PART 3

Molly and Theo spent the next several hours putting together their new home. Molly had left all her furniture from before in her flat, so finding a couch and television stand was not hard. Molly had ordered a bedroom set for her son before they'd arrived in London after her and Theo had a conversation about how he would like to stay in London every summer after this on. Molly had agreed, having missed her old home, and placed the order that day. The two had spent the day surveying the furniture men as they moved the new, necessary furniture into the flat.

After the workers left, Molly and Theo went to the deli and had sandwiches before going shopping for food and toiletries. Molly didn't know how they managed it, but they always managed to have fun doing the silliest things. They talked of what Theo could and could not do while Molly was working at Barts', what Molly's work schedule was, what time Theo's curfew was, and how they planned on celebrating Theo's birthday. It was June 11, and Theo was born on July 30 at two in the afternoon.

Molly always teased her son about the date and time of his birth. It had been over 100 degrees that July afternoon, and Molly had to endure the heat, the humidity, and the labor pains while she was giving to Theo all by herself. Of course, the moment Molly saw her baby boy all her complaints about the heat and the pain went away. Her baby was absolutely perfect, and she'd given birth to him without any help from anyone but the nurses and the doctor. Her brother, Edward, and his wife, Sarah, had come to see her the day before they discharged her and Baby Theo from the hospital, and Molly had been a happy single mother ever since.

Theo would always blush and mutter something about how he couldn't help that he was born on such a hot day.

While out shopping, Molly found a plaque with the words 'HOOPER HOME' on it, and Theo's eyes lit up when he saw it. He gave her his best puppy dog look, and she found herself buying the plaque along with two cartons of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia because of her son. Theo had a triumphant smirk on his face the whole way home.

When it had been time for bed, Molly and Theo whipped out their new toothbrushes and huddled in the one bathroom of the flat, seeing who could brush the fastest. Molly won, even though her son claimed that he let her win. Molly gave her son a kiss goodnight and padded out of the bathroom and into her old living room.

She sat on her flowery sofa, staring at the large print with disgust. Why she ever thought this sofa was cute was beyond her. She giggled when she thought of her son's expression when he'd witnessed the horror of her 29-year-old self's furniture choices. He'd shaken his head with a "I don't want to know" and had gone to check out his room.

Oh, the joys of having a child, Molly thought, thinking fondly of her son.

Molly called Courtney, who had bought a flat closer to the middle of town, and asked how she had been settled. Courtney and Molly made small talk for the first few minutes of the phone call. They eventually both grew tired of the pleasantries and talked of work and the schedule. Molly was grateful when Courtney said that they were both allowed a week to settle into their new homes before they had to report to Bart's. It'd taken some courage, but Molly asked Courtney if the younger woman had heard any news of a man named... 'Sherlock Holmes' while speaking to the head mortician, but Courtney denied hearing anything. Molly sighed, letting her hope become a little bigger that maybe... Sherlock had left London in boredom. It was becoming easier to say his name, but it still left a dull ache in her heart.

She hung up the phone with Courtney a few minutes later and spared a glance at the clock. It was almost midnight. Molly sighed, thinking about the days when she would work at Bart's well into the night. Those days were over however; she had a son to take care of. Molly had made an agreement with Courtney, saying that she would not take any night shifts or calls while she was in England, half because she did not feel comfortable leaving her son in an environment he didn't know and half because that would bring back memories that Molly didn't want.

She turned off the lights in the living room and kitchen and climbed the stairs of her flat and went to her old bedroom. Molly hadn't entered her old room since being in her flat, and she sucked in a painful breath as she looked around her old room. It was decidedly feminine, as Molly still was, but she didn't care about that. She stared at the bed. That had been the very bed that her son had been conceived in. When she flicked off the lights and climbed into it, she let the tears fall until she was sobbing silently.

This is the last time you will cry over him, Margaret Anne Hooper, she commanded to herself.

Molly fell asleep with tears on her cheeks.

She woke to the smell of eggs and bacon. She smiled when she heard her son humming to himself downstairs. She grabbed for her dressing gown, an English habit that she could never seem to drop, and went into the bathroom. She had tear stains on her cheeks, which Molly washed away. She knew that Theo would be upset if he knew she'd been crying. She brushed her teeth again, used the loo, and walked downstairs with a fresh smile and a happy disposition.

"Morning, Mom!" Theo greeted cheerily. It seemed that Molly wasn't the only one in a good mood.

"G'morning, my dear," Molly said, walking over to her son. She stood on her tip toes to kiss his cheek and then surveyed the cooking food on the stove. "Looks good, Theo." She looked at him playfully. "You must have been taught to cook by an extremely good chef."

Theo laughed loudly, catching his mother's drift. "Well, I did learn from the best," he replied, bumping his mom with his hip. "But, no matter how good I can make bacon and eggs, I cannot make the best French-Pressed Coffee."

Molly chuckled. "Yes, save that for the master."

Theo bowed sarcastically at his mom. "Yes, Master Margaret."

"Hey," Molly said sharply. Theo stilled, turning to his mother with a worried expression. Molly glared at him, trying to suppress the grin that was threatening to break through. "It's Mistress Mother to you."

Theo guffawed at his mother's lameness. "Okay, whatever, Mom."

The two ate breakfast and drank their coffee before deciding they were going to go sight-seeing. Theo offered to get in the shower first, and Molly had been grateful for the quiet. She needed to think. Molly knew that John and... Sherlock would recognize her if they saw her, but she knew that it would take them longer to figure out who Theo was. Even though Theo was only fourteen, he could easily pass for a man. Molly decided if she saw John that she would make no attempt to escape the conversation of who Theo was, but, if she saw Sherlock, she would grab her son out of self-preservation and book the hell out of there.

Molly laughed at the thought of Sherlock's shocked expression at seeing her flee from him. She knew that he would no doubt pursue her, but she wanted to make sure he wouldn't catch her until her son was safely locked in her old flat before she would talk to Sherlock. The last thing she needed was for Theo to find out who is father was while out on a day on the town. It was listed in the Book of Things Molly Hooper Never Wanted to Deal With.

Theo took long showers, so Molly thought more on escape roots and tactics until her son emerged from the steamy bathroom, calling her name to tell her he was done before pounding up the stairs and into his room in nothing more than a towel around his hips. He is such a poor planner, Molly thought to herself. She went to her room, grabbed her necessities, and departed to the bathroom. Her shower was quick and speedy. She didn't like shriveling up into a wrinkly prune like her son did.

She dressed just as fast and opened the door to let out the steam. She blow dried her hair and walked out of the bathroom, completely ready, to find her son sitting on the flowery sofa playing on his smart phone that she'd bought the both of them. She winced when she saw the flower sofa in the daylight. I really need a new couch, she thought to herself.

Theo looked up at her and smiled. "You ready?" he asked, pocketing his phone.

Molly nodded. "Yep!" Ready as I'll ever be, she added dryly in her mind. She grabbed her phone and purse and silently prayed to God that she would not run into anyone unexpected.

She started with the zoo. Theo had loved the zoo when he was little, and she was ecstatic that he still got that giddy look in his eyes when she'd told him where they would go. He was practically bouncing in his seat, just like he'd done when he was a little, seven-year-old boy. Molly reminisced in silence as her son as a little boy. Theo had been such a good boy; all the mothers of Theo's little friends always told Molly how polite her son had been. Molly knew from the moment she discovered she was pregnant with a son that he would be brought up knowing his manners. The world did not need a Sherlock II running around causing havoc and mayhem.

When they reached the zoo, Molly let her son drag her around. It was a nice, sunny day - not too hot and not too cold - and Molly decided that she wouldn't mind spending the whole day at the zoo. After all, she and Theo had six more days to see the actual city. The Hooper two marveled at the series of animals that they'd seen. Molly had gripped her son's arm in the reptile house, and he'd just smirked, being a good son and not saying anything about his mother's fear of the reptiles. It didn't matter than Molly cut open dead people; lizards gave her the creeps.

It had been around five o'clock when Theo's stomach growled loudly. They both laughed with each other, the other's laughs infectious, and decided that their day at the zoo had ended. Molly, hungry and thirsty, couldn't help but notice that her body was tired. She didn't know if it was from age or from worrying about meeting someone unexpected, but all she knew was that she would sleep soundly that night.

Her and Theo decided that Chinese takeaway was the way to go. The cab dropped them off at their flat, the 'HOOPER HOME' plaque on the door shining brightly in the sunset, and Molly went inside to change into warmer clothing before leaving.

"Okay, I'm going," Molly yelled to her son up the stairs.

Theo's door opened and his curly mop popped out. "'Kay, Mom!"

Molly sighed, the nervousness getting to her. "Keep your cell near you at all times and do not - I repeat - do NOT open the door for anyone but me, do you understand."

Her son rolled his eyes. "Duh."

"Theodore," she said warningly.

"Yes, Mother."

Molly smiled. "Good boy. Be back in about 25."

Without another word, Molly opened the front door and made her way to Chinese takeaway.

"Your total will be £25, ma'am," the cashier told her.

Molly handed over the money, smiling politely at the pretty, Asian woman manning the register who was staring at Molly curiously because of her American accent. She waited patiently for her receipt and walked to the nearest empty table near the door and proceeded to wait for her food.

Molly was in the process of playing Sudoku on her phone when a familiar voice broke threw her wall of concentration.

"Two things of fried rice, please," the voice said.

Molly had her back to the register, so she couldn't tell for sure. She ducked her head, putting her face closer to her smart phone in the hopes of the voice not recognizing her. She so, so, SO didn't need this right now. She had a child at home, and she didn't feel like dealing with an old friend right now.

But it was too late. God must have hated her, because soon there was a startled gasp. "M-Molly? Molly HOOPER?"

Molly took a deep breath, preparing herself. She turned around and faced the old friend with a small smile. "Hello, John."

A/N: DUN DUN DUNNNNNN. HI JAWN! I wonder what will happen next! Well, I don't have to wonder, because, ya know, I write these things. Anyway, read and review! xoxo Carly