Emilia studied Molly who fiddled with the ring on her finger as Rhys gave his report on findings from the current case they were solving.
"Emilia?"
She snapped her head away from Molly and towards Tom's expecting gaze. "Sorry?"
"I'm sure Dr Hooper would be fine without your watchful eye," he joked lightly. "Your pathology report?"
Emilia took Rhys' place in front of the electronic board and cleared her throat before giving her report. "...and Dr Hooper had managed to spot something which I didn't. If it weren't for her, we would have missed one of the vital evidence to put away the suspect."
Tom looked approvingly at Molly who seemed as if her mind was elsewhere. "Dr Hooper?"
Molly smiled, turning to face him. "Sorry. Baby brain."
Tom chuckled loudly, making the room laugh. "Of course. You are quite all right. I wanted to applaud you on your sharp eyes, Emilia seems very grateful to have you here to help her as I cannot no longer due to increased workload."
Molly turned her smile to Emilia who smiled shyly back. "You're welcome, Dr Ale-"
"Emilia. Just Emilia."
After the report, Rhys invited Molly to join him and Emilia for coffee (or tea as the natives from the UK loved) in the staff room whilst Liz accompanied Tom to another meeting regarding their current case.
"So... what's on your mind?" Emilia asked, sipping her fruit tea.
The brunette female laughed lightly, shaking her head. "It's nothing, honestly. It's just one... one of those days."
Rhys clicked his tongue. "Ah. I get them too although I'm not pregnant. It's scientifically impossible to be." He said, making the females laugh. "But seriously, Molly, if there's anything bothering you then Em and I are here to talk to."
"It's... The father of my... it's his birthday today." Molly admitted quietly as she twisted the ring around her finger.
"Have you wished him a happy birthday?" Emilia asked, curiously glancing down at the ring,
Molly shook her head. "No. No, I haven't. It's complicated."
"Like that engagement ring on your finger?"
Their eyes cast down to the gold-silver diamond on her finger and Molly gave a small smile.
"It's a promise ring. Well, when we're ready, it will substitute as an engagement ring but I don't believe that he will ever be ready." Molly replied her smile becoming sadder.
Emilia frowned, disregarding her tea. "Why don't you believe so, Molly?"
"He's a complicated man. He would not marry for love but for convenience and comfort. The fact that he is the father of my children also adds to that."
"Do you love him?" Rhys asked. "Do you think about him all the time? Wish that you were with him?"
Molly nodded desperately. "But I can't be with him. No matter if he loves me or not because I need my space. Something intense happened between us due to certain circumstances and we can't turn back from that. We need to move on and try to start again but not now. Now is too soon."
"But he's-"
"I know that and I will never keep them away from him but for now, him not knowing is helping me heal..." Molly said, sighing. "Being away from him is a really good thing and you guys don't even know it."
...
Sherlock accepted the hugs and kisses and mild insults from his friends and family as gifts were also thrown his way.
He'd rather be anywhere but there, to be honest. Somewhere wrapped in her arms with soft kisses and sweet nothings...
"Rosie's got something for you, Sherlock," John said, cutting into his thoughts.
John placed the child on the ground and she easily pushed herself up and took a few wobbly steps towards her godfather, a proud grin playing on her lips.
Sherlock gasped and when she collapsed into his arms in giggles, he held her tightly and praised her. "Who's a clever girl, Rosie? You are. I told your father that you are an advanced child but he didn't believe me."
John chuckled. "Fine. When it comes to Rosie, I'll believe you in whatever you say."
"Mary would have been proud," Sherlock mumbled, placing the child back down as he leant back against his chair.
"And she would have loved to be here. Probably calling you a 'prick' and 'twat' by now at your ability to foresee our daughter's learning abilities."
Mary smirked, folding her arms. "You prick. You're such a twat for making my daughter so advanced!"
Sherlock smiled before he glanced outside at the busy street of Baker Street.
He felt a presence behind him, no less than 10 minutes later, and he turned slightly to face the person.
"Yes, Mrs Hudson?"
"This came in the mail for you this morning," she smiled, gaining Mycroft's attention. "I think it's from Molly!"
Sherlock quickly but gently took the box and opened it carefully before emptying its contents.
A scarf and a perfume. His favourites.
There was no note but it did seem that it obviously was from abroad so customs may have checked it before sending it on its way.
"Thank you, Mrs Hudson."
"I'm just the deliverer!" She smiled brightly as she went to talk to John.
Sherlock rubbed the scarf's material between his fingers and gave a small smile. "Molly Hooper..." he said quietly.
His eyes glanced downwards to the street and he saw two figures exiting a sleek black car before making their way towards the front door.
"Mrs Hudson, can you be as kind as to open the door for our guests?" He asked, turning to face her.
Mrs Hudson gave him a smile before going downstairs to do as she was told. Only because it's your birthday, she thought brightly. Next time, you can get the bloody door.
Sherlock's phone buzzed and he retrieved it from his pocket, smiling briefly at the two text messages.
From: Molly Hooper
Happy Birthday. I hope you enjoy your day x M
From: The Woman
Bon Anniversaire, My Keeper IA
He switched his phone off for the rest of the party and settled back in his seat just as Oliver and Leona Trevor entered the room with the guidance from Mrs Hudson.
"Mrs Trevor, why don't you take my seat?" Sherlock asked, standing up.
Leona gave him a bright smile and a gift box before settling herself excitedly on Sherlock's armchair. "What a lovely home, isn't it Ollie? I think I even see Wanda and Timothy. You know, the Holmes parents?"
Sherlock left his family to get reacquainted with the Trevors and his friends to indulge in the alcoholic beverages and apple juice for Rosie.
He locked himself in his room, the scarf and perfume still in his hand. He sniffed them and closed his eyes, going into his Mind Palace.
They smell like you, Molly...
He reopened his eyes and they caught his violin. Taking all the time in the world, he took it and started to play a soft melody.
Molly...
He had not realised that everything had grown quiet in the living room. Nor had he noticed his door being picked at before opening and revealing a full audience.
Turning around, he halted immediately.
"That was wonderful!" Leona breathed out in awe. "Ollie, it's just like we used to hear when Vicky was a boy."
Oliver chuckled, nodding. "That's because it's Sherlock playing. He's always been good, hasn't he?"
Sherlock's mother looked proudly at him, mouthing 'I love you'. He responded in kind with a small smile and continued to play, Molly.
...
Molly's phone chimed and her colleagues looked at it in wonder.
"Did he reply?"
Molly checked her phone. "No. But his brother did."
Rhys almost leapt at her. "What did he say?"
From Mycroft Holmes:
He adored your gifts. He composed a new piece called - well you guess what, dear Dr Hooper. MH
She blushed smiling brightly. "He's... different. He replies with music - my partner, I mean. He's made a new violin piece named after me."
"He truly does appreciate you, see?" Emilia grinned. "Why does it have to be complicated, Molls?"
"Because he's... he's Sherlock Holmes."
Emilia's and Rhys' eyes widened as they looked at her in utter shock.
"Sh-Sherlock bloody Holmes? That consulting detective that can do the Yard's job better than they can? Bloody hell, Molly! You've done yourself in!" Rhys cried.
Molly giggled. "He's not all that bad. He's okay once you get to know him."
Emilia winked at her before gesturing to her stomach. "Bet he is," she smirked. "Otherwise that wouldn't have happened."
Rhys laughed, nudging Molly gently as she rolled her eyes with a smile. Her phone beeped again and she glanced at Mycroft's new message.
From Mycroft Holmes:
My own birthday is next month, on the 21st. I cordially invite you to attend Musgrave Hall with whoever you please. I hope you attend.
Molly sighed, locking her phone before taking a sip of her tea.
"What do you think, guys? Have you got time spare next month?"
...
221B Baker Street was finally quiet in the early hours of the new day. Sherlock had long abandoned his violin and settled for his chair and looking outside the streets.
His mind was quiet lately. There wasn't much going on up there and Sherlock felt lonely. At least when his mind was loud, he had something to say about it.
Mrs Hudson had noticed his demeanour since he came back to live there after spending nights with the Watsons. She didn't want to pester him much but she had voiced her concerns to John who merely gave an excuse of there being barely any good cases but still... If there were no cases, shouldn't he be using again or something else?
Sherlock had been visiting Eurus less and less now and that had probably been due to the fact that Victor's official funeral was coming up next week and he couldn't bare to look in the eyes or be within proximity to his murderer.
He believed that he was also quiet due to the fact that a certain pathologist had moved miles and miles away to shut him out of her and their child's lives.
Everyone could see that Sherlock did inhibit some emotional context, especially John who he confessed to about wanting to be a father. As a result, Sherlock spent more time with Rosie and had even learnt how to change nappies although learning that babies did produce more waste products than he expected from such little things.
"Sherlock?"
Sherlock stood up, stuffing something into his pocket. "I'm just popping outside for a minute, Mrs Hudson."
He took his blazer and slipped it on before leaving a bewildered landlady holding a tray of tea. He stepped into the cold air and retrieved the packet of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one up before placing it between his lips and taking a drag.
He had stopped smoking. Ages ago, really, but desperate times came for desperate measures and drugs were not an option these days.
The moon looked dull this time of day, well night, and Sherlock still found himself transfixed onto it, wondering if Molly was looking at the same moon. Grabbing his phone from his other pocket, he decided to ask.
To: Molly Hooper
How's the moon over there? SH
Sherlock found himself gasping when he saw the three little dots appear on the screen.
From: Molly Hooper
Perfect. Not as dull as London's... x M
Why aren't you asleep?
To: Molly Hooper
Figures, London's riddled with pollution. You know me, I'm a creature of the night. SH
Sherlock could imagine Molly's smile as she read his text over and over in her mind.
From: Molly Hooper
Well, the creature of the night... you're disturbing the creature of the day. x M
To: Molly Hooper
I apologise. Get some sleep, I want you all to be rested. SH
He knew that he slipped up since she had stopped texting soon after. Sighing, he put out his cigarette and put it in the bin before making his way back into the flat and to his seat by the window.
He was shocked to see that he had one unread message from coming up those stairs dishearteningly and slowly.
From: Molly Hooper
I knew I couldn't fool you. Twins, Sherlock, we're having twins. You're lucky I can't have a glass of red right now otherwise I would drunkenly refrain from confessing all. My truths seemed to be safe when I'm drunk.
I hope you can forgive me because I forgive you. For everything but it's too late for us.
Goodbye x M
'Goodbye'? Not 'goodnight'?
Sherlock closed his eyes and switched his phone off before drifting into a dreamless sleep.