The Item of Many Items

One Less a Pair [Sherlock]

Here's a random Sherlock one-shot for Anna_Thordaughter 's one-shot contest :) 

He knew it. He knew as soon as she was born, a beautiful hazel eyed baby girl, that this was it. Funnily enough, it was like retirement.

Retirement with your first child, that is.

"Congratulations," the white-robed doctor said cheerfully.

"Yeah, thanks," John answered, looking fondly at his wife and daughter. "My darling, you are wonderful."

Mary gazed up at him, inexplicable happiness in her eyes.

"Do you want to call Sherlock and tell him?" she asked. "Don't you think he ought to--"

John's phone buzzed in his pocket, and as he reached to pull it out of his pocket, he knew who it was.

Congrats.

SH

"Of course he already knew," John muttered.

Mary laughed softly. "Of course he did."

John replied,

You're 7 and a half minutes late

A few seconds later, his phone buzzed again.

Thought I'd let you get the sappiness out for a few minutes

SH

John rolled his eyes.

"Do you want to hold her?" Mary asked tiredly.

"Of course I do," he said, tenderly taking the baby into his arms. She didn't say a word and simply looked at him.

Are you my father? she seemed to say.

John swelled with pride. "Yes, I am," he whispered.

"What?" Mary asked.

"I'm her dad," he said giddily.

"Glad you've figured that out," Mary teased.

"We can take her home, and she can see Baker Street and Ms. Hudson," John said.

"Official business, having children," Mary said with a yawn. She turned to look at the pink-wrapped bundle. "We'll have to stay here for a while, won't we, darling?"

"Then I," John proclaimed, "am staying. The whole time. It's un-negotiable."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," Mary said.

"I think I can keep this one," John said, sinking into the white sheets.

"Sir, official visiting hours have ended," announced the doctor. "Your wife is tired and needs rest. You can visit tomorrow morning."

"I don't think...I'm actually a doctor myself," John said pointedly.

"Very good sir, and I'm the Duke of Wales," answered the doctor, evidently annoyed.

"No, really," John insisted. "She's my wife. Aren't hospitals required to let the husband stay?"

"For the birth only," he declared. "It is necessary to our protocols to have a full and speedy recovery, without distraction."

"I'm not a--" John blustered.

"Save your pride, Mr. Watson," Mary said with a vain attempt at concealing laughter.

"I will see you as early as this practice opens," John said. "With any luck, that promise is on the right side of the law."

He shot a mental glare at the doctor, and closed the door softly behind him.