You can thank lilsherlockian1975 for this chapter going up today. She called me a fic tease and this is my apology :).

So the bare bones of this story were inspired by a Lord Peter Wimsey novel Gaudy Nights, one of my all-time favourites; I seem to have a thing for slim posh blokes who solve crimes.

This will be a slow burn Sherlolly starting on a T rating but no doubt moving to M later on, come on you know me and you know I deliver the smut stuff eventually. Buckle up because this is definitely going to be a long one.

A ever I own nothing.

Chapter 1

Molly let out a deep sigh as she watched the changing scenery out of her carriage window. The sleek office blocks giving way to grubby houses and high rise flats, then moving through the suburbs and the leafy detached and semi-detached properties before finally giving way to green fields.

This was the first substantial break that Molly had had from work in almost two years. She'd had the odd week here and there to visit her mum or potter at home in her flat but she hadn't had a proper holiday. She'd originally been saving up some leave for a honeymoon for her and Tom but since that had fallen through and with everything that had happened with Sherlock over the last year she hadn't really given holidays much thought.

But all those things were behind her now. She was over her heartbreak, not that she had ever really grieved for her relationship, more the dream of normality that it had offered her; a husband, maybe kids. She'd also got over Sherlock being shot and almost exiled. The latter had been almost eight months ago now. He'd been called back to sort out that strange clip that had been posted about Jim. She knew it was all sorted now but didn't know many of the details. Her involvement had been minimal given that there were no deaths and the rest, it seemed, was classified.

She shook her head and smiled ruefully to herself as she thought of Sherlock. He was still the last thing she thought off at night and the first thing she thought of in the morning. She had come to terms with the fact that they wouldn't ever be more than friends but she was very glad of that friendship. It had grown easier over the last year, probably in part due to her finishing her engagement with Tom. Once Sherlock had come back from the dead she had known deep down it couldn't continue, it just wasn't fair to Tom. She'd tried to ignore her feelings, to play happy families but in the end the lie was too much for her. She was only hurting herself and Tom by denying it.

Over recent months she had more than once ended up eating fish and chips with Sherlock when they'd been working on some experiments late into the evening. He would offer to share a cab with her and they'd pick food up on the way. He'd come in for an hour or so before making his excuses and leaving. She knew he was lonely, especially since John and Mary had had the baby. It's not as if she didn't want the company herself, it was nice when he came over, saved her from another painfully quiet evening in front of the telly with Toby.

She glanced out of the window again as the train pulled into a station and she checked her watch. They were about half way there, just going through Reading. She'd picked one of the later trains from London Paddington to Oxford. There was no point having the extra cost and hassle of travelling during rush hour when she didn't have to. Half an hour to go and then she'd be there. She smiled again, looking forward to it.

It had been about a fortnight ago when her friend Mandy had got in touch. They'd been best friends all through secondary school and although they'd gone their separate ways after completing their A levels, they'd always kept in touch.

Molly had gone off to the bright lights of London to study medicine, whilst Mandy had passed the entrance exams to Cambridge to study English Literature. She'd originally stayed on in Cambridge but had, just two years ago, transferred to a much more senior position in Oxford. Molly was very proud of her. Mandy or Professor Amanda Jacobs as she was professionally known was now a fellow, heading up the English department in the renowned Bitterne College, Oxford. They had met up a few times over the years, trying not to go more than six months between meet-ups but often failing. But when they did get together it was as though they had never been apart. The years just fell away and they could giggle and gossip together for hours and not get bored.

Mandy had rung her and practically begged her to come and stay, 'go on Molls, it'll be really quiet, most of the students have left for the summer holidays. You can have your own room here at the college, free of charge of course. It'll be just like old times; we can stay up late, go out and get drunk. Come on, what's stopping you?'

In all honesty Molly hadn't taken that much persuading. She had the holiday, she needed the break so why not.

She'd spoke to Mike Stamford, her boss, the next day and it had all been sorted. She was staying for two weeks and could extend it to three if she wanted. She'd spent the last fortnight shopping for some new summer clothes, finding a neighbour to look after Toby and wrapping up as much work as possible. Everyone had wished her well and told her to enjoy herself with the notable exception of Sherlock who had just frowned and asked her why she needed to go away.

'I just need a holiday Sherlock, a break from work, from my normal life. You know, a chance to recharge my batteries.'

'No, I don't know. I really don't see the point in a holiday. Isn't it just boring? What will you even do without work, without...' He flailed his arms, looking around the lab at all the equipment.

Molly laughed at him which just made him fall into a sulk. He didn't wish her well or tell her to enjoy herself but she wasn't bothered, it was just Sherlock and that was just the way he was.

As the train pulled into Oxford she stood, gathering up her jacket and bag and pulling the suitcase out from behind her seat whilst trying to match the swaying of the carriage so she didn't make a fool of herself and fall over.

It was quite a popular stop and she had to queue for a moment before getting off and when she did she stood for a couple of seconds looking up and down the station before she saw Mandy hurrying down the platform towards her, her arms already open wide.

'Molly, oh my god it's so good to see you.' They stood hugging each other for almost a minute, smiles wide on both their faces. 'I can't believe you're finally here. I've been looking forward to seeing you so much. Come on, let's get a cab. It's not that far to the college but too far with all your luggage. Let me carry your coat.'

They took off together weaving through the other travellers, making their way through the barriers and out onto the city streets. It was Friday lunchtime and reasonably busy but they found a cab straight away and settled into the back, tripping over each other verbally as they tried to impart as much information as possible.

Ten minutes later they pulled up in front of an impressive building, part of what was obviously a very old college. 'Wow, Mand, is this where you work now?' Molly said as she stood open mouthed looking across the short grass strip to an ornate buttery stone frontage. There were lots of gothic, mullioned windows and in the centre a huge archway with an ancient double wooden door.

Mandy smiled and took Molly's hand pulling her towards the entrance, 'I know, beautiful right, it was founded in 1489. I still pinch myself sometimes that this is where I live and work. Perks of the job, eh!' She twisted the handle of a smaller wooden door set into the larger one and pushed it open. 'Wait til you see inside.'

She led Molly into a huge open quadrangle surrounded on all sides by more stone buildings just like the view from outside. The centre of the quad was covered in the neatest, green grass that Molly swore she had ever seen. A couple of people were lying out on the grass reading or chatting, a couple of others sitting together on a bench over to one side. Molly felt as though she had stepped back in time to the early 1900's. It just looked idyllic.

An older gentleman, in uniform, came out of a lodge built at the side of the entrance, 'Morning Professor Jacobs. I take it this is the friend you told me about, you must be Doctor Hooper,' Molly smiled and nodded as she shook his hand, 'I'm Arthur, the college porter. If you need anything just let me know. I've been here fifty years, man and boy, there's not a lot about this place I don't know.'

'Thanks Arthur, I will. And please call me Molly.'

'Do you want me to carry your suitcase up for you?'

Mandy shook her head, 'no, it's fine Arthur we can manage. Come on Molly.' She led Molly to the left around the grass. 'I've put you in one of the senior's rooms. Most of them are away for the summer. She pointed over to the building on their right, 'don's rooms are on that side, I'll take you over in a bit so you know where I am. The building straight ahead is the dining hall and through the archway on your left up here is the entrance to the smaller chapel quad and the library.'

A door set inside the archway led through to various lecture rooms on the ground floor and a staircase up to the senior dorm rooms on the upper floor.

'There's a senior common room along this corridor too but you won't need to use that, you'll be joining me and the rest of the don's in the staff common room.'

She stopped and pushed open a door on the right, 'here we go this is your room. I know it's a bit basic but hopefully quite comfy.'

Molly stepped in and looked around. 'No, it looks perfect, thank you.'

She took in the small double bed on one side under another smaller mullioned window. There was a wardrobe, bedside cabinet and chest of drawers on one side. Over on the other was a small fireplace with a couple of chairs in front of it and a writing desk just to the right. On the left of the fireplace was a cupboard with a kettle, toaster and microwave on it.

'Lots of the students like to self-cater for some of their meals rather than use the dining hall. Plus it means you don't have to ask for snacks and coffee all the time. There's a small fridge under here and I've put in some basics for you, milk, bread, butter. There's even some strawberry jam seeing as you used to live on jam sandwiches at school.'

Molly laughed at being reminded of her fussy eating habits as a child.

Mandy pointed to a door set into the wall besides the wardrobe, 'you have your own bathroom, which is rare in this place. It's shared with the bedroom beyond, but that room is empty at the moment so it's all yours. Right,' she glanced at her watch, 'it's just after twelve. Lunch is served in the dining hall at one. I'll leave you to settle in. Shall I come and get you or shall I meet you down there?'

Molly smiled, 'I think I can find my way. I'll see you down there...and Mandy, thanks again for the invite. I think this break is just what I need.'

Mandy squeezed her arm and left her to her unpacking.

Not much going on yet I know but I hope you like the start, I'll try to update every 3/4 days. Let me know what you think.