It was about a week before the due date. Susanna was heavily pregnant and had entered an abnormally intense nesting phase that had prompted Sherlock to take Paternity leave early to watch her and keep the boys busy. William and Victor refused to be sent away- wanting to meet their sister as soon as she came. At this point Susanna had given up trying to convince them to stay with Thomas, so the family was cozied up in 221B together.

As it had been a relatively easy pregnancy, minus morning sickness, and since it was their third child, none of them were particularly worried. The Obstetrician said she was on track-already thinned out and had begun dilating. Kimberly was healthy and the boys took pleasure in utilizing the doppler to listen to their sister's heartbeat.

Everything was progressing as expected, the birth center was on alert, and they felt confident that they would have as easy of a birth with Kimberly as William and Victor had been.

Nothing seemed to be wrong or even suspicious.

It was early morning and everyone was in normal form. Sherlock had the boys practicing their music, accompanying them to help keep Susanna relaxed and happy. Susanna was organizing the go-bag by color gradient and every so often would have a Braxton-Hicks.

"How much longer till Kimberly comes, Daddy?" Victor asked for perhaps the tenth time in three days. Sherlock ruffled his hair and smiled.

"We've got a week until she's officially due to join us. So a little while yet, Victor. We must be patient."

"I came late. Maybe she'll come late too?" William input. Sherlock shot him a look as Susanna groaned in response.

"I'm not delivering late again. Past the due date and-"

"It's already arranged to have a membrane sweep if we pass the due date. Do not worry, Love," He quickly soothed, walking behind his chair where she was sitting and opting to give her a gentle massage to relieve some of the tension in her upper back and neck. Motioning for the boys to step out, he waited for them to leave and then pressed chaste kisses over her head and neck, "I think she might come a little early, in fact, Love. Wouldn't that be grand?"

"That would be wonderful!" She exclaimed as she finished zipping up the go-bag, "Could you-"

"I'll put it by the door." He pressed another kiss to her cheek and quickly transported it to its designated location.

"Thank you, Darling."

"No need, Love," He turned towards the kitchen, "Would you like anything?"

She thought for a moment, "Do we have any ice chips?"

"Ice chips? No, but I can go pick some up."

She nodded, "Please. I think that's the only thing appetizing at the moment. Maybe take the boys and get them some air?"

"Of course, Love." He gave her a couple more kisses and gathered the boys, heading out to purchase the desired item.

Only ten minutes later she was walking around to relieve some of the aching in her back when she heard a distinct pop and a gushing of clear liquid followed, "Oh no..!"

She managed to clean it up on her own but, in a daze, didn't think to tell anyone that her water had broken. Her mind and body were already in baby birthing mode and as the contractions, which she hadn't previously labelled as such, intensified she took to the bedroom and braced against the headboard.

When Sherlock got home with their sons and the ice chips, they found an eerily quiet flat and an absent Mum. Sherlock, on a hunch, raced to the bedroom and found Susanna braced on the bed, "What's going-"

"The baby is coming early, Sherlock! My water broke after you left and the contractions are-" She cut off as another took hold of her body. Sherlock shed his coat, gloves, scarf and blazer and rolled up his sleeves, coming to her aid.

"Any idea how far apart and how long the contractions are, Love?" He asked gently while applying a firm double hip squeeze. William and Victor ran in and he tossed them his phone, "Call your grandparents and the doctor. Tell them that Mum is in labor!"

William nodded soberly and took Victor back out of the room to complete the task. Sherlock timed the contraction at a minute long and felt a pang of panic, "Susanna, I've got to check you, alright?"

She didn't say anything, just gestured. He quickly checked her and paled, "H-How much?"

"Y-You're eight centimeters."

"Sherlock!"

"Shh, Susanna, it's alright! We've got this!" He assured.

Some time later, he wasn't sure how long, she begged to change locations and moved to the bathtub. Sherlock ran the water warm and filled it up more once she was in. His mind raced as he realized that Kimberly was in no mood to wait. This is precipitate labor. Rapid labor.

He got up to retrieve the phone from William and sent the boys in to help Susanna while he got ice chips and rounded up the emergency supplies, towels, a diaper set and baby clothes. He dropped them off in the bathroom, checked Susanna again, and then dashed back out to call the obstetrician and inform her. Susanna sent the boys back out to him, feeling too crowded.

It sufficed to say that Sherlock was freaking out, trying to get ahold of their midwife and doula. He was in luck and they both immediately left the birth center to come help.

Sherlock ran back to the bathroom, "The midwife is on the-!"

Newborn baby cries met him as he came through the door. Sherlock froze in shock when he saw Susanna cradling their new daughter. She looked up at him with watery eyes, "W-Want to come meet our little girl, Darling?"

By the time everyone else had arrived, Kimberly Brooklyn Molly Holmes had met her brothers and was contentedly swaddled up in her father's arms.

Thank you for reading!! Love y'all!!