HOLD ME

CHAPTER 6

The following morning Joan roused to the sounds of babyish giggling. Sherlock had woken her up in an array of ways, some of them quite abrupt and that made her heart jump in her chest, but the pure innocent sounds of his laughs brought an immediate smile to her lips. She wouldn't mind being woken up every day like this.

Her eyes opened slowly and noticing Sherlock's warm body moving next to her, she turned around to look at him. He was sitting cross-legged on the bed, so close that his knees were touching her, and looking at her while giggling. Joan raised her eyebrows in surprise at seeing him so changed from the previous day.

"Good morning" she said, a sleepy smile plastered on her lips, her voice rough with sleep "now, what do you find so funny?"

Sherlock looked at her and pointing at her head, he laughed more, his other hand coming to his mouth to stifle the giggles.

"You look silly, Joanie!" he exclaimed. Joan looked at him, confused, and then she touched her hair. It was more tousled than usual, and judging by the happy expression on Sherlock's face, she guessed she had a bad case of bed hair.

She passed her hands through her hair, attempting to smooth it, and that made Sherlock's laughter grow stronger. She feigned annoyance.

"Don't laugh at my hair, it's perfectly fine as it is!" she exclaimed, but her eyes betrayed her. Sherlock finally stifled his laughs and untangled his legs, coming to lay down next to Joan.

"Good morning, Joanie" he said, still smiling. His eyes were clear and his expression far more relaxed and happier than the day before. It seemed that venting his fears and pain out had worked, and Joan returned the smile happily.

"Good morning, honey" she said again, kissing his forehead. Sherlock sighed before he snuggled closer to her, passing an arm around her midsection and resting his head on the same pillow as Joan, their foreheads pressing together "did you sleep well?"

Sherlock nodded, still with his eyes closed, and Joan sighed while she cuddled him.

It was as strange a situation as it came. Just a few weeks before she and Sherlock barely touched each other, it was only after they gave age regression a go that the physical aspect of their relationship also took a step forward. But when Sherlock was his adult self this physicality was, still, based on superficial grazes here and there; kissing and holding each other was reserved only for little Sherlock.

And what was Joan's surprise when she realized that little Sherlock was actually quite cuddly! Who would've imagined? The thought made her smile, and it grew wider when she felt Sherlock's relaxed breath brush against her face. She would never use regression to mock him, but the thought of a cuddly little boy, when adult Sherlock was always so stoic and adamant in not being physical, made her almost laugh. She relaxed in Sherlock's embrace, enjoying the silence and the moment together.

"What do you want for breakfast? Pancakes?" she suggested a while later. Sherlock's eyes opened up instantly, and he nodded repeatedly with excitement.

"Yeah, pancakes!" he exclaimed. Suddenly he sat up and started to clap, repeating the word pancakes in a singsong tone. It seemed that Sherlock was extremely happy this morning, and Joan could do nothing but observe him with relief and a smile on her lips.

The day before had been hard for both of them, and Joan had wondered a few times over the day if she really was the best for the job. After a whole day of crying and screaming, Sherlock had finally succumbed to exhaustion early in the evening and had slept through the night until now. Joan was relieved, though, if he had aged up to his current state of a toddler, it meant that he wasn't feeling as little and vulnerable as the day before.