Six Years Later

Sherlock moved to join John only weeks later, in January just after his birthday. The month they were rejoined, there was a snowstorm that blew through the city for days, almost a week, but Sherlock only saw blue skies. Not since the return from his abduction many years ago did he feel this happy, this relief to be with John again.

It was difficult leaving his father; he hadn't lived with Clement for years but he was still in the same city. He could still call Clement to change a lightbulb, or once, to actually capture a spider (that Clement made him hold for half an hour once it was captured to get over his fear). But Clement reassured Sherlock enough that his departure was fine, that he needed to 'spread his wings,' as they say.

Now it's November and John's nearing the end of his third term, and Sherlock is finally growing bored. For a few months, he managed to sneak into lectures and classes he wasn't enrolled in to at least learn a little bit while living so close to a university. But finally the teachers realized he wasn't in the class and he kicked out of every building he tried to enter.

"Perhaps I'm ready to begin school again," Sherlock says one night while John digs through his school books.

John slowly looks up, an excited grin on his face. "Really?"

"Yes. I'm finally bored, John. I might as well do something useful with my time."

"That could be nice," John says. "A few courses to get your brain whizzing? Brilliant."

Sherlock just smiles back and opens his laptop to check out the courses he can begin in January.

Sherlock hasn't spoken to his mother in many, many years, but there have been random things that have been made better. Sherlock knows Mycroft is the source, that Mycroft speaks with her often enough that if Sherlock wants or needs something, all he has to do is mention it to Mycroft and it will happen. Mycroft is learning to have the power to do these things, he is almost there, but their mother is ultimately the highest where their worlds are concerned.

So Sherlock mentioned that he was ready to begin classes, and by December someone was calling from the university to set up his schedule.

"That's such shit," John says, looking over Sherlock's shoulder as he buys books for the semester. "I worked my arse off and you receive the phone call first."

Sherlock smirks. "It's the least she could do, John."

"Yeah. Next time we need a new flat, run it by Mycroft."

Sherlock smiles again and continues searching for books.

For Christmas, Sherlock and John go home to see their families and friends. Since its Olive and Paris' son's first Christmas, the whole gang wants to get together to visit. And since it's snowing, they invite everyone over to their flat to see him.

Sherlock finds babies oddly lovely. He hasn't been around many, and his cousins who are younger than him were all odd babies that were speaking like adults before their first lost tooth. But Olive's baby is bouncy and slobbery and babbles like normal babies do.

When they enter the flat, Sherlock greets his friends quickly before moving to the baby. The boy squeals when he sees Sherlock. Sherlock video-chats with Olive enough that the baby can recognize him even though they've only seen each other in person four times. And half of that time was when the baby was still being swaddled.

Sherlock lays flat on the floor and lets the baby scoot to him, then he lets the baby pull his hair.

"William's been waiting for you," Olive says when the friends shift into the sitting room with Sherlock.

"I still can't believe you named him William," John says, laughing.

Sherlock glares at them. "This poor child."

"Without you, there'd be no baby," Olive explains. "You introduced us. This is your fault."

"Yes," Sherlock mock agrees, "The sex resulting in this baby is my fault."

"Well no, that was me," Paris says, grinning.

Sherlock rolls his eyes and goes back to the baby. He plays with the plump little boy while halfheartedly listening to his friends talk about what's progressing in their lives. Declan and Ellery are getting married next month, Harvey and Lily are celebrating their one year marriage anniversary in two months, Duke is graduating from culinary school in May, and Brady and Jenna are buying a new, bigger flat with an office.

All John and Sherlock have to show for their time together is their own flat and their keeping of Sherlock's dog. No baby, no marriage, and he doesn't even have a degree like the rest of their friends. The fear that their friends judge him for that washes over him.

"Well," John starts once Jenna finishes. "Sherlock's starting classes."

Sherlock's stomach turns. 'It's about time,' rings through his head. He closes his eyes to brace himself for the speeches.

"Wow, that's great!" Lily cries first.

"Congratulations, mate," Harvey says.

"What courses?" Declan asks.

John must sense Sherlock's nerves, because he begins to tell everyone about his schedule instead. And everyone just tells him he's doing a good job and he'll be great in school.

"Thank you for that," Sherlock says as they walk a little ways before getting a cab to go back to Clement's house.

"For?"

"For talking about my schooling with everyone."

"I could tell you were nervous. And I shouldn't have even said anything in the first place, it's just that everyone else is so accomplished, and I'm just—"

"Of the two of us, you're the accomplished one. You're becoming a doctor, for Christ's sakes."

John shrugs. "Still feel like I'm a step behind."

"How do you think I feel?"

"No, Sherlock, don't do that. You're fine, love."

"When you don't think you're fine and I'm far, far behind you, I feel like—"

"Look, we're moving at our own paces, right? Let's just forget that our friends are married with kids or kids on the way. We're good, right?"

"Are we?"

"Absolutely."

Sherlock nods.

John leans up and kisses him slowly.

"We've got time," he says.

Sherlock just nods again.

A/N: Sorry I am so slow at this fic. My school year is almost over, and once it's over I'll have more time for this. I'm not giving up if you don't!