****************************************Author's Notes*****************************************************

Thanks everyone for the views, reviews, and favorites! This is my first time publishing and it really is quite a rush to have such immediate feedback! I need to figure out how to respond to reviews because you all have been so kind! I would love to hear any more of your thoughts (good, bad, or indifferent). Especially would like to hear from any U.K. readers on getting British slang /wording right.

This isn't the party, yet. I felt there needed to be an additional scene first. Molly's POV should be up in a few days. Happy reading!

Bored.

So Bored.

How do other people live their lives without succumbing to mind-numbing boredom?

No new interesting cases, no exciting experiments to conduct, and no new information on Irene Adler. After Mycroft ordered me (in his best big brother voice) to "stay out of this" I, of course, looked further into "the woman". I want to get to the bottom of what is coming and the contents of Ms. Adler's phone. Not just to annoy my brother but also because it promises to be very interesting. Anything would be better than boredom. I jump up from the sofa and pace. Then, just as quickly sit back down. I do this eight times before it occurs to me to leave the flat. When the cabbie asks me where too "St. Bartholomew Hospital" comes out before I can think. Once the cab is pulling away it makes all the sense in the world. Molly might have something interesting for me. As I think of the young woman suddenly the riddle of a week ago comes rushing back.

Molly was sad. Molly was laughing at me. Molly wanted to attend a Christmas Party. I ticked off the facts in my head, realizing that I was no closer to understanding the reasons behind them. Simultaneously I also realize that the case of Molly Hooper had been at the back of my mind all week. Why have I not figured it out? Surely it can't be that complicated. A few observations and questions will soon unravel the string and then I can move on, get back to being…bored.

I pause outside the morgue door. Listening to what sounds like laughter. High, female laughter. Not Molly's, her laugh tends to be short and breathy. This laugh is full and uninhibited. Molly must have a female friend visiting. The low rumble of male laughter makes me correct my deduction. Two visitors, who are, apparently, breathing in formaldehyde fumes.

I push through the doors and see Molly and a male lab tech, their backs to me, shoulders shaking with laughter. I scan the room looking for the third person only to discover my error. It was Molly's laugh. I have never heard Molly laugh like that. Nor have I ever seen her touch a man in such a friendly way. She was grabbing his shoulder as she laughed and saying:

"Oh stop. I can't, I can't take it."

"You just should have been there!" the man responded

Shaking her head Molly turns and sees me. Her surprise is evident and her smile quickly vanishes.

"Sh..Sherlock." she glances at the lab tech "uh…what are you doing here?" While she speaks I confirm my deductions from last week. Molly is still trying to conceal her crying, is again dressed for a date, but this time she is wearing lipstick, a lot of lipstick. As a rule Molly doesn't wear lipstick, especially not the bright shade she is wearing today. I can only remember seeing her wear lipstick on one other occasion. It accentuated her small mouth rather nicely. A fact I made sure to call to her attention. I always assumed her lack of lipstick indicated she was not serious about attracting the opposite sex. However, her uncharacteristic behavior toward this man and her current attire and make-up may signal a change in her attitudes.

I must have missed part of the conversation because the man is talking to me and Molly has a quirky smile on her face.

"What?" I interrupt. A little frustrated that I haven't followed the exchange. The man begins to respond but Molly shakes her head and replies for him.

"I said, this is Grant. He works upstairs."

"Yes Molly. Thank you for stating the obvious." The man sticks out his hand and delivers a firm handshake.

"We've met before actually." Grant's eyes dart to Molly.

"Yes. Well, I will see you at lunch." Molly grabs Grant by the arm and hurriedly steers him towards the door.

"Yeah. Till then." and he is gone.

Molly pauses with her back to me and then turns around asking briskly

"What do you need?" I pause for a moment, taking in the change. Her lipstick is gone.

"I don't need anything Molly. Just thought I would stop by for a chat."

"Why?" she sounds suspicious.

"Just bored."

"Well I don't really have time to entertain you right now." She walks over to the lab table.

"Really? Because you seemed to have plenty of time for the lab-tech." I point out.

"His name is Grant and well that's different. He is my friend." Molly says matter-of-fact.

"And we aren't friends?" I ask, really curious to know the answer.

Bent at the microscope Molly responds off-handed "I wouldn't say we were friends."

"Well how would you categorize our relationship?"

"Uh…colleagues?"

"Hmmmm…." My lack of response draws Molly's attention.

"Look Sherlock. We don't talk about anything but work. Friends talk about other things, real life things."

"Such as?" I am fishing. Hoping to find a clue to her tears.

"Oh I don't know. Weekend plans, family annoyances, dating, books, movies, work problems. That kind of stuff."

"I'll take family annoyances for 300 Alex." I smile at my joke. Molly stares at me, genuinely confused.

"You want to talk about family?"

"Sure. Why not?" I shrug and Molly does the same, confusion still written across her face.

"How is your brother?"

"Dreadful as ever."

"Um.. okay. You spending the holidays together?"

"Heavens no. Why would we do that? Mycroft is not really the sentimental type. As he likes to say "sentiment is a defect of the losing side." Besides I make it a point to never spend more time with him than necessary."

"Oh. How sad."

"Not really. I don't understand why people insist on being with family for Christmas. Being genetically associated doesn't mean you have to like each other. John is going away to his sisters and I have expressed to him what an inconvenience it will be. What if I should need him?"

"I expect most people spend the holidays with their family. Because of love or...or... sentiment as you say." Molly sounds a bit emotional. So family might be the key, perhaps I should push harder.

"They shouldn't. Life would be much easier. Look at Lestrade. He loves his wife. That emotion clouds his judgement and he continues to overlook her many indiscretions. John's sister is an unrepentant alcholic and yet he continues to dote on her. They allow a simple chemical process to manipulate them. As a result they do not act rationally. "

"You can't help how you feel! Love isn't rational Sherlock." Molly says placing her hands on her hips.

"Exactly why it must be avoided. " I turn and look at her, sensing a challenge. Instead I see her lower lip quivering and her eyes glistening slightly.

"Ok" It comes out light and small as she turns away to look at her lab work. She looks deflated.

Excellent, I have struck a nerve. Either love or family or perhaps love of family is the source of her sadness. Since she appears to be dating and looking rather chummy with the lab tech her love life wouldn't be the source. If she had been jilted she would be shunning male company. Since she seems to be seeking it out she must be missing a male companion. Not a brother, she doesn't have any, at least not according to her personnel file. Father then, she has lost her father. I grab my phone and do a quick search of obituaries in the last few months. In a few moments I am scanning the life of George Hooper, loving father, survived by two siblings and daughter. Molly is missing her father, they were close and so she is seeking a younger male substitute. Her earlier eagerness to attend the Christmas party would stem from a desire not to be alone on the holiday. Mystery solved.

Except none of that explains the lipstick.

"Molly. What happened to the lipstick?"

"What?" She is now across the room, must have moved while I was thinking. I walk towards her enunciating my words slowly.

"You were wearing lipstick. When the lab tech left you removed it."

"Um…"

"You never wear lipstick Molly. Did you wear it just for him? Is it for your lunch date later?"

"Why do you think….nevermind. Look Sherlock you don't have to know the answer to everything."

"Does it make you uncomfortable talking about your appearance? It shouldn't. You have nothing to be ashamed of, nothing that the right clothes and makeup couldn't fix." I say it sincerely because I think Molly could look much prettier with the right amount of effort.

"Thanks. But I wasn't, I mean… I don't need your opinion. I do just fine with guys. Really." She finishes the sentence by once again burying her reddening face in paperwork.

"Of course you do. I have observed…But, don't do too good. Wouldn't want to lose you Molly."

And I really mean it. Molly is the only person at St. Barts that I can stand to be around for any period of time. That administrative chap seems to hate me, probably over his wife, though I was doing him a favor. If Molly were to fall in love and get married she would probably take time off for a honeymoon. Then of course she would want children, she is the type, and the next thing you know she would quit her job. Where would that leave me? No things are much better with Molly Hooper being single. To that end, it is probably best if I make sure she is actively engaged over the holiday. Christmas is notorious for lonely people finding love (or at least that "Love Actually" movie John and his girlfriend were watching last night would lead you to believe). Looks like John is getting his Christmas wish after all.

"Do you have plans for Christmas Eve?" I ask

"Well sort of." Worse than I thought. I was right to intervene.

"Well cancel them. You are coming to 221B Baker for our party. I will text you details."

"Sounds great!" she is obviously excited and seems to forget the lab work. I find that I am also pleased with my quick thinking and deductions.

Now to tell John that we are having a party.