For NiceNipps.
When Sherlock entered his childhood home, followed closely by John who was concerned for his wife and child, they found everyone gathered in the sitting room. The drug obviously stopped working just as expected. But they all looked angry. Which was also to be expected.
Mary stood up first and rushed to hug her husband.
"I was so worried when I woke up and you were gone. Are you alright?" she asked but didn't wait for an answer before she punched Sherlock in the arm.
"Was that really necessary?" the consulting detective asked, rubbing his hand over the spot where she punched him. She was much stronger then one would think.
"That and so much more." Mommy Holmes said seriously and Sherlock flinched. He knew what was coming.
But before she managed to start her tirade the doors to the room opened and Mycroft walked in, carrying his laptop and then unceremoniously dropped it on the coffee table. Everyone flinched when the device banged on the wood loudly and John frowned.
That was the laptop he was extremely possessive of, acting like it was the most important thing in the world. Well, for a man that was the British government it probably was. God knows what kind of information was stored on it.
And Sherlock stole it took it to Magnussen's house.
The retired army doctor knew the consequences won't be pretty.
"Mycroft?" Timothy Holmes called his son's name, not understanding what was going on. No one really told them anything.
"What were you thinking, Sherlock? Are you trying to ruin my career and your life at the same time? Is that it?" the older Holmes brother wasn't even trying to hide his anger behind a mask of indifference he wore most of the time.
"Relax, Mycroft." Sherlock said like it was no big deal and his brother huffed.
"Relax?!" Mycroft completely lost his composure and shouted, making everyone jump.
"Now, Now… Mike. There is no reason for you to yell." Wanda tried to calm her older son but it wasn't working this time.
"Mommy, Sherlock is facing treason charges."
"For what?" Sherlock asked with a frown, "For a laptop full of Molly's researches, university papers and my all 243 analysis of types of tobacco ash? I honestly doubt those are state secrets, Mycroft."
"What?" the British Government was utterly confused.
"Your laptop never left the house. I'm not an idiot."
"I'm not completely certain about that." John muttered and Mary squeezed his arm to stop herself from laughing.
Mycroft took a deep breath, "Then where is it?"
"Upstairs in my room. In the drawer." Sherlock answered and his brother walked past him to go and retrieve his laptop when Sherlock added, "Under Molly's underwear."
Those words made Mycroft stop and turn back towards his brother, his eyes narrowing. He was not amused. No one, not even his brother, had the right to make him look like a fool.
Molly rolled her eyes at the siblings, "I'll go and get it." She volunteered.
"Thank you Miss Hooper." Mycroft said with a tight smile, "I'm afraid I have to accompany you."
"Want to get a glimpse of woman's knickers, brother?" Sherlock mocked him with a wide grin that vanished the moment Molly stopped in front of him and gave him a serious look, "Sorry."
"This isn't over Sherlock. I agreed to help you but there are some lines that need to be drawn. You drugged me. You drugged your parents. You drugged a pregnant woman. If you think you'll get away with this with only a verbal warning you are solemnly mistaken."
Sherlock narrowed his eyes, "Like you could ever resist me." he mocked.
Molly gave him a small smile and glanced towards Mary before calmly asking, "Who said anything about me resisting you?"
When Molly and Mycroft left the sitting room to retrieve the real laptop containing government secrets and whatnot Sherlock turned towards the other occupants. None of them looked happy.
His mother spoke for everyone when she said, "There are some things a simply sorry can't fix." After everyone nodded, even John who was with him the whole time, that traitor, she added, "Only way you can redeem yourself in my eyes are grandchildren."
Mary snickered and Sherlock threw her a dirty look before pointing out to his mother, "Mycroft is older. Why aren't you bothering him?"
"Because, Sherlock dear, your brother is more likely to scare a woman away than have her agree on a date. Girls like Molly are rare, I hope you know what."
Sherlock nodded, "I do know."
He knew his mother was right. Any other woman would have run away screaming a long time ago if he treated her the way he treated Molly in the past. But those times were now behind him. He made a point to prove to Molly Hooper every single day just how much she mattered to him.
That night, after everyone else retreated in their rooms, Mycroft Holmes stayed in the sitting room a bit longer. He was on the phone with Anthea, getting newest updates about a mission in Middle East. By the time he disconnected, not even ten minutes after others left to get some sleep, he was rather tired and was looking forward to a good night sleep in his old bed.
Obviously it wasn't as comfortable as the one he currently owned, the mattress has always been lumpy, but a tiny sentimental part of him missed his old room. Even the things Sherlock hid in it to ensure their mother doesn't found them. And if she did she would naturally believe they belonged to her older son.
He just passed his brother's old room when a loud thud startled him and made him pause. It sounded like someone fell out of the bed. He frowned in disgust.
Only his brother would have intercourse in their parent's house with mommy being just down the hallway.
But the sudden shout confused him, "Really, Molly? You believe this is amusing? It's not! Now take that thing off!"
Seconds later similar cry of shock came from the guest room right opposite of it, "Why would you do something like this? I know you are punishing me for today but I honestly had no idea the git was going to drug everyone! Mary! Love, please take that shirt off!"
Doors behind Mycroft opened and Mr. And Mrs. Holmes stepped in the hallway, both were still awake when the shouting started and wanted to know what was going on.
"No." Molly's voice was heard next, followed shortly by Mary's who informed her husband she had every intention to sleep in this rather comfortable shirt, despite it being a bit snug.
When the words, "Honestly, I don't understand how Sherlock can breathe in this thing." came from the guest room Mycroft frowned once more.
"Oh dear." He heard his father mutter, "It seems the girls have-"
"Decided to sleep in men's shirts." His mother finished the sentence, like she always did.
"I will not sleep next to you while you wear John's shirt!" Sherlock protested behind closed doors but in vain.
"You drugged me!"
"It was for a case! You said you would trust me!"
"Oh, I trust that you would know the right dose to drug me!"
Mycroft knocked on his brother's bedroom door, "There are people who are trying to sleep, Sherlock."
Suddenly the door behind him opened and Mary Watson exited the room, dressed in a fluffy dressing gown, wearing Sherlock's dark red shirt in her hand. She looked at Mycroft who merely took a step aside to allow her to knock and enter the room seconds later.
"I was promised a massage for a month if I get this out of his sight. So, thank you."
"Molly, give her John's shirt." Sherlock demanded.
But Molly Hooper wasn't baulking, "No."
"Molly, give her the shirt and I'll…"
"And you'll what?" Mycroft couldn't see a grin on the pathologist face but he could very well hear the amusement in her voice.
"I'll marry you." Sherlock's answer was followed by two gasps and a groan from Mycroft.
"Sherlock Holmes! That is no way to propose!" Wanda yelled from the end of the hallway.
At his words even John walked in the hallway and shook his head. His friend really was a git.
It was little after 4 in the morning the doors of the sitting room opened again and four people entered, with a sole intention of trying to figure out what happened the previous evening.
"Let me start by saying it wasn't me." Mary said, interrupting the silence, as they all took a seat on different couches and armchairs.
Sherlock, who was lying on a couch under the window, in his well known position with hands under his chin, hummed in what could be an agreement.
Molly nodded, confirming Mary's words, "After Mycroft called for backup and left we remained right here in the whole time. Only time anyone left the room was when Wanda went to make tea for us all. And I doubt she has a teleporter hidden in the kitchen."
"I don't know, Molly. It's possible." Mary said with a smile, "She certainly is smart enough."
Sherlock snorted and was instantly hit in the leg by a pregnant woman that sat on the comfortable armchair near him.
"I'm merely pointing out you are giving my mother too much credit." Sherlock deadpanned.
"And I'm pointing out you aren't giving her enough credit. The woman is really smart. Have you read the book she wrote?" Mary snapped back.
"We are getting of the subject here." John tried to calm the situation.
Mary was the first to respond, "Sorry, dear. But she is brilliant and the first person who says otherwise will be whacked with her book."
"Anyone can write a book." Sherlock mumbled.
"I'm sorry. Have I missed the fascinating novel written by the world's only consulting detective?" Mary asked and Molly snickered, which earned her a glare from her partner.
"Magnussen is dead." John suddenly said, "Someone killed him and we don't know who."
"He must have made a lot of enemies." Molly pointed out, "Someone he was blackmailing got fed up, perhaps."
"It's possible. Right now I don't have any clues, no obvious suspects." Sherlock lied back down again, "Maybe I'll leave this one to Mycroft and just enjoy the holidays."
John looked at him, "Are you high?" he asked seriously.
"Molly agreed to marry me." he simply said.
In response three people gasped. Both John and Mary looked Molly who appeared just a shocked by that statement as they were.
"I did no such thing!" she instantly corrected him.
"Yes you did. I asked and you didn't say 'no'." Sherlock pointed out with a small grin.
"That doesn't mean I said 'yes'. And what about you being married to your work and all that?" she wasn't amused at all. Mary on the other hand was.
"Can we talk about it later?" Sherlock suddenly asked, "If I already have to get all sentimental I want to do it without witnesses."
Mary leaned towards her husband and stage whispered, "He's hoping for some celebration sex afterwards and we are in the way."
"I believe you are right, dear." John responded in the same way.
Molly loved winter; she loved when snow covered everything with a soft white blanket. But it rarely happened in London. She wasn't sure when was the last there they had a white Christmas.
So when she woke up next morning, after sleeping only several hours thanks to the long conversation the two couples had in the middle of the night, the sight of pure whiteness made the tiredness go away. She already made plans of stuffing some of it in the back of Sherlock's shirt.
And she would have every right to do so. She huffed slightly while washing her teeth. The idiot proposed to her in the most unromantic way there was.
Not that she expected romance from a man who believed that going on a crime scene where the victim is decapitated is a perfectly acceptable date. She knew what she was getting herself into when she agreed on a relationship.
And also, that doesn't even count as a real proposal. She doubted he was serious. It was all brought by the fact she refused to take off John's plaid shirt and he was trying to persuade her by all means necessary.
Molly sighed and exited the bathroom before moving back to Sherlock's childhood bedroom. Best not to ponder about it too much.
She put on jeans and a large colorful jumper before going downstairs for breakfast. On the way she almost bumped into Mycroft who was on the phone with his assistant. She could hear him telling Anthea to enjoy Christmas and smiled. So much about Mycroft Holmes not caring about anyone.
Breakfast was simple; toast, eggs, bacon and sausages. And best of all they all finished rather fast and moved to the sitting room, leaving the dishes in the sink. Molly tried to wash them but was shooed away by Mrs. Holmes who insisted they can wait. The gifts had to come first. The older woman was so excited to have a full house again for the holiday.
"I have to admit I'm shocked." John said, watching as Molly clasped her new necklace around her neck, "You actually aren't completely inept in buying gifts."
Sherlock scoffed, "I have many talents. You of all people should know that, John. After all we were flat mates for several years."
"Yes, but you actually went with something nice rather then something you may have seen more fitting. Like an anatomically correct heart pendant."
"I'm glad you picked this one." Molly said with a wide smile as she ran her fingers over the sunflower shaped pendant, "How did you know sunflowers are my favorites?"
Sherlock merely gave her his patented look and she giggled. Of course, because he's Sherlock Holmes and he knows things.
In exchange she had gifted him an oddly shaped piece of amber that had a bee trapped in it. Needless to say he was happy with it and right away started to talk about the properties of amber and would have continued with his lecture if his mother hadn't stopped him.
"I want to see what my boys got for us this year. I presume you sat together and discussed it as adults."
"Of course." Mycroft said and Sherlock nodded silently, for once agreeing with his brother.
The truth was they did agree of the gift but it was Anthea who made all the arrangements, but that way only because she was so much better at it then the Holmes brothers. So thanks to a very capable PA who took every single assignment she gets like it was a matter of national importance Mr. And Mrs. Holmes would be spending two weeks in France. And would therefore miss the New Years Eve party Molly and Mary decided to organize in 221b Baker Street.
Without asking Sherlock if he has anything against it, of course.
But after checking the dates Wanda sadly had to decline the invitation, their flight was on the 29th and they would spend New Year in Paris. But she made sure to confirm they would be there next year.
Mycroft couldn't come either. He had previous engagements. Sherlock wanted to comment on it but Molly took his hand before he even opened his mouth. Right away he smiled at her, she knew exactly what he was about to do.
"So it will be just us, Mrs. Hudson and Lestrade." Mary said with a smile, "I'm really looking forward to it. I have a feeling it's going to a great start in the new year."