So, now that the unexpected secondary Donolock pairing has been purged from my warren of plot bunnies and established, I find myself more able to focus on the Mollstrade side of the Mollstrade Universe again. Here we go!

Of Hungry Sharks and Red Herrings

Genre: Family, with hints of romance

Pairings: Greg and Molly, Sherlock and Sally mentioned

Main characters: Greg, Molly, Sherlock discussed

"I think we have a winner, then," Molly said, grinning as she absently rubbed her growing early third trimester belly. "Now, are you absolutely sure about this? Once this name is on the birth certificate, there's no turning back."

Greg, reclining opposite Molly on their couch with her feet in his hands, giving them a good massage, nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. I think. No I'm sure. This is it. The name."

"I never thought choosing a baby name would be so difficult," Molly sighed. "The boys were just so easy to name, but this little one has been a challenge."

"Well," Greg said thoughtfully, "to be fair, 'Sherlock' is an incredibly hard name to pair the way we need it to." Greg smiled as Molly's toes suddenly curled and she gasped and moaned.

"Oh yes darling, that spot right there, it's been killing me for two days. Oh!" she gasped again, closing her eyes blissfully.

Greg smiled at his wife, once again in utter awe at what not only Molly, but women in general were willing to go through just to have families. He was fairly certain, once again, that if it were up to men to bear children, the human race would be in grave danger of becoming extinct. Greg had been through a lot in his life, even being shot at one point early in his career, but he wasn't sure he had it in him to do what Molly was doing, happily, blissfully even, voluntarily, and on purpose, for the second time, no less.

"Sorry about that," he said with a smile. "You know, about this whole… bun in the oven thing." Molly responded with a little scolding kick. "I know it's not the most pleasant thing to experience. I get all the fun and you get all the work."

"Oh hush now Gregory. You know I've wanted children for a long time and you've wanted them even longer. Anyway don't fool yourself, you didn't have all the fun… I've had my share of it making our children as well." She winked with a cheeky smile and a sparkle in her hazel eyes.

"Well I truly hope this one looks like you," Greg said, continuing to work his fingers around Molly's feet. "Looking like their old man works fine for the boys, but I'd hate to think of my face on our daughter. Bollocks that's a frightening thought. I'd much prefer for her to look like you, love."

"Well, time will tell, I suppose, and it will be what it will be." Secretly, Molly thought a little girl that favoured her father would be adorable, especially if she had his rather gorgeous eyes, but her sense of pride also admitted readily that having her own little doppelganger toddling around was a most wonderful thought as well. Molly understood where Greg was coming from, however. She loved that the boys favoured Greg, so she knew that he in turn would probably love for their daughter to favour her.

"What do you think Sherlock will think?" Molly said, thoughtfully, and smiling as Greg worked his way up to her aching ankles and Achilles tendon.

"I think he's going to be in for a surprise. I'm pretty sure he's still convinced we're having another boy. His deductions can't quite wrap themselves around all the mixed clues I've been feeding him. He's been snapping them up like a shark in a cloud of chum," Greg laughed heartily.

"Chum made of red herrings, no doubt! Well I can't wait to see his reaction to her name," Molly said, giggling. "He's basically named our daughter. He'll be impossible to live with for a while I think. I can't think of a more perfect name though, can you? Who would have thought it would be possible to name our baby girl after the two men who are closest to my heart?"

Greg smiled softly at this, knowing how close Sherlock and Molly remained, even after she had reconciled her feelings for him and started fresh with Greg.

"Greer Sherla," Greg said. "It is a beautiful name, I must admit. I had no idea that there even was a feminine form of Gregory. Trust Sherlock to know that! I thought he didn't like to clutter up his hard drive with useless information."

"Sherlock can be as much of a mystery as the cases he so loves to delve into and solve," Molly pointed out. "But I believe he wouldn't have considered it to be useless information if he thought he might have a chance to influence the name of our baby."

"Bloody hell, he is going to be impossible. I can already see him strutting about like a peacock," Greg groaned.

"Oh, let him have his moment," Molly said as she shifted herself on the couch. "He'll likely never have children of his own, not even with Sally. This way he at least has a legacy of sorts. You know as well as anyone what it's like to believe you'll never have that," she pointed out.

"Indeed, I do," Greg said, checking his watch. "Well, my beautiful girl, I'm afraid the time has come for me to head into the Yard," he said, sounding disappointed. Molly pulled her legs back as Greg swung his feet to the floor and stood up. Taking the steps towards her, he bent down to kiss her deeply and regretfully. "I'll see you tonight," he said, as he walked towards the door. "I love you!"

"I love you too!" Molly called out to him as he closed the door behind him.