The Holmes Family: A Collection of Short Stories

Say That Again? (Part 1)

SHERLOCK

"Say... Say that again?" I said, eyes wide and mouth slightly slack.

"I'm pregnant." she said, holding the plastic test strip with my right hand, leaning up against the door frame on her left side. "I noticed something off a while ago, and finally got a test. It's positive."

I blinked once, and said, "So... I'm a father?" So many thoughts and emotions were flying through my head, I could hardly process them all.

Ally nodded. "Yep," she said, popping the 'p'.

My face contorted into an expression I don't really have a name for, and I leaned back on the sofa.

"Sherlock, are you okay?" she asked, staying at the door frame.

I made a noncommittal noise in the back of my throat, my eyes closed. Eventually I said, slowly, "I guess I'm going to have to try harder."

"Try harder?" she asked. She followed with what I was saying, she wasn't stupid. She wanted me to say it. Damn.

"Yeah. I need to try harder. Do better. Be better." I said, stiffly.

She walked over to the sofa, and crouched down so she was at my current eye level. "You are better." she said.

I shook his head slightly. "Don't be ridiculous. I am not better."

"What makes you say that?"

I pointed to the wall, peppered with bullet holes. I pointed to the mantelpiece, whereon sat four pieces of paper with an assortment of knives stuck into them. I pointed to the kitchen, wherein was displayed an assortment of glass chemistry equipment. I pointed to the fridge, wherein she and I both knew there was a bag of human eyes. I pointed to the wall in the kitchen, upon which were many scorch marks from experiments gone wrong.

221b was in desperate need of babyproofing.

ALLISON

"Hello, Mrs. Hudson, how are you today?" I asked, as the older woman walked into the flat carrying a tray with tea and biscuits. "You brought us tea? Thank you!" I said.

"You have such good manners," remarked the older woman. "Nothing like that ridiculous husband of yours.

I let out a decidedly unladylike snort and followed her into the kitchen. She set down the tray, and as soon as she did so, I snatched two biscuits and popped them both in my mouth simultaneously.

"Never mind what I said about your manners," she said, giving me a hawklike glare. I chuckled through my mouthful of biscuit.

Sherlock came into the room, holding a newspaper. He rubbed his face groggily. "You need to shave," I said, smacking him in the stomach. He made a noncommittal noise and set the newspaper next to the tea tray, helping himself to a cuppa. He had quite the five-o'clock shadow going on, and it didn't look very good. That, paired with the fact he was wearing baggy sweatpants, a loose tee shirt, and his blue dressing gown.

I grabbed three more biscuits and ate them promptly. Mrs. Hudson gave me an odd look. "What?" I asked, in a defensive tone, putting another biscuit in my mouth."

"I've never seen you eat so much in one sitting," said Mrs. Hudson. It was true. Sherlock and I were the king and queen of self neglect.

I shrugged and grabbed another biscuit. Sherlock chuckled, and I glared at him. I cleared my throat after I ate it, and gave Mrs. Hudson a purposeful look. "I'm... erm... I'm... pregnant." I said, haltingly.

Her jaw dropped. "Pregnant?!" she cried incredulously. I gave a small nod, and was aware of the fact that Sherlock was slowly slipping out of the room. "How long have you known?" she demanded.