I lied. This will be the last chapter until the Christmas episode. I couldn't resist having a chapter where they adopted a child. 

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Things were going smoothly for Alexandra and Holmes. All was quiet and peaceful for them. One evening, Alexandra was reading by the fire while Holmes did a little work for a case. Both of them were in the study. Holmes finished his work and sighed.

"Alexandra, dear?" He said.

"Yes, darling?" Alexandra said, looking up. Holmes rarely called her by her first name, so she knew this was important. "What is it?" 

"I feel like we're...missing something here." Holmes said.

"What would that be?" Alexandra asked, her heart beginning to race.

"Children." Holmes said. 

Alexandra started shaking. She was reliving when she had told her old husband that she didn't want children and he had beaten her within an inch of her life. She put her hands on either side of her head and tried to steady herself. She was now numb to everything around her. She didn't want to feel weak like this. It was frightening. 

Holmes had taken notice of his wife's state and was holding her in his arms. He knew what she was thinking about. He rubbed her back and shushed her.

"Alexandra, breathe." He said urgently. Alexandra finally looked up at him.

"I'm sorry." She said. "I lost control."

"I know." Holmes nodded. "It's not your fault, dear. The fault was mine. I should not have brought up a touchy subject so quickly."

"It's quite alright." Alexandra said. She did not leave her husband's arms, though. "So, you were saying about children?"

"We can talk about it later." Holmes said.

"No, we might as well speak about it now." Alexandra said. 

"I was thinking that we could adopt since you do not seem to want to have your own children." Holmes said. 

"I like that idea." Alexandra said, nodding. "It's not that I don't want to have my own children, it's that I'm frightened of it. I don't want to die from childbirth."

"I see." Holmes nodded. "When you married Mr. Akson...was that the reason you did not want children with him?"

"Partly. That and I felt I was too young." Alexandra said. "Also, I did not love him. If I'm ever going to have biological children, I want it to be with the one I love." 

"That would be me." Holmes said. Alexandra laughed quietly. 

"Yes, darling, that would be you." She whispered, kissing his cheek. "Well, when should we start looking for children?"

"I was thinking we could go to an orphanage tomorrow." Holmes said. "Would you like a boy or a girl?"

"I do not know just yet." Alexandra said, yawning. "Sorry, Mr. Holmes, that was unladylike."

"I do not mind." Holmes said. "You look tired. Let us go to bed." 

Holmes let Alexandra change into her nightgown first and then he changed into his nightclothes. He laid down beside his wife and noticed that she was already asleep. It was understandable since he had needed to put out the fire and all the candles in the house. He blew out the last candle in their room before pulling her into his arms and closing his eyes. He fell asleep listening to Alexandra's breathing.

The next morning, the two went to an orphanage that was ruled out almost instantly. Most of the children were in their early teens and neither Alexandra nor Holmes wanted that. They went to another orphanage. It had both boys and girls, but the two genders were in two different buildings. Alexandra and Holmes decided to look at the girls first and saw no one that caught their eye. When they went to the boys, however, there was one that Holmes saw and stopped dead. 

The child was probably only around eight or nine. He had curly, brown hair and looked like Holmes and Alexandra's spawn. He was reading a book while all the other boys were play fighting. Holmes walked over to him and knelt down, putting his hands together as if he was praying and putting them up to his chin. The boy noticed Holmes and looked back at him.

"What's your name?" Holmes asked.

"Archie." The boy said. 

"Hm...why are you here?" Holmes asked. "I'm Mr. Sherlock Holmes, by the way." 

"I was abandoned. My father died and my mother couldn't take care of me anymore." Archie said. (This was actually very common back then.) "From what I've heard, she's dead, too."

"You aren't like these other boys." Holmes said. "You would rather read while they all play. None of them beside you can read." 

"I taught myself." Archie said proudly. Holmes chuckled slightly.

"How did you teach yourself?" Holmes asked.

"I know the alphabet, so I took words that were spelled like they sounded and learned them." Archie said. "Why do you ask?"

"Miss Watson, come here!" Holmes called. Alexandra did not mind when Holmes called her by her maiden name. Holmes turned back to the child. "My wife and I are looking to adopt a child. You seem like our best choice." 

Archie's face brightened. Alexandra came over and looked at him. She got on her knees so she was eye-level with him and smiled kindly.

"Hello. I'm Alexandra. What's your name?" Alexandra asked.

"I'm Archie." Archie said. 

"I see you like books." Alexandra said. "At our house, we have a large library with lots of books." 

"Really?" Archie said, his eyes widening. 

"Yes." Alexandra nodded. She looked at her husband and he nodded, as if to say, 'Yes, he's the one.' Alexandra looked back at Archie. "Would you like to come with us and see it?" 

"Yes!" Archie nodded excitedly.

"Miss Watson, I think that we should think a day or two about this and get ready. Our home is not equipped yet." Holmes said. He looked back at Archie. "We will most likely be back in two days time." 

"Okay!" Archie nodded. Alexandra knew that they couldn't let him down. He would be crushed if they did. 

"Did you find a child?" The worker who had showed them in asked.

"Yes, but we need some time to think about it." Holmes said. "Come along, Miss Watson." 

Alexandra followed her husband out to the main road where they got a cab. Alexandra climbed in first, then Holmes. He sat next to her and pulled her to him. Alexandra smiled and kissed his cheek. Holmes took out his pipe and lit it. Alexandra coughed from the smoke. Holmes smoked all the time at home, but Alexandra was usually able to get away. Here, however, all she could do was stick her head out the window or sit across from him. Holmes turned his head so she wouldn't breathe in the smoke. When they got home, they were greeted by Mrs. Hudson. Holmes and Alex shed their coats and sat in front of the fireplace. 

"So, Miss Watson, what did you think of Archie?" Holmes asked. 

"I liked him." Alexandra said. "I think he would be suitable as a child to raise on our own." 

"Then it is decided. We will clean out your old room and give it to him. Your brother's old room shall be transformed to a guest room just in case. Unless you would like it the other way around." Holmes said.

"I would like it the other way around." Alexandra said. "Just in case I get angry at you and want to stay in my old room for the night."

Holmes chuckled. "Very well, Miss Watson. Very well. Come here."

Alexandra got up and went over to him. Holmes cupped her face in his hands and kissed her passionately on the lips. Alexandra kissed him back, her arms snaking around his neck. She moved to sit on his lap. Holmes ran his fingers through his hair. The two of them had lost track of time when Mrs. Hudson walked in.

"Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, I- Oh!" She exclaimed. Alexandra and Holmes jumped apart. Holmes glared. "I beg your pardon, I'm sorry to have interrupted." She shut the door, seeming quite flustered. Holmes and Alexandra turned to each other and laughed.

"Now, where were we?" Holmes asked, pulling her to him again.

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Alex woke up two days later next to her husband. Holmes was still asleep. His arms were wrapped around her back. Most couples kept separate sleeping quarters, but they didn't feel the need to. Alexandra liked having Holmes there for her. She smiled as she noticed his hair had fallen into a mop of curls. She loved his hair like that. She kissed his nose. Holmes' eyes opened.

"Mm, good morning." He said, smiling at her wife.

"Good morning." Alexandra smiled back. 

"Shall we stay here a little longer or see if Mrs. Hudson has delivered our breakfast?" Holmes asked. 

"Our food will be cold if we don't get up now." Alexandra said. "But I'm so warm and comfortable..." 

"Breakfast in bed?" Holmes asked. 

"Breakfast in bed." Alexandra nodded. (The Fault In Our Diet; Starring: Sherlock Holmes and Alexandra Watson. Coming to a theater near you this Christmas.) 

Holmes got up and put on his dressing gown. He went to fetch breakfast. He set the plate in Alexandra's lap when he came back and set his own on the bedside table. When they had finished eating, Alexandra rested her head on Holmes' shoulder.

"Are you ready to adopt our son?" He asked in a whisper.

"Of course." Alexandra said. "I hope I will be a good mother. Hopefully, better than my own." 

"You will be a fantastic mother, Miss Watson." Holmes said. "I can only hope to be a good father."

"You will be the best father." Alexandra said. She kissed her husband on the cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too." Holmes said. He kissed her head.

"Mr. Holmes, why do most married couples not feel the love that we do?" Alexandra asked suddenly. Holmes thought for a moment.

"Like you and Mr. Akson?" He asked. 

"Yes." Alexandra said. "Or others, like my mother and father. They hold a respect for each other and tolerate one another, but they do not love each other." 

"I think it is because they never got a chance to know each other before marriage." Holmes said. "They do, but they court always under the eye of someone. We did not have to do that. We got to know each other before I began courting you. Even when I did court you, it wasn't properly. We were almost never under the eye of your brother. I've never met your parents." Holmes paused. "But, most couples have not had the freedom that we have been blessed with." 

"I've been incredibly lucky." Alexandra reflected. 

"Let's get ready." Holmes said. He went into his dressing room. Alexandra sighed as she put on the most comfortable dress she had. She didn't want to get up, but she had to.

"I hate these silly things." She grumbled as she put a corset on. She nearly suffocated when she tightened it. When Holmes came out of his dressing room, he noticed her state and ran to her.

"My God, Miss Watson, you're practically blue." He said, unzipping the dress.

"Mr. Holmes!" Alexandra said, trying to slap his hands away. "This is highly improper!" 

"Relax, my dear, I'm just loosening the corset so you don't faint in the cab." Holmes reassured her. Alexandra felt the corset loosen and she was able to breathe easier. 

"Thank you, darling." She said, sighing.

"No trouble at all." Holmes said. He zipped the dress back up. 

They left their home after that to go to the orphanage. It felt very odd to Alexandra to think that this was the last time she would walk out of the house without a child. She wondered if Archie felt excited, or if he was a little bit nervous. Probably not the latter. When she and Holmes got to the orphanage, they went in. They spoke some words to the manager of the establishment about wanting to adopt Archie. They then called him into the room. Archie's face lit up when he saw them. Alexandra and Holmes smiled back at him. They both stood up. Holmes and Alexandra gave Archie some time to pack whatever he had and then took him outside. Once they were outside the orphanage, he hugged his new mother and father tightly. Alexandra hugged him back. Holmes had to register what he was doing and then awkwardly hugged him back.

"Thank you." Archie said. 

"You're welcome." Alexandra said. "We've cleared out my brother's old room for you. You won't have many toys or anything if that's what you're used to. You're free to roam around in the library and if you need a book from a higher shelf, you can ask me or Mr. Holmes."

"You mean I can speak without being spoken to?" Archie asked in awe.

"Yes, of course." Alexandra said. Her eyes hardened. "I'm not raising you the way my parents raised me."

"Should I call you Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, or Mother and Father?" Archie asked.

"Whichever you are most comfortable with." Alexandra said. "If you feel the need to call us Mr. and Mrs. Holmes for the first few months and then feel comfortable enough to call us Mother and Father, that is also fine." 

"Do I need to work?" Archie asked. Just as Alexandra was about to tell him no, Holmes cut across her.

"It wouldn't be the worst thing if you were to help the landlady, Mrs. Hudson. She's old and could use it." He said. "And when we come home from a trip, you could help unload our luggage from the carriage." 

"You don't have to work right away, though." Alexandra quickly added. "You can have some time to adjust."

"Okay." Archie nodded. 

They were in a cab on their way home. Archie was sitting in the middle of Holmes and Alexandra. He looked a little tired. Alexandra guided his head to her shoulder.

"Rest." She said. "Were the other children often sick at the orphanage?" 

"Yes." Archie nodded.

"I'll call my brother to examine you." Alexandra said. "He's a doctor. Shall we invite him and Mary over for dinner tonight to meet Archie, Mr. Holmes?" 

"Yes, of course. I'll send a telegram to him once we get home and get Archie settled." Holmes said. 

When they got home, they showed Archie his room. Alexandra helped him unpack his clothes from the small suitcase. She reminded herself to have Mrs. Hudson wash those. She knew that Archie would probably need a bath. He looked dirty. She would have to get him some new clothes, too. His other ones were bad. Alexandra took a locket out of his bag and opened it. There was a picture of a lovely woman in it and a handsome man.

"Is this your real mother and father?" She asked.

"Yes." Archie nodded.

"Your mother is beautiful." Alexandra said, handing the locket back. "Haven't you any siblings or grandparents? Uncles or aunts?"

"I had a baby sister, but she died." Archie said. "My mother is an only child, and my father's family is in America. He was American."

"It doesn't seem right that your mother might still be alive, yet we have ownership of you." Alexandra said. "I'll see if I can find her and if we can't schedule a meeting with her for you. Would you like that?"

"Yes!" Archie nodded vigorously. 

"Alright, then." Alexandra chuckled. She gathered his clothes. "I'm going to see if Mrs. Hudson can wash these. If you need anything, call for me or my husband." 

Alexandra went down to Mrs. Hudson's room. She knocked on the door. Mrs. Hudson opened it. She smiled kindly at Alexandra.

"What can I do for you, Mrs. Holmes?" She asked.

"Could you please wash these?" She asked. 

"These are a child's clothes." Mrs. Hudson said.

"Yes, Mr. Holmes and I have adopted a son." Alexandra said, smiling. Mrs. Hudson gasped.

"What's his name?" She asked. 

"Archie." Alexandra said, smiling. "He's very sweet."

"Well, of course I can wash his clothes." She said. "Between you and me, these are more rags than clothes."

"I know." Alexandra nodded. "I think I'll take him out to get some new clothes tomorrow." 

Mrs. Hudson took the clothes and closed the door. Alexandra went back to the living room. Holmes was about to light his pipe. Alexandra set it down and blew the match out. She didn't like him smoking. She felt that they got enough smoke in their lungs while walking through the streets. Holmes gave her a confused look.

"What was that for, Miss Watson?" He asked.

"Shouldn't you go send my brother a telegram?" She asked. "Archie is all settled."

"Okay." Holmes said. "Would you like me to pick up anything on the way home?"

"If you could pick up Archie a new suit, you would be my hero." Alexandra said.

"And I wasn't your hero when I dove into the Falls of Reichenbach to save your life?" Holmes joked.

"You'd be even more a hero if you got Archie a new suit." Alexandra said playfully. She pecked him on the lips. "I love you." 

"I love you too, dear." Holmes said. "I'll be back soon."

"Okay." Alexandra said. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Holmes smiled at her and left. 

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ARCHIE, AW YISS. I saw him in the new short from the special (if you haven't seen it, go look it up) and that finalized my decision to put him in here as their son. He was already going to be their adopted child anyway. I LOVE THE ORIGINAL SHERLOCK HOLMES AU.