Molly is angry with me. It doesn't take a brilliant detective to discern that fact. But I came here for a reason and I won't back down. Even if she does slap me, which at this moment seems like a real possibility. As she advances towards me I quickly review the salient points of my argument.

Since watching Molly walk away I had dwelt almost exclusively in my mind palace. Much to the delight of my cabbie, who probably quit for the day on the money I paid him. Reviewing multiple scenarios I had come to my conclusion very quickly. However it had taken much more time for me to feel comfortable approaching Molly with my idea. Several times the cab had stopped in front of St. Barts and each time I had belatedly decided not to go in. Each time I had a different reason why I should wait and would ask the driver to take me back to Baker Street. Only to have him turn around when a new sense of urgency overtook me. It was a strange sensation being unable to commit to a plan. I rarely question my decisions but somehow this situation was different. That fact alone made me reluctant to talk with Molly.

I was sitting in the cab about to leave, yet again, when I saw Tom entering the hospital. I felt a deep outrage at seeing him and suddenly knew that I had to talk to Molly immediately.

By the time I found them at the morgue Molly was telling Tom that we would no longer be working together. Then they kissed and my stomach lurched. I had never reacted like this before when seeing Molly and Tom together. But now I felt a strong desire to throw the stupid man out of the room. This all only strengthened my resolve to consult with Molly.

Tom was easily dispatched, he is laughably easy to manipulate. Molly seemed strangely fine with the exit of her once fiancé. Her smiles and lack of anger gave me courage and it was only then that I realized I had been lacking in courage.

However that courage is quickly draining away as Molly advances with murder in her eyes. I decide to do what I normally do in awkward emotional conversations. Try and talk about it as logically and quickly as possible. Energy fills me as I begin to speak and I start pacing.

"Since leaving you I have been puzzling over a way to solve our predicament. You say, and Tom has clearly demonstrated, that you cannot be in a relationship with anyone because of…ah…your association with me. Your solution is to remove me from your life. A solution that I initially agreed to and fully intended to comply with." Molly snorts in disbelief but I ignore her. "However I think I have a much better solution to your predicament." I stop pacing and run my hand through my hair. I am finding it difficult to continue. God, I am as bad as John. Molly seizes upon the silence.

"Sherlock. I wish there was another way. I do, believe me, I do. But I th-…" I raise a hand and she stops speaking.

"I propose…that is I suggest that…" I stop again and look hesitantly at her. She only looks confused. I take a deep breath. "I propose that you become my girlfriend." I wait for her response but she only looks baffled. Clearly she requires more explanation.

"If you can't associate with me because it endangers your ability to have a relationship. Then it seems obvious that you should have a relationship with me. That way we can work together and you can have a relationship. It's an elegant solution." I flash her my most charming smile. My heart is galloping and I feel anxiety creeping over me.

Why doesn't she say anything?

She shakes her head and speaks

"You want to take me on a date?" she asks as if she can't believe her own words. I frown. Molly is not normally this slow. Maybe I haven't been clear.

"No. Well yes." I run my hand through my hair. How had this gotten so confusing? "Yes. We will go on dates. But I am proposing that we have a relationship. Which, as I understand it, entails a lot more than just dates." Molly frowns.

"I thought you came here for an experiment?" She asks.

"That is the experiment. We will attempt to function as a couple for six months and then evaluate the results. If we are both satisfied then the relationship will advance. If not the relationship will end and I will abide by the previous agreement to never see you."

Suddenly Molly starts to laugh."Sherlock! That is just…that's ridiculous." she says between laughs.

I feel my shoulders droop and my brow furrow in confusion. I fail to see the humor. Clearly I have misunderstood something. I feel embarrassed and think wildly of leaving the room.

"I am glad you find my proposal amusing." I say icily before turning on my heel and stalking for the door.

"Wait." she calls. "You are serious?" I turn back an angry frustration taking hold.

"Of course I am serious!" I wave my arms for emphasis. "Why would I suggest it if I wasn't serious?"

Molly looks down contritely and bites her lip. "Sorry." she says. Unexpectedly this calms me down and I take a deep breath. The morgue is silent and I watch as emotions glide across Molly's face. She is clearly thinking seriously about my proposal so I watch and wait. Finally she speaks.

"Sherlock. I am really flattered by your…erm…suggestion. You are right it is an elegant solution. But I don't think that convenience is the best foundation for a relationship." I attempt to protest but she keeps speaking. "A relationship needs to be based on mutual affection, on love and respect. Not just because you don't want to find a new pathologist." Her voice is steady but I sense sadness behind her words.

John always accuses me of assuming that everyone understands situations the same way I do. I apparently make a very annoying face. He thinks I do it mockingly, as a way to show-off. But in truth there are things I find genuinely obvious that other people miss completely. I don't want to insult their intelligence by over-explaining but then I manage to insult them by NOT explaining. It is one of the many reasons I have difficulty with what Moriarty called "ordinary people" However, I rarely have this problem with Molly. She is very intelligent and observant. The day we spent working cases together we practically spoke in short hand to each other. Sometimes we communicated only in glances. It is something we often do in the lab but it was exciting to see it translated in a new environment. Molly seems to see me and understand me when others don't. Based on all of this and the fact that I have made a point to tell her how important she is on several occasions, I assumed she understood how I felt. Obviously, I was wrong (wouldn't be the first time).

I blow out a puff of air in frustration and walk up to her. I take her by the shoulders and she looks up at me questioningly. I intend to tell her that I do respect her and that I have a strong affection for her. Before I can speak my eyes are caught by her tongue snaking out to moisten her lips. The next thing I know we are kissing. I forget what I was going to say and become absorbed in the kiss. This time I pay more attention to Molly. I place my hand on her neck and feel the pounding of her heartbeat. I observe her breathing and the sounds she makes; quietly cataloguing what she enjoys most. I feel her hands snake through my hair and delight in their soft tugs and massaging. Time becomes elastic and I forget how long we have been standing, learning about each other.

"Oh! My!" a male voice breaks over us. Molly jumps away from me. Her face red, her lips swollen, her hair tangled.

"Dr. Stamford." she cries embarrassed. "I am so sorry. I…I mean we…" I turn to Mike. Frustrated at the interruption

"Mike. Dr. Hooper and I are very busy with a new experiment. Leave." I don't even try to be polite and Mike doesn't argue. He just looks amazed before turning and walking away. I move back towards Molly, intent on continuing. She backs away and raises a hand

"Hold it." At my quiet growl of frustration, she smiles. "I just need to get a few things straight." I wait impatiently for her to continue.

"I am going to make the deduction that you enjoy kissing." I smile back at her.

"In general I have not enjoyed kissing but I very much enjoy kissing you." I reply truthfully. She pauses and then continues.

"And when you told me that I counted and that you trusted me. You were being honest?" she asks.

"Of course." I say irritably.

"And I matter…I mean you said I matter the most. So you actually like me?" she says hesitantly.

I groan. "Molly Hooper if I didn't like you I wouldn't spend time with you. If I didn't trust you I wouldn't come to you when I need help. If you didn't matter I wouldn't have told you that you did. If I didn't respect you I wouldn't let you run my experiments or trust your autopsy reports. I don't suffer fools and I don't associate with people I don't like."

A small glowing smile spreads across her face it suffuses her with a rare kind of beauty and I feel a swell of pride that I am the cause of such happiness.

"Sherlock Holmes. I accept the conditions of your experiment. I will be your girlfriend."

I smile back. A surge of electricity zings through my chest.

"Are you sure you understand all the duties of a boyfriend." She asks jokingly. I smile down at her.

"Absolutely. Janine has made the requirements very clear." I say as I smooth her hair back. She looks suddenly confused.

"Wait. Who is Janine?"

The End!


Authors Note: Poor Sherlock. The guy can't win for trying. Still I think he and Molly will be very happy. Once they work through all the Janine stuff. Which leads me to a question...I feel like this is the end of this story. It's already gotten longer than intended and I like this ending. If I write the next scene I may end up with 4 more and the story spiraling away from its origins. I have thought of doing a sequel fic that will take place in the hospital and includes a Janine and Molly meeting. And would explore what happens right after this scene. Anyway I would love to know your thoughts on this and the chapter. Once again THANKS so much for reading and loving these characters as much as I do!