The Woman Who Counted (A Sherlolly Tale)

Chapter 40

            "Have you finished it yet?"

            "Yes. It and the third book." Sherlock and Molly sat on the sofa together.

            Molly smiled. "I'm surprised that you actually continued to reading the series," she said, "I'm surprised that you even listened to me read the first book to you."

            "Well," Sherlock said, "Moriarty and Moran, along with the others reviving the network, have been awfully quiet. They are giving us nothing, and as much as I've searched, I can't find anything to help us progress. Mycroft nor the Woman have given us enough information to have ideas on where Moriarty and Moran's current whereabouts are. As much as it kills me to say it, I have nothing."

            "We're just going to sit and wait, then?" John, who had been sitting in his chair, said, his brows furrowed, his head leaning against his fist.

            "Yes," Sherlock said, his hands steepling in front of his lips.

            "That's alright for you, though, isn't it?" Molly said, looking to Mary, who sat in Sherlock's chair. He had been kind enough to allow her to sit in it due to her back pains. "With the baby almost here, John doesn't really need to be running about and getting into trouble."

            Mary lay a hand on her enlarged stomach, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "She should be here soon."

            Molly smiled. "When is your due date?"

            "In two days," John said, smiling as well.

            "Have you picked a name yet?" Molly asked.

            "We've got a few in mind," John told her, he and Mary looking at each other with a smile.

            Sherlock looked up. "Are you sure that Sherlock isn't an option?"

            John and Mary laughed.

            Molly giggled. "What?"

            "Sherlock would be a perfect name for her," he continued, "and I'm sure she would like it when she gets older. It's unique."

            "How many times must I tell you, Sherlock?" John said, "We are not naming our daughter after you."

            "Sherlock is a girl's name."

            "It is not!"

            "It's a unisex name!"

            This time, Molly was the one to speak, jabbing Sherlock in the side with her elbow and giggling as she did so. "Sherlock, shut up." She grabbed his hand, which was rubbing the spot that she jabbed him at, his brows furrowed at her actions. He accepted her hand, and she leaned her head against his shoulder, and he leaned his head onto hers.

            "There aren't enough people in the world named Sherlock for anyone to know if it's gender specific."

            "Yeah," Mary said, a smile still adorning her face, her cheeks pink from laughing, "but there is you."

            Sherlock sighed. "For all they know, my mother fancied having a girl instead of me."

            John checked his watch. "Oh, Mary, we've got to go." He stood and walked over to where Mary sat, holding a hand out to her. She grabbed it and he helped her up.