I truly hope I didn't oversell it, but it was so much fun to write! Please enjoy this, I sure did.

Thanks for all the encouragement, it means the world to me.

I own nothing.


Ch11-Three's Not Always Company

To Sherlock's defense, he did knock several times before easily picking the lock and letting himself into Molly's flat. He was confidant she would still be home since she said her plans were set for noon. Once inside he heard music and female voices coming from the bedroom. So he headed down the hall.

"Oh Ginny, this feels so weird." Molly said.

"It's only because you've never done it before. Just relax."

"It just seems a little moist." Molly giggled.

"I can't believe you've never tired it at least once, it's not like it's a new thing." Ginny snipped.

"I'm a simple girl Ginny. Not normally this adventurous. But it is soft... and creamy."

"Do you like it?"

"Mmm, yes I think I do."

Sherlock stood rooted in the hall right outside Molly's bedroom. What the hell is going on in there? That temptress had lured his pure, sweet Molly into bed...

(What Sherlock didn't hear, as his brilliant mind tried to assimilate the conversation that had just taken place, was Molly and Ginny discussing the difference between power and cream eye shadow. If he'd only stayed present just a bit longer, all of this could have been avoided...)

"Okay, just one more thing and I'll have you feeling like the goddess that you are!" Irene said.

That was it, he had heard enough! He threw open the door with one hand covering his eyes, "Stop Irene! We had an agreement! I should have known better than to trust you! Get your hands off of her right now!" He screamed at the bed while a befuddled Molly and 'Ginny' sat at Molly's vanity.

"Nicely done Sherlock." Irene said as she put the lipstick tube back in her bag. "You truly are the master of deduction, especially when it comes to women."

"What are you talking about?" He said turning his head to her voice, his hand still tightly clamped over his eyes. He had no interest in seeing what Irene had managed to entice Molly into doing.

"Sherlock, what are you doing here?" Molly asked.

"Keeping you from making a huge mistake, apparently. You can't trust this woman Molly, she's not what she seems."

"Did you talk to John before coming over here Sherlock?" Irene asked calmly.

"He's on holiday with the family. What does that matter? You clearly planned this all along. Seducing poor, naive Molly. I won't let you take advantage of her Irene."

"Sherlock, why do you keep calling her that and..." Turning to Ginny, "How do you know who John is?" Realization suddenly hitting her Molly stood up. "Are you kidding me? You two know each other?"

"Molly, please don't get upset. This isn't a bad thing. It's not what you think." Irene said

"Not what I think? What kind of agreement did you have with him?" She said pointing to Sherlock who was still standing with hand over his eyes. "Oh, for the love of God Sherlock, Gin- Irene was doing my make-up! We weren't doing... whatever it is you think we were doing. You look ridiculous, move you hand!"

Sherlock carefully removed his hand from his eyes and looked around the room. Molly's bed was made but instead of two women in the throes of passion, it was covered with boxes and bags. Irene was sitting (fully dressed) at Molly's vanity and Molly was only wearing a dressing gown, and under things, as he could tell that she was wearing stockings. Then he saw her face. Oh... her make-up was indeed different. She rarely wore make at work except for the few times she had tried to impress him with lipstick and he had made an unpleasant remark. He felt a twist in his stomach at those memories. He was suddenly drawn to Christmas and the dress. She had taken time with her face that night too. Damnit... I screwed this up again.

"Will you two stop gaping... I want answers!" Molly yelled.

Sherlock still couldn't find any words, he enjoyed Molly all the time. But angry, worked up Molly (not to mention soft colours on her eye lids and cheeks and curled hair...) He was being affected in other, less um... gentlemanly ways.

Irene looked at him and realized he was having some kind of malfunction and decided to take the lead.

"Molly, listen, yes Sherlock and I know each other. He asked me to get to know you and help you feel a bit more confidant. That's all. Nothing sinister. Nothing bad, I swear. Then once I got to know you I found I quite liked you. So before you ask, our friendship is very much real. See... no harm done." Irene smiled sweetly.

Molly shook her head, "No, that's not how I see it. Who are you? If that's all it is than why wouldn't he just introduce us? Just say, 'hey Molly, I have this friend and she's great and you two will hit it off...' wait..." She said turning to Sherlock.

"You wanted her to change something about me." Molly said as the realization dawned on her. "This wasn't just about confidence. You wanted me to... to look different."

Sherlock was shaken out of his Molly Shock. "I-I not exactly..."

"What? Tired of working with an ugly pathologist? Wanted something better to look at while you waited for your specimens to mature?" She spit at him.

"No, that's not it at all!" He said. "I j-just...um..."

"I can't believe you're fucking stuttering!" Molly yelled, Irene laughed and drew the infuriated woman's attention. "Oh, you think you're off the hook? Who. Are. YOU?"

"My name's Irene Adler. I'm..."

An audible gasp cut her off. Molly's hand flew to her mouth her eyes suddenly filled with tears. "You... I did your autopsy. He identified your body, your naked body but not your face." Molly wiped her face then folded her arms protectively over her chest. "I think you both need to leave. I-I can't look you either of you, just go!"

Irene tried to reach out to her friend but Molly recoiled. "Please leave... now."

Irene packed up her make-up and gathered up her things. Sherlock was still standing in the doorway like a statue. "Molly, I swear. You've got it all wrong. I never meant to hurt you, I..."

"But you always do, don't you?" She said from across the room.

"Come on, Sherlock. Don't make this worse." Irene said as she physically turned Sherlock around and pushed him out the door.


A/N: Okay I get it... it's shameless. I take comfort in the fact that the only people that will get the reference to the chapter title will be over a certain age and from the US. If you get it PLEASE say so in your review... I'm dying to find out how many caught my drift! "We'll be waiting for you."

As you probably figured out, I'm not finished with my torture just yet. Sorry. Come with me...