Fic Rec: Nature and Nurture

[swissmarg]

Title: Nature and Nurture
Author: earlgreytea68
Pairing: John/Sherlock
Length: 203,273 words
Rating: Mature
Warnings: None
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: The British Government accidentally clones Sherlock Holmes. Which brings a baby to 221B Baker Street.

Reccer's comments: Well, this obviously has to have a rec done for it. This is currently the most popular Johnlock fic on AO3 based on kudos. So what makes it so great?

For anyone who doesn't know the story, the premise is that Sherlock has been cloned without his knowledge, and the baby ends up in John and Sherlock's care. What might have been a cracky premise turns out to be one of those fics you just want to crawl into and curl up inside and never leave.

One thing that made this fic attractive to me was the fix-it aspect. Sherlock basically gets to relive his entire childhood - well, babyhood and toddlerhood anyway, which is as far as the story takes us - but this time, everything gets done right. The way he would have wanted it. The way that would have made him happy. And if that wasn't enough to tug on your heartstrings, John is right there being his champion every step of the way, defending all of Sherlock's somewhat unorthodox choices.

John picked him up and held him tightly, thinking of all the things he already had to say, all the things Sherlock must have had to say for years, with no one there to listen to him. “We’re going to listen to every single thing you have to say,” John whispered, fiercely, to the baby. “Every thought in your head is going to be important to us. And there’ll be crime scenes and there’ll be experiments, but there will never be anything more important than you, I promise you. Never. We will keep you adored and beloved and never lonely. Do you understand me?”

Oliver paused in his cooing and snuffled at John’s neck, and John thought that translated to a yes, you’re being silly, I already knew all this. He loosened his hold on Oliver a little bit, and Oliver twisted, reaching toward the bedroom door and the world beyond it.

Then there is the lushly gorgeous relationship development between John and Sherlock. Have you ever seen one of those videos of the dog greeting his master when he comes home from military service? That's how reading every interaction between John and Sherlock in this fic made me feel. Like bursting with happiness at how perfect it is, and maybe a bit choked up.

And of course there is a case. Because where exactly did Sherlock's clone come from in the first place? And... don't those people want him back?

Throughout it all is the astonishing little Oliver, who's both entirely normal and entirely Sherlock, and both John and Sherlock aim to keep him that way.

It's funny, it's heartwarming, it's wistful, it's touching, and most of all it's a feel-good fic of the first order.

Comments

[japonicastar.livejournal.com]

A hundred times agreeing with this. Although is there many fanfic fans who have not read this yet? If there are, what a treat. I often have a few days re-reading and enjoying it all once again too. :)

[swissmarg]

Going by the number of kudos, there probably isn't anyone who hasn't read it yet. :) But I don't always rec things that I think people haven't read. I also see this comm as a list of the very best the fandom has to offer, and so I often add things that are very popular already - as I think some other reccers do too.
This is a way of helping new fans (and there are always new ones coming with every new season of the show) to find the 'classics', which is always a common question. As well as helping old fans to remember their favorites and have a place to go for reference.

[bk7brokemybrain.livejournal.com]

YESSSSSS! Omg yes. Loved this so much.
I loved little Oliver's developing vocabulary, and also Mycroft's reaction to all this and his increasing closeness to his new family. Very heartwarming.

[wynterblackwell.livejournal.com]

Well, I might be the only one who didn't read it yet...

I did know about it but I didn't want to start it until it was finished than somehow I managed to forget about it :) So thanks. Definitely reading it now.

[swissmarg]

Cool, I'm glad it jogged your memory. Enjoy!

[frodosweetstuff.livejournal.com]

Oh, I still need to read this - I was waiting for this to be finished and then a big RL disaster struck which has made me forget all kinds of things and kept me from being online. Thanks for the reminder!

[swissmarg]

Oh no, disasters are bad! I hope things are going better for you and that this fic can provide a welcome respite.

[frodosweetstuff.livejournal.com]

Sadly, the disaster was a life-altering one and I expect it will take quite a while to adjust. :( But thank you!

[sam80853.livejournal.com]

This really is a MUST-read. No question about it. I love it!

[mirabile-dictu.livejournal.com]

It really has the most kudos for good reasons, doesn't it. Just made my heart clench up and love all the characters so much. Thank you for thinking of recommending it! As I see some from comments here, not everyone has read it, and that's a shame.