The next day both Sherlock and Molly had the day off, which, at times can be rare due to the nature of their work. The ice storm had cleared sometime the previous morning and the roads had been thoroughly tended to. The sun decided to come out again today, no doubt helping the ice to melt more so than they had yesterday. In fact, they were both eager to be able to go out and about again, despite the bitter chill in the December air.
Sherlock and Molly had made plans to spend a nice day at the mall with John, Rosie, Meena, and her family. They had decided to take Rosie and Maisie to see Santa Claus. Sherlock and Molly are invited by John every year, and it has always been the one thing that they all did together and never skipped out on. It's important for Rosie to know that she has all of them to lean on in her best moments, as well as her worst. This year was a special treat, because Molly doesn't only get to see Rosie's joy, but Maisie's as well. Molly loves taking her role as godmother seriously, since of course she is not a mother herself yet. She has always had a love for children, even helping at a daycare for community service when she was a teen; a requirement for her private school.
Molly grins as she slips a cheery jumper over her head and slides on her Uggs. Sherlock glances over at her and smirks slightly.
"What are you peeking at?", she grins.
"Oh nothing just…the blinding jumper."
"Oh please, you're secretly pleased when I wear them, I can tell. You've called them "Molly Jumpers".
"They're a bit much, but they speak for your personality, so I'm fond of that part of them. I'm sure I could spend all day speaking about the complexity of your wardrobe, though we don't seem to have the time for that today."
"Maybe not." Laughing airily, Molly walks over to him and places a soft kiss to his chest before gazing at him and slowly buttoning his shirt for him. Sherlock stares down at her with his piercing eyes, slowly licking his lips.
"Molly Hooper, are you seducing me? Because if you are successful, I'm afraid we will definitely disappoint those poor little girls", his voice rumbles deeply, dipping it an octave the way he knows sends shivers down her spine.
As if on cue, Molly shudders and blushes, peering up at him, then glancing at the clock. "Well...I-...I know we just got dressed…but we are running a bit ahead of schedule." Without another word, Sherlock pulls his shirt and her jumper off, then swings the bedroom door closed. Molly squeaks out a small "oh!", and small laughs ensue as they undoubtedly undress again.
Sherlock picks up his slightly rumpled shirt and tries to smooth it out, clearing his throat. Molly fixes her messy hair and chews her lip. "Well, that was…"
"The same as every other time", he smirks devilishly. "In the absolute best, mind-blowing way."
"Of course", she chuckles. "You should probably just pick out another shirt. How about that sexy dark blue one you've got? It brings out your eyes. I want you to make a good impression on Meena and her husband."
He nods in agreement and tosses the previous one in the hamper, taking the deep blue one out of the drawer. Slipping it on his shoulders and buttoning it up, he looks over Molly who is straightening out her own outfit. He grins, noticing that she changed her hair to a side braid. His favorite. Not only does it look great on her, but for purely selfish reasons, it gives him better access to his neck.
Molly beams happily and turns to him. "Right then. Ready to go? I know you hate crowds and lines and shopping, but I'll be there. I'll ground you."
"I know you will. You always have. Every year."
Smiling, she takes his hand, and they head to her car. Sherlock steals a kiss before entering the passenger side, filling Molly with pure bliss.
The whole lot of them laugh at something silly that Rosie had done during lunch at the food court. They are thrilled that Rosie and Maisie had become fast friends, as they were absolutely adorable together. It's also great that John and David had a lot to talk about. David was a doctor as well as a farmer. As they all walk towards where Santa Claus sits, the little girls' excitement becomes too much for their little bodies to bear; so much so that they begin bouncing in place. "Have A Holly, Jolly Christmas", comes over the radio speakers of the mall, and the girls dance adorably to the music, giggling.
Meena grins and pats Sherlock's shoulder. "I'm glad I finally met you. It seems I've known you for years, with how much Molly has talked about you. On and on and on", she laughs. "I must admit that I hated you at first for hurting her so much. But she's come to make me realize that you've become a better person, and I can see now that you make her happy."
"Thank you, Meena. She certainly is a remarkable woman. She has changed me in all the best ways, and I am so lucky to have her."
"That you are. Remember that always."
"Don't worry. I plan to."
Molly hugs Sherlock's arm and pecks his cheek before they turn their attention to the girls. John is smiling brightly at how thrilled Rosie is to have made a friend.
Sherlock goes over and nudges him. "It'll be unfortunate when Meena leaves, hm?"
John glances at him. "Oh…God, yeah. I'm sure Rosie will be crushed, but she's happy right now, and I'm sure they'll visit again someday. I just…always want her to be happy. But I know I can't control that her entire life. I just want the best for her."
"I understand that. She's your child, of course you want the very best for her. You know though, Maisie may not be the only friend Rosie will have in the coming years."
"Well yeah, I'm sure she's make some at school."
Sherlock chews his lip the way he does when he's a bit unsure whether he should say something. "Not just that." He pauses for a moment. "Erm...Molly and I have sort of...been…trying. I suppose."
Johns face breaks out into an incredulous smile and he gapes a bit, processing, then realizing what he means. "No…no way. You and Molly have…dear God…that's…that's…quite unbelievable! It's great, it's just…wow."
Sherlock chuckles and folds his hands behind his back. "I know it is, but as you know, she's made me better. I found myself wanting the kind of life that I guess you could say is ordinary. Despite the murders and the autopsies and such, of course."
"Of course", John bellows, laughing. "Well mate, if anyone can make those things seem ordinary, it'll be you and Molly, I'll tell you that."
Sherlock snorts and chuckles deeply. "True."
Molly steals a look at Sherlock, and he smiles lovingly. Moments later the girls get their photos with Santa Claus. Luckily, this mall Santa is just as jolly as he would be if he were real. Molly hugs Sherlock's side and grins from ear to ear, peeking up at him. "Just think, in a year or two, it could be our child on that bench with a smile a mile wide. We /are/ playing Santa with our child. It's part of the magic of Christmas, and they're only little and innocent for so long."
"Mhh, I agree. My old self would gawk at the idea, but I understand more now. I can't wait", he says softly, pecking the tip of her nose.
Molly cuddles his side and nods. "Me neither."
That day, it wasn't only Santa and the precious little girls feeling jolly, for it seemed to be contagious, affecting everyone around them, even the usually stoic consulting detective, who couldn't seem to be able to wipe the boyish grin off of his face.