Young Anya Holmes

Chapter 2

A week passed since the night Sherlock  found his baby Anya on the door mat. He had grown quite attached to her and was already used to her being around. He let no one visit not John, not Mary, not even his own parents. He didn't take any cases. He was dying but knew it was best for Anya. It was December 15, 1998. It was noisy around the other flats as people busied themselves with Christmas-like activities; decorating, present wrapping, carol singing, etc. This made Anya upset and she began to cry. Sherlock had discovered over the past week that she quite enjoys his violin. So, he pulled out his violin, tuned it, and began playing Silent Night. Anya was calm within 30 seconds of him playing.

He finished his tune and found that Anya was grinning ear to ear. He smiled and wiped his forehead. He was surprised to find he was sweating. He walked over to the window and cracked it open a bit. He was about to walk back over to his chair when he overheard Mrs. Hudson on the phone. "I'm worried about him, John." she said into the speaker with a sigh. Sherlock listened a little closer. "He hasn't come out of his flat for a week. He won't let anyone visit him. He hasn't taken any cases either. I don't know if we need to call Lestrade or not. It would probably be for the best wouldn't it? Will you please come by and visit him? Oh thank you, John! Okay. I'll see you then." Sherlock sucked in a breath of air. "No!" He screamed. "This can't be happening." He walked over to Anya and picked her up. "They'll never leave me alone if they find out you even exist. Let alone that you're my own flesh and blood." Sherlock sighed. He pulled Anya closer to himself and gave her a kiss on her forehead.

Sherlock looked into Anya's eyes and realized it was like looking in a mirror. She then gave a wide yawn and her eyelids fluttered closed. He went to the back bedroom and laid her on the bed for her afternoon nap. He came to the sitting room and paced the floor for what seemed like hours! He sat in his mind palace and thought and thought and thought of what to do. In his mind palace he saw a neat little sitting room with a green leather chair and the matching green leather couch. The walls were yellow and lots of baby toys were laying out around the floor. He immediately recognized it as John and Mary Watson's house. He then opened his eyes hastily as Anya was crying in the back room. He went in there and comforted her which led to the comforting of himself. Just as he was calming down along with Anya he heard the front door burst open.

"Sherlock!" He heard someone scream from the front room. It was John. "John don't shout. You'll frighten him." Mary was with him. Sherlock panicked and Anya began to cry. Mary and John heard the sobbing and traced it to the back room. Mrs. Hudson had joined them. In an attempt to hide Anya, Sherlock locked the door but John, being a soldier, kicked it down with ease. Anya sobbed even harder than before. "I can explain." Sherlock said while simultaneously cradling Anya. John, Mary, Mrs. Hudson, and a few other residents who stopped to watch, all stood dumbstruck. Sherlock lead the Watsons and Mrs. Hudson to the sitting room. He never put Anya down, he just kept on cradling her while she slept.

"So, Sherlock," John said looking at the floor and sighing. "Is this your latest drug substitute because this has gone too far." Sherlock looked up at John surprised. "Of course it's--" "Can I hold her?" Mary interrupted. "Of course." Said Sherlock handing Anya to Mary. "As I was saying, she's mine." Sherlock said very matter-of- factly. "So adoption then?" John asked. "No." Everybody then looked up at Sherlock. "You mean you...?" Asked Mrs. Hudson twisting up her facial expression at the thought. "Yes." "Who with?" Asked Mary. "Her name is Elizabeth Williams." The room went silent. Sherlock looked at his feet, now quite embarrassed. Mary Watson soon spoke up.

"Do you need John and I to take her." Both Sherlock and John's heads snapped up in surprise. "No." They both said in unison. "Sherlock, a baby is a big responsibility. Are you sure you're up to the challenge? We're only looking after... what's her name?" "Anya." Sherlock said smiling. "Well, we're only looking after her." "No. She's my child, I'll take care of her." Sherlock said roughly. "Okay." Mary handed Anya back to Sherlock. "Can we please have some privacy?" Sherlock said looking at Anya then at the Watsons and Mrs. Hudson then at the door. They all got the cue except John. John stood there right in front of Sherlock's chair watching as Sherlock cuddled sleeping Anya closer to himself. "So, that's it then?" John asked in disbelief. "Yes. Does anything more need said?" Sherlock questioned. "A ton." Said John. Before John could say anything else Mary walked in and dragged him away by the arm.

So there Sherlock sat by himself with Anya in his lap. The baby slept like nothing had happened, like nothing was happening,

and like nothing was going to happen. He thought long and hard about Mary's offer. There might be a point in time when he thought it was a good idea but today his answer was no. Sherlock was the only relative Anya had left. Family is everything. Sherlock may seem like a cold inconsiderate person but right there in that moment he knew peace. He laid with Anya who was in a dream filled sleep and looking at his precious baby girl he too feel asleep thinking only happy thoughts of what was to come. He felt happy as he slept and Anya's snores were like a lullaby. He dreamed until the sun began to rise in the morning and even still he sleptnot wanting his first real daddy-daughter moment to end.