Summary:

Molly is on her eighth month of pregnancy, and Sherlock, putting aside his own qualms, plans a surprise for her.

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Sherlock holds Molly close in the kitchen from behind, his hands cradled under her bump, giving her a moment of relief from the heaviness. She sighs and leans her head back on his chest, smiling lovingly.

"Thank you...this feels incredible, like my back has relief."

"Good", he mumbles, kissing her head. "I'm so glad the baby is healthy. She's grown so much; I can't believe you're eight months along already."

"I know", she giggles softly. "It feels crazy how much time has passed; it seems so fast but so slow all at once. I mean, you just found out three-ish months ago and my life has changed so much for the better. I'm still in disbelief that we're...we're in a relationship and you're totally okay with all of this."

"I am happy with you, and I'm sure our little girl will be amazing like her mother."

"Or her father", she grins, teary-eyed.

"I have a surprise for you today."

Molly's eyes widen a bit. "For me? Today...what type of surprise?"

"You'll see", he smiles sweetly. "Call me cringe-worthy, but it's something that you deserve, and I think you'll be happy with. I told you I was going to try to be a better man and I meant it. Even if it means doing things I never would have enjoyed before."

Molly gives him a confused look then turns to face him. "Okay, but will you give me a hint?"

"Nope."

"Sherlockkk."

"It'll be better if you're surprised. I promise. Just go find something nice to wear."

"Ooh, are we going out?"

"Not exactly."

"You make no sense", she smiles, rolling her eyes.

Sherlock grins. "I will soon, I promise."

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A few hours later, after Molly had a nice relaxing soak in her tub and had taken the time to meticulously choose an outfit that did not make her look like a hot air balloon (as much), she works on her hair, letting it stay down in its natural semi-wavy state. She puts on her contacts and a bit of light eye makeup then goes out into her sitting room. Sherlock had put out non-alcoholic champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries for her, along with some other snacks like cheese and crackers. She gasps and grins.

"Oooh, my favorites. I'm a bit confused as to why I am presentable enough for the outside world though."

"Wellll..."

Just then, her doorbell rings. Molly's eyebrows raise in curiosity and confusion. Sherlock walks over to her front door and opens it, greeting whoever is there. She peeks around the corner and sees that it's John and his girlfriend, Caroline. They had been dating for a bit over a year now and she's really perfect for him, in ways different from Mary, but compatibility-wise, she's very comparable.

Molly blushes as Caroline walks into her sitting room, gasping and gushing about how beautiful she looks.

"Oh gosh, thank you so much, Caroline."

"Of course, Molly. You're absolutely glowing! When John told me, I was just so ecstatic for you two. I know a bit of the history and might I just say I'm so thrilled that you two finally found your way to each other. I know circumstances weren't the best, but things worked out. You're perfect for each other."

Molly grins happily. "Thank you for saying so, I think so too. I'm nervous, but I think everything will be okay now. I'm a bit confused though, still. Why are you guys here? Not that I don't love the company."

John walks up and grins, wrapping an arm around Caroline's shoulders. "Molly, Sherlock planned a baby shower for you."

Her jaw drops in shock, and she blinks. "Wait wh-...Sherlock planned a what now?"

Sherlock beams and kisses her cheek. "Surprise, love."

"I was just as shocked as you are, Molly. Sherlock planning a baby shower? Never in a million years would I have thought it was his idea. He is not a party person, so you've really done a number on him", he laughs.

Molly laughs and hugs Sherlock's side. "Thank you. You're amazing."

Sherlock blushes slightly. "It was nothing."

He places a gift on the table that John and Caroline had brought. "Lestrade will be here soon, and so will someone special to you."

"Rosie?"

Caroline smiles sweetly. "No, I figured this was more of an adult get-together, so John and I called her a babysitter for the afternoon."

"Oh, hm...another surprise? You're on a roll, Sherlock."

He smirks as he pours John and Caroline drinks of the alcoholic sort.

Lestrade shows up a few minutes later and they all sit around and talk and laugh. Molly can't help but notice the body language between Caroline and John, and it makes her happy that John has found someone that loves him and is respectful to the memory of Mary, especially for Rosie's sake. Caroline is a woman who can relate, having lost her husband as well. Unfortunately, they were not able to conceive due to her husband's longstanding cancer, but she had always wanted children. She's an amazing mother figure to Rosie and treats her like her own.

Molly can't help but hope John decides to pop the question to her; she's too good to him to lose. Greg catches them up on his huge crush on the new records clerks at Scotland Yard, Katrina Knowles.

"Oh, Greg! That's great. You should definitely ask her out. I know workplace flings aren't exactly looked at in a good light, but if you get on nicely, it may be worth a try. You've been divorced for years. Your kids are getting older, I'm sure they'd love to see you happy. You deserve it too."

Greg grins at her. "Thanks, Molly. I don't know, I feel like a kid again. It's crazy. Like whenever she's close my brain seems to stop and I seem like an idiot."

Sherlock scoffs. "Ooh, too easy", he murmurs. "You are an idiot."

Molly nudges him in the ribs, and he groans. "Hey!"

"Hey nothing."

"He gave me an in for that one!"

"Still rude."

"Albeit true."

"Sherlock, behave."

He huffs and the guests snicker at him being domesticated by a small, newly plump woman like Molly.

"Hey, you're one to cackle, John Watson. This little lady has you wrapped around her finger as well, you know", he smirks, motioning to Caroline.

John chuckles, blushing slightly as he pulls Caroline in closer and kisses her cheek. "Yes, she has, hasn't she?"

"I love you, CareBear."

"I love you too, John."

"Oh please, I think I'm going to be ill", Sherlock grumbles.

Everyone laughs at his expense until the doorbell rings again. Sherlock's eyes light up and he pops out of his seat.

Molly's face turns curious as she gazes towards the door. Sherlock eagerly greets the guest and then a loud slap is heard. Everyone gasps and the room falls silent. Molly jumps up furiously and hobbles to the door to see who has the audacity to do that to him.

When she gets to the door, however, she was not expecting to see her best friend on the planet.

"Meena!?", Molly squeals.

"Molly!", she beams and hugs her close, rubbing her belly. "Oh my GOD, I'm so happy for you!"

Molly giggles and nods. "Me too, but...wh-why the hell did you slap Sherlock?"

"Oh, don't worry about it, Molly", Sherlock replies. "It was part of the deal."

"Huh?"

Meena rolls her eyes. "I can answer for myself, thanks."

"He stole my number off your phone and told me he was having a baby shower for you. He said you had the weekend off and that we could just spend time together and relax, catch up. So I agreed to get a plane here, on the condition that I get to give him a good slap for all the heartache he had put you through throughout the years. He agreed. Ugh, I'm so excited for this weekend, and I brought your gift!"

Molly looks at her in disbelief. She knew her friend could be a handful but she's a lot more outspoken than Molly remembers; maybe it comes with being a wife and mother now herself.

Sherlock rubs his jaw but smiles at how happy Molly is that her best friend is here. Ever since Meena moved to Texas when she married her husband, they haven't seen each other in person for quite some time; not since Molly went to the States for Meena's little girls' christening, as she was the godmother.

It floats through his mind how all that time being a godmother to Maisie and Rosie, she had still desired to be a mother herself, and her really happy that it's finally happening for the woman he loves.

Once Meena has met everyone and settled in, gifts are opened, and conversation shifts to everything baby, Sherlock sits back at looks at the beautiful chaos that comes with having friends and loved ones. He never knew how gratifying it could be until it happened to him, and he's over the moon that he's finally in a place mentally where he can enjoy what life has thrown at him.

He can admit for once that John was right. Romantic entanglement absolutely did complete him as a human being, Molly Hooper has completed him as a man, and their daughter will complete them as a family. Now there is only one thing left to do to cement the future...