Recognize
.
.
.
.
There was an inexcusably lonely feeling surrounding Molly Hooper.
Many months ago, before this unfortunate situation between them happened, he had first laid eyes on the ginger haired female at a gathering his parents held in their mansion in the countryside. He hadn't wanted to come, but his mother made that face, and with the softest voice pleaded with him to come to the intimate meeting between them and some close friends.
Sherlock had always held a high respect for his mother—even though he would swear up and down how he detested her—there was just a sweetness and understanding the woman had for him. What she held for her son definitely went noticed and was quietly received by Sherlock.
"Her name is Molly," Mrs. Holmes had caught her son eyeing the female from across the room as she slowly sipped the hot chocolate. The oversized and ugly Christmas sweater Molly wore was gaudy and more than screamed for attention at itself rather than the wearer, really. "Don't judge a book by its cover, darling." Mrs. Holmes chided her son softly and saw him grimace at the young woman before shrugging.
"She's really not all that bad. On the inside, she's an intelligent, talented, and promising young femme fatale. I can assure you." Sherlock eyed his mother and sarcastically said, "The only fatale thing in this room is her sweater, mother." Mrs. Holmes raised her eye brows in shock and elbowed her son in the side; she was not amused. "Might I give you a spoon to eat your words when the time comes?" Mrs. Holmes frowned at her son.
"When and if the time comes, yes, you may." Sherlock replied nonchalant to his mother before walking off and passing the unfortunate wretch by. Not once looking or acknowledging her person. Suddenly, he felt it then.
A lonely and somber air around her; something Sherlock didn't want to have anything to do with.
Later on, when everyone was situated at the dinner table, Sherlock could not help but over hear Molly softly bickering with her mother. "I feel like a child." Molly frowned and pulled at the sweater she wore. "I'm well over twenty... this is embarrassing."
Mrs. Hooper, Sherlock later realized, did in fact have a secret agenda by the way she knowingly eyed the other individuals at the table before biting back at her daughter. "Don't be ridiculous! You asked me what you should wear and I told you. Now, stop fussing like a spoiled child."
It was only somewhere down the road that Sherlock found out about Mrs. Holmes unhealthy obsession of being over controlling; her absolutely unreasonable low-self-esteem issues she herself dealt with, and knowingly thrust upon her daughter in the supposedly good intent of 'protecting' her.
In her mind, Mrs. Hooper feared that her daughter's much matured body would attract the less finer and rational mentalities from the uglier side of the world. And in such a thought, Molly's mother continued to manipulate the young woman till she dressed in such gaudy and eye-blinding outfits that the world eventually ignored her.
Of course, Mrs. Hooper's eye was on the prize and she more than rejoiced when she found out about her husband's dealings with Mr. Holmes in marrying and merging their families together. By that time, however, poor Molly Hooper had been hand fed too many negative ideals and too many ridiculous thoughts; that eventually, she was the perfect doll acting without a reasonable thought for her own person.
But... when Sherlock crossed paths with Molly at St. Bart's even before their imminent engagement he stood corrected. Almost surprised. She had changed his thoughts about her; this Molly character. He had noticed a brighter, happier, and less lonelier Molly Hooper who tried her best to fit in.
There were even the few occasions Molly had tried her hand at dating, tried her hand at wearing her hair in various forms, and even tried to wear makeup. On said few occasions, Molly had even tried to attract Sherlock Holmes.
But we all know how that went into play...
"Here's that spoon I've been meaning to give you." Mrs. Holmes had given her son a small rectangular box that held a small baby spoon with a pink ribbon tied around it. She knew her son wouldn't miss a beat in the double meaning the marriage gift held.
The crazy old woman wanted grandchildren... far too early to be planning such things.
"Funny, mother. Very funny." Sherlock seethed and glared down at the Cheshire cat of a woman. Mrs. Holmes couldn't help but giggle and give her son a kiss on the cheek. Mothers, strange yet fascinating creatures.
"Go easy on her, darling boy. " Mrs. Holmes whispered while her hands came to caress her youngest son's face and she beamed up at him like a child. "Lest you find yourself out of love, out of home, and out of life."
"You should write this down, Mum. It could add a rather fitting theme to your mystery-romance novels." Sherlock advised with a bit of jest in his voice as he addressed his mother.
"Cheeky, cheeky, Sherlock. Might just take your word on that bit." Mrs. Holmes said before winking and walking off to talk with Sherlock's newly acquired in-laws.
Sherlock pulled himself away from the reminiscing once he heard the door open and gently close. He needn't get up, all he had to do was watch her from the corner of his eye as she came into view. It was a game now. To deduce where and what his wife had been up too all day long.
The forecast today was a light sprinkling of snow; as it now was fact due to the small, almost miniscule water droplets that had lightly covered the green over-sized coat and auburn strands of hair on Molly's head. She was out of breath when she came into the living room. There was a slight sweet scent lingering over her once she made it into the kitchen. Ah! Sherlock narrowed his eyes as he spotted the brown and red striped package being placed on the counter.
"Been about, have you?" Sherlock had startled Molly out of her concentration for she hardly even acknowledged his presence when she came through the door.
Molly still jumped, and backed further into the small kitchen, once she heard his voice. There should have been a familiarity enough between them to not over react like she did. Sherlock didn't even wait for his wife to respond before standing and striding over to her.
He had leaned in close to the side of Molly's face, inhaled, and soon smiled after coming to a conclusion. The cold November chill still clung to his wife's skin and clothes; her cheeks were flushed and lips tinted red.
"I'll drink it black without the sugar this time."
Molly gaped up at the detective without a clue as to what he was talking about.
"The flavored coffee you have there isn't partial to sugar in it. Rather, it's best to eat the sugar cookies, which I'm sure you have somewhere on you, and sip lightly to best taste the flavors." he rambled on for what seemed like a decade before settling with that trademark grin of his and quick look at the coffee maker to the left of them.
"How did yo—" Molly began to say but paused when a dark eyebrow rose at the obvious answer.
"Sorry, I keep forgetting that I'm married to a Holmes." her face lit up with laughter and her eyes crinkled with a childlike and innocent mirth that had Molly looking almost... fresh. No, she looked rejuvenated in a sense.
"What flavor is it?" Molly abruptly asked, the package hidden behind her back, and a smile played over her features now.
Sherlock looked down at his wife and said, "Cinnamon." He was absolutely puffed up with himself, Molly thought. She bit her bottom lip to keep some of her resolve.
"Wrong." Too late. Molly couldn't help but burst out in a fit of laughter.
What once was a high and mighty detective suddenly broke down to a 5-year-old who looked as if they were abruptly told that Santa Clause wasn't real on Christmas day. "You're lying!" Sherlock hissed as he brought his face closer to his wife's.
"Nope." the woman shook her head while giggling and began to sway left-and-right. "It's hazelnut. The coffee I mean." she corrected with a devilish spark in her eye.
"Well, you weren't specific." Sherlock said matter-of-fact as he crossed his arms.
"Maybe but at least you're right about the cookies. Cinnamon icing." Molly tried to console her sulking husband and slowly opened the bag from behind her back. She reached in to fetch her detective a treat.
"Which I am very much entitled to." Sherlock quipped smartly as he swiped the cookie the female handed to him with that ever goofy smile still glued to her face.
"But of course." she jokingly quipped back as haughtily as she could.
"Thank you." Sherlock nodded his head and briskly walked back to the table where his laptop waited and where his blog promised entertainment for this evening. He left Molly to work on the coffee. And she did, taking leisure to the task as it gave her time to think about the detective opposite of her who typed away quickly on his laptop. Cookie in mouth.
It was definitely for certain: He wasn't as lonely as when she first laid eyes on him.
I am seriously chuffed to bits by everyone. Honestly! Such wonderful feedback :) You guys make my day!
I hope this chapter is long enough and gives a bit of back story to those who were curious. I understand, a lot of jumping around that one has to really be on their toes to keep up but I do hope you enjoy the story and plot thus far.
More fluffy, dramatic and tear-jerking moments.
Oh! I will ask for you folks to keep an eye out. Because, the big conflict of the upcoming chapters might have you a bit on the fence... however, for those who have got their inner-Sherlock raging about... it might or might not be such an easy pick out.
A Clue: It will be rather obvious and it will be a character you all know and love to hate.
Stick around Sherlollians! I promise, you won't be disappointed in the least ;)
P.S. For those thinking that it's Jim M. coming to cause a scene... you are sorely mistaken.
Bye-bye! Till next time!