Black, Two Sugars

"You're staring at her again." John's words broke me out of my trance.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I was just thinking."

"Yes, thinking about Molly Hooper apparently." The smirk on his face was undeniable.

"Oh, shut up John."

"You know she fancies you, so just go tell her you feel the same."

"You make it sound so simple. But tell me John, how do I just undo and unsay every horrible thing from our past?"

"You can't Sherlock, but you can make it all up to her now."

"I don't know how to do that. You know how sentiment and emotion elude me."

"So what you're trying to tell me is that in all of the years that you've known Molly Hooper you've just been deleting all of the possibly important information that could help you right now," he didn't pose it as a question so much as nudge in the right direction. "Well, I'll leave you to your thinking. I need to be getting home to Mary. Good luck."

As he wandered out the door I went back to admiring Molly. When she didn't know anyone was watching she's really quite graceful, her movement's fluid and beautiful. I know that after this past year I won't be able to just go up to her and give her some line about how I feel. She has put up with so much from me over the many years we've known each other, but I know she still hasn't quite forgiven me for relapsing, ending up shot and then exiled for killing a man. So how does an insensitive consulting detective win back the heart of the most important person in the world?

I'm not sure what Sherlock was doing here today, but it wasn't working. He thinks that I don't notice him watching me, but I can always feel when his eyes are on me. Years ago I could barely function if he was in the same room as me, and somehow now I can stand on my own two feet even when he is inches from me.

I will admit today was hard, knowing that his eyes rarely strayed from me when he was sure I wouldn't notice. I do still get flustered around him, though much less now. I'm glad he's finally decided to leave for the day even though I'm sure he'll be back again tomorrow. He's been here quite often as of late, but am glad to have this time now without him watching.

I reach over to grab my coffee, which by now I'm sure is cold, only to be surprised by heat as my hand grasps the mug. I look around trying to figure out who could've refilled my cup without my notice. As I lift the cup from the counter space a piece of paper that was stuck to the bottom of the mug flutters to the floor.

Molly, I was wondering when you're finished, would you like to have coffee? – SH

I can't help smiling. I can actually hear myself uttering those same words to him once. He had been whipping a corpse with a riding crop. I'm surprised he remembers the moment at all, then again maybe he didn't.

"Molly?" I turn at his voice.

"I didn't hear you come back in. Thank you for the coffee." I smile up at him.

"Molly, do you remember when you asked me if I wanted to have coffee four years ago?"

"Yes, I remember quite vividly."

"Well, I know it's a little late, but would you like to have that coffee now?"

"Tell me something first. What do you remember about me asking you to coffee?"

"I made a comment about you wearing lipstick and told you I'd have a cup black, two sugars." He actually looked sad as he responded.

"Did you even realize that I was trying to ask you on a date?"

"At the time no, but later I figured it out. I always thought that it would be better for you if I kept you at arm's length. That I would be able to protect myself if I pushed you away, but I can't do that any longer."

"What exactly does that mean?"

"It means that I have feelings for you that I am no longer willing to deny myself. So Molly Hooper would you like to go out for coffee with me?"

"Yes. Black, two sugars," I replied with a huge smile before flinging my arms around him.