Appledore, Five Years Later
"They're here!"
Fourteen-year-old Archie could scarce contain his excitement as he made his announcement. Six years' training and service had done little to repress his naturally exuberant personality. Nor would any who knew and loved him have it any other way.
His elder brother Aldwin entered the Great Hall at a more sedate pace, as befit his status as a newly-wed man with his first child on the way. His marriage had been arranged within a year of his eighteenth birthday, but it was obvious to all who saw him and his wife Rosamund together that it was a love match, indeed.
The lord of Appledore smiled fondly at his two liege-men as they came to a stop in front of him and bowed. The past six years had been in turn tumultuous, disastrous, and prosperous to not only himself but his family and, yea, all of England. He prayed that the prosperity and peace would continue indefinitely, but the cursed French were ever champing at the bit to take the British Isles for their own, and he knew his days of quiet country life would eventually come to an end.
But not today. With a glad smile, Sir John of Appledore rose to his feet, as did his beloved wife Mary. They stepped down from the raised dais and their interrupted noon meal, as eager as Archie and Aldwin to greet their guests.
Six-year-old William was the first to enter, barreling enthusiastically into his Uncle Archie's arms while Aldwin stood aside and pretended not to be affected. His twitching lips gave him away, however, and his smile could not be hidden as his sister and her husband entered the room.
"My lord," John said with a bow as Sherlock approached him.
"John," his friend replied, grinning and clasping his forearms in greeting. "You're looking well. You've put on, what, four pounds since my last visit?"
"Two and a half," John muttered in response, exasperated and amused all at once. A familiar feeling when it came to the former King.
"Mm, Mary and I think four," Sherlock replied blandly, even as he bent down to kiss Mary on her cheek. She dimpled up at him, very careful not to look at her husband as she did so. The better not to be seen laughing at him, he thought grumpily. But the touch of her hand on his brought him out of his temporary sourness.
"You never change," he merely said to Sherlock, not-so-secretly envious that married life hadn't thickened his friend's waistline. Ah, but give it time…
With an unfeigned smiled he took Molly's hands in his and kissed her cheek. "You're looking well, my lady."
"Pfft, enough with the formalities," Sherlock interrupted. "No more of this 'my lord' and 'my lady' claptrap. Molly and Sherlock will do just fine, as always." He glanced around the Great Hall, his keen eyes taking in details that John knew he himself would never notice. "So where are the rest of your tedious offspring, hmm? We've seen Rosamund, very wise to allow her to stay at home rather than force her into this drafty keep when her time is so near. Aldwin!" he bellowed suddenly, causing his brother-in-law to pale and start a bit before obediently stepping forward. "You've done your duty. Go home to your wife. Molly will visit as soon as we are settled in."
The eldest of his two brothers-in-law gave a jerky bow, hurried over to press a quick kiss to Molly's cheek, then sped out of the room without a further glance backward.
"He's insisting on being there for birth," John commented with a frown. "I've no idea where he gets such peculiar notions."
Mary arched an eyebrow. "From his very peculiar brother-in-law, no doubt," she replied with a knowing grin at Molly. "Did you not say in your last letter that he intended to be there for your own child's birth in five month's time?"
Molly blushed, but nodded and smiled up at her husband, the once and former King of England. "Indeed he did," she said softly. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "And indeed, I shall allow it. My mother will be scandalized, but she is quite used to being scandalized by my dear husband by now."
"She won't allow William to be there, however," Sherlock added with a small frown as he lowered her hand from his lips...but not, Mary and John both noted with private satisfaction, releasing his clasp. "I told her it would be an important learning experience…"
"And I told him," Molly interrupted firmly, "that I do not wish to have my entire family gawping at me whilst I am in the middle of giving birth. You may tell him of the experience afterwards, perhaps, but the only people I will allow in that room will be the midwife, my mother, and you, husband."
The talk soon became more general, much to John's secret relief; he was far from squeamish, but such talk made his stomach slightly queasy.
Still, he could be nothing but happy for his friend and former King; he seemed to have shed years the moment he'd shed the crown he'd so gladly abdicated to his brother. King Edward was back in robust health, the shocked nation had rejoiced at his miraculous return from the dead, and now Molly and Sherlock were finally adding to the family they'd started with little William.
As Mary took his arm and they escorted their friends to their chambers, he could not help but feel well contented with how their mutual lives had all turned out.
A/N: Welp, there you have it, folks. Thank you for your time. :)
