Hello there! Thanks for the follows and nice reviews on this somewhat silly little fic. I really appreciate it and I hope you enjoy this third and final part.

I also have a slightly unrelated note to include. This is an answer to the kind and faithful guest reader called "Dr Molly Holmes."- First of all, I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to be able to at least say thank you for all the super nice reviews you've left on my fics. Seriously, some of the stuff you've said has put a huge happy writer smile on my face! In answer to your specific question this time around, no I'm not a published author. The only things I've ever shared publicly are my fan fiction that's online. I have written some short original fiction as well, but it's just for fun and not the kind of stuff I'd ever try to publish. Honestly, I don't think I'm interested in ever publishing. I'm actually a bit lazy lol, and I know how much work and time goes into that sort of thing. I think writing works better for me as a hobby since it takes the business and red tape out of it…and leaves just the fun stuff hehe! This is a great way for me to get my writing and sharing fix, but not have to worry about much else. But thanks a million for even asking me that question! That's pretty flattering! ;D Oh and one more thing. I don't wanna tell you what to do but…make an account! Seriously, it's worth it and makes using the site much easier and more convenient. Ok, done being bossy now lol! XD Thanks again! ;)

"Thank you for covering for me, Mary," Molly said as she took the coffee from her friend's hand.

"I don't mind at all. And besides, it's no lie…we really are spending time together!"

Molly pursed her lips and then smiled. "Yes, it just happened to be while I'm on shift at the hospital."

"On break though!" Mary clarified, pointing to their coffee cups. "Thankfully, the days of 'observation' on the job are helping improve your memory." The blonde grinned wider and leaned in. "But since this is a break, I'm sure you can guess what I'd like to hear about."

Molly grinned while biting her lip.

Mary's mouth formed a silent little "ah" as she observed the woman sitting across from her. "I see things are going well the past few days then. Judging from your expression, I'm not entirely sure you've gotten Sherlock any closer to telling the truth…but it seems you've gotten closer." One brow shot up.

Molly got a little red in the face as she took a sip of her coffee. "Well I did what I told you I would, about having him share some of our history with me. I told him I hate that I don't remember our first date and first kiss and when he asked me to move in…all of that. I could see if in his face when I asked him to help me remember those things that he looked a bit afraid. But then he straightened up and looked almost defiant as he promised me that he'd make sure I relive the memories just as they happened."

Mary saw the little glimmer in Molly's eyes and she cracked a smile. "He's trying to wear you down too, you know; play on your emotions. And I'd venture to say he's doing a good job of it so far! What's he doing then? Sweeping you off your feet?"

"In a way, I suppose." Molly got a little more serious. "It's our memories…real memories. But it's as if he's rewritten them a bit. Nothing big and flashy. It's just…like he's going back and changing the ending to where we never hid from our feelings. It means so much more knowing that's how he wishes things would have gone." She stopped and looked quizzically at Mary. "Can he really have felt this way for so long?"

Mary was a little touched by Molly's wonder. She shouldn't be shocked by Sherlock's love for her, but she still was. Loss had been deeply engrained in this sweet woman, so she was easily awed when happiness was handed to her.

"Of course he has, Molly. I think I'd start to doubt his brilliance if he hadn't fallen for you long ago!" She leaned forward, perching her chin on her hand. "Now, tell me about how he supposedly asked you out! What was his story?"

"He said I asked him out…which I did years ago! But the way he told it, he said yes. And we had coffee together, walking out in the little garden outside Bart's. He held my hand while we walked." Molly stopped and actually stared down at her slender fingers, seeming to relive the memory. "He said it was such a relief when he finally got to hold my hand back then."

She sighed contentedly and then went on. "He talked more about that day we solved crimes too. Said we'd started dating but he was being a bit of a rubbish boyfriend. He said he barely knew what to say and do…but that was the first time he kissed me." Molly's face turned a little pink again. "He took me to those flats we'd gone to on that actual day. He even repeated some of the same conversation from that day…thanking me and telling me that I mattered the most. And he told me I deserved to be happy…and that he wanted to make me happy."

"He really did kiss you, didn't he?" Mary asked with obvious excitement.

Molly nodded. "He did." She paused and let out a happy little groan, which made Mary giggle. "He really did, Mary!"

"And even after all of that, neither of you broke down and admitted anything?" Mary shook her head. "You're both mad, I hope you know."

Molly shrugged. "I'm still hoping he might speak up soon…he might surprise me."

"I'm hoping you both surprise me!" Mary said with a wink as she got up from the table with her now empty coffee cup. "Look, I've got to run and get back home so John can get to his practice this afternoon. Thanks for the chat though! I was in agonizing suspense!"

"I'll have to get back in touch soon. Tomorrow, Sherlock is supposed to be telling me all about when I helped him fake his suicide. I dunno…I'm a bit nervous." She grimaced and then took the last gulp of her coffee.

"Well is was a rather poignant moment for both of you, I'm sure," Mary admitted. "But just try to relax and remember what you both feel, despite all of these ridiculous games."

Molly smiled and nodded. "I will, thanks."

Mary left the hospital that day hoping that both Molly and Sherlock would truly do just that. Focus on their love…and just let the rest go.

Mary was more than a bit frustrated when she heard the insistent knocking on their door that next afternoon. She had only just gotten Elizabeth down for her nap, so both she and John practically leapt across the room to answer the door as quickly as possible. Mary was a bit faster though, so she was the one who received their unexpected guest. And she was a little surprised to see that it was a slightly distraught Molly Hooper standing on their stoop, wringing her hands nervously.

"I'm such an idiot!" Molly said instantly, as if this were the proper way to introduce your presence.

"Well…why don't you come in and tell me why you think so," Mary suggested with a smile, though she didn't need a full three guesses to immediately figure out what Molly was referring to.

"John, Molly's here for a bit. She just needs to talk," Mary announced as she returned to the sitting room with the frustrated pathologist.

"Should I um…" John questioned, laying his paper down and looking ready to take his leave. He didn't really get a chance though, seeing as Molly dove right in.

"I can't believe I just panicked and ran away!"

"Molly, slow down, love," Mary said gently. "Sit down and start from the beginning, alright?"

Molly fell heavily onto the couch, heaving a sigh before starting again.

"Sherlock did what I said he was going to. He walked me through what happened on that night before his fake suicide when he came to me for help. He told me all of it again, how he said I'd always counted and he'd always trusted me, but that he wasn't ok and that he thought he was going to die."

"Is that how it happened?" John asked, leaning forward in his chair and suddenly riveted, never having been given all the exact details of what went into that well-orchestrated deception.

"Well yes, because earlier that day I had mentioned as an aside that I didn't count. That's why he brought it up when he came to me that night," Molly explained to John, but then returned to the details of today. "So then he told me how I asked him what he needed and he even clarified his request, asking if I'd still want to help him if he wasn't everything that I thought he was and he thought he was. And then he said I asked him again." Molly's voice broke a little and she looked down at her lap. "He asked me to say it right then…to ask him what he needed."

"And did you?" Mary asked, now just as riveted as her husband.

Molly nodded and finally raised her eyes to look at them again. "And he looked really deep into my eyes, just like that night, and gave me that same answer…you."

John pinched the bridge of his nose and broke out in sudden laughter. "Sorry, he really said that back then? You asked him what he needed, and his answer was you?"

Both women gave him a flat stare, clearly indicating that his getting off topic wasn't appreciated.

"Right, sorry, it's just...never mind." John cleared his throat and controlled his laughter a bit. "Go on, Molly."

Molly shook her head slowly and seemed to have difficulty speaking again, prompting Mary to go sit by her and gently rub her back. She finally turned and looked at Mary with teary eyes.

"He told me he loves me," she said very softly.

Mary made a little click with her tongue and gave Molly a smile. "Well that's wonderful, isn't it?"

"It wasn't, because I ruined it!" Molly said vehemently. "He touched my cheek after saying 'you,' and he looked so sad and I could just tell he wished things were just back to normal. And then he said, 'Molly, I'll always need you. Not for you to help me with anything or give me anything…just you. Because I love you. I hope you know how desperately I love you and that I never want us to ever lose each other again.' So there I was, staring up at him and feeling ready to burst into tears. I could have just said I loved him too, but I didn't want to because it would all be wrapped up in the lie and it would be like it's not the real me saying it. And I also didn't want to completely ruin the moment by suddenly diving into a confession of how my memory had actually come back. Of course, it didn't matter, because I did ruin the moment anyway! I didn't know what to say, so I just…" She sighed, looking annoyed with herself. "I said I was really sorry but I absolutely had to go…and feed Toby."

Mary involuntarily snorted out a little laugh, but then covered her mouth. "Sorry! Sorry, I know it's not funny."

Molly groaned while letting her head fall into her hands. "Now I've got to fix it! I've got to figure out what to say and how to make things better. No more games, no more lies, and I don't care about who confesses first! I just want to be me again and be able to say and do whatever I want. We just need to be the real Sherlock and Molly!" Her head shot up again and she looked desperately at Mary. "Can you help me think of what to say?"

Mary smiled and squeezed Molly's hand. "Of course! But I don't think you have anything to worry about. You've both dug yourselves into quite a hole, but that doesn't mean you can't get out. I feel sure that Sherlock is just as eager to get things back to normal as you are."

"I agree," John added. "And besides, he's the one that should be coming up with the perfect words. He's the idiot who started this whole mess! I wouldn't worry about exactly how to tell him."

It was funny how the timing worked out, because that was when they all noticed the sound of the Watson's door unlocking and opening. And before any of them could react, they heard Sherlock's low booming voice as he waltzed in toward the sitting room, clearly having used his "emergency" key to let himself in.

"John! John, I'm an idiot! Help me fix it! I need to fix-" Sherlock halted mid-sentence as he stepped into the doorway and saw the three faces staring back at him. "Ah…hello."

Mary looked back and forth between Sherlock and Molly and knew that all the walls had crumbled down in an instant. There was no questions now…everything was about to come pouring out.

Mary lifted her hand to her ear and looked toward the hallway. "John, was that…yes, I think I might have just heard Elizabeth. You'd better come give me a hand."

"Yep, I think you're right," he agreed instantly, jumping up from his chair and following Mary out of the room.

What none of them seemed to notice was how Mary quickly switched on the spare baby monitor in the sitting room and swiped the main audio and video base to take along with them. They rushed up the stairs to their bedroom and John almost melted into hysterics when he saw his wife setting up the monitor and switching on the picture and sound.

"You are a horrible person, you know that?" John wheezed out through his laughter.

"Yes, I know, and you chose me…haven't we been over this?" She grinned and then shushed him as she turned the sound up on the monitor. They sat together on their bed, watching the tiny screen with rapt attention…

"Molly, I-"

"Sherlock-

The two of them fell silent after the awkward simultaneous attempt.

"Are you ok?" Sherlock asked. "I mean physically. You've spoken to the doctor?"

"I have," she said in a small voice. "Last week when you were in the waiting room, I told him everything and he thinks I'm going to be just fine. No permanent damage."

"Good."

Another moment of awkward silence passed between them, and Mary and John gave each other a nervous look.

"Molly, I think it's time I explain myself," Sherlock finally said. "I apologize that I lied to you, and I realize I shouldn't have. But my intent was to prove what I could be and what we could be together. I hope that you can at least understand that and perhaps appreciate the sentiment behind my unorthodox plan."

Molly shook her head. "Sherlock, you've never needed to prove anything to me. I've always seen what we could be together. I've never needed any convincing. What made you think I did?"

Sherlock hesitated, pressing his lips together before actually speaking. "You almost married a man…a perfectly average, predictable, and good man. He was nothing like me, not really. Once I saw that, I began to doubt if you truly still believed we could be happy together. I wanted to show you that we could be."

"I know we could be happy!" Molly responded instantly. "You didn't need to stage anything for me to believe that. And I don't have to have average or predictable, and I didn't in fact marry him. But what I need…what we both need…is honesty. And I think we've both fallen a bit short in that area recently." She looked a bit guilty herself. "I shouldn't have tried to manipulate you any more than you should have me. I should have just told you the truth and put a stop to it all when my memories returned several days ago, and I'm truly sorry. Things got a bit out of hand and then it seemed harder and harder to confess."

"I hold nothing against you," Sherlock countered. "I could have put a stop to it as well. Besides, I admit to being a bit impressed at the lengths you were willing to go in order to push me into a confession."

Molly laughed a little and blushed, putting them both just a bit more at ease.

John turned to Mary. "Of course Sherlock would find this sort of thing a bit endearing!"

After a moment, Sherlock spoke again, but the corners of his mouth were a bit downturned. "I suppose you'll be needing to return to your flat."

"Yes, Sherlock, I will," Molly confirmed.

He nodded silently, taking a moment to fight fidgeting in place in the middle of the Watson's sitting room before straightening up and placing his hands behind his back, facing her again with a piercing gaze. "And now…what do you want us to be?"

They could hear Molly emit a little sigh before she answered in a somewhat tired voice. "Sherlock, you know what I want us to be. But that doesn't mean it should happen instantly. Relationships develop gradually, with care and attention to detail." She gave him a sweet little smile of understanding. "Like an experiment."

"Like an experiment," he repeated softly, more to himself, obviously picking the deeper meaning apart and filing it away in the appropriate places in his mind.

Mary grinned at John. "Absolutely made for each other."

Molly took a step towards him. "You wouldn't skip any important steps in an experiment. So don't do that with me. Just start from the beginning and be patient."

"From the beginning? Meaning…" Sherlock narrowed his eyes for a moment. "Asking you out?"

Molly grinned, looking like she might be getting emotional. "That's a magnificent start," she whispered.

An almost mischievous smile suddenly began to blossom on Sherlock's lips, and he leaned in a little closer to Molly as he answered softly. "Well then, perhaps I'll do that…someday soon."

"Ah," Molly responded, smiling back playfully. "Now you're going to make me wait, are you?"

"Well, I wouldn't want to risk skipping a vital step. Perhaps I need time to plan so I can employ the element of surprise!"

"Sherlock, if you jump out of a freezer at Bart's, I swear to God!" Molly began giggling uncontrollably.

Mary and John both had to clasp a hand over their mouths to ensure that cackling couldn't be heard down the stairs.

"You have to admit it would be memorable!" Sherlock countered, but then he looked at her more seriously. "I suppose that's my only real hope…that it'll be something you'll remember…for a very very long time."

Sherlock and Molly both held each other fast with an unbreakable gaze from where they stood a few feet apart. Sherlock almost took a half step forward, but then hesitated, sucking in a breath and clasping his hands back behind his back and stepping away.

"Well, I suppose I should return to Baker Street and begin orchestrating the move back to your flat…Toby will be pleased."

"Sherlock!" Molly said, stopping his retreat. "I just, um…I know we're starting slowly but…" She licked her lips and seemed a little embarrassed.

Sherlock breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh thank God we seem to be thinking the same thing!" With that he crossed the space between them and instantly wrapped her tightly in his arms. But just before he lowered his lips to meet Molly's, he turned to look directly at the monitor on the table and he smiled, making John and Mary's eyes widen.

"John, Mary," he said to the camera, which then prompted Molly to look just as shocked as the Watsons. "You should be free to come back downstairs in, mm…about two minutes. And, John, you especially may also want to avert your eyes seeing as I'm about to thoroughly snog my future girlfriend. We both know you don't handle those things well."

As Sherlock's lips collided with Molly and the two of them became lost in a haze of arms and coats and rumpled hair, the Watsons shut off the screen as they tried to control their hysterics.

"Good God, he's right!" John said, giggling and covering his face. "I really still can't deal with that yet!"

Mary sighed and set the monitor down. "Well, thank goodness it finally all worked out. And I'm glad we could offer them our sitting room for the location of their little domestic. Seems fitting to return the favor, don't you think?" She winked at John. "Although, I think theirs may have ended just a bit more affectionately than ours did at Baker Street. I'm a little jealous!" she said teasingly.

John grinned as he tugged Mary into an embrace. "Get over here, Mrs. Watson!" They both collapsed together on the bed amidst very happy laughter. "We have a minute and thirty seconds left before we go downstairs…I'll show you affectionate!"

Thanks for reading, guys! I enjoyed doing something a little different for a while. Even if it was a bit like pulling teeth at times lol! Thanks again to Lexie, my esteemed editor. And I'll see you readers next time...whenever that may be. ;)