Greer's Answer

Genre: Family, Humour, FUTURE FIC

Pairings: Greg and Molly, Greer and Sam

Main characters: Adult Greer, Greg, Molly

Greer, visiting her parents' flat at 221 Baker Street, and having spent the night in her old bedroom, joyfully got up early enough to wake her parents up.

She peered into their bedroom, finding them suitably positioned in their slumber for her morning's mission.

Crawling gingerly and with stealth she had developed in her time as a copper, and with years of practice on this particular mission, she plopped herself between her parents and heaved a great sigh. Placing a soft, unobtrusive kiss on her mother's cheek, Greer watched her for a moment as Molly's hand came up in her sleep to brush away whatever had just tickled her face.

Shifting carefully, Greer draped an arm across her dad's chest, propping her head up with her other arm. Thus, she patiently waited for Greg to wake up, while thoughtfully admiring the new adornment on her hand, there since just the day before.

"Little Love," Greg murmured, as he stirred. "This was fine when you were six, and even still marginally acceptable when you were twelve. I quite think you've outgrown it by now though?"

"Bollocks, Daddy," Greer giggled softly. "I'm never too big for THIS. It's breakfast time, Mum is sleeping soundly but you know the smell of my coffee and your bacon is guaranteed to get her out of bed."

Greg took a deep breath, letting it out in a rush. His daughter was right, of course. He knew she was right. Times like this, he hated how right she could be. It always ruined a bloody good lie-in with Molly.

"Besides," Greer pointed out, in a voice that remained hushed. "John and Josie, and Scott will be here in an hour. And Sam. We've an announcement to make, after all."

Greg groaned softly. Well, to be fair, he could probably use a trip to the loo soon anyway. And with a sleepy afterthought, he pondered that it was good his daughter had seen fit to say yes to Sam.

"Anyway, isn't it about time you shooed me away so you can get up to visit the loo?"

He rose an eyebrow at his grown daughter, who lay on her side serenely, giving him a cheeky look. Had her ritual really become SO routine that she even knew THAT?

Removing her arm from where she had it resting casually on her dad's chest, she allowed him to arise, grinning at him in triumph. Rolling over, she decided to spend the few moments waiting for him, waking her mother up in a similar manner. Draping her arm across Molly's waist in much the same way she'd done with Greg, Greer propped herself up on her left arm this time, concealing her hand.

"Mummy," Greer whispered softly. "Coffee. Canadian bacon. You know you want some… wakey wakey mum," she gently teased. Molly stirred, awakening before her eyes opened.

"My beautiful girl, which one of us bloody dolts raised you to be such a pain in the ass in the mornings?" Molly muttered as she slowly emerged from her slumber.

"Why, it was Daddy of course. Who else? You could NEVER teach me such scandalously bratty things."

Molly, now fully awake, turned her head to face her grown daughter. Smiling at her, she moved her hand to grasp Greer's. "This never gets old, darling. Never."

Greer leaned down to softly kiss her mother's cheek again. "Well that's good Mum… say… I've something to tell you. A bit of news, if you will…"

Molly frowned slightly, giving Greer a questioning look.

"Good news, or bad news?"

"Well, I suppose it depends… but as Daddy encouraged it when Sam talked to him yesterday… I suppose it's good news…" Greer cleared her throat softly, smiling at her mother. "Especially when the father of the bride not only approves... but actually accepts a proposal of father-in-law-hood from the groom."

Molly sat bolt upright, as Greer, anticipating this reaction, removed her arm and sat up herself, gazing intently and excitedly at her mother, her dark brown eyes dancing with joy.

"He's asked you to…? Greer! Oh my beautiful, beautiful girl. So Sam… he REALLY asked… you're getting married…?!"

"Well, he asked daddy first if he would be his father-in-law, and since dad said yes, it would have been rather awkward had I said no when Sam asked me to be his wife. Apparently my betrothed is quite gifted when it comes to improvising a situation to save his nerves. Sam told me he was scared shitless until he came up with that idea on the fly."

"Oh, Greer," Molly said, still trying to absorb the news. "Wait… is there a ring yet? Oh, let me see it, darling…"

Greer presented her left hand to Molly, who sat with tears springing to her eyes as she looked upon it. "Oh, it's PERFECT. He couldn't have chosen a better ring for you. Oh darling, I'm SO happy…"

Greer held her breath, hoping her mother would manage to avoid bursting into tears. But, as he had done countless times over the years, Greg saved it by calling out to summon his daughter to the kitchen.

"Coffee isn't making itself, Little Love," he shouted down the hallway.

"Brekkie calls, Mum. Come on then, I've been craving dad's bacon and bangers for a full week now. And Uncle John's muffins, oh please tell me we have some of those… Oh, and your eggs…"

Molly, now up and throwing on a robe, could think of little besides Greer's news, let alone breakfast.

However, watching her husband and their daughter in the kitchen as she poured herself a cup of coffee, Molly thought to herself that perhaps these mornings might be numbered now.

Oddly enough, she found herself not minding a single bit.