Sherlock made the effort to turn his head slightly, blocking the client's view so he could roll his eyes unnoticed. This was tiresome in the extreme. He had really only taken a couple of mediocre cases to distract him until Molly got back from the conference she'd attended for the past two days. Scott was napping, so he allowed this idiot to come in and tell her sob story. He briefly reminded himself of the fact that he'd definitely start taking more cases once Mycroft returned from this ridiculously long business trip he was currently on.

Unexpectedly, Sherlock heard some light footsteps ascending the stairs to his door. His head shot up from where it rested on his hand and held up his hand, effectively silencing the client. He glanced at his watch.

"A bit early, but it could be…" Sherlock muttered to himself. He jumped up and opened the door, just in time to see Molly's smiling face behind it. His own lips spread wide and he grinned just as he leaned in to wrap her up in a tight embrace.

"I missed you," Molly whispered into his neck, enjoying the familiar smell of his soap and clothes and just…him.

Sherlock set her down and cradled her face, staring wordlessly for a moment. Finally he smiled again and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, leading her inside. "This will only take a moment," he said softly.

"I- I wasn't quite done," the client said, realizing that the detective had just allowed a guest to join the party.

"Oh yes you are," Sherlock retorted. "Look, your best friend is having an affair with your married brother. They both don't want you to know and they're going to great trouble to keep it from you. So the answer is, no. Nobody is stalking you or trying to kill you. You're simply being deceived, because the guilty parties felt you were dim enough for them to sneak around behind your back…which I suppose isn't far from the truth since you were a long way off from putting the pieces together without my help. I suggest you confront one or both of them, but seeing as I am no relationship counselor, this is no longer my area."

He walked away from Molly and held his door open again, gesturing to it while giving the client a tight smile. "So…good day."

The poor woman continued gaping in shock as she stood from her chair and quickly made her exit. Sherlock shut the door behind her and instantly crossed the distance to Molly again, grasping her face and connecting their lips in a long awaited kiss.

"Oh!" Molly exclaimed, pulling away, smiling widely at him before glancing around. "Where's Scott?"

"Napping," Sherlock answered quickly before swooping down again.

Molly dodged his lips though. "Oh, ok," she answered, a little disappointment evident in her tone." I just wanted to see him before I go back to my flat. I need to try and get settled before this evening. I have a shift at Bart's."

"They put you on a late shift the day you got back?"

Molly shrugged. "I'm covering for someone who's sick. I don't really mind, even though it makes for a hectic day."

"Stay here," Sherlock tried insisting as he removed her bag from her shoulder and hung that and her coat on a hook.

"Well I can't really. I need to make sure there's enough food and water in Toby's bowl before I leave for the hospital and-"

"No, I mean really stay here." Sherlock gave her a more pointed look and waited for Molly to catch on to his actual meaning.

Molly's eyes got wide and mouth formed a little O as she did take in what he was suggesting. "Oh, um, well…" She felt behind her for the couch and took a seat as she fumbled with how to form an answer.

"It makes perfect sense!" Sherlock announced with a chuckle. "You've spent more than half of the past few weeks at Baker Street anyway. You want to be able to spend time with Scott whenever he's here, but sometimes it's logistically difficult when you've got work and things at your flat to think of." He sauntered over and took a seat beside her, so as to murmur the next part near her ear. "And then of course there's me."

Molly giggled and turned to kiss his cheek momentarily. But then she sighed and tried to set about discussing the matter logically. "I don't know, it just seems a little…fast. Not that I have any doubts! I want to be with you, and I want to be in Scott's life, both more than anything. But still…I mean, are you sure?" She grimaced while asking, clearly worried that Sherlock wasn't thinking straight.

Sherlock let out a short laugh. "Molly, I know what I want. I see no point in parading through some ridiculous ritual to pretend like I'm still trying to figure it out. It seems we both want the same thing…so why slow things unnecessarily? In fact, I was thinking of taking some action with Scott as well."

"Oh?"

"Mm," Sherlock said, pressing his lips together for a moment before going on. "I believe it's time that I legally adopt him."

Molly's jaw dropped, but was followed by a wide grin. "Sherlock, that's…amazing! That would be so wonderful."

"Again, it certainly just makes sense to do it. Baker Street is already his true home now, and he clearly sees me as a father figure anyway. It's the responsible thing to do, to make it legal. I need to be able to make decisions about him, and do things to take care of him. And what if…what if something did happen to me? Naturally, I'd want him to be looked after. I think this is the right thing to do. And I think it's time."

"You're right, I think it is too," Molly agreed with a thoughtful nod. She stopped, another thought seeming to occur to her, and then spoke again very cautiously. "Um, so were you telling me because…you want me to…"

Sherlock got her meaning. "Oh! No no, certainly not- not that I wouldn't want that!" he hurried to add. "I just mean, it's not a necessity right this moment. You can always think about it."

Molly smiled, completely satisfied with his answer. She dearly hoped to be a legal guardian of Scott's sometime in the future, near future if she was honest. But she also knew that some things shouldn't be rushed. This wasn't just about then after all. It was about another person, and they had to be level headed when it came to Scott.

She reached over and slid her fingers in between his. "I will think about it," Molly said softly. "And about moving in too. I think…" She took a deep breath. "I think I'd like that. I know I would actually."

"I know I would too," Sherlock kissed her again, pulling her closer and tangling his fingers in her hair. They both jumped a moment later when they heard the patter of little feet coming down the hallway.

"Olly!" Scott squealed and rushed over to the couch.

Sherlock dutifully scooted over a little as Molly welcomed the little boy into her arms as he climbed up.

"Hello, lovey!" Molly said, peppering Scott's cheeks with kisses as he giggled and hugged her. "Olly missed you. Are you being a nice little boy for Uncle Clock?"

"Ya!" he said happily.

"I suppose there's plenty of nice if you leave out the toilet training bits," Sherlock said under his breath.

"Ooh!" Molly exclaimed giving Scott a tickle. "Are you going to the toilet now? How exciting!" She looked over at Sherlock. "Did you just start that since I went to the conference?"

"Mm. I did some research and it seems that this is the time to start. Get them comfortable with the routine early…plenty of accidents along the way though."

"Well of course!" Molly said sweetly to Scott. "Learning something new takes time. We'll help you get there!"

Scott reached over and picked up his Family Book from the coffee table and handed it to Molly. She smiled and opened the book, glad to be able to offer him the fun and comfort of looking at all the people who love him. Scott always wanted to spend the most time on the pages that featured his mother and father's faces, and today was no different.

"Mumma," Scott stated, patting the photo.

"That's right," Molly said softly, rubbing his little arm. "Mumma loved you very much, didn't she? And so did your Daddy. They'd be so very proud of you today."

He lifted his little hand in question. "Mumma?"

Molly looked at Sherlock sadly as she answered Scott the way they always did. "Your Mummy and Daddy aren't here anymore, Scott. Remember?" she said gently. "They didn't want to leave, but they had to. They loved you though, and that's what matters the most, right?"

Scott was quiet, still staring at the pages that held the faces he missed. He couldn't quite understand why he didn't see them anymore, only that they were just…not there.

Sherlock jumped in, trying to help things a bit. "Can you find anyone else in your book, Scott? Can you find me?"

Scott was quickly encouraged to continue turning the pages and he soon found Sherlock. "Unc Clock!" he said excitedly and pointed to the page. He turned another page and found Molly's picture. "Olly!"

"That's right! That's me!" Molly kissed his cheek. She lifted him from her lap and set him next to Sherlock. "And Olly is going to make some tea now. Maybe you'd like some toast with jam, hm?"

"Toes peese!" Scott requested with a look of excitement. Ah, a request often made by a Holmes.

Sherlock kept Scott busy as he looked through the book, and Molly puttered around the kitchen. His lips lifted in a little half smile, strangely content with the new dynamic that had taken hold on his life. He never would have imagined it could feel this comfortable to him, but it absolutely did. The past few weeks had been a flurry of activity, but there was also an added calm he enjoyed now. There used to be the pang of boredom without a case. That had been replaced by the solace of his…his family. There was always activity, always something to do. He'd considered children tedious in the past, but the truth was that there was nothing boring about it. Always something to do or take care of. And he enjoyed teaching Scott and watching him learn, soaking things up like a little sponge. He loved watching Molly interact with him and seeing how the child responded to her in kind. There was nothing really like it.

And then there was simply…Molly. The observations on the change in the relationship were bountiful, but it struck him how he was most fascinated by the things he'd always dismissed as boringly domestic. He was surprised to find that he loved the way she'd just lean against him if he were standing close enough. Or how she'd plant a little kiss on his forehead or nose as she passed by; purposely not disturbing him, but just wanting to give him that tiny little reminder of her presence and affection. He found that those little things kept him going and gave him lovely little bursts of drive and purpose throughout his days. She moved him and inspired him and grounded him, all at once. There was nothing he wanted more than to see her asleep in his bed every night for the rest of his life. He couldn't see it any other way now. And it seemed to Sherlock that things were heading in that direction. Yes, Molly perhaps harbored some hesitance about moving their relationship along in a way that he knew was conventionally much too quickly, but he felt that taking into consideration their years of previous acquaintance, there wasn't anything fast about this at all. More importantly, he was sure that this was what she wanted as well. It would take very little time for her to see that there was no reason to hold off any longer. John and Mary had urged him not to push the matter, and so he was trying…but of course he was so very awful at being patient.

A few minutes later, Molly had cleared the kitchen table a bit and got some tea and toast set out. She got Scott in his highchair and Sherlock took a seat as well. He began pouring a cup for himself and Molly and was just about to discuss the process of adoption that he'd looked into…when he heard a familiar knock at the door.

Sherlock looked up at Molly and smirked. As he got up to open the door, he said loud enough to be heard, "Look who's finally decided to return to London!" The door opened and he was met with the serious face of his elder brother.

"Afternoon, Sherlock," he said simply. He looked past him and at Molly. "Hello, Miss Hooper."

"Why don't you come in," Molly offered. "Have some tea. I just made a pot."

"Did you?" Mycroft asked with a raised brow as he came in and Sherlock shut the door. He glanced back and forth between her and Sherlock.

"Would you like some?" Molly offered again, grabbing another cup.

"No time, I'm afraid. I came to speak with Sherlock…both of you actually, seeing as this affects more than just Sherlock."

Sherlock was instantly on alert, his quickly assessing his brother, gathering as much data as possible. He placed his hands together before his mouth for a moment before schooling his features into a cool and indifferent mask. "Go on, then."

Mycroft leaned his umbrella against the table and took a deep breath before beginning. "As you may have noted, I haven't been in communication for the past couple of months. I've been traveling out of country, and I suppose that isn't terribly suspicious given my minor role in the British government…"

"Why are you being boring, Mycroft," Sherlock snapped, his patience rapidly disappearing. "If you have something to say, say it."

"Sherlock," Molly admonished softly to which Sherlock simply released a frustrated sigh but refrained from saying anything further.

Mycroft noted the exchange with an interest of something to be analyzed later. "There was another reason for my silence," he went on.

Molly sat down and handed Scott the toast she'd just buttered and spread with jam. There was a bit of worry pooling in her gut at the moment and she couldn't even bring herself to take a sip of tea as she listened to Mycroft speaking.

"I've had...suspicions," Mycroft told them. "They started six months ago when Scott came to us; minor, perhaps even baseless but...persistent. I asked around discreetly, picked up information, but nothing much came out of it. Then, a couple of months ago, I finally got some more concrete evidence. I decided it had become necessary to do legwork …and I found it."

Sherlock's eyes grew wide. He knew from his brother's tone, and everything about the conversation, where this was headed. It was easily deduced, no matter how unbelievable it was.

Mycroft went on and confirmed Sherlock's deduction. "Let's just say that you aren't the only Holmes man that's decided to fake his own death in order to protect the people he holds dear." Mycroft couldn't help smirking at the irony.

"My God," Molly murmured, her hand clasped over her mouth. "I-is Sherringford alive? Are they both really alive?" she asked incredulously.

Mycroft nodded. "As alive as we are, and well too, along with his wife." He smiled a little. "But they're in hiding. It took quite a bit of time and effort to put the pieces together and find them. Sherringford was rather grateful when I did, though. As you can imagine, he's had quite a lot to do, and it would be quite the task to complete all on his own."

"Quite a lot to do?" Molly questioned, not following what seemed so obvious to both the Holmes men.

"There was a threat," Sherlock answered, realizing that this truly was exactly what he lived some years ago. "He needed to take care of it and make sure his family was safe. What better way to do that than to kill himself off? Can't hurt him if he's dead. Now it was a matter of hunting down those who were a danger to him. Once that was done, he and his wife and child could live safely again."

Mycroft agreed. "Yes, and it's a tricky business of course. He's only one man, with few to go to for help. He was actually more pleased to see me than I anticipated." He looked at Scott. "Obviously he also wanted to know absolutely everything about his son."

"What's going to happen now?" Molly asked, realizing that this situation meant change was coming…in some way or another.

"Well, first thing's first," Mycroft began, picking his umbrella again. "Scott needs to be relocated to our parent's home in the country. That way, Sherlock and I can go take care of things…speed things up for Sherringford. Scott needs to be looked after, and he also needs to be safe. Our parent's home has about the highest level of security attached to it. I feel it's the best place for him to be till this is over."

"If you needed-I mean, if your parents needed help, I could maybe go with him too?" Molly spoke up. "Just so they don't have to worry about exerting themselves too much? Scott is very active and...well, I don't mind, is what I'm saying."

Mycroft looked a little confused. "While we appreciate the offer, Miss Hooper, I don't think you absolutely have to-"

"Molly stays with Scott," Sherlock stated firmly. And as he did, he reached across the table and took hold of Molly's hand, lacing their fingers together while still staring his brother down.

Mycroft's brows shot up. "I see," he said, looking back and forth between the two of them. "I've clearly been gone for longer than I thought. Won't Mummy be pleased?"

"We can have this conversation later, Mycroft," Sherlock growled. "When should we leave?"

"Well, the sooner the better of course."

Sherlock nodded. "Alright. We can get ourselves to the country house tomorrow and I'll be ready to leave with you the following day. Do they know about this?"

"I just came from there. I imagine you'd arrive to find them happily and tearfully looking at old photographs right about now," Mycroft said as he turned to go, unable even in this instance to hold back the typical disdainful tone at such a sentimental activity.

"How wonderful for them," Molly said with a little sniff, tears coming to her own eyes at the thought of Mr. and Mrs. Holmes learning the news. She glanced over at Scott who was munching at his toast and watching the adults with interest, but not really understanding the weight of the conversation. Not knowing that the people he loved most in the world were actually alive and well…and likely thinking of little else but his dear sweet face.

"I'll call Mummy and make sure she knows to expect you." Mycroft gave them both a little nod. "Till tomorrow." And then he was gone, having left the life changing information to hang in the air around them.

Molly and Sherlock looked at each other and Molly gave him a little smile. "They're alive," she whispered, a slight quiver on her lip.

Sherlock nodded slowly and glanced at his nephew and spoke seriously. "Yes they are. And it seems I need to make sure that they stay that way." He immediately abandoned his tea and left the kitchen to retreat to the bedroom.

Molly kept her jitters in check and smiled sweetly at Scott who was watching her closely. "I think Uncle Sherlock needs to think, ok? Why don't you and I just have some tea together."

Later that night, Scott had drifted to sleep lying against Sherlock's chest in his bed. Sherlock set the book down and eased Scott onto the mattress so he could get up to begin putting some of his things into a small travel bag . He wouldn't bring much. Not only because he hoped that his and Mycroft's journey would be brief, but also because they may be mostly on the road.

He glanced at the angelic little figure who was breathing lightly and nestled into his pillow. There was something painful about this whole thing, and it had nothing to do with his fear for Sherringford and Maria's safety. He recalled trying to bring it up to Molly earlier, afraid that she would suffer perhaps even more than he would.

"Molly," he said gently as she gathered up her things to return to her flat, needing to pack for herself. "I hope you realize that there aren't many outcomes to this situation that won't involve significant…adjustments."

"I know," she responded quickly.

Sherlock began again cautiously. "What I mean, Molly, is that Scott will likely-"

"I know," Molly said, more firmly this time, but she also managed a smile. "I know, Sherlock. I just want what's best for Scott and his family, really." She gave him a determined little nod and then finished gathering her things to head home.

Sherlock stuck a couple pairs of socks in his case as he continued to watch Scott breathing steadily, letting out the occasional contented little sigh. Sherlock himself was having a difficult time sorting through the events that would soon be taking place. To be sure, changes were on the horizon.

They just weren't the changes that he or Molly had been expecting.

Will be back soon with more! ;D