A short time later she arrived at the address she was familiar with. After getting out of the taxi, she looked around briefly. She wanted to capture everything and save it in her memories. The building had not changed much. Nothing of the explosion was visible from the outside. The last time Molly was here, she could hardly recognise it. Yes, Molly had visited Baker Street once shortly after the explosion. After Mycroft's assistant had told her about the explosion she couldn't stand it any more and wanted to see it with her own eyes.
That was nearly a month ago. She had not been back here since.
Slowly Molly walked towards the door. A note hung on the knob.
Just come up.
She had to smile slightly when she read the note. After all, she knew this sentence all too well. Sherlock had once asked her to come to his place to help her solve crimes. When she arrived at Baker Street, there was also a note on the door with exactly the same lines.
Carefully she turned the knob on the door and opened it.
As she entered the hallway to the staircase, she thought for a moment about paying Mrs Hudson a little visit first. The nice old lady had been very depressed at the time when Molly told her about her move. A last cup of tea together might cheer her up a bit.
So she walked up to the old lady's door and knocked, but nobody opened it. She knocked again, but Mrs Hudson didn't seem to be at home.
Somewhat disappointed, she turned away from the door and walked slowly and with slightly shaky legs up the stairs to the flat where the man she had loved for so many years but now had to let go.
'What will he want?' she asked herself and stood in front of the door behind which the real reason for her departure was waiting.
But something was different. Something was wrong. From inside, Molly could hear lots of voices and laughter.
What was going on here?
She carefully opened the door and was immediately greeted by a delighted crowd.
"Molly. Glad you're here!' Mrs Hudson greeted her friendly and gave her a short hug. John and Greg also came and greeted her. Sherlock sat a bit away, but greeted her friendly with a nod and a little smile.
"Uh, what's going on here?" she now asked with a slightly confused expression.
"Well, we're going to have a surprise farewell party, darling" Mrs Hudson then explained to her.
"Do you think we're just going to let you go without saying goodbye as a native? But now come in and take your coat off," said John and pushed her into the living room with her hand on her back.
Molly was visibly moved by her friends' surprise. She had actually planned to say goodbye to everyone tomorrow. But maybe it was better that way and she didn't have to fear any touching farewell scenes at the airport or anything.
She let John accompany her inside and then gave him her coat.
"Wow! Molly! You look stunning. Did you have plans for today?" John asked now as he saw her in her outfit.
Molly looked down at herself. Her cheeks turned slightly red.
"Uh, uh... Oh no, these are just the last things I have with me." she tried to save herself somehow.
What was she thinking? That if Sherlock saw her in that outfit, he might come to his senses after all? That was complete nonsense. In any case, he didn't really seem to care. He was just sitting in his armchair typing on his phone.
Probably some case again. But no, this is the last time I see my friends. I won't think about it and just enjoy the evening. After all, they've gone to so much trouble to surprise me with this,' she thought and then sat down on one of the empty seats on the couch.
A quick look around the flat showed that nothing had changed. Even the wallpaper was the same. And there was the yellow smiley with the bullet holes. It almost seemed as if there had never been an explosion.
Molly obviously had fun with her friends. They drank lots of wine and often talked about the stories of how they had all met for the first time. No one dared to say anything about Molly's departure. They wanted to keep the mood as high as possible. So they just drank more wine and went on telling stories. She enjoyed listening to her friends' stories and even didn't notice that Sherlock left the room at some point. Time flew by and at some point it was time for Molly to say goodbye to everyone.
No touching farewell scenes,' she thought and wiped tears from her face as she cradled her goddaughter in her arms and said goodbye. John had taken her to his former room and put her to bed. Rosie was still very young and apparently could not yet understand that Molly was going to leave. But she visibly enjoyed her godmother's touch and cuddled closely to her breast.
Molly then turned to her other friends and said goodbye to each with a hug. She promised to call when she arrived and to come over for the holidays and Rosie's birthday.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Molly looked around the room once more. She seemed to be looking for something or someone. John also noticed that a certain person was missing. He apologised briefly to the other guests and then went in the direction of Sherlock's bedroom. He slowly opened the door but the room was empty.
He then looked in the bathroom but that was empty too.
With his head slightly lowered, he finally approached his guests again. He cast an apologetic glance at Molly. She understood quickly and waved away.
"It's okay. I didn't think he was going to say goodbye either," she just said, then put on her coat and reached for her bag.
Then she left the flat and walked down the stairs slightly disappointed.
"So you're leaving already?" suddenly a deep voice resounded from a dark corner in the hallway.
"Jesus Christ, Sherlock! You frightened me!" she said and drove around in horror.
"And yes, unfortunately I have to go. My flight is at noon tomorrow and I have a few things to do before then," she explained.
Sherlock was still sitting in the dark corner and didn't move.
"And you're leaving because you're starting a new job at another hospital?" he asked, but it almost sounded as if he didn't really believe it.
'Huh? What was that all about?' she thought and looked questioningly in the direction the voice came from.
"Yes of course. That's the only reason I'm going to Ireland after all".
"No, Molly." The voice came closer. Sherlock was now moving slowly towards it.
"What do you mean, no?
Molly didn't really understand what Sherlock wanted or how he got there. But before she could say anything back, he went on.
"That's not only the reason why you're leaving. You and I, both of us, know very well that there is something else," he continued and walked towards her a little closer.
Damn. He knows it but what was he trying to do now?'
"Jesus, Sherlock! What do you want to hear from me now?' she then asked. She seemed slightly nervous, but didn't want to let on.
"The truth, Molly," he then said. He was now standing very close in front of her and looked down on her. She was nervous and nested her fingers on the strap of her bag.
"But this is the truth. I'm going to Ireland because I have a new job there" she then tried to explain herself.
Sherlock did not believe her. Her whole posture, her reaction told him that she was hiding something. With a penetrating and sceptical look he tried to get the woman to tell him the truth in front of him.
'Damn that look. Don't give in now, Molly' Molly tried to calm herself in her thoughts.
But she secretly realised she had nothing to lose and would not be seeing Sherlock again for a very long time anyway. And before she knew it, the words left her mouth.
"Okay. Well, it's true that I'm going to Ireland for a new job, but..." she started to tell and sighed slightly.
She took another deep breath and then continued.
"You're right. There is another reason. I'm, um... I just can't live like this anymore. I just can't go on seeing you every day and knowing..."
She took a short break. Molly paused to think about what to do next.
"Listen, Sherlock, I love you. I've always loved you and I always will. But the thought that you'll never love me the way I do makes my heart break. I just don't want to feel that way any more. I want to be happy again. And I can only do that by forgetting you. I just have to go. I'm sorry..." she said then and slowly turned away from him. Again she had to fight against her tears.
Molly was just about to walk out the door when she suddenly felt a strong hand grab her wrist and turn back.
Sherlock was now standing very close to her. His face was only inches away from hers. She felt her breathing gradually become faster.
And then something happened that Molly had never expected in her life.
Sherlock put both hands on her cheeks and slowly bent down towards her. Then he put his lips on hers and kissed her. Molly couldn't believe it. Sherlock kissed her. Sherlock Holmes kissed Molly Hooper.
Her heart took a little jump. She leaned against his lips and sighed slightly. Her hands found their way to his neck and then buried themselves in his curls. Those wonderful curls. How long had she wished she could just once roam through those curls with her hands.
The kiss itself was short but intense. Sherlock wanted to put all his feelings for her into this, probably their last kiss together.
Then he slowly released himself from her and whispered softly:
"Goodbye, Molly Hooper! I hope you will be very happy in Ireland. You deserve it!"
And with these words he let go of her and put some distance between them again.
Molly did not know what she wanted to say. She was still stunned by that kiss. Instead, she just smiled, turned around and then walked out the door.
With the words "Goodbye, Sherlock" she then left Baker Street and thus her old life in London.
Sherlock watched her for a while, and when he heard the door fall shut, he whispered softly "I love you too" and then walked up the stairs to his flat.