Molly felt her heart flutter in her chest as she gazed at her husband buzzing around the parlor at 221B Baker Street. They had been married six months but she still found herself in disbelief that their relationship was real at times. However, her most fervent dreams had come true. Sherlock Holmes was her husband and not only that, he was the other half of the tiny little life inhabiting her womb.
"Aha," he exclaimed as he retrieved a shopping tote from behind his chair, "I knew it had to be around here somewhere."
Molly shifted on the sofa as he neared. The plastic of the bag crinkled noisily as he extracted what looked like an odd hump of a pillow.
She blinked several times. "What is this?"
"Leg support," he cleared a spot on the coffee table and set down the pillow.
"Leg support? I'm only a few weeks pregnant, Mr. Holmes. I do not think I will be needing this for quite some time."
His lips poked out as he stared down at the pillow.
"I … em, it-it is quite daunting to choose a gift for you in your condition, I haven't any notion of how to adequately … reward? …you," he murmured with a wrinkle between his brows, "but I overheard a pair of pregnant women complaining about their feet in the third shop I visited. So, when I found this in the fifth shop …"
Sherlock's voice died.
He scratched his head as he looked up with her with rounded eyes.
"It … it has cherries on it."
Molly tucked in her lip to prevent a smile. She loved him so much right then that she thought her heart might actually burst. One by one, she lifted her legs atop the pillow. She could cry when she saw the pattern. There were, in fact, cherries printed on the cover.
"This is very comfortable, actually. Thank-you," she gulped down a lump.
Sherlock slipped into the seat at her right and grabbed her hands. He kissed every finger before raising his head.
"I am ridiculous," he muttered.
"No!" She giggled. "Oh, you darling man, you visited five shops? To reward me? Whatever on earth for?"
He dropped his gaze and rubbed his thumbs over the back of her hands. "For making me so happy."
He kissed her hands again and lingered over her knuckles. He had been doing that a lot lately.
"You make me happy too but also ecstatic and deliriously joyful all the time," she said quickly, "I love you so much it hurts."
His eyes were misty when he looked up at her once more. "L-Likewise."
Again, lips feathered over her flesh.
"Y-You don't have to keep doing that," she whispered.
"Mm, indulge me," his voice rumbled against her hands, "you smell of cleanser and tea leaves and orange blossoms - three of my favorite things, I've determined. Everything I adore about you can be found by appreciating these glorious hands. They have been my punishment and my salvation and now they determine my fate because of what they hold."
Molly's pulse quickened. "Oh? What is that?"
His eyes softened. "My heart, Molly Holmes. My heart is in your hands."