So here's the final chapter as promised. Sorry for the delay. I got stuck because no matter what lines I put in Sherlock's mouth, he seemed OOC. Finally I bit the bullet and just wrote an ending. I hope you like it. All rights to Sir ACD, Moffat and Gattis.

Please read and review :)

The walk to the coffee shop had calmed them down. John had kept up a constant stream of chatter and kept Molly engaged. While she and John were talking about Rosie, Sherlock just took Molly in. She hadn't changed that much. As he looked at her, all the things he was beginning to forget came rushing back – her smile, her voice, her sense of humor, even the way she moved. Because that's what missing a person means – until you see the person again you can't tell what you're actually missing. When you finally see them, you're struck by the hundred different things that are peculiar to them and there's a pleasant thrill in discovering them again. Sherlock was basking in that familiarity again. Too soon, they had arrived at the coffee shop and before Sherlock and John could say anything, Molly said,

"Alright, you guys find us some seats. I'll go get our orders. Same as usual, yeah?"

After asking them what they wanted, she stood in the long queue while Sherlock and John went to look for an empty table.

Sherlock and John found a table and sat down. Sherlock craned his neck to see how far ahead Molly had gone in the queue. When he finally looked back at John, he saw that John was giving him the 'spill the beans' smirk.

"What're you smirking about John?"

"A hug and a twirl? When did you become such a fountain of affection?"

"I…don't know."

"What?!"

"I wasn't thinking. I saw her and was almost sure it was her. So I went and tapped her shoulder. She turned around and jumped at me. It all happened too fast. I realized what happened only after her feet hit the ground."

"It was involuntary?"

"Yes, I didn't think it was possible", Sherlock said with a slightly dazed expression.

"I really did not know that she was coming."

"I know. I think she caught on."

"Caught on about what?"

"About my outburst. Her visits became less and less frequent haven't they? Have you told her?"

"I didn't! I never –"

"Well, she's always been very insightful so I'm not surprised."

John just rolled his eyes in response. He was still figuring a way out to take himself out of the scene, when Molly came with the coffee and took her place at the table.

"So…Molly. Tell us about Edinburgh."

"Oh nothing to say, to be honest. I'm getting a lot of free time and using it for extra-curricular activities."

"Interesting. What're you doing then, in your free time?"

"I explore. I sort of pick a place and visit it and then stroll about the neighborhood when I'm done."

"You must've covered the whole city by now!" replied John in amazement.

"Not really. I keep coming back to London."

"Why?" Molly jumped a bit. That was the first time Sherlock had spoken to her after the HUG (hug in caps was how she thought of it for the rest of her life).

Sherlock was curious if she would tell him the truth about the visits she has been paying to Rosie and the others. He acknowledged to himself that he was being cruel but the sting from Molly's exclusion hadn't completely worn off.

Molly colored up slightly but she didn't turn away from him.

"It was for Rosie the first few times but afterwards…to cover the sights."

"Sights?"

"It's a historic city Sherlock! I never had the time to experience it properly when I was here. I was always thinking, 'where does this road lead to' or 'what does this shop sell' or 'I wonder what this place is'. So I'm ticking all those questions off my list."

"You have turned in to quite the explorer then" said Sherlock with a polite smile and proceeded to drink his coffee.

John released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. That went well. He was always a savage idiot. He was thinking how he could leave Molly and Sherlock alone with each other without it being seem contrived, when his clinic came to his rescue. His phone rang – it was his nurse calling.

"James? What is it? Everything alright?"

"Yes . Mr. Norbert's here. He says it's urgent. He's quite worked up and is insisting that he must see you."

"Oh. Yeah. I'll be right there. Give me half an hour."

John thanked his stars and got up from the table. He was about to make his excuses when Molly asked him,

"Is everything alright?"

"I don't know. The nurse called about a patient of mine. He is a hypochondriac and it could be nothing but he did have a cardiac episode about a month ago, so it's best if I go and check up on him."

"It's peak traffic time. You'll never get there in half an hour", said Sherlock.

"Well, I'll have to find a way."

Molly suddenly sat up as if she got an idea. She took her keys out and held them out to John, "You could take my bike. The traffic will be easier to navigate."

John took the keys with a look of curiosity. "I thought you took your bike to Edinburgh", he said.

"I did. I, um - I drove here."

Normally, John wouldn't have left without getting the whole story out of Molly but he really was worried about Mr. Norbert and left thinking It's a story for another day.

But Sherlock was sitting right there and directed his curious gaze towards Molly. "You drove your bike all the way from Edinburgh to London? Never took you for the adventurous type."

"Never underestimate a bored woman" mumbled Molly, fiddling with the lid of her coffee cup.

For a while both of them sat there, uncomfortably sipping their coffee, when Molly thought of something to ask Sherlock. It was an innocent question. She was rather surprised that Sherlock hadn't noticed her London trips. She had no intention of interrogating Sherlock. But the effect of her question on Sherlock was rather alarming.

"You really didn't know about my London visits?"

Sherlock froze like a deer caught in head lights. He wasn't expecting that question. He hesitated only for a moment, but Molly pounced on him.

"You did! You knew and you still asked!" she said with a surprised smile on her face.

"I did not! Why would I ask if I knew?!" said Sherlock using his patented 'Don't-be-stupid' expression.

"Hmm. Right. My mistake" but the triumphant expression on Molly's face said something else.

Sherlock started to say something but stopped when he saw Molly's expression. I never could fool you. He slouched in defeat. With an embarrassed smile, he said, "I understand why you did it, but it still stung."

Molly's expression softened. Guilt crept in.

"I'm sorry if I seemed cruel. I never meant to hurt you. I didn't think you would care."

"Why would you think that?" he seemed genuinely curious to know the answer.

"I…don't know. I just..."She left her sentence hanging and began staring at the cup, as if deep in thought. Sherlock looked around and saw that the other customers were giving them angry looks.

"Molly, we better get out before they kick us out. We're hogging the table."

Molly looked up as if waking up from a dream. She just nodded, stood up and collected her bag. Sherlock stood up too and both of them walked out of the restaurant. They stood on the pavement for a while.

"So where are you headed to from here?"

"I meant to drive around and then head to Meena's for dinner but…"

"You have no bike now and Meena won't be home yet."

"Yeah."

"You could come to Baker Street. Mrs. Hudson would love it."

"You don't mind?"

"Nope."

"Okay." She moved as if to call for a cab but Sherlock said, "The weather's pleasant. We could walk."

Molly was slightly taken aback but she quickly recovered.

"Alright then."

They silently walked along for a while when Sherlock started talking again.

"You never answered my question."

Molly thought for so long that Sherlock almost gave up on waiting for an answer. But she finally spoke up.

"I don't know why I thought you didn't care Sherlock. Maybe I wanted to justify what I did to myself. Maybe I was scared to face you again – I don't know. I'm sorry. I really am."

Sherlock wasn't expecting an apology from Molly. He only asked Molly why she thought he didn't care because he was afraid that he had been his characteristic brusque self with her and offended her. He didn't want Molly to be in any doubt that he respected her. So when Molly responded the way she did, he didn't know what to say. He just shrugged with a smile on his face and said, "That's okay Molly" and continued to walk.

The silence started to get uncomfortable, so he started talking again.

"So, long distance bike driving."

Molly just giggled and replied.

"I've always wanted to do that. Never did because I didn't have a place to drive to. I mean, I could've driven to some or the place from London, but where would I stay? But now, I can drive here, stay at Meena's or John's and drive back again. It was too crazy not to try!" she said looking up at Sherlock.

"Liked it?"

"Loved it! I've discovered this new wanderlust in myself. I've heard of 'pathologists without borders'. It's still on the back burner but I mean to try it sometime in the future."

"A globetrotting pathologist – doesn't sound bad."

"It doesn't, does it?" she said with a skip in her step. Her enthusiasm was infectious and he couldn't help but smile at her.

"Mum will be mad though."

"She doesn't like travelling?"

"Oh she doesn't mind the travelling, she'd rather I travel with a husband."

"Boring."

"Oh! Sorry for rambling on. Do you have a case then?"

Sherlock turned to Molly with a puzzled expression and then it hit home for him – Molly thought he called her rambling boring.

"Sorry! I meant your mother's idea of travelling with a husband – that sounded boring."

"Oh, okay. Yeah, it does sound boring doesn't it?"

"You like travelling alone then?"

"Well, no. Having a companion will be a huge difference. I get rather jumpy when I travel alone. Always keeping a look out."

"So why do you do it then, travel alone?"

"I don't have another choice now, do I? Making friends just so you could have someone to travel with doesn't feel right – the process should be more natural. And staying put, till you've found a friend feels ridiculous. So I thought, what the heck, let's travel. What will happen, will happen", she finished shrugging her shoulders.

Both of them walked silently for a while. Molly was taking in the sights and Sherlock was deep in thought. They were five minutes away from Baker Street when he spoke up again,

"We could travel together. My cases take me to a lot of new places."

Molly didn't know how to respond. Is he serious? He can't be serious. He's just being polite. Just making conversation, that's it. Don't lose it Molly! You made it this far without making a fool of yourself. Keep it cool. Don't say anything. We'll move on to another topic.

"You don't like the idea."

"What?"

"You don't like the idea I suggested."

"Are you serious?"

"Why not? You like travelling, you're a pathologist, you'd make a perfect partner. John wouldn't mind too. I'm getting the idea that he's only helping me because he can't say no. But he's being dragged in several directions and it's wearing him down."

They had stopped walking by now. Sherlock was standing with his hands in his Belstaff pockets and was looking at Molly and Molly was looking at him with an expression that was fast approaching sheer panic. She almost caved in, she almost reverted to her previous stuttery self. But she looked away for a moment took a deep breath and said,

"Sweet of you to offer but no."

"Oh."

Molly expected Sherlock to shrug it off. But she felt a surge of anxiety when she saw the expression on Sherlock's face. It was disappointment mixed with something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. It was almost the same expression he had when Molly delivered John's 'message' to him after what happened to Mary. She felt like a traitor, denying him company after everything he's been through. Molly, don't say anything. Don't say anything. Don't read too much in to stuff, let it go. But look at him you idiot! He looks like a kicked puppy. NO, AARGH, What the heck – here it goes! And she blurted out everything that was running in the background of her brain ever since she hugged Sherlock that day, "I'm sorry –"

"Molly it's okay –"

"No, please, I need to say this. Let me finish! I don't think I can get over you, ever! I mean, for the past few months I hadn't even thought about you but the moment I saw you, I just lost control! I know how pathetic I sound right now Sherlock but I've tried to forget you. Short of hypnotism, I've tried every trick in the book. I can't do it! So, the only way I'll stay sane is if I stay away from you. I'm tired Sherlock. I'm tired of expecting things from you, things you can't give. I'm sorry. But we'll always want different things from each other. I can only be your friend by staying away from you. It's the only healthy option."

Sherlock was speechless. He watched her as she stood before him, slightly trembling after her declaration. Her head was bent so he couldn't see her eyes but he could tell that she was fighting hard to keep her tears from flowing. Look at her…She laid everything bare, with no hope of getting what she really wants. And here you are, always hiding. After all she's been through, doesn't she at least deserve the truth?

Before he could start speaking, Molly started walking away. He gently caught hold of her wrist and stopped her. He steeled himself and when she turned and looked at him with a rather watery puzzled expression, he started speaking, "Maybe we don't want entirely different things from each other."

"What?" Hope rose in her heart like a traitor, but she tried to quash it down.

"I never said anything because I thought you deserved more than a 'maybe' after all you've been through."

"Sherlock, I don't understand –"

"I don't know when it started. I started enjoying your company. I began to look forward to our meetings in the lab or our conversations whenever I used your flat as a bolt hole. You have no idea how much I missed you Molly!"

She just offered him a watery smile. It's time to be crude. Rip off the band aid. You'll be happy later.

"I'm not exactly thinking about conversations when I imagine a relationship with you Sherlock. Do you get what I'm saying or should I spell it out for you?"

Sherlock gave her a twisted smile and said, "Why would you think a man entirely uninterested in sex would talk about another person's lips or breasts? Do you really think I'm asexual?"

"No, but I didn't think I had a chance when you rejected Irene Adler!"

"Molly, she's a criminal and I'm a consulting detective – we never had a chance! Besides being impressed and being attracted are two very different things!"

Molly stared at the pavement for a little while. She knew what she wanted to say. She tried out a few phrases before finally landing on what she thought was right. She looked up at him cautiously and said, "Are you telling me that you find me attractive and that we have a chance?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me that all these days?! Why didn't you tell me when I was leaving London? I told you two weeks before the actual date Sherlock!"

"Because I was scared that I wouldn't be able to give you what you wanted!"

"What did you think I wanted?!"

"A husband, children, a proper family! What if I couldn't give them to you and we ended up angry and bitter, never able to look each other in the eye?!"

By this point, both of them were shouting. Molly, because she was confused and thought Sherlock was just saying stuff to reduce her embarrassment and Sherlock, because he found it damned difficult to articulate everything he was feeling.

"Have you even met me?! I cut up dead bodies for a living and helped fake a death! Sure, I want a family but I'm open mined! If only you'd have asked –"

"How could I?! I come back from being dead and there are you are, engaged to a half-wit!"

"Tom was not a half-wit!"

"Molly he said 'MEAT DAGGER'!"

"God! So what! I broke that engagement! That can't be an excuse!"

"Why not! I see the woman I'm attracted to, engaged to a man with a painfully inferior intellect! What other conclusions could I draw?! It was obvious that you were desperate to get hitched! So even after you broke up, I kept out of your way!

"You idiot! I was not – But I – you have no- aargh!" she just punched him in the shoulder with frustration and started walking furiously away.

"Yes that's right! Walk away! And they call me emotionally immature!" he yelled at her, rubbing his shoulder.

They continued that way for a few seconds, her walking ahead furiously and him sullenly following a few steps behind. Thinking he was farther back than he actually was, she turned around suddenly and walked straight in to him. He caught her by the shoulders and steadied her. Her expression was still furious but she looked up at him and said, "Fine! I'm not engaged now. I still like you and you apparently find me attractive, so what do you suggest we do?"

Sherlock lost his sullen expression and became slightly wary. He put his hands in his pockets and cleared his throat before he said,

"Date?"

"A family is completely off the table?"

"At this point I honestly don't know. I only know that if I never ask you out, I'll regret it."

To Molly, that seemed fair. Besides, the man she loves has finally shown an interest in her and her joy was showing on her face. So Sherlock took a calculated risk and took her hands in his.

"What do you say then?"

"Dating sounds fine."

Both of them broke out in to massive stupid smiles. He steadied his nerves and as he drew near to kiss her, he got a text alert. He hesitated but Molly said, "Go ahead, it could be John."

Sherlock took his mobile out and saw that it was indeed John.

"Master stroke, getting Molly to give me her keys! Peak traffic my foot!"

Sherlock pocketed his phone with an impish smile and Molly noticed.

"What is it? What's the smile for?"

"You're smiling too"

"But you know why I'm smiling."

"Yeah I do."

And before she could ask anything more, he put his hand on her cheek and drew near to kiss her and she let him. The text alert can wait! I've been waiting for this for five years!

The End