Chapter 1
The house was empty, Mrs. Hudson had just left coming across her in the doorway.
Molly went upstairs and sneaked into Sherlock's bedroom with almost childish anticipation.
What a wonderful idea to leave a birthday present for him on his bedside table. Such a lovely touch and no direct confrontation this time, not like that damned Christmas. Ok, maybe she hoped for some confrontation if Sherlock occasionally came back home earlier. But Mrs. Hudson assured her he wouldn't. She was so kind to ring Molly as soon as Sherlock left to meet up with Watson leaving his tea cup on the table.
- - The case is waiting to be solved Mrs. Hudson! No time to lose! – he declared running down the stairs, his coat bagging like a sail of the ship ready for a new adventure.
He certainly was not going to celebrate his birthday tonight, he never actually did. But Molly felt like giving him some attention and let's be honest she might want something in return, even if she was not going to admit it, not even to herself.
She tiptoed into the room with her heart panting a little, a vague smile on her lips. She looked around the dark room and imagined Sherlock on the bed sleeping. She wondered what he wore to bed. A nice pair of pajamas, an old t-shirt, a pair of briefs and nothing else or… nothing at all? Molly felt her cheeks flush, she really should not be here, who knows maybe Sherlock will get mad. Molly shook off the thought and hurried to put the box with a card attached to it over the bedside table. She lingered to adjust the ribbon a little and then a shadow drew her attention. In the armchair in the darkest corner of the room there was a figure sitting in there with the legs crossed. Molly shuddered and took a step back feeling her heart heavy in her chest. The figure stood up and took a step towards Molly. In the pale light coming through the shut curtains Molly saw the person least expected to be at Baker street – the Woman.