Hey, so in the midst of a global meltdown I think we need a bit of a Sherlolly distraction don't you agree?

I've been wanting to write another pregnancy fic ever since I wrote One Night Stand but didn't get the inspiration until now. I'll warn you though, it's a long one...hope you've got plenty of time over the coming weeks ;).

Set at the start of season 4, it will diverge from canon as I miss Mary and so I won't be killing her off.

Chapter 1

It had been a long day and Molly's feet were killing her from her new shoes plus her head was spinning a little from both wine and from having to be sociable for so long. She finally saw her opportunity and she slipped out of the main party room and made her way through to the Watson's small garden. Gratefully she sat down on one of the plastic garden chairs and heaved a great sigh as she kicked off her shoes. The grass felt amazingly cool and refreshing under the burning soles of her probably blistered feet.

Today had been Rosie's christening. She had been so honoured when John and Mary had asked her to be a godmother and she smiled as she remembered how good Rosie had been through the service. The one who had been badly behaved had been Sherlock and she chuckled as she remembered having to tell him off for texting by the font when the vicar was in full flow.

If she was honest though they were all being a little indulgent with Sherlock after his close brush with exile and almost certain death. Her body shuddered involuntarily even at the thought and she pushed the memories of it away. The main thing was he'd been reprieved and the last few months had become the normal round of cases interspersed with visits to Mary in hospital after Rosie had been born and then visits to them here in their flat to see the baby as often as she could...sometimes with Sherlock and/or Mrs Hudson but more often alone. She'd grown quite fond of Mary and they'd become closer as friends over the last few weeks.

There was a noise at the bottom of the garden and Molly squinted trying to make out who it was in the gloom. It was late evening now and getting quite dark, in fact Molly was starting to think it was almost time to go home.

The shadows moved and morphed until she recognised Sherlock as he walked down the overgrown path towards where she was sitting.

'I see you needed a break as well Molly. All that cooing and banal small talk was driving me insane.'

He pulled a packet of cigarettes and a lighter from his inside pocket and proceeded to light up with Molly rolling her eyes and tutting.

'Oh don't give me that, at least I'm not shooting up.' He tilted his head slightly and flashed a crooked grin at her and she just huffed and shook her head.

'To be honest Sherlock I'm surprised you lasted the full day. I thought you'd gone home already.'

He shrugged and sat back in the chair stretching out his long legs in front of him and crossing them at the ankle.

'Maybe once upon a time I would have done but I wanted to be here for John and Mary...plus there were no good cases around so no real excuse for leaving.'

He took a drag of his cigarette and tipped his head back as he exhaled the smoke and Molly couldn't help but stare at the long line of his neck and the definition of his jaw. As always she felt her attraction for him making itself known and she had to prise her eyes away from him before he noticed her staring.

It was Sherlock who picked up the conversation again. 'I have to admit that since my near miss after Christmas being with my friends means more to me than it did before. I'm not sure that being alone is good for me. Anyway, enough of me...what about you Molly? Is Rosie making you broody? I'm surprised you haven't had kids yet, I deduced you wanted a family the first time I met you and that was over five years ago now.'

Molly frowned at him, surprised by the turn in his conversation even if she wasn't surprised about his deduction.

'Having kids is a little hard without a man.'

'Not nowadays it isn't. Plenty of women seem to go it alone. Aren't there ways and means?'

'Yes but I'm a bit old fashioned and it would be nicer to have an actual father for any child I had even if I wasn't with him romantically. I'd want them to have a dad that they can turn to and learn from even if he wasn't in their lives full time.'

Sherlock sat up a little and flicked the end of his cigarette away. 'Hmm.'

Molly watched him, he was frowning a little as though he was thinking something through.

'Hmm what? What are you thinking Sherlock? Do you think I shouldn't involve someone else?'

'No...no, that's not what I'm thinking. It's just...since John had Rosie I've just...well, I've thought that having a child myself might be a good thing. After all don't we all want some kind of legacy, some way that a part of us will live on after we've gone...trouble is I think we both know I'd be a lousy parent and I've no desire to be anyone's partner.' He grimaced as he said the latter before sighing and staring at the ground with a contemplative look on his face.

Molly's heart seemed to be hammering in her chest though she wasn't quite sure why, he seemed to be building up to something and even thought she kind of knew what, her mind was shying away from actually considering it.

Sherlock looked up at her suddenly and she felt caught in his gaze. She felt as though he was assessing her and deducing her in a way he hadn't in years. Normally they were so familiar around each other and she'd forgotten what it was like to be impaled by the full focus of his attention. Her mouth felt dry and her palms were sweaty.

'Don't you see Molly, it would be perfect. I could be the father...the father to your child.'

There was an awkward silence after he'd finished speaking as Molly scrambled to accept what he had just said let alone come up with some kind of coherent response but before she could say a word John came out into the garden and smiled as he gestured towards them.

'Here you both are. Mary's just about to put Rosie to bed if you want to come and say good night to her, plus I was just going to open that single malt that Mycroft sent us if you'd like a glass Sherlock?'

Sherlock nodded and gave Molly a last meaningful look before standing and making his way towards his friend.

'Of course...whisky sounds perfect, especially if it's at my brother's expense.'

The two men went into the house and left Molly sat in the garden wondering what exactly Sherlock had just proposed. One thing was certain it hadn't been a romantic proposal; she'd long since given up hope that he'd ever make one of those but he had floored her with his suggestion.

Could she have a child with Sherlock? What would that mean, how would it work and more importantly how would that baby be made?'

She let out an unladylike snort of laughter...well...it wasn't going to be naturally was it! Was it?

She frowned and swallowed uncomfortably. She needed to give this all some thought but now was not the time; she could hear a toast being made inside and she didn't want to let her friends down.

Hastily she pulled on her shoes and winced as she stood, feeling that burning ache on the soles of her feet once more as she made her way inside.

She didn't really get another chance to speak to Sherlock that evening and she had to say she was quite happy about that. Their only other interaction had been as she was leaving and saying her goodbyes.

He'd leant down and kissed her on her cheek, her third such kiss since she'd known him, and before he'd pulled away he whispered. 'Think about it Molly, I'll catch up with you soon.'

As she climbed into her cab she knew absolutely that she'd be thinking of nothing else. In fact she was still awake at 2.00 in the morning contemplating what she should do. Everything logical was telling her it was a bad idea. This was the man she'd ended her engagement over, the man she'd loved unrequitedly for years, the man who could never love her back. And yet here she was considering tying her life to his irrevocably through a shared child.

But on the other hand she'd have the one thing that she had always wanted and never thought possible; his child. She could almost see it...a little boy or girl with Sherlock's curls and if she was lucky his eyes as well. She'd have some part of him even if it wasn't the man himself and that was so, so tempting.

As she started to drift into sleep she couldn't help picturing the fantasy of conceiving the child. She hated the idea of a turkey baster for her and some porn for him but she couldn't honestly imagine Sherlock agreeing to any more natural alternative.

All those same thoughts continued to go through her mind on a loop for the next two days. She did wonder if she'd see Sherlock at Barts when she went back to work but there was no sign of him and part of her was glad, she still didn't really know what her answer would be...if anything she just had questions...endless, endless questions.

It was almost 72 hours later (and Molly was beginning to think that maybe it had all been in her imagination) that she received a text from him.

May I come round tonight? SH

She was immediately nervous; her heart thumping and her hands shaking as she sent off an affirmative reply and when she made it back to her flat he was already waiting for her outside, smoking.

He grinned at her and fell into step beside her as she made her way to the door. 'So tell me Molly, am I going to have to give these up?'

She immediately understood the meaning of his question but she just shrugged. 'I don't know Sherlock...this just seems too weird. Let's just talk first.'

'Fair enough.' He flicked the cigarette butt away and followed her in before taking off his coat and unbuttoning his jacket. Molly's eyes lingered over his hand as he did and then slid up his chest to his face only to find him smirking.

'So, what's for dinner?'

She frowned at him feeling a bit non-plussed. 'Dinner?'

'Yes, I assumed you'd be making something but I can always call out for Indian or Chinese if you want?'

'Right, yes that would be good, maybe Chinese...I just didn't expect you to want to eat that's all.'

'I'm working on the basis that whatever your decision we'd still have a lot to talk about. Either you're going to say yes and we need to go through the logistics of it all or you're going to say no in which case I'll have to persuade you to change your mind.'

He flashed her a more genuine smile this time and she couldn't help but shake her head and smile at him in return. In the end he rang through for the food whilst she took a quick shower and changed into some comfy clothes and by the time she made it back into her kitchen he was just dishing up the food.

They sat side by side on the settee and for the first five minutes they were just intent on eating but then Sherlock put his plate down.

'It's no good, I can't figure it out at all...what are you thinking? I was sure you'd have been in touch after our chat at John's house and the not knowing is killing me.'

Molly followed suit and put her own plate down before hitching her leg under her and turning to face him more.

'So you're really serious about this then? You want to have a child and you want that child with me?'

'Yes and yes, it makes such perfect sense that I don't know why I hadn't thought of it sooner. I mean, it was only when I was being sent on that suicide mission that I realised that I would regret not having anything of myself to go on after. Like I said, we all probably have some element of wanting to leave a legacy...and it seems I'm human enough in that respect. As for why you, well that only really occurred to me during our conversation but it all fits. We get on well, you understand my weaknesses, you'll be such a great mother that it will help to compensate for my shortfalls as a father. I know you used to find me physically attractive at one point so hopefully the sex won't be too off putting for you...'

'Whoa, whoa, whoa...hang on! So you actually want us to have sex?'

Sherlock cocked his head to one side and looked surprised. 'Well yes, isn't that normally how a baby is conceived? I mean I know there are other ways but I...I'd like to actually play my part.'

He shifted in his seat and Molly noticed that his gaze suddenly seemed to fall on anything but her and she bit her lip nervously as she waited for him to continue.

'You see...well you've probably have already heard the gossip but I...I'm a virgin. I never saw the need for sex before but if it comes down to it I'd like to experience what it's like to have sex...to try to conceive a child the way I'm supposed to. How would you...I mean, would you be willing to...umm...indulge me in this?'

Molly's mind seemed to go blank once again as she desperately tried to come up with an answer.

What do you reckon...do you think Molly will be able to indulge him? Don't forget this is the start of season 4 so there are no phone declarations. I will be using some elements from that series though so it isn't completely disregarded.

Anyway, new story, new nerves...let me know if you like the sound of it so far and I'll update again soon xx