Author's note 1: After a lot of soul searching and contemplating whether I should just omit the next three chapters, I've decided to continue the story as is for a couple reasons:

1: I researched online about whether writing sex scenes is a conflict for Christians. From what I read, published Christian authors explained that writing sex scenes, when done tastefully and not gratuitously, is just as valid as writing about murders or any other type of scene. It is an important part of human nature and should not be perceived as something shameful. Conveying the emotion behind the physical act also helps to show it as an act of love. This is always how I try to write my scenes, showing the joy of intimacy, especially when within the covenant of marriage as I am writing with this particular story. It's a honeymoon, there's gonna be a lot of sex, I'm afraid. That's real life. But there is also a lot of extremely deep, intense conversation going to happen as well in future chapters, so hopefully the read is worthwhile.

2. I can request reviews, favourites and follows till I am blue in the face and most people simply don't care enough about me or my stories to respond. It is disappointing, but I can live with it, because I understand that to most people, fanfiction is just a lending library and they don't want interaction with the writers. Those who actually do leave feedback and give constructive reviews have always assured me that my writing (even sex scenes) is not uncomfortable to read, and is tastefully done. (Thank you to those of you who have addressed my concerns with that). With no tangible evidence to think differently, I'll go with that premise. If you feel otherwise, I asked for your opinion and you chose to not give it.

3. I realized I cannot hold myself accountable for what other people read, nor their comfort level. Those who do read my works are aware of how far I will take things, and they can decide whether it is better to stick with my T-rated works (and there are plenty of those too). In any case, I'll continue to write love scenes in a tasteful, loving manner, and I will continue to write about God and faith, because that is my calling here. God is love, and we were created to love one another, and Song of Solomon in the Bible talks about sexual love too, so I guess if it is good enough to be in the Bible, it's good enough for me.

Thanks for reading.


Sherlock woke after a restful night. He could tell it was still quite early. There was enough light though, that he could see Molly's face and the way her hair tumbled around her shoulders. There was a faint smile on her face and he spent a few moments just looking at her, marveling over the fact that they had now been married for two days. Two perfect days. He slid his arm out from beneath her and got out of the bed, deciding it was time to have a shower.

Trying not to disturb Molly, he quietly pulled open the drawer in which she had put his boxers and withdrew a pair.

Then he went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. He had no sooner stepped into the tub and under the spray of water, when he heard the sound of Molly moving around in the bedroom. Within a minute she opened the door to the bathroom and came in.

She pulled aside the shower curtain and asked, with a shy smile, "May I join you?" She was holding the new vanilla and patchouli body wash. She had also taken off the locket necklace.

Sherlock swallowed, aware that his body was responding already to her beautifully naked form. "You may enter at your own risk," he informed her, moving further under the spray to allow her room to step into the tub as well.

She put down the body wash at the edge of the tub, then stepped into it. She pushed him even further along the length of the tub so that he was barely getting any of the water and she was getting most of it. He frowned at her, even while he watched the way she had moved to let the water cascade down her hair, certain she was doing it on purpose to tempt him. "Hey! No fair! I was here first."

She gave him a mischievous glance. "Then why don't you come closer to me?" She held out her arms invitingly and he stepped so their bodies were touching. His arms came around her, one hand pressing against the small of her back and the other her perfectly rounded bottom as he bent to Kiss her, feeling the water spray now hit his own hair.

When their lips parted, Molly bent down and picked up a flannel from the side of the bathtub. She handed it to him, then picked up the bottle of body wash and presented him with it also. "You did such a good job of washing me in the bath on our wedding night, I thought perhaps you might like to wash me again in the shower?" She phrased it as a question, giving him a suggestive look that made him draw in his breath. He knew exactly where she was going with this.

"I would be most pleased to wash your body for you, as long as you reciprocate in kind," he informed her with a suggestive look of his own. Then he added, "But you are not using that flowery smelling body wash on me, I'll just take the soap."

Molly nodded her assent then stepped back a pace and waited.

Sherlock obligingly squeezed some body wash onto the now wet flannel and began to wash his wife's body, cleansing every inch of her, eliciting several giggles when he got to those particularly sensitive areas. He thought about that feather in their suitcase, and how much he looked forward to using it to tickle her. Perhaps that's something we can do today, he thought silently.

After washing Molly's hair, massaging her scalp as he did so in a way that made her sigh with pleasure, it was his turn to receive attention.

He set down the body wash onto the side of the tub, and picked up the soap and flannel, going so far as to turn the soap over and over inside the flannel to make a soapy lather, before handing it to Molly.

She washed his body, taking an extraordinarily long time on his buttocks area, until he had to say, swatting at her lingering hands, "Molly, if you take this long, the water is going to get cold."

"Fine," she huffed, darting a glance up at his face, "but you do have a very nice bum, just so you know."

He looked at her in amusement as she moved her attention to another part of his anatomy that was begging for attention. "I certainly hope there are other parts of me you find just as appealing," he murmured, and this time he pulled her towards him so she was left in no doubt what he meant.

"Sherlock!" she exclaimed, looking up at him. "I haven't washed your hair yet."

He huffed in annoyance. "Well hurry up then, Molly. You're the one who started this little game, but believe me, I intend to finish it." His words had the desired effect as her eyes widened and she caught her breath.

She wasted no more time in having him duck his head under the water so she could wash his hair and do her own massage of his scalp, which he enjoyed immensely. After his hair was rinsed clean, he took her in his arms again and kissed her under the water spray, longingly, deeply, sensuously.

His hands moved to caress her sweet breasts and she gasped in pleasure, fueling his own desire for her.

Making love in the shower was a rather interesting experience, he reflected afterwards. It was not perhaps the most comfortable thing, but there was certainly something erotic about standing beneath the water, feeling the displacement of the spray as they made love. It was also rather convenient to be able to cleanse themselves again afterwards, as well as cool down.

Sherlock turned off the shower taps and pulled aside the shower curtain, reaching with his long arms to grasp one of the towels. He placed it around Molly's shoulders then reached for the other towel, with which to dry himself.

Molly lifted a foot to step out of the tub and lost her balance, shrieking as she did so. With lightning reflexes, Sherlock managed to catch and steady her before she could fall back and bump herself against the edge of the tub.

She stood there for a moment, panting from the sudden fear of her foot slipping from beneath her. The towel had dropped from her shoulders and Sherlock picked it up putting it around her again and holding her close. "Okay, love?"

Her arms came around his waist and she buried her face in his chest. "You saved me, Sherlock. I've heard so many stories of people slipping in the bathtub and killing themselves by accident. What if you hadn't been here to save me?"

Her voice was muffled but he could hear the fear in it. He stroked her back gently. "But I was here, sweetheart, and everything's fine."

She let out a deep, shuddering breath and tilted her head back to look at him. He was relieved to see she was not crying, although he did see her blink rapidly several times. "Thank you," she said simply.

"You're welcome," he said in a deep voice, adding a little wickedly, "I suppose that means from now on we must shower together so I can always save you."

Molly giggled then, and he knew her momentary fear had passed. "And if we share a shower every time, am I to expect the same…treatment?" She batted her eyelashes at him.

Sherlock's arms tightened around her as he kissed the top of her head. "Possibly."

She peeked up at him and quipped, "Just goes to show, I'm always falling for you, Sherlock," and he grinned at her.

This time, Sherlock stepped out of the shower first, being very careful not to slip, and then he helped Molly also out of it. Without being asked, he took the towel from her shoulders and used it to dry her hair a little before moving the towel downwards to dry her body as well.

Of course, once he was done, Molly wanted to do the same for him, so he had to duck his head in order to let her reach his own hair before she too dried his body. He thoroughly enjoyed this time of sharing.

Sherlock retrieved his boxers and put them on, noting that Molly had not brought anything into the bathroom with her. He admired her shapely curves as she preceded him out of the bathroom to get her own clothes.

He followed her into the bedroom and said, "If you get your hairbrush, I'll brush your hair for you before you get dressed."

Molly stopped walking and turned towards him. "Thank you, that would be lovely." She picked up her brush from the dressing table and handed it to him, then sat on the bed with her legs crossed. Sherlock sat behind her with one leg on either side of her and he proceeded to brush out her hair, gently untangling the knots that had formed, until it was smooth, and he was satisfied.

He handed her back the hairbrush. "All done."

She tossed her head and he admired the way her hair flowed around her softly, settling back onto her shoulders, looking shiny and still slightly damp. His own hair of course needed nothing but a quick ruffle of his curls. Molly of course insisted on doing the honours.

He cast a glance out the window and saw that the sky had lightened significantly, then darted a look at the alarm clock. It was past eight, and time for them to go down to breakfast. "I guess we should get dressed now and head down to breakfast."

They dressed quickly and then he asked, offering his arm to her, "Ready to go?"

"Mmm, definitely," she responded, taking his arm. "All this early morning activity has me quite famished."

Sherlock snorted at that. "I was the one doing all the work, Mrs. Holmes. If anyone should be hungry, it's me."

She smirked at him. "And I was the one who had to keep a firm grip on the tub in that rather awkward position, if you recall."

He laughed, pressing a kiss to her temple, and they headed downstairs for breakfast.

Kara was waiting downstairs again, ready to make their breakfast. "Good morning," she said brightly. "Would you like some pancakes this morning, or can I make you something else?"

Sherlock smiled at her, then glanced at Molly. "I'm fine with pancakes, how about you, love?

"Pancakes are fine for me too,"she answered.

"Pancakes it is," Kara said, adding, "By the way, I have put some newspapers on the table for you. I think you might be interested." She headed to the kitchen while Sherlock and Molly went to the dining table.

There were two newspapers laying on it, and on the front page of each was a colour photograph from their wedding. One photograph was of just the two of them, in front of the church, while the other had the whole bridal party, and had obviously been taken at Hyde Park when they had been getting their official photographs taken.

Sherlock pulled the newspapers closer and they inspected them. "These are lovely," commented Molly. "It's strange seeing photographs of ourselves before we even get our official ones back." She glanced at him. "Don't we look happy?"

They were seated together at the table, and Sherlock slid his arm around her. "Well, of course we look happy," he told her loftily. "I should think anyone who had just married their soulmate would be feeling rather euphoric."

She giggled and leaned back into him. "I hope we can keep these pictures."

"Even if we can't, I'm sure somebody will clip them from the newspaper, either your mother or my parents," he told her, moving his head to give her an affectionate kiss on the cheek. "I know you will want to add them to your album of newspaper memories."

"Absolutely," she agreed, placing a hand briefly on his knee to give it a quick squeeze.

They looked at the articles which both explained details of where and when they had been married and that they were leaving for an undisclosed location on their honeymoon.

"At least they didn't say sex holiday," noted Molly, giving Sherlock a gentle nudge with her elbow.

Sherlock chuckled and lifted a suggestive eyebrow, waggling it at her. "It would have been just as accurate though, wouldn't it?"

She didn't respond, because Kara came in at that point, bringing their pancakes, as well as butter and syrup.

"May we keep these newspapers?" Sherlock asked her.

"Oh, of course you can," Kara responded with a smile, that is why I picked them up. I thought you might like to see that your wedding had made the newspapers, although I'm not surprised. Front page even! You do make such a lovely couple."

Molly smiled and blushed, while Sherlock responded with, "That is very kind of you to say."

Kara had just turned to leave them, when Molly piped up with, "Oh, we were wondering if we could take the chessboard up to our room?"

"Of course you can. If you wish to play any boardgames in your bedroom, that is completely fine as well. Just return them to where you found them before you leave." With a smile and a wave she left them alone to eat.

Sherlock and Molly enjoyed their breakfast, there was a bowl of fruit on the table as well, and Molly selected a banana to add to her own pancakes.

Once they had finished eating, the pair went over to the chessboard. Fortunately it had drawers in which the pieces could be placed, so they put the pieces away in the drawers and Sherlock carried the chessboard upstairs for them, while Molly gathered the newspapers.

In their bedroom, Sherlock set the chessboard down on the small table beside the window. "Shall we?" he asked, gesturing at the board.

"Absolutely," said Molly with a grin, after setting the papers down on the end of the dressing table.. "I look forward to beating the pants off of you – literally."

Sherlock chuckled. "That remains to be seen, my love."

They sat down at the chessboard and put the pieces on it correctly. "I'll let you go first, "said Sherlock, ushering Molly to the side on which white was.

"Why thank you, kind sir," Molly smirked, and Sherlock had the distinct feeling she had not been bluffing about her skill.

In the end, Sherlock found that they were quite evenly matched. What was most amusing was the fact that they were only halfway into the game and completely naked, having basically lost pieces alternately, first both losing bishops, then two sets of pawns, which left Sherlock naked, followed by one of Molly's knights, which precipitated the removal of her knickers, because she had the extra article of clothing with her bra, much to Sherlock's irritation.

"Next time we will need to add extra layers of clothing, I suppose," he commented dryly.

Molly burst out laughing, and finally Sherlock smiled and joined in. They were nowhere close to completing the game. "Whose idea was this anyway?" she asked between bouts of laughter, as she made her next move, taking Sherlock's own knight. "You don't even have any clothes left to take off!"

Sherlock gave her a smouldering look. "This one was entirely your idea, my love. Considering we are both naked already, are you sure you want to continue with this game?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Molly tossed her head. "Oh no you don't. I fully intend to win this game."

And win it she did, although Sherlock was never quite sure whether she won due to her chess prowess, or chest prowess which kept distracting him. She certainly spent a lot of time putting her hands behind her head casually and leaning back giving him a full view of those luscious curves, while waiting for him to make his next move. Next time though, he was determined that they would play the game fully clothed so that it was completely fair.

On her cry of "Checkmate!" he laid his king down on the board and stood. Molly stood as well. "Do I get a reward?" she asked, giving him a mischievous look and crossing her arms in front of her chest as if in shyness, which was rather silly, considering her bottom half was completely exposed, even more silly, considering the way she had been deliberately exposing her breasts to him during the game.

He glanced at the clock to see the time, then looked down at her, a smile playing over his lips. "I think it's time for an early lunch, and after that you can decide whether I give you a massage or we try out that blindfold and handcuffs while I tickle you with that black feather."

She uncrossed her arms and wound them around his neck instead. "How about lunch and then we do both?" Then she added, "and don't forget - you have to do your part and wear that thong from Mrs. Hudson."

He rolled his eyes. He had been hoping she would forget about that particular article of skimpy clothing, but if she were to make him wear it, at the very least she would also have to wear those crotchless knickers. He pulled her close, giving her a lingering kiss, teasing her with an experimental tiny shoulder massage, before releasing her so they could eat those chips which would definitely not taste as good cold, but would save them needing to go out anywhere for lunch.

Oh yes, he was very much looking forward to the afternoon and evening ahead, and the best part was, he didn't even have to worry about taking off her clothes, because they were already on the floor next to the chessboard, just as his own were.


Author's note 2: Yes, slipping in the shower can be fatal, although it usually happens to the elderly. Did you enjoy their rather unsuccessful attempt at playing strip chess?

So, heads up on the next chapter - if you don't wanna read about the handcuffs/blindfold/feather, you might want to give it a miss.