To Be Continued

Genre: Family; Mild Humour; Mild Romance

Pairings: Greg and Molly

Main characters: Greg, Molly

"I can't believe you stopped THERE," Molly huffed, mildly annoyed. "'To be continued,' he says. As if he weren't being a complete bastard."

Greg, tired, but fully awake, turned to train a questioning look at his wife. "Molly, Love, the children had all fallen asleep. That was sort've the point of the story, wasn't it?" He sighed, continuing to look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh don't give me that look, Gregory Joseph Lestrade. Stopping when you did was just… mean. Maybe the children didn't care because they were asleep, but you had the full undivided attention of a woman wide awake."

Comprehension struck suddenly, and Greg sighed as he smiled and nodded. "Ah. Got it, Love. You realize no chapter is the same twice, yeah? If I tell you what happens next, it may not line up with THEIR chapter tomorrow night, and the following chapters…?"

"Well then," Molly replied with a come-hither tone. "What will it take for you to tell me what happens next, then, my gorgeous Prince Gregory?"

Greg thought on this carefully. This was not an opportunity to squander, not at all.

Molly loved to cook nearly as much as he did, so requesting a special dish would be pointless, because all of his favourites were regular mainstays on their weekly family menu.

A full therapeutic body massage would be nice after a long day with tired muscles and aching shoulders, but Greg already had a standing booking every fortnight with a massage therapist, so that, also, would be moot. Besides, he knew, Molly was at times just as in need of something like that after a long day in the mortuary.

Pointless also, would be any sort of favours in the bedroom. Molly was always just as enthusiastic as he was, so this, unbelievably, would also waste the opportunity.

"Well… he murmured, completely devoid of any inspiration at the moment, "what's it worth to you?" He grinned at her, drawing her close enough to him to kiss.

Molly thought about this carefully as she traced his collarbone with her fingers. Special dishes… pointless. A good old fashioned massage… well he already had a professional therapist to work out the knots in his musculature. EXTRA special marital things… also moot – not that that wouldn't be plenty of fun, mind.

"I've no idea, darling. Seriously, I've got nothing…" Molly finally admitted, sadly.

Greg suddenly grinned, an idea having just struck him. "Well then… I've a proposal… in order to keep the story's continuity straight… perhaps… if you feel up to it… you might join me tomorrow night in the telling of the next chapter… well the childrens' next chapter that is. Greer loves a story from me but I know Scott would be absolutely THRILLED to have his Mum join in, and Johnnie is happy with either of us, so he'll be doubly delighted. What's say then, sweetheart?"

"I think I say… that's Princess Molly, to you, my dashing silver Prince," she replied, eyes and face both alight with anticipation. "Now, that said, I believe it's OUR bedtime. I know you've gotten yourself ready to the point of just crawling under the covers with me, as have I. So shall we let the story continue?" she asked, as she took his hand with an excited squeeze and led him to their bedroom.

Greg grinned at her as she turned back the covers. As they settled in, she rolled over into his arms and said, "Okay, now where were we again…?"

Greg thought a moment on that, then said, "Ah, yes. Lord Mycroft arrived, none too soon either, at the castle gates with Lady Eurus on his arm, and two shiny armored knights flanking him - just to be doubly sure of course, that Lady Eurus wouldn't try anything silly - for you see, Princess Sally had requested her help, as she was especially concerned that The Dragon Adler, alias simply The Dragon, kept requesting to have Prince Sherlock for dinner… No sooner had they been let through the castle gates, when suddenly, there appeared…"

"Darling," Molly asked softly, her fingers absently tracing the design on the front of the t-shirt Greg slept in, "Why, if Lord Mycroft is Prince Sherlock's brother… is he only a Lord, and not a Prince as well?"

"Well, Lord Mycroft preferred to be more… hands on. He felt his cleverness would be wasted at court, you see, he felt the more high the ranking title, the less powerful he would ACTUALLY be. After all, SOMEONE had to advise the King, and Lord Mycroft felt he could rule in his own way, like that… And you know, Greer and the boys never interrupt with silly questions, Molly Girl," Greg replied with a soft chuckle. "You need to be more patient, Love."

"Oh never mind about patience, husband. Just tell the bloody story," she said, with a small huff. "And why was Mycroft a Sir earlier tonight, and now he's a Lord…"

"He was promoted," Greg said tersely, "and I'm TRYING to tell the bloody story… anyway, as I was saying, suddenly, there appeared…" as Molly relaxed again, determined to just lie back with Greg and enjoy the story.

And so, the next chapter was told, to an impatient wife and mother, by a patient husband and father, and the adventures at court would continue on for another night...