"Will that be all ma'am?"
"Yes, thank you" Mrs. Holmes said as she paid the shop owner and quietly walked Molly outside.
"You didn't have to buy me all this."
"My dear, I've only bought you twelve dresses." Mrs. Holmes smiled with mock innocence.
"Twelve everyday dress, six pairs of skirts and shirts, five party dress, seven pairs of shoes, and a large amount of jewelry only in the last week. I really can't take this all from you. This is too much."
"You aren't used to people pampering you."
"As an orphan, I could hardly expect much from anyone."
"I think it's high time you had a little pampering." Mrs. Holmes smiled. Molly slowly followed her down the street. "My boys aren't exactly the most romantic of men and as you can tell, and I never had a daughter. I have to pamper someone, so I hope you will get used to it."
"Thank you ma'am."
"Please call me Violet."
"Yes ma-I mean Violet." Molly smiled. She liked Mrs. Holmes and her odd ways. She was a lot blunter than any woman Molly had ever met, but she was also the cheeriest. She didn't fake emotions and Molly knew she was a very honest woman.
Molly had barely seen the inside of the house for the last five days. Mrs. Holmes insisted that they go out every day right after breakfast to get started on the shopping. Each day, they searched for something in particular. Of course, everything they bought had to be fitted to Molly perfectly. Mrs. Holmes hadn't told Molly; she had simply said that was how it worked when asked by Molly why they couldn't just take the clothes with them.
After Mrs. Hudson had awoken her and while she was dressing, Mrs. Hudson had caught her up on the Holmes's family tree. Both Mr. and Mrs. Holmes were from large money, but Mrs. Holmes had refused to let her children be raised by another woman. Sure, Mycroft and Sherlock had had nannies when they were little, but Mrs. Holmes always made sure to take the time for her children. Mr. Holmes was "a bit of an alcoholic" as Mrs. Hudson had put it. "He reformed though. Sherlock went off to war and he made sure that he cleaned up in his absence. I think that's one of the reasons he hasn't visited yet. He's afraid of what Sherlock thinks of him."
That was all Mrs. Hudson had been able to tell her before Molly left for town, running after a very excited and determined Mrs. Holmes. Molly followed behind Mrs. Holmes taking in the familiar sights of the many shops and people. She hadn't had much opportunity to get out of the orphanage when she was there.
"Come along Molly." Violet yelled back. Molly realized that she had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and quickly ran to catch up with Mrs. Holmes.
"The car should be just around this corner. Unless of course, you want to keep shopping, of course."
"No-no that's fine. We'll just head back."
Mrs. Holmes rounded the corner and waved to the driver. She handed him the few boxes she had in her hand and explained that someone would be up to the house to deliver the rest of the clothing in the evening.
"Can you tell me about the orphanage?" Mrs. Holmes asked as the car began to move. When Molly gave her an unsure look she quickly added "Don't say anything if it makes you uncomfortable."
"Honestly, there isn't much to tell." Molly shrugged.
"Were you close with many people at the orphanage?"
"Not really…I helped teach the younger children from time to time, so I was closer to them. However, I was close to Miss Mattie, the founder of the orphanage. "
"You didn't get along with children your age?"
"Not really, but there weren't many children mat age there."
"You were older when you were orphanage." It was statement, and Molly felt the blood drain from her face.
"How did you know that?" she asked in hushed voice.
"The way you talk about it made it seem that way. Also, Sherlock told me that this morning."
Molly's eyes grew larger. "He knows?"
"Yes. He was trying to show off by telling me what he deduced about you. But if it makes you feel better, it wasn't as much as he usually knows. You have him puzzled."
Molly nodded absentmindedly and the car went into a silence.
"I was nine."
"What dear?"
"I was nine when I first arrived at the orphanage."
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" Molly asked, genially confused.
"Because you still remember them; your parents."
"Yes" she whispered. "Yes I do."
"What on earth took you so long?!" Sherlock asked, laying on the couch in the sitting room, his hands steepled under his chin.
"I had to get adequate clothes for Molly." Mrs. Holmes said as she walked over the Sherlock "No shoes on the couch young man, what have I told you about that?!" She swatted Sherlock's feet off of the couch. Sherlock huffed in annoyance, but listened to his mother.
"Why do you have this need to put your feet on the couches?"
"I suppose it's my inner rebel trying to create anarchy." Sherlock replied, sarcastically.
"Mycroft never put his feet on the couch" Violet mumbled.
"Mycroft listen to your every beck and call so that he would appear to be the angel of the family! It was ghastly to behold."
Molly tried to cover her laugh into a cough. When Sherlock gave her an odd look she apologized. "Sorry…must be getting down with something" she averted her eyes to ground.
"I want you to be on your best behavior. John Watson is coming to visit you today."
"I know."
Mrs. Holmes huffed "You ruined the surprised."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Sherlock replied sarcastically "How wonderful! I never would have guessed it!"
"Be nice you your mother." Molly replied rolling her eyes "And admit you're glad to see John Watson." Both Mrs. Holmes and Sherlock turned to stare at her. She started to get a little uncomfortable, and began to play with her fingers. She looked down at the floor and waited for someone to say something. Nothing happened. She began to notice patterns in the hard wood floor. 'Long, long, short, medium…longish short-'
"How did you know I'd be glad to see him?" Sherlock questioned, trying to keep his voice nonchalant.
"I was just guessing" Molly sputtered, giving a quick glace to Sherlock "You didn't make a face when your mother said his name so I thought-"
"Make a face?"
"Yes. I've noticed that whenever you talk about something that you don't like, you make a…frown."
"And when have I made a frown?"
"Usually talking about Mycroft… or when you get annoyed with something." Molly gave Sherlock a small smile and he couldn't help but smile back. "I accept your deduction as correct." Sherlock said.
"So what is this John Watson like?"
"Now you're trying to get me to talk about my past? Tut tut Ms. Hooper, I'd thought you'd deduce it with your new skills."
Molly's face fell a little until she realized that Sherlock was teasing her. "I was just curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat."
"Then it's lucky that I'm not a cat" Molly grinned and waited for Sherlock to reply.
While this was happening, Mrs. Holmes stood to the side and watch the two. She was slightly shocked to see Sherlock respond to Molly. He seemed…comfortable talking to Molly. He wasn't comfortable talking like this with anyone but John.
Sherlock was about to respond when Mrs. Homes interrupted.
"How about you show Ms. Hooper around the house. She hasn't had the chance to see the whole house."
Sherlock grumbled but made his way to the door. "Are you coming on not?" He turned to Molly. She gave 'sorry' and followed him swiftly out of the room. When they got to the stairs Sherlock stopped and turned to Molly, waiting. She gave him a confused look as he rolled his eyes and grudgingly put his arm over her shoulder.
"It seems I may be in need of some assistance and seeing as you are my nurse, you have to help me" he said, trying to sound annoyed. Molly rolled her eyes, but wrapped her arm around his waist and helped him up the stairs.
"How are you feeling?" She asked him quietly. "I'm sorry I haven't been around to help you. Your mother is rather insistent."
"I'm doing fine." Sherlock replied. Molly nodded her head and they feel into silence until they got to the top of the stairs. "It's to the right" Sherlock motioned with his head and they slowly began to make their way down the hallway.
"Have you had anymore nightmares? I haven't been awoken by them, but I've been sleeping heavily."
"It should be right down this way" Sherlock said, ignoring her question.
"If you have one, you can come to me. I'm here to help you. All you have to do is tell me what you need." Molly said. Sherlock was surprised at the sincerity of her words and had to stop himself from turning to look at her. He was afraid if he saw her, he would start to spill the truth.
He hadn't slept ever since the night they had fallen asleep together. He couldn't take the risk of having nightmares; she might hear him. So he just stayed up the whole night, occasionally reading, doing experiments, anything he could find to keep his mind occupied. He had been eating poorly too. He never ate well in the first place; slowed down his mind. But he found that he didn't really have any apatite. He just felt so…bored. Practically everything was boring now; just plain old civilian life.
"Sherlock, if you need anything, you need to let me know." Molly lightly touched his shoulder, hoping that he would turn around. He just flinched away.
"Here we are." He said, facing two wooden doors. He opened them both out and stepped in. "Welcome to our library."