TINY EXCHANGES OF THE HEART (PART ONE)

hope you all have a lovely Christmas! Will try to get part 2 up tomorrow if I get a chance. :) P.S. Sorry for the tiny feels :P

much love,

day

Sherlock had a list of reasons why Molly could possible be shooting him a look of annoyance on Christmas Eve of all times. Could have been the fact that she thought he had forgotten something important for the next day - not possible, he had slowly crossed everything off the list mentally to the point that he had to burn it in a tiny fire in the 221b that resided in his mind palace.

Or perhaps it had to deal with Ezra? She understood his struggle with him but she never necessarily gotten aggravated with him about it. Sad about a few minimal matters but not ever full blown pissed at him. He thought it was still possible that this is what is making her look at him like that. Over tea. They were having a little night tea as Ezra slept away in his room here in 221.

John's old room was used for that sometimes when they ended up here every couple of weeks when Sherlock was working or Molly was unavailable. It was like his second home in a way but they had both agreed that until they figured out a permanent living situation where they both lived in a place together (a house) it was better if he stayed where he was most comfortable. Molly's flat worked fine but for big events as such that sometimes took more space which he had plenty of Baker Street was perfect.

"What did I do?" He mumbled after a long twenty five minutes of the silence and animosity that he couldn't take anymore.

"Why did you tell Ezra that there was no such thing as..."

"Because it's the truth. I learned that truth fairly on in life. I thought it easier if he wasn't confused later." Molly sighed before getting up to join her boyfriend in his chair. He was more than a little accommodating as he wove his arms around her so that he could finish the last of his beverage before placing it on the small table to his right where a few envelopes sat.

"Sherlock, I wanted him to have this one thing."

It's like he couldn't process it. This was as close to buffering got when Sherlock was in the midst. He stopped, floundered and tried to ask why. "It's ridiculous. No one in their right mind would believe such a tale."

"You believed in pirates." She teased, clearly knowing that to him these were two different things.

"That's different and there is no believed, that is still a possibility. You can sail still to this day. However a man who can travel the world in a night and deliver all the gifts that little girls and boys want depending on how well they were this year is preposterous." Molly shook her head at him.

"It's for little kids, dear. Ezra is still young. Let him be a kid rather than grow up too fast. He doesn't have to be like you."

It seemed this discussion was about to grow into some very difficult to talk about matters so as a rule he flipped the script to suit something that he had wanted to talk to her about.

"Of course not. He has you as his mother, you steer me in the clear more times than I've tried to roll off to darkness so I think he'll be decent. Never you mind, I would like to know whether or not you want to open your gift early or wait until morning or maybe at the dinner?"

The answer was in the quick look she gave him but he let her tell him regardless. "Now." She was quiet and he knew why. Most of the people in this building and street knew why.

Their holidays hadn't been the easiest together. Especially when they were not together before this.

He insulted her the first time.

He wasn't around the second.

Nor the third.

This was the first year in a long time that he was home for Christmas and there wasn't some sort of travesty in the works. Nothing pressing, anyhow.

He had made sure of it. It was in a way the best present he could manage. There was a real gift too.

He reached over and plucked something from behind him. It was a rather large one in a black box.

"You didn't get me an expensive dress because you may have to return it."

"Not this time." He hid a smile remembering her last birthday where they had gone out and she ended up ruining that one with an emergency surgery in the restaurant. It couldn't be returned but it was in his closet in a bag for some reason. Molly would most certainly throw it out.

There was a particular memory there that he didn't want to forget.

Molly looked up at him briefly before opening the lid and she let out a giggle. "Is this one yours?"

He shook his head but lifted the hat with ear flaps out. "Nope." He paused as he put it on her messy hair that was in a low bun. "This was made custom for you. Since you seem to like looking at mine."

"I'm not wearing this in bed." Once again she hinted at something that made him highly uncomfortable. He had to bite down the words 'I'm sorry' before they slipped out again. He had apologized enough for it after giving her the scare twice over.

Thankfully she had been out of the country at that time and so was Ezra.

"I would hope not." He said but ducks down and kisses her soundly. "Your other gift will have to wait until morning. Ezra wants us to give it to you together."

"Would you like yours now?" She takes in a deep breath, this closeness was still so breathtaking to her but she relished it.

"I told you that you didn't have to."

He knew her reasons for that but it still didn't make it any better. He didn't like gifts. He would accept it because it was her and he didn't know what she could possibly think to give him. She always gave him something he could use and he appreciated that.

Molly left him for all of a minute and fifteen seconds and came back with a small velvet drawstring bag. His eyes rose at that as Molly placed it in hands.

He tossed up a few times to try to guess the weigh of it but it was fairly light. He had a few ideas but Molly wanting him to just open it took it from his hands. "Just for once stop thinking and enjoy the small object that I thought you'd enjoy even if you don't end up all gung-ho about it."

He put his hand back out and took it from her and quickly opening it up and dumping it in his other hand. He couldn't say he was as surprised as he felt but it must of shown on his face.

"I know you have your wristwatches but I thought maybe you'd wear this one sometimes too."

He flipped over the pocket watch knowing she had something inscribed on it even if it was just his initials which she knew all of. She called him William once in front of Ezra and he was confused.

"Ezra helped a little." She mumbled as he held it with such care she thought it was something precious to him.

He turned to her so quickly that she had almost second guessed and thought something was wrong but by the small squeeze he gave her as he pulled her closer into his arms it was a good kind of turn. "Thank you." He whispered as he kissed her temple.

For Lock,

To count the moments we share together.

Ezra