Chapter Text
It wasn’t often a case got to take him out of London, or that he got to bring Molly with him, but this had presented a golden opportunity for the two of them to take a much needed vacation with each other. Since the events of Moriarty’s return they had gotten closer and closer, their relationship becoming deeper and more personal, and he had found himself becoming very attached as well as very attracted to his most trusted pathologist. But he’d kept those thoughts and feelings to himself to keep her safe. When Moriarty had her kidnapped, though, he nearly tore London apart to find her, and once he had her safe he didn’t want to let her go without telling her how he felt. He had thought that he would stumble over the words, that he wouldn’t be able to articulate just how important she was to him, how much she meant to him, how much he needed her and how much he cared. She had let him get it all out and kissed him soundly afterward before assuring him she felt the same exact way.
They kept their relationship a secret except from a select few, those closest to the two of them. He knew she might prefer it to be otherwise but it really was in the best interest of their safety. Still, it had been a year and he felt she deserved something special, and so bringing her along on the case where he could use her expertise and turning it into a vacation of sorts seemed to be the answer to it all. She had been pleased with it, and now they were in Devon, on their way to their destination, when he began to experience a problem with the car they had rented. On top of it all the weather was threatening to turn horrid at a moment’s notice. “Damn,” he murmured.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“There’s something wrong with the car,” he said as it began to stall. He managed to get off onto a side road before it died completely. He pulled out his mobile but saw he had no service. “Do you have service here?”
She reached for her handbag and pulled out her mobile, fiddling with it for a moment before shaking her head. “No, nothing.” She looked around. “Where are we?”
“Just outside Hatherleigh,” he said. “It shouldn’t be too far of a walk, I hope. At least if we can get to the village we can get someone come tow the car and get a roof over our heads for the night before the rain starts.”
She nodded. “Let’s bring an umbrella, just in case,” she said.
They got out of the car and began to walk towards the village. Once they encountered someone they asked for directions to the garage, and when they got there Sherlock made arrangements for their car to be picked up and towed in with the man working there. After that he and Molly headed to Radnors Bed & Breakfast. It was the only one in town that might have an opening, or so the man at the garage had thought. The storm had hit while they were taking care of business with the car and it was a brutal one, so he and Molly were soaked even with the umbrella by the time they opened the doors to the inn.
“Oh, you poor things!” the woman behind the desk said once they had stepped inside. “Come in, come in. Such horrible weather to be stranded in.” Sherlock gave her a curious look. “My husband said there was a car abandoned on the side of the road and I put two and two together. Let me get you something warm to drink. Is tea all right?”
“Yes,” Molly said, her teeth chattering. “Thank you.”
“You’ll warm right up now that you’re inside,” she said warmly as she busied herself getting Molly and Sherlock tea. Once that was settled she looked at the two of them. “Now then. How can I help you?”
“Do you have a room for the night?” Sherlock asked. “The man at the garage said you might.”
“Why yes, we do!” she said warmly. “It’s our best room, which I’m sure you would both love. Nice double room, old fashioned washrooms with a modern touch, hairdryers…just perfect for a married couple like yourself. On your honeymoon?”
Molly straightened up. “We’re not—”
“On our honeymoon,” Sherlock said, cutting her off. “First anniversary, actually.”
“Oh, I see. Well, I’ll get the room all booked for you.” Sherlock handed her his credit card and her eyes widened but she said nothing. After a few minutes she came out from behind the desk. “All right then. I’m assuming Tommy will be by later when he’s got your car towed in and then we’ll go get your luggage so it stays dry, and hopefully tomorrow everything will be fixed and you can be on your way to wherever your destination is.”
“Thank you,” Sherlock said with a nod. “Do you have a phone I may use?”
“Unfortunately the landlines are down at the moment, and mobile service is spotty,” she said. “We had a bad storm a few days back. Put the village back in the dark ages, really. Damn global warming and all that, causing havoc with the weather.” She picked up the keys. “Now. Let’s get you both to your room, shall we?”
Sherlock and Molly followed the inn’s proprietor to their room, and she let them in. Sherlock looked around for a moment and then went to the bed and lay down. Molly didn’t join him, though. She began to pace. He watched her for a few minutes. “Molly?” he finally asked.
“Married, Sherlock?” she asked him. “Married?!? It’s not like she didn’t recognize you. It’s not like you aren’t a big name here in the UK. You telling people in a tiny village in Devon that we’re married isn’t the type of thing that’s going to stay quiet for long.” She said it all in a huff, pacing at the foot of the bed.
“Then why make it a lie?” he said from his position on the bed. He’d been thinking about it more and more lately, the idea of marrying Molly. He relished the idea of not having to sneak around, of having her and him living in the same home, of them having a future together. To be truthful, he knew she’d be safer if no one knew they were together but he was tired of the lies, tired of the secret. He wanted to tell the world he was in love with Margaret Elizabeth Hooper and he wanted to marry her. “Why not just marry me?”
She stopped and stood absolutely still. He was almost afraid that she was petrified with how still she was. He sat up more and looked at her, wondering if he should get off the bed to go to her. “A man always imagines a woman to be ready for anyone who asks her,” she said finally, her voice quiet and sad. “He expects her to say yes at the drop of a hat even to a stupid, insensitive, off-the-cuff proposal like that.”
“Molly—” he said, but she shook her head, finally moving and going back to her things to grab her handbag. She pulled her book out of it and made her way to the loo, and he dropped back down onto the bed with a sigh. He had indeed mucked it all up, just like he’d known he would. With a sigh he grabbed a pillow and went searching for another duvet. He might as well make himself settled on the floor for the evening. One night on the hard surface wouldn’t be too bad, he supposed. By the morning the weather should clear up, the roads would be fine and they could be on their way. He just hoped he could fix their relationship as easily as he could solve the case, whenever they got to their destination.