Hello and welcome to the weekend, both yours and theirs. Hope you're having a chilled out time, I know I'm trying to.

There was a general consensus last time around that Sherlock was an idiot and that hopefully jealousy would open his eyes, so let's see shall we…

Chapter 14

For a few minutes Sherlock prowled angrily around the outskirts of the garden party, the venomous look in his eyes putting off anyone who started to approach him to strike up a conversation. He felt more conflicted now than at any other time in his life and he just didn't quite know what to do with himself.

He knew he should leave Molly alone; he should let her rekindle her relationship with that idiot if that was what she wanted to do. After all, hadn't he just told her he didn't want her himself. This would be the perfect solution to take the problem of Molly off his hands, so why didn't he feel happy about it.

His feet seemed to move without him even directing them and he found himself making his way over to the walled flower gardens where he had left Molly earlier, he seemed to know instinctively that that was where they would be.

He was right and as he turned into them he could see Molly and David standing together. His hands were either side of her face and hers were on his wrists and they were kissing and it was like all the air had been sucked out of his world.

As he came closer, coming up behind Molly he saw them break apart and heard David asking her if she were sure that this was OK.

'It's fine, honest. Like I said, I'm just doing Sherlock a favour in front of his family but it isn't real.'

At that moment David caught sight of Sherlock and must have read his expression because he stood straighter and his hands fell away from Molly's face.

'I have to say Molly; he's not looking like someone whose feelings aren't real.'

Molly turned around, a look of confusion on her face. 'Sherlock, what are you doing here?'

'I could ask you the same thing Molly.'

He saw her lips flatten out and he knew she was angry with him, and he knew she had every right to be. He hadn't been honest with himself or her at all, he had thought he knew how he felt but he hadn't. He felt as though he was at the centre of a storm of emotions and he couldn't seem to get his bearings, he just wanted that man not to be touching his Molly.

David touched Molly's arm. 'Listen, I think I should leave you to discuss this. You know how I feel, I'll be waiting for you.' He bent and kissed her cheek and then walked past Sherlock giving him a wide berth as he did.

Molly waited until David had left the gardens and then she turned back to Sherlock. 'How dare you? You have made it perfectly clear Sherlock that you aren't interested in a relationship with me, you said it right here, in this very spot just a few hours ago so what is this? Because it's looking to me like sour grapes. What, you don't want your pathologist distracted from her job, is that it? Well screw you Sherlock.'

She made to walk past him but he caught her arm, desperate to not let her leave. 'Wait, I...I think maybe I was wrong.'

'Wrong about what Sherlock, wrong to have slept with me...yes that was wrong. Wrong to have roped me in on this stupid fakery because that was wrong too. Or wrong to try and stop me from thinking of moving on.'

Still he didn't let go of her arm. 'I mean I was wrong to say I didn't have feelings for you. I...I think I'd like to...I don't know, see where they take us.'

'So what? You expect me to give up my chance with David for some halfhearted attempt with you based on you feeling jealous and usurped? Maybe I should date you both and compare and contrast...let's see good career, tick, money, tick...who's the more reliable one, who's the best kisser, the best lover...'

As Molly yelled at him Sherlock felt himself retreating inside his head. He could hear her talking but all he could hear were her words during that phone call...because it's true Sherlock it's always been true...say it...say it like you mean it...

And just like that it all fell into place. It was like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle that made sense of the whole thing. He had thought when he said those words that he had meant them platonically but he hadn't, of course he hadn't. He had meant them...he loved her...he had always loved her and he always would. In an instant he could see their life together mapped out so perfectly that he could almost see their children running through the flower garden and out onto the lawn, laughing and shouting for Uncle Mycroft and Nana and Pop.

He turned back to Molly almost in a daze...'no.'

She frowned...still so angry with him. 'No, what?'

'No, there won't be any comparison...there never was any.'

He took her by her upper arms and looked her in the eye sensing her confusion. 'I...I love you.'

He saw her mouth moving but no words came out but for once he knew he'd said the right thing. He smiled, more confident now. 'I love you Molly Hooper and you won't ever love anyone the way you love me.'

Then he bent his head and he kissed her and it felt as though they were the only two people left on the planet. How had not realised sooner how perfect her lips were against his own, how good it felt to hold her in his arms as he lost himself in the simple pleasure of just kissing her. Her mouth opened to him and he could feel every point at which their bodies touched and it wasn't enough, he wanted to be naked with her, he wanted to explore every inch of her and learn how to play her to perfection.

Her hands had come up to link around his neck and he could feel the pads of her fingers sliding into the base of his hair, twisting into the strands and every movement sent new sensations and new thoughts skittering through his mind.

He vaguely recalled where the nearby tree was and he gradually backed her up against it so he could press himself against her more fully. It also released his hands from holding her steady and he started to ruck the material of her dress up until his hand was touching the side of her thigh, his fingers gripping her leg and lifting it so he could push himself against her more effectively.

He knew this delicious teasing couldn't continue, they were too much in public, too at risk of being found but he couldn't help it. Now that the damn had burst in his head he wanted her, all of her...now.

She broke away from his kiss gasping for air and he moved his mouth to her throat, his hips rocking against hers and he could hear her saying his name in a breathy voice that told him she was as aroused as he was.

It was only when he heard voices approaching and footsteps on the gravel path that he let go of her leg and pulled away from her.

She was flushed and biting her lip which just sent another pulse of blood south and he wished they were anywhere but in the middle of this damn garden party.

'Ah Sherlock, Molly there you are, I'd like you to come say hello to Sylvia and her husband. Sherlock you must remember them...and this is his partner, Molly Hooper.'

Sherlock rolled his eyes at his mother's voice and he saw Molly giggle a little at his reaction but she took his hand and led them over to greet his mother's friends.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Molly was starting to feel whiplash from all Sherlock's mood swings and even though she was convinced that when he said he loved her he had meant it she wasn't quite sure that he had thought through all the implications of those words and so she was a little relieved by the interruption and the change of pace because it gave her time to think.

He had been right with one statement, even though she had been flattered by David's rekindled interest if it came to a choice between him and Sherlock she'd choose Sherlock every time even if it was only for half a chance of a relationship.

Her biggest concern was still that Sherlock had acted out of jealousy rather than a true desire to be in a relationship with her and she needed to make sure that he was sure. But even just the hope of it had bubbles of joy threatening to burst out of her. She knew she was grinning like an idiot but she just couldn't help it and she used the offered glass of wine to try to calm her nerves and bring herself back under control. All the while she was having to keep up the chatter with Violet's friends because Sherlock was either saying nothing or if he did he was being vaguely insulting to them.

Eventually he asked his mother to excuse them both on the basis that he wanted to walk her down to the small lake in the grounds before it got too cold. It was already heading towards five o clock and the heat of the sun was starting to wane.

As they walked away hand in hand Molly asked why he wanted her to see the lake.

'Oh I don't, I just wanted an excuse to leave them, they were boring when I was ten years old and they're even more so now.' He let go of Molly's hand and dug his hand into his trouser pocket and pulled out his cigarettes and a lighter.

As he took one out and started to light it Molly frowned at him. 'You know you shouldn't smoke those things.'

'I know but if I can't have sex with you right here, right now then I need something to take the edge off.' He smirked and retook her hand leading her through the dwindling group of people on the lawn and off round the other side of the house. It seemed that people were either making their way home or moving into the warmth of the house.

Molly looked around for David, knowing she needed to talk to him at some point but there was no sign of him and she was glad to be able to put it off a little longer. He was hardly going to be heartbroken, they'd only spoken of meeting up in London and shared one kiss but she felt as though she had used him somehow.

Sherlock obviously picked up on her silence because he lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of hers gaining her attention once more.

'Penny for your thoughts Molly. I take it you have questions for me, though my declaration can't be that much of a surprise after the events of the last two weeks. If I'm honest with myself, which I haven't been, this hasn't been fake for me since the moment you first kissed me in Baker St I was just stupid not to have realised it sooner.'

'I suppose I'm just concerned that you're acting out of jealousy. I know you think you love me Sherlock but do you actually see yourself in a relationship day in and day out. You've always said you're married to your work and I don't see that changing.'

She hated saying these things to him and it opened up a chasm in her heart at the thought of having to walk away from him but better it happen now whilst she still had some heart left. She looked at the ground as she waited for his answer scared of what it might be.

Sherlock is changing his mind so much that it's no wonder that Molly has her reservations. Here's hoping that he can set her mind at rest and she can be confident that he's making the right choice.

Thank you so much for all your comment and suggestions, please keep them coming, I love hearing them xx