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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[seaweed_writes]

"Mr. Watson. Mr. Holmes." He said, nodding in greeting to them both. "If you three would like to follow me into my office, I think we have some things to talk about." His tone, like his look, were stern and no nonsense. He wasn't a cruel man, but he was very much about rule and order .

He let them in first. "Please. Have a seat. " There were three seats on one side of the huge mahogany desk. He waited until they sat, then closed the door, went to his desk, and sat down, resting his hands on his chin.

"Well, young man." He said to William. "Care to explain yourself? You seem to be quite good at starting fights. This is something I can cannot condone, and if you cannot keep your temper to yourself, then you will have to find another establishment to continue your education."

[ihadabadday]

John sat down and watched the Headmaster. He was quiet as he listened to the man speak. "Before William speaks, I do hope that the bullies, regardless of age or status or influence, are being dealt with accordingly." He started. There was something predatory about John's voice. It was sometimes easy to forget that he was a demon, he always looked and acted, so friendly.

"I've heard from other parents and some of William's teachers that the school is not properly punishing the bullies, just our son. Now, I understand that they are getting into fights. But William is defending other students. And if you are teaching these children that it is easier to punish the protector than the bully..."

"And if it's not your Headmaster, than it is someone under you, and they are still teaching the same lesson."

[seaweed_writes]

The Headmaster was surprised, and a bit upset at the accusations, but he kept his voice calm and cool.

"Yes." He said when John was done. "The bullies are being dealt with accordingly. I have already planned a staff meeting to put a plan in place on how to deal with bullying both in the classroom and on the playground and in the halls."

He gives John a stern look. "I can assure you, Mr. Watson, that neither I, nor my staff, are teaching children that the wrong people are being punished. There is blame to be had on both sides, though not equally. And I am determined to put an end to the fighting, on both sides."

[ihadabadday]

John smiled at the headmaster. "Good to hear. I would hate to learn that the rumors I heard were true. But know this Headmaster. If anyone hits our son again, he has full permission to hit back. In that instance he would be defending himself." he said flatly, "And if you choose to remove William from this school for the simple act of defending himself in the future, then let us know now."

"I will not have my son stand there and take a beating. If he can put an end to it, then so be it. Violence is not always the answer to violence, but as long as he is defending himself, whether it is another student or an adult, I consider the matter closed."

People often forgot that behind the kind, doctorly facade, there was a hardened soldier, one who had seen much and done much. Yes, he didn't always agree with William inserting himself into every instance of bullying, and hitting first. But if he was hit first, and then hit back. He was alright with it.

[seaweed_writes]

"I would never tell a student not to defend themselves if the other person threw the first punch. As long as your son never throws the first punch, then he will never have to worry about his education here" The man said, in a stern tone.

"The reason that I have you both here, is because some of the students stated that William threw the first punch, while others stated that the other child did. Of course I am getting different stories from them, so we will never know the whole truth."

He stood. "I have excused him for the rest of the day, but he has his homework for the classes he will miss. He is welcome to come back tomorrow morning with a clean slate. Thank you both for coming." He offered John a hand to shake.

[ihadabadday]

John rose and then shook the headmaster's hand. He then steered William out of the office, rubbing his forehead. He kept a firm hand on his son's shoulder as he spoke to the secretary for the school. He got his bookbag, along with his assignments and then handed it to the boy.

"Sherlock, did you drive or take a cab?" He asked his mate.

He finally turned to look at him, as they waited in the foyer of the school.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock was quiet through the whole thing, still a bit shocked that John was pregnant again.

He finally spoke as they were outside of the school, on the curb. "I took a cab. I was out on a case, but it was wrapping up." Which reminded Sherlock. He looked at his phone- there were a few texts from Lestrade, but nothing earth shattering.

"Should we go home, or was there somewhere else you needed to go, John?"

[ihadabadday]

"We can go home. William has classwork to focus on. And that recital that is coming up." John told Sherlock before they headed out of the building.

He let out a breath and hailed them a cab.

Soon enough they were home and John sent William into the kitchen to start his homework.

[seaweed_writes]

It was a pretty quiet ride home. There were a couple of quick conversations, mostly Sherlock just looked out the window as London whipped by.

As soon as they got to 221B, John sent William to the kitchen to do his homework, and the followed Sherlock back to the bedroom, where he changed into some more comfortable clothes.

"When did you find out?" Sherlock asked, gently touching Johns still flat stomach, rubbing in small circles.

"I can't believe it.. after so long..."

[ihadabadday]

John paused in the middle of pulling off his button up shirt. He shivered at the touch to his belly. But he smiled.

"Yesterday. I wanted to wait until the case was over to tell you." He told Sherlock, "Are you upset?"

His mate had been mostly quiet on the subject.

[seaweed_writes]

Before answering, Sherlock leaned in to kiss him deeply, while finishing taking off John's shirt.

"Why would I be upset, John?" He whispered into his mate's ear. "I am so happy. There will be a gap between the kids, which means that William will be able to help us take care of this baby. " He leaned down and kissed John's belly, them kissed him again.

[ihadabadday]

He shivered at the kisses, the words in his ear. John looked at Sherlock and smiled. "I hope it's a little girl." He said after a moment, "One of each, I think we'd be done with that."

He shivered and returned the kiss, one hand found it's way into Sherlock's hair and he tightened his fist. He loved his mate.

[seaweed_writes]

"I'm sure William will want a brother. I just want a healthy child." He kissed John again, deeper this time. He sighed and looked at the door. It was closed, but there was always the chance that William would have to ask them something. They are relegated to sex either when they are both home when he's at school, or late at night when he's asleep.

He leaned back, a little flushed. He needed to stop this before it got too heated.

[ihadabadday]

John let Sherlock go and then smile at him. "Tonight." He promised before going to go get the jumper he wanted to wear.

"I should text my mother and Mycroft."

He was quiet for a moment. "Or perhaps I will do it tomorrow." So they could have today for themselves. Both Martha and Mycroft enjoyed being grandparents and spoiling William.

[seaweed_writes]

"Mmmmmf." Sherlock groaned at the thought of what they could do tonight. Being pregnant, they were going to have to be careful about John's stomach, but that really didn't limit them much.

"Tomorrow, my love. Let's have tonight." Sherlock kissed John, then left the room to let John dress. He checked on William, who was working, then he went to the living room, opened up his laptop, and worked on some emails.

[ihadabadday]

John finished dressing and then went out into the kitchen. "What do you two want for dinner?"

He looked at William who was still working on his assignments and then over to Sherlock who was in the living room. He just hoped that a case, for either of them, didn't come in.

[seaweed_writes]

William shrugged, then hissed in pain at the movement, it annoyed his rather impressive black eye. "Don't care" He said in a low voice, his head still down in his Maths homework. "Whatever."

"Whatever you want, John." Sherlock said from the living room. He was busy as well, his head stuck in his computer.

[ihadabadday]

John looked at them both and then settled for rolling his eyes. Son and father were quite alike. He went over to the refrigerator and opened it to see what they had.

He got the pancetta, egg and parmesan out to start spaghetti carbonara. Along with a salad.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock tried to pay attention to the work on his computer, but the smells coming out of the kitchen were too damn tempting.

"John, do you need any help in there?" Sherlock asked, even though he hadn't actually gotten up to help yet.

[ihadabadday]

"You stay away from my pasta Mr. Holmes or I'll smack your hands." John threatened.

Often when he cooked with pancetta and garlic and butter, it drew his mate in. Contrary to popular myth, garlic didn't bother vampires.

Which was good, given John's love for Italian food.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock couldn't help it, the smell of garlic and butter and pancetta was literally making him drool. He closed the computer lid and wandered into the kitchen. William was pointedly ignoring them, now working on some science homework.

"I really should make sure that it isn't poisoned." Sherlock reached in and stole a bite of the cooked pancetta, heedless off how hot it was He didn't care that it burnt, it tasted so damn good.

[ihadabadday]

John did whack his side with the wooden spoon he was using. "What did I tell you Sherlock? Are you going to teach our son bad manners?"

He shook his head and went to get more pancetta and butter. He put both in the pan and added more garlic. With Sherlock about, he would be lucky if any of it got into their dinner.

[seaweed_writes]

"Ow!" He drew his hand back and rubbed it dramatically. William just rolled his eyes at them both and then went back to his homework.

"See?" Sherlock grumped. "He knows that what I am doing isn't wrong, when it comes to you teasing my nose with the sweet smell of pancetta." Okay, so he was being overdramatic and hamming it up, but John so rarely cooked this, and it was one of his favorite meals.

[ihadabadday]

John finished dinner and got it on the table with red wine for Sherlock and himself and a glass of juice for William.

"Put your book away William." He said as he went to fetch Sherlock.

"Alright Mister Holmes, dinner is ready."

[seaweed_writes]

William was mostly done with his homework. But any excuse to stop was ok with him. He packed his books away, washed his hands, and was at the table even before Sherlock was.

It was a nice dinner. Still a bit quiet from the hullaballoo earlier, but pleasant, not awkward. They didn't actually talk about that, or surprisingly about John being pregnant either. It was more about the recital coming up and the forecast of storms for tomorrow and just general chit chat.