Chapter Text
It was late on a Wednesday evening after their weekly take-away when Mycroft excused himself to use the loo, leaving Molly to begin tidying up.
Mycroft's day had been particularly draining due to the unrealistic expectations of the Swiss Trade
Delegation. Now, to add insult to injury, in addition to the mild headache and pain in his lower back from sitting in the most uncomfortable conference room in the whole of the Foreign Office for five hours today, his allergies were kicking into overdrive. After washing his hands he opened Molly's medicine cabinet, took out the pack of antihistamines, and helped himself to a tiny oval pill.
While taking a sip of water Mycroft mentaly reviewed the Mediterranean Fishing regulations he was planning to propose tomorrow. The Turks were going to be furious!
Picking up a tissue to blow his nose he gave a small chuckle to think of the Greek's reaction. Visions of the mess he was about to cause in the northern Med were swirling around his head as he used the foot pedal on the rubbish bin to open it, ready to dispose of his used tissue.
His life would have continued on as normal had he not spied a pregnancy test stick in the bin.
Mycroft was frozen-- hand poised over the bin clutching his used tissue. The plastic stick was lying just deep enough that the result window was obscured.
Had his wits been about him Mycroft would have been able to deduce from the seven used tissues, two ear buds and four cosmetic pads that lay on it-- the test had been done last evening.
But at this moment all sense had gone, replaced by curiosity. His watched in slow motion as his hand dropped his tissue then continued deeper into the bin to pick the thin stick up.
He could read the "plus" sign from an arms length away -- why hadn't Molly said anything?
If Mycroft had been asked earlier in the day to list the worst things that could happen to him -- getting his girlfriend pregnant would have been in his top three. But standing in Molly's loo he had discovered THE worst thing that could ever happen to him-- getting his girlfriend pregnant and her not telling him.
Replaying the evening in his mind
Mycroft noted Molly had not seemed like she was keeping something from him. Nor had she insinuated that there would be a surprise for him later. Staring at the positive pregnancy test in his trembling hand, Mycroft's mind began grasping for explanations.
"Hey, are you okay in there?" Molly's gentle trapping on the door brought him back to reality with a slap.
"Yes. Yes. Just-- I'll be out in a moment." Quietly chiding himself for missing whatever minuscule hints there might have been about this impending life event Mycroft took a deep breath and looked at himself in the mirror.
"Remember to look surprised," whispered the dazed Mycroft from the mirror. "Don't ruin what she has planned."
Again Mycroft opened the bin, slipped the test back under a few pieces of rubbish then rewashed his hands.
//
Entering the kitchen with the the last remaining items from the table he tried to keep his expression neutral.
"Oh you're back-- just in time!" Molly had a huge smile on her face as she turned towards the oven. "I've got a surprise for you!"
Mycroft swallowed hard and braced himself-- expecting Molly to gesture to a bun in the oven. Sure, it was an old cliche but nevertheless a rather clever way of announcing his impending fatherhood.
The shock Molly saw on Mycroft's face when she turned around was as real as the sticky toffee pudding she held in her oven-mitted hands.
"After an Indian take away that is a rather strange choice for pudding," Mycroft's face was contorted with confusion.
"I know- but I had such a craving for it this afternoon. I just couldn't help myself." With a pleased look on her face Molly made her way back to the dining room with a pale Mycroft silently trailing behind.
The anticipation building in Mycroft was almost debilitating. He was sure she would tell him as they sat down ...
Nope.
As they finished dessert ...
Nadda.
When he was getting ready to leave ... Nyet.
Standing at the door about to give Molly a goodnight kiss Mycroft found, even though she hadn't shared THE news, he couldn't bear the thought of leaving Molly tonight.
"I know I never stay over on a weeknight but perhaps I should this evening." He slipped his arms gently around Molly and looked down into her upturned face expecting to see joy at this unexpected offer.
Instead Molly frowned at him
"No way!" She scolded. "You have the fishing rights conference tomorrow which means you will be up all night plotting and scheming. Tomorrow I have a full schedule and for some reason I am just exhausted. As soon as you leave I'm crawling into bed."
Molly raised up on her tip-toes and gave Mycroft a decent kiss that was going nowhere.
"Out you go! Call me tomorrow and let me know how the conference went. Night sweetie."
A nanosecond later Mycroft found himself in the hall outside Molly's flat staring at the door that had just closed in his face.
//
At just gone 3pm Mycroft was slumped in his chair with a hand over his closed eyes. He heard a gentle rap on the door followed by Anthea's footsteps and the chink of a China tea cup being placed on his desk.
"I know you don't secure the fishing rights in the Aegean for 15 years but 12 isn't so bad." Peeking from between his fingers he saw a forced smile on Anthea's face.
"I have your favourite biscuits." From behind her back Anthea produced a small China plates holding three biscuits.
Taking his hand away front his face and opening his eyes Mycroft let out a deep sigh.
"A whole sleeve of dark chocolate hobnobs couldn't fix this."
Anthea slightly swayed and looked a bit frightened. "Oh?"
"So. What do you think it means when my girlfriend is pregnant but doesn't tell me?"
Completely caught off guard by Mycroft's frank confession about his personal life, Anthea slowly lowered herself into one of the chairs facing Mycroft's desk. "I think you had better start at the beginning."
After recounting the previous evenings events silence filled Mycroft's office as the pair contemplated a possible explanation.
A sickening thought slithered into Mycroft's head causing him to go pale and feel nauscious.
"You don't think she is planning on--"
Anthea's expression cycled from confused to shock to horror.
"Oh! Sir-- ah-- it's Molly so I highly doubt she would--"
"But she knows I have no interest in children."
Anthea nodded then responded gently, "She is a doctor. Perhaps she doesn't want to tell you because it is already obvious things are not progressing--"
"Then she needs my support even more urgently. Increase her servalence. If she so much as walks past a doctors office I wish to be informed."
"She works in a hospital."
Mycroft rubbed his face with both hands as he muttered an expletive under his breath.
A soft ping came from Anthea's phone. Reading the notification all the colour drained from her face.
"Sir, Molly has just sent through a schedule update-- she seems to be going away this weekend."
"Clear my schedule Anthea. She is not leaving town without me," responded Mycroft defiantly.