John was distracted all through what had been dubbed 'date night'. He'd been sort of seeing this charming, younger doctor from the surgery but as he sat there and smiled and laughed with this lovely man, all John could think of was Sherlock. Sherlock.. A beautiful, intelligent Alpha who gave him the most wonderful daughter in the world. Sherlock, who had loved him and who he would and should have bonded with. At the end of the evening, John left his date with an almost awkward goodbye hug. No doubt the other man could tell John was distracted.

When he got home, John almost text Sherlock to ask how they were doing but decided that it was unfair of him to do that - he didn't want Sherlock thinking that John didn't trust him with their daughter and had to check on him. It was morning now, John was sat in the living room with a cup of tea and he'd received a text from Sherlock saying he'd drop Alex off around tea time.

It was odd, being in the house alone with nothing to do. He'd been jealous at first but now he was just glad that Alex and Sherlock were clicking. Who knows, maybe they'd be able to be a nice little family. After all, once the awkwardness dies down, John's sure that Sherlock and his friendship would be able to go back to how it was. He'd like that. Not as much as he'd like to have Sherlock confess to still being head over heels for him but... it would do. He wasn't expecting them to get together.

Sherlock deserved an Omega that would stick by his side when things got tough... Someone that would trust him and love him and be everything he needed them to be. John was that, once, but John is also selfish and, frankly, a bit of a pussy. Jesus. You think that someone who endured all sorts of scary things (war, Mycroft Holmes kidnapping them, having mad Irishmen strap bombs to them) would be able to handle telling the man he loved - loves - that he's carrying their child.

Sighing, John picks up his mug and heads to the kitchen to put the kettle on. He might text Harry, ask her to come over. If he was alone, he'd start thinking about everything and usually when he start thinking about Sherlock, he starts bawling like a baby. So, yeah, calling Harry.

Sherlock had managed to get to sleep that night after his brain finally decided that it was too tired to think. However just as he was drifting off, his alarm went off, nearly making him fall off of his chair due to sheer shock. He didn’t remember putting an alarm on his phone...

SCHOOL...

Alex. Damn...

He quickly jumped up, running up the stairs to Alex’s room before knocking and calling A lex to wake up through the door, not wanting to disturb her privacy.

Alex opens the door a moment after Sherlock's knocking, already dressed and ready for school. She smiles at Sherlock, glad when she visibly saw him came down, the panic leaking from him as he realises that he's not late for anything and hasn't done anything to upset John.

It didn't take long for Sherlock to feed Alex and get her to school. Much like last time, Alex got Sherlock to promise that he'd be there afterwards to pick her up. After all, he said he'd take her shopping for her new room. While she's in school, she texts both of them (she'd got Sherlock's number from John's phone while he was sleeping one night) asking if it was alright for John to join them with the shopping. 'It could be a family outing' she types, sending it off with a smile before entering her first lesson on the day

4 affairs, 2 thieving husbands and 1 mysterious coat later, Sherlock waited outside the gates of Alex’s school, hoping that she would be out soon because it was getting rather cold. He had agreed to letting John join them on their little shopping, knowing that he could hardly say no to his daughter. He knew it would be awkward but then this would be the perfect time fr them to clear the air a little, make sure that everything they did was for their daughter.

Alex had never been happier than when she walked out of the gates to see both her parents there. Granted, Sherlock didn't seem aware that John was standing a little bit behind him, looking at him in a way that suggested he wanted to approach him but had no idea how to do that without being awkward.

Smiling to herself for what felt like the hundredth time that day, Alex walks up to Sherlock and gestures for John to come closer. She can't help but grin at them, more than happy to see them both stood here with her. Really, it was the best feeling in the world to finally have her parents in one place

Sherlock smiled at his daughter, walking closer until they were facing each other. “Hello Alex.... how was your day?” He put his hands in his pockets, needing the extra warmth because of how cold it was and because he had been waiting for her for a long time. He came to pick her up extra earlier because he didnt want her to ever be the last person waiting in the playground for her parents. That had happened to him an awful lot when he was younger and he didnt want her to experience that.

"Good" She answers "Val wasn't in today so Nate and I ate lunch in the field, which she doesn't like to do. It was a nice change, quieter"

John smiles a little, already knowing what Alex's friends are like. He doesn't saying anything as they walk, however, and let's Sherlock and Alex have this moment as they all head towards John and Alex's house. He wasn't sure of the exact plan but he guessed after Alex got changed, they'd all head for Baker Street to do some shopping.

“That’s good. It was quite a nice day out too. Did you have any tests?” Sherlock asked, hoping to show John that he could engage in conversation with his daughter and that he would be a good father to her. Its what she deserved.

Alex shakes her head "Not today.. We will at the end of the term, though. Oh! There's the first game of the rounders team soon, after the new captain is chosen. Will you come watch if you don't have a case?" She asks, hopeful but understanding that Sherlock wasn't always going to be free to do everything she wants him to.

In the background, John was smiling and wondering why he was originally jealous. Now, he was just glad that their little family was coming together.

Sherlock smiled, overjoyed. “Of course I will. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” The cases would just have to wait, he wasn’t going to miss another second of his daughter’s life. Even if there was a case, it would probably only be a 6 and he could easily get Lestrade to send the crime pics to him on his phone so he could solve it whilst watching her match.

Alex breathes in sharply, excited and she grabs Sherlock's arm and sort of hug his side for a second before she pulls away and looks back to John, smiling at him. He smiles back, glad to see her daughter so happy. He was also relieved that she wasn't upset with him anymore.

Sherlock tensed for a second before letting out a harsh breath, wrapping an arm around his daughter. “Even when I’m busy, I will always be there for you.” He meant every word of it and he hoped that John heard it to just so that he too would know that he would always be in their lives to support them both every step of the way.

John remains silent but his breath catches, heart thumping away in his chest. He was sure Alex heard too, from the way she glanced at him sideways before he grins at Sherlock and nods.

"We know" She says, making a point of saying we.

Sherlock affectionately strokes her hair, smoothing it down a little as it had a tendency (much like his own) to become a little bit wild. “Good.” He smiled down at his daughter first and then turned around slightly with his arm still firmly around his daughter’s shoulder to face John and smile at him too, hoping that this would show that he forgave his best friend and wanted him back in his life desperately.

John nods when Sherlock looks back at him, not sure what else to do to confirm what Alex said with becoming a stuttering mess as he watches the man he loves hold their daughter.

“Ok.” Sherlock began after the silence became too long. “You can go and get dressed quickly and then we can get the stuff for you room. We will need paint, a new bed, a good wardrobe, a desk, a bookcase...”

Alex nods and when they reach the house, she rushes in and up to her room to change out of her school uniform.

"I haven't seen her this excited and happy since the team last won a tournament" John smiles at Sherlock. "Thank you, for all this. I didn't.. didn't realise how much she wanted you in her life."

“You shouldn’t be thanking me. It just doesn’t seem ... right. I’m not really doing anything. I’m just being here for her. You shouldn’t thank me for something that is in my nature to do.” Sherlock smiled at John though, thankful that John realised how hard he was trying especially as he had only found out about Alex a few weeks ago.

"You're right, I shouldn't be.. but I am. It means a lot that you're here with us, even if it's in your nature to be here. I know it means a heck of a lot to me and that it means even more to Alex..." John trails off a little, lowering his eyes as the emotions wash over him and tears threaten to form.

Sherlock entwines his fingers with John, his Alpha side telling him to protect his upset omega. “I’m going to be here for a long time. I don’t want to miss anymore of our daughter’s life and I want us to get on, for old times sake.” He squeezed John’s hand once, savouring the feel of his hand in his.

John can bring himself to reply as he stares down at their hands. A lump forms in his throat and he just can't stop staring at the way Sherlock's larger hand was covering his own. God, he missed the sight of that. It used to be so easy and normal for them but now it seems so heavy with meaning. John's chest ached. He opens his mouth to reply but ends up closing his mouth again and breathing in deeply.

He looks back up at Sherlock and smiles, squeezing back. "Thank you" He whispers, voice heavy with emotion and meaning, just like their entwined hands.

Sherlock felt his heart thump loudly in his chest, his heart obviously not forgetting all the pain that he had gone through over the past 12 years. There were times when Sherlock would have wanted nothing else than to hold John’s hand in the way that he was now but at that moment, everything was about his daughter. He vowed that when he first found out about her. He wasn’t going to let his feelings, good or bad, for John get in the way of being the best father that he could be to that girl. She gave him a reason to live again, not just survive.

He smiled once at John before dropping his hand, letting it fall down to the side of his leg.

Seeing the expression on Sherlock's face and assuming that Sherlock was thinking about how he didn't love John anymore, John pulls his hand away and clears his throat as he stuffs his hands into his pockets. He's about to call up the stairs to Alex when the girl comes rushing down, dressed and ready to go.

Sherlock smiles at Alex when he sees her running down the stairs, dressed in warm winter clothes (for once) and carrying a small bag with her. “Ok then. We get go and get the paint or we can look around ikea for furniture?”

"Furniture" Alex nods, knowing IKEA was closer. He adjusts her bag before hading for the door and slipping on her warm boots, grinning at her parents.

“Good choice.” Sherlock muttered, knowing that this way they would be able to get all matching furniture ordered and possibly ready to take home today, and then they could pick up the paint tomorrow morning, paint the walls during the day and then he could start putting all the furniture together during Saturday night and Sunday. That way everything would be done by the beginning of the working week.

"I know!" Alex replies smugly, but the smile drops when she looks to John. He always hated when she was smug like Mycroft. She offers him an innocent smile and instead of the usually stern expression, John is smiling.

I knew it, Alex thinks to herself, I just knew that he'd be like this with dad. They're better together...

Sherlock laughs quietly at his daughter, knowing that her smugness would annoy John just like he would annoy him. “So what’s your favourite colour? And you have to have one otherwise your wall will have to stay white.”

Alex contemplates for a moment. Her favourite colour... "You can't just..ugh! There's too much to consider. But.. I'll have to go with blue.. Or.. Wait! No. Oh my Gosh... I'll decide when we get there" She nods, confirming that she'd wait to see the paint before deciding. "After all, my favourite colour might look horrid on the walls"

“Mmmmm thats true.” Sherlock smiles at her, walking over to the side of the road to hail a cab. “Its probably easier if we get a taxi to and from Ikea. That way we won’t freeze and we wont have to walk and carry the boxes back to Baker Street.” A cab pulls up almost immediately and Sherlock tells the driver where they are going before opening the door for John and Alex.

John knows that he shouldn't be but the small gestures of Sherlock opening the cab door warms his heart. Not just because he was opening it for him but because he was also opening it for their daughter.

Alex jumps in the cab without a thought, smirking when she realises that her getting in first means Sherlock and John will sit next to each other.

Sherlock waits until John is in the cab before getting in himself. He wanted to seem like a proper Alpha who could take care of his daughter and judging by the look on John’s face, he was doing just that.

John stays quiet while he sits there, glancing at Sherlock now and then. He felt like Sherlock had changed somehow - grown up a bit. He was surprisingly mature about this and he seemed to be adjusting perfectly. John could feel that the Alpha was enjoying looking after his family and, honestly, John was enjoying being looked after by the man he will always see as his Alpha.

When the taxi pulled up outside the giant Ikea that was located in a busy part of town, they all got out quickly so they didnt hold up the traffic for too long and walked into the main entrance.

Sherlock walked up to the front desk and picked up a pencil, piece of paper and catalogue. “Ok. So, I think we should make a list. We need to be as organised as possible if we want to do this in a reasonable amount of time.” Sherlock starts to write down a few essentials before stopping and looking up at Alex as she must have a say in her new room.

Overexcited for their first ever outing as a family, Alex blinks for a moment to try and get her thoughts to move past the fact he was here with both of her parents, shopping, like everyone other family does.

"Um..." Alex trails off, unhelpfully.

Sherlock smiles at Alex and then starts to list off the things that he has already written down. “Bed- possible a three quarter on, wardrobe, desk, bookcase, maybe a few shelves... Anything else that you specifically want?”

"A chest of draws?" Alex suggests with a shrug "For clothes you can't put in the wardrobe"

“A lamp and clock that goes with the colour scheme of the room?” Sherlock questioned, writing down these items and then looking at the map of the store to memorise where everything was located so they could get everything and go home as he didnt want them all the starve to death whilst shopping.

Alex nods. "I think.. Yeah.. I like the idea of blue or purple.. So, purple paint and lamp and clock?" She raises an eyebrow, smiling at Sherlock. "Or do you think blue would look better?"

“No I think purple is good.” The image of the purple shirt that he always used to wear to get John all hot and bothered popped into his head and made him laugh a little. “Purple walls, lamp and clock would be good and then the rest of the furniture could be white. It would bring out the purple in the walls more that way.”

"Detective and Interior designer, who knew?" Alex laughs, nudging Sherlock a little as they walked towards the first section - beds.

Sherlock laughed, turning around to smile at his daughter, appreciating the joke. "I took a few measurements of the bed before we left but the room is of a reasonable size so you could have a three quarter or even a double if you wish?" Sherlock asked as he weaved around the beds, taking a look at one before going off in another direction to see another one.

Alex considers for a moment, pursing her lips in a way that was unmistakable a trait of John's. She hums lightly too as she considers. Nate and Val often liked to have sleepovers with her but she doubted she'd have many during the time she got to spend with Sherlock - and even if she did there were always sleeping bags and floor space.

"I'll go with the three quarter" Alex nods to Sherlock as they head together some more beds.

Sherlock carries on walking but she comes to a stop, looking at the design on the headboard of a particular bed. She approaches and runs her fingers over the swirls that reminded her of an art project she did once about family. She hadn't told John what the theme was, fearing he'd realise how she felt about her family at times and would get upset. Despite the fact she could easily ignore him and run off like she had, she did hate to see John upset for any reason.

The art piece had been rather simple. Half the page was covered in swirls of different dark colours, such as black, navy and grey. The other side had been blank but Alex had carefully cut off the white to represent how at times it felt like part of her family was missing.

"This one" She says, still tracing the pattern. She doesn't look up at either of her fathers as she speaks.

“Ok then.” Sherlock mutters as he writes down all the appropriate information down on the sheet of paper before carrying on to the next section of the shop.

Alex smiles to herself and follows Sherlock.

A few hours pass and all the shopping is ordered. They head out of the shop and Alex manages to convince John and Sherlock to buy her KFC and they sit together in the restaurant. John ate too, although he brought something small for himself despite Sherlock offering to pay.

Sherlock smiled at the sight in front of him. It was as if they were a family despite not being in contact for such a long time, they just fit together so well, so perfectly that no matter how much time went by where they were not together, they would always fit back into one piece again. Sherlock phoned for a taxi whilst Alex was finishing off her food and knew that he had to broach the subject that had been on his mind since he found out about Alex with John as soon as possible.

Alex finishes quickly and empties the boxes into the bin before they all walk out together. She was loving this.. togetherness they suddenly had. Even if John and Sherlock didn't speak directly all that much, they were getting along and it felt like progress was being made.

“Come on. I need to get the both of you home because unfortunately you have school in the morning.” Sherlock commanded, walking up to the taxi that had just pulled up to them and spoke to the driver through the open window for a minute. Then he opened the front door and ushered John in and held open the back door for Alex and climbed in right behind her.

John raises an eyebrow, feeling a little separate but knowing Sherlock wasn't likely to purposely isolate him. It was just to make the journey comfortable. Alex notices the change in John and debates whether to do something or not but when she sees the logical overcome John, she just smiles and sits back, relaxing against Sherlock.

Sherlock sits back for the entire journey, taking in the feeling of Alex leaning against him for the first time. It was quiet comforting and again reminded him of John. It was the one thing that John liked to after heats and even though Sherlock didn't like physical contact, he allowed it because he loved him. The same he could now say for Alex.

Alex, herself, was the opposite of Sherlock when it came to physical contact. She found it easy to be physically comfortable around people - unless she disliked the person. Crowds didn't bother her and she always laughed when she crashed into someone during a rounders game. Despite that, though, the feeling of sitting close to her father warmed her. It was amazing, to feel that he was really here with her and she wasn't dreaming or fantasising. It was really, really great. 

When the taxi pulled up at John’s house, Sherlock got out of the car and left the door open for Alex before he went around the side of the car and held the door open for John. He wasn’t really sure why he did this but it just felt like the right thing to do and usually his instincts were right.

John had leaned over to pay the driver and hadn't noticed Sherlock moving to his side of the car until the draft from outside hit his back as he turned towards the door. He looked up at Sherlock, quite shocked to see that the Alpha had opened the door for him. It was something Sherlock rarely did even when they were together. John had learnt that when Sherlock did that, he tended to be in the mood to sit on the sofa and exchange small, sweet kisses.

John swallows thickly as the memory hits him and shakily climbs out of the taxi and whispers a small "Thank you" to Sherlock.

In the back, Alex smirks at her parents before climbing out, closing the door and heading towards the house, leaving them to have their little moment. 

Sherlock walked the pair to the door, making sure that the taxi driver waited while he did so. “I’ll see you soon then.” He said, smiling at the pair. “Your dad’s got my number so just get him to text me when you want to come over next and we can sort out your room.” Sherlock touched Alex’s shoulder and squeezed it gently as his way of saying goodbye before he turned around and walked back to the waiting taxi.

John and Alex wave until Sherlock disappears from sight. Then John closes the door and makes a cup of tea for himself and Alex before she disappears upstairs to get an early night. Alex had rounders practice the next day and didn't like to be tired for it. Really, minus the way she didn't understand all the rules of social situations, she was a very good and independent child. John can remember when he was twelve and whining for his mother to cut off the crush of the sandwich she made him for school because he didn't like to do it himself and wanted to feed it to the ducks on the walk to school which took him passed a small pond. 

John is sure that Alex got the independence from the time she spent learning from Harry and Mycroft. Had it been left to him to be her only example, he expect she'd be spoiled rotten and allowed to run circles around him... Well, she does do that but she isn't babied by him, at least.  

Sherlock got home in good time and ended up spending the night on the sofa, drifting in and out of a pleasant sleep, dreaming of his beautiful daughter and John.