Natalie

Jim

"Molly, would you like another cookie?" I asked from my little desk and stool as she preformed an autopsy. She often got peckish around noon. She stuck her head out toward me, mouth open, ready for another cookie. I fed it to her as she worked. I craned my neck to watch. Single gunshot wound, right through the heart. Efficient. "This man was killed by an expert. He was executed from...." I sit up a little more to see better. "200 feet?" I look to her and she nods, grinning, eating her cookie. "But in London? Must have been from a rooftop or tall building. Can I triangulate it this time?" I asked smiling as wide and cute as I could, granted it had no effect on Molly, but still.

She looked around, checking to see if we were alone. We were of course, as usual. "Oh, go ahead. But have a cover in case we get guests. You're the smartest eight-year-old I've ever met."

She smiled knowingly as I spun around to face her, tears beginning to well in my eyes. "Y-you rem-membered-d?" I stuttered, my voice shaking. I got up and hugged her tight around the waist, starting to cry. "No one's ever remembered!" I wailed as she pulled off her gloves and squatted to hold me.

"Can't say that any more." She said softly, her arms wrapped tightly around me. We sat like this for seventeen minutes. Finally I had managed to stop sobbing and I looked up at her.

"M-Molly?"

"Yes, Natty?"

"Will you be my big sister?" I asked, gulping. "Cause you're really nice. And you remember stuff like my birthday and you give my hugs and you help me when I'm hurt and and and I love you, Molly." I stammered, looking up at her soft brown eyes. The color of melted chocolate.

She hugged me again, and she began to tear up a little. "Natalie, it would be my absolute honor to be your big sister."

"Yay!" I smiled, hugging her neck tighter. "Thanks, Molly."

"You're very very welcome, Natty. Now," she said, leaning back again. "It's time for lunch." She grinned mischievously, putting away the body.

"Lunch!" I said, gathering my stuff up and meeting her at the door. We walked out as Jim the IT guy, as I called him, came down and looked rather nervous.

"Oh! Uh, hi, Molly!" He chuckled, one hand in his pocket the other rubbing the back of his neck.

Molly smiled, biting the corner of her lip just a little. She wrung her hands together. "Oh, Hello Jim!" She said timidly.

"So, I, um, I was just wondering..." He began. It was quite clear what was going on. Obviously they liked each other. We could sit here for ages before they would be able to talk to each other properly. It was up to me.

"Jim, would you like to go to lunch with me and Molly?" I said, grinning with every ounce of adorable I could pull together. "Wouldn't it be soooo much fun, Molly? We could all eat cupcakes!" I put my hand up so I was talking to Jim. As if Molly couldn't hear through a hand, it was absurd. "Today's my birthday." I whispered discretely.

"Yes Natalie, that sounds nice. Jim, if you'd like to...?" She said turning her attention away from me again.

He smiled. He has a really nice smile, I noted. "I would love to. And Happy Birthday, Natalie."

"Thank you, Jim." I smiled and took Molly's hand, leading them both away.

"To lunch!" I giggled.