Chapter Text
Molly grinned as she curled her legs beneath her and watched her goddaughter playing on her play mat on the floor. Mary was sitting next to her and Sherlock and John were sitting in chairs opposite of them. She and Sherlock had brought over some takeaway for the night and now they were just chatting about the upcoming holidays. She sighed heavily. Mary reached over and grabbed her ankle, wiggling it playfully. “You know that you can always stay home and just spend the holidays with us. You don’t have to go spend it with your family.”
Molly smiled but shook her head. “I know. And I appreciate the invitation. But it’s the first Christmas since Mum died, and my sister Diana is so determined to have everyone together again and do all of the old holiday traditions.” She sighed, looking down at little Rosie again. “It’s just…I wish that I had some backup, you know? It’s been so awful since I broke up with Tom. My aunt Patricia has started calling me Old Maid Molly – it’s awful.”
Mary wrinkled her nose. “Want me to kill her for you?”
Molly laughed, covering her mouth almost immediately and shaking her head. “Mary! No!” Her eyes twinkled as she smirked at her friend. “Besides, you’re too obvious. I can make it look like an accident.”
That made Mary let out a loud laugh, and made Sherlock and John look over at them. “Who are you killing, Molly?” Sherlock asked, a small smile on his face.
“Her terrible aunt Patricia. Sounds like the old cow deserves it,” Mary said.
Molly smiled over at her and shook her head. “She just knows how to push my buttons…that’s what family is, isn’t it?” John nodded and even Sherlock gave a shrug. “How did you get out of Christmas with your parents, Sherlock? Thought your mum was a bit of a stickler about this sort of thing now.”
Sherlock chuckled. “After the way that last Christmas went, we decided it was for the best that we take a year off. They’re on an all-expenses paid cruise in the Caribbean, courtesy of Mycroft…mostly.”
John tilted his head curiously. “Mostly?”
“I’m footing the bill for the unlimited alcohol package. Mummy loves her daiquiris.”
Mary laughed. “God, I love your mum.”
Molly grinned at them, reaching down to grab Rosie, who’d started to protest that no one was paying attention to her. She sat her goddaughter on her lap and gently kissed the top of her head. “I’d much rather be here with all of you, but it’s only for a few days. We’re still on for New Year’s Eve, right?”
“Of course, babes,” Mary said, smiling at Molly. “And I’ll stock up on the bubbly. Promise.”
As much as she loved her family, it was a LOT to have them all in one house. She was staying at her sister, Diana’s, with her sister, her brother-in-law, and her two nephews; as well her brother and his pregnant wife. Her aunt Patricia still lived in the village as well, so her other brother, his wife, and their daughter were staying with her. Molly sighed. It could have been worse – she could have gotten stuck at her aunt’s instead of with Diana. She’d take the lilo in Diana’s office any day over an actual mattress at Patricia’s.
It was a bit of a miracle that anyone heard the doorbell over the chaos that was the house currently. Her 8-year-old nephew ran towards the door and opened it up with exuberance. He spoke a bit with whoever was there and then turned around. “Auntie Molly! It’s for you! He looks a bit like that hat detective bloke!”
The chaos around her seemed to stop as everyone looked at Molly. She blushed and jumped up from the couch, hurrying towards the door. If Meena had sent her another Sherlock Holmes look-a-like singing telegram, Molly was actually going to murder her.
But when she got to the door, her eyes widened because it was actually Sherlock at the door. “Sherlock?” she whispered.
“Molly!” he said, a smile on his face. But it wasn’t his usual ‘impress the normal people’ smile. He actually looked…happy to see her.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered, looking down at her nephew who was still standing by, watching the interaction closely.
“Solved the case early. I know that you were disappointed that we wouldn’t be able to spend Christmas together, so I borrowed a car from Mycroft and got out here as soon as I could.”
Molly’s eyes narrowed. “Spend Christmas together?”
“Molly! You’re letting the heat out! Either just invite them in or not!” Diana yelled, coming down the hallway to see who had her sister being so ridiculous. “Oh! Oh my!” Diana’s cheeks grew pink when she saw Sherlock. Sherlock grinned at Diana, winking at her before turning his attention back to Molly.
Diana grabbed Molly and pulled her out of the way, opening the door wider and beckoned for Sherlock to come in. “Sherlock Holmes! Molly didn’t tell us that you were coming! Please, come in. Come in.” She reached out to take Sherlock’s bag and Molly’s eyes widened even further. He really was planning on staying here.
“Who is it?” Aunt Patricia called out from the lounge and Molly sighed.
Diana set Sherlock’s bag down in the office where Molly was staying and then made her way down the hall to where the rest of the family was. Sherlock followed along and Molly trailed along after him. He paused, looking back at her and smiling. He held out his hand and wiggled his fingers at her and Molly rolled her eyes but still grabbed his hand. “We are going to have a talk after this,” she whispered to him, right before they entered the room.
“Of course we are, darling,” he whispered back and Molly’s cheeks automatically flushed at the out-of-character endearment.
Molly put on a happy face as Diana led the way to the lounge and everyone looked up to see Sherlock and Molly standing there. “Our Molly brought a guest!” Diana said excitedly.
“Everyone, this is Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock this is…everyone,” Molly said awkwardly, gesturing around the room. “Diana’s my sister, this is her house. That’s her husband, Steve. You met their son Daniel at the door, and that’s David,” she said pointing around the room to her family. Sherlock gave each member a nod. “That’s my aunt Patricia. My other brother Michael and his wife Allie. And then my youngest brother Ed, his wife Siobhan, and their little angel Rose.” She looked up at him with a small grin. “There will be a quiz.”
Sherlock rolled his eyes. “Molly, please. Child’s play.” He grinned down at her and she chuckled, shaking her head.
“Molly, why didn’t you tell us that you were seeing Sherlock Holmes? And that he was coming for Christmas?” Aunt Patricia asked, her eyes narrowing and looking back and forth between the two of them. Aunt Patricia could smell a scheme from a mile away. Molly gulped.
“We’ve agreed to our relationship rather quiet, Patricia. It didn’t end so well for me last time the tabloids got involved in my life,” Sherlock said, a saccharine smile on his face.
Molly smirked as her aunt nodded sagely. “Oh, of course.”
Before her family could ask any more questions, Molly tugged on Sherlock’s hand. “Sherlock, can I speak to you…alone? Just…want to talk about Christmas gifts with you,” she said, smiling tightly at him.
“Of course, Molly,” he replied with a smile, before turning back to her family. “Be back in a tic,” he said, winking at her Aunt Patricia. Molly stifled a laugh as he turned to her and grinned. “Lead on.”
They made their way back down the hall to the office where Molly was staying and she shut the door behind Sherlock. He was looking around the room, particularly at the lilo on the floor. “Hmm, can’t say it’s the most comfortable place I’ve ever slept, but I’ve also slept in worse,” he murmured.
“Wait, are you really planning on staying here, Sherlock?”
He turned to Molly and nodded. “Of course, I am. You said that you wanted backup. I’m your backup, Molly Hooper.”
Molly shook her head. “Sherlock, you really don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t. But I want to. You’ve always been there for me, Molly. I’d like to return the favor.” Sherlock’s eyes narrowed. “Unless…you don’t want me here.”
Molly sighed, grabbing Sherlock’s hand again and squeezing it gently. “Of course, I want you, Sherlock.”
Sherlock’s eyes widened and Molly blushed, before shaking her head. “Here. I want you here, Sherlock. It’s…it’s nice of you to come. Thank you.” She glanced down at the sad air mattress on the floor and then back to Sherlock. “Are you sure that you want to stay, even after seeing the accommodations?”
“Like I said, Molly, I’ve slept in worse,” he said with a smirk.
“No but are you sure that you want to stay…here. With my family. I mean, I love them, but they can be a bit much,” Molly fretted, her hands clasping and unclasping in front of her. “I’ve only been here for two days and I’ve already almost committed multiple crimes against them.”
Sherlock laid his hand over hers and she stopped fidgeting. “Molly, that’s exactly why I want to stay here with you.”
Molly smiled up at him, going up on her tip-toes to brush a kiss against his cheek. “Thank you, Sherlock. You’re a very good friend.”
He grinned at her. “And now you’re about to find out just how good of a boyfriend I can be.”
With that, he turned on his heel and opened the door, marching back out towards her family. Molly blew out a breath and nodded. “Sherlock pretending to be my boyfriend. Right. Keep it together, Hooper.”