AN: My thanks to MorbidbyDefault/MorbidMegz and PattyMarq for some of the costume suggestions mentioned in this part. I had planned for this to be a two-part story but really got bogged down in this scene. All will be revealed in the final part so please bear with me if this scene is a bit slow. - CG

Disclaimer: The characters portrayed in this are not my creation, all rights belong to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the writers/producers of BBC Sherlock. No copyright infringement intended.


The next day, John was reconsidering his earlier interpretation of the challenge as entertaining. As they left the morgue, Sherlock instantly began researching pumpkin carving on his mobile. Apparently he found some basic information on what kind of pumpkins were best suited for carving and insisted they stop on the way back to Baker Street for supplies. A total of five pumpkins "of optimal size, shape and density" were purchased. Three of them still sat on the kitchen counter.

Sherlock took to pumpkin carving research with the same intensity he did everything. There were printed pages showing illustrations of various pumpkin designs all over the flat. A pre-packaged kit of carving instructions and tools had also been purchased, although the instructions had been discarded. He rapidly became frustrated with the flimsy tools of the kit and chose to improvise with his own vast assortment of odd knives and scrapers. Unfortunately, he didn't have any natural artistic ability, despite his talents with the violin. One vegetal victim already lay in a puddle of chunks and orange goo on the table. He was now experimenting on victim number two.

"Do you think you might be going a bit overboard?" John inquired.

"I refuse to lose," Sherlock huffed. "If children and Molly can do this, I can most certainly do better."

"You can't be better than everyone at everything," cautioned the doctor.

There was a flicker across the detective's face as a thought coalesced. John recognized that look, it meant he had figured out something critical, and waited patiently to see the result. Surely the man-child wasn't going to back down.

"You're right, John. I don't have to be better than everyone, I just have to be better than her."

"I will not have you sabotage her pumpkin!" John's voice rose and he pointed a finger at his friend, "That would be cheating, and as witness to the bet, I will not allow it."

"No, not cheating."

"And no spying either. I'm going to text her right now to keep her project under lock-and-key." He hastily typed out the message to Molly.

"That won't be necessary. I am sure she has already relocated her attempt to some other refrigerator. I simply don't need to attempt any of these overly complex designs." He went back to his papers, choosing a new style of carving. It wasn't overly fussy, but it appealed to him and would be fitting with his skill level. It would definitely trump whatever cheesy conventional design Molly would certainly have chosen.

Deep in the bowels of the hospital, Molly was hard at work on her design. She had done a lovely tiger last year but, wanting to wow both the crowd and Sherlock, she was going in a much more fantastical direction this time. When she received the text from John warning her about Sherlock's potential to try and cheat, she quickly responded.

Thanks for the warning, but I'm already ahead of you. And, although I trust you, I don't trust him not to deduce it from you, so I'm not telling you where. It's best if you don't know. - Molly

John chuckled softly to himself. As often as Sherlock glossed over the fact, Molly was clever and could give the detective a run for his money. He started to wonder what costume she had in mind for Sherlock. He had no doubts in his mind that she would win. Even if she didn't win the trophy again, she would certainly be able to best the novice currently up to his elbows in stringy orange slop in their kitchen. He texted her, hoping she would let him in on her plans.

Any thoughts to what costume you'll make him wear? I have some suggestions. - JW

It caught Molly off-guard when John started asking about what costumes she was considering. The thought of Sherlock in his regular suits made her heart rate increase, imagining him in a variety of costumes made her light-headed.

No, I haven't. I don't want him to hate me forever. I was going to be kind, choose something he might at least tolerate. - Molly

You can't do that! It's a bet, it has to be embarrassing. C'mon, a bunny or Cupid! Gah, I'd love to see the look on the Yarder's faces to Sherlock in a loincloth. - JW

Reading John's suggestion of a Cupid costume made Molly turn scarlet. Sherlock in basically nothing but his pants. OH. Goodness. She would likely die of embarrassment or from the murderous stares he would subject her too. No, that certainly wouldn't happen.

OH NO! He'd never speak to me again! - Molly

Molly spoke into the deserted lab around her, "He'll look wonderful no matter what he's wearing. I could have him match the costume I'm already planning on wearing, but then we'd look like a couple. Although, where's the harm in that?"

Back at 221B, John's bark of laughter distracted Sherlock and he looked up.

"I take it I was correct, Molly did not need your warning," he said with his usual cold detachment.

"Nope, seems she's already planning what to make you wear when she wins." John was still visualizing Sherlock in something utterly embarrassing. It was no secret the pathologist liked the man, she would certainly have fantasized about him in something skin tight or revealing. Maybe a superhero costume.

Sherlock scoffed, "She would be wise not to be so overly confident."

"What like you?" John's eyebrows raised, as he needled, "You're in over your head, mate."

"It am just getting a feel for the medium," Sherlock defended as his hand slipped on the smooth surface of the gourd and left a deep gouge. He hissed unpleasantly, that apparently wasn't part of the new design. Dropping that one in the bin, he headed for number three.

"Yeah, right," John snorted. "But say you did win, what costume do you have in mind to make her wear?" This was the perfect opportunity for John to see what kind of secret fantasies the detective might harbor for the pathologist. It was possible that the constant barbs the man tossed in Molly's direction, about her appearance and her boyfriends, were a bizarre form of flirting. Very childish, but for a man who clearly had issues acting his age, it wasn't beyond reason.

"Most anything would look better on Molly than the tired, shapeless jumpers she normally wears."

"So you are aware she is a full grown woman, with a figure to match?" John couldn't help indulging in a fantasy of his own, Molly Hooper in a french maid outfit like Mary had worn last year. He knew he really shouldn't, she was a friend, but the image was certainly alluring.

"Please try to control yourself. She isn't some doll to drool over." John's eyes grew wide with shock at being found out, but of course, Sherlock could practically read minds. Thankfully the man didn't look up to see the corresponding embarrassed blush rise on the doctor's face. "But yes, I have an idea."