Two days before the wedding
Well, Molly, ole girl, you finally got your wish. You are finally having coffee with Sherlock Holmes. The Sherlock Holmes. Not Sherlock Holmes, the paper doll Meena ironically made for you, but the real Sherlock Holmes.
Molly Hopper had ducked out from last minute shopping with her future sister-in-law and best friends to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee, alone. She was flipping through Pride and Prejudice and Zombies when a familiar, old, deep voice startled her, "Is this seat taken?"
"Oh, uh", Molly gasped out as she looked at the voice. It was Sherlock, staring at her with his intense gaze, waiting for her answer. "No", she said, trying to hide a smile as she peeked at her lap, "no, it's not." She heard the dragging of the wooden chair as he sat down, and as she was trying to build up some confidence to hold an actual conversation with Sherlock. "Are you stalking me now?" Molly said in a low cool voice, as she leaned towards Sherlock, "because, although I'm flattered, I am getting married in a few days."
Sherlock snorted in disgust as he crossed his arms across his chest, leaned back in his chair, and glanced at an imaginary figure behind Molly, "I was bored and in dire need of some coffee; and since John is at his"—Sherlock paused and said in repulsion, like it was bile—"job, I went out for coffee."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this place a little far to just get some"—she quickly paused and then said in an American accent—"joe?"
"Ah, Molly, do I detect a hint of pleasure?"
"Of course not", Molly snapped, biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself from blushing, "I'm just", she said very quickly and then said slowly and gently, "a little surprised that somebody found me. I'm trying to hide from my friends, you see."
Sherlock snorted again, as he adjusted himself in the chair, "Your friends are idiots. They wouldn't be able to find you even if they had bloodhounds—and a map."
"Oh, of course", Molly muttered, rolling her eyes, "because you're so smart and everyone who's name is not 'Sherlock Holmes' is an idiot, blah, blah, blah", Molly huffed and then said in a tone that was between a hiss and a purr, as her insides turned to mush, "Could you please drop this 'I'm-better-than-everybody' act because, honestly, it's getting very tiring."
And, for the first time, Molly saw Sherlock blink. And not in the whole 'I should probably blink now or else someone might think something's wrong with me' sort of way, but because he didn't know what to do or say next. Molly sighed and casually closed her book, since she figured that she wasn't going to read it anytime soon. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?" Sherlock finally managed to say after a few moments of silence.
"Mm-hm", Molly said, nodding.
"I didn't know Pride and Prejudice needed zombies."
"Well, everything's better with zombies, y'know", Molly said as she glanced at the book, "Westerns...Queen...Halloween parties at a community college library."
Sherlock knotted his brows in confusion—another first for Molly—and said, "I'm afraid I don't get any of those references."
Molly smiled, sweetly, and said as she laid her hand towards him, "It's alright if you didn't", she then frowned, quickly took her hand back in shock, and said, nervously, "Ah, I read somewhere that you and John broke up a ring of child slavery. A few months ago right?" as she brushed the hair out of her eyes with her shaking hand.
"Oh yes", Sherlock said slowly, as he noticed her hand, "it was one of my brother's cases. Threatened me with a knighthood...again."
"Uh, well, 'Sir Sherlock' seems to fit you. It makes you seem like you're a knight of the round table."
"Well, I've always wanted to find the Holy Grail like Sir Galahad", Sherlock said dryly.
Molly smiled, "I didn't know you knew the Arthurian legends."
"So, how has the past year been for you?" he asked.
Molly was silent for a moment, shocked and stunned that Sherlock was asking her how her life has been. "Ah, fine, well, I got engaged", Molly slightly moved her ring finger that had her ten carat diamond engagement ring (it's a reflex!), "and I've been doing rather well...pretty good...at"—Molly paused as she thought and smile—"Sherlocking at work. It sometimes freaks out my co-workers."
"At least, I've rubbed off on someone", Sherlock said in a snobbish tone.
"Yeah", Molly said flatly and with a frown. It was silent for a few moments before Molly's eyes widened in alarm, "Oh", she yelped as she glanced at her watch, "I have to go", she stood up and pointed towards the exit, "Sorry", she mumbled as she gave him a meek smile. "Goodbye, Mr. Holmes", she said nodding, "It's been a—well, it's been. I hope you keep doing what you're doing. Goodbye." She turned and left.