This takes place sometime after Series three. There are spoilers. I am a little nervous: this is my first Sherlock fic. I of course don't own anything. All mistakes are my own. I wanted to post this quickly before I lost my nerve. Sorry if characters are a little OOC.

His violin screeched as he huffed in frustration. Sherlock had been playing his violin for hours. His mission in Europe had been dangerous (they all were when Mycroft was involved.) The elder Holmes had deduced that the mission would take 6 months – he wasn't wrong. By the time Sherlock's feet hit British soil his name had been cleared. Mycroft didn't tell him how and Sherlock didn't ask.

Placing his violin down he grabbed his phone and paused for a second before typing his message.

Come to Baker Street S H

Throwing his phone on the sofa he went to the kitchen to drink the tea that Mrs Hudson had no doubt left. Cup in hand he went and sat down in his chair. He would never readily admit that he missed everyone while he'd been away. John was a give in; they are best friends. What shocked him was how much he missed Molly.

He realised that his feelings for Molly were changing when he had a rather steamy dream about her that he literally could not erase. Sherlock shook his head. "No it was before that; when she slapped me." Wrong! A voice in his head that sounded like John shouted.

Regardless of when it was it shook Sherlock to his very core. During his time away he thought of John and Molly. The two people who mattered most: his best friend and his -

Sherlock frowned. "Friend?" He shook his head – that wasn't enough. "Pathologist?" He tried again. "Molly… my Molly." He whispered, for the first time in too long a genuine smile fell on his lips.

Yes his Molly. He'd always been able to rely on her even after he had been so horrible to her.

He wasn't a robot. He was very aware that a lot of what he said could be hurtful. People always tried to portray themselves in the best light and the fact that Sherlock could see right through that and pointed out their flaws not good.

Sherlock's musings were interrupted by a tentative knock at the door.

"Hello Molly" he greeted as he opened the door.

"Hi Sherlock how are you?" She asked as she walked into the flat.

"I apologise Molly."

"For what" she frowned "what have you done?"

"For not saying goodbye."

Molly shook her head "S'alright."

"It's not." Shutting his eyes he recalled the advice that John had given him. Just be honest Sherlock and not a git. "'I wanted to say goodbye to you but Mycroft."

"Sherlock it's okay. I got your texts."

He smiled "Tea?"

Molly headed to the kitchen to make it but a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"I'll make it."

Big brown eyes blinked up at him "Oh-um okay." Scanning the room her eyes fell on John's chair, he didn't live here anymore but Mary refused to have the chair in their marital home. Sitting in the chair she wriggled until she was comfy. She hummed happily when Sherlock returned with her tea. Taking it with both hands she whispered her thanks.

The consulting detective sat opposite her, holding his cup in one hand while the fingers on the other drummed on the arm of the chair.

"Thank you for inviting me over Sherlock."

"It's no problem."

Molly hummed "Sherlock why did you invite me over?"

"Well I, you see it was, I thought that." He frowned in frustration. "I wanted to see you outside of the work environment."

"Okay?"

Sherlock sighed; she still didn't get it. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes to clear his mind. Opening them he stared straight into Molly's eyes. "Ever since Jim from I.T"

He noted how she flinched. "I have found myself concerned for your safety." He opened his mouth but no more words came. 'Molly?"

"Yes."

"When I found out about Tom I tried to be happy for you but I found it impossible." He drummed his fingers on his knee "and then meeting him, seeing how he was"

"A poor man's Sherlock?" Molly provided.

Sherlock smiled. She had noticed.

"That's when I knew."

"Knew what?"

"That despite everything that screams at me to keep you at arm's length to keep you safe. I can't, I won't anymore."

"Sh-Sherlock what are you saying?"

"Molly Hooper let me be very clear." He took a deep breath to steel himself. "I care about you Molly. Not the same way I care for the others. I don't know how you've done it Molly but you've made me care for you in a way I never thought I would." Reaching forward he took her hand. "Molly you are my voice of reason and I want to be with you." Internally he cringed at the words but John said she'd like those words.

Molly was in shock "Be with me?"

Sherlock nodded once.

She stared at him.

"I-I don't understand."

"Yes you do."

Molly closed her eyes "please Sherlock." Her voice was quiet and pleading. "Just say it, I need you to say it."

"Molly."

At the sound of her name from his lips she looked at him "will you be my" he paused "girlfriend?" Oh how he hated that word.

Her eyes grew wide and silence fell over 221B Baker Street.

This can't be good Sherlock internally ascertained.

Molly took a deep breath and a look of pure determination was on her face. "If you can promise me that this isn't one of your experiments or manipulations."

"It's not."

"Then I will" she smiled broadly "yes of course Sherlock."

"Yes?"

Molly nodded vehemently.

With a conviction that only Sherlock Holmes could possess he stood and brought her with him. "Slowly, so slowly Molly Hooper you snuck your way into my mind." He stepped closer to her "I found myself thinking about you more and more. Wondering if you were okay, if you were thinking about me."

"I probably was" she confessed light heartedly.

"The way I treated you was."

"It doesn't matter anymore."

Sherlock nodded.

"I don't expect you to change. I know that you won't be the doting boyfriend."

Sherlock tilted his head "I was with Janine."

"Well yes, but that wasn't real."

"I suppose not."

"And I know you won't get me flowers just because you can. But I won't be ignored either Sherlock. So I have a proposition."

"Go on"

Molly smiled he was intrigued.

"Once a week we go on a date."

"I only get to see you once a week?"

Molly chuckled as she shook her head "No. Well maybe if you are on a case. No once a week we go on a date and do coupley stuff."

Sherlock raised an eyebrow asking his question silently.

"Like dinner, the movies or dancing."

"I could play the violin for you." He suggested liking the idea.

Molly grabbed his hand and squeezed it "'I would love that."

Something about the look on Sherlock's face was different to Molly and she couldn't quite figure out what it was.

"Will you still assist me at Barts?"

Molly frowned "Of course, but don't expect special treatment because there has been a change in our relationship."

"Molly Hooper I already get special treatment."

She couldn't help but giggle. "I suppose that's true."

Sherlock rolled his eyes "No suppose Molly it's fact."

"Sh-Sherlock?" Molly quietly stuttered.

"Yes?"

"Would it be okay – could I"

"Could you?"

"Could I kiss you?" Molly blurted out.

Sherlock blinked at her "No."

Molly dropped her head. "Oh."

Standing up Sherlock pulled on Molly's hands forcing her to stand, her eyes still trailed downwards.

"Molly." He said her name so sweetly that she couldn't help but look up at him. She noted the small smile on his lips.

Reaching his hand forward he cupped her cheek "I said no because I want to be the one to kiss you."

Before Molly could reply soft lips pressed against her own. Humming happily Molly pressed herself closer to him. Sherlock smiled – he was kissing his pathologist, his Molly. His hand moved to her waist and pulled her closer. Feeling hands in his hair Sherlock tightened his grip on her waist.

"Sherlock" Molly whimpered.

His eyes flew open. Breaking the kiss he looked down at her "Did I" he cleared his throat "Did I hurt you?"

Reaching up on tip toes Molly kissed him fiercely. Sherlock stumbled slightly at the force Molly used to kiss him. He managed to right himself and return the kiss with equal enthusiasm. Eventually Sherlock's need for air out weighed his need to kiss Molly. As Sherlock pulled back he opened his eyes and noted that he was panting; to his satisfaction so was Molly. A huge smile graced her face and Sherlock concluded that he wanted to see her just like this as often as possible.

Slowly her eyes opened and locked on his "Hmmmm I could get used to that." She laughed not really believing what was happening.

"I love your laugh" he confessed before snapping his mouth shut and shaking his head.

Molly placed her hands on his chest "I love your smile."

Sherlock smiled at her confession.

"And your eyes." Molly continued.

Molly closed her eyes when she felt Sherlock's lips on her temple. With his fingers interlocked with Molly's Sherlock lead them to the sofa and gestured for her to take a seat. Once she made herself comfortable Sherlock sat down too – leaving a gap between them. Blinking Molly looked at Sherlock, down at the space between them and then back to Sherlock. "Why are you all the way over there?" Smirking Sherlock shuffled closer.

"Better?" He questioned his thigh touching hers.

"Much" Molly giggled. "You do know that John will never let us hear the end of this right?"

Sherlock nodded "he's going to be insufferable."

"He is" she smiled widely "Will it" Molly swallowed "will it be worth it?"

Sherlock frowned "of course it will. You're worth it Molly. Your worth jumping off a building for."

"Please don't say that. It was bad enough watching it happen." Taking a deep breath she tried to calm herself.

"It's okay Molly, I am very much alive" he wrapped his hands around hers "because of you. I couldn't have done all of this without you Molly Hooper."

Shrugging Molly looked down at their intertwined hands "it was nothing."

"No" placing his free hand under her chin he lifted her face until she was looking at him. "It wasn't nothing. It was amazing. You are amazing and sweet and intoxicating." Every word was punctuated with a kiss to her lips."

Sighing happily she laid her head on his shoulder. Life with Sherlock Holmes wasn't going to be easy but Molly was willing to take the risk. No pain, no gain right?