Chapter 11

"Anderson swears he saw them together. Having a snog," Greg Lestrade said, ordering another beer.

"Huh. News to me. Although…" John pondered into his half-full pint. "Back at Sherrinford, I've never seen him lose control like he did when he destroyed that coffin intended for Molly. And before that, when she made him say 'I love you' first, well, either he's a damned good liar, which, of course he is, but... there was something, I thought. Anderson might just have it right."

"I just hope Molly knows what she's in for," Greg said.

"Molly does a good job seeing through his bullshit. I don't think we'll have anything to worry about her. It's him I worry about. He's actually very emotional."

"And there's lover boy, now. Let's see if he brings it up," Greg grinned.

Sherlock frowned the moment he sat down and glanced at them both. "Well, by the looks of you two gits, I assume the gossip mill has already worked its way back to you that Molly and I are in a relationship."

"You're right, of course. And how is the end to your self-imposed celibacy treating you?" John asked.

"Very pleasant. Not as distracting as I expected. In fact, it may actually be helping me focus. I stayed at Molly's last night, she went to work this morning, I composed an entire concerto, got bored, then fortunately found a case and already solved it."

"You did?" Greg said, shocked.

"Yes, one of your cold cases, Greg. I think you'll be very interested. Results on your desk. However, I'm afraid I can't stay and chat about it, I am meeting Molly at the lab for some follow-up experiments and dinner. Oh, speaking of which, Molly wants to have a dinner party soon at her flat, just fair warning, she'll make a big deal of it. Rosie's welcome too, of course," Sherlock nodded, then headed out the door.

"He's… very… normal," Greg said, surprised. "As in, not normal for him, but normal for a human being. A human being in a relationship."

"It's good for him. Helps his social skills to practice so much," John smiled. "Mary would be thrilled. She always thought he'd wake up one day and realize he'd never do better than Molly Hooper. She was just hoping it happened before Molly woke up and realized she could do better than Sherlock Holmes."

"I think he's finally made himself the man Molly deserves. A good man."

"Cheers to that, mate."