Long time reader and first time writer! Please forgive any mistakes or inconsistencies, I will try to fix any glaring errors so happy to take the feedback good and constructive.

fingers crossed this works out alright...

Oh, and I always see people saying they don't own the characters, which I'm sure is for good reason. So... I don't own the characters :D

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Chapter One: The Discovery

John Watson had been uneasy for weeks. Sherlock's erratic behavior was nothing new, but the way he was avoiding Hermione Granger was different. Normally, Sherlock and Hermione were an inseparable pair, their combined brilliance often overwhelming the rest of Scotland Yard. Now, there was a palpable rift between them. Sherlock had become distant, spending most of his time alone in his flat, lost in his experiments, or disappearing for days on end. Hermione, on the other hand, had thrown herself into work, a fire burning behind her eyes that suggested a storm was brewing beneath her calm exterior.

John had seen Hermione at her best and worst, both as a witch and a friend, and lately, he had seen more of the latter. She had been distracted, her usual meticulousness giving way to a sort of frantic energy, as if she were trying to outrun something. The final straw for John came when he found her in the flat, staring blankly at a cup of tea as it cooled untouched in front of her.

"Morning, Hermione," John greeted, feigning casualness. He watched her carefully, noting the dark circles under her eyes, the way her hair looked less tamed than usual. She jumped slightly at the sound of his voice, blinking as if pulled from deep thought.

"John, hey," she replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Sorry, I didn't hear you come in."

"You're a million miles away," John observed, taking a seat across from her. "Everything alright?"

Hermione nodded quickly, too quickly. "Yeah, just... work's been... you know how it is."

John raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I don't. Not with you, anyway. You're normally so on top of things. But lately, you and Sherlock... well, it's like the two of you are dancing around something."

Hermione's eyes flickered with unease. She avoided John's gaze, stirring her tea without any real intention of drinking it. "Sherlock's... busy. You know how he gets."

"I do," John said, leaning forward, his voice softening. "But this isn't just Sherlock being Sherlock, is it?"

Hermione froze, her hand tightening around the spoon. John watched her, waiting, his patience uncharacteristically steady. He had seen enough to know when someone was about to break. Finally, Hermione let out a shuddering breath and met his eyes.

"John... there's something you should know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But you have to promise me you won't say anything to anyone. Not to Sherlock, not to Mycroft, not to anyone at the Ministry."

John's heart sank. "You have my word," he said, although he had a sinking feeling he was about to regret it.

Hermione took another breath, bracing herself. "I'm pregnant."

The words hung in the air, heavy and charged. John blinked, his mind reeling as he processed what she had just said. He had suspected a million different things, but this... this was not one of them.

"You're... you're what?" he stammered, unable to mask his shock.

"Pregnant," Hermione repeated, her voice steadier this time. "It's Sherlock's."

John leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "Bloody hell, Hermione. Does he know?"

She shook her head. "No. And I don't want him to. Not yet, at least."

John stared at her, incredulous. "Why the hell not? He's the father, he has a right to know!"

Hermione's eyes flashed with a mix of fear and defiance. "John, if the Ministry finds out, they'll pull me from the job. They'll make me go back to the wizarding world, where they'll monitor every move I make. And Sherlock... he's not exactly the most reliable person when it comes to emotions. I can't handle that on top of everything else."

John sighed, rubbing his temples. He wanted to argue, to tell her that Sherlock deserved to know, that maybe he would surprise her. But he could see the determination in Hermione's eyes, the iron resolve that had seen her through war and countless dangers. She wasn't ready for that conversation, and maybe Sherlock wasn't either.

"Alright," John said finally, his voice resigned. "I won't say anything. But Hermione, he's going to figure it out eventually. You know how he is."

Hermione nodded, her expression softening. "I know. But right now, I need to figure out what I'm going to do."

John leaned forward, covering her hand with his. "Whatever you decide, I'm here for you. We'll figure it out together."

Hermione squeezed his hand, gratitude shining through the tears that threatened to spill over. "Thank you, John. I don't know what I'd do without you."

John offered her a small, reassuring smile. "Let's just get through this one step at a time. And who knows? Maybe Sherlock will pull his head out of his arse long enough to actually notice what's right in front of him."

Hermione let out a small, shaky laugh, the sound bittersweet. "One can only hope."

As they sat together in the quiet of 221B Baker Street, the weight of their secret hung between them like a shadow. John knew that this was only the beginning. Sherlock would eventually have to face the consequences of that night, whether he liked it or not. But for now, John would keep Hermione's secret, even if it meant watching his best friend stumble in the dark.

And maybe, just maybe, Sherlock would find his way back to the light.

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END Chapter 1

Hopefully this is up someone's street and I will continue. I have a few chapters ready so I will try to post one a day or so. If nobody likes it, well then it will just be for my benefit.