Author's note: Prepare for some sweet (though not explicit, of course) passion ahead.
I also want to let readers know that this chapter (and others to come) contains spoilers about the Netflix show Bridgerton. I watched it over the summer with my oldest daughter. I enjoyed the storyline for the most part, but I am putting in my own thoughts on certain aspects through Molly and Sherlock's eyes.
Molly set down her handbag on a chair, then walked over to the little fridge in the room and deposited the desserts. She smiled as she felt Sherlock's arms come around her from behind and his lips brush a kiss to her neck before he said, "Alone at last."
She turned around in his embrace. "I hate to burst your romantic bubble, but didn't you promise to call your parents back when we got here?"
His lips turned downward into a pout. "Blast it, I forgot. Mummy wanted me to call so we could speak with the girls, although I don't think it is really necessary. We've only been gone a couple hours, and Christina is not exactly the talkative type."
Molly laughed. "True, but the point is that you said you'd call, so you had best do it."
"Fine. I'll call now."
He released Molly and pulled out his phone. He pressed the button for Siri. "Call Mummy Holmes."
Molly loved the way he had his mother's name in the phone that way, rather than as Violet.
Sherlock tapped the speaker icon on his phone screen, even as his mother answered. "Hello dear. You're at the bed-and-breakfast now, I assume?"
"Yes, Mummy. All safe and sound. You wanted us to talk to the girls, so please get Victoria so we can say hello. I have the phone on speaker."
Molly grinned at the slightly imperious tone in Sherlock's voice. He really wanted to just get the conversation over with, she could tell.
"Of course." Molly heard her call, "Victoria, darling, come say hello to Mummy and Daddy."
A few moments later, Victoria's voice could be heard. "Mummy, Daddy, are you there?"
Molly allowed Sherlock to speak. "Yes, we are. Are you being good for Grandma and Grandpa?"
"I'm a good girl," said Victoria promptly. "Gwamma is with Chwisty, and Gwampa is playing the mem'wy game with me." Her voice took on a confiding tone. "He isn't vewy good at it. He always forgets where the wight pictures are."
This time Molly spoke. "But you are having fun, aren't you, sweet pea?"
"Mummy!" exclaimed Victoria. "Yes, it's fun. I love Gwampa. He's nice. Are you coming home soon?"
"Mummy and Daddy will be back in a few days, but we will call you every day. If you look on the fridge, there is a calendar. Grandma and Grandpa can show you the day we are coming home, and you can put a big X through each day." Molly added, to put a positive spin on her and Sherlock's absence, "You will get to have fun with Grandma and Grandpa until we come home. Isn't that great?"
"And you can be a big girl and help to look after Christina as well," put in Sherlock.
"Alwight."
"Give Christina a big kiss for us, and Mummy will get her iPad so we can FaceTime tonight, okay?" said Molly, thinking she should have thought to do that instead of just calling. It would only have taken a minute to extract from her suitcase, and the B&B had free wi-fi.
"Yes, Mummy." A few moments later, Molly heard, "Here, Gwamma," and Sherlock's mother returned to the line.
"Will we hear from you tonight?" she asked.
This time, Sherlock spoke. "Molly told Victoria we will FaceTime this evening. Goodbye for now."
And with that, he pressed the disconnect button.
Molly frowned at him. "Don't you think that was a bit rude?"
He returned his phone to his pocket and said, "She's used to it. Anyway, I'd like to spend some quality time with my wife now."
Molly gave him a coy look. "In the middle of the day?"
He wrapped his arms around her. "How long has it been since we have been free to make love in the middle of the day? I plan to take full advantage of this opportunity."
She was going to ask if she should dress in some lingerie, but his lips claimed hers, and she completely forgot anything but the delight of being truly alone with Sherlock. She kissed him back enthusiastically, enjoying the familiar desire that his kisses always evoked, even as he gently walked her backwards to the bed.
Clothes were removed, and mouths and hands moved to heighten their passion, bringing with it the joy of a union that always left them content and fulfilled.
Afterwards, Sherlock kissed her bare shoulder and said, "Do you realise we haven't been alone like this since Martha took the girls overnight on Valentine's Day? That's five-and-a-half months."
She offered him a lazy smile. "The price you pay for having children. Maybe it has curbed our midday activity, but we still have the nights."
"Thank goodness for that. I suppose there is something to be said for not having cause to leave you for an investigation. I'm not sure how well I would handle sleeping alone these days. You don't even have to leave me for night shift anymore."
Molly tipped her head upwards to gaze into his eyes. "I am certainly not complaining about having you in bed beside me each night either, but let's not talk about your work or mine this week. I just want to enjoy our time together."
His lips tilted upwards. "Agreed."
They lay nestled together, dozing for a little while.
Finally Sherlock said, "I suppose we should get up and see if everything looks the same as it did four years ago."
"Oh yes. It will be fun to see if there have been any changes."
They redressed and went downstairs.
As expected, Kara was no longer there. With no other guests, there was obviously no need for her to remain in the B&B. They found a note on the fridge.
Guests, breakfast service is available from 8-10 AM. Please call when you are ready for breakfast, and I will be up to cook it for you, or let me know the day before what time you would like breakfast.
Also, if you would like me to pack a hamper for a picnic, just let me know the day before so I can prepare one for you.
Thanks,
Kara
"Should we call her to arrange a picnic hamper for Wednesday?" asked Molly.
"I think we can just tell her in person on Tuesday morning," responded Sherlock, and Molly nodded. That made sense.
"New microwave," Sherlock observed.
"Really?" Molly was always impressed by Sherlock's eye for detail. "How do you remember so clearly from four years ago?"
He shrugged. "I have a mental image of the kitchen stored in my mind palace, and I compared it to how the kitchen looks now. Everything else appears the same."
As they walked into the spacious living area, Molly noted something herself. "This crocheted blanket wasn't on the back of the sofa last time."
"Excellent observation, my love."
Molly couldn't help feeling proud of herself for noting something different.
Molly saw the chessboard was still there with its drawers that could contain the pieces. "We could take this upstairs again to play like last time. What do you think?"
Sherlock gave her a rather suggestive look. "Are we going to recreate the parameters of our chess games?"
Molly giggled, remembering her own suggestion of strip chess. "Maybe, but perhaps we should only take off an article of clothing for every two chess pieces we lose. We didn't make it very far into the game last time before we were naked."
His lips curved into a slow smile. "That would be eminently preferable to trying to complete the game whilst distracted by your nakedness." He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.
She tipped her head to one side. "Do I really still affect you that way, even after four years?"
He gave a short huff of laughter and swung her fully to face him, placing his hands securely around her waist. "Do I not prove quite frequently how you still affect me, my love? Keep talking that way, and I shall have to demonstrate it again now."
She raised an eyebrow, looking into his face as she touched his cheek. "Do you think you can really recreate the frequency of our lovemaking from our honeymoon?"
He pulled her a little closer. "I am not ruling it out, but I do not intend to compete against myself either. I just wish to enjoy our time together and forget that the outside world exists for a time."
"Me too."
They touched lips briefly, and Sherlock released her so they could continue looking around. They perused the shelf with board games. "Look, I don't think they had Home Run last time, did they?" asked Molly, feeling a little uncertain.
Sherlock closed his eyes briefly, and Molly knew he was summoning a mental image of the room from his memory even as he had done with the kitchen. "They did not have it last time," he confirmed.
The Monopoly board was still there, but Molly wasn't sure she wanted to play that particular game. She still felt a little embarrassed about her behaviour when she had cried because Sherlock had won three games of it in a row. She really had been a sore loser, even though she was not that way at all when playing with Victoria. In fact, she was happy to let Victoria win with games most of the time, unless it was a game ruled by chance, like Snakes and Ladders.
Almost as if Sherlock could hear her thoughts, he commented. "I think we will pass on playing Monopoly this time around." Then he added, as if he didn't want her to think he was drawing her attention to her behaviour of last time, "That game takes entirely too long."
Molly shot him a quick glance and grinned. "Go on, you can say it. I was a sore loser. But I agree." She looked again at the bookshelf. "We didn't play Scrabble last time. That might be fun."
"And look," Sherlock pointed to an upper shelf Molly had not looked at, "There's a five hundred piece London Street Scene puzzle we could attempt. Ever since Victoria has become adept at doing jigsaws, I have realised I do enjoy these puzzles."
Molly nodded. "That sounds like fun." She looked around the room, then pointed to a coffee table that stood in front of the sofa, before a blank television screen on the wall. "We could assemble it there."
Sherlock pursed his lips. "I thought an end of the dining table might be better. I am not sure how well I would do kneeling constantly in front of a coffee table."
Molly grinned. "I've noticed your knees occasionally give you trouble if you are on them too long whilst helping Victoria with a puzzle."
"Guess I'm getting old."
She rested her cheek affectionately against his shoulder. "You, getting old? Never."
"Fancy a walk outside?" asked Sherlock, when they had finished looking around.
"I'd love to," said Molly, slipping her hand into his.
They walked to the back French doors which opened onto a terrace, and Molly remembered the ornamental pond they had been told last time held koi.
Molly loved the way the rear of the B&B opened onto a park with a wooded area at the end of it. She felt a little thrill of anticipation run through her at the thought of picnicking amongst those trees again.
"Let's take a walk to the trees," said Molly impulsively. "It's such a beautiful day for a walk."
She tugged on Sherlock's hand and didn't wait for his response.
They walked in the grass that was well maintained,
Halfway between the B&B and the trees, Sherlock suddenly pulled Molly to a standstill, and she looked at him, surprised.
Without a word, he took her in his arms and held her close, then kissed her.
Molly made a small sound of contentment and returned his kiss fervently. There was something so wonderful about being out in the sunshine with nobody else around, kissing.
Finally, Sherlock lifted his head. Molly saw the dilated pupils of his eyes, despite the sunshine. She expected hers too were dilated. "If this grass was long enough to provide concealment from prying eyes, I'd make love to you right here, in the open."
She leaned her cheek against his chest, feeling its fast rhythm. "I agree. I'm adventurous as well, but that has its limits. I don't mind being observed by a few birds and animals, but taking a chance, however slim, on being seen by other humans is definitely not something I'd be comfortable with."
They stood for a few moments more, then resumed their walk through the grass until they reached the trees.
Old leaves littered the ground, looking as if nothing had disturbed them for years, aside from perhaps small animals. Certainly there was no sign, at least from Molly's perspective, that people had disturbed the leaves. "I wonder if anyone has ventured into these trees the way we did," she mused. "It doesn't look like it, does it?"
Sherlock turned his head to look at the line of trees. "Certainly not in quite some time. The weight of human feet would have crushed these dead leaves, yet they seem, for the most part, intact."
Molly bit her lip. "Perhaps we should leave things undisturbed and not have our picnic in there after all."
Sherlock snorted. "Nonsense, Molly. We are not going to hurt the feelings of the trees if we disturb the foliage."
She had to giggle at that. "I guess you're right. Should we explore now or wait until Wednesday?" She could hear birds chirping in the trees, and a slight breeze ruffled Sherlock's hair as well as her own.
He reached to pull away a wisp of hair from her face. "Let's wait. Do you want to start working on that jigsaw puzzle with me?"
She took his hand. "Sounds good to me."
Soon, they were engrossed in doing the jigsaw puzzle.
Sherlock was ready to just hunt for side pieces first, but Molly insisted they should turn all the pieces to the picture side. "That will make it easier once we are looking to do the inside of the puzzle."
Within an hour, they had pieces strewn over the table and inside the box, with the edge complete save for one piece. "It must be lost," stated Sherlock.
"Not necessarily," countered Molly. "I've often found that I've overlooked edge pieces, and I find them unexpectedly later."
"Well, I think I've had enough for now," said Sherlock. "How about a game of chess or another board game?"
Molly thought for a moment. "Let's leave the chess for tomorrow."
She stood and stretched, then walked over to the game shelf. "How about Home Run?" she called to Sherlock, who was still sitting at the table.
He nodded and Molly brought the game over, putting it on the other side of the table from the jigsaw.
Sherlock won the first game.
At one point in the second, Sherlock decided to move a piece further into home, rather than move another piece and send hers back to the start, but Molly had no intention of offering Sherlock the same courtesy. She wasn't going to go easy on him. Thankfully, she won the second game. Her competitive spirit had returned, and she wasn't sure how she would have handled a second loss. Why was it that she didn't mind losing to Victoria, or even to Sherlock, when the three of them were involved in a game, but one-on-one she felt so competitive?
With still time before dinner, Molly suggested, "Why don't we do our Bible reading for the day now. That way we won't forget later in case-"
He finished her sentence. "In case we are distracted by other things, such as you wearing a delightful piece of lingerie."
"Exactly."
Molly put the game away while Sherlock went upstairs to collect his Bible as well as the latest edition of Our Daily Bread.
Molly was sitting at the table again when he returned. "Do you know if I packed my reading glasses?" he asked.
"Oh, I put them in my suitcase along with mine, because I saw you had them still sitting out on the coffee table. I'll go get them."
Molly went upstairs and opened her smaller suitcase. She didn't want Sherlock looking in there, because this was the one in which she had placed the items of lingerie, the costume, and her iPad. Now, she withdrew the iPad as well as the reading glasses, setting the device on the bed for later, and headed back downstairs.
By the time they had finished their reading and discussion about the reading of the day which was the parable of the lost coin, it was time to leave for dinner.
With no specific place in mind, Sherlock found a park on Sheep Street, and they walked along it, deciding to try The Vintner.
Molly handed the obligatory mask to Sherlock, and for the second time that day, they wore them before entering an establishment.
At their table, they removed their masks, and Sherlock declared, "I'm in the mood for steak. I think I'll have the rib-eye."
"I'll have steak too, but I'll go for the rump, because it's a bit smaller."
"I'd suggest you get the rib-eye and I'd eat what you didn't, but I'm not sure my jaw would lend itself to such vigorous chewing."
Molly sniffed in mock irritation, remembering how their tastes differed when it came to the cooking time for steak. "And I'd prefer not to be reminded of cadavers, remember? Too much pink." She made a face.
Molly was happy with her food choice, as Sherlock also appeared to be. They didn't get dessert, because they still had dessert from lunch to eat back at the B&B.
Upon their return to the B&B, Molly checked her watch. "I got my iPad out of my suitcase earlier. Why don't we check up on the girls, have our dessert and then-" she gave him a meaningful look.
"Have a more intimate dessert," he finished with a smirk, opening his car door.
They went upstairs and FaceTimed for ten minutes with Sherlock's parents and the girls. Molly was pleased that Victoria and Christina seemed quite content. Christina was on her grandmother's lap, reaching up for her necklace as the adults chatted about their day, and Victoria showed Sherlock and Molly a picture she had coloured very nicely with crayons.
When it was time to say goodbye, Sherlock's mother told the girls to say goodbye.
Victoria waved and said, "Bye bye, Mummy and Daddy," and Christina even said bye and opened and closed her fist.
"Why don't you get the desserts out of the fridge now, and I'll go downstairs and get a couple forks?" suggested Sherlock, as Molly placed her iPad on the dressing table.
"Alright."
A few minutes later, they shared the two delicious desserts, and Molly remembered the last time they had eaten them, how they had been unable to decide which they liked better. "You know," she said, after Sherlock fed her the last bit of the chocolate mousse cake, "I think I'm going to have to say the chocolate mousse cake is better than the passion fruit panna cotta."
He grinned. "I think so too."
Molly threw away the empty containers while Sherlock went downstairs again to put the used forks in the sink.
Then she decided to unpack the big suitcase that held most of their things and put them away.
When Sherlock returned, he helped with the unpacking and taking their toiletries into the bathroom.
After they had finished, he asked, "Should we watch a little tv and let our dessert settle before we attempt any more strenuous activity?"
Molly giggled. "Are you implying a marathon session of lovemaking is ahead?"
He placed a hand against the side of her face, stroking it with his thumb , and gave her a look of promise that curled her toes. "Oh, I guarantee it, Mrs. Holmes."
Sherlock took up the remote that lay beside the television which sat on a corner of the dressing table, facing the bed.
"They have complimentary Netflix," said Molly. "Why don't we start watching that romance series that has been heavily promoted for months, Bridgerton. I started reading some of the novels years ago, but they were a bit raunchy for me, and I really hated how promiscuous the men were."
Sherlock gave her a curious look. "Then why would you want to watch the show?"
"You know I'm a sucker for historical romance, and I'd like to see what all the hype is about. Kaitlyn watched it and said she really enjoyed it."
"Very well." Sherlock found the series and clicked to begin it.
Molly smiled as they settled back together on the bed, propping themselves up with pillows, with Sherlock's arm around her.
Fifteen minutes into the first episode, Molly was a little surprised to see a sex scene, although she supposed she should have expected it. Many shows included sex scenes, but to show a man's naked bum was a little unusual.
She suppressed a giggle when Sherlock grumbled, "I really do not see the need to show that man's backside."
"What about seeing women's breasts?" Molly asked, turning her head to look at him.
His hand reached to her own breast and squeezed it gently. "I do not care to see any woman's breasts but your own, my love, but it seems to be a common occurrence in many shows these days."
"True," she agreed. Seeing a rather graphic love scene wasn't really her cup of tea, but she did want to continue watching the show for its intriguing storyline.
At the end of the episode, Molly asked, "How many episodes are there?"
Seeing there were 8, she ventured a suggestion. "Can we watch another one now, and if we can watch one or two each day, we can finish it before we return to London? Otherwise, we'll never get around to it."
"Having children does limit our own television watching activities," Sherlock agreed, pressing the play button to start the second episode.
When it was finished, Molly said, "Well, who is your favourite character?"
"I think it is the plump girl, Penelope. She is refreshingly realistic. It is nice to see that not every actor in a show has to be perfectly proportioned."
Molly nodded, turning her head to press a kiss to his cheek. "I agree. I very much like Penelope too, more than Daphne."
"And do you find the male protagonist handsome?" asked Sherlock, quirking his eyebrow.
Molly thought of the black actor playing Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. "I think he is very attractive but not," she ruffled Sherlock's curls, "anywhere near as attractive as you."
"I'm glad to hear it." He drifted his hand along her body. "So, shall we get ready for bed now? Will you wear one of the three baby dolls I bought you for our honeymoon?"
Molly smirked. "That was my plan. Can you guess which one?"
"Surprise me, but let me go to the loo first." He brushed a kiss to her lips and got up from the bed after turning off the television.
While Sherlock was in the bathroom, Molly rummaged in her suitcase. Which babydoll should she wear? The purple one she had worn here the first night last time? Or should she wear the much more daring red one?
She made her choice and held her selection behind her back as Sherlock emerged from the bathroom.
Sherlock noticed her hands behind her back. "Ah, you wish to surprise me."
"Yes. You should write down the one you deduce I will wear. We can see how well you know me."
"I do like a challenge."
Molly kept her lingerie hidden behind her until she had entered the bathroom.
She then proceeded to use the loo, brush her teeth, and change. Would Sherlock think she had chosen nostalgia or seduction?
Molly emerged from the bathroom and struck a sexy pose, then gasped. Sherlock was lying casually on top of the bed, hands behind his head, and he was completely naked. Oh, that was not something she had expected.
He gestured for her to join him. "Surprised?"
She couldn't help blushing a little. How silly of her. They had been married for four years and she was still amazed by the effect he had on her and his ability to surprise her. She swallowed, coming closer. "A...bit."
"You look ravishing, my love, and, as I expected-" he paused to reach beneath the pillow and draw out a slip of paper, on which he had written the word red, "you made the sexy choice."
She smirked and crawled onto the bed to lay beside him. "You do know me well, don't you?"
He smirked. "I cannot tell a lie. While I hoped to see you in the red lingerie, I did prepare a contingency plan." His other hand reached beneath the other side of the pillow to withdraw a scrap of paper which said purple.
Molly laughed. "You are so silly. Did you do a slip of paper for the black one as well?" Her hand moved to caress his bare chest.
Sherlock's breath hitched. She loved how his chest was still very sensitive to her touch. "Actually, no. I was certain you would either choose the purple one, to recreate our first night here, or you would choose the red one because it is the most scanty of the three, and you know how it affects me."
She raised an eyebrow, moving her hand downwards, finding to her satisfaction that his words were quite true.
In retaliation, Sherlock turned to face Molly, his own hand moving on a path of exploration, caressing her flesh possessively.
They kissed, their movements languid, as they luxuriated in being completely alone with no video monitors to alert them of wakeful daughters.
Molly had the feeling Sherlock would have been content to continue moving his hands along her body, denying his own needs if she hadn't finally made her own move to bring their bodies together in a journey that took them to the sweet fulfillment of their union.
It really felt like their honeymoon all over again, reflected Molly, as she lay in Sherlock's arms, feeling the utter contentment that accompanied the drowsiness which led them both into peaceful slumber.
Author's note: So, it is the end of the first day of their second honeymoon. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
There are references in this chapter where they talk about events that happened in A Honeymoon Journey.
I derive a lot of satisfaction in thinking about my version of Sherlock and Molly enjoying their married life now, more than 4 years beyond Sherrinford.
I know my readership is greatly limited in writing this one-universe storyline that has continued for so long, but I do appreciate the small band of faithful readers I have. I really appreciate the comments you make that encourage me to keep writing for my characters. If it were not for those faithful few, I would have left the fandom a long time ago. You know who you are, and you know what a blessing you are to me. I look forward to hearing from my usual readers and perhaps even a new one or two.
