Hey, I haven't got much time so no long winded comments from me. I just wanted to get this chapter posted as I made you wait too long for the last two. Anyway, beware, here lies angst…

Chapter 24

'Molly...Marry me.'

Molly's heart was a drumbeat in her head after hearing those words from Sherlock. She had to take a moment a swallow before she could speak.

'What?'

He leant up on his elbow looking down on her and she could see an excited gleam in his eyes.

'Mycroft mentioned it earlier and it makes perfect sense. If we were married I could ensure you and Matthew are secure, it would sort out any legal issues and...well, maybe we could carry on having sex...like a more formal friends with benefits arrangement. What to do think? You could either move in here or keep your own place if you want to. I thought I could give up having sex after Matthew was born but I find I don't want to.'

Molly felt like he'd just slapped her in the face and she sat up and briefly put her head in her hands before pushing her hair back and off her face.

'So you want to get married, not because you love me, but because it's more practical?'

She felt rather than saw him sitting up next to her but she couldn't look at him. She felt like if she looked at him she'd slap him for being so bloody stupid.

'Well...yes.'

She started to climb out of her side of the bed her eyes already scanning the floor and the room for something to put on.

'Wait, Molly, what's wrong?'

She grabbed a shirt of his that was hanging on the front of the wardrobe and she quickly put it on before turning to face him, holding the material closed over her chest.

'What's wrong? What's wrong? This is wrong, you are wrong. Do you not know me at all Sherlock? If I am going to marry it will be for love...not for some stupid fucking practical reasons and if you think I'll just debase myself into some lifelong friends with benefits arrangement then you have another thing coming. This...' she waved her hand around the room. '...was a mistake. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about having Matthew, but thinking it was a good idea for us to carry on having sex. It obviously gave you the wrong impression and I'm sorry but it won't be happening again. I think it's probably time that Matthew and I moved out.'

Sherlock sat in silence during her tirade his knees bent under the covers and his arms resting on them loosely. As he finally looked at her she saw a steely coldness in his eyes that she hadn't seen in years and it seemed to rip her heart in two.

'Yes, I think maybe that would be for the best. I apologise Molly my proposal was well meant. I didn't mean to offend you.'

There was nothing more to be said and Molly left the room desperately trying to choke back any tears until she'd made it up to her room. Even then as she sobbed into her pillow she was painfully conscious about keeping the noise down, not wanting him to know just how much he had hurt her.

She felt as if she had been an utter fool. Of course this didn't mean anything to him...he had never said that it would or ever lied to her giving her false hope. No, this was all on her. On her and on Mary for making her think that he might ever change.

She meant what she'd said downstairs she wouldn't change the last few months or Matthew for anything but she needed to put her big girl pants on now and realise that she was never going to be in a relationship with Sherlock. They had never been anything more than friends...just friends with a common purpose for a while.

She didn't sleep that much that night and when she awoke in the early hours she set about packing up her things.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

The previous night Sherlock had got up soon after Molly had left and he'd made himself a coffee and retrieved a hidden packet of cigarettes. For the first hour after their argument he was furious...with her, with himself but mostly with Mycroft. If Mycroft hadn't put that idiotic idea into his head he'd still be with Molly now and probably engaging in more sex. Instead it looked as if that avenue was now dead to him and it irked him more than he liked to think about.

He felt restless and antsy as though he wanted to take drugs...who was he kidding he'd love to just get high and forget it all...lose himself in its warm embrace but he knew that wasn't an option. The moment Matthew had been born and he'd held his son in his arms he had vowed never to touch drugs again and he prided himself on not breaking a promise of that kind.

In the end he threw on some clothes and went for a walk, he needed air. He almost hoped that some poor sap would try to mug him because he really felt like hitting something or someone really hard right now.

He ended up outside John and Mary's house and had lifted his hand to ring the doorbell when he stilled. He glanced at his watch and saw it was just after 4am. John wouldn't thank him either for waking Rosie or for waking him. No...he needed to deal with this problem by himself for now.

By the time he got back to Baker St he was exhausted and he fell onto his bed without even bothering to undress and it was just before midday when he finally roused himself hearing voices in the front room.

He ignored them and made his way into his bathroom for a quick shower.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Molly turned her head as she heard the shower switch on and then she turned back to John.

'I know it seems sudden but Sherlock and I have discussed it and it just feels right to be going back home. Matthew and I never planned to live here forever and I just don't want to get too settled here.'

John sighed and leant against the desk. 'I get what you're saying Molly but you know...maybe you should stay a bit longer. Having the two of you here is good for him and you know that Mary thinks...'

She held her hand up effectively shutting him off. 'Yes we both know what Mary thinks but she's wrong...we were both wrong.'

Josh tilted his head slightly looking suspicious. 'Has he done something...said something?'

Molly seemed to deflate a little and she sat down on the arm of John's chair. 'Please don't blame him. He has been very honest from the start about his feelings. I just...well...maybe I got carried away, it was fun plotting with Mary but it's not fun anymore. It's just wrong. He isn't going to change who he is and so it's better that I go before I get more hurt.'

John pushed off the desk and took a couple of steps towards her and he held out his arms. Molly stood and let herself be embraced by him, thankful for his unending friendship and support.

It was at that moment that Sherlock exited the bathroom wearing the robe that Molly had been wearing the night before and she saw him spot the two of them and narrow his eyes.

'Still here Molly?'

John let her go and glared at his best friend. 'What the hell kind of question is that Sherlock? She's the mother of your child...your son, I suggest you speak to her with a little more respect if you don't want me to punch you in the face.'

Sherlock turned to his friend looking angry. 'I'd like to see you try it. I'm not high this time or willing...'

John turned away and Molly saw him fisting his hands. 'You're an arse, you know that. I'm helping Molly take her things down to the cab. I suggest you take the opportunity to say goodbye to your son.'

For the first time Molly saw a flash of anguish cross Sherlock's face and it made her heart clench and she took a step towards him. 'You know you can see him anytime you want. We...we need to work out when you want to have him staying here...a joint custody arrangement, that was always the plan and I don't expect it to change.'

He nodded his head and made his way into the front room.

'He's downstairs with Mrs Hudson I take it.'

Molly gave him a tight smile. 'Yes, she's not happy with me for taking him away.'

He brushed past her and made his way out of the room and Molly watched him go, aching to reach out for him, to hold him and tell him she didn't need to go but she stopped herself. She was doing the right thing. So why did it feel so wrong?

John helped her with her bags and Matthew's various bits of equipment. She needed to buy some duplicates so they didn't have to keep ferrying it all back and forth between their houses but for now she'd have to take it.

Finally with the taxi packed she went through to Mrs Hudson's to pick up Matthew and Toby.

Sherlock had just finished strapping their baby into his car seat and she saw him press a kiss to his forehead and it brought tears to her eyes. She didn't want to part him from his son.

He glanced at her and saw his face soften. 'It's OK Molly...I'm sure I'll cope.'

There was a sniff from behind him and Mrs Hudson wiped her eye with a handkerchief. 'Well I'm not sure I will. Are you sure you have to leave Molly? It's only been a few weeks and you'll be all alone in that flat.'

Molly gave her a sad smile. 'I know, but you and Sherlock are only a phone call away and Matthew will be back here for his first visit before you know it.'

The older woman put her hand on the side of the car seat. 'I know but it's just not going to be the same. I was hopeful what with last night that you might be staying permanently...'

She left the sentence open but neither Sherlock not Molly enlightened her with an answer. Instead Sherlock picked up the car seat and carried it past Molly leaving her to pick up a disgruntled Toby in his cage.

Five minutes later and she was driving away from Baker St with her eyes firmly on the road ahead willing herself not to cry again. She'd done enough crying over the last few hours and it was time for her to start to concentrate on the future...on her and Matthew.

Luckily she was that busy unpacking their luggage, feeding Matthew and settling him into his new home that the first 24 hours seemed to fly by. What she hadn't expected was a visit from a very vexed and frustrated Mary Watson but that was exactly what she got.

She buzzed her in and opened up the flat door waiting for her friend whilst she burped Matthew, careful to make sure the muslin cloth on her shoulder caught any possetting so she wouldn't have to change.

Mary made her way up the stairs and smiled when she saw Molly. 'Right, come on, let's make a cuppa, I've brought the biscuits.' She held up a packet of chocolate digestives. 'You need to tell me everything!'

I'm so sorry for those who wanted the proposal to be real and for them to finally be together. I will say that it won't be too long now…one way or the other…xxx