A/N Very sorry for the delay but you were warned. This is mostly just establishing more of Molly and Evelyn's relationship, because I love them so much! Anyway, fangirling aside, here's the next chapter!


Evelyn adjusted the brown-sling bag she had on her shoulder and continued on through the large crowd that seemed to converge only in front of her. Ironic, given that she was already late. I hope Molly isn't angry with me, she couldn't help but think. Evelyn was supposed to meet Molly in exactly two minutes at the cafe Molly had mentioned when they first met. And Evelyn was about twenty minutes away.

Evelyn cursed in her head with every step against the rain-soaked pavement. The cold still managed to creep under all three layers of her clothing, including a t-shirt, cardigan, and thick coat. But that was London winter. The view was still breathtaking, with the dark, skimpy trees providing ample contrast to the bright colors of the busy city rushing past her. Evelyn wished she had more time to appreciate it, as she picked up her walking pace.

She looked up from under her hood and recognized a street name from the e-mail she'd gotten from Molly with directions to the small restaurant. She recited the exact directions in her head. Take a left when you see the street. The cafe is another five blocks ahead on the right. Evelyn perked up at the seemingly short distance, and although in reality was a long walk, she was suddenly energetic.

She hadn't had a friend since Adam. It's been years; way too long to have gone without human contact. This chance to start anew made Evelyn grin. She even found the energy to quicken her stride to a light jog at the prospect. She got there in eight minutes, which only made her six minutes late. As much as tardiness irked her, Evelyn could live with the number.

She studied her reached destination quickly, admiring the small, but homey, maroon exterior surrounded by the large chrome lettering "Lena's Cafe". Evelyn smiled and entered, immediately searching the cafe for Molly. She spotted her sitting at a little brown table decorated with a vase of lavender flowers, drinking a cup of tea. She was wearing an unusual outfit consisting of a uniquely-patterned sweater with dark khakis and simple brown shoes. Her hair was done up in a ponytail, just like the last time Evelyn saw her.

Evelyn adjusted her thick scarf over the enormous bruises on her neck.

As Evelyn came into Molly's field of view, the tiny woman looked up and flashed a genuine smile. Evelyn sat down across from her after removing her large coat and bag and flinging them over the back of her wooden chair. When she turned back around, Molly finally noticed the wounds on her face, and she gasped as concern lined her features.

"Evelyn! What happened to you?!"

Unfortunately, a scarf couldn't cover up everything. "Oh... just some bloke who jumped me the other night." She lied smoothly.

Molly winced as she studied the cuts with a doctor's eye. "Are you alright? He didn't... y'know?"

"No, he didn't get the chance. I landed a kick to his nuts and he was out for the count."

Molly giggled lightheartedly but still seemed worried. "Oh, good. Did you call report him to the police?"

"No I didn't want the hassle. But I told Sherlock and he's very bent on finding the man who did this to me."

Molly seemed satiated. "Alright then."

"Hey, by the way, I'm sorry I'm a little late. I took a cab at first, but then Sherlock climbed in at the last minute and gave directions to Scotland Yard, which of course was the complete opposite direction of where the cafe was. So I had to get out and come on foot." Evelyn said with an apologetic look.

Molly chuckled. "It's completely fine! I know how he can be. Besides, you're not really late. I myself just arrived a minute or two ago. You actually made quite good time for someone walking this whole way." She sipped, then stopped suddenly. "Oh, would you like to order some tea? They have a really great selection here."

Evelyn smiled. "I'd love to." She politely got the attention of a waitress and ordered a cup of Earl Grey for herself. Once received, she added a touch of cream and sugar, stirring it gently and taking a sip. It warmed her entire frame and did an excellent job of fending off the winter chills.

"So how has work been?" Evelyn asked, once she had finished tending to her tea.

Molly waved away the inquiry with a shy flare. "Oh, you don't want to hear about that. Usually talking about cadavers spoils people's moods. Probably why I don't have many friends. Oh, sorry!" She was flustered and embarrassed, but Evelyn didn't understand the cause of it. She laughed.

"Don't apologize! You probably have more friends than I do, considering the count so far has been exactly zero." Molly blushed, and Evelyn continued. "I do honestly want to hear about your work. I've always been exposed around things like that, and it's been an interesting study to me, or else I wouldn't have been around it for as long as I was." She encouraged.

Molly seemed to be relenting. "Alright, then. Work has been like it usually has. A lot of bodies. Don't get me wrong, I love my job! It has always fascinated me ever since I was in secondary school, which of course never really made me very popular. But I decided to put all other peoples' opinions behind me and do what I loved, and became very good at what I do. I love to help people doing the dirty work no one else wants to do. Especially if Sherlock consults with me. He always makes me feel like I'm doing something right, if he keeps coming back. Don't give me that look; I know he can be a right twat sometimes, but that's just who he is. And there was one time..." She drifted off.

Evelyn leaned in, curiosity fueled like gasoline on a fire. "Yes? Was there something going on between you and Sherlock?" She wasn't asking out of jealousy, now that her and Sherlock were together, but merely interest in this woman's past with him. She hoped it would reveal something else about him she didn't yet know.

Molly's eyebrows rose. "No, not like that! It was when... he was about to confront an evil man named Moriarty." She looked nervous to expose this information, although Evelyn knew it was now in the past. "He was at a loss knowing what he was about to do, what he had to do. The first person he came to for help was me." She looked down and smiled, remembering her brief moment of feeling like she was worth something to him. "He said he needed me to help him and believe in him when no one else in the world did. So, I helped him fake his own death and keep his secret for two years." She took a deep breath as she finished, as well as a gulp of tea.

Evelyn was beyond impressed at the woman's courage, and was conclusive that she had underestimated Molly. "Wasn't that difficult? Knowing you couldn't tell anyone? Not knowing where he was or if he was safe?"

Molly's eyes glazed over a bit with resounding sadness. "Oh yes, of course it was. Knowing I saved Sherlock's life once but not sure whether he was in danger or not for two years was excruciatingly difficult for me. But he did... stay with me for a month or so at one point. It was very hard, and I realized then he wasn't what I thought he was." Evelyn understood, and didn't feel any envy toward Molly learning he stayed with her. "He was very arrogant and pushy, abusing my helpful nature to achieve his own ends, but he did eventually leave to continue his work. And it was horrible trying to keep the secret from John. A few times I almost thought I'd spill the beans-"

"Wait, what?!" Evelyn interrupted, astonished. "John didn't know?"

Molly clasped her hand over her mouth. "Oh my. I'm sorry, I didn't know he hasn't told you. That was quite stupid of me and not really my business."

Evelyn reassured her. "No, it's alright. He told me most everything else. It's just... poor John. That must have been awful for him." She felt overwhelming pity for the doctor.

"Yes it was. For the first six months he wouldn't hardly talk to anyone. Just stayed in the flat and went to work, back and forth. He even picked back up his limp for a while." Molly had a painful look on her face after recalling the memories. "The only words he said to me was about whether I believed there to be something suspicious about Sherlock's autopsy. I think he was trying to make himself believe he wasn't really gone, which made me feel horrible about not being able to comfort him with the truth that he was right. Eventually he moved on, and found Mary."

Both women smiled at the mention of John's wife. "Mary is very kind. I met her when I was stab-... in need of medical attention." Evelyn almost slipped up, and realized it at the last second.

Molly didn't seem to notice, or if she did, didn't bring it up. "Yes, Mary's perfect for John. She sort of fixed him when he was lost. She couldn't exactly erase the cracks, but she did a better job than anyone at reducing their size. I don't know what would have happened to him if she wasn't there." She sipped more tea.

Evelyn couldn't imagine. "How did he eventually find out? Did Sherlock tell him?"

Molly snorted, choking on her tea a little. "That is quite a story, actually. Mary told me the whole thing. Sherlock apparently disguised himself as a waiter, found out the restaurant they were having dinner at, pretended to give them wine listings, and told John right then and there! And all he said was, "Not dead". He even interrupted John's proposal!" She began giggling incessantly, while Evelyn struggled to keep a straight face.

"Oh God. What did John do? I would have killed him."

Molly nodded. "He came close to it. Just launched himself at Sherlock. The idiot ended up with a broken lip, a bloody nose, and a sore ego that night." Both women were laughing aloud now.

Evelyn wiped away a tear from laughing so hard, astonished both at that fact and the anecdote itself. "Wow. That would make a great campfire story." She made a mental note to remember every detail.

Molly giggled again. "Yes it would. Though I've never been camping."

Evelyn stared at the woman across from her. "Seriously? Never?"

Molly shrugged. "I've always been too busy to get that much free time. I've always been sort of chary about the entire concept, not knowing how to set up a tent or fire. I'd probably get myself killed."

Evelyn leaned back in her chair, an idea growing in the back of her mind. "Not with me."

The other woman blinked. "Are you proposing we go camping together? Because that sounds like a horrible idea, Evie."

Evelyn laughed. "Oh c'mon! I know everything there is to know about survival! You'd be surprised. Everyone has to go camping at least once in their life, and your chance is rapidly approaching! I'm sure there's some beautiful places around here outside the city."

Molly worried her bottom lip. "It does sound nice... but I don't know if I could get off work. Although... I do have some vacation days saved up. And it's not like I have the money to go anywhere extravagant. I suppose I could see if I could take off a weekend."

Evelyn grinned. "Great! It's settled. We'll plan a trip sometime." She finished off her tea as a victory swig. Camping had always been one of her favorite things to do, especially as a child. On the rare occasions Evelyn's father wasn't working, he would pack up camping gear in their car and take her and her mother on a trip to whatever beautiful scenery was nearby. They'd just spend a weekend with nothing but each other and the raw outdoors. Hiking, fishing, and making up ghost stories were some of her favorite activities whilst relaxing in nature. She hadn't gone for a very long time, and would like to reminisce some of the happier moments of her young life.

The two women sat smiling for a minute.

Molly interjected the comfortable silence. "So! What have you and Sherlock gotten up to?"

"Excuse me?" Evelyn totally misheard the tone in Molly's voice, but her logic caught up in seconds. "I-I mean... um... our work is going pretty good."

Molly raised an eyebrow. "Are you not going to explain? What work is it? A new case perhaps?" Her interest was peaked. Unfortunately, as much as Evelyn like the woman, Molly couldn't know about the intelligence they discovered yesterday, nor anything about their goals.

"Eh... nothing really that important. Just one of his usual cases. A... kidnapped husband. Yes."

"Hm, sounds interesting! Is Lestrade in on it?"

Evelyn blanked. "Who is Lestrade?"

Molly made a face. "You mean you haven't met him yet? He's a Detective Inspector Sherlock often works with. So Scotland Yard isn't involved. Must be a case Sherlock wants to keep low-profile." Molly was definitely clever. Evelyn wasn't sure she could fool this woman long enough for her and Sherlock to complete their work. She also didn't want to, but it had to be done for Molly's sake.

"Yes, I believe it is. His client is sort of important in society. We're just helping out."

"Huh." She seemed curious. "Do you live close by then? To help Sherlock?" She asked.

Well shit, Evelyn thought. She was hoping they wouldn't get to that. But she knew she could trust Molly on this particular subject. And even maybe receive some advice. "Actually... I'm living with Sherlock."

Molly's face warped without her consent, into shock and something else. "W-what?!"

Evelyn rushed to her aid. "No no! In John's old room upstairs from Sherlock's flat. I didn't exactly... have a place to stay..." She winced, hoping Molly wouldn't react with hostility. To her evident surprise, Molly's face remained stone as she absorbed the information.

"... Okay. Uh... I bet that's a real adventure." She snorted but it seemed to be without humor.

Evelyn waited for her to continue, but she didn't. "Well, yeah. It has been. And uh... there's another thing..." She didn't want to break the news at all to the sweet pathologist, but if she didn't tell her now, it might hurt her terribly later.

"What is it?" Molly was apprehensive.

"He and I... w-well we're... um, t-together now." Evelyn had never stuttered more in her life.

Molly's face portrayed she was hurt, but not on the level Evelyn had expected. She also seemed to be expressing a completely different emotion: relief. Wait, relief?! Evelyn was so confused.

"You do realize it's been less than a week?" Molly was trying to understand, Evelyn could tell.

"Okay, I know it hasn't been long... but we sort of fit together. I was very... lost when I showed up on his doorstep. He took me in and helped me. Mended the cracks." Evelyn gave a little smile. "But I'm so sorry if it hurts you. I know how you feel about him." She gripped the pathologist's hand.

Molly took a deep breath, and just shrugged. "Honestly, I thought I'd be in more pain. I actually am sort of... relieved it's you and not someone else. Part of me always thought that if he didn't ever find anyone, there would always be a chance for me. But I always knew it would never work out between us. I still love him, and I'll still help him whenever he asks, but I feel like it's time I moved on. Besides, after living with him for a month, most of my girlish admiration has pretty much ebbed away completely."

Evelyn was so happy that Molly didn't hate her guts. "Thank you so much, Molly. I'm sure there's someone perfect just waiting for you out there." She smiled.

The other woman nodded. "I like to believe that. So! What's it like?" She got interested and sipped more of her tea.

Evelyn was wary. "What's what like?"

"Oh you know!" She leaned in closer and whispered. "The sex?"

Evelyn's face suddenly resembled that of a doe caught in headlights. "No! None of that has happened! And will not happen anytime soon!"

Molly looked disappointed. "Damn. I was a bit curious as to how it was, considering most of his friends think he's still a virgin."

Evelyn's mouth dropped. "What, him? No, that doesn't seem plausible. I mean, yeah, he doesn't seem the type to go for many relationships, but a virgin? He's very handsome. I cannot imagine no woman has thrown herself at him, with him being unrelenting. " She shook her head. "But I could understand the repulsion to it. Hell, I've only had sex once. It was horrible."

Molly was astounded. "Once?"

"Yeah when I was twenty two. I'm pretty sure he had hyper salivation and it lasted about ten minutes. Then a week later I found out he was also seeing two other women." She grimaced at the memory.

Molly winced as well. "What an arse. But sex actually is quite nice. Only having it once then giving up on it is kind of a waste, trust me."

Evelyn agreed, but was inwardly quite afraid of the subject. She didn't know if she could give herself over completely to someone like that, considering the physical and emotional aspects of such a joint activity. There was also the fact that it was just way too early in their relationship. Or was it? Evelyn had no idea. She promised herself that she would consider Molly's words, and perhaps talk it over with Sherlock. It was sure to be an awkward conversation ahead of her.

She decided a change in topic was to be had. "So... tell me a bit more about yourself, Molly."

Molly thought for a moment. "Well... I live just a block from St. Bart's, so work is pretty much my life. I had an okay childhood, until my dad died. It took a while, as he just got sicker and sicker, and it was really hard on my mum. Eventually she found someone, my step dad, and she's happy now. Secondary school wasn't the best time of my life, but university was alright. I have a cat named Toby, and he's very sweet. God, I hope that doesn't make me sound like a mad spinster. I like to watch TV in my free time, especially Glee." She paused as a strange expression came over her face, one that seemed equally sad and dark. "Well, not anymore."

Evelyn noticed her shift in demeanor. "Why not?"

Molly fiddled with her mug with unease. "I used to... be in a relationship with Moriarty. We would watch Glee together."

Evelyn was shocked. "Really? Before you knew he was a raging psychopath?"

Molly nodded. "I had no idea. He found me on my blog and said he knew me from work. Said he was a guy in the IT department and asked me out for coffee. He was sweet at first, but he was just using me to get to Sherlock." Her knuckles whitened as she gripped her cup hard.

"That must have been awful to find out who he really was. Did you guys... have sex?"

Molly looked ashamed. "Unfortunately yes. One night, after a date, we were watching Glee at my flat and it eventually led to us sleeping together. I can't-... I can't believe I had sex with someone so... evil."

Evelyn grabbed one of Molly's hands. "You couldn't have known. He tricked a lot of people, even Sherlock at first." Molly smiled at her gratefully.

"Yeah, well, let's talk about something else." Molly sat up straighter. "I told you about me, so now it's your turn!"

Evelyn was thrown off guard, which seemed to have been a common occurrence as of late. She quickly siphoned the information of her past life through her brain, picking out things that she could tell Molly without it being damaging to either of them.

"Uh... I grew up in the United States. Ohio to be exact. It was pretty rural, so I was used to large, open fields and long winding roads. I did live in a subdivision, in a small town. My childhood... had its ups and downs. My parents died in an... accident when I was eleven, and living in foster homes wasn't the best experience. High school wasn't too great either. I didn't actually have friends, because I was very different from other kids. I was very independent, and had to mature at a very young age. I went to college and got my degree in forensics, then worked for the government for a little while. But I needed... a change in scenery and moved away to come here." After she was done, Evelyn studied the notches in the wooden table with new found interest.

Molly seemed to understand, as when Evelyn met her eyes she was nodding her head and giving her a supportive little smile.

At that precise moment, something crossed between the two women that connected them together. Maybe it was their similarity in past experience and knowing the different hues of sadness one can feel in a lifetime, or perhaps just one look of understanding. Whatever it was, Evelyn could feel it in the air around them, and became very relaxed and content to just sit here and share tea and conversation with a lonely pathologist.

After a while, as customers came and went, the ladies agreed that their visit had to come to an end. Evelyn approached Molly and felt she was able to give her a hug after one friendly conversation and a large amount of compassion. Molly returned it happily, and after bidding one another good luck in terms of the winter weather conditions approaching, they departed in different directions. Molly was thinking about the new friend she just made, and how she just wanted to curl up with Toby on her plushy sofa when she got home. Evelyn walked quickly back to Sherlock's flat, interested to see what he had found at Scotland Yard, and hopeful that this new friendship would last, for the first time in her life.


A/N Thanks for reading! Real talk for a second: The day this is being uploaded is the day I finished writing this chapter. I have not even BEGUN the next chapter, so it'll come out whenever I finish it. I'm sorry but that's just how it is. I don't want to rush through anything and end up producing half-assed work just to meet deadlines. Random reader: But you set those deadlines yourself! Hey stop being clever. Anyway, the point is I want to produce quality chapters, I have a life, and not every second is spent writing. Rant end. I hope you lovelies can accept that and thank you for reading this story! I really appreciate feedback and I hope you enjoy what's coming!