Apologies

Chapter 3

Planting his feet, Sherlock picked Molly up into her arms and walked down the hall and turned into the bed room. "O bother..." The bed was still unmade, the sheets in a pile on the floor with a few pillows. Sherlock chuckled and gingerly placed her down in the pile. Moving to closet, he searched for some clean ones and she giggled from the pile of sheets, pushing herself up to stand. Once vertical, she made her way to the closet to help Sherlock find the clean sheets.

"Top shelf, back right hand corner." she said, as he seemed to be getting nowhere.

"Of course..." Sherlock pulled them out and wraps them around the corners, stretching them. Then the thin layer, draping it over, smiling to Molly.

"Thanks," she said, smiling back and helping him finish straightening the blanket, "You really didn't have to make it, though." It was her bed after all. He just smirked and tucked it at the edge of the bed.

"Nothing really..." Reaching down, he pulled the fluffy comforter over and straightened it out. Dramatically Sherlock flopped on the bed, rolling into the middle remaining facedown. Unmoving.

"Well, thanks anyway," Molly laughed as she sat down next to him. A muffled noise came from underneath Sherlock.

"Comfy, are you?" she asked, smiling slightly at his silliness, since it was so rare.

"Yes", childishly, finally turning his head, watching her with one eye.

"Well good, stay there then." she said, patting his back, "I'll just borrow a couple of these," she stood and grabbed some pillows then headed for the closet where she pulled out a small blanket. With her hands full, she moved back towards the bed. "I'll be sleeping on the couch. Goodnight then..." Molly desperately didn't want to leave now, but he seemed tired and she wouldn't let him stay up just because of her.

"No wait" Sherlock scrambling up quickly, grabbing her arm, "Please don't go. Stay..." his eyes desperate, not wanting to be left alone again, even if she was merely in the other room.

"Really?" Molly asked, dropping everything she was holding and allowing him to pull her down into a sitting position next to him.

"Of course Molly" Sherlock pulling her down with him, lying on his side, "I love you remember?" Running his hand across her stomach and then up her side, so he might pull her close. She lay there, staring into his eyes. Her hand found its way to his cheek and she stroked it lightly with her thumb.

"I love you, too."

Closing the remaining gap between them, Sherlock's mouth found its way back to Molly's, quite at home. Having brought himself into her space, Sherlock hand quivered when his fingers disappeared a little underneath her shirt. He felt her warm skin underneath his finger tips, such a new sensation.

Molly gasped audibly, not expecting his cold hand on her side at that moment. Running his fingertips back and forth over her ribs, Sherlock closed his eyes for a moment so he could appreciate the smell of the perfume again, and by accident he almost gave a slight purr.

Now that she'd gotten over the shock of it, Molly could appreciate that she fully enjoyed feeling his soft hand against her skin. She'd never had much physical contact with anyone in her life, so she didn't realize how much she craved it until now. With shyness Sherlock slowly slid his hand up until he felt her bra, something seemingly very foreign to him. His left arm above his head searched for and found Molly's hand, closing in on it. Molly could tell he was nervous. Unsure what to do, the women next to him she was extremely nervous herself, so she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, hoping this helped him.

Feeling a bit self reassured, thanks to Molly, he stole himself a kiss again, and after another few moments, he ran his mouth back to her neck giving delicate kisses. Using his spidery fingers, he fiddled with the back of the bra until he felt it unhook, much to his surprise, but remained calm. 'Okay,' she thought to herself. 'Just be calm, breathe normally. Don't show him you're nervous, whatever you do don't show him you're nervous!' She tried to steady her breathing and, somehow in the process, blurted out,

"I'm sorry, I'm just a bit nervous." 'Good one, Hooper.'

"Oh and I'm not?" Sherlock replied, giving in to a small laugh as he ran a few fingers down her back, completely smooth to perfection. It was unimaginable to attempt to create a comparison that would live up to her standards.

"No, I'm sure..." Molly trailed off. What did he have to be nervous about? He was always confident, always sure of himself. Molly was meek and mouse like, timid and shy. 'Not anymore,' she thought as she built her courage and slipped her hand slightly under his shirt. Molly was utterly surprised to find sturdy muscles there and left her hand to hover on his waist.

"I am just so used to accidently insulting people or I, dunno, slip up?" Sherlock breathed out when he felt her delicate finger tips. Tracing a line from the top the shoulder, down the arm to where her hand was, he helped her gasp the top of his trousers. Flashing her a smile,

"No worries love, just let go, I'll be here to catch you."

The heart beat faster and faster, as Molly's breath quickening as well. She brought her eyes up to meet his. The smile that lit up his face warmed Molly to the core and she grinned too, though more shyly than Sherlock. For Sherlock he gave a bit of a smirk, though not wanting to be smug, he moved his hand to the rim of her pants.

"Together then?"

"Together," she whispered, breathlessly.

Sherlock started to kiss her roughly, as he unbuttoned her pants and began to slide them off her, tossing them somewhere in the room. Molly took her time undoing the button on Sherlock's pants then, rather rapidly, took them off of him, letting them land where they may, not really paying much attention. Finding this very unusual, the Detective raised an eyebrow.

"My, my Molly Hooper, being a bit courageous now," he stated happily.

"It's a new thing I'm trying out" she answered, guiltily smiling, "What do you think?"

"It suits you well. Also I think you had it before, but it was a mere spark to bring out the fire later?" Sherlock started to laugh, his stomach reverberating against hers.

"I suppose so," she said, laughing with him. "I mean, I always had these really bold things I wanted to say and do but never did them before. Now I've decided to just go for it...thanks to you." With the last word, she tapped him on the nose, still beaming.

"God you're so adorable," bonking his nose into hers, then kissing her again and she pulled back, giggling too much to keep her lips on his.

"You're pretty cute yourself, Sherlock," Molly poked his stomach in a teasing way, "Have I ever complimented you on your cheekbones?"

"Oi, my belly. No you haven't, please, do tell. I don't mind feeling a little vain today."

"Oh, they are marvelous! They're so high and beautiful. I don't know how you managed it, but you've got the greatest cheekbones I've ever seen." This new bravery thing was rather fun and it seemed impossible not to gush about his glorious cheekbones.

"You love them that much? Well here then," pushing his head underneath her chin and nuzzled his face into her. More giggling came from Molly's mouth and she pushed him away playfully.

"Why yes, I do love them. Were you not aware of how gorgeous they are?"

"Not really... thought they were a bit silly growing up..." Sherlock's face turning a bit scarlet, so he twisted his body so he was on his back.

"They're not silly," Molly retorted. She turned his face towards her and looked into his eyes. "They're lovely."

The corner of Sherlock's mouth twitched, and in a sudden roll and twist, clutching her round the middle, stopped when he found himself comfortably underneath her.

"Mmmm, better," slightly purring.

"Oh!" She had been taken aback by his sudden movement, "Better indeed," she answered after the shock had worn off. Pulling her down, Sherlock let his hands explore her back and sides, propping his feet flat so his legs were bent. Face in her neck, he bit softly, moisturizing the skin with his mouth.

The tiniest of moans escaped her lips. Molly didn't mean to let it happen and was thoroughly embarrassed, but Molly loved the feeling of his mouth on her neck. Instinctively he pushed his hips up into her and almost tore the shirt off, greedily craving for the warmth of her skin, just Molly. And hearing her, caused his veins to become enflamed. Excited she found his mouth with hers and hungrily kissed him, feeling finally alive with passion. No longer asking for permission, Sherlock slipped Molly's shirt over her body and with the bra unhooked it fell easily, causing Sherlock to pause as he looked her over. Molly froze, feeling wildly over exposed. After a moment, however, she remembered that this was Sherlock and he loved her. Her embarrassment subsided a bit.

"Brilliant..." reaching up carefully, Sherlock placed his palm flat on the middle of her chest, giving a small gulp, not out of nervousness, out of awe. She was thrilled that he seemed pleased by her body. Going through so much of her life with hardly any attention from the opposite sex, she'd begun to suspect she was disgusting or unwanted. But here was Sherlock, appreciating her. That meant everything in the world to Molly.

Sherlock sat up as Molly's legs snaked around him, and he held her back with his hands as he planted a few kisses on her chest "Molly if only you could see yourself..." groaning slightly when her thigh brushed up against him.

"What? What would I see?" Molly asked, a little panicky, assuming he'd found a flaw.

"How enticing you are right now... how- perfect?" leaning down, he kissed the top of her navel and his hands started to massage Molly's sides. Another moan escaped her, louder this time, as he did this.

"Thank you for saying such lovely things." She smiled down at him. As her sound echoed in the air, Sherlock felt himself twitch, which he tried to hide by adjusting where Molly sat. She wasn't fooled. Grinning still brighter, Molly let her hand fall to the top of his shirt where she began unbuttoning it. With it open, she leaned down and kissed his chest, though keeping the shirt itself on for the moment.

"M-m...," he closed his eyes, his words were drowned with her kisses, it was the most intoxicating drug he ever experienced. Without a shirt on his skin felt extra cool, so that when he felt her fingers it was hot, incredibly warm. Molly stopped her kissing for a moment to fully remove Sherlock's shirt and she hadn't completely done so already because of his wound. Though it was wrapped and covered, she was concerned that he might feel embarrassed by it again.

She hoped against hope that this wouldn't be the case as she threw his shirt to the floor. Curiously Sherlock tilted his head when Molly paused and noticed her eyes flicker to his fresh bandage, though at the same time she seemed to completely ignore this. 'Ok, this is good. Unafraid. Good...yes? Good?' Sherlock decided it was fine, especially watching Molly rip off his clothes. That was incredibly fine.

The second of awkwardness that followed the exposure of Sherlock's injury passed quickly, for which Molly was relieved. Glad that she hadn't ruined this perfect moment by making him feel ashamed of his body, especially not after he'd been so welcoming of hers. Placing her hand behind his head and slowly leaning down, Molly reunited their lips. In doing so, their whole bodies touched for the first time with nothing between them; his as cold as ice and hers as warm as a flame. It leaked from his mouth, Sherlock groaned, two opposites colliding... he felt he was falling, falling into something wonderful and he was taking Molly with him.

Molly exhaled with a smile, not quite as audibly as Sherlock had. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she attacked his mouth again with hers. Without even realizing it Sherlock's hands had minds of their own, snaking their way down to her

lower back, and tried slipping off her panties. Instinctively, she caught his hand as it reached the top of her underwear, giving pause, Molly needed a minute to collect herself before she was utterly and completely exposed in front of a man for the first time in her life. After closing her eyes and breathing deeply, she allowed him to continue. Sherlock's eyes snapped open when his hand was gripped, then he froze, a bit shocked what he was doing.

"So- sorry Molly... if… if..." he drew in some breath, "please I don't want to impose..."

"Impose?" Molly, of course, loved him deeply and wasn't completely against this idea, but if Sherlock didn't want to go through with it, she'd have no complaints.

"Well... I mean... just..." Sherlock stammered, 'Bloody bastard say something! Speak! Say something clever!' "um...it's...uh...I didn't mean to say imposed..."

"Okay, what then...?" She was starting to lose her nerve. She knew she loved Sherlock and wanted him, but if he wasn't ready...

"Then... you are ok with this? I just... I don't want to hurt you Molly" taking in a gulp. "It sounds rubbish I know... Does it need saying?"

Swallowing hard, unable to speak at first-

"I... I don't know how I feel... If you're okay with it... then... I guess..." her voice trailed off vaguely.

"O god Molly no I don't... I... I love you, I just don't want to... I just want you to be ready, and if you are not that is absolutely understandable," Sherlock stammered out quickly, eyes in panic.

"I'm sorry! I'm being a child, I know. This shouldn't be a big deal!" Molly squeaked, feeling absolutely foolish. 'Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry!' But as much as she tried to stop them, tears formed anyway. She had been trying to be this new, carefree, just-go-for-it kind of girl, but she couldn't seem to escape her innocence.

"But Molly it is..." Sherlock pushing himself on his elbows, "it's an important choice, it is. I suppose a life changer... please, I can wait. I have been waiting for a few years to even acknowledge you properly, so I have the rest of life to wait. I will always wait for you," brushing a tear away, smiling weakly. At his touch, Molly collapsed into his chest, tears flowing slowly from her eyes. How she had any left, after this emotional of an evening, she had no idea.

"I just feel so silly... being this old and not ever having done this! Isn't it pathetic or sad or something?"

Slowly, he let his arms settle around her, "O lovely Molly. My dear, dear. Love," petting her head, "as if you are alone," Sherlock whispered. It clicked for him, even giving himself a bit of relief. In spite of herself, she smiled into his chest and for the first time that she could remember, Molly genuinely felt like she wasn't alone.

"Thank you," she whispered back.