Chapter 9

Molly chuckled and then stared at him. A small frown marred her features as she looked at him. "There it is again…"

Mycroft blinked and looked at her, a half smile on his lips. "There is what again?"

"That glint of panic. I sometimes see it in your eyes whenever Sherlock's nearby. You become distant, distracted… Is something wrong, Mycroft? Has Sherlock done something to you?" She caught herself. "Oh! You don't have to tell me. I know you like your secrets. You aren't used to opening up to anyone yet, and we only just now began officially dating. You don't have to tell me." She fiddled with the skirt of her white dress.

Mycroft sighed and took her hands. "Molly, all you have to do is ask. I will tell you if you can know or if you can't. I made a vow to you that I would always be honest. I will. I cannot go into the particulars, that is Sherlock's privacy, but yes. He has hurt me." Mycroft closed his eyes. "Deeply and intensely. It was when I met you for the second time. Those two agents that you caught in your morgue. That day. He…damaged something between us. Irreparably. And yet," Mycroft scoffed quietly, "He doesn't think he's done anything wrong. And…I don't know what to do…"

Molly bit her lip and slipped her hand along his cheek. Mycroft closed his eyes and leaned against it, sighing slightly. He didn't have to pretend with Molly. She saw him in every form, Big Brother, Ice Man, Minor Officer, and Mycroft, as himself.

"I don't know the details. I don't need to know. However, I do know how much it hurts to be betrayed by family. It's not suppose to happen. Family is suppose to be the strongest ties you have until marriage. That's the ideal." Molly scoffed quietly. "It never works out to be the reality."

Mycroft held her close to him. They stayed that way until the same elderly gentleman started laughing quietly. Mycroft laughed awkwardly, nodding his apology.

"Oh, don't apologize. I find it nice to see such interactions in today's youth. At least you aren't professing love over text instead of telling it to each other, especially when you are standing right next to each other." The man chuckled and nodded to them as he walked past.

Molly hurried to the bathroom to clean up. Mycroft's mobile vibrated. He hoped it wasn't work. Fishing it out, he looked at it.

Caring is not an advantage, Myc. ~SH

Mycroft snapped straight and stared into the crowd. He spied his brother instantly, lounging at the bar, smirking at him. His first instinct was to confront, but then he also wanted to finish this night with Molly in a pleasant restaurant and, just possibly, her bedroom.

Sherlock waved cheekily at him from across the crowded room.

Mycroft glared at him and kept on glaring until Molly slipped her arm around his waist. "Mycroft? What's the matter?"

"Sherlock is over there." Her eyes followed his and then a gasp.

"Damn it." She straightened up imperiously and held his hand. "The bell is about to sound. We need to return to our booth. The door can be locked, right?"

Mycroft blinked and then smiled at Molly. "Clever." She smirked.

"I've been spending a lot of time with you." He chuckled and nodded and ushered her into their private box. He knew Sherlock was moving swiftly closer to them. Closing the door, he locked it with the key in his pocket.

There was an insistent knocking. Mycroft laugh quietly and shook his head. "Sherlock, dear brother, if you make a fuss, you will be escorted off the premises. You have a case to do. Why don't you go do it?"

"Damn you, Mycroft." Sherlock sounded like he was pouting.

Mycroft smiled and winked at Molly. Sherlock left soon after the music began again. Molly smiled up at Mycroft when she felt his arm slip around her shoulders.

When they got to the car, Molly was humming softly to herself one of the symphonies that had been played.

Mycroft took her hands. "Molly…please…can I go to your flat tonight? Nothing needs to happen, I…"

Molly looked at Mycroft closely and then smiled sadly. "Sherlock will be at your home. Of course you can stay the night if you like."

Kissing her lightly on her cheek, Mycroft looked at her intensely. "May I?"

Molly tilted her head up and puckered her lips. Mycroft chuckled and leaned forward and kissed her.

One thing led to another, and Mycroft found himself snogging Molly silly. When they did break apart, she gaped at him. "I didn't know you had it in you!"

Mycroft chuckled huskily. "You will find that I certainly run far hotter than ice."

She looked at him with intrigue, a glint in her eyes told him that she was completely willing to delve into this latest discovery. Mycroft chuckled and slid up closer to her, his hands moving down her arms from her shoulders to her elbows and then to her waist.

His started kissing her neck, jaw, lips, nibbling and licking lightly against her skin. Molly gave a small moan at the sensation.

"Oh…it's been far too long since I've done this."

Mycroft pulled her closer and whispered into her ear. "I am the only one, Molly. We have to be exclusive. I have to be the only one. You're mine. Mine and only mine. I'll never let you go. Never." Molly gasped when she felt him against her hip.

"M-Mycroft?"

"I know it's too soon. I know. I won't ask, but I do want you to know that I am interested."

Molly wiggled against him, causing his to hiss slightly. She laughed. "I'll say you are."

He flushed slightly and then noticed the car had stopped in front of Molly's flat.

Molly straightened herself up and looked at him with a half smile. "Come up for some…coffee?" She grinned at him. Mycroft smirked.

"Gladly."