Author's note: Hi everyone, I know it's been a while. I'm feeling good right now, anticipating upcoming marriages of loved ones. To celebrate it, I am going to publish this chapter that celebrates the love of Sherlock and Molly. Enjoy, if anyone out there is still interested in reading! Be warned: spoilers ahead for Season 1 of Bridgerton.
Sherlock looked over at Molly who was putting her hair into a side braid before they headed down for breakfast.
He couldn't believe it was already Wednesday.
For the past two days they had only left the bed-and-breakfast briefly to get food. They had finished the jigsaw puzzle. They had played a couple of lovely games of strip chess in their bedroom using Molly's idea of only removing an article of clothing after two pieces were removed from the board. They had also watched a couple more episodes of Bridgerton because Molly had decided she wanted to continue watching it, despite the scenes they had both agreed were unnecessary to the plot and just contrivances to titillate the viewer.
Sherlock recalled their conversation from the previous night when they had watched the consummation of Daphne and Simon on their wedding night. Personally, Sherlock felt the scene bordered on soft pornography with how graphic it was and the way Simon's backside was clearly displayed during the act of lovemaking. At the end of the love scene which concluded the episode, however, he couldn't help asking Molly, knowing that she had read the book, "So, when Simon said he couldn't have children, he was lying to her. He just doesn't want to have them. That was pretty evident by what he did at the end of the scene so that pregnancy would be unlikely."
"Yup, that is true to the storyline," confirmed Molly. "It's quite sad really, and especially that Daphne was so innocent she didn't even know how a baby is conceived."
"I assume the truth will come out soon enough, and then she will be very angry with him when she knows he is quite capable of fathering a child but just does not want one."
"Well, there has to be some conflict seeing as they are already married and the story isn't over." She looked at him. "Honestly, I don't know how these actors can simulate sex that way and not feel incredibly embarrassed."
"I don't know either. I certainly wouldn't want to portray something so intimate even in the context of a simulation."
Fortunately, there was no need for them to simulate anything when Sherlock enfolded Molly in his arms soon after so they could enjoy their own marital union.
Now, he felt a sense of anticipation for the day ahead. Well, they still had to get through the morning, but yesterday morning he had requested a picnic hamper from Kara for today's lunch. The forecast for the day was perfect with no rain predicted, and it promised to be the nicest day of the week at around 23°C.
Sherlock was still marvelling at the expert way in which Molly was always able to braid her own hair so efficiently, when she turned to look at him. "I'm ready."
They went downstairs together and enjoyed another excellent home cooked breakfast from Kara.
As she gathered up their empty plates, she commented, "Congratulations on finishing the puzzle. I see that you found the missing piece."
"Yes. I guess when we were sorting the pieces initially, one of them must've fallen to the floor. I found it by accident when I was walking around the table to put in another piece and I felt it under my foot," said Molly. "We thought we'd show you the completed puzzle before we packed it away."
Kara grinned. "I'm glad that somebody has finally completed it. Your picnic hamper is already in the kitchen waiting for you, by the way. Looks like the perfect day for a romantic picnic. I hope you enjoy yourselves."
"I'm sure we will," said Sherlock, thinking once again with anticipation of how he planned to commune with nature amongst the trees with Molly. "Thank you."
After breakfast, Sherlock said, "I'm just going to check my email. It has been a few days, and I want to make sure I respond to any request for consultations, to let people know I will not be available until next week."
"Good. I wanted to text Kayla to see how she and John are doing."
Sherlock felt a pang, knowing how difficult it had been for him and Molly to deal with her miscarriage. Their friends were only at the beginning of their own grief process after Kayla's miscarriage. "Give them my love. It is not a topic I feel equipped to discuss with John."
Molly placed a consoling hand on his arm. "I know. It is much easier for women to discuss their problems."
They went upstairs together and Sherlock took out his laptop which he had not touched since they had arrived. He sat with his back to the pillows on the bed, laptop balanced on his lap.
For about fifteen minutes, Sherlock looked through his emails, deleting the usual junk that escaped the filter and sending off a couple emails to potential clients letting them know he would be unavailable until the following week, and that they should let him know if they still required his assistance next week. At least he didn't receive emails anymore from fans with fake pleas for assistance so they could meet him or emails with suggestive comments. Four years of marriage and two children had pretty much cemented the fact that he was devoted to his family.
When Molly, who had been sitting on a chair with her phone in her hand, joined him on the bed, now holding her iPad, he looked up from his laptop and asked, "Did you speak with Kayla?"
She nodded, and he pressed, "How are things going for them?"
"She said they are taking things one day at a time. She mentioned that she is very glad they have Rosie and Adam to love."
Sherlock nodded. "Yes, I know how much I appreciated having our daughters to care for when you had your own miscarriage." He reached out to take Molly's hand. "I think this time away has really helped me to heal as well, to appreciate our love for one another. It has been a difficult year in general, but I recognise that God did not promise us lives that would be free of difficulties. He just assures us that when we face those times, He will be with us to guide us through them."
Molly leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're feeling more positive. I've been worried about you over the last couple of months. I know the last year and a half without being able to do as much detective work as you are used to has been rough."
"And yet, I am now seeing the silver lining, my love. I have had the opportunity to really appreciate being a father in a way I would not have done if I had been out and about on frequent cases."
"That's true," Molly agreed. "Are you almost finished looking through your emails?" She indicated her iPad. "I want to show you something."
"Just give me a minute and I'm all yours." Sherlock finished the final sentence on the email he'd been writing to a prospective client and sent it off, then closed his laptop. "What did you want to show me?"
"After I finished texting Kayla, I was thinking about our anniversary tomorrow." She pressed the power button on her iPad. When the Face ID failed as it seemed to do regularly, she punched in her passcode. Sherlock smiled as he saw the familiar numbers of his birthdate. He used Molly's birthdate for his own passcode too.
An image appeared of a castle on her screen, the last thing Molly had been looking at. "It's Warwick Castle," she said. "I was wondering if maybe we could go to see it tomorrow."
"I have no objection, as long as you allow me to take you to dinner tomorrow evening."
"Well, the castle is open from ten till four, so perhaps we could have an early lunch, tour the castle and then have an early dinner back in Stratford."
Sherlock smiled. "And then we have the rest of the night to enjoy our anniversary properly, just the two of us."
Molly grinned. "Yes, and perhaps we can make use of the pirate and wench costumes."
Sherlock's eyes lit up. That would definitely be his favourite part of their anniversary. "Sounds good to me."
Together, they decided on where they would go for their anniversary dinner, an Italian dining establishment named Sorrento Restaurant which opened at 4 PM.
"Now that we've established our activities for tomorrow, what should we do for the remainder of this morning?" asked Sherlock, sliding a hand along Molly's leg. He definitely approved of her wearing a skirt, rather than shorts or trousers.
Molly raised a brow at him. "Are you suggesting you want to have your way with me now?"
"Perhaps. I am severely falling short of my achievement from our honeymoon."
"Your achievement? It takes two to tango, you know." Molly pouted.
He smirked. "Fine. We are falling significantly short of our achievement from our honeymoon."
"I think making love twice a day since we've been here is still better than what we've been managing in quite some time, but I'm not opposed to seeing if we can make it three times today." Molly reached over to put her iPad on the bedside table even as Sherlock did the same on his side with his laptop.
He held out his arms for Molly to enter his embrace, and they kissed for some time, allowing their passion to build slowly. Much as Sherlock loved his daughters, it was a rare treat to have Molly to himself, and for several days too. It brought back fond memories of the early days of their marriage, when they had made love frequently as the mood took them.
They rode and crested the waves of passion, tumbling back to earth and experiencing the contentment that always followed the euphoria. Sherlock loved being able to lie there, stroking the soft skin of Molly's arm as he inhaled her sweet scent.
When they did get up and re-dressed, they watched the next episode of Bridgerton. When the newlyweds indulged in several scenes of lovemaking, including outdoors, Sherlock couldn't help commenting, "I don't think I'd be willing to make love quite so openly, but I am looking forward to our tryst in the woods after we eat our lunch."
"I have to admit, I can't really complain about them showing the frequency of their lovemaking, when we were just the same."
Another half hour later there was another passionate love scene on Simon's desk, and Sherlock couldn't help himself. He had to comment on that too. "Molly, remember how a couple of months ago you dismissed the idea of making love on my office desk?"
Molly gave him a suspicious glance. "Yes, I remember. I told you it wouldn't be too comfortable on my back."
Sherlock gestured at the screen, where the couple was making loud moaning sounds. "Daphne is not on her back, merely propped up at the edge of the desk. All I would need to do is get my laptop out of the way. Nothing else need be disturbed."
Molly rolled her eyes at him, but he was quite satisfied with her response. "Fine, I see your point. Maybe one day, when there are no children around."
That was enough to get Sherlock thinking about taking the girls for an overnight stay with Nanny Hudders in the near future, and he smirked at the thought.
Molly knew him too well. "We are not sending the girls away as soon as we get back from this second honeymoon. A week without them is long enough."
Sherlock huffed. "Very well, but it's your fault for making me watch this show and getting ideas in my head."
Molly giggled and kissed his cheek.
The scenes that followed were darker, with Daphne discovering her husband's deceit and a deliberate seduction on her part where she did not allow him to pull away from her at the conclusion of their lovemaking. Angry words followed, and the episode ended on a sad note that included the heartbreak of the sweet, plump, Penelope Featherington, who had an unrequited love for Colin Bridgerton who was betrothed to someone else. Despite himself, Sherlock was intrigued to find out what would happen next. There were two episodes left.
"Another episode?" Sherlock asked as the next one started automatically.
"We have time, and the last one ended on a sad note," responded Molly, leaning back into him where they were in their sideways prone position to watch. Sherlock didn't mind. He would watch anything she wanted if he was able to be close to her.
He was almost sorry they continued to watch when the episode involved a miscarriage at the end. It brought back memories from months earlier, and he heard Molly sniffle. "Poor Daphne."
Sherlock took the remote and pressed stop, then moved his hand to lace their fingers. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."
She turned her head towards him, eyes full of tears. "Seeing the blood, it made me remember seeing it when I went to the toilet."
"I'm sorry," he said again, not knowing what else to say.
She blinked to dispel the tears. "Not your fault. I know there will occasionally be reminders of what happened." She gave him a small smile. "I think distraction will be an effective way to make me feel better."
He kissed her forehead. "I think it's about time we head out for our picnic. It's time for lunch, anyway. Bring your phone. We will be using both of them."
She gave him an enquiring look. "Why?"
"You'll see."
A few minutes later, they were heading out of the rear of the B&B, Sherlock holding the hamper and Molly armed with the two blankets that had been kindly provided for them.
The weather couldn't be more perfect, Sherlock thought. The sky was blue with clouds that only obscured the sun momentarily, and there was just the touch of a breeze.
They walked over the grass and stopped at the tree line. "Shall we enter?" Sherlock asked after a few moments.
Molly smiled. "We shall."
They stepped into the trees, and Sherlock felt a little like they were going into the woods on the other side of the wardrobe in Chronicles of Narnia. Molly had purchased the full Narnia collection, starting with "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", and he had read them and thoroughly enjoyed the imagination of CS Lewis and the storyline which used Aslan the lion in a parallel fashion to Christ in an alternate universe with talking animals. It was a cleverly written fantasy that showed elements of the gospel in an engaging way that would hopefully encourage readers to seek out the original source of inspiration - the Bible itself.
Leaves crunched beneath their feet, and Sherlock observed that, as he had deduced a few days earlier, there was no sign of any recent disturbance by other people.
Sherlock felt he vaguely recognized the area they had been in four years earlier. There was a little open area that was perfect for laying out a blanket.
They spread the blanket, on Sherlock's instructions, so that one end of it was next to a tree trunk.
Then they opened the hamper to reveal its contents. There were many of the same items that Sherlock remembered from their honeymoon - scones, cheese cubes, strawberries. This time there were also cherries and apricots. There were little bottles of water and apple juice as well.
Sherlock and Molly enjoyed the meal, feeding one another the food that was easy to share that way - the cheese and the strawberries.
Sherlock thought Molly looked beautiful as dappled sunlight made her hair glow and highlighted the fading red colour, making it more vivid once again.
Kara had thought of everything, including serviettes and little sanitizing wipes they used on their fingers that were sticky from apricot juice.
When they had carefully cleaned everything up, returning even the cherry pits and apricot stones for disposal back at the B&B, Sherlock leaned over to Molly and kissed her.
She wound her arms around him and returned the kiss enthusiastically, obviously thinking he was initiating their lovemaking.
Reluctantly, he pulled back to say. "Not yet, Molly."
She pouted, and he tapped her nose with his finger. My, you are the impatient one, aren't you?"
"I thought the idea of the picnic was to eat and then make love."
"Oh, we will definitely do that, but I thought we'd do something new first. Remember how I read Shakespeare sonnets to you last time?"
Her lips curved upwards. "Yes, and that was very romantic. Are you going to do it again?"
"Nope. I thought this time we would do something together. Grab your phone and let's sit by the tree trunk."
He pulled out his own phone and moved so he was sitting with his back against the tree, legs open wide to accommodate Molly in front of him.
She complied, taking her own phone from the hamper because she didn't have pockets in her skirt.
She sat in front of Sherlock, leaning backwards into him. "What do I need my phone for?"
"Go to your Holy Bible app," he instructed, doing the same with his own phone.
When he saw Molly had done so, he said, "I thought we could read Song of Songs together. You can read the female part, I'll read the mail part, and we can both read together parts that are said by the friends."
Molly turned her head to kiss his cheek. "What a wonderful, romantic idea! I love it!"
Together, they found the book of the Bible in the app.
"Solomon's song of songs," they read together, and then Molly continued.
"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
For your love is more delightful than wine."
She continued, then, when she looked at Sherlock expectantly to recite the words of the friend together, he said, "I think first I should do as the words suggest."
He reached his free hand to tilt her face towards him and offered her a lingering kiss.
Then they continued, speaking together, followed by Sherlock saying the words of the man.
When he spoke the words of chapter four, with each phrase, he paused to demonstrate his love for the various parts of Molly's anatomy as mentioned by the man. He kissed her eyes, stroked her hair, traced his finger along her teeth. He kissed her lips, her temples and her neck.
And following the phrase about her breasts being like twin fawns, Sherlock, reached around to unbutton Molly's blouse and squeeze each breast gently. He was pleased at the lack of a bra. He wanted to kiss her breasts, but his position behind her made that difficult. No matter, when they had finished reading, he would give them the attention they deserved. He could feel his desire for her building as he read the words of love expressed by Solomon.
In chapter five, Sherlock indulged in a little of the delights described by the woman as Molly spoke, and she squirmed as his hand reached beneath her skirt for other various delights of her body. He heard Molly's breath quicken as she tried to concentrate on reading and knew she too was feeling the slow build of desire. He'd never comprehended how truly beautiful and erotic this book of the Bible was. It was a testament to the beauty of married intimacy.
Molly's hand reached behind her to stroke Sherlock's hair as she read the words, "His hair is wavy and black as a raven's," and Sherlock smiled at the appropriateness of the text.
She twisted her body to reach the buttons of his shirt as she said, "His body is like polished ivory, decorated with lapis lazuli." She paused in her speaking to finish unbuttoning Sherlock's shirt and place a hand on his chest, rubbing lightly, and Sherlock felt his heartbeat accelerate.
They continued to read and enact various parts of the narrative. The whole experience was sensual and beautiful.
And when the reading was finished, they removed one another's clothes and tasted the delights of one another's bodies as described in the book. Sherlock felt a reverence for Molly as they made love, feeling the connection with God's creation in the outdoor setting.
"That was truly amazing, Sherlock," said Molly afterwards, and he could see the way her chest was still heaving from their exertions. "Thank you for thinking of it. This has definitely been a memorable experience."
He kissed her again, holding her close. "It was rather spectacular, wasn't it? I have a newfound respect for the insertion of that book in the Bible. I think it's meant to show that there is a unique beauty in the act of sexual, married love. It is something that bears no shame, but is meant to be enjoyed as a gift God has given us."
"I completely agree."
They lay on the blanket for some time, until their bodies cooled and Sherlock took the second blanket to cover them.
The peaceful sounds of nature surrounding them, birds, rustlings in undergrowth, leaves swaying slightly, along with the warmth of Molly's body beside him lulled Sherlock to sleep.
He opened his eyes to find that Molly's were also open, although she was still snuggled against him. "Guess we should get dressed now," he said, reaching to retrieve Molly's blouse from where he had discarded it.
She gave him a lazy smile. "It's so lovely being outside isn't it?" Then she added, "Although a bed of leaves is not quite as comfortable as a regular bed." She sat up and took the blouse.
After dressing, they checked once again that nothing had been left on the ground. Satisfied that there was no physical evidence remaining from their picnic, they returned to the B&B.
Settled once again in the bedroom, Sherlock asked, "What would you like to do now? Should we have a game of chess or would you like to watch the last episode of Bridgerton?"
"Let's finish watching Bridgerton. Hopefully it will have a happy ending."
And, to Sherlock's relief, it did. It was the set up for a second season, the reveal of Lady Whistledown's identity, and an epilogue that showed Daphne giving birth.
Sherlock saw the tears in Molly's eyes, and he was a little worried that she might be feeling sad again until she said, "Oh, Sherlock. That brings back such wonderful memories of having Victoria and Christina."
"Yes, it does." He gave her a fond smile.
They decided to get dinner from The Kingfisher and brought it back to the B&B. At Molly's request, they splurged by also getting scampi to go along with the fish and chips. The leftovers were put into the fridge for tomorrow's lunch.
After dinner, Sherlock and Molly made their nightly call to speak with his parents and the girls, who were still enjoying their time with Grandma and Grandpa.
"It is such a delight to spend time with our granddaughters," said Sherlock's mum, smiling at them over FaceTime, after he and Molly had had a short conversation with Victoria and waved at Christina.
"Thank you for taking such good care of them," said Molly, squeezing Sherlock's hand.
"We are happy to do it," put in Sherlock's father. "We have missed too much time with them because of the virus."
"I certainly hope that we will be able to get together again as a family for Christmas. William and I would like to have you there, Mycroft and his family as well as John and his family."
"'We will definitely be praying that this Christmas is different from the last one," said Molly.
When the FaceTime call ended, Molly looked at Sherlock. "It's lovely to think about having a family gathering again for Christmas, but I wonder if we would be able to ask your parents whether Martha could come with us as well. I hate to think of her being alone at Christmastime."
Sherlock thought about the six bedroom house occupied by his parents in Sussex. "I'm sure Mummy would have no problem in inviting her. There is certainly room for her."
"Well, we have a few months anyhow before we have to think about Christmas," said Molly, and they dropped the subject.
They spent the rest of the evening quietly, playing chess and winning a game apiece, having a game of Home Run which Molly won, and scrolling through the various Netflix offerings. It was strange to have so much free time when usually life consisted of work or taking care of the girls. But Sherlock was certainly not going to complain about being with his wife and having no other pressing commitments.
And at the conclusion of the night, with Molly laying in his arms, Sherlock reflected that it had been another memorable day. He was looking forward to tomorrow, not so much the tour of the castle, but it was always fun to anticipate a little role-play.
Yes, another blissful day awaited, he thought as his eyes drifted shut.
Author's note: I wrote this chapter almost a year ago, and I had completely forgotten what it was about until I reread it. It is a strange feeling to read one's own work as if it belonged to someone else. And I must admit, I enjoyed reading what I wrote about the book of the Bible "Song of Songs". It really emphasizes that we do not need to be ashamed of writing about intimacy within the context of marriage. God wants that for us. And it is not something that should be an embarrassment to talk about. Perhaps if more people would seriously consider intimacy as being something special, instead of just another thing every couple does almost from the moment they get together, we would have a society that has more emphasis on commitment and family values.
Agree or disagree? I'd love to know what you think.