It Started With Stealing | Sherlock Holmes

84 - Babysitting

*  *  *  *  *

John and Elizabeth arrived on the Baker Street pavement at the same time, both equally as concerned.

"John!"

"Ah, you're here too, that's good. I'm - I'm scared of what to expect because I called earlier - "

"Oh, me too." Elizabeth nodded, unlocking the front door, "I don't even know what to hope for at this point other than not chaos."

John chuckled anxiously and followed her inside.

They heard the subtle song from a violin crank out into the air from upstairs. The two friends shared a look with each other as John took the lead. The flat doors were closed - much to John's relief - and as they got nearer, they could hear the music becoming a little sloppy. This was unusual for Sherlock. They cracked open the door and peered into the flat, seeing Mrs Hudson asleep on the sofa and Sherlock in his chair, eyes closed and his hand lazily dragging the bow across the violin, wearing his wine red gown now instead of his tan one from earlier.

They walked in further, silently, peeking over the arm of John's chair to find Ava fast asleep, sucking her thumb, and curled up in the blanket she had been brought to them in. The two friends shared a solaced smile.

"Sherlock?" Elizabeth called to him softly, approaching the detective in the chair and delicately laid a hand on his shoulder, "Sherlock?"

He started at her touch, suddenly picking up the gentle tune of the violin again perfectly. He looked up at her with  sleepy eyes and stared at John wearily before looking back at the sleeping babe.

"She...likes violin." Sherlock blinked hard.

Elizabeth frowned as she picked a small dummy out of his mop of curls, showing it to John amused.

"She's a thrower. Wanted the skull but didn't want the skull. Wanted the pillow but didn't want the pillow. I gave her Shakespeare and she tore it up. Mrs Hudson got her a dummy but she didn't want it either. She's Satan's spawn disappearing only for me to find her under the table with the wires. And she also doesn't understand that being sick on someone does not constitute as a thanks for saving them from certain death. But...Ava likes violin. Violins...she likes. I could work...with that."

The detective's head lolled and again the music became sloppy.

"Only thing...that...puts her...to sleep."

Elizabeth bit her lip, brows raised as she watched the detective's head droop. She gently removed the violin and bow from his hands and carefully placed them in their stand. John looked over to Mrs Hudson who also looked exhausted and then back at Elizabeth.

"I guess we're tag-teaming then?"

"I guess we are."

*  *  *  *  *  *

They mindfully moved Ava up into John's room and the two friends sat on the bed looking at the peaceful child that lay there adoringly. John started chuckling quietly.

"What?" Elizabeth couldn't fight back her own smile.

"To think we left a baby alone with Sherlock and he and the baby survived."

The thief chortled, "Truly a miracle. But I think it could have gone worse without Mrs Hudson."

John watched Elizabeth as she looked down at the baby sweetly. He thought of her and Sherlock together and wondered if they would ever be parents themselves. John wondered if he would ever be a parent.