Hey, I'm sorry this chapter took a bit longer to get up. I meant to post it yesterday but I gave family staying and it just ended up not being possible. One of these days I'll be a little less busy, I promise xx

Chapter 9

Molly's mouth fell open as she walked into the room with Sherlock just behind her. There seemed to be candles on every surface and laid out on the coffee table were two glasses of wine and her favourite pizza.

'It's Margherita...made by Angelo, just how you like it.'

She turned her head to look at him. 'Sherlock, what is this?'

She saw a faint blush rise up on his cheeks and for the first time she truly started to believe that he might feel something for her.

'Well, I thought it was about time that we had our first proper date...it's been a long time coming. Here, let me take your coat.'

She slipped her arms out of it and watched as he hung it up along with her bag, then he gestured towards the settee before hunching down to pour her a glass of wine.

'I...I don't understand where this is all coming from Sherlock?'

He frowned. 'Don't you? Are you sure? It's not as though we haven't been intimate for a while now.'

'We shared one kiss Sherlock, I'm not sure that that would be classed as being intimate.'

For a moment his mouth dropped open and she could see confusion and then some kind of realisation flit across his face but all he said was...'ah'.

He sat on the edge of the settee next to her and took a deep draught of his wine. She felt as though she had missed something along the way but she wasn't sure what.

'Hmm...maybe this will jog your memory...' then he leant forward and kissed her. This time at least she was a little more prepared for it but it was no less arousing or shocking. His lips met hers and she opened her mouth to him, loving the way his hand came up to cup her face as he slid his tongue into her mouth. He tasted so familiar now, just like he had previously, just like he had...

Molly pushed away from him her eyes travelling over his face, his neck, his hands...he seemed so familiar, so...Sherlock. Not...not...

She took a deep breath and then reached up to the buttons of his shirt. He looked at her quizzically but made no move to stop her as she undid them one by one until his scar was revealed to her, the one from Mary's bullet wound. She let her finger travel over it as she remembered seeing something hidden by the tattoo worn by the Watcher.

Still her brain didn't want to believe the truth that seemed to be staring her in the face.

Sherlock put his knuckle under her chin and lifted her head until she was looking into his eyes. 'I thought you knew, I thought you had worked it out. Dammit Molly you called out my name last night, I wasn't even wearing my contact lenses or the tattoo.'

'You...you wore lenses?'

'I didn't want you to recognise me...not at first. I could hardly even believe you were there. That first night I only had the mask, no lenses, no cover for my scar. I didn't dare approach you. I didn't even know if you'd want me to...but God Molly, you looked amazing, every man there must have been wanting you and after I'd left I couldn't get you out of my head. I couldn't bear the idea of anyone else touching you, of anyone else being with you.'

Molly was feeling dizzy; she was struggling to wrap her head around the fact that rather than having sex with a nameless, faceless stranger it had been Sherlock all along. Sherlock whose cock she had sucked, Sherlock who had gone down on her when she was tied to the bed and blindfolded, Sherlock who had fucked her more than once and so damned well.

Her stomach swooped uncomfortably and she put her hand over her mouth. 'Oh God...oh god, I think I'm going to be sick.'

He stood up quickly but she didn't move, she just sat with her eyes closed taking in deep breaths and trying to work out just exactly how she felt.

A moment later and she heard the heavy clunk of a glass being put down on the table in front of her and she opened her eyes and picked up the cool glass of water.

Sherlock was hunched down next to her looking at her with concern.

'Molly...please, you have to know that I never meant to hurt you. It was just a bit of fun at first, I was giving you what you had always wanted. I just hadn't realised how much I wanted it too.'

He looked so earnest and so beautiful but all she saw when she looked at him was shame and humiliation. She was embarrassed about what she had done and what she had let him do. He must have read it on her face because he shook his head.

'No Molly, don't do that. Don't be embarrassed. You were stunning, sexy, free. You gave yourself so completely and you made me want to do the same. I don't just want sex with you Molly...I mean I do want sex with you,' he gave her a quick smile and it was devastatingly handsome. 'But I want so much more than that. I want to be with you, in every way possible. I should have realised it after that phone call but I was a fool. I...I love you Molly Hooper.'

'I love you too Sherlock, you know I do but...this is too much to take in. I need some time, I need to...God you had sex with me. You knew I didn't know who you were...that first time, you knew it.'

'I tried to tell you, I was going to say but you said you didn't want to know. You begged me Molly and God, I'm only human. You have no idea how much I wanted you in that moment. Maybe I should have said no, or took my mask off but you wanted me to play a part and I did. But that last time, I thought you knew, I thought you had recognised me...you said my name.'

Molly closed her eyes remembering crying out his name as she had come and embarrassment washed over her again but another emotion came to the fore…anger. 'Sherlock just stop. Do you have any idea how wrong that was? You deceived me….you used me.'

'No..I…'

'What was it? Some sort of experiment? A try before you buy? Let's take Molly Hooper out for a test ride and see if I like her.'

At this his eyes widened in genuine shock. 'God, no…Molly you have to believe me. That wasn't it…that wasn't it at all. I knew…after that first time, I knew that I wanted you…not just for sex. I….it all started falling into place and I realised that I loved you…I love you…please….'

She stood and when he tried to embrace her she put her hand on his chest pushing him away. 'No...don't, I need to leave.'

'Please…Molly, I'm sorry, just stay…'

But she was already pushing past him, grabbing her things and making for the stairs. Her mind felt overwhelmed with memories and shock…pure, unadulterated shock. He followed her down the stairs but seemed to realise that it was a lost cause and instead he just silently held door open for her as she made her way out onto the street, sucking in the fresh air hoping it would help to clear her head.

She held her hand up to hail a cab and it was a struggle to hold back her tears until she was safely inside it and driving away but she couldn't help turning and looking out of the back window seeing Sherlock standing forlornly on the steps of Baker St watching her leave.

The next few days seemed to pass in a bit of a sleepless blur. She was struggling to come to terms with how the two halves of her life had managed to collide so hideously. She went over every meeting, every encounter that she had had with both Sherlock and the Watcher and she tried to comprehend that they were one and the same person. Part of her said she should be glad, wasn't this what she had imagined and dreamed of, but the other half was furious at the deception. He'd had all the power, all the knowledge and she hadn't known a thing.

It didn't stop his texts coming in at regular intervals.

Molly, I'm sorry SH

What can I do to make it up to you? SH

I can't lose you SH

Molly, please. I love you. SH

She sat on one of the stools in her kitchen looking at that last text, reading it and re-reading it over and over, her finger lightly tracing over the words, and something inside her seemed to shift. Sherlock was in love with her, it was what she had wanted for years now and not only that but they'd had sex and it had been amazing.

He'd gone about this in all the wrong way and she had lots of questions for him but first she felt as though she needed to balance the playing field a little. She needed to take back some power, some control. And dammit she needed to square it in her head and her heart that they were one and the same person.

She had an idea but even thinking about it made her blush and she bit on her lip. She was starting to realise that she was looking at a possible future with Sherlock…finally, just when she had given up hope that anything would ever happen between them. Yes, she was still angry with him but not enough to give up on him. She knew how immature he was emotionally and she genuinely believed him when he said he hadn't meant to hurt her. He was so intelligent in some things and so stupid when it came to people and feelings but she knew that about him, she'd long known that about him and she'd accepted it. It didn't mean she wouldn't try to teach him though.

Her hands were shaking a little as she picked up her phone and started texting him. She had two days to get herself ready two days to make herself feel the part, she had better get started.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock could honestly not remember a time when he felt so low and so hopeless. Since Molly had left three days earlier he hadn't left the flat, he hadn't shaved; he hadn't done anything but wallow in his own misery and stupidity.

John had come and gone and then come back again but he couldn't tell him what had happened, how could he? He wasn't going to add indiscretion on top of his faults as far as Molly was concerned. He just wish he'd thought things through back when he'd first seen Molly at the club. It had been such a shock… and jealousy at the thought of anyone else touching her had gone through him like a hot knife through butter. All his plans to not get into a relationship, to not let his emotions out had lay in tatters round his feet. He wanted her.

And she had been glorious; she had been free with him in a way he had known she wouldn't be if she'd known his identity. She had done things and said things purely because she hadn't known it was him and it had been a heady, sexy, erotic mix and he'd been weak.

He shook his head and tried to not cry. He felt everything, all of it and it hurt…it hurt so damn much and he had no idea how to stop it.

It was only when his text alert sounded that he looked up. He'd been ignoring everything, all the calls and texts but not this one. That was Molly's alert, he'd set it himself weeks ago, the sound of her saying his name. He'd recorded it one day in the lab.

He scrambled to his feet and found his phone and he was surprised to see his hands trembling as he opened up the text. He felt as if his whole future hinged on it which was ridiculous but he couldn't shake the feeling.

The club, Friday 8pm. Come prepared to obey. MH

So, she's ready to play again. Any ideas what she might have in mind? And did you enjoy the reveal?