TINY EXCHANGES OF THE HEART (PART TWO)
So sorry that this didn't get posted yesterday. My brain decide to develop a migraine the size of Texas last night and so I could barely function let alone write this. I'm feeling better today, thankfully. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. Here is the longer portion of the last addition. Let me know what you think. :)
much love,
day
Molly was used to be woken up on normal days by Ezra or the sounds of Sherlock trying to do something but failing the kitchen. (The man was capable of cooking but not very often was he quiet about it, especially if he didn't know where most of the things he needed were.) To her utter astonishment neither of these things happened the following morning of Christmas Day.
Her eyes slowly opened and she found herself on the receiving end of her son's dark blue eyes peeking up from her while Sherlock was on his other side looking up at the ceiling with a blank look on his face. She could only imagine that he was deep into his mind palace. Thinking of what? Something happy would be pleasing to her.
After last night small gift exchange she hoped for good things today.
"Hey buddy." She whispered to Ezra as she shifted slightly and opened her arms so that he could snuggle up to her. "Have you opened any gifts yet?"
"One." He told her just as quiet.
"I wanted to wait for you." Sherlock soon told her as he came out of his little space of thoughts. "He didn't want to wake you." He continued on as he moved to get up. This was usually a sign that she should too.
She saw Ezra lift his head up minutely and say something that sounded like "now" but she didn't completely hear it. She could hear Sherlock moving around his bed to her side and then seeing him hand something to him.
He moved a little out of her reach so that she could get up into a sitting position. "Merry Christmas, Mol." He smiled at her as he did that thing that she's seen Sherlock do when he isn't sure how to proceed with something; he kind of pushed the tiny box in her hands causing her to giggle.
This was the present Sherlock had been referring to last night. She suspected he had also gone with him to pick it out. It was a tiny box white box with a gold bow tied in a loose knot.
It came undone easily enough and she popped the top off and pulled out the locket that was resting inside. It was a familiar locket to Molly. It had belonged to her mother. Which is why she looked up in confusion.
Sherlock cleared his throat. "There's something inside."
She bit her lip as she carefully opened it and found not only the picture of her dad nestled in one side but an addition picture of her two favorite boys. She had never seen this photo before. She certainly hadn't been the one to take it.
"When did you do this?" She asked. The awe in her tone didn't escape him in the least.
"A couple weeks ago. You had sent it to the jewelers for cleaning and Ezra wanted to know what was inside it. So when I went to retrieve it he asked about putting something else inside."
It was a really sweet gift. Her favorite men in her life would always be close to her. "It's perfect. Thank you, Ezra." She told him as she brushed back some of his curls and he continued smiling.
He nodded silently.
"Well," Sherlock started after a few short moments. "How about we go open a few more presents before everyone starts bugging us?"
Ezra replied with much excitement and immediately started off for the living room where the tree was. The thought of the adventure of finding that tree had Molly trying not to laugh as she toyed with the necklace in her hands.
"It was not that funny."
"John thought it was. He wrote about it in the blog a little."
"He exaggerates." He mumbled as he sat down next to her and took the necklace out of her hands. He made a little motion for her to turn around and she did. Moving her hair out of the way as he placed the necklace around her neck and clasping it in place. "There. Back where it belongs." He quickly pressed a kiss on her neck before leaving the room to go join Ezra.
Molly couldn't hide the smile back even when she was alone for those few moments to try to brush her hair down and grab a dress gown to don before she joined her boys.
She made coffee and brought Ezra juice before finally settle down to see what other gifts had been left under the tree for him. There has been a few under there from Mycroft much to Molly's confusion. For her and Ezra.
She wasn't completely sure to think of him when it came to his nephew. He hadn't come to see him so far but Sherlock had mentioned that it was possible he would drop by later. He had a habit of showing up during the holidays in some capacity.
There was still the matter of spending some time at the Holmes family home. That kept being pushed further back. Molly had a feeling that his parents would end up making a visit if that didn't happen soon and it worried her. They were good people as far as she knew but she still worried about that meeting.
She stopped thinking about it as she grabbed her camera and took a few shots of Sherlock and Ezra as they assembled yet another train set. This one was much bigger than the others. It might have to stay here.
By the time it was night and time for their friends to come over Molly was starting to grow tired. It was a good kind, it had been a quiet and exciting morning with Ezra and Sherlock.
Sherlock had decided to be the one of the two of them to get Ezra dressed. In fact Molly wasn't even sure what the little boy was going to wear. She had brought something with her but it was in the room with her. He might have gotten him a custom suit. The idea that the two of them were to be dressed similarly made her giggle.
In her mind that would make the duo of father and son much more pronounced. She let it go while she herself got ready. She had a new dress which came in a box unmarked by anyone but she knew it wasn't Sherlock's doing. He had been confused when he came home and saw her admiring the scarlet dress. As she remembered correctly he had said, "I know who sent that. It's giving me a headache but you're supposed to wear it on Christmas."
That still confused her. He wouldn't budge on a true answer on who had sent it for Molly but it seemed like now as she had it on now he was in a more telling mood. He had slipped it just as she was about to figure out which of the two pairs of shoes she had brought along she would put on tonight.
"You should have a text from the sender of the dress by now."
He moved over to the nightstand where her phone was charging and handed to her with a smile. "You look beautiful in it."
Her face reddened slightly before she unlocked her mobile and opened the text. There was one from an unknown number.
It does look good on you. I saw it when I was out and thought you'd like it. Will see you later. Merry Christmas, Molly - Anthea
"Anthea? Doesn't she work for Mycroft?"
Sherlock nodded. "It was her own decision however. My brother sent his gifts already a part from Ezra's which I assume he will be bringing along with him tonight."
Molly hummed. That was interesting. She had only ever talked to the PA who also seemed to have deeper ties to the government once or twice and she seemed nice enough. It was a nice gesture. Perhaps they could talk more tonight. "Wait, she's involved with Mycroft isn't she?"
Sherlock eyes seemed to brighten even more. "Oh yes, my dear Molly." He chuckled as he placed his hands on her shoulders and gave her a slight squeeze. "He tries to pretend that they aren't but they are which is why I do that obvious not so subtle thing where I toy with him about it. Mummy nor father knows but he was of course willing to tell them about you and Ezra."
"Why doesn't he want them to know? I would think at least your mum knew."
"She has her suspicions of course. Just as she did when I mentioned you once and she had just sort of gave me this look. It's a very telling look and it's hard to not want to dine and dash after it. She is rather subtle about it but as brothers do we have our own little way of doing things and I've helped him a bit and he the same in return."
"Why do you pretend to not like him then?"
Sherlock had told Molly plenty when it came to his relationship with Mycroft but this was one of the things he tried to brush off. Called it an extra gift and the fact that he was in a very good mood. He leaned down closer to her and whispered even though no one else was in this flat except for Mrs. Hudson and Ezra. "Because it's fun."
Molly shook her head at him as the knocks sounded at the door. She pulled back briefly only to give him a quick kiss. "You need to finish getting dressed." She grabbed her black pumps on the way out.
She smiled at Ezra as he joined her at the door to open it. He wasn't in a suit but he did look rather handsome in his jeans and jumper combo.
When she opened the door she was immediately ambushed with hugs from the Watsons. More so Mary than John but he did give her a soft one before bending down to talk to Ezra. "Hey mate. Did you get a lot of gifts from the man in the red suit?"
Ezra looked up at Molly with a little smile on his face. He was unsure how to answer the question because of what his Lock had told him.
Molly ruffled his curls slightly before telling them both, "William told him the truth earlier than I wanted."
"Oh." Mary mumbled as they settled down on the settee.
John's answer was a bit more vocal. "That bloody git. Did you have to explain to him why that wasn't a good idea?"
Molly nodded watching as Ezra aiding his baby cousin into sitting down and play with one of his miniature train sets. He had immediately wanted to be with the Watson's heir. He really loved her.
"I can't say I'm sorry about that entirely." Sherlock stepped into the room wearing one of his custom suits and a new dark red shirt that Molly hadn't ever seen him wear. "A gift from my brother." He added seeing Molly's rather admiration of it. She liked his clothes a lot. He didn't have a moment to think about much more he liked it when she had them on than he. Now was not the time.
"Of course not." John remarked to the former statement. The doctor chose to ignore that look of desire flitting to and from Sherlock to Molly.
"Shut it. Both of you." Mary grumbled before turning to Molly, "You have wine in the kitchen, I presume."
Molly giggled while nodding and taking the other woman's arm as they left them there to finish whatever stupid conversation they were going to have. Mary knew that Molly and Sherlock had to have already discussed the Santa situation so why bother with another episode of it.
Lestrade, Donovan, Mike and Anderson with his wife had come soon enough and the only thing left was to eat. Earlier in the week Mrs. Hudson had insisted on cooking dinner for the lot of them so here they were. Molly was truly grateful for the woman. It had been years since she had a big feast like this.
They all ended up at the large table that was supposed to be used for Sherlock's experimenting. All chemicals had been stowed away safely and all equipment had been put in the flat upstairs. Sherlock had been present during the whole affair but it didn't mean he liked the fact that this was looking less like his workstation and more like a dining area for all the people he tried to avoid if he could manage it.
That wasn't true though. He cared for them all mostly he just didn't like the way it looked so domestic. Not even when he was just with Molly and Ezra had it looked this grandeur. It had been simple this was too much and it also felt like an invasion of his carefully catalogued haphazard space.
Molly's hand covering his under the table gave him minimal reassurance but he gave her a slight squeeze back just so she knew that he got it.
They had eaten and were about to start on some desserts when there was a knock at the door. Lestrade offered to get it as everyone else was less able to get up from their positions.
Molly started to help Mrs. Hudson clear the table while everyone talked amicable. It was only as she came back through a second time did she see Mycroft and Anthea standing near Sherlock on the edge of the room. Sherlock's arm was around Ezra as he talked to him quietly. She could tell that Ezra was hanging on to every word that was said.
The hand that she felt on her shoulder had her jolting unexpectedly. She turned to see Mary, shrugging and shoulders and taking the pair of glasses and bowls out of her hands. "Go, he will have it easier if you're there."
Molly nodded in thanks not only because Mary was right but because she wanted to be there when Mycroft formally introduced himself to his nephew.
Anthea saw her coming and quietly suggested that they move into the living room. Molly smiled at her as she followed them. Ezra, Sherlock and Molly sat together on the couch while Mycroft and Anthea stood.
Anthea was a breath of ease and beauty as she sipped at the glass of wine that someone had given her and looked at her boss and friend who was beginning to explain his relation to Sherlock to Ezra.
"That would make me your uncle for all intents and purposes. I hold a position in the government and was unavailable to meet you until now, my boy."
Molly saw the deep sigh that rolled off of Sherlock but said nothing. He soon focused on Ezra and the way his dark eyes flitted between his dad and Mycroft and then to his mum and Anthea who hadn't introduced herself yet.
Ezra moved off the couch and walked slowly over to his uncle. Looking up at him as he had to do most people. "Hullo, Croft."
Sherlock chuckled at the look of bafflement that crossed his brother's face as Ezra gave his new uncle a name that he could call him just as he had Sherlock when he first met him.
Mycroft looked over at his brother and there was a small twitch of his lip before he crouch down a little and placed his hand out for Ezra to shake. "Hello Ezra."
There was a small sort of ambiance that stayed in the room as Mycroft handed him a small box wrapped for him; the gift that was for the small boy. "I heard you liked locomotives, trains and the like."
Ezra was rather happy to unwrap the box once he heard the mention of trains. Mycroft has outdone himself too. A miniature steel version of the Hogwarts express sat in the palm of his hands. "Thank you." He said before running back over to his parents.
"It's on the list Doctor Hooper, isn't it?" Mycroft asked when he saw the look of recognition cross the young woman's face as she saw the gift.
"What list?" Sherlock asked.
"There is a list of books that he should eventually read. The Harry Potter series is a good one. That's where this is from." She informed him while pointing at the train Ezra was thoroughly admiring quietly.
"Ah. I suppose that this wasn't the only reason you came brother?"
"Of course not. As much as I'm happy to talk to him. Next week our parents will come down for a family portrait with all of us."
"All?" Molly asked wanting to be sure he was being clear. Did this mean her too? Sherlock and Molly were not a married couple.
"Yes, you too."
"Anthea?" She turned her head to look at the brunette who just smiled amused while Mycroft stood there blinking unsure how to approach the subject. He was shocked that she was aware of their involvement but Anthea was not. Molly was sharp, she could see into the darkest of hearts. It would be naive of her to miss this.
"Me too."
Mycroft turned sharply, his shock only intensifying. "When your mother called, she was rather obvious about who she was inviting. I believe her words were 'you're not his PA, you're practically his wife. Mycroft is a bit slower these days.' "
This made Sherlock laugh. While Mycroft just looked to the heavens and said with a great deal of irritation, "Mummy..."
"We will see you there." Molly told her as she got up for a moment and walked over to the woman. "Thank you for the dress. I do like it."
Anthea only nodded. Her phone beeping in her caught causing nearly everyone in the flat to stop. The others had started to filter in, figuring out that all had been done and said in this little family reunion.
"Who is it?"
"An old friend. She needs our help."
She passed her phone to Mycroft who just sighed. "We don't get holidays do we, brother?"
Sherlock kissed Molly on the forehead before grabbing the phone from Mycroft. "I suppose not. This can't wait. I'm sorry."
The latter was for Molly but she just smiled at his back as he stared at the message.
He must know by now that she knew that it wouldn't be Christmas without some sort of national emergency. In this case it at least held off until they had their dinner.
Holmes' are needed at Buckingham Palace at once. Eagle is compromised. - QM