A/N: I'm baaaack! I don't know if I'll be able to post tomorrow, but I'll definitely be back on Monday. This chapter details some Christmas shenanigans. Hope you all enjoy it! Love you! xx
Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock. All rights to BBC, Moffat, Gatiss, and Sir ACD.
The next morning, Sherlock rose early, fashioning the only Holmes family tradition her enjoyed upholding. He pulled out a broom handle, tying a sprig of mistletoe to the end. Pleased with his handiwork, he laid the stick down, and went to take a shower. The sound of the running water blocked the sound of Molly entering his room.
He walked out, clad only in a towel, and stopped short. "Umm, Molly." He bit his lip, taking in the sight of her. She was languidly draped across his bed, her tight, dark wash jeans, and red jumper accentuating her every curve, his creation in her hand.
When she laid eyes on him, she sat up, ignoring his state of undress, and asked, "Sherlock, what's this?"
He cleared his throat. "It's, um, it's a kissing stick."
She smiled. "I like it." She stood. "Now, put your clothes on."
Sherlock exited five minutes later, in his usual black pants, and a red shirt, kissing stick in hand, wielded like a weapon.
Molly snuck up on him, and jumped on his back. "Onward, my love. Down the stairs!"
Laughing, Sherlock carried her down, the stick held at arm's length like a jousting spear. They snuck up behind Molly's parents and dangled the stick about their head.
"Ooh," Olivia squealed, having caught on to the teenagers' shenanigans. "Mummy! Daddy! You're under the mistletoe."
The two adults looked up, and rolled their eyes affectionately at the teens. THe leaned in and gave each other a quick peck. "Who's idea was this?"
"Sherlock's." Mr. and Mrs. Hooper smiled. Suddenly, Olivia ran under the stick. "I want a Tisentine smooch!"
Putting Molly down, Sherlock scooped the little girl up and pecked her on the cheek. "Happy Tisentine, Olivia Hooper." The seven year old giggled, and Sherlock gently set her back on her feet.
Molly dragged him to her side, giving him a smacking kiss on his cheek, very close to his mouth. "You are the sweetest," she whispered, smirking as she watched the blush run up his neck.
After breakfast, Molly's grandparents arrived. They were very sweet people. Margie and Joe, as they insisted later that Sherlock call them, handed out hugs and kisses as soon as they were in the door.
"Oh, Molly! This must be Sherlock! It's great to meet you sweetheart," Margie exclaimed.
"Likewise, Margie."
Joe spotted the stick. "Ah. Have you gotten much use out of that young man?"
Sherlock grinned. "Spreading holiday joy to one and all." Then, smiling like the devil, he pulled the stick up above Margie and Joe's head. The two pecked each other on the lips.
Olivia tugged on her grandmother's trouser leg. "Can we make the gingy houses, now?"
Scooping her granddaughter up, Margie replied, "Of course, darling. Sherlock, Molly, would you like to help?"
Sherlock looked a bit apprehensive, but Molly nodded. "Come on, Sherlock. Baking's not that hard."
He sighed. "Alright."
Three hours later, there were two new additions to the Hooper home, thanks to the SOMM construction company, as Margie dubbed them.
Olivia and Margie had constructed a quintessentially cute and traditional house.
Sherlock and Molly had constructed a half-inch scale model of St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
"Bit macabre for Christmas, don't you think?"
"Grandma," Molly replied, "if we live in London, both Sherlock and my intended careers will likely lead us to St. Bart's."
Margie ruffled Sherlock and Molly's hair. "I'm just ragging on you both. I think it's lovely."
Just then, Mr. Hooper and Joe entered. "Wow. Those gingerbread houses look fantastic."
Just then, Sherlock's phone buzzed. "Sherlock, Skype, NOW! - JW"
He grinned. "Molly, can we use your laptop?" She nodded. He grabbed Molly's hand and dragged her upstairs.
"Hey, where are we going?"
Sherlock stopped. "I'm sorry to steal Molly, but my best friend wants to Skype me to tell me that his girlfriend accepted his proposal."
As soon as the connection was made, Mary and Molly screamed, gleeful to see each other again. Mary held her left hand up to the screen, displaying an elegant diamond ring.
"Oh my gosh," Molly exclaimed, feigning surprise. "That is gorgeous. John did well. I'm so happy for you Mary!"
John edged into the frame. "Hey, Sherlock. Molly."
"John," Sherlock informed him, "I think the girls' screams broke the speed of sound. I'm still partially deaf."
"Har-har," Mary retorted.
"Yeah, very funny," Molly supplied.
Sherlock rolled his eyes. "How's Christmas in the Watson household?"
"Great! You?"
"Wonderful!"
A while later, John and Mary had to log off, but not before they'd also met the entire Hooper household.
"John and Mary seem nice," Mrs. Hooper mused.
"Bit young to be marrying, though," Mr. Hooper said. His apprehension to getting married so young had been made very apparent.
"Oh, tush," Margie argued. "Joe and I were married before we were seventeen."
"Besides," Molly supplied. "If they're married before they get their degrees, they won't have to worry about changing names on licenses."
Mr. Hooper rolled his eyes. "So, you should get married now, to avoid potential legal issues?"
"No, but dad…"
"No buts. I don't want you to have legal trouble. Sherlock, hope you have a ring ready."
"Both of you, stop it." Mrs. Hooper put a hand on her husband's shoulder.
The tension in the room was thicker than pea soup. Finally, the timer on the pizza (a Hooper family tradition) dinged.
"Pizza," Olivia squealed. Everyone chuckled at the second grader's antics.
"It's funny how a disagreement always accompanies this Christmas Eve pizza. It's like 'Home Alone'."
"What's 'Home Alone'," Sherlock asked.
Everyone gasped. "You've never seen 'Home Alone'?"
"No."
"Living room. Now."
While the Hooper clan thoroughly enjoyed the film, Sherlock struggled to keep his mouth shut. While funny, Kevin's antics would prove lethal to the two thugs. When Sherlock told Molly as such, she whispered, "It's just a movie, Sherlock."
He grinned, "I know. I know."
The next day, Molly rose bright and early. wanting to look perfect on Christmas. This was something she'd done every Christmas since puberty, as Great-Aunt Marisol was always criticizing something about her. However, this year, she was dressing up for Sherlock. She pulled out the dress she'd bought at the end of Christmas break last year. It was read and fairly close fitting. I was reasonably modest, hanging to her knees, with long sleeves, the just capped her shoulders, leading to a scoop neck that showed off her collarbones nicely.
Molly swept her hair off her neck into an elegant ponytail. She didn't bother with makeup, knowing she'd probably botch it anyway.
She stepped out of her room, steeling herself for the arrival of the family. Sherlock appeared at her side. "You look beautiful."
Molly blushed. "Thank you. You look pretty dashing yourself."
Sherlock did look flawless in his black suit, the crisp, white shirt making even his alabaster complexion appear slightly flushed.
He offered her his arm. "Shall we? Your family's just arrived."
Molly sucked in a deep breath, and looped her arm in his. "Let's do this thing."
The descended the stairs, and as her entire family turned to look up at the two, Molly imagined herself a princess making the grand entrance to a state ball, her handsome prince at her side.
As soon as the two were down the stairs, Molly was accosted by Great-Aunt Marisol. "Margaret, look at you! You look so tired! Why didn't you paint your face? It's a wonder you managed to snag a beau at all."
"Sherlock happens to like my face without paint, Aunt," Molly said, annoyed that her great-aunt had ruined the magic of the moment.
Marisol rolled her eyes. "You're more foolish that I thought if you believe that hogwash."
Molly's fingers tightened on Sherlock's arm. Luckily, Molly was saved from her great-aunt's cruelty by her cousins bounding in. "Molly!"
Molly caught a twin in each arm. "Merry Christmas," they chorused in unison.
"Merry Christmas."
Ben eyed Sherlock. "Who's that?"
Molly grinned. "This is my boyfriend, Sherlock."
The twins giggled. "Molly has a boyfriend," Ben teased.
"Does she, now," A gruff voice asked. Molly gasped. "Uncle Martin! Aunt Lara!" She embraced the two. Stepping back, she gestured to Sherlock. "This is my boyfriend, Sherlock Holmes."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both."
Martin and Lara smiled. "The pleasure is ours."
"Everyone! Get in here! Don't lurk in doorways," Mrs. Hooper called.
They all retreated to the sitting room.
A/N: I know it's very short. I'm working on making longer chapters. It's hard on the weekends because my time is not my own. I hope you all liked that one, and like Molly's family (except for Marisol). Please give me reviews (I love those). Also feel free to PM me.
