Molly giggles, trying to contain the wiggly box in her hand. She had texted Sherlock to come home early because she had a gift for him, despite their anniversary not being for another month.

When she was on a walk due to the unusually sunny weather, she passed a small pet shop who were giving away puppies. Coincidentally, or maybe not, they happened to be handing out Irish Redsetter puppies. Sherlock's dream dog, and what he had believed his childhood friend Victor Trevor to be, when his memories were altered by Mycroft.

Though Molly is more of a cat person, and Toby was less than thrilled to have another creature impeaching on his territory, Molly wanted to do something sweet for her new husband, and, knowing the history of his connection to the breed she knew she was meant to see the little pups in the small pen outside the shop. This particularly sweet runt came over to her immediately. He was the smallest one, and the least paid attention to, which made him different. And different is perfect for her and for Sherlock.

He had texted that he would be home for dinner and couldn't wait to see, since he generally doesn't like surprises. However, Molly's surprises are usually worth the wait.

Molly had put the little runt in a nice sized box with breathing holes and pet the little pup for a while once dinner was in the oven. Grabbing her phone, she texts him.

{Dinner is in the oven; made a cheesy chicken pasta casserole thing I found a recipe for online. It looked good. Are you en route? xxx Molly}

A reply comes almost instantaneously.

{Cab is turning down the street. See you momentarily, love. SH}

Grinning brightly, she hurriedly puts the box on the sitting room table and goes to the door to wait for him.

A minute later, he saunters up the walk, his Belstaff billowing behind him. A grin spreads across his face when he looks up and sees her. Molly can't help but take in how utterly gorgeous he looks today. He always is of course, but there's just an air about him and the way his curls look so fluffy, and his eyes look particularly bright with their multiple colors today that make butterflies in her stomach.

"What?", he muses, smiling at her. "You're staring."

She blushes and chuckles as she lets him in the door. "Sorry. You just look...so damn good today. You always do but there's something about that teal shirt and the way your eyes match perfectly, and how fluffy your curls are today. Mmm...gorgeous."

Sherlock laughs softly and pulls her close, kissing her passionately. "You're gorgeous", he murmurs as Molly sinks into the kiss and moans softly, tangling her fingers in his hair. He moans gently and plays with her tongue before pulling away for air.

"Still in our honeymoon phase too, aren't we? I hope it never ends, Moll."

Molly giggles and kisses his cheek, hanging up his Belstaff. "Me neither, Sherlock", she beams. "So, want to see your surprise?"

He smirks and raises an eyebrow. "Always, from you", he purrs and pulls her close.

Molly playfully slaps his chest and laughs. "It's nothing to do with sex, but with you looking how you do, you'll have no problem convincing me later tonight okay?"

"Hmm okay. So what's it to do with?"

Grabbing his hand in her own, Molly drags him into the sitting room, leading him to the large white box with a red box on it. He looks at her incredulously.

"Moll, it's not my birthday or our anniversary. Why the big gift?"

"Because I love you, and when I saw this, I knew it was absolutely perfect for you, regardless of what day it is."

Sherlock smiles softly and nods slowly. "Alright, well...can I open it?"

"Yes, yes, open it!", she giggles as a small noise comes from the box. Sherlock's eyebrows raise as he gently lifts the lid off of the box, revealing the tiny puppy inside. For a moment he just stares, and Molly gets concerned, wondering if maybe it was a bad idea, bringing up bad memories or grief.

Sherlock's eyes well up with tears and he takes a deep, shaky breath, slowly scooping the puppy into his large hands. "M-Molly..."

"The pet shop had two different litters and they couldn't keep both so they were giving away puppies and they just happened to be what your literal dream dog was so I-I thought maybe...I know I'm a cat person, but Toby and I will survive. I wanted you to get your childhood dream. He's yours, Sherlock. The runt of the litter. He was different and nobody wanted him, but he was the sweetest and I knew he was perfect for us. For you."

Tears fall down his face as he sits on the sofa, happily chuckling through sobs as the puppy climbs all over him, sniffing and licking his cheek.

"Redbeard...", Sherlock mumbles, cuddling the puppy gently.

"I put in a delivery for some supplies, and it's coming soon so no worries on that front. I got some potty-training pads too for the back porch...he'll need to be trained but we can find some of those puppy classes for him or have someone come over for sessions..."

Sherlock looks up at her, completely in awe and in love with the perfect woman in front of him. "You're the most perfect woman. I love you so much...I...I had given up on ever thinking I'd own a dog, not to mention a red setter, and then you just shock me even more every day. What about Toby?"

Molly snorts. "He isn't thrilled but I'm sure he will get used to him. He has no choice."

Sherlock nods gently and scratches behind the pup's little floppy ears. "He's perfect...he's..."

"Adorable? I know", Molly laughs softly, sitting next to him and petting Redbeard as well. "Seeing your reaction is worth everything to me. I like making you happy, Sherlock. I love you."

"I love you too, more than you could ever know, Mrs. Holmes", he grins, kissing her softly.

.

.

That weekend Sherlock and Molly had been having a bit of trouble training the puppy even with help. Between the chewing and the hiding (with how small he is), and the way the pup conveniently misses the pee pad, it's been a hassle.

With Molly out grocery shopping, Sherlock is on puppy duty. Unfortunately, he takes his eyes off the pup for a bit longer than a minute and finds himself scrambling around the house trying to find him.

"Redbeard!"

"Redbeard, come on…here boy! Come here, boy!"

Hearing a small bark from their bedroom, a sense of dread comes over Sherlock.

"Oh no", he mutters, rushing into the room. Redbeard is currently curling up at the bottom of the closet...reeking of urine.

"Nooo, Redbeard! Urinating in wardrobes, bad! Urinating in wardrobes, bad!"

Groaning, he grabs a towel, scooping the puppy up, and washes him off thoroughly before placing him in his crate, putting on rubber gloves and goggles to reluctantly head back to the closet and begin to clean it with a bleach type solution to get the scent out.

During the whole ordeal, Molly comes home, her arms full of groceries, and crinkles her nose at the smell of the chemical cleaning solution. "Sherlock! Where did he pee now?"

Sherlock slinks out of their room with a trash bag full of tainted paper towels, before tying it up tightly. "Possibly our wardrobe..."

"Nooo!"

"It didn't get on anything, I checked. Just the carpet. I cleaned it", he sighs.

Molly sighs and begins putting the food away as Sherlock tosses the gloves and removes his goggles, then washing his hands.

"Seems like what they say is true, then."

Sherlock furrows his eyebrows and hugs her from behind, peppering her shoulder and neck in kisses. "Mhh, and what would that be?"

"Dog owners usually have dogs that mirror themselves. In this case, stubborn, defiant, impossible, but still fun and cute", she laughs.

Sherlock gapes and tickles her. "Hey!"

Molly squeals and pushes him away.

"Well, you know what I say?"

"What?"

"I say that he is good practice for a baby someday soon."

Molly's jaw drops and then she smiles brightly. "Really?"

"Really", Sherlock murmurs softly, pulling her close into a loving kiss.