A/N: Hello darling,
I've got a few things to say:
1. I'm going to stop writing on FFN. I'm going to update as much as possible by the end of this year and then this account will mostly be abandoned.
2. I will try and continue writing this and post at the beginning of next year but by February, I won't be posting any more.
3. I'll be doing the 30 Day OTP Challenge again in January because I'll have started and ended with that. Ergo, I will be doing my best to write this and do the challenge.
4. If you read Ermergerd-Lock, that'll be on a new pseud on AO3 and you can search that during January to find Study in Pink (just starting to post that, I'm afraid)
5. I will be moving to AO3 but I won't be posting constantly (not that I did much of that here, anyway) because I got into uni and I'll be busy writing for my degree which is a tad more important than fan fiction. But I use fan fiction as a way of improving my writing which is why I was originally on here.
6. I'm trying to wrap up my unfinished stories by the end of the year. I'll post each chapter at least a day apart. Of course, this holidays is busy (family and such) so I won't be doing very much but I'll try my best because I love you. The chapters will be shorter for various reasons. My apologies.
7. I hope you had a merry Christmas (if you celebrate that) and if not, I hope you had/have a great holiday and you've had a fab time.
8. I think I've said enough.
I'm aiming to post this by the end of the 23rd and have another chapter for the 24th. I won't post on the 25th (for obvious reasons) and I'll do my best to write a few chapters on the 26th. Of course, this is if the story will be optimistic. I could just throw in the towel tomorrow and post the final chapter so I feel that it is done, and start on the 30 day challenge.
I honestly have no idea where I'm going with this and I'm not good at feelings or relationships, so we'll see how it goes.
Alright, as I said in point 8, I've said enough. I hope you enjoy this chapter. If not, you're more than welcome to leave constructive criticisms. If you did like it, lemme know and lemme know what you're favourite bit is :*
X
Sherlock frowned. "I didn't get your text. What's going on?"
"Well, I… I have to move back to my mum. She was really sick and it looks like she's not going to make the next few months. I have to move back and look after her. I don't know how long I'll be or when I'll- if I'll return."
The librarian looked her up and down, his eyebrows furrowing. "I thought your mother died three years ago."
"N-no. My mum was diagnosed three years ago. She's been clinging to life lately and she's getting worse." Molly ran her fingers through her hair. "I want to be there with my mum. I can't leave her again."
"Ah," Sherlock breathed out, his head tilting back. "I see. You had to move here for the money. That's why you don't drive and you take the long, cheaper routes home from work. You came out to the best paying morgue. You work weekends and holidays. You're paying for your mum's treatment." He nodded, watching as her eyes filled with tears.
"Yes. And now I have to go home. I think we should- well, I don't want to have any commitment to come back to London, no obligations- or what I feel is obligations. I think we should break up, for lack of a better phrase. I don't want to feel that I have to return for you." Molly shook her head and leaned against the table behind her. "I'm sorry."
The librarian shook his head. "No, don't be sorry. It's important that you return home. You've got to go back." He nodded and looked at the ground. "I hope it goes well. I hope you're okay."
Molly bit her lip. "Thank you."
"I-if you do come back, though…" he frowned and pursed his lips. "Well, I'm always here. You know, in London, if you need me. If you need anyone. I'm here."
Nodding, Molly took a step towards him and placed her hand on his upper arm. "Thank you, Sherlock."
Sherlock placed a small kiss on her cheek and walked out of the morgue, feeling tears well in his eyes. He couldn't believe that the most wonderful, perfect, beautiful woman he had ever met was breaking up with him. He shouldn't have been so emotionally involved, as John had said, because now he was heartbroken.
He didn't know when he returned home or when he made himself a cheese sandwich, but John had broken him out of his thoughts by calling out his name.
"Where have you been for the last several hours? You stormed off and arrive home smelling of garbage hours later! What the hell?" John said as he approached his friend.
Sherlock looked at himself and frowned. "I… I…" he paused and shook his head. "I don't know."
As John approached Sherlock, he couldn't help but crinkle his nose at the smell. "What's happened, Sherlock?"
Shrugging, Sherlock put his sandwich down. "Molly, uh, she's moving back to her mum." Sherlock shrugged again and wiped his eyes, just in case he had a few stray tears.
"Really? Why?"
"Her mum's sick and she's gotta go home," Sherlock said, shrugging yet again.
"So…" John trailed off as he tried to comprehend what was going on. "How long will she be gone for?"
"She's not sure she'll come back. She worked at Bart's to pay for her mum's treatment. Molly didn't want to feel any obligations to come back."
John's lips parted as he stared down the heartbroken man. "She broke up with you?"
"Yeah. It's okay. I'm okay." Sherlock nodded and picked up his sandwich. "Everything's okay."
"Well, no, it's not. If it was okay, you wouldn't be smelling terrible and be completely out of it." John paused before approaching his friend. Holding his breath, John hugged Sherlock, pulling him close to him. "I'm here for you. You don't have to be alone."
Sherlock shrugged John off. "I'm fine. Don't worry."
"How can I not be worried?"
"Because I'm an adult and I'm telling you that I'm fine." Sherlock began to walk away from John and towards the bathroom. "Just… let me be."