LONG CHAPTER WARNING!!

3 AM

Sherlock, noticing an emptiness beside him, jolted awake, instinctively patting over the spot Adelaide typically occupied but finding no trace of her. His eyes popped open and he sat up in a flash. I must have inadvertently fallen asleep. He looked at the empty bedspace and saw that his wife was indeed absent. He blinked a couple of times, taking the fabric of the quilt in his fingers and then knitting his brows together. Where is she?

The Detective threw back the covers and got out of the bed, deciding Adelaide must have gone to the kitchen for something. As he tied his dressing gown his eyes flicked over Mirabella's cot. The baby Holmes was still soundly asleep so he let her be and tiptoe quietly down the hallway. Again, no sign of Adelaide. So he peeked into the living room. Same result. Sherlock then heard noises coming from upstairs.

It sounded like furniture creaking. Sherlock wondered if perhaps Adelaide had gone up to the nursery to sit in the rocking chair and think, as she had been doing recently. He climbed the stairwell and gently twisted the doorknob, "Love, it's late..," He pushed open the door and sprinted into the dimbly lit room. Adelaide laid strewn face down on the floor, apparently having collapsed before reaching the chair. His breath hitched as his knees buckled then gave way, "Adelaide!?"

He crashed onto the hardwood floor beside her and turned her over onto her back. She looked as pale as a ghost, and nearly as translucent. Sherlock scooped her up and cradled her in his lap, "Adelaide, look at me. Wake up," This can't happen, not again! "Come on, Angel, you have to wake up!!"

He patted her cheek to try and stimulate her, and it seemed to work. Her eyes opened sluggishly, only making it halfway as she groaned and looked up at him, "Sher...lock?"

"Yes, Love, I'm here. What happened, Adelaide?!" He queried in haste.

"I....I just... woke up in pain... I didn't want to wake you up, so I came up here to wait it out..." She slowly answered, grimacing, "I think I overdid it today, perhaps... I just feel like it's w-worse..!"

"Then I'll call for an ambulance!" Sherlock reached for his phone and then cursed himself, I left it in the bedroom, "Okay, Adelaide, I left my phone downstairs. I'll be back in just a few seconds, alright? Just stay here and don't fall asleep again!" She nodded weakly and he laid her down in a recovery position before running like a mad man back to the bedroom. He snatched his phone and dialed 999 as he ran back upstairs.

Sherlock knelt down beside her again and grasped her hand as the operator came on the line. But as he was answering the woman's questions he noticed Adelaide's eyes beginning to slip shut and roll back, and he gave her a firm shake, "No, Adelaide, don't fall asleep!!"

"I'm... I'm sorry, Sherlock... I-I-I'm t-trying..."

"No, no, no!! Adelaide, focus on me! Listen to my voice, alright?!" He dropped the phone and lifted her back into his lap, "Adelaide!!" And then, despite his efforts, she went limp in his arms. He frantically felt for a pulse, but couldn't find one. She wasn't breathing either.

His heart felt like it had been squeezed into a pulp, and his lungs seemed to constrict- he couldn't breathe, "No..!" He ignored the 999 operator who was asking question after question. hugged Adelaide as tightly to him as he humanly could, squeezing his eyes shut, hoping she would revive, "Please, Adelaide, you can't! Not now!!"

Hot tears stung Sherlock's eyes and he loosened his hold on her enough to rest his forehead against hers, rasping desperate pleas into her death-deafened ears. As he brought one hand up to stroke her cheek, he shuddered. It was covered in red.

Her blood. She bled out... because I wasn't awake to help her!!!

3:30 AM

Frenzied movements beside her followed by a series of grunts, rustling and murmurs slowly stirred Adelaide awake. The new Mum at first, in the groggy state of mind she was, wondered if her husband had perhaps gotten Mirabella out of her cot for a cuddle or was responding to an exciting case from Lestrade. Either way, she had nearly drifted back to sleep when she heard an inhuman scream.

Her brain jump started and she bolted up in bed, feeling like her heart had jumped out of her ribcage as she turned to see Sherlock thrashing about in a cold sweat- clearly experiencing a horrific nightmare. She peeled the covers off of both of them and called to him; "Sherlock, wake up!! You're having a nightmare, Sherlock!!" He didn't show any sign of escaping the night terror, so she gripped his shoulder to shake him and hopefully wake him up, "Sherlock, Darling, you need to wake up!!"

No sooner than she shook him did his other arm fly up, just barely brushing past her face as his fist crashed into the headboard. Taken off guard, she let out a cry which immediately awoke Sherlock. He thrashed wildly again and popped up, "ADELAIDE!!!!"

Sherlock's head swiveled like a top as he scanned the room, panting heavily. His pupils were so dilated that Adelaide could make out only a tiny sliver of blue bordering dark black wells. He jolted and seemed to realized what was going on, at which point Adelaide reached out and grasped his hand, "Sherlock, it's alright now. You were just having a nightmare," She cooed soothingly while stroking his hand. He stared at her for a few seconds and then leaned forward, propping his arms on his knees and burying his head in his hands. Adelaide frowned and rested her hand on his rigid yet quivering back, rubbing gently as he continued to tremble, "Sherlock, you were having a nightmare... Would you like to tell me about it?"

"I... I don't know, L-Love..," He answered shakily, "I'm sorry, Adelaide. I woke you up."

"Shhh, shhh. It's fine, Sherlock. Now, are you going to talk to me about it?" She asked in a quiet, comforting tone of voice. This wasn't the first time he'd had bad dreams since they'd gotten married, but it definitely seemed his worst yet. And he was clearly feeling extremely vulnerable which made him all the more defensive.

A minute passed before he shuddered and sat up, still refusing to look at her, "I'm not sure I want to tell you, Adelaide. I don't want to worry you with this..."

As hard as he tried, his voice betrayed him and broke as he finished the sentence. Adelaide scooted closer to him, "Honey, look at me."

"... No..."

"Why not?"

"B-Because."

"Sherlock," She sighed, "Look at me, and tell me what is going on. I am your wife and I love you. I need to know what has you so upset."

Sherlock gulped and let out another shaky breath before relenting. He slowly turned his head to face her and she nearly gasped, cupping his face in her hands and brushing away the tears on his cheeks. He leaned into her touch and let his eyes close, feeling a rush of relief to know her warmth was real.

"I almost... It was so... real, Love..."

"Your nightmare? What happened in your nightmare?"

He opened his eyes again and placed his hands over her heart. She looked down and then back at him as he answered, "You died. In Mirabella's nursery, in my arms... A-And it was because I wasn't awake in time to help you."

Adelaide was at a loss for words. She lowered her hands from his face and then embraced him as tightly as she could manage. Once he freed his arms and threw them around her in return, he broke down into tears, unable to suppress his emotions any longer. Adelaide took a deep breath.

I can only hope he'll finally tell me everything. Because now I have an even clearer understanding of what's been wreaking havoc on his mind these past weeks.

Sorry for the wait!! But I hope that this LONG chapter somewhat made up for it? 😅😭 I've missed you guys!! Love y'all!!