Chapter One- 8 weeks to go

With music pounding in my ears, I walked the familiar path home from university. At 32 weeks pregnant, I had been told I could stop coming but I was determined to keep studying for as long as I could. Luckily, my practical semester was not until after Christmas and I wouldn't be in then. University lectures were fine because I could sit down. Today had been a normal day. Professor Hart gave us a lecture on post-natal depression (something that seemed very real to me- 8 weeks from delivering) and then Sally, Emily and Samantha Baker (A new flat mate of Sally's and now a firm friend of ours) had all gone out for lunch. As Sally said, "You never know, this may be the last lunch before you become a mum." Which was an interesting comment from Sally as she already had a daughter with her husband Sam. Lunch had been a pleasant affair. We had some general chat and then Emily brought up the subject of the baby. We discussed names and whether I wanted a boy or a girl. To be honest, I'm not fussed what I have, just so long as I have a healthy baby. I knew that Daniel wanted a son but would be pleased either way.

A good half an hour later, I got off the tube. The university was in the city but Daniel had found us a home in the country only a tube journey out of the city. It was a five minute walk from the station to the house but a pleasant one even in the cold of late October. I'm glad that Daniel found us a house so soon after being married. For the majority of my pregnancy, we had been living at my parent's house in Baker Street but I felt bad in having them put us up especially as we were having a baby and Sherlock and Molly had their two year old son to look after as well. (My sister- Hamish's twin-had died of an illness in November 2015). To bring a new baby into that environment seemed harsh and unfair on them as they were clearly still grieving. This hadn't stopped them from being thrilled and delighted at the prospect of being grandparents. Speaking of grandparents, I hadn't spoken to my birth parents since I told them I was pregnant and I intended to keep it that way. (But obviously I'd let them know the baby was born).

My thoughts had brought me to our front gate. Daniel and I had spent the dry days of early October painting the fence baby blue. I know that's cliché but that's what we wanted. The house was moderate in size. 4 bedrooms with converted attic space. There was a reasonable sized kitchen that led to a large dining room. Through the door on the opposite side was the living room- a large and airy space where our child would play and learn to walk. The kitchen had the view of the garden which was large and spacious. John and Lestrade were halfway through building a climbing frame. Just off the main hall was Daniel's study. This was so that when the baby was born, Daniel could work at home especially if I was at uni after my maternity leave. Because I was doing midwifery I was able to stop at Christmas break and join the first years in spring the following year. (Basically, I was taking a year out). When I go back, Daniel will be a stay at home dad, working from home and looking after our child.

I opened the door and went into the room. I shrugged off my coat but I had to sit down and take my shoes off. Placing them by the door, I climbed the stairs up to our bedroom. Now that I actually thought about it I was shattered. I thought about running a bath but I thought better of it, it was one in the afternoon after all. On my way to the bedroom, I walked past the nursery. It was a large and bright room, with a neutral tone to the walls. (We had decided to not find out what sex our baby was). A cot lay along one wall with a dresser/changing table on another. Baby was going to sleep in our room for the first few months whilst I was breastfeeding. Daniel and I had done a big shop in Mothercare a few months back and one of the things we found was a cot that attached to the side of the bed. There was a little wardrobe that was empty at the moment but I was positive that once the baby was here, it would soon fill up. The only clothes we had bought were baby-grows and onesies because that's all baby would need at first. I smiled as I looked in and I felt baby kick me. I gasped. 32 weeks in and baby moving still made me gasp!

I walked into our bedroom. This was easily my favourite room in the house. The walls were silver and I had decorated them with little wall mirrors and photos. A large bed was in the centre of the room, facing our wardrobe. The room was light and airy and these days was where I spent most of my free time, as it was the one place where I could get properly comfortable. I quickly changed into some maternity pyjamas that I bought the other week and stretched out on the bed. I turned onto my side and grabbed my book off the bedside table.

I must have nodded off at some point as the next thing I knew, I awoke to the smell of spices and chicken cooking away. I rubbed sleep away from my eyes and headed downstairs. Walking to the kitchen, I was surprised to see two children playing on my floor. The smallest, a young boy, had jet black curly hair. I instantly recognised him as my younger brother, Hamish. The other was a little girl, with blonde hair that curled up at the end. I recognised her as my goddaughter Phoebe but couldn't think why she was in my living room. I walked into the kitchen. My husband, Daniel, was at the hob, stirring a pot of what smelled like curry. I smiled. He knew I had been craving curry for a while. Next to him stood Lestrade, which explained why Phoebe was in my living room. In the corner was my father, Sherlock Holmes, leaning against the side, with his arms folded. He smiled when he saw me.

"Hello Abigail," he said. "Good sleep?"

I nodded, figuring that he had either been told by Daniel or had deduced it someway. (I learnt a long time ago not to ask how). "The walk home must have worn me out."

"I told you," said Daniel, "I'm happy to drive you into town."

I walked over to him, placing my hand on his shoulder and watched him cooking. "I know you would," I smiled, "But the fresh air did me good. You know if I couldn't manage the walk, I'd phone you."

Daniel turned to look at me. He tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear. "I know." he said, looking straight into my eyes.

Time seemed to freeze for a minute as we looked into each other's eyes. Then Lestrade coughed and brought us crashing back down to earth.

"Anyway, I'd best be getting home now. Mike will have finished work by now and he'll be wondering where we are and Rory will be wanting to see Phoebe. He's been at John's all day." He placed his cup on the side, "Thanks for the coffee and company Dan, we'll see you on Sunday."

"You're welcome, Dad, and we're looking forward to it." He shook hands with Lestrade.

"Bye Abigail, and take care of yourself." He said, kissing me on the cheek.

I smiled. "Of course."

Lestrade called for Phoebe. She came running into the kitchen. "Say goodbye to Abigail and Daniel and Uncle Sherlock sweetie." He said, running his hand through his daughter's hair.

"Bye-bye Abi." She said. I bent down to give her a hug and a kiss.

"Bye Phoebe, be a good girl for your Daddy's and don't annoy your baby brother."

"He annoys me." She pouted and we all laughed.

Phoebe said goodbye to everyone and we waved them off. Daniel, Sherlock and I walked back into the house.

"Are you staying for dinner, Dad?" I asked as I sat on the sofa. Sherlock sat in an armchair.

"I can if you want." He replied, "Molly's working tonight so it would just be me and Hamish in the flat."

"We'd love you to stay." Called Daniel from the kitchen. "That way Hamish could eat proper food!"

Sherlock chuckled. "He's got cheek, your husband."

I looked in the direction of the kitchen. I could just make out Daniel cooking away. I smiled. "Yes, he has."

There was a pause. Then I felt the baby kick again so I gasped, rubbing the spot where I had felt the kick.

"Abi?" Asked Sherlock concerned.

I smiled, "Don't worry. The baby just kicked."

Sherlock breathed out a sigh of relief. I laughed softly.

"Do you want to feel?" I asked looking at him.

He nodded and came over to sit by me, placing his hand where mine had been seconds before. Sherlock gasped as the baby kicked against his hand. I smiled.

"It must like you," I said as the baby kicked again. "It usually takes a while these days to feel anything."

"That's normal at this stage. Baby is head down ready for birth and…"

"Dad, I know all this." I sighed.

Sherlock chuckled. "I know you do. Reminds me of when Molly was pregnant with the twins and feeling them both move…" he faltered off. Molly and Sherlock had lost Hamish's sister, Elizabeth to Meningitis B a year after her birth and both of them were still grieving. I placed my hand on my Dad's arm.

"It gets easier." I said comfortingly. "The pain. It becomes easier to bear after a while."

He smiled at me, "I know. I forget you lost a sister too."

I nodded, unable to speak, then looked down at Hamish, my brother. He was looking up at both of us, confused. I smiled at him.

"It's ok Hamish." I said, "Dad's ok."

He kept looking at us then said, "Abi, can I feel the baby?"

I smiled at him. "Of course you can." I took his outstretched hand and put it on my swollen abdomen. His eyes widened as he felt the baby moving. I chuckled. "He obviously likes you too." Hamish smiled widely as if this was the best news ever.

Daniel soon had dinner ready and Sherlock helped me set the table. I then made a jug of squash and placed it on the table. Sherlock, Hamish and I sat round the table and Daniel carried in the curry, naan bread and poppadum's for Hamish. We ate and chatted and laughed. It was good to catch up with Dad and for a while it took his mind off of Eliza's death. We had homemade ice cream for dessert (yes we had ice cream in October) with some fresh fruit. We let Hamish have some chocolate buttons on his because he had been a good boy.

Then it was time for Sherlock and Hamish to head home. I offered to go and help but Daniel shouted that down saying that I needed to rest this evening. I rolled my eyes but resigned to agree with him. We waved them off from the doorway.

Heading back into the house, I stifled a yawn. Daniel turned to look at me.

"Right Mrs Holmes," he said, putting his arms round my shoulders. "Bath and bed for you."

I gave him a look but was too tired to argue. We climbed the stairs together and I sat down on the bed whilst Daniel ran the bath. He whistled whilst he filled the tub up with water. Then he came into the bedroom and pulled me up off the bed. Walking me into the bathroom he kissed my neck, caressing the bump.

Once in the bathroom, we stood facing each other. Daniel reached behind me and turned the taps off. He splashed water in my face which made me laugh. He then lifted my top up and took it off. I returned the favour and removed his. We kept removing each other's clothing until both of us were stood in our underwear. I looked at my husband.

"I take it we are sharing this bath, Mr Holmes?" I asked, smiling.

"But of course, Mrs Holmes." He smiled back as he unclipped my bra. I slipped my panties off and he took his boxers off. We were now stood au naturel in the bathroom.

"Ladies first," said Daniel, holding his hand towards the bath.

"Why, thank you good sir." I replied, curtseying mockingly. It made him laugh and he helped me into the bath. He came in next and sat behind me. For a while, we just sat in each other's embrace, chatting about each other's days and discussing the latest political ideas that were coming from London. Then Daniel got the sponge and began to wash my back. I reached up and pulled my hair over my shoulder. He continued washing my back, moving the sponge in circles. I moan softly. His hands then moved to my belly and he began to move the sponge in circles over the bump. The baby reacted and I felt tiny flutter motions as Daniel continued to wash me, slowly, carefully. After a while, he began to kiss my neck, little butterfly kisses. I put my arms around behind his neck and pulled him further down. At the same time, I slid down, my arse rubbing against his penis. This enticed a result and I felt him harden. One of my hands slid from his neck, down behind me and grabbed him. He gasped suddenly. I began to massage him, slowly pumping my hands, squeezing him. He was moaning and his hands moved from my bump to my breasts. He copied the motion I was carrying out on his dick, gently squeezing them. They were already tender and had swollen in size due to the pregnancy. In the hot and soapy waters, it didn't take either of us long to become undone and panting.

"Abi…" Daniel moaned softly in my ear.

"Yes…" I sighed.

"I need to be in you… now..." he said with some urgency.

A smile spread over my lips. I turned around, carefully so as not to spill any water over the side. I kissed him full in the mouth, his dick still in my hand. Still kissing him, I guided him towards my entrance and, lifting myself up, I sunk down on him. We both groaned loudly at the meeting, both revelling in the feeling of being joined again.

"Are we really going to do this?" I asked, between kisses.

"Looks like we are." Said Daniel, thrusting himself up, into me further. I moaned loudly. We began to move together, slowly, each of us moaning and sighing as the other bought pleasure. After a while, I pulled Daniel up so he was almost sitting. This pushed him further into me and began to bring me to climax. Our movements got faster and faster and we both cried out each other's names as we reached a climax. I was seeing stars and it took me a while to come down from the high.

After a while, I said to Daniel, "You know, sexual activity can supposedly induce labour…"

Daniel chuckled, "I think we're ok for a while." And he moved out of me.

I sighed and snuggled onto him. We sat like this for a while. My eyes were just beginning to close when Daniel tapped me on the shoulder.

"Come on, let's get you out and into bed."

Daniel helped me out and I dried myself and got ready for bed. Daniel tucked me in and brought me some hot chocolate. He climbed into bed next to me, putting one arm over my side, his hand on the bump.

"I can't wait to be a father, "he sighed, "It's going to be a whole new adventure."

"Daniel, you will be an excellent father." I murmured, eyes drooping shut.

He chuckled lightly and kissed me on the cheek.

"I love you, Abigail." He said, "Sleep well."

"I love you too." Was all I could manage before sleep claimed me.