Disclaimer: Not mine

Rating: Still M

Notes: This one isn't beta'd…I know I said I was taking a tiny break from this, but since I had already started this chapter, I thought I'd finish and post. Excuse the mistakes!

Molly sat in the window seat staring out over the grounds, the book in her lap momentarily forgotten. She couldn't stop thinking about what John had said. Its possible Sherlock would let her work. She might not have to be trapped her in this fortress of misery. If she could win his trust, he would give her more freedom. Perhaps she couldn't make it to Mycroft, but she felt certain she could find Lestrade.

She wouldn't leave Sherlock, not until she knew that Soo Lin and Brianna were safe. If she could get them out of this house and to Lestrate, maybe he could get them to Mycroft. She would do the same for Irene, but she knew the woman was too stubborn. She wouldn't leave Molly to fend in this world alone. She would run away from John and come with Molly, wherever she may go.

The door to the library opened and Molly continued to stare out the window, thinking it was Soo Lin or Brianna who had come into check on her. She jumped and gasped when she heard his voice.

"I should have someone paint your portrait while you sit in the window. You look stunning with the gold of the sun kissing the brown in your hair."

In less than a second, Molly made her decision. She would try and win his trust, no matter the cost. She forced the bile back down her throat, the memory of his hands on her almost too much to bear. She took a deep breath and turned to face him.

He was surprised to see her welcome him with a smile. He approached her and wrapped his arms around her. She gave him no resistance, but she did not relax into his embrace.

He rubbed his face against her hair, breathing in her scent deeply. "I missed you, Molly." He said softly.

She didn't know if he expected a response, but she spoke to him anyways, deciding to ask him about his day. If they were going to pretend to be a happy couple, then she would have to play her part.

"Where did you go?" She asked, turning her head up to look into his face. She saw the surprise register in his eyes, that she would willingly make eye contact. She could also see the pleasure in his face.

"London. I had business to attend to there."

"Did Jim come back with you?" She asked.

He chuckled, the deep vibrations of his voice rattling in his chest. She could feel the vibrations against her body. "Jim…I don't think I could ever call him Jim."

Molly smiled at him. "Yes, that is what John said."

Sherlock released her only to turn her body towards him. He grasped her chin gently, tilting her face up to his. "John tells me that you and he had much conversation while I was away."

Molly didn't bat an eye. "Yes. I asked questions because I deserve answers."

Sherlock smiled. "You are right Molly. You do deserve answers, but I have a few questions myself. Why were you so interested in my brother and Lestrade?"

Molly shrugged. "I wanted to know what kind of man Mycroft was and if he differs from the Mycroft of my world. And Greg was a friend…" Her voice trailed when she realized her mistake. She swallowed hard and looked up into his face and was relieved to see amusement on his face and not anger.

"John already informed me that you refer to the Chief Inspector as Greg…I will allow you this one mistake, love." A smile broke over his face. "But do not forget John's warning, if you call Lestrade by his first name again, you will be sitting on a pillow for the next several days, do you understand?"

Molly struggled with indignation, but managed to swallow it down, keeping her eyes on the bigger goal. She rolled her eyes. "I'll try and remember that."

He smiled again and walked over to the love seat, sat down and, patted the seat next to him. Molly stood and started over to him, but paused a moment. It was harder to be around him than she thought. She felt sick again for a moment when another flash of what he had done to her forced its way into her brain.

"Molly, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk to you."

Molly sat down beside him as far away as she could. To her relief, he did not pull her against him.

"Now Molly, what questions do you have for me?"

"I want to know why you killed your Molly."

A look of absolute rage crossed his face, but he managed to reel it in. She could see the muscle in his jaw twitching, his pupils dilated, and his fists had clenched in his lap. Although Molly was terrified of him in this moment, she managed to stay calm.

"I'm sorry…I can see that it's…painful for you. I won't ask again." She said, staring at the floor.

It took Sherlock several moments before he was calm enough to respond. "No, it's alright. As John told you, I had her killed because she was unfaithful to me among other things."

"You murdered her, took her life, because she was with another man?"

"She was with another man in my house, in our bed…and the man she chose to betray me with was a sniveling, pathetic, creature. A woman who could betray me with such as that did not deserve my pity."

"Did she want to be yours or did you force her? Because it makes a difference if you forced her."Molly probed gently, careful of his mood swings.

"She was willingly mine. She wanted the power and prestige that it gave her."

Molly looked at him again. "John said she was cruel…how was she cruel?"

"She delighted in other people's misery. If it had been her instead of you, Soo Lin would be dead by now. And Brianna, she would be on the streets dying from some horrible disease she contracted from being a whore." Sherlock's face took on an unreadable expression. "She would never allow another pretty girl in our home. She would be overcome with jealousy and assume that I would have a wandering eye."

Molly was thoughtful a moment. "What happened to your Molly to make her like that?"

"What?" He asked confused.

"People aren't born cruel Sherlock. Something must have happened to her to make her succumb to such a cynical and vindictive view of the world."

Sherlock smiled, reaching out to stroke her face. "You are very kind Molly and much too generous with your opinions of people."

Molly didn't press Sherlock when he didn't answer her. She could see from his face that he was done talking about his Molly. It is a subject she would brooch later.

"Sherlock…"

Hearing his name pulled him from his thoughts. He looked at her with an odd expression. "Say it again, Molly."

Molly blinked in confusion.

"My name, love, say my name again."

Molly swallowed hard becoming uncomfortable with the way he was looking at her.

"Sherlock…" She said with uncertainty this time.

He smiled. "Don't be afraid Molly. I just wanted to hear you say it…it sounds so sweet coming from your lips."

She nodded and slowly continued. "I don't want to be cooped up in this house for the rest of my life."

He laughed. "Ah yes, a job. John mentioned something about that. I am afraid Molly that it is impossible for you to work. The Holmes' women do not work. They never have and they never will. Their men have always provided for them and as such, I will provide for you anything you desire…"

She cut him off. "But it's not being provided for that I…" She stopped when he held up his hand.

"Allow me to finish please. I said you couldn't work, I didn't say you couldn't leave the grounds. With that being said, you will have to earn your freedom Molly. I will have to know that you won't try and run from me. It would be most unwise for you to do so. You must understand, that I would find you and the consequences would be terrible."

"I understand." She said softly.

Sherlock was silent for several minutes. Molly began to get nervous when he finally spoke. "Are you telling me that you are going to accept me?"

"I am telling you that I am trying to accept this place…and you." She said looking anywhere but in his face.

He grasped her chin again and turned her face to his. Her eyes were glistening with un shed tears.

He nodded. "I can accept that you will try. And I will do all that I can to help you to transition to this place. I will do everything that I can to make you happy…and to make you forget him."

Molly couldn't stop the sob that tore from her chest at the mention of her Sherlock. She braced herself for his anger, but instead she was pulled into his arms.

"I am not completely heartless Molly. I know that you love him. I know that you had friends and a life of your own. I will not begrudge you your grief." He said softly, stroking her hair as he held her.

Molly forced herself to relax in his embrace. She stayed against him for several minutes, allowing the warmth of his embrace to offer her comfort. After a moment, she pulled back slightly, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Promise me that you won't hurt Brianna or Soo Lin, no matter how angry you get with me. Swear to me Sherlock that you will never raise your hand to them or put them out of your home. I will try to obey you. I will try to give you everything you want from me, but you have to swear to me that you will never hurt anyone because of me. I couldn't bear it."

Sherlock held her gaze. "What I want from you? Do you truly understand what I want from you, little Molly?"

"You want my body, willingly." She said looking into his eyes. "I will try Sherlock, I really will try."

"It is not just your body that I want Molly, I want your loyalty and companionship. And I know that I will never have your love and certainly do not deserve it, but I hope one day to have your friendship."

Molly nodded, "And I will try to give you those things."

Molly leaned back into his embrace, not trusting that she could hold herself together much longer after offering herself to him.
"Alright Molly, I accept your terms. I will never lay a hand on Soo Lin or Brianna and I swear they will never see the streets again. Does that satisfy you?"

Molly nodded against him, tears falling more heavily now. She was not sure that she could actually follow through with her terms of this agreement, but she knew she had to try. If she would allow him her body, he would have to trust her much sooner than he would otherwise. And she had also secured unlimited protection for Brianna Soo Lin.

Sherlock pushed her back gently to look into her face. "If you are sincere, truly sincere about trying to accept me and gain my trust, then you would have no qualms proving to me now the level of your sincerity?"

Molly held his gaze even through her tears. She did not flinch or pull away when his lips met hers gingerly at first. His tongue flicked out, tracing her bottom lip before he sucked it into his mouth. Molly knew what he wanted and she parted her lips, allowing his tongue access to sweep into her hot mouth

Sherlock pushed her gently back against the sofa, deepening the kiss to the point of stealing her breath. She had to fight her hands that were resting on his chest to not push him away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him against her. He groaned into her mouth in response. She was able to fight her fear and nausea by remembering why she was doing this. Her freedom and safety along with the freedom and safety of those she held dear.

She was thankful when Sherlock begrudgingly broke the kiss and pulled away. "If I don't stop now Molly, I'm not sure that we will make it to dinner. And as valiant of an effort that you are giving at attempting to prove to me that you are trying to accept me, I doubt that you are truly ready to give me your body so soon after I took your innocence."

Molly stared at him in mild surprise that he would admit what he had done to her and show concern for her discomfort now.

"I am trying not to be heartless bastard Molly." He paused, "But it is a struggle. I am so used to simply taking what I want with no regard to anything else. This world is a world of takers, users, and abusers. Its how one learns to survive. It has been a long while since I have had something good and gentle in my life. I am afraid it is taking some time to get used to."

Sherlock placed a chaste kiss to her lips before standing and walking to the door. "We will talk more tonight at dinner." He said leaving her alone, shocked and reeling by what he had just said.

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