Well, the last few days have been eventful, news wise, what else is 2020 going to throw at us. I don't want to get political on here so I'll just say stay safe and hopefully this fic is still acting as a distraction from all the bad stuff going on around us. I know I'm reading fics myself as a bit of an escape.

What we need, I feel, is a bit more Ben in quarantine. He's been quite good to us so far but you can never have too much Ben. He makes me smile.

Anyway, shall we catch up with our soon to be parents and see what Sherlock's mood is like after spending time with his mum?

Chapter 18

Molly didn't see or hear from Sherlock again that day and she wondered how long his mother had had him in tow during the day. She also hoped she'd see him again soon because the more she'd thought about that kiss as she'd left Mycroft's house the more she wanted him again. Her sex drive was reduced in pregnancy but it was most definitely not non-existent.

It was therefore both nerve-wracking and exciting, in equal measure, to see him sat at his microscope in the lab the following day after she'd been to lunch. It also didn't help that he was wearing one of her favourite outfits, a black suit and dark blue shirt with the buttons straining over his chest.

She made her way over smiling. 'Hey, how did you get on with your mother yesterday? Did you have a good time?'

He lifted his head and glared at her. 'A good time? No, I most definitely did not have a good time. You'll no doubt be pleased to hear though that she bought up half of the baby department in John Lewis.'

She couldn't help but giggle in the face of his ire and he shook his head as he turned back to his work.

She bit her lip and hesitated and she saw his eyes flit sideways to assess her for a second.

'So, umm...have you got a case on at the moment?'

He didn't look up. 'No, why? I'm not doing any more shopping if that's what you're thinking.'

She took a deep breath and placed her hand on his upper thigh. 'I...I was just wondering if you wanted to maybe get together later.'

She saw his eyes look down at her hand and his lips twitched into a smile before he slowly turned on the stool until he was facing her. Now he definitely had what could only be described as a smirk in his face.

'I could be persuaded.'

She smiled back feeling a rush of relief and joy ripple through her as she moved to stand between his open legs.

'Hmm, now how can I go about persuading you?'

She leant forward and watched his eyes close as she moved in to kiss him and she loved just how easily he gave into it. Maybe Mary and his mother were right, maybe they could be something more than she'd thought they were.

One of her hands moved into his hair as the kiss deepened and she couldn't resist letting the other move further up his leg until she was brushing against his crotch. He let out a groan and she was just going to move her hand to cup him when the door to the lab was pushed open and Mike Stamford walked in.

'Molly, do you have the...oh...'

She hurriedly moved back out of Sherlock's space and felt her face flaming as she guiltily looked at the shock on her manager's face.

It quickly morphed from shock to concern and he made his way into the room.

'What the hell is going on here? Molly, you're supposed to be working...'

Sherlock gracefully turned and stood holding his hands out placatingly.

'It's entirely my fault Mike. I was bored and Molly was still on her lunch break...'

The older man reacted angrily. 'You were bored. Bored? Molly isn't your plaything Sherlock. She's pregnant for God's sake and...'

Sherlock cut him off. 'Yes, with my baby.'

'Yours? Your baby...Molly?'

He turned back to Molly who had been stood feeling mortified throughout the whole exchange.

'I...yes...yes it's Sherlock's baby...I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier its just we...I...'

She floundered a little not sure how to describe their situation. Mike had never enquired about the father or her personal life when she'd told him she was pregnant and now she was wishing she'd bitten the bullet and just told him.

Sherlock took her hand. 'We're together...early days and all. Still I am sorry Mike. We shouldn't have been engaging in public displays of affection at Molly's place of work. It won't happen again.'

He turned and picked up his coat. 'I'll go. Molly, come to Baker St, say about 7.00?'

She nodded her head and watched him go wondering exactly what he meant about them being together. Had he meant that?

They both waited until he'd left the room and then Molly turned to Mike. 'I'm so sorry...'

He smiled and waved one hand. 'Oh, don't worry. Just don't let it happen again, I wouldn't want it to get back to the senior management team or we'd both be in trouble. So, you and Sherlock then...you're not going to have an easy ride there are you but you already know what he's like so...well, I wish you well Molly. I always knew you had a soft spot for him and I think you'll do him good. Can't imagine him as a dad though...haha...well, stranger things have happened I suppose. Now, I was after the file for a Malcolm Parker, have you got it?'

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Molly had gone home to shower and change before heading to Sherlock's flat and she couldn't help but feel excited as she made her way there. She was trying to carry on walking as much as she could even though her bump was starting to get bigger but she suspected that she'd soon be back to relying on cabs rather than tubes in the not too distant future.

As she made her way down Baker St she could see light peeping through the curtains at his windows and she hurried a little, eager to see him. It felt just like going on a date and she hoped that she wasn't getting all her hopes up for nothing.

Mrs Hudson greeted her with a kiss, patting her bump and asking her how she was feeling.

'I can't quite believe that Sherlock is going to be a father, it's so exciting. When will you be moving into Baker St?'

Molly felt a little blind-sided by the suggestion, she hadn't considered it at all. 'Oh, I'm not. I'll still be living at my own place.'

'Really? Sherlock's been getting John's room ready for you and the baby. Well, maybe you two should have a little chat about it...make sure you're both on the same page.'

She squeezed Molly's arm lightly and then went back into her own flat.

Molly made her way up the stairs, frustrated at how slow she had to take them. She wondered if Sherlock would even want to have sex with her now she was getting bigger...in her mind she was starting to look a bit like a blimp.

As she made her way into his room she found him in the kitchen working on an experiment. He smiled as she came in and took his goggles off.

'Hi, I've just been frying that liver that you gave me last week.'

She giggled. 'I take it you haven't fried it with bacon and onions for dinner. What are you testing?'

She dumped her coat and her bag on the settee and for the next hour the two of them were happily engrossed messing about with Sherlock's tests and theories. Most she agreed with but she wasn't afraid to challenge where she needed to and stand her ground, letting the evidence back her up.

Finally he threw his scalpel and blowtorch down and ripped off the goggles.

'Right, that's it, I'm done. You'll have to get me another liver so I can carry on and hopefully prove you wrong.' He gave her a smirk as he made his way over to the kettle filling it up.

'By the way, I hope you didn't mind me telling Stamford we were together. Anything else would have been problematic given his age and the way he sees himself as a father figure to you. I'm sure you can let him down gently sometime down the line.'

Molly's good mood crashed in an instance and she struggled for a moment to dissemble. 'I...I mean, yes that was fine. You certainly shocked him.' She gave a hollow laugh and hoped he couldn't tell how disappointed she was from the sound of it.

He looked around grinning. 'I know, I have to admit it was a lark surprising him like that. It was so funny. His face...' he started to laugh a little as he turned back to pour out the water into the waiting mugs and Molly couldn't help but smile along with him. Despite her own stupid fantasies being turned to dust she still loved him and she loved seeing him happy like this.

He made his way back to her carrying the cups and he placed them on the kitchen table, Molly grimaced a little and moved hers further away from the charred liver pieces.

When he took a step closer, into her personal space she felt her heart beat pick up a notch at the sheer closeness of him.

He gave her a soft smile and let his finger trail down her cheek. 'So, Molly...any requests? Any fantasies you want fulfilled tonight?'

She had trouble swallowing as her mind skittered at him making such an offer but her thoughts all came back to what he'd just said about letting Mike down about them being in a relationship.

He must have seen the conflict and concern on her face because he used his hand to lift her chin a little and she saw him narrowing his eyes.

'What? What is it? You're worried about something.'

She took a deep breath and knew she had to tell him at least some of her concerns.

'I...I just don't feel that comfortable knowing I'm manipulating you into sex when you don't really want this...us...to carry on. I know I said I needed it, to feel close to you whilst I was pregnant but...well, it feels wrong when you don't want to. And... I mean look at me...it's not like I'm attractive anyway. I look like a whale.'

He stood back a little and cocked his head to one side before chuckling. Molly frowned and picked up her drink...using it as a distraction. Her heart felt like it was on the verge of being split in two and she didn't want him to see how scared she was.

'Molly, are you really worrying that I don't want to have sex with you? Because if so that's ridiculous. I'll be completely honest...I'm actually enjoying the chance to carry on. Sex is far more addictive than I'd realised and even though I know, for my work, that it would be better for me to abstain I haven't got anything on right now and I simply can't be bothered to deny myself.'

'As to your second point, that I wouldn't find you attractive, once again you're plain wrong. Molly, you're carrying my child...mine.' He stepped back towards her and removed her cup from her before placed his hands gently on her bump. As if in response the baby kicked and they both looked down before chuckling and glancing back at each other and Molly found that she simply couldn't look away from him.

'You have never looked more beautiful Molly and I can't say it more simply or honestly than I want you.'

He moved his hands to her waist and pulled her to him for a kiss and Molly just felt relief and desire rushing through her in equal measure. It wasn't fully the kind of declaration that she would have wanted but she felt as if there was still a chink of light and it was enough for her to give in to his embrace.

It was strange kissing him with her stomach in the way. There was no chance of him going on top now but they had plenty of other options and Molly moaned as ideas and images rolled through her mind. As she did his kiss seemed to intensify and his hands moved to undo the buttons on her shirt as hers started to pull his out from his trousers. She couldn't wait to feel his skin sliding against her own, his mouth on her body and to be in his arms once more.

Well, looks like they're back on the same page at the moment. Sherlock's being as open with her as he with himself...but we all know he's still wrapped in a fug of denial. I wonder what will happen in the next chapter...I can't imagine...can you? ;)