A/N: Merry Christmas!
There were meant to be more festive one shots BUT working on Christmas Eve for the first time in forever was a shock to my muse.
"Mummy." Jane was in the doorway to her parent's bedroom and staring at her mummy's supposedly slumbering form. A form that rolled over and gestured her five year old over.
"What's wrong baby, it's Christmas Eve, you should be asleep lovely." The groggy voice was a welcome one and the little girl ran in to the bed with her mother.
"There's a man in our kitchen." She whispered. "I want to know if its Santa, but I wanted you to come with me to check so he doesn't put me on the naughty list." Jane whispered and her mother sat bolt upright.
"Someone in the kitchen?" She tucked a lock of hair behind her daughter's ear, squinting at the clock which proudly proclaimed that it was almost 2.30am.
"Yes, but if it's Santa I don't want to get into trouble. Where's Daddy?" Jane tugged at her mother's sleeve, who was now patting the bed next to her.
"He's on a case sweetie." She kissed the top of her daughter's head but had an inkling who the man in the kitchen was. "What did this man look like darling?"
"He had a big red coat on, with a hood up? That's why I think it's Santa Claus." Jane was bright eyed and most definitely awake.
"Okay well I'll got deal with Santa and you go back to bed in case he catches you. That way you won't be on the naughty list." Molly kissed the little girl on the head and with a comical wink, she managed to lead her daughter back to bed and tuck her back in with a kiss on the head before disappearing to the door of the kitchen.
Sure enough, a red cloaked figure was muttering under his breath, cursing might have been a better word.
"Are you struggling Santa?" Molly whispered and 'Santa' turned around, to reveal dark curls and a lack of beard. But a frown marred her husband's pretty features.
"This is ridiculous Molly." Sherlock growled. He was surprised when she rushed over and hushed him. "What?"
"Jane is awake." She turned him so his back was to the door once more. "Don't you dare let her catch you."
"Well then Mrs Holmes, how about we let her catch Mummy kissing Santa Claus?" He said in a low husky voice.
"Don't you dare, she won't forgive me! She'll side with you for the next six months." Molly slapped his arm. "Finish up love, make a fuss in the hallway and come kiss her goodnight. I told her you were on a case." Molly stroked an errant curl and kissed him on the nose before vanishing out of the doorway back to Jane's room who was pretending to be asleep.
Sure enough Sherlock stomped back in fifteen minutes later and rolled into bed with his better half.
"Sherlock?" Molly whispered through the dark. "What were you doing? I put all the presents down hours ago."
"Our darling daughter has spent the last two weeks researching reindeer bites so I was mimicking them in one of the carrots." Sherlock muttered back, pressing a kiss to Molly's forehead, feeling her giggle in his arms.
"She takes after you." She muttered sleepily and burrowed in deeper. "Merry Christmas Sherlock."
"Mmm sleep now love, Jane will be waking us in approximately three and half hours." There was a beat of silence before Molly murmured again. "Why didn't you just take away the carrots, she'd never be able to compare the bites then?" Her voice, though heavy with sleep was curious and Sherlock groaned.
"Why didn't I think of that?"