It Started With Stealing | Sherlock Holmes

84 - Babysitting

"Morning, John. See you've met our new, very loud resident." Towards the end of her sentence, she used more of a baby voice as she booped Ava on the nose, "Did Sherlock not know what to do you with you, eh? Isn't he hopeless sometimes?"

Now, the detective was twice as put out at hearing this statement of doubt from his own partner. And then he watched his friend and partner together, chuckling and using baby voices to communicate with the baby shockingly well. Why didn't they just use normal voices? Surely that would help her get used to normal human speech patterns faster? Perplexed, he cleared his throat.

"Don't you two have work to be going to?"

"Uh, we do." John nodded, looking at Elizabeth, "But something tells me - "

"Us." Elizabeth interjected.

"That you shouldn't be left alone with a baby."

Sherlock scoffed at this as he looked at the two of them. They couldn't be serious?

"Yoo hoo." Mrs Hudson shuffled into the room with two full shopping bags, "I've got your supplies. I hope you solve this case soon, Sherlock, because it certainly isn't cheap having a baby around, as sweet as she can be."

"You're a star, Mrs H."

"Bah-bah-bah!" Came Ava's loud exclamation.

John smiled widely at Ava and Elizabeth chuckled a bit, placing her hand on John's shoulder as she spoke in gibberish back to the baby. John moved slightly so Ava could see Elizabeth more and they chuckled together, almost harmoniously.

Sherlock took in this action rather seriously - they looked good together...with a baby.

What if she saw him as an unfit candidate for future progeny? No, wait, what was he saying - thinking even? No, no children. They were a mere distraction. Couldn't get anything done with them around. But what if Elizabeth wanted them? If he still didn't want them and the conversation came up...would they still be partners after he would admit something like that?

God, they weren't even married and he was already overthinking about this. And marriage!? They had only just gotten back together. No. Nope. He had to stop this thought process. How?

"Couple." Sherlock said suddenly.

The three stopped and looked at him, intrigued, waiting for him to elaborate. Even Sherlock hadn't known why he had said that - that word was more on track with the thought process. Use the excuse of a Freudian slip!

"I said 'cu...ddle'..."

No. Most definitely not any better.

"Uh..."

Elizabeth snickered, "Sherlock, are you buffering?"

John laughed at this too as did Mrs Hudson who had joined the two to coo at the baby too. Sherlock blinked and nodded slowly. Yes. Buffering. This was better. He could always count on Elizabeth to help him. The thief shook her head fondly at the detective.

"John, Elizabeth, aren't you both meant to be getting to work?"

"We are," Elizabeth responded, "But now because of Sherlock's lack of ability to look after Ava, we are thinking we should stay."

There it was. This was bad. She already saw him as an unworthy partner for offspring. He wasn't lacking in ability. He was simply very, very, very inexperienced. The nurturing element came more easily to women, studies had found...but then he looked at John and thought about how quickly he had calmed her down. He had competition. He had to prove himself to her.

"I - "

"Oh, nonsense, you two." Mrs Hudson beat him to it, "Go to work. I'll look after Ava."

"Mrs Hudson, we can't ask that of you." John said.