So, that new episode though.
I'm still processing The Six Thatchers. I need to rewatch it like 10 more times at least(this week).
Since this story was finished for the most part the day before TST aired, I'm going to post it as is. I don't want to offend any Mary fans, but if you're reading Johnlock fanfiction you're probably not one anyways.
Everything in this series will be pre-TST and will not be altered by Season 4 canon. After the rest of S4 airs I'm sure there will be plenty for me to write more about. I already have SO many ideas from watching the first episode...
Again, I'd love some comments! Let me know what you think of this chapter, it's definitely not my favorite and was the toughest to write. I've picked at it so much and I'm still not completely happy with it unfortunately. Hopefully you think it's decent!
When John returns to his and Mary's home he's ready to turn back the moment he steps in the door. Mary is acting strange, she's distant and unusually quiet. John thinks she might suspect what happened over the last week.
Do I look different? I feel different. I've been riding a roller coaster of emotion for a week, I must look exhausted at the very least.
The entire first day he's back he contemplates telling her. But now that she's in front of him he feels guilty. Hedidmarry this woman and make serious promises to her. That shouldn't be taken lightly. Not to mention she's very pregnant, the baby
should be due any day now.
What about our child? Will Mary try to get full custody? I haven't thought this through completely... What did I get myself into?
John tells her the truth, partially. He says that Sherlock was back on drugs and that he was helping him detox. Mary doesn't look too concerned, which is odd. John knew she cared for Sherlock's well-being also and is surprised that she just shrugs it
off.
"You're back, so I'm assuming he's all better? That's good then." is all she has to say about the matter.
Maybe she's angry with me for not calling and keeping her updated? Or maybe her pregnancy hormones are making her grouchy? What the hell is going on...
John goes back to work. He apologizes to his supervisor for having been gone so long. He had sent an email earlier in the week to tell them he had a family emergency and thankfully they were understanding.
He texts Sherlock every day to check in on him. He misses the genius so much it's painful. He feels incomplete again, and he keeps finding himself daydreaming about the intense kiss they had shared. Mostly he was constantly worrying about Sherlock.
When he had said goodbye and was about to leave the flat Sherlock had stopped him. He was shaking as he pulled John into his arms.
"It won't be for forever. I'll be back in no time." he had said.
It was so hard for him to walk out of that door and not turn around to run back into Sherlock's arms.
John was so worried that he asked Lestrade to check in on him. Sherlock proceeded to send John text messages telling him that he wasn't in need of a babysitter and would he please dismiss Mycroft's irritating lapdog.
Lestrade kept going to the flat almost every day anyways. He sent John updates, and Sherlock seemed to be doing okay besides the fact that he was still smoking.
After about a week of Mary avoiding him, stressing over Sherlock and what will happen with his daughter once he leaves, and long days at the clinic, Mary went into labor.
Come to St. Bart's. Maternity ward, room 2B. -JW
Sherlock gets dressed, but not too quickly. He's nervous. Once he shrugs on his belstaff and opens the door he pauses, closes his eyes for a moment. He takes a deep breath and heads out.
He catches a cab to the hospital. When he gets there he bypasses the nurses and heads straight to the room. He's had the blueprints of St. Bart's memorized for years, of course.
The door to their room is open, and John and Mary look up when he approaches. He can't escape.
Mary is holding a newborn baby girl. Her parents are absolutely beaming, waiting for Sherlock's reaction. John speaks first.
"Her name is Violet."
Sherlock looks at the child and back at John. He's obviously touched, and panicking.
"Sherlock?"
He visibly calms down and forces his face back into its normal stony expression. Only John notices the gleam in his eyes.
"She's beautiful John."
The rest of John's week goes smoothly, surprisingly. They're blessed with a baby that doesn't cry too much or make a fuss. It's not easy, but easier than he thought it would be. He didn't take into account that she'd be raised by a doctor and a nurse,
both fairly knowledgeable on infant care.
Sherlock visits once. John doesn't offer for him to hold the baby, not yet. Sherlock seems pretty frightened of her actually.
They sit in the living room drinking tea and chatting. It's not awkward, but they keep finding themselves becoming silent, lost in each others eyes.
John wants so badly to reach across the sofa and pull him in for a kiss, or even just hold his hand. John thinks about the time they were handcuffed and held hands running down alleyways and hopping fences. He realizes he's been staring at Sherlock's
hand, smiling. When he looks up Sherlock is grinning.
John blushes and tries to start talking about something else but Sherlock cuts him off by reaching over and intertwining their fingers. It's just for a moment, since Mary is just in the other room, but John is grateful for it. He grins like an idiot at
Sherlock before they let go.
Sherlock doesn't stay long, but John was very happy to see him anyways. Every moment he gets to share with the man he greatly cherishes. When he's with Sherlock he feels content. When the detective leaves it takes everything in him not to kiss him goodbye.
John watches him walk out the door regretfully.
Mary is still acting strangely. She's taken to long naps in their room and has left the house a few times without saying where she was going.
What mother leaves her newborn? We have the most gorgeous, perfect kid and she's being distant? Maybe she has postpartum?
John's questions are quickly answered when only two weeks after Violet was born Mary corners him in the living room. John had just put the baby to bed and was now trying to relax on the sofa with a book.
She doesn't hesitate, just gets straight to he point.
"John, I'm leaving you. And Violet. I'm sorry, but the organization that I work for has transferred me to a different, shall we saytask... I was waiting to give birth before I left."
John is completely stunned. He drops his book and it tumbles to the floor.
"Wh-what?"
"I married you to get to Sherlock, to get to Magnussen. I never planned to get pregnant. I truly did care for you John, but I also had other motives."
Mary looks determined, and cold.
John is stunned. He doesn't know whether to feel angry or devastated. His temper wins out.
"So you love someone, marry them, have a child with them but that's not important to you? Because of a fucking job, basically. An assassin is not all you are Mary. You're now a mother, whether you like it or not. If you leave her and never come back,
that will always be true. She'll grow up without her mother and you'll have to deal with that every day of your life."
Mary refuses to look at him.
John doesn't know why he's so angry, he was planning on leaving her anyways. But finding out that he'd been deceived for over a year by this woman makes him furious.
"And you know what? Maybe she shouldn't be around someone like you. Someone who eventhinksabout abandoning their child. You disgust me. Just get out, pack your stuff. Even if you decided to stay I'm taking her away from here as soon as I can."
Mary looks up at him, tries to keep her mask up. It cracks a fraction, but she composes herself and heads for the bedroom to pack her things.
"Goodbye John."
John feels like he can take on the world, there is so much anger coursing through his veins. Yet he feels relieved, he feels so much better knowing Mary's toxicity won't be around his daughter, that she has the chance to have wonderful parents.
Wonderful dads.
He's thinking blissful things about her future when he snaps out of it.
Dads? Sherlock surely wouldn't be interested... We've only kissed, I can't just ask him to raise a child with me. Maybe he won't even want me moving back in when he realizes Violet and I come as a package deal now. I assumed I'd have partial custody and he probably did too.
John gets up and starts pacing around the living room. He's still angry, Mary didn't even say goodbye to Violet before she left. It was late now, and the baby was sound asleep in her crib.
Why the hell do these things happen to me? What am I going to do? A few weeks ago I was happily married and looking forward to raising my daughter in this house. Now what?
He stops pacing and takes a deep breath.
Well, I can't stay here, that's for sure. This house reeks of bad memories already.
He goes to his bedroom to pack a bag and gathers everything he'll need for the baby. He loads up the carthankfully Mary left it behindand double checks that he hasn't forgotten anything. Last but not least, he goes into the nursery to retrieve Violet.
The infant is sleeping peacefully. John looks down at her pretty face and smiles. He wants the world for this child, he wants to provide unconditional love and a happy life for her. He adores his perfect little girl and hopes Sherlock will too.
He picks her up gently and places her on the changing table to dress her in a warm onesie and a little hat to match.
John locks up the house and takes Violet to the car. He buckles her into her car seat, takes one last look at the empty house and gets into the car and backs out of the driveway.
He's nervous the whole drive to Baker Street.
Should I have called first? I probably should have given some type of warning to Sherlock, or even Mrs. Hudson.
A few times he almost turns back around. It would take just one simple u-turn and he wouldn't have to face the possibility of rejection he's agonizing over.
The drive takes longer than it should but eventually they pull up to the flat. He parks and looks up at the windows and sees that there are lights on. Of course Sherlock is still up, doing god knows what.
He gets out of the car and unlocks the front door, leaving it open so that he can carefully carry Violet inside without having to fumble with his keys one-handedly. He slings the baby bag over his shoulder and heads up the stairs, shutting the front door
with his foot as he passes it.
He takes the stairs slowly and can hear Sherlock's violin get louder the closer he gets. He's playing a sweet, slow lullaby and finishes the tune the exact moment John is about to knock on the door.
He's trying his best not to hop from one foot to the other in anticipation. He holds Violet closer to his chest as he hears approaching footsteps and then the doorknob turning. He holds his breath.
Sherlock opens the door and takes in the sight of John and Violet. John can practically see the gears turning in his head as he deduces the events of his evening. John knows he must look nervous as hell.
Their eyes meet, and Sherlock smiles.