In for a Penny, In for a Pound
Genre: Friendship, with minor humour
Pairings: Greg and Molly, Sherlock and Sally, background
Main characters: Rosie, Julian, Molly with cameos by Grace, Michael, and Greer
"Rosamund Mary Watson. They are NOT dolls," Molly said sternly.
"Auntie Sally said we could look after them though, and they're having fun, really they are!"
Rosie looked to Julian for backup, finding, as usual, her faithful friend crossing his arms and giving a solemn look of agreement.
"Mr. Sherlock even taught us how to change their nappies. It's really easy, and it's not gross at all unless you're squeamish. A copper's kid is never squeamish Mrs. Molly," Julian said, quite seriously.
Molly couldn't argue with that one easily. While she wasn't a copper's kid, she was definitely a copper's wife, and with that added to the fact that she herself was a pathologist, she had seen more things to give a person a case of the screaming squicks than London had umbrellas.
She peered into the cot, not quite vacated yet by Greer, but long since left behind by Johnnie and Scott. The Donovan-Holmes twins lay slumbering with what could only be described as sheer contentment.
"Besides," Julian continued to advocate, "Mrs. Sally showed us how to feed them and burp them too. And how to hold them to make sure…"
"Yes, Julian," Molly finally conceded. "I understand. You and Rosie are competent babysitters, and I'm sure Mi… Sally, appreciates the break."
"Well, Auntie," Rosie said, smiling bashfully, "That's kind of why we wanted to look after them. Auntie Sally is just so tired, and Uncle is busy with Daddy, but we didn't want to ignore Johnnie and Scott either, so…" she trailed off.
"Uh oh," she suddenly said. "Jules, do you… smell something?"
Molly smiled. She'd noticed the rather ungraceful grunt coming from little Grace, and not only being the mother of twins herself, but also knowing Sherlock and Sally's children as she did, predicted that within a short minute or two, Michael would soon enough follow suit with a scrunching of his face and an inevitable "eau de pew" issuing forth from his nappy.
"I don't suppose she only farted, do you?" Jules asked. When he was met with Mrs. Molly's desperately squirming mouth as she tried in vain to keep a straight face, and Rosa's look of disgusted resolve, Julian Bailey knew quite well that Grace Donovan-Holmes wasn't just winding.
"Daddy always says, in for a penny, in for a pound," Julian said. "And he says Mr. Greg agrees with him. Daddy and Mr. Greg couldn't ever be wrong," he stated. He gave Rosie a single look and a smile to let her know they were in it together.
"Auntie," Rosie finally said, smiling in acknowledgement at Julian, "I'm not asking you to do it for us, but would you stay please, so we know we've done it right?"
In spite of the advice he'd received from his dad and his dad's boss, Julian still thought to himself that Rosa definitely owed him for this one. Likewise, Rosie thought the same of Jules.
But when all was said and done, nappies had been changed and 6 year olds bolstered by their accomplishments, Molly had set the duo up on the sofa, each holding a sleeping twin from upstairs, (and herself cuddling a tired toddler Greer) she thought, maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all.
And judging by the self-satisfied expressions on Rosie Watson and Julian Bailey's faces, they didn't think it was such a bad idea either.