A/N: So I thought this was going to be a standalone piece. But I wanted to include it with Lollipops since it does take place right after the last chapter AND because events from the last chapter provide the catalyst for this little vignette. But it is Christmas-themed- hence the title. Don't worry, I think I'll have a few separate Christmasy stories later on. I do hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the children.
Molly winced as she heard another door slam. Sherlock and Gabriel had been at it for nearly an hour. It wasn't any wonder. They were like 'peat' and 'repeat.' This often led to loud arguments that ended in tears and the silent treatment. This time, the topic of Scarlett's bullying incident was what set it off. When Sherlock and Molly found out that Gabriel's solution to his sister's problem was scaring the shit out of a four year old, they were livid. While they understood the sentiment, the method was unacceptable. Not only had they made Gabriel apologize to Annemarie, but he'd also had to explain the whole thing to her parents. Fortunately, her parents had been pretty understanding and apologetic about it. But Gabriel's punishment hadn't ended there. He was now working his way through a list of chores. It was pretty tame. Gabriel knew he'd been wrong and let his temper get the better of him. But when he'd walked into his bedroom to see his father and John unscrewing his television from the wall, he went ballistic.
"Haven't I suffered enough? I was only keeping that little wench from making fun of Scarlett!"
"By being a bully yourself!"
"Oh whatever, Dad. I bet that kid won't ever make fun of Scarlett again!"
"She probably won't," Sherlock conceded. "But there's always another bully. What are you going to do, Gabriel? Threaten to beat up everyone that looks at your sister wrong?"
"Yes!"
Sherlock sighed, pushing his hand through his hair in frustration. "Gabriel, this is ridiculous!"
"You know, I find this really strange coming from you! You beat people up all the time!"
"I do not!"
"Sure you do. You and John are always coming home with bloody knuckles—"
"There's a huge difference between grown people that commit crimes and four year old girls." John offered, pocketing a wrench.
"I've done everything you've asked me to do!" Gabriel shouted, ignoring John's voice of reason. "I even apologized when I wasn't sorry at all. It isn't fair!" The shouting continued until all three of them were arguing viciously and simultaneously. Molly had to get out of the flat and away from their arguing. Luckily, she'd seen something in the paper earlier in the week that caught her eye. Finally, when the twins began to wail with them, Molly made up her mind.
"Stop it! All of you!" she shouted as she ran up the stairs, coming to a halt in Gabriel's doorway. "Gabriel, your television is gone for the month. That's it! No more arguing about it! Sherlock, stop engaging. You know he's just picking a fight." They were all so stunned by her outburst that their mouths snapped shut. She thought for a moment that perhaps she should have them more often. "I'm taking Scarlett out for the evening and I'll thank you not to spend the entire time upsetting the twins with your caterwauling!"
OoOoOo
"Where we going, Mummy?" Scarlett asked an hour later as Molly helped her into the shiny black Mary Jane shoes. "And why we gotta dress up?" It was indeed a mystery as to why they were wearing fancy dresses on a Wednesday night. Scarlett was wearing one of three Christmasy dresses her mother had purchased for her in the last few weeks. This one was soft black velvet on the top with a wide green sash, complete with bow at the back and a fluffy plaid skirt. She was even getting to wear her red curls down this evening. Very exciting.
"You and I are going to see the ballet tonight. The Nutcracker." Scarlett looked puzzled. "You'll see," Molly giggled, nudging her into the bathroom. She combed and curled and the child was amazed to see that her hair could actually be tamed. Fat sausage curls fell to her shoulders perfectly when accented with ribbons that matched her dress.
"I look pretty, Mummy," Scarlett observed.
"Always," Molly replied.
Sherlock was trying to balance a precariously perched Finn on his lap while staring into his microscope when Molly and Scarlett emerged into the lounge. He gasped causing Finn to smile and squeal. "Well you two will definitely be the most beautiful at the ballet." Molly, while always stunning in Sherlock's eyes, was a miraculous wonder in her sleek, red and black brocade sheath dress. "It almost makes me wish I was going."
"And you hate the ballet," Molly teased. She kissed him gently as Finn reached for her. "We'll be home by ten," she cooed. "So make sure you're asleep by then, little one." Finn squealed and pulled her hair in response. "I might want to sit in Daddy's lap a while."
Scarlett giggled as she climbed into her father's lap. "You're so silly, Mummy." She hugged him tightly and gave him a wet kiss on the cheek. "I love you, Daddy. I wish you will come too."
"If I went, who would stay here with Will and Finn?" Will immediately began to fuss from his place in the playpen. Evidently he did not like being left out of all the action. "And someone has to stay here and watch Gabriel sulk."
"I'm not sulking!" Gabriel snapped from his position on the couch. He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, looking miserable.
"You know, no one told you that you couldn't watch telly or read a book," Sherlock said. "Or play with your brother."
Will agreed by blowing a loud raspberry in his brother's direction and then cackling. Gabriel rolled over on the couch, showing them his back. Molly had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. "Come on, Scarlett. We don't want to be late." Scarlett kissed Sherlock once more and slid down from his lap. While Molly was getting their coats, Scarlett ambled over to Gabriel.
"Bre?"
"What?"
"I want to say goodbye."
"Bye," he said, not turning around.
"Bre, I'm sorry you got in trouble."
Gabriel rolled over and sat up to embrace his sister tightly. "It's okay," he said. "It's not your fault."
"You're my best big brother, Bre," she whispered in his ear before licking the side of his face.
"Ugh! Scarlett…gross…"
She cackled evilly. "Love you!" she said, scampering across the room to get her coat.
OoOoOo
From the moment they stepped into the Coliseum, Scarlett was mesmerized. She'd never been anyplace so large before. She held tight to her mother's hand as they bustled through the scores of people that rushed here and there to make it to their seats before the curtain opened. Now she could tell why they had to dress up. Everyone looked like they were going to some kind of party and Scarlett was dazzled by their opulence. In the lobby, the largest fir tree Scarlett had ever seen stretched seemingly into oblivion overhead. It was so full of fairy lights that it was almost as if the tree was made of them. While Molly was getting their tickets scanned, Scarlett could only stand there staring up at it.
"Hello, little miss." An usher walked up to her and tapped her shoulder when she didn't answer. "Hello."
Scarlett smiled and waved shyly.
"Do you like my Christmas tree, love?" he said, pointing.
She nodded, not really sure of what he said. "This is a pretty tree," she said, signing to the usher.
"Do you have a tree at home?" he asked and to her surprise, he signed too.
Scarlett grinned. "Not yet. My daddy says we can have a little one at home but our big tree will be at our other house." They had made their gathering at Ambergris a tradition since Gabriel's first Christmas at Baker Street. Now it was a huge deal with everyone going down on Christmas Eve and staying until New Year's. Molly and Mary had even decided to go down the weekend before and decorate the entire house so that when they arrived it would be ready, save for the trimming of the larger tree.
"All right, Scarlett," Molly chirped. "Time to find our seats." She flashed a smile at the usher and he returned it warmly. "She wasn't bothering you was she?"
"Not at all, Miss." He reached up and plucked a candy cane from one of the higher branches and held it out to Scarlett. "I hope you enjoy the ballet, little miss."
Scarlett looked to Molly for permission to take the candy and took it from the nice man. "Thank you, Sir," she signed and allowed her mother to lead her toward the theater doors.
When they entered the theater, Scarlett was again dumbstruck by the magnificence. The rows and rows of red, plush seats, the din of sound as the crowd of people spoke to one another, the dissonant squeal of the instruments in the orchestra pit tuning up—it was all so instantly fascinating. Molly had chosen seats for them as close to the orchestra as she could get. She wanted Scarlett to be able to hear the music as much as she could. They were sitting just above so that the small child could still see over the tall stage, but they were practically in the pit. "Oooh… Mummy… look!" she exclaimed, pointing. "It's a violin like Daddy and Bre's! Oooh! There's lots of them, Mummy!"
Molly chuckled at the child's excitement that was bubbling over until she could barely sit still in her seat. "I know. And look over there. Look at that really big one," she said as she pointed out the cello.
Scarlett squealed and hugged her mother tightly. Her excitement was infectious and Molly squealed with her. "Now Scarlett," Molly whispered. "When the ballet starts, you have to be very quiet and sit still."
"Why, Mummy?"
"Because it's only respectful to the dancers and musicians. If you're talking loudly or flailing about, it might distract them."
"Oh. But is it okay to clap?"
Molly smiled. "When it's time."
"But how do I know when it's time?"
"You'll know."
Molly needn't have worried. As soon as the lights went down and the orchestra began to play, Scarlett was mesmerized. Despite the fact that Scarlett's hearing was impaired, she could feel the music in a way that others probably took for granted. As the overture played, she leaned forward against the rail in front of her so that she could feel the vibration of the wood. The sound waves bounced against her chest, making up for any distortion. And then the dancers came.
Through the whole show Molly could barely watch the ballet herself, which had always been one of her favorites, for watching Scarlett. The child's complete and utter awe at watching the dancers twirl and leap was so much fun to witness. She gasped as the Christmas tree on stage grew and the Nutcracker came to life. She was properly horrified at the Mouse King and his minions, hiding in her mother's arm. When the snowflakes danced across the stage she couldn't help herself and stood up, leaning against the rail as though she might get closer. The only time she took her eyes away from the stage was to scold a little boy beside her that kept jumping up to switch seats with his sister. "Hey! Be still, little boy. You gonna distack the dancers!" He looked insulted, but did as he was told. Scarlett was very firm about it.
Scarlett chattered endlessly about the ballet as they stood on the sidewalk, waiting for a cab. As she held her mother's hand, she twirled and hopped around, clearly inspired by the dancing. Scarlett had always had a natural grace that was completely inherited from Sherlock. Molly could barely walk across the room without falling over her own feet. Scarlett was breathless by the time they piled into the back of the cab and began weaving through traffic. "Did you have a nice time, precious?" Molly asked as the little girl snuggled under her mother's arm.
"It was the best thing I ever saw, Mummy."
Molly giggled. "I'm so glad."
"I just wish Daddy and Bre and Will and Finn were with us."
"Perhaps they'll come next time."
Scarlett nodded. It was obvious that the child was exhausted. She was silent for much of the ride home and for a moment Molly thought that she'd gone to sleep. "Mummy," she said in a croaky, sleepy voice.
"Yes, darling?"
"I think I want to be a ballerina when I grow up. Do you have to be able to hear good to be a ballerina?"
Molly chuckled. "You can be anything you want to be, Sugarplum. Anything at all."
