showed feelings, even though he always maintained, emotions were only a disadvantage.
After John and Sherlock fulfilled their duty in sliding with Carys, they went home.

oOo

"You really like this, don´t you Sherlock?" John asked, handing Sherlock some warm cocoa. Carys got her´s in her new mug, Mycroft had really thought of everything.

The Consulting Detective was sitting with his little guest in front of the burning fireplace on the ground, a blanket around his shoulders and he read something to her. From a rather worn book that turned out to be ' Treasure Island ' .

John smiled, there you go. Mycroft had mentioned sometime earlier, Sherlock would have liked to become a pirate, when he was a child.

John sat down with his cocoa and poured some biscuits, which he had bought downstairs at Speedy's.

Sherlock caressed Carys 's hair and remained silent. John was right. He liked it a lot more than he should. He knew Emma's address, he had to bring Carys back to her mother long ago, but Sherlock couldn´t overcome himself, to do so. The little girl had crept into his heart, from the very first moment. It wouldn´t be easy to give her away again. Carys gave him something really incredible, affection and trust. Just like that, without any conditions. Sherlock was overwhelmed and speechless.

His own childhood was marked by attempts to get something like love from his mother. Mycroft had always been the one who, if one could say so, got at least attention from mother.

He, Sherlock had always been the troublemaker. He could never do anything right. Always too direct and too intrusive, when he wanted hugs or simply needed some closeness.

At some point, he then ceased to expect love and shut his heart down. Previously, he was indeed getting along pretty well, but now there was Carys who ... Sherlock was looking for an appropriate expression ... she was crushing into his life like a wrecking ball and a lot of supressed feelings and emotions came back to the surface.

"Sherlock? Are you all right? " John looked at his roommate, anxiously. His face reflected emotions, John had never seen at Sherlock. He put his hand on his shoulder, "Everything all right with you? "

Their eyes met, entangled in each other. And suddenly it occurred to Sherlock, like scales falling from his eyes.

John was like Carys.

John just got involved with him, trusting and unbiased. Back when they had met in St. Barth 's for the first time. They trusted each other with their lives, again and again. As a matter of course. Like Carys loved her Sherlock Papa and like he loved this wonderful little girl.
And like he loved John ... Sherlock´s emotions ran wild.

John was nearly drowning in Sherlock's eyes. Like automatically he caressed his shoulder and heard a silent, small, comforting sound escaping Sherlock´s lips.
" John," Sherlock whispered, barely audible. Their faces were barely a few inches apart from each other.

oOo

"Um ... I do not want to interfere, but I could use your help."

Greg Lestrade said, rather embarrassed. For him, it was more than obvious, he was interrupting them, but the door had not been closed and so he just came upstairs.

He was wondering about the stroller and now, he was wondering a little more. Not necessarily about John and Sherlock, who sat very close to each other, like they´re about to kiss each other. This had always been clear to him.

But who was this cute little girl sitting on a big pillow next to the fireplace, smiling at him, cheerfully?
" Sherlock Papa, visit " she said, waving her little hand. Greg waved back, spontaneously. He had no idea what was going on at the moment, but it seemed to be definitely interesting.

John tore himself reluctantly away from Sherlock.

"Um... Yes, hello Greg. Some cocoa?"

A/N I wanna mention Miley Cyrus, here. Her song was inspiration for this chapter and it´s title. But I´m sorry, no one ist going to be naked here...well, maybe next chapter **giggles**