Mycroft held the childrenâs backpack that heâd just been presented at armâs length, one finger just barely hooked through the top strap. ââŚWhat?â
âEverything youâll need,â Sherlock continued in one fluid, unbroken stream of words as he turned away from his brother and began to leave. âCrayons, coloring book,storybook, crackers if she gets hungry, a handful of legos, her phone, her cup, three bottles of nail varnish, four tubes of lip gloss, her stress ball, sheâs already holding her Bucky, two spare dummiesââ
âI donâ neeâ those!!!â
Mycroft stared blankly, mouth slightly open, then snapped out of it and started marching after his brother. ââŚWhat??â
ââand her sticker book. But donât let her sweet-talk you into giving her those yet; those are rewards. Oh, and thereâs a set of extra pull-upsââ
âSHERâYOCK!â
ââŚPull-ups?â
ââjust in case. She usually lets you know when she has to go to the toiletââ
The interruption this time came in the form of a low groan.
ââbut she doesnât know you well, so youâll have to ask and coax her. Thatâs where the stickers come in.â Sherlock stopped in his tracks once he was out the front door and turned on his heel. He gave Mycroft a broad smile. âI should be back within the hour. Or three.â
Before Mycroft could protest, Sherlock looked around him and stooped to talk to the figure behind him; âAnd you,â he said, in a much softer voice. âYouâll be a good girl for Mycroft, yes? Of course you will. I promise, weâll go for ice cream after to make up for it.â Sherlock bent forward and placed a quick kiss on a very hesitant-looking Mollyâs forehead. âIâll be back shortly,â he said again, whirling around to leave.
ââŚWhat??!â
âText me if thereâs a need!â he called back over his shoulder and in an instant he was back into the car that had been waiting the entire time, and in the next, was zooming off down the driveway.
Mycroft stood in the door, backpack still dangling in his hand, and gaped at the quickly retreating vehicle.
The purple backpack swung on his finger, and the purple, fuzzy face of the unicorn emblazoned on the front glared at him with what could only be malicious glee.
Mycroft looked down at his side, where his unexpected charge still stood. She too was watching the car as it left, while worrying a lock of hair tightly around her finger. Once it disappeared from their view, Molly looked up at Mycroft with wide, uncertain eyes.
They stared at each other for for a moment, regarding each other, neither one saying or doing anything, until Mycroft decided to break the uneasy silence. âWellâŚwhat now?â
Molly stared at him, her hair still twisted around her fingerâŚwhen her bottom lip started to quiver.
Mycroft could only watch, helplessly, as Mollyâs eyes welled up. Next came the sniffles.
âOh, God.â
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Things had started off a bit teary, but once Mycroft got Molly inside and showed her the nursery that he kept for John and Sherlock when they were little, tensions eased.
He took her pink cardigan off of her (which was a feat in and off itself, since she was still clutching the odd-looking plush toy that Sherlock had called her âBuckyââŚan odd choice for a little girl, he thought, with its grumpy expression and half mask andâŚmetal arm?) and hung it on the wall with her backpack. âWhat would you like to do now, Molly?â
Molly turned and looked him up and downâŚshe still didnât seem to know what to make of him. All she had heard, he presumed, is what Sherlock or John may have told herâŚwhich would explain her nearly bursting into tears at being put into his hands. âUm,â she started, hugging her âBuckyâ to her chest. âUm, Sherâyock said, umâŚthaâd you have crafâs?â
âI have lots of art supplies; Sherlock loves to make things, too. Would you like to see the craft closet?â
Mollyâs face finally brightened, and she nodded her head quickly.
âCome along, then.â
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
âOhhhhhhh,â Molly cooed, her eyes growing bigger by the second. âYou haâb lots of glitter!â
âYes, but letâs save that for later, hm?â âAfter Iâve had a chance to glitter-proof the entire house,â he thought.
âAwwwâŚâ
Mycroft thought quickly. âWhat about the play-dough? Sherlock loves it.â
âDo you haâb pink?â
âThree different shades. And one has confetti in it.â
Molly gasped; âOâgay!!!!â
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
âWhatâre you magâing?â
âAn octopus. What about you?â
ââSparâgly yâibcage.â
âThatâs incredibly creative.â
âYou haâb nice hanâs.â
âThank you.â
âCân I painâd you nails, Myâcoff?â
ââŚâ
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
âCan I haâb a sâicker now?!â
âNo.â
âWhy noâd????!!!â
âBecause you didnât go potty.â
âI donâd haâb too!!!â
âThe wiggling in your seat tells me otherwise.â
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
âMolly,dearest, you can have all the stickers you want if you please stop crying?â
âIâd w-was an, an ah-, ah-s-ssid-deeeeeenâ!â
âI know, sweetheart, and youâre not in trouble. Look, see? Which stickers do you want in your book?â
ââŚTh-thaâd, thaâd one, p-pâease.â
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
âYou havenât eaten since youâve been here.â
âBucky wanâs ice câeam.â
âSherlock said ice cream later. Neither you or Bucky are getting any now.â
âTHAâDS NOâD FAAAAAAIIIIIRRRRRR!â
âJesus Christ.â
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
âY-you, you w-wonâd tellâim I was baâ?â
âNot if you can use your listening ears and lay down for a rest.â
âBuâd Iâm noâd sâeepy.â
âYouâve been around Sherlock for too long.â
*sniffles*
*sighs*Â âIf I promise to let you make my toes match my fingernails, will you lie down and rest?â
âOâgay!!!â
âManipulator.â
~*~*~*~*~*~
Molly squealed as she raced down the steps and leapt into a waiting Sherlockâs arms.
Sherlock grunted and hefted her up onto his hip. âYou didnât miss me at all, did you?â he chuckled and kissed her cheek. âWere you a good girl for Mycroft?â he asked, directing the question to her but looking squarely at his brother.
âYâah!â she chirped as Mycroft held his hand up and made an âEhhhhhâ motion.
âDouble toppings on your ice cream then,â Sherlock smirked as Molly cheered, and Mycroft rolled his eyes.
âDo you have your backpack? Your Bucky? Your squishy?â
âYep, yep, yep!â
âGood girl. Tell Mycroft âbye-byeâ and thank him for letting you stay with himâ
Molly twisted in Sherlockâs arms and gave Mycroft a big grin, and waved her Bucky at him. âBye-bye, Myâcoff. Iâd was yâots oâb fun!!!â
Mycroft smiled and waved back at her as Sherlock turned to carry her back to the car. âThat varnish is a fetching shade on you, bro.â
âI think Sherlock sounds a bit left out, Molly,â Mycroft called back.
âOhhhh nooooooo!â Molly clung to Sherlock neck, promising to use all her best colors to âmake his fingers pâetty too!â as Sherlock tossed his brother a nasty look over his shoulder and stuck his tongue out.
Mycroft gave him a purple, glittery, one-fingered salute, and smugly stepped back inside his house.
Sadie: Are you referring to this one, anon? Or is there another that Iâm forgetting?
Sadie: Got your reply! Iâm just going to keep it in my inbox as an actual reminder to do the thing. :p
Sadie:
(finally doing the thing)
~*~*~*~*~
Thankfully, bottle-warming was not a very monopolizing task, and Mycroft had not been out of the room for five full minutes before he returned, warm bottle in hand. There had been no screams, no cries, no howls of pain or terror, so he was in no rush as he made his way back to his study, gently shaking the bottle to make sure the heat was evenly distributed.
He could hear his little brother still softly jabbering away as he approached the door, and once again, he peeked around the corner:
ââŚanâ you âmemâer, um, you âmemâer thaâ kidâdee? Anâ, anâ you sayâed thaâ kidâdee was, um, was nayâked?â Sherlock was sitting on his heels at Jawnâs feet, playing with his toes. He took one of Jawnâs pinkie toes and rolled it between his fingers, making the smaller man break into squeaky-giggles and try to pull his foot away, with little success. âNn-nn-nnnnnnn!â Jawn grunted.
Mycroft smirked. That was more disgustingly adorable than it ever ought to be. âCareful, Sherlock,â he reminded him as he stepped into the room. âLet go when he pulls away, pet.â
Sherlock blinked up at him. âBuâd he yâikes iâd!â
âI know, but we donât want to twist one of his toes too hard when he pulls awayâŚdo we?â he cooed down Jawn, who had just now noticed what Mycroft held in his hands and was grasping for it.
Sherlock let go of Jawnsâ foot and reached for the bottle, to. âI still doâid, Myâcoff?!â
âOf course. Here, go sit down on the couch,â Mycroft said and Sherlock scrambled to obey, nearly tripping over his own limbs while Mycroft lifted Jawn into a sitting position, then picked him up.
Sherlock folded his legs underneath him and watched his big brother carry his âlittle brotherâ over, and held his arms out, waiting impatiently. âMine.â
âThereâs never been any question of that.â Mycroft carefully sat Jawn in Sherlockâs lap, and turned him the correct way for a feeding; âThere, hold your arm here, under his neckâŚyes, there you go, you know what youâre doing, donât you.â
âYâah, IÂ âmemâer how,â Sherlock said, taking the bottle from Mycroftâs hand.
The elder Holmes brother stood close by and watched as Sherlock tucked Jawn in the crook of his elbow and held him close, then put the bottle to his lips.
Jawn latched on quickly, and Sherlock beamed up at Mycroft. âSee, I cân doâid!â
âClever boy. Youâre a wonderful big brother.â Mycroft ruffled Sherlocksâ hair and pinched his cheek. âStay right here, and let me know when heâs done.â
âWhy?â
âBecause it will be naptime for both of you then.â
âAwww,â Sherlock groaned. âBuâd Iâm noâd tired!â
âNo, but Jawn will be. Would you like to help get him ready for bed?â
Sherlock perked up. âI câahn?â
âAbsolutely. Your help is vital.â
Sherlock grinned broadly and looked down at the tot in his lap, whose eyelids were already drooping. âCân I, um, cân I read âim a story?â
âI think he would be terribly upset if you didnât. Sit and think of one while he eats.â Mycroft tugged on Sherlockâs ear. âAnd let me know when he finishes, darling.â
âOâgay.â
Mycroft went back to his desk.
Of course, Sherlock didnât let him know exactly when Jawn was doneâŚhe may have waited a few (or tenâŚ.or fifteen) minutes to finish whispering the story that was too good to wait until naptime.
And, of course, Mycroft knew what he was doing. And he couldnât blame his little brother for wanting to wait just a bit longerâŚ
Because little brothers donât stay little for long. And Mycroft knew, more than most, to enjoy it while it lasted.
Dear little boys,
You are just as important and relevant as little girls. I know it might seem like the whole community is against you with the pink and the name ddlg which is daddy dom/little girl. However that is not the case. You are loved, you are supported, you are valid in everyway that is possible. You may not be as popular as a little girl but you are just as amazing as any little girl out there.
⥠ You donât have to be thin to be a little. You donât have to be white to be a little.You are valid. You are no less of a little, and I love you  âĄ
Sadie: Iâve been getting so many good prompts lately! These are gold, guys!
âMyâcoff?â
âYes, Sherlock?â
Sherlock looked up at his big brother from the floor. âWhy, um, why is JawnâŚâ He looked back down at the extremely regressed man laying on a pile of blankets next to him, chewing an infantâs squishy, fabric block, then turned back to Mycroft. âWhy is Jawn so, um, so quiâid?â
Mycroft pushed his chair back from his desk, stood up, and came over to them. He stooped over Jawn, gazing down at him, then reached and gently took the block from his hands and gave it a small shake in front of the little doctorâs nose, making it jingle. âBecause heâs a very tiny little baby today, isnât he?â he said with a fond smile playing on his lips.
Jawn responded with a big, toothy grin and a happy gurgle.
Sherlock watched, fascinated. Jawn was never this tiny. Never tinier than him. âA yâittle baby?â he asked, crawling closer.
âGentle,âMycroft reminded him, and then handed Sherlock the jingly block. âCan you be a good big brother and play with him while I warm a bottle?â
Sherlockâs head snapped up, his mouth open in a âOâ of surprise. âBig brâovver?â he asked, his voice soft with mild awe. Heâd never been a big brother before.
âYes, a big brother.â Mycroft stood up and ruffle the front of Sherlockâs hair. âWould you like to give him his bottle when I return?â
Sherlockâs eyes widened, and he beamed up at his brother. âYâah, pâease!!â he babbled, returning his attention back to Jawn. âI do iâd!!â
âThen play nicelyâŚIâll be in the kitchen if he begins to cry.â Mycroft made his way out of the room, but stopped just on the other side of the doorway, out of sight, and peered back inâŚ
Sherlock had picked up a different soft block from the pile nearby, and was squeezing it to make it squeak in Jawnsâ face right before pulling it away as the little doctor reached for it, kicking his feet and giggling.
Mycroft waited until Jawn finally caught on to the game and succeeded in grabbing Sherlock by the wrist with a clumsy hand, making Sherlock cheer âYay, Jawn diâ iâd! You diâ iâd!â, before he turned away to go make the tiny doctor a bottle.
Mycroft smirked; of course Sherlock would be a good big brother. He had, after all, learned from the best.
Sadie: Thatâs a very good point. John would fight tooth and nail to keep that âtough guyâ exterior up around MycroftâŚhis is not a baby, should anyone need to be reminded. But, Sherlock *does* look awfully content to sit in his older brotherâs lap. And Mycroft, while still being his normal stuffy, proper self, doesnât sound as nearly condescending as he usually does. And John is starting to feel a bit left out.
Jawn huffed and tried to wiggle away as Mycroft rubbed a dollop of shampoo into his short hair. âNo, My’coff! Gotta cons’trate!â
Sherlock shushed him before Mycroft had a chance. He adjusted the position his duck and then let it fly. It arced through the air and then banged against the counter before hitting the ground.
âOhhh,â Sherlock whinged, putting his chin on the edge of the tub while he gave his duck stink eye. âMy turn, my turn! My’coff, off p’ease!â Jawn tipped his soapy head out reach. âI dunâ wanna clean aâ kitchen!â
Mycroft sat back on his haunches, âquickly then. Your aim will be even worse if there is soap in your eyes.â
Jawn aimed his duck, glancing between it and the sink repeatedly, the tip of his tongue between his teeth. Jawnâs duck splashed out of the tub, bouncing off the faucet and flying most of the way back to the tub.
âThat was very close. Sherlockâs turn.â Mycroft tossed the ducks back into the tub and filled a cup. âLetâs rinse you off.â
Sadie:
âBuâ I win!â Jawn declared, with a loud, resounding âNUH-UH!â from Sherlock.
âNo, you donât. Tilt your head back.â
âDo so!â Jawn insisted, even as Mycroft reached under his chin and made him tilt his head back, anyway.Â
âIt didnât land in the sink.â Mycroft slowly poured water over Jawnâs hair while gently working the shampoo out with his fingers.
âIt touched the sink!â
âBut it didnât land in the sink, which is the goal.â
âHa-ha,â Sherlock sang as he pushed his duck underwater, and began to ready it.
âNo comments from the peanut gallery are necessary.â
Jawn crossed his arms and gave Mycroft an upside down glare that could rival the detectiveâs when he was in full sulk-mode. âWipe that look off your faceâŚwait, I can do that for you,â he said, and proceeded wipe one of his wet hands over Jawnâs face, then smirked as he sputtered.
âShhh. Iâm âbout to win.â Sherlock smirked as his duck flew out of the tub. The duck captain splatted against the mirror, bouncing off the counter and onto the floor. âHa!â John stuck his tongue out at the little detective. âYou not gunna win, I am.â Sherlock pouted and squawked as a cup of water doused his curls. âNooooooo, My’coff. Dun y’ike it.â âNo, you never have enjoyed this bit.â Mycroft dumped a dollop of shampoo on his head and ignored his sulking. âSher’yock gotsta c’ean kitchen tonight?â Jawn asked, his duck arcing through the air and landing in the sink. âNooooo, naâ fair!â Sherlock wailed. Mycroft gently batted a soapy thumb away from the babyâs mouth. âThat was very impressive.â Jawn preened under the praise, his chest puffing like a proud hen. âJawn, two oughta f’ree, Jawn?â Sherlock pouted as Mycroft tipped his head back to rinse his hair. âNo. I winned. I a’ways c’ean aâ kitchen. Your turn.â
Sadie:
âNuhâuh, you donâ!â Sherlock tried to sit up and glare at Jawn accusingly, but the grip Mycroftâs hand had on his hair made him reconsider. âJawn doesnât câean!â he insisted as he glared up at his brother instead.
Mycroft covered Sherlockâs eyes and poured another cup of water down the back of his head, rinsing out most of the suds. One more cup should do it. âThen who doesâŚ?â he asked, glancing over at the now-suspiciously quiet victor of their game. Though, the moment the last syllable left his lips, he already knew exactly who his little brother was referring toâŚ
âNa-na!â Sherlock confirmed, reaching up to move Mycroftâs hand out of his face.
Mycroft dumped the next cup of water over the indignant little detective without ceremony, his gaze now directly focused on the bathâs only other occupant. âWell, now thereâs a surprise,â he said flatly, over Sherlockâs choking and spitting noises.
Jawn swallowed, looking nervous, and tried to sink down into the bathwater. When that tactic obviously failed, he tried another; he gave a forced, half-hearted yawn, and rubbed his eyes. âI really, really tired,â he said, and peeked between his fingers to see if it was working.
âI think this new information means the forfeit.â Mycroft drawled, holding the little detective in place as he doused his hair in conditioner.
âDunâ neeâ it, Myâcoff, sâop, pâease?â Sherlock wailed.Â
âBuâ i winned the game!â Jawn pouted, turning away from them to hide his face against the tile. âNaâ fair.â
âItâs not fair to make Nana clean up all of your messes either.â
âNaâ all of âem.â Jawn protested. âJust when we bof little.â
Sherlock squalled as Mycroft dumped two cups of water over his head in quick succession, rinsing out the conditioner.Â
âItâs still very naughty and Iâll not allow it.â
âMyâcoff naâ daâ boss of daâ kitchen.â Jawn grumbled, pouting when his soapy thumb touched his tongue.Â
Mycroft bit his tongue, tempted to show the bratty little doctor just how much a wet bottomed spanking stung, butâŚÂ
âYou do love Nana, donât you?â
âYea!â came the reply in unison.Â
âWouldnât she be so pleased to see that youâve cleaned up your mess all on your own?â
Sadie:
Jawn turned back around to face them, already forgetting that he was supposed to be sulking after going through all that effort to win the game, only to have it stricken from the record. âCâean for Nana?â
Mycroft nodded. âFor your Nana,â he said, pouring one last cup of water over Sherlockâs head just to make sure it was completely rinsedâŚif he didnât, Sherlockâs hair as prone to looking weighed down and greasy instead of freshly washed.
âNo mooooooooooooore!â The little detective howled, and twisted out of Mycroftâs gripâŚwell, Sherlock twisted, and Mycroft let him go because 1)he didnât want him to hurt himself, and 2)because he was done with his hair, anyway. âI know, I know, Iâm awful,â he tutted and,after taking pity on his little brother while watching him try to wipe the water out of his eyes with wet hands, took one of the fresh towels and offered him a corner to dry his face with. âAnd youâre overtired. Which is why weâre done.â
âNo more baâff?â Jawn asked, sounding disappointed.
âI thought you were âreally, really tiredâ,â Mycroft replied as he kept Sherlock from all but jumping out of the tub.
Jawn frowned but did as he was told, popping the plug and letting it float on top of the water. âYâook, yâook!â He hooted as the plug began to spin in the vortex of water leaving the tub. âGimme the ducks! Pâease! The ducks!!â Jawn half crawled out of the tub to retrieve Sherlockâs duck from the floor.Â
Mycroft rolled his eyes and helped Sherlock out of the tub and wrapped him in a towel, using a second to gently press the water out of his curls. âI dunâ yâike baffs.â Sherlock pouted, trying to wiggle away from Mycroft.Â
âHow about pajamas? Do you like pajamas?â Mycroft asked, patting the rest of the baby dry.Â
âI yâike em!â Jawn chirped, climbing out of the tub and standing with his hands on his hips. âCan I have gâeen ones?âÂ
âDid you rinse the soap off the ducks?â Mycroft regretted the words even as they came out of his mouth. Jawn hooted and plopped his bottom back into the tub and turned on the water, squealing and back pedaling when cold water poured out of the tap and splashed him.Â
âHalp!!! Halp me!!!â Jawn shrieked, losing his coordination as he panicked, unable to get out of the tub.Â
Mycroft swiftly turned off the water and stared down his nose at the panting little doctor.
âWas coâd.â He wheezed, reaching up a hand in silent request to be helped up.Â
Sadie:
âYes, I gathered that.â Mycroft helped lift a sopping wet Jawn out of the tub and set him down on the bathmat. After taking the last dry towel and wrapping it around the naked, shivering little doctor, he turned to his younger brother; âCan you be a good lad and rinse your bath toys? In the sink?â he added quickly.Â
Sherlock stood to the side, his own towels draped over his head and shoulders like a shroud while he sucked his thumb and watched. âDuckâth?â
âAnd Jawnâs net, yes,â Mycroft replied as he vigorously rubbed Jawnâs hair dry, along with a chorus of irritable squeaks and squawks coming from underneath the towel. âGood boy.â
Sherlock scooted by, careful not to get caught up in the meleeâ, and fetched both ducks from the bottom of the tub. âBuâ thaâs Jawnâs net,â he said with a slight frown, and nudged it with his toe.
âI know it is.â
âHe drop it.â
âYes, I know he did,â Mycroft sighedâŚhe knew where this was going already, having had the same circular argument many, many times over today. âBut Iâm asking you to pick it up, because youâre a very good helper, arenât you?â
Sherlock stared down at the toy, weighing his options. ââŚI get a prize?â
âConniving little bastard.â âWeâll see.â
âHey!â Jawn shoved his way out from underneath his towel. âI was gonnaâ!â
Mycroft quickly covered him back up. âNo more competitions tonight.â
âI reaâyee wanâ a prize,â Sherlock pouted, begrudgingly picking up Jawnâs net and all but throwing it into the sink.Â
Christ, he was never getting out of this day alive. âPrizes didnât go well earlier,remember?â
âI yâost my car,â Jawn gasped and struggled to untangle himself from the towels. âMyâcoff! Car! I neeâ it.â A pinch to his bum caught his attention quickly.
âYour car is on the desk. You can have it once you are dressed and have cleaned up the kitchen.â
âAnother prize, too?â Jawn scrubbed at him bum, trying to rub out the sting. Sherlock looked up hopefully, showing off the freshly rinsed bath toys.
âOnly, and i do mean only, if the kitchen is spotless and i donât hear a single peep of sass from either of you,â Mycroft looked down his nose at them. âAm i clear?âÂ
âYes, Myâcoff.â The little boys echoed in unison.Â
âNow get your bottoms into the nursery. You both need nappies before we have to add puddles to the list of things to clean.â
Sadie:
Jawn looked massively offended at the implication. âWe donâ pee on the floor,â he said as Sherlock scurried around him to drop their bathtoys back in basket. âThaâs gross!â
âI think you lost the privilege of calling anything âgrossâ the moment you started cultivating a garden in your nappy.â
Jawn blushed beet red from his hairline down to his toes and scowled at Mycroft, then spun around as Sherlock started cackling. âShut up!â Jawn shouted at his back as the naked detective dashed from the room and down the hall. âIâwas funny!â Sherlock crowed back.
Jawn folded his arms and stood there, glaring at the empty doorway until Mycroft was sure that he saw steam rising from the little doctorâs wet hair. âWasnâ funny,â he grumbled.Â
Mycroft folded the last towel and hung it to dry. ââŚIt was a little funny,â he countered.
âOnây âcause you said it!!!â
âThereâs no need to shout.â Mycroft put his hand at Jawnâs back and got him walking out of the room, albeit begrudgingly.Â
âHeâs still yâaughinâ,â Jawn grumbled as they got nearer to the nursery, where you could, indeed, still hear Sherlockâs devious giggling.Â
âIâll make him stop,â Mycroft promisedâŚif only to avoid another blowout so soon. How on earth these two made it together this long without killing each other was a genuine mystery.Â
âJawn geâd a nappy garden.â Sherlock crowed as Mycroft guided Jawn into the room.
âThatâs enough Sherlock. Get yourself a nappy.â
âBuâ you said a funny.â
âI did. But do you remember the conversation we had this morning about teasing?â Mycroft pulled two light weight sleepers out of their dresser. âYou can always sit on the step as a reminder.â
Sherlock huffed and threw himself down on the bed. âYou said it. I jusâ laugh.â
âAnd I regret it. My apologies, Jawn.â
The little doctor looked up from the nappy bin, â âs alrighâ.â He handed two nappies to Mycroft and crawled onto the bed beside Sherlock.
Sadie:
Mycroft took one and unfolded it. âSherlock?â
Sherlock automatically lifted his hips off the bed, while still glaring at the ceiling.Â
âYes, that would have been my next request, very good.â Mycroft slid the garment underneath his little brotherâs backside and Sherlock dropped like a rock, arms still crossed the entire time. âBut I was going to askâŚdonât you have something to say to Jawn?â
âWhaâd I say?â
âAn apology for laughing at him, for starters.â
Sherlockâs head snapped up, and he gaped at his brother as his bits were powdered. âBuâd it was funny!â
âIt wasnât nice. And thatâs why Iâve apologized. You should, as well.â
Sherlock pouted and let his head fall back while beside him, Jawn silently gloated.
A sharp swat to the tender bit where his thigh met his bum made Sherlock yelp. âSo’wwy! So’wwy, Jawn.â âS’alrigh,â Jawn shrugged. Mycroft shook his head and quickly did up Sherlockâs nappy. âAlmost bedtime. Almooost.â He singsonged, ignoring Sherlockâs pout as he wrestled his long limbs into the sleeper, taking care to get the devilishly small snaps to line up. âI dunâ y’ike dis one, My’coff. Ha’b diffrenâ ones?â âNo. Pink is very fetching on you, matches your bum perfectly.â Mycroft quickly got Jawn nappied and dressed as well. âAnd anyways, youâll be sleeping most of the time youâre wearing them.â âI y’ike dis one,â Jawn patted the puppy on his chest.
Sadie:
âGood, Iâm glad you do.â Mycroft herded both boys out of the nursery and down the hall, back into the kitchen. âSee this mess?â he asked, gesturing to the trail of wet lettuce that Jawn had left, and the pinkish-tinged puddles of watered down tomato sauce from Sherlockâs âwashingâ of the dishes (which were also still stacked haphazardly in the sink).âThis is all going to be cleaned in the next–â Mycroft checked his watch; â–twenty minutes.â
Sherlock tucked his thumb in his mouth and stared at the mess, then looked down at Jaw, who turned to stare back up at him. Then, Jawn craned his neck to peer up at Mycroft. âThaâs a yâot,â he said.
âNot if we each do our share.â Mycroft strode over to the sink, where he procured two flannels from one of the nearby drawers. He turned on the tap, and dampened each one in turn. âYou,â he said, handing one to his brother. âclean up any puddles and wipe down the countertops, and you,â he said, handing one to Jawn. âClean up your trail.â
âWhaâd abouâd–?â
âI will take care of the dishes. Nineteen minutes left, darlings. Tic-toc.â
Sadie: A section from a MUCH bigger rp (that we will be posting!) that Embie ( @squeakpigsrevenge) and I have been working on. This was just too good not to share!
~~~~~~~
Embie:
Mycroft took them into the
nursery and sat in the rocking chair, arranging Sherlock so he was
cradled on his lap. A pang of regret made him kiss the baby’s forehead
as he latched onto the bottle and took a tentative suckle. This isn’t
how he’d wanted them to end up in the rocking chair but… “I think we’ve misplaced your bunny, again. We need to put a bell on him,” Mycroft teased as he set them to rocking. Sherlock blinked wet eyes at him but kept quiet. “Shall I tell you a story?"Â
Sadie: Again, Sherlock didn’t answer. "There
once was a little boy,” Mycroft began in hushed tones, âthat had a pet
bunny. And he loved his bunny very, very much, and his bunny loved him
just the same. But, the bunny…what do you imagine the bunny’s name
was? That’s part of the story that I can’t seem to remember.“ Sherlock mumbled around the bottle in his mouth. "Ah,
yes, that’s right…Baxter, that was his name.” Mycroft wiped a dribble
of milk away from the corner of his little brother’s mouth. “Well,
Baxter was a curious bunny, and his favorite thing to do was to go
exploring. And his boy loved going with him, most of the time…but
unfortunately, Baxter could be forgetful, and he would often get lost
when wandering…” “Y’o’ss?” Sherlock slurred, turning towards Mycroft and settling in the crook of his arm. “Yes, he would wander too far without paying attention, and all of a sudden he would look up, and not know where he was.”
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  “Oh’no,” Sherlock pouted, his brows knitting together in concern. “I
know, it was very worrisome.” Mycroft patted Sherlock’s hip as he
slowly rocked them. “But luckily for Baxter, he had a very smart, clever
little boy that loved him…”
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Embie:
“And do you know what his name was?” “My’cobb.” “No.” “Maw’yee.” “Silly goose. His name was Billy.” Sherlock beamed behind his bottle, more milk dribbling. “Billy
said to Baxter, ‘we need to keep you close little duck. I’m going to
connect us with this bit of string.’ And Baxter said?” “C’ak, c’ak, c’ak.” “Billy nodded sagely, ‘very true, it won’t just keep you close to me, but me to you as well.” “C’ak!” “Yes.
You’re very good at that,” Mycroft took the bottle from sherlock and
leaned him up, patting his back. “And so Billy and Baxter went to
adventure in the forest with a bit of red string tying them together.”
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Sadie:
“Y’ed st’ing?” “Yes, a red string.” Sherlock squirmed against his brother. “Why’a st’ing,My’cobb?” Mycroft kept patting. “So they wouldn’t get separated, of course.” “I’d wor’g?” “I haven’t reached the end of the story, now have I?” The
continuous patting was starting to get on the baby’s nerves, when all
he wanted was to lie back and listen to the story about Billy and
Baxter, and he started to fuss. “Don’ y’ike i’d, Myyyy,” he whinged. “I
know, but I don’t want your tummy to hurt later, and you don’t want
that, either.” Mycroft kept patting until, just as Sherlock was working
himself up, the tiny detective stopped still as his tummy gurgled and
burbled all the way up his throat and, as Mycroft watched, a small burp
puffed his cheeks out. Sherlock sighed, and relaxed back against Mycroft’s shoulder. “There, that’s all better, isn’t it.”
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Embie:
“A’ be’dder,” Sherlock agreed, snuggling closer. “Now, where was I?” “Fores’.” “Right. ‘I think we shall go to the pond and skip stones-” “I y’ike d’at.” Mycroft nodded and kept on with the story, “what do you think, Baxter?” “C’ak, c’ak, c’ak.” “’Of
course we can swim. It wouldn’t be a trip to the pond otherwise.’ Billy
and Baxter walked through the forest, stepping over stones and
mushrooms and the occasional peep toad, all the while staying very close
together.” “A’cause st’ing?” “Also because they are the best of friends.” Sherlock nodded put his thumb in his mouth and kept listening. “Billy and Baxter came to a clearing of wildflowers, every color of the rainbow swayed in the breeze."Â
Sadie:
"E’ben la’bender?” “Naturally.”
While Sherlock was somewhat on his side, facing him, Mycroft reached
over and began patting his bottom. “And what do you think Billy and
Baxter did when they saw all of those lovely flowers?” Sherlock blinked up at Mycroft. “Wha’d?” “They decided to stop and pick a big bunch of them, as many as they could carry, to take back home to Billy’s mummy.” Sherlock grinned around his thumb. “F’ower’th.” “Yes,
such pretty flowers, they couldn’t resist. So, they both sat down, and
while Baxter snipped the flowers with his teeth, Billy would gather them
in his hand. And then guess what happened??” Sherlock gave a little gasp, and his eyes grew big. “Wha’d??” “They heard a voice.” “B’oi’the?” “Yes!
They looked around to see who had spoken, when a tiny little fairy
slipped out of one of the flowers that Billy held. ‘Stop, stop!’ she
said. ‘You’re ruining my house!’”