Sherlock nodded. "I can. I intend to." Because he was going right back to courting her, dammit.

John nodded.

"Good," he said. "Any thoughts on what you're going to leave next? Bree tells me Charlotte liked the gifts you left up until we came here."

Sherlock rumbled a bit. "She needs food," he said. "And she will not leave her nest. I will bring her food."

John nodded. That was a good, solid plan.

"Let me know if you need a hand with anything," he offered.

Sherlock shook his head a bit. "She will want something fresh after this," he said. "I will find her a buck in the area and give it to her." Hunting skills were important, after all, as was food, and he was giving her both in one. Hopefully she would be impressed rather than pissy.

"Alright," John said. "You know best." He trusted Sherlock's judgement on this one. He turned and stepped out of the way a bit when he heard the door open again.

Bree had a small bag with her, and a cup of tea to go.

"Alright, I'm ready."

Sherlock nodded and motioned for her to make her way outside.

"I'll make sure to have some tea ready when you get back," John said to Bree. "Or I'll have Sherlock bring some for you."

"Thanks," Bree said with a smile. "I'll see you later." She headed outside, and Sherlock followed. He was escorting her back into the breeding grounds, after all.

Charlotte was waiting for them back in the cave. She was curled up in the nest she had made, resting.

Sherlock didn't enter, instead guarding near the entrance.

"Charlotte?" Bree called as she made her way inside. "Where are you?"

"Bree?" Charlotte called, lifting her head. There was a fire going at the back of the cave that she'd had Sherlock start earlier, and the whole cave was rather warm. Charlotte shifted a bit in the nest with a soft huff, her sides bulging slightly from the eggs.

"Hey there." Bree smiled as she made her way over. "How are you doing?" She waited for permission to climb into the nest, though.

Charlotte moved to the edge of the nest carefully and settled down there, as close to Bree as she could manage without bringing Bree into the nest.

"The mating was successful," she said. "There will be four eggs, possibly five. I cannot tell exactly how many, yet."

"That's good," Bree agreed. "Either number is good, especially for your first time." She smiled. "So how are you feeling?"

"It is... uncomfortable," Charlotte replied. "I will be glad when they are laid."

"It should only be, what, another day or two?" Bree asked, craning to see Charlotte better. "Then they'll be laid and you'll be more comfortable."

Charlotte nodded a bit.

"Tomorrow, most likely," she said. She sighed a bit. "And another few days after that for the shells to harden sufficiently to handle."

"Yes," Bree agreed. "Which is fine." She nodded her satisfaction of Charlotte's state and settled in.

Charlotte settled in as well, laying her head down near Bree. It was nice to have the company without Sherlock hovering over her.

The next morning, Sherlock left a good-sized buck for Charlotte, and a basket for Bree with a note from John. That he'd deposited only with a bit of wheedling, but he'd done it.

John had ended up needing to pull the courtship card in order to get Sherlock to leave the basket for Bree. He tried to be thoughtful in what he sent her.

Charlotte managed to eat most of the buck once she dragged it into the cave. By sundown, however, the remains of the buck were forgotten in favor of finally laying the first of her clutch.

Bree had been touched by John sending her a whole care basket, essentially, and it kept her fed and amused all day. She stayed with Charlotte through the night, dozing on and off, although she was awake whenever her friend needed her. And she was definitely looking forward to the eggs.

It took until almost midnight for Charlotte to finish laying her eggs, and she curled up next to them afterwards, tired. She ended up with four, and one was indeed a bit smaller than the others.

Bree noted that and kept track of the four eggs. The smallest one Charlotte would be allowed to keep, and the other three would stay. Still, not at all bad for a first time mother.