I don't own these characters, especially Sherlock or Khan or...well...all I know is the actor who plays them is fantastic and hot, do I really need to know any thing else?

A lovely heartfelt goes out to my wonderful, amazing friend lilsherlockian1975, she looked this over, helped beta and seems excited about it. She is truly wonderful and she has made this so much better and the words flow easier...any mistakes found are still mine and if I missed something that she had lovely pointed out...'my bad' I do love her. Thanks sweetie for putting up with me and thanks for helping with the title...I'd wink at you but fear you'd think I had something in my eye...

Never fear I am still working on my other stories...Honest.

If people like this I might one day play with a dragon shape-shifting world for Sherlock and Molly...We will see. Until then hopefully you will enjoy...

Warning: I'm hoping there will be smut in this story. (Crosses fingers) But first the history of this type of shape-shifting dragons….

~*~Sweet Dragon's Fire~*~

~*~Part 1~*~

'That is your man, I fancy…'

The Red Circle by Arthur Conan Doyle

My house is lonely.

Lion's Mane by Arthur Conan Doyle

~*~A Moment in Molly's Past…~*~

~*~or…rather…~*~

~*~Molly's Log~*~

All Molly had done was ask what she had thought to be a simple question…

She wasn't sure the response she had gotten, held the answer…but she had listened closely just in case she had missed something.

"Oh, my little dear, life will constantly enjoy screwing with you and all you can really do is accept it." Myke told the fourteen year old before him. Humans would call her young and dragons…well, yes, they too would call her young. Very young, both as a human and a dragon…A shape-shifting dragon. The world thought they were nothing more than fantasy…but in honesty…they were real. In no way were they pure imagination. They could accept life and adventure on other planets but dragons…No. Never.

Dragons had done such a great job at hiding…and sometimes in plain sight…living beside 'normal' humans while they could shift into large dragons and could easily destroy cities…

Molly didn't ever want to destroy cities but she would have enjoyed it if humans didn't treat her like a freak…if they knew she was a dragon…they would probably think her even more of a freak, just more of a dangerous one.

The older red-haired gentleman Myke was also a dragon. He was attempting to share his wisdom with her and answer any questions she might have seeing that this was now her new home.

Seeing how she had lost her father a few years ago to some type of alien disease while attempting to write an article about flowers on some far away planet…and now, much more recently…she had lost her mother.

She was alone…

"For if you don't accept the fact that life likes to screw with you…a mob might come after you with pitchforks just so you can get the blasted point!" Andre added he too was a shape-shifter. He was Myke's life mate. He was taller than his husband and darker…He was a handsome man, even with the brutal and cruel scars that covered his face and hands. Molly suspected there were more scars that were hidden beneath the layers of clothing he wore.

Myke turned slightly in his chair to smile a little at his beloved. He actually looked as if Andre had said the cutest thing ever.

"Pitchforks? You have just revealed how ancient you are…Humans here on earth has always had a hard time with the unexplained or those they consider different. Some try to be accepting and learn but for us dragons…" Myke sighed. "It was easier and better for us and our ancestors to hide. To become things of pure fantasy and myths…"

"Otherwise some stupid villagers gather together and think it's 'brave' of them to go fight a dragon with a sharp sword and other pointy items…Some of them silver…pure bloody silver…they chain him up and torture him, while they drink and laugh…" Andre growled, smoke appeared from his nose as a bright flame danced in his dark eyes. Smoke… Flame…He looked dangerous…furious…and he was still in his human form.

Molly briefly wondered just how magnificently scary Andre would look in his dragon shape…He must be breathtakingly beautiful and even more dangerously scary…

Myke sighed before he explained, "My life mate has issues…One being that he's over a thousand years old so one would think he'd have gotten over some nasty things that have occurred in his past…Obviously, that hasn't happened."

"Shut up! I rescued that little girl and brought her back to the village. All safe and sound and what happens? They…They…" Andre looked even more upset and suddenly fire shot out…

Molly screamed and jumped…Moved as if she was going to run…Sadly, her own fire shot out uncontrollably…

Myke calmly got up and doused what had once been an antique chair that Molly had set on fire with a bucket of water that had been close at hand. Because of her there was always a bucket or a fire extinguisher somewhere…always near.

Shame filled her heart.

Andre's fire had been more controlled and had filled a single space of air. Never once touching or even singeing an item that might have been close by. That ball of fire had simply disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

Myke handed…okay, it was more like he shoved the, now empty, bucket at Andre with a look of strong reproach. He seemed to be blaming his life mate and not his new adopted daughter…Molly felt that she should be the one he was angry at. She was the one who had a serious problem with her fire. Surprises and certain strong emotions made her an accidental arsonist.

"Fill it, bring it back and seeing how you wish to play with your fire when you know better…you can go off and play with your fire by making us dinner. There is a nice pig out there somewhere on this farm…Go find it and cook it…NOW."

Myke might be a foot shorter than his husband and not as muscled but Andre looked downright shamed face…almost like a little boy who had been caught doing wrong. "Sorry," he muttered turning away.

Myke suddenly reached out with lightening speed and stopped his husband with a hand upon his shoulder. He leaned towards him to whisper, "I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to talk about what happened to you, but right now…We have a hurting girl to be here for and protect and care for. I will be here for both of you but…she's hurting and perhaps scared and I don't know what I'm doing. She saw her mother violently murdered. You experienced something painful and so did she but please…let's deal with one thing at a time. Together. Through our life mate link you know my love for you. You feel it and know the truth of it. We will talk about it later if you like. Privately and you can share with me. I'll listen, but right now…You know I hate multitasking….Multitasking has a habit of bending me over and screwing with me."

Andre turned his head and brushed his lips briefly against Myke's before he stated in a low, soft voice, "Tell Multitasking that I'm the only one to do that. Neither of you would like seeing me jealous."

Then he was gone and Myke stared after him for a long moment before he seemed to remember that he had been talking to his new adopted daughter. Myke cleared his throat nervously and turning back to face while rubbing his hands together.

Molly sat back down and waited all the while fidgeting. She honestly thought it charming that he could blush after living for so many centuries. Speaking of which…

Molly tilted her head and asked softly, "You and Andre are really old. Ancient, really…a-and I'm not saying that to be rude o-or to be offensive…or anything…but I thought we could only reach five hundred or maybe eight hundred if we are lucky."

Fire, yes, could warm and not quite burn but never seriously harm them. Disease never seemed to touch them. A detached head or a hand pulling out the heart could do a dragon in quite easily. Knives could cut but they could heal pretty quickly. Swords could hurt…Silver could burn and scar their skin. Gold, however, could heal and bring an odd calm and cooling peace. It was as if it didn't just touch their bodies it seemed to touch their very soul.

In fact, Molly wore a single gold chain around her neck that her father had given her before he went away for a supposed 'short' trip that had him never coming back. The feel of the pure gold chain felt wonderful upon her skin. Almost as if a small reminder that her father had loved her. He didn't care that her fire could hurt or even harm him…She had been his little girl and he accepted her…Had accepted her…Loved her…

Myke moved to set down beside her. "Well, we dragons do have a normally long life even without the help of cryotubes which I'm sure some of us dragons would use to keep too much boredom at bay on perhaps long trips in space…If we don't get run through with lots of silver or shot multiple times with countless silver bullets…or even blown up…We dragons are a pretty sturdy bunch. Enormously and ridiculously strong. We are healthy creatures, who can live longer with life mates."

Myke pointed towards his pale throat right along the left side there laid a small mark. Almost like a strawberry colored hickie and almost perfect shape of a small heart. Andre had the same matching one on his neck. The exact same mark.

He continued, "However, should my husband die I will follow him in death and the same thing would happen for him if I should go."

Molly leaned close to look at the mark with awe. She had noticed it on both men earlier but hadn't known what it was…What it meant. Togetherness. Love. Trust. It was something beautiful…They were life mates. Always together, in life and in death.

Molly found herself touching her own neck wondering if such a thing could…or would ever happen to her.

"My parents never had such marks…" Molly whispered before she realized that had been a stupid thing to say…For her mother hadn't died the moment her father had…So of course they hadn't been life mates.

Myke didn't seem to mind her stupidity as he sighed sadly. "They wouldn't for your father was human. Only two dragons can become life mates. The dragon inside us…chooses and decides with whom to mate with. They can see what we can't. They look inside the heart of other dragons and judge them. Some dragons are off and twisted while others are honorable and good, fierce warriors. Your dragon will look and know…sometimes at first sight and sometimes they will be careful and wait…but once they decide…They both decide and when they do there is no changing it. They become one. Mated for life. Two dragons talk, heart to heart…Sometimes the human side has no say, and the dragon will protect us and wants us happy so it's not like they will send us into a harmful relationship…you know, if our dragon's aren't sick and twisted. Yours isn't by the way. My dragon has already told me that…Just like your dragon has talked to you about me…"

Molly closed her eyes. That was the truth… 'He has a good heart. He means well…His dragon likes to gossip and he'd talk a dragon's ears off…and he's nervous. Never been a guardian to a young girl…anyone actually…But he wants to try and he longs to be good at it.'

"Good dragons…" Myke was still talking, "follow their hearts. They have to. They can't help it."

"Oh…" Molly whispered. Her hand falling away from her throat feeling slightly heart broken.

There weren't a lot of dragons anymore at least here on Earth. Less than ten and she was the last of the female dragons…who just so happened couldn't control her fire. So...yeah…and she knew dragons had a hard time breeding. It could take hundreds of years for just one child to be born. A treasure…That was what her mother called her.

Her mother had attempted countless times over the years. Once with a fellow dragon and later with some human males, yet nothing. Molly had been told that even male dragons had problems, it wasn't only the females. They couldn't seem to get a human female pregnant. Which was odd seeing female dragons could be pregnant by human males…All she knew was that dragons…the ones they thought were 'normal' and good valued and cherished their young, mostly because it was indeed a miracle for a young child to live and exist in their world.

And Molly, well she had been her mother's only child she had been blessed with in all her three hundred and fifty-eight years…Her mom would say that to her with wonder in her voice, when it had been late at night and she had been tucking her in…Sometimes Molly would fall asleep while her mother sat and studied her with a smile upon her face, especially after Molly would tell her that she loved her…Odd, some of the things she would suddenly remember in her grief. She had also been her father's only child and she had known that he loved her too…Never once caring that she could accidentally hurt him…

"Is one of the problems I have with controlling my fire…um, is it because…" Molly hesitated. She didn't want to blame her beloved daddy, no but she wanted to understand her problem and hope that one day…soon…She'd be able to control it. So she could live in the human world and not been seen as some type of crazy arsonist. She may only be fourteen but it didn't mean that she wanted to blame anyone, especially her father…yet wasn't knowledge power? Perhaps if she understood why than maybe just maybe…she could control her fire…Oh, how she dreamed and longed for that!

Oh, how she needed to control her fire…simply had to…She had a curious nature and wanted to know if the fact that her father had been a sweet and normal human was what made her being a shape-shifting dragon…more…well…interesting? More of a challenge?

Myke shook his head. "Oh, my dear, no…All dragons once started off as human. In the beginning…that was what we all were…simply human. Many had brilliant minds but were still human. The fact that you have a hard time controlling your fire has nothing to do with your human side…or the fact that your father was human. To be honest, you are not the only dragon in our long history to have bad control over their fire. Some great London fires of the past were done by dragons that had no control. Once there was a dragon named Nero that was just filled with great joy that he hadn't accidentally destroyed his favorite violin…The city of Rome? Oh, I don't think he felt bad about that but there have been some that have felt bad, yet have they been blamed? No, for the world thinks we are pure fantasy! Good for us…it sometimes gives us a good giggle for there was one great fire in the United States that was blamed on a cow, but really it was a dragon!"

Molly blinked completely fascinated. "Really? I never knew…Well, to be honest I don't know much about our history…Mummy never really talked about it much…She would just tell me about having to be careful for there are still some that would like to experiment on us or turn us into their own personal weapon…and because of my issue of not controlling my fire is the main reason I am homeschooled. I can't even stay around others my age for long because…something awful could happen."

Myke gave her a sad look and she could tell he understood…and she knew her education would continue here…with her laptop and alone…pretending that she was still a part of the human race.

"Your mother probably thought she had plenty of time to share the history of us dragons…for let's be honest…we dragons normally have lots of time." Myke stated softly.

Molly closed her eyes as grief overwhelmed her. Remembering even now the great horror of seeing her mother fight that much larger dragon. Hearing her mother's awful scream mixed with her dragon's roar. Her mother's last flame as it filled the night's dark sky…The horrible blood…there had been so much blood as the sharp talons of the large male dragon sliced her open…Ripping her apart…Killing her.

Myke touched Molly's arm carefully, making her jump and gasp at the unexpected move while she had been lost in a dreadful memory.

"You are smoking," he warned her softly, tenderly. He didn't bother to mention the silent tears now raining down her face that she quickly wiped away with the back of her hand. His eyes didn't miss it, they were much too sharp and too sympathetic…it made her wish to run and hide…but with her luck her hiding place would end up on fire.

Molly took a couple of deep breaths hoping to gain control of her emotions before she set fire to more furniture.

Her new caregiver hesitantly reached out to softly pat her shoulder as if completely uncertain how she would accept such an act…or if it was even the right sort of action needed in this situation…

Well…Molly accepted it, she knew he meant well. What she didn't accept was the sudden desire to throw her arms around the man and sob like a baby. She felt certain if she did that it would be too awkward for him…and afterwards for her as well.

Myke removed his hand to rest them together in his lap. The silence lasted so long that she simply concentrated on her breathing…Breathing in her own smoke…Calming herself.

Myke decided to fill the long silence with his words. "Our ancestors were experimented on while they had been human. "

She gave him a look and he took it to mean he could continue, "They had been experimented on by a group of crazy scientist who were given money by rich men who wanted more power. They wanted to create the ultimate super weapon. They felt it couldn't be a sword or the normal weapons of the day…It had to be a warrior. Stronger. Faster. A weapon that could destroy kingdoms and replace it with a kingdom of their own…and protect it. They didn't want to just rule like kings…they wanted to be gods. Long life…endless power. The scientists did horrible things…just horrible. They had countless failures and to be honest most of what they did was completely unnecessary torture. Personally, I think those scientists were simply being sadistic assholes and got off on what they were doing…"

Myke seemed to be studying his hands for a moment before glanced her way. "In the end…those so called scientists did end up creating a powerful and deadly weapon. They created a race of people that could turn into dragons and fly and destroy with their fire…They made a race of people determined to be free and not be owned as someone's personal weapon or army. Our ancestors refused to have someone other than ourselves controlling us. We wanted to live our own lives as we deemed fit. We didn't ask to become half dragon and half human, but we were and we would find away to survive."

Myke sighed, his eyes had a faraway look about them as he continued, "None of us are perfect, Molly. Some of us are good, we try to live our lives with honor and goodness…While some…are twisted and bad…something is wrong with them…Take Danfee for example, the dragon that tried to force you into becoming his bride and murdered your mother…"

He shook his head in disbelief, still seeming to be stunned by what had happened. "That was wrong on so many levels, Molly…and I'm glad in the end he didn't get his hands on you…"

"You and Andre…" Molly whispered. "Thank you for rescuing me."

Myke nodded as he whispered back thinking about a dear friend of his…taken by such a violent death. "I just wish we had gotten there sooner."

"So do I." Molly admitted even more softly. She wasn't angry about them not getting there in time to save her mother…she was just…sad…regretful…heartbroken.

They both shared a sad almost lost look. Myke's gray eyes were quite moist.

He cleared his throat and looked away as he said, "My dragon accepts you as family. I want you to know that. It sees you as part of my clan…always…hopefully your dragon accepts this as well…if not, it's alright…Did you know there use to be hundreds of dragon clans? Our kind use to fill the skies…Moonlight or even sunlight would dance upon our wings…Then…One day, we dragons had our own war. Brutal…ugly…and stupid. There were clans that thought the world should know about us…know our power…that humans should worship and fear us. Have humans follow our orders much like the scientists and power hungry men that had once created us with that same goal in mind…Sometimes there is nothing new under the sun…Some dragon clans simply wanted to live out their lives protecting their own and perhaps even the weak humans…Protect humanity. Protect cities and towns…Keep humans safe."

Myke took a deep breath and looked at her. "Then there was another larger clan that sometimes accepted humans but felt they could be dangerous. Too dangerous, too willing to betray them…for riches or even promised power. They would not fight for them nor would they ever enslave them but they would kill if they messed with their own kind…especially their clan. They simply wanted to live their life not by human rules but by what their Alpha dragon deemed to be right and honorable."

"Alpha dragon?" Molly quickly asked. She had never heard of an Alpha dragon…Okay, to be honest a lot of what she was hearing now was all new to her.

Myke smiled. "Yes, an Alpha dragon…Oh, all the legends say they are the meanest and most dominate and most scary of our kind. They use to be able to walk into a room and with a single look take control of it. Everyone did what an Alpha said. A good Alpha were the most protective of what they considered to be theirs…they would die for their people…Live and protect them with a passion that could be scary and possessive! If they were lucky enough to be blessed with an life mate, oh, man they cherish them but if another tried to touch their mate they would become feral in their rage. For no one messes with their treasure and they would want their mate to have no doubt at all who they belonged to…their life mate was indeed their greatest treasure. Now you know how dragons have fire? Well the Alpha is mostly pure ice. You never really see their fire but you can feel it. In their dragon shape they are blue and red…Mostly blue…for if you think about it, the hottest part of the flame is the blue. It's said they were the hottest and the coldest of our kind. Everyone, dragon or pure human knew upon meeting them that it would be unwise to fu—um, mess with them."

He looked into Molly's wide eyes with a nod before telling her, "They could even talk mentally to other dragons while in their dragon form. According to the stories they were the most scary and I highly suspect they could be arrogant pricks as well…You know, I suspect, if there was one here on earth that it would be an Alpha dragon who would be able to help you control that fire of yours…As it is, sadly…"

"There are no more Alpha dragons," Molly stated, secretly wondering why her heart suddenly ached with sorrow at the thought…Or why her strong dragon wanted to hang it's head and weep…feeling suddenly lost and hopeless.

"Well…There is an old legend. An Alpha and its clan built a spaceship before this world had knowledge of such things. I believe it was the one that didn't trust humans or they had been betrayed by them too many times to trust them fully. They didn't want to enslave them but they felt that as dragons they were indeed superior. One day they up and left for the wilderness of space in hopes to find a planet and live their life as they saw fit. Some say they even built cryotubes so they wouldn't be completely bored on the endless journey. Perhaps they or their offspring will return. For the human side will always be curious and perhaps want to see their ancestor's home. So, maybe, dear Molly…In your life time…"

"Maybe…" Molly breathed before she said in a normal voice, "or it could be a worthless, pointless fairy tale!"

It angered her how her dragon seemed yearn to believe…to have faith…that maybe an Alpha would come back to Earth…and what…somehow find her and help her, teach her to control her fire…so she wouldn't have to live apart from society…To be forced to always be alone? It wasn't like there were a lot of dragons any more. The small number that was left liked to live alone or was sick and twisted like Danfee. She also had to worry about her fire…It could destroy cities…or worse kill people…countless people. Molly longed to be able to control her fire. To be able to have human friends and even pretend to be a normal teenager.

"What is wrong with 'maybe'?" Myke asked, honestly wanting to know. "What harm would it be to live with that hope? No one can see into the future. Otherwise, what do have if you don't have hope? Nothing, my dear girl, nothing. I know you don't want to live your life always alone. You will grow tired of how people eye you curiously as you walk around with a fire extinguisher. You will most likely end up with a career that deals with dead bodies for they don't care if you accidentally set them on fire. I doubt you will go out on dates for if you get to nervous or excited…Poof! Flames, screams and total mayhem…unless you date another dragon but there are so few…and some of them are bat shit crazy, however they are not crazy enough to want their bollocks to be set on fire. Sure it doesn't kill us dragons but it can hurt especially there. You know, I knew a few dragons in my time that couldn't control their fire…One was a baker whose shop would burn down every now and then. Another lived her life alone racing carrier pigeons. If she accidentally set them on fire, she would suddenly have dinner! One lived in Sussex and kept bees. Made the finest honey roasted ham…Hmm, damn it was good. Anyway, my point, and yes, Molly I do have a point! With the Federation going out and finding new worlds and races…Who's to say they won't one day run into an Alpha? Or that an Alpha won't run into us or the Federation? Hmmm? I mean, sure, an Alpha may decide not to help but at least you would know and like I said I heard, they can be total pricks anyway."

Molly wasn't sure what to say so she said nothing. Myke obviously liked to talk, a lot.

"I also heard that the male Alpha is seriously well endowed…not that you need to know about that but…you might as well know all of the stories…not that I know if they are true are not but…they could be."

"Oh-Okay." Molly finally said with wide eyes wanting this conversation to end…now…please let this conversation end…

Myke suddenly sniffed the air. "Ah, I think our dinner is ready, good, I'm starving!"

Thank God, it looked as if this conversation was at its end. Especially seeing that Myke was now standing up with a nice stretch. He began to leave the room but he turned back to look at her with a silent question as if asking if she was coming.

Molly took a deep breath and slowly stood. "Um…Myke about my earlier question?"

Myke's eyes widened suddenly as if he just remembered. "Oh! Right! Sure, my dear, you can have a cat. They are super quick and know how to dash when they feel like a dragon is about to release their fire…it's just…you have to remember life will screw with you and if dear, sweet fluffy is having a bad day and isn't quick enough…Poof! And then you will end up sobbing your eyes out creating more fires. It's all up to you…but it's a thought that needs to be in the back of your mind."

Yeah…it was indeed a thought.

It seemed to be her destiny to live a long life…alone…with no friends other than maybe Myke and Andre until they die on her…No mate…and worst of all no cat.

Never can she even have a cat to call her own…

Damn, her long life was going to suck.

~*~End of Molly's Log~*~

~*~the end of part 1~*~

Well, if you enjoyed and wish for me to hurry up with the next part...Please let me know...

:-)