The Black Book - AU - Locked to seaweed_writes

[ihadabadday]

He was lucky with his expertise he was able to find a job relatively quickly in a field he was familiar with. John looked down at his mobile as the alert came through. Christ. It was going to take him at least twenty minutes, if he was lucky, to get to the scene. But, he packed his things into the case and headed out.

He had been in Afghanistan for five years. First as a medic, then a doctor, and finally a hunter. He still was a doctor, but he had been assigned to an elite unit in the desert. Part of him felt a bit odd about all of it. But he didn't quite mind.

He made sure he had everything before he left.

He heard the annoyed voices, before he saw anyone as he entered the room.

"Oi. Who're you?" A man with two days of stubble and mussed black hair asked.

John paused and looked him over before his eyes landed on the gentleman in the suit with salt and pepper hair. There he was. "DI Lestrade? I'm Doctor John Watson, the new Occult Specialist, I just started last month." He gave him a smile, wanting to be nice, but not too friendly. People got jumpy around the occult. He saw it all the time in Afghanistan, and even here in London.

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[ihadabadday]

John stepped through the door, feeling a sense of relief. He looked down at his now human form. He looked up at the other demon. He bowed his head in greeting. It was a sign of the station given to him by his lineage.

"It is true Cagnazzo." He said after a moment, "Sherlock is my mate."

[seaweed_writes]

"As I live and breathe." He walked around Sherlock, taking in every part of him, like he was a specimen in a museum. "I've never actually seen a Vampire." He said. There was no malice or anger in his voice. He was not upset at there being a Vampire in his presence, like most Demons would be. He was... fascinated.
And then he turned to John, who because of changing into his Demon form before, had no shirt on. Martha, of course, had specialty clothing that fit both forms, so she still maintained her dignity, despite being a demon.

"Turn back into a demon this instant! I hate seeing that... human form of yours." She snapped in a low voice at John.

The healer took a few herbs and sprinkled them on John, causing a cooling almost numbing feeling. "That will help with pain and nausea that you have been feeling, at least for a few days until it wears off." It smelt of ginger and peppermint. "The ginger and peppermint are natural herbs to help nausea. I suggest you seek them out once this wears off."

[ihadabadday]

John looked at her, frowning. "I didn't change myself." He hissed, "It happened the moment I walked through the door. Much like my magic not working with Sherlock." John was so much like his father. He refused to back down from anything or anyone. Daniel Hamish Watson was a force in his own right.

He looked back to the healer and then coughed. "Thank you. Luckily those are easy to find in the Upper World."

[seaweed_writes]

She looked at him, confused. You are a demon. You use magic to look like a human. If your magic was nullified here, then you should look like your true form, your Demon form.

The healer didn't want to get in the middle of the argument, but neither did he want it to continue, so he chimed in, hoping that he could change the subject. "This is a very rare occurrence, and there is little written on the spawn of Demons and Vampires, and even less for half Demons, so some of the information that I have read may not be as relevant for you, Japhrimel." said Cagnazzo.

"I have some herbs here that I want you to take every day. They should help your body not reject this child. Since this is a.. rather short notice, I hope that you will not mind that it will take me a few short minutes to mix and grind up the powder." He bowed in apology.

"A warning. The herbs taste terrible, they are very bitter. You can add some natural unprocessed sugar, I think the humans call it Turbanado, to it. But do not add anything else. And do not eat anything within an hour before or after taking it. It is a very specific formula, and adding something to it could lessen it's effect. I suggest taking it right before sleeping, as it can sometimes cause dizziness or nausea, but usually if its taken right before bed, those symptoms are lessened or not felt at all."

While he was speaking all this, he went back to start gathering materials. "Also, since this offspring is half vampire, you will have to drink the blood of the one whose seed took." He looked over to Sherlock, who blushed and looked away. "It will not have to be a large amount, but I would suggest drinking every 2-3 days. You will have to be careful not to drain too much too often, but you want enough that between the blood and the powder, your offspring will grow safely inside of you. "

He started to pour things into a very large mortar and pestle. "I have had to guess slightly at this formula, as the original was for full Demons, so I cannot guarantee that even with my help this offspring, or yourself, will survive. And I do not know what will be of your progeny, whether it will even be able to survive the gestation and birth, and if if it be viable outside the womb. This is simply a never before seen event."

Cagnazzo was hard at work mixing ingredients. "I will suggest that when it is time to birth, that you return here, and we will assist, my assistants and myself. We will have the best knowledge of how to bring this... new type of creature into the world. "

[ihadabadday]

John's head spun with the influx of new information, but he nodded, taking it all in. He didn't look at his mother, instead focusing on Cagnazzo and knowing that his mate was close at hand. If his sire didn't already know, they would have to tell him soon.

Great.

He took the mixture from the healer and nodded. "Thank you. I am hoping this child will be able to survive and grow to be strong." John was scared that something would happen and that he could potentially lose his life. But, it was a risk he was willing to take.

For Sherlock and their future family.

[seaweed_writes]

"I do hope so as well, as I really want to be able to study the child." He quickly put up his large, taloned hands. "Nothing to hurt it of course, just to study how it looks and acts, what abilities it has or doesn't, what kind of traits that it had from both it's sire and dam, and other various information like that. I would like to think that for the price of me helping you with the medicine, that you will indulge me that, at least. I will even come to the surface for you, if you don't wish to bring it down here. " said Cagnazzo.

[ihadabadday]

John nodded. "Of course, as long as it doesn't harm the babe and my mate doesn't go feral." He said, "I am more than happy to help move science forward."

He resisted the urge to put a hand on his belly. No doubt his mother would find it distasteful.

"Anything you think I should stay away from?"

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock noticed the twitch as John went to move his hand protectively to his belly but stopped. He had no such compunctions about stopping, so he walked over to John, gave him a kiss, and put his hand on his mate's stomach, which of course drew a sound of surprise and disgust from his mother.

"This is so unprecedented." Cagnazzo replied, adding more of some sort of leaf to the powder and grinding it down. "It is honestly hard to say. I would suggest that you not work, and that you limit your stress and physical activity as much as you can. Light activity is fine, I mean mean no heavy lifting, or running marathons or moving furniture." He was quiet as he added up some numbers and then added something else.

"I know you won't like it, but I would very strongly suggest bed rest for as much as you can. I know it will get boring, so find a hobby like reading or drawing or knitting or something you can do in bed. Normal human gestation is about 36 weeks, but it is very unlikely that this offspring will gestate for that amount of time. It is going to be a struggle to keep it alive, so the longer it can stay inside and grow, the better. I would prepare that it will be born early, and we will have to have be cared for by the healers for a time until it is strong enough to be viable in the human world."

[ihadabadday]

"Of course." He nodded. Thirty six weeks of bedrest. He was going to get bored fast, but it would be worth it. John let out a breath and relaxed back against Sherlock.

"I want this child to be healthy and grow up with love." He said. He knew that Sherlock and he had plenty of that to give. It was just ensuring that their child got to meet them.

John didn't glance at his mother, he would probably yell at her. He took a breath and then stepped forward towards the counter. "What would be the best way to contact you if I had questions or needed you Cagnazzo?"

[seaweed_writes]

Cagnazzo's face lit up. "Oh! I have just the thing!" He put down his mortal and pestle and came back with what looked like a little black rock, a smooth pebble you would find in a river. But when he put it in John's hand, it pulsed with magic.

"Just rub it for a few second, until it is warm, and then whisper the word E'oelo. It means 'speak' in Demon. That will summon me, or well you still be able to speak to me. I won't come to you automatically." He patted John's hand once, like a grandmother bestowing a gift on a grandchild, and then went back to the mortal and pestle.

"Almost done." He said. "Any other questions?"

[ihadabadday]

John took the stone and closed his fist around it. "No. That is everything that I can think of. Sherlock, do you have any questions?" He asked.

Alright. So his mother was against this. What would Sherlock's sire say? Well, he couldn't worry about that now. They had to first get out of the Underworld and back home.

He put his free hand over Sherlock's and rubbed the spot where a ring would be if they were married.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock did have a question, but it was one that he was a bit loathe to ask, especially with John's mother right there. So he decided to go a bit roundabout with it.

"You said no strenuous activity." Sherlock said. He hated that he could feel his cheeks heating up as he blushed.

Cagnazzo laughed. It was apparent that he got the idea of what Sherlock was asking. "Yes, you can do that. Try to keep it fairly simple and not to strenuous, but it sometimes can help with hormonal changes."

A few moments later, he took the powder that he had mixed and put it in a small fabric bag, and then tied up the top with a small ribbon. He handed it to John.

"It doesn't look like much, but this should be enough for 30 weeks. There is a spoon inside. Take one spoonful and put it into a glass of water and stir it up until you can't see it any more. Add the natural sugar if you wish, then drink it as fast as possible. I honestly don't think you will even make it to 30 weeks, but if you do, I can make more. That should be everything."

[ihadabadday]

He flushed and looked down, shuffling his feet a bit. That was good to know. Sherlock might go stir crazy if he couldn't have sex for thirty six weeks. John knew he would.

The half demon looked up and took the bag. He smiled gratefully at Cagnazzo. "Thank you. I will do everything that I can to keep this child in for as long as I can."

He then looked up at Sherlock and then over to his mother. "Shall we go?"

[seaweed_writes]

"I wish you the best of luck." He smiled and bowed again to Martha.

She gave Sherlock a bit of a glare, then opened a portal and walked through, John and Sherlock following behind.

When it closed, Martha turned to her son. "I have held my end of the bargain. I have put you in touch with a healer who should help you through this journey." Her voice was harsh at first, then she sighed and slumped her shoulders.

"Japhrimel." She said, sounding almost.... defeated. "You know that I do love you. You are my son, and I want the best for you. I am worried about you. I do not want you to die because you decided to do something that no one has ever done before." She looked over to Sherlock, then back to John.

"This is dangerous, what you have decided to do. And you... are my last link to Hamish. I truly did love him. I knew that I would lose him, but when you were born, you have the Old Blood running through your veins. I... don't want to lose you too."

[ihadabadday]

John pulled away from Sherlock and went over to his mother. "Mum... You've known my entire life I've always wanted a family. Whether it was human or not. And you knew from my eighteenth birthday when that Mystic told you I would walk a different path, that nothing would be ordinary about me."

He put his hands on her shoulders. "Mum, I love you. Thank you for taking me to the healer. I know you're scared. I am too. But I want to try." he told her, "I do. I want to see if I can have this child."

"Dads would be over the moon and you know it. He always wanted to be a grandfather."

[seaweed_writes]

"I know. I just hoped that he was wrong. I didn't want you to have a difficult life. I knew that you already would because of your heritage. You are not a Demon and not a human. You walk a path that I can't know. And now, you have made your life even more difficult." She sighed and looked down.

"Hamish would have loved your mate, and he would have adored your.. child." It was the first time that she had used that word, and it felt weird on her tongue. She held her son tight for a moment, then let go. She had never been demonstrative, so it didn't come easily to her.

"Be careful." She said, stepping away. She looked over to Sherlock. "Keep care of him. On pain of your life, keep him safe." She knew the conversation was done, there was no more to say, so she turned and created another portal back to Baker Street for them.

[ihadabadday]

"I love you Mum. I'll call soon. I promise." John took Sherlock's hand and then pulled him through the portal back to their flat.

"How are we going to tell your sire? Does he even know we've mated?" John asked the vampire as he set the bag down and went to go make them some tea.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock let out a long breath. That had been one long series of awkward and tense moments, one after the other. He was quite happy to be safe in his own home.

"Oh, I can assure you that he knows." The voice was smooth and rich and posh. Sherlock turned to see his sire sitting in his chair, legs crossed primly, his hands steepled under his chin, umbrella resting against the side of the chair.

"Mycroft." Sherlock almost spat out the word.

"Sherlock" He said quickly, interrupting Sherlock before he could say anything else. "I will only be a moment." Mycroft stood while Sherlock murmured "One moment too long." under his breath. Of course Mycroft heard, but he ignored it.

"I must take the same stance as Malthyne." Despite their rivalry, Mycroft still called her by her true name as a sign of respect for her station. "This is quite a dangerous undertaking that you are endeavoring in. " He looked over to John. "I care not for the half demon.." He looked back to Sherlock. "But I am concerned for the welfare of the child. It will be a child of the Darkness, unable to walk in the light. It will be of Old Blood, the blood that I bestowed upon you. It will be my progeny, and therefore will be under my protection."

He paused, looking even more serious. "But know this, half Demon." he looked to John. "You are a child of two world, this will be a child of three. If it does survive to be born, it will not have an easy life. It will not belong to humans, or Vampires or Demons. It will forever be an outcast of all three. I do not condem this child and on my oath will do nothing to harm it, but think hard about bringing this child into the light. It may have an immortal life of bigotry and hatred."

He picked up his umbrella and headed to the door, looking back. "Good day, brother mine. John." He nodded his head, not even giving John the honor of his true name.

And with that, he was gone.

[ihadabadday]

John jumped and swore. He walked out of the kitchen and over to Sherlock. He touched his mate's shoulder and then looked to the vampire before them. He could feel the power of the First Blood in front of him. Christ. No wonder Sherlock was the way he was. This was what it must be like for people meeting his mother for the first time. Now he understood.

He put a protective hand over his belly, feeling his magic starting to come to his hand. The instinct to protect his unborn child was strong already.

He listened to the words from his mate's sire and then his shoulders slumped. He practically collapsed into a chair.

"Are we doing the right thing?" He asked looking up at Sherlock, "Bringing this child into this world when they could face so much hatred?"

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock hated to see John so upset. And for the health of their baby, he knew that John needed to stay as calm as he could. He walked over to John, slumped in a chair, and gently put his hand on his shoulder.

"I wish I knew the answer to that, John." Sherlock said, after Mycroft had left. "This is unprecedented, like they both said, so there is no blueprint for how we should do this." He sighed and went into the kitchen to make them tea. He came out a moment later, handing a cup to John. "Herbal, non caffeinated. You'll have to watch your caffeine intake." he smiled. John being a doctor, he would know this already, but he wanted to bring some levity into the tense atmosphere.

[ihadabadday]

He took the tea and sipped it. It took a few minutes, but he started to relax, letting the tension leave his body. No, they didn't have all the answers, but who did? No parent did. Every child and every birth was different. Sure, some had it easy. Demons, humans, even vampires. He finished his tea before he looked up at Sherlock.

"Do you want this child?" He asked. He knew he had already asked. But John needed to know, needed to hear it again.

[seaweed_writes]

"Yes." Sherlock's tone was resolute. There was no wavering or unsureness in his tone. He knew that he wanted this baby as much as John did.

"And I know that you do as well." He said, sipping his tea. "So, I guess that answers the question, doesn't it?"

[ihadabadday]

"I just wanted to make sure, before we went through with all of this." He said after a moment.

John let out a breath and then laughed slightly. "We're going to be parents." He couldn't help but smile.

[seaweed_writes]

"God..." Sherlock ran his hands through his hair. "I guess in all of the craziness of what is going on, I forgot about the most obvious thing." All of a sudden, his smile faded.

"What.. what if I'm a mad parent? What if I don't know how to take care of the child? What if it doesn't like me, or I accidentally hurt it?" All of his doubts and worries suddenly came to the surface. "What if I'm not cut out to be a father?"

[ihadabadday]

"Then we'll stumble through this together." He said.

"How do any of us know how we're going to be as parents?" John got up and walked over to where Sherlock was. He reached out and touched his cheek. "All that matters is that we do it together."