Chapter 11
The return flight to London, via Dublin, was routine and pretty uneventful. The group were all happy to be going home, and at the same time very grateful to their American friends and allies for all they'd done to help them. Michael slept soundly from take off. It appeared he'd found another party last night and was a little tired, much to Sherlock's amusement. Molly had moved seat a few hours into the flight and was chatting happily with Mary and John; baby stuff, he figured, judging by the sharing of photo's on phones and Molly's gooing.
Adding up all the times since he'd been reunited with her that they'd both almost ignored contraception, he winced to himself and then grinned. He knew she had an IUD but they'd better have a conversation soon. Although he wasn't adverse to the idea of having children with Molly, he would like her to himself first, at least for a year or so. He wanted her to get used to him, and all his idiosyncrasies, because he knew well enough how challenging he would be. He would determine to do his best but he knew he wasn't easy and he felt a year together was important for them both. She was only thirty two so there was plenty of time.
He realised he had never heard her actually express her on opinion on having a family, but he long knew it was something she wanted. He shook his head ruefully. Who was he kidding? If Molly told him she was pregnant, or that she would like to be pregnant, he would go along with it happily, which was exactly why he was so complacent about it. Security, as always, would be an issue, but it was not insurmountable.
Catching his expression, she tilted her head quizzically at him, and he raised a bold brow, smirked and then winked at her. She blushed furiously and then stifled a laugh. He smiled back at her, holding her eyes for a long moment. He could hardly wait until they landed in Ireland and he could have her all to himself, and judging by the way Molly had just subconsciously licked her lips, she was thinking along the same lines. Three hours twenty seven minutes to go...
Mycroft sat up in the cockpit with Aoife, acting as co-pilot for her when required, dictating his final report on the demise of Sebastian Moran when his services weren't needed. He was aware of Sherlock's issue with the inaccuracy of the intelligence regarding the security at Quantico and he shared those concerns, as did McBride, but the issue had to be handled delicately. 'Delicacy' and his brother did not go hand in hand though. He laughed to himself. Perhaps, he thought, he'd be distracted enough with Molly in Ireland not to cause a diplomatic incident until he could resolve the issue with the Americans. He'd spent hours working on just that with AD McBride and the Director of the FBI last late last night and Aoife was fast asleep when he got in. It was another opportunity to make amends for his neglect missed. He let out a heavy sigh.
Aoife looked sideways at him curiously and then smiled broadly at him, and he returned it in kind, leaning over to kiss her. She was lighter in herself, he thought, ever since the soiree last night, smiling more naturally, and far more chatty and animated then she had been for weeks. How had he not noticed how subdued, how restrained she'd been, he remonstrated with himself, and grimaced visibly at the answer. Because he wasn't paying attention, and that simply wasn't good enough. He cleared his throat, trying to find the best way to tackle the subject. "Aoife?"
"Hmm?" she replied, distracted.
"I owe you a huge apology, my darling." She turned her head swiftly to look at him, wrinkling her nose in confusion.
"No you don't. Whatever makes you say that?" He sighed gently and shook his head at her slowly.
"Hear me out Aoife, please, ok?" She frowned apprehensively and nodded.
"You moved home and country only two months ago, to share your life with me, and I did not make myself available to you, when I promised you faithfully that I would. Indeed, that was part of your conditions for moving, if I recall correctly. I failed to keep my word to you. There were days and nights where I didn't even see you or converse with you and that is unforgivable. I will do better Aoife." Aoife sighed in exasperation, and thanked God silently for autopilot. She turned in her seat to look at him.
"You decide to have this conversation while I'm flying a plane? Fine," she smiled fondly, and continued, "but we're doing this my way. Answer me with 'yes' or 'no' only, agreed?"
"Aoife.." She shook her head firmly.
"Yes or no, Mycroft!" She admonished him and he grimaced and then reluctantly agreed.
"Right, shall we begin?" It wasn't a question. "Do you know me?" she asked. He responded with a deep sigh accompanied by a very dramatic eye roll.
"Yes."
"Are you sure about that?" His lips twitched, suppressing a smile.
"Yes."
"Good. Then tell me, am I the shy and retiring type?" Even the idea of that elicited a half smile from Mycroft.
"No."
"Am I unassertive?" His smile grew broader.
"No." She began to smirk in amusement.
"Have I, since I moved to London, manifested any sign of unhappiness or malcontent?"
"No."
"Good answer. I believe we're getting somewhere...," and he sputtered out a laugh. Aoife grinned and continued.
"Now, my darling man, do I understand the concept of 'family'?" Mycroft turned fully in his seat to face her, placing his elbows on his knees and his fingers interlinked under his chin as he looked lovingly at her. He answered her quietly and firmly.
"Yes." She leaned over and kissed him tenderly on the lips.
"Is Sherlock Holmes my family now, and Molly, as his partner?" He laughed and rolled his eyes.
"Yes." She paused and then asked him quietly then,
"Am I completely and utterly besotted with you, you silly man?" He sucked in a sharp breath and leaning over, cupped her face in his long hands.
"My turn Aoife." and she smiled, and turning her head, kissed into his palm. Mycroft smiled in response, then tilted her face gently back to look into her eyes and murmured,
"Do you have any idea just how much I love you?"
She gasped and her eyes welled with emotion, some tears escaping down her face, and he wiped them away tenderly with his thumbs. They hadn't used the 'L' word yet, not the actual word. She'd been waiting for the right moment, and damn him, he'd found it. It was perfect. She threw her arms around him and hugged his neck and then kissed him passionately. When they finally broke apart he laughed teasingly,
"You haven't answered me, Aoife. Yes or no?" And she giggled delightedly at him and replied vehemently,
"Yes!" He ran an index finger lovingly along her jaw and asked her then,
"And do you love me?" She caressed his face and her voice broke as she replied,
"Yes, oh yes Mycroft." He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. She kissed him back and then sighed and pulled back to check the instrument panel, but placed a hand on his thigh, gently stroking it.
"Would you like me to take you out to dinner tonight?" he asked her, determined to spoil her and do whatever she wanted for their week off. She laughed and turning to him again, she gave him a very seductive look from under her lashes.
"Are we still on 'yes or no' answers?" He chuckled and shook his head.
"You and I are going straight to bed after takeaway fish and chips tonight, my love." Mycroft chuckled and pretended to be appalled.
"Oh goody," and she snorted with laughter.
"How in the name of God did I get involved with such an upper class English toff?" and he laughed back and responded,
"Oh I made sure of it, my dear!" and she burst out laughing.
"You keep on thinking that darling!" and he threw his head back and laughed in return. Smiling contentedly, he placed a hand on her knee and went back to his report.
Aoife touched down smoothly in Baldonnel military airport to offload Molly, Sherlock and Michael. Two members of her private security firm were waiting to collect them and transport them to her home in Wicklow, dropping Michael off at his home first. Molly felt quite emotional saying goodbye to everybody, and she welled up when even Mycroft gave her a warm hug goodbye and instructed her to 'keep him out of trouble, for God's sake!,' which made her giggle and Sherlock sigh exaggeratedly.
The evening was drawing in and he was anxious to get to the house. He placed his arm around Molly's waist and declared to all and sundry, "yes, yes, goodbye everybody, we'll be in touch. Thank you all. Bye now!" His friends laughed good naturedly at his impatience and Mary drew him in to a hug. Gripping him by his elbows then, she said,
"you take care of Molly, and yourself. No bloody cases Sherlock, if you can avoid it. I'd like my husband for a while, ok?" Sherlock chuckled and kissed her cheek fondly.
"He's all yours, I promise." John protested half heartedly.
"I'm right here you know!" He shook his friend's hand and then admonished him, "behave yourself now Sherlock, we'll be checking with Molly!" Sherlock smirked and responded with an impish,
"I'll be a good boy, I promise John!" and John laughed exasperatedly at him. Michael called them from the open car,
"Come on now lad's, hurry up! I'm wreaked, I need my bed!" Sherlock laughed heartily and whispered loudly into Molly's ear, "oh, me too..." and she blushed scarlet, and propelling him down the steps of the plane, she pulled him after her into the car, their friends laughter ringing around the Irish twilight. Their car cleared security rapidly and forty minutes later, after they'd offloaded Michael, who promised to be in touch in a few days, they finally reached the ornate wrought iron gates of Aoife's manor house. Sherlock squeezed Molly's hand and she unclipped her seatbelt and launched herself at him as the car moved slowly up the gravel drive. As he pulled her into his arms she beamed at him, with that smile that lit her eyes and dimpled her face.
"Oh Sherlock! I can hardly believe that we're really here." Her voice trembled with emotion and he gripped her tighter.
"Well, believe it Molly. We are. I'm so sorry it took so long, but we are back, at last."
The driver and his partner looked at each other, smiling at the couple's enthusiasm, as the car reached the front door of the house. The door opened on cue, and Marie, Aoife's housekeeper and cook, stepped out to greet them. (Sherlock noted with relief that her coat was on.)
"Hello you two, tis lovely to see you both. Welcome back. The fire is lighting and the dinners sorted. The fridge is fully stocked too, so you'll be fine for a few days. My number is on the fridge if you need me."
Sherlock unloaded their luggage from the boot, while thanking her, and she climbed into the back of the car. The driver helped carry the luggage into the hall and Sherlock conferred briefly with the security team, agreeing to allow a team of two to patrol the estate at all times, but that they would confine themselves to the security hut and he would cover the house. Then he grabbed a shivering Molly's hand, and as they climbed the granite steps into the house, he closed the door firmly behind him.