(no subject)

[theonewhocounted]

She thought it would be hard to get Sherlock to agree to take a holiday together. He didn't seem to be much for vacations. But it had turned out to be a surprisingly easy sell. All she had to do was mention that it would mean missing Christmas dinner at his parent's cottage and he started searching for flights and hotels immediately. She could have pointed out that it was likely his parents would just invite them another time, but that seemed neither here nor there. They were going to take a holiday and she was exceedingly pleased.

The morning of their flight, Molly was giving Mrs. Hudson directions on caring for Toby while they were away. Sherlock was buzzing around, not at all hiding his impatience to just be off already - especially when Molly preceded to then say her goodbyes to the cat.

"Now you be good," she said to the feline. "Mummy will be back before you know it."

She could hear Sherlock's impatient eye roll from across the room as she kissed the top of Toby's head and then straightened up before grabbing her coat.

"All right. I'm ready now. Let's call the cab."

Comments

[theonewhocounted]

As soon as he said the direct they'd be going, she thought she knew.

"Oh! How exciting!" she said, eyes lighting up. "How did you know I've always wanted to go there?"

Which was sort of a silly question to ask Sherlock Bloody Holmes. Of course he knew. And of course he had a former client who worked there too.

[punchmeitssubtext]

That startled, happy look on her face engraved itself into his mind, to be tucked away in the ever-expanding wing of his mind palace dedicated to Molly Hooper; it cut through the evening chill.

"Aside from all the bookmarked articles on your laptop giving you away?" he teased, nudging her gently with his shoulder. "It seemed appropriate, seeing as we're already in Italy."

He was still a touch too awkward with his emotions to know how to admit that he wanted to be there for the first time she saw the city, that he wanted to watch her discover things she'd only seen in photographs.

[theonewhocounted]

Molly huffed out a laugh.

"That obvious, huh?" she asked. She'd forgotten that phase she went through of reading all those articles on the place. What other bookmarks had she forgotten about? Well, too late to worry about that now. Anything incriminating he's already seen. She did have a whole bookmarked folder full of wedding dresses and flowers and other wedding planning things from when she was engaged to Tom. She would have liked to see Sherlock's face at finding that.

"Well, for once I'm glad to be so transparent."

She smiled and leaned up to give him a quick kiss in thanks.

"And I'm lucky to have someone who cares enough to seek out my interests and make them happen."

[punchmeitssubtext]

The compliment brought his steps to a slow halt, as did the kiss--and he found himself reaching up to curl his hand around her shoulder, holding her gently in place so he could have a good long look at her.

For nearly forty years of his life he had lived life from the awkward vantage point of seeing everything but never being fully understood himself. Trauma had made him grow armor as broken skin grows scar tissue; he had learned to expect that most people would misinterpret him even if he was sincere with them. Day by day with Molly he had learned what it was like to be seen clearly, to trust that the vulnerable and damaged and ragged bits of himself were safe with another human being, to be told that, yes, he was capable of making someone happy.

And in a calm clear wave, like a reflected image appearing as ripples settled, he realized what the point was of church and a party.

He leaned down to kiss her again--slower, this time, lingering as the right words strung themselves slowly together in his mind.

"It's my pleasure, Molly," he murmured, as they parted. "I hope you know that."

Sorry for the delay! I was on holiday myself. :)

[theonewhocounted]

Molly looked up at him, a bit of a question in her eyes when he proceeded to stop and observe her for a moment. But his expression was soft and pleased, so whatever he was seeing in her must be something good.

Just when she was about to fill the awkward silence with something, he was leaning down to kiss her again. It was a kiss that made her toes curl in her shoes and a warmth to bloom in her chest. She often forgot that expressing these kinds of emotions was new to Sherlock. She did not think her comment was any big declaration or would effect him as such. It was simply just the truth. But comments like this always seem to surprise Sherlock. They seem to mean so very much to him and he was just so appreciative of every word. It only solidified her theory that part of the reason why Sherlock turned his emotions off a long time ago was because he felt too much.

"I do," she said as she looked up at him with an adoring smile. And she hoped he knew he deserved every word of gratitude she could give to him. "And I'm so glad to be here with you. I hope you know that."

Welcome back! :D Hope you had a great time!

[punchmeitssubtext]

His smile was slightly helpless, a rare secret softness filling the little space between them. To anyone simply walking by, he must look like nothing more than a happy bloke with his girlfriend--but Molly, close as she was, would be able to see that this was a moment with genuine meaning to him. And he knew, he knew she could always see past his masks somehow to the parts of him that mattered but that he'd never known how to deal with, and not for the first time he was grateful to be seen.

"I do." He stole another, briefer kiss from her smiling mouth. "If you haven't changed your mind about pre-dinner gelato, we can grab some before we head back."

I did! It was so nice.

[theonewhocounted]

Moments like this with Sherlock sometimes threw her off guard because they would arise almost out of the blue. One comment or note of thanks and suddenly there was a true warmth and gratitude around him centered in her direction and it could be overwhelming - to be so cherished by this man. If anyone were looking at them right now, they would probably see a woman stupid in love with her boyfriend, realizing that the feeling was entirely mutual.

"i never change my mind about gelato," she said with a smile. "I'm sure you have a specific place in mind?"