"Sherlock, why is there a lily on the table?" Molly asks as she walks through the door.

She looks tired. There are bags under her light brown eyes. There's a light hint of lipstick on her lips but normally she doesn't bother.

"Where's John, and Mrs Hudson? Rosie isn't here either," she says sniffing at the lily.

"They aren't here, Molly, I sent them away," I say to her.

"Why, Sherlock," she asks, looking at the lily, smelling it, absent minded.

"You know why," I say to her.

This time she looks up at me. Her eyes are glinting dangerously.

"Don't make fun of me, Sherlock," she says, "We promised never to bring up that call."

"And I want to be able to sleep again, Molly Hooper," I say to her, "Every mind needs to refuel, even mine. I nearly let a murderer off today. I've not been myself since the Eurus incident."

"Because of Redbeard, not because of the call. Are you still dreaming of dying?"

I nod my head.

"Why should I be Victor Trevor in my dreams. I saved him already, in a way. By saving John, I saved Redbeard. My best friend. The dreams aren't about him."

"So what then Sherlock. You saved me as well. You are not having dreams about coffins with three words on them as well are you," she grins and flicks a wisp of hair back.

This is the confirmation I need.

"I am the one drowning, Molly, in emotions I can't pretend to understand. Since the phone call, I haven't been the same. I have butterflies in my stomach," I chuckle, "Me, Sherlock Holmes. Butterflies! I can't eat, I can't sleep and I can't stop thinking of how I nearly lost you. I would have said anything that night to keep you alive. John Watson is my strength, Molly, my conscience even, but you have always been my heart."

It's like time has stopped. She looks like she's holding her breath.

"When I needed to disappear after the rooftop battle with Moriarty, you alone knew my secret. You alone held my life in your hands. You alone knew where I was, not Mycroft, not John Watson. You."

"Because of my job. You needed the lab, not me, Sherlock," she whispers. I can see that she's trembling.

We are standing on opposite sides of the room. I take my first step towards her.

"Irene Adler, The Woman, intrigued my body in ways I only understood scientifically. I destroyed and then saved her, Molly. I cared about what happened to her but I never risked my own life for her as I would for you, Mycroft, Mrs Hudson, Rosie or John Watson. Irene was lust," I say taking another step, "Mystique, biology. But you Molly. You are different."

"Please, Sherlock, don't," she whispers as a tear slides out of her eye.

"You who I have hurt on many occasions and humiliated. You who have never left despite my cruelty. I'm not going to pretend to understand everything about what's going on with me. I had shut down my emotion when Redbeard died. Too many things came gushing back when I found out the truth. There was healing that came with Eurus, devastation was wrought by the East Winds but healing was left in its wake, for my parents, for Mycroft and for me."

I'm one step away from her.

She looks up at me, she's really shivering now. She can barely hold on to the lily. There are more tears now.

"I've faked love before Molly Hooper. To catch a criminal, Sherlock Holmes will become whatever he needs to be, will do whatever it takes. But there is no criminal to catch this time, just a wrong to right."

I reach for her face and then smother her with my arms. She holds on to me with a grip that belies her small frame. She pulls away from the hug but doesn't leave my arms.

"You aren't the only one who meant those words on the phone. I'm frightened of where this will lead or what happens next but not enough to not want to find out. If you will give me a chance and time, Molly. A lot of time. I would like to be more than just your friend," I say.

Her eyes are beautiful. They sparkle when she smiles.

"Say it again, Sherlock. Like you mean it," she whispers.

"The time for words is finished after this," I say to her, "I love you Molly Hooper."

I lean in, with my stomach doing back flips and my head swimming. I bring my lips gently to hers. I have solved my second case of the day. I know what was wrong with me and I never want it to stop.