Lo Stesso Tempo (Sherlolly)

Chapter Seventeen

Past

"It's just my parents."

"You can talk! You haven't seen them in over a year! They've been worried sick about you, I'm sure." Molly stowed a little red dress away, smiling to herself as she thought of what Sherlock might think. They were going to stay at his parent's house for Christmas. It would be Molly's first Christmas without her dad and Sherlock's first time seeing his family after so long. Things might get a little awkward.

"It'll be fine."

"Your brother will be there, won't he?"

"Of course." Sherlock leaned against the doorjamb to her room and smiled to himself, watching her try to hide a dress. It was red and no doubt strapless. She wanted to surprise him. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, kissed the back of her neck. "There's no need to be nervous. You'll love them." He kissed up her neck and gently nipped her ear. "They're quite normal unfortunately."

She gave a breathless giggle. Sherlock turned her slowly and pressed her mouth open with his. Her hands slid over his shoulders and into his hair, holding him there as she pressed herself against him. He pulled away.

"Perhaps we shouldn't do that there... I'd rather not get the talk from Mycroft. Or worse, Mummy." He shuddered and Molly giggled. She went back to packing.

**

"Sherlock!" Violet Holmes ran down the steps of her ivy framed red stucco house and bounded into her son's arms. He smiled slightly and hugged her, letting her squeeze his cheeks and pat his chest. She muttered about how worried they had been and how she hoped he was getting help. Molly was relieved that she didn't reprimand him. What he needed now was support.

Violet Holmes was only in her early forties and still sporting wavy brown hair and shining grey eyes. Said eyes widened as they caught sight of Molly hovering nervously to the side. "Hello! Violet Holmes." She hugged Molly lightly and kissed her cheeks.

Molly smiled sheepishly. "Molly Hooper. I'm Sherlock's um..."

"Girlfriend. From uni." Sherlock explained. Molly went to stand beside him and he took her hand. Violet's surprised expression turned to one of glee. She waved them inside.

"Siger! Sherl's home! And he's brought a girl with him, isn't that wonderful?"

Molly blushed and shook Siger Holmes' hand. She looked between father and son as they greeted each other. Sherlock quite obviously took after his father. The same height and squinty eyes, thin build. Siger poured Sherlock a scotch and patted his back, taking him into the sitting room. Molly was about to follow when another man came from upstairs. He stopped and looked her over curiously. Evidently approving of what he found, he held a hand out to her.

"Mycroft Holmes. Pleased to meet you."

"Molly Hooper." She smiled shyly and shook his hand.

"Ah! Mycroft... How's the diet?" Sherlock stepped into the hallway and smiled coldly. Mycroft narrowed his blue eyes at his brother and opened his mouth to say something. Sherlock shoved a glass in his hand and walked away. "Glad to hear it." He grabbed their bags and motioned for Molly to follow him upstairs. He gestured to a room just to their left as they got to the top. "That one's mine. And Mummy says you're welcome to stay here." He opened a faded white door to reveal a neutral and sparse cream painted room with brown furnishings. Sherlock looked at her questioningly. "If you want your own room."

She blushed and took her bag from him. "I don't think it would be very good to share a room in your parents' home."

His brows fell and he gave her an exasperated sidelong look. "Really, Molly, you act as though they'll be yelling at us for being together with the door closed."