Hey guys, I'm back (here's hoping that that is good news). So, instead of concentrating on one of my WIPs that have been hanging around for almost a year I got distracted by ab790 on tumblr who asked about a story where Sherlock and or Molly start baking and maybe Mycroft ends up involved due to his well-known love of all things sugary. It got me thinking and so I present The Great Baker Street Bake Off. I do hope you like it.

I'm also gifting this story to Annorahrose who burst into my world a few months back and now I can't imagine her not being in it. Thanks you for all your praise and support, here's hoping you enjoy this little offering

Chapter 1 - Rosie's Butterfly Cakes

When Molly thought back she couldn't quite remember how they all came to be in Sherlock's flat at the same time. She seemed to think that Sherlock and Greg were wrapping up the loose ends of a case. She'd just arrived with a fresh pair of hands for Sherlock's latest experiment and Mrs Hudson was had just delivered a big pot of tea and was collecting Sherlock's washing.

Molly had just agreed to have a cuppa with the older woman, who was pouring out for each of them, when John arrived with Rosie who was toddling behind him precariously carrying a Tupperware box.

Molly happily hung up her coat and then bent down to greet her favourite, in fact her only, goddaughter.

'Hello Rosie, what have you got there?'

Rosie grinned happily and dropped the box so that she could cuddle Molly. She said something that Molly couldn't make out and she looked at John questioningly as she accepted the little girl's hugs and kisses.

John frowned and shook his head as he bent to pick up the Tupperware box.

'They're cakes; we've been baking haven't we Rosie. She was supposed to be looking after them not dropping them on the floor.'

This time when Rosie said the word 'cakes' Molly could make it out a bit more.

'Ooh you've been baking; you are a clever girl. Can I have one with my cup of tea?'

Rosie nodded her head vigorously and then pushed away from Molly so she could go over to Sherlock.

It amused Molly to see how he didn't break stride with whatever he was saying to Greg even as he automatically bent down to pick up Rosie and sit her on his hip. She'd always wondered what he would be like with children and it warmed her heart to see how naturally he had taken to having Rosie in his life.

'So, John, what are these cakes like then? I can't imagine you baking.'

John chuckled. 'Let's just say I'm amazed we managed to actually bake some. Rosie was more intent on eating the raw cake mix than she was about putting them in the cases.'

He pulled off the lid and Molly and Martha peered in at what were obviously butterfly cakes although more than a few were looking a bit worse for wear for their travel to Baker St with a toddler.

Mrs Hudson smiled and patted John's arm. 'They look lovely, let's put them out onto a plate. I'm sure we can salvage a good number of them.'

Molly giggled at the chagrined look on John's face but she helped him and Mrs Hudson to decant them onto the plate. They stuck some of the 'wings' back in place and happily ate those that they couldn't.

John called over to his daughter who seemed to be intently listening to her Uncle Sherlock whilst at the same time undoing the buttons on his shirt and Molly couldn't help but think that the little girl couldn't have chosen a better task if she'd paid her.

On hearing her name and seeing the cakes out on a plate she wriggled enough that Sherlock deposited her back on the floor and Molly giggled even more on seeing his reaction when he realised half his chest was now exposed. He had obviously been so engrossed in his conversation that he hadn't even noticed what his goddaughter had been doing. Then, even though she looked away quickly when he glanced over at her, she knew he'd caught her staring. And why wouldn't she? He was still drop dead gorgeous even after all these years and Molly just wished she could undress him herself.

Mrs Hudson passed her her cup of tea and she took one of Rosie's proffered cakes and then watched as John hovered behind his daughter, half crouched, hands at the ready, trying to make sure she didn't drop the heavy, ceramic plate.

In the end everyone took a cake, mainly because Rosie stamped her foot and threatened to cry if they didn't, and five minutes later they were all scattered around the front room eating the cakes and watching as Rosie crumbled hers up on her plastic plate and eagerly mashed it into her mouth.

It was Sherlock who spoke first. 'Not your best effort John, a bit too sweet, my brother would no doubt enjoy them though...maybe I'll keep a couple in case he pops round.' He smirked to himself and Molly shook her head. Over the years she'd picked up on the rivalry between Sherlock and his older brother and it always amused her how childish he could be over it.

'Alright Mary Berry, I bet you couldn't do better.'

At that Sherlock laughed. 'I'm sure I could if I could ever be bothered. I'm a graduate chemist and I've no doubt baking is just about mixing the right amounts of compounds together in the right way in order to get an end result.'

It was Mrs Hudson who intervened to diffuse the argument. 'Well I think it was a very good first effort. With a little practice and experience, you and Rosie could be as good as me someday.'

Molly saw Sherlock smiling again at this backhanded compliment and she dropped her head so the group couldn't see that she was holding back her laughter.

John frowned. 'Well, maybe if you guys are so good you should prove you can do better.'

Greg answered him with a mouth full of his second cake. 'What, you mean like a bake off?'

Molly grinned at that, loving the idea of being able to regularly get together with the group outside of Bart's. 'Ooh, it could be the great Baker St bake off...I like that idea, I'm in. I've still got my mum's old recipe book and I bet there's something good I can make in it.'

Sherlock rolled his eyes. 'Well, it sounds boring to me. I'm out.'

John laughed. 'Coward.'

That had Sherlock glaring but he didn't answer as just at that moment Rosie used his knee to lever herself up to standing and she left behind a sticky handprint from the butter cream in her cake.

Mrs Hudson stood up and went to retrieve a dishcloth. 'Well, I'm in as well, it sounds like a fun distraction. Shall I go first? We could meet up at the same time next week. What does everyone think?'

Everyone eagerly agreed and started to discuss recipe ideas whilst Sherlock ignored them all and dabbed at his trousers with the wet dishcloth. And so it began.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

It was a long, quiet week for Molly. After the meet up at Baker St she'd hoped to maybe see Sherlock at Barts in the week but all was quiet. She eventually heard through John that Sherlock had spent some of the week in Manchester. Apparently they had a new case but because of childcare John had had to stay in London whilst Sherlock travelled to see the client alone. They both agreed it must be a case of particular interest for Sherlock to leave the city, especially alone, and she wondered if she'd find out a bit more about it when she went round for the bake off. Then she felt a little depressed when she realised it might mean Sherlock wouldn't even be there.

She shook her head at herself and tried to concentrate on her paperwork but it was no good. It was late in the day, her motivation was all used up and now her mind, as it was too often, was on Sherlock.

She wished she wasn't still so obsessed with him. She knew it wasn't healthy for her but if anything her feelings increased year on year rather than decreasing and given everything that had happened the previous year it had only made her unending and unrequited love for him feel more at the forefront.

That strange phone call that they'd shared when he'd been coerced and tortured by his sister seemed to be at the heart of it all. Although she knew why he'd made the call, and indeed she was grateful that he had and that he'd cared enough to want to save her, it hadn't stopped her obsessing over hearing him say those words 'I love you' to her. They haunted her dreams and too often her waking moments. It was her own fault. She'd been the one to challenge him to say it and say it like he meant it and damn it he had and then some.

The first time had been nervous, tentative as though his mouth wasn't used to saying those three words but the second time...the second time had sounded like a whispered revelation and Molly had almost had hope that he'd meant it. But if he had he'd never acknowledged it, never said a word about it. If anything their relationship had been a little more strained since and she hated that fact.

Almost nine months had passed and she knew that things were starting to settle back down for him and she hoped it would mark a turning point of sorts with their friendship. Baker St was back to normal after the explosion; he didn't seem to need to fly out to his sister's prison quite as often as he had and she knew he was starting to pick up private cases again with John on top of his regular work with Lestrade.

It was therefore with rather mixed emotions that she made her way down Baker St on the evening of the following Wednesday. She was curious to see what Mrs Hudson had baked...looking forward to it in fact. She doubted anyone else would actually be able to beat the older woman when it came to baking.

She was surprised to see a sleek black car pull up though just as she was knocking on Sherlock's front door and even more surprised when his brother climbed out. It did, however, give her a flicker of hope that Sherlock must actually be in.

'Mr Holmes, hi, how are you?'

'I'm well Dr Hooper, I take it you are here to see my brother as well?'

She was about to answer him when the door opened to John's smiling face. It only faltered slightly when he saw Mycroft.

'Molly, good to see you. Mycroft. Come on up.'

The two of them followed John up the stairs and as they did Molly could smell something delicious emanating from Sherlock's flat and it had her smiling and her mouth watering.

John chatted as they went up. 'Honestly Molly, Mrs Hudson has cooked up a storm. Not just one bake but three; I'm not going to need any more food today after this.'

As they made their way in Molly was secretly pleased to see Sherlock sitting in his chair with his violin resting on a black clad knee whilst he put resin on his bow in long sweeps of his hand. He glanced up and smiled as Molly came in behind John but it quickly turned into a knowing smirk as Mycroft joined them.

'Brother, I'd say it was a surprise to see you but on thinking about it, given the number of cakes in my flat, it really isn't.'

Mycroft seemed to pull himself up haughtily and looked down his nose at Sherlock. 'I have no idea what you are trying to insinuate Sherlock, I'm here on a matter of utmost importance.'

Sherlock stood and made his way around the back of his chair no doubt to put his violin away.

'I really rather doubt that but if you're saying you just want to talk and don't want any cake...'

Molly couldn't resist turning to see how Mycroft would take that challenge and she had to admit to feeling a bit sorry for him as his facade crumbled slightly.

'Well...it would be rude of me to not at least partake in a little something whilst I'm here...our relationship shouldn't be just about work now should it little brother.'

Sherlock was openly grinning as he replied. 'If you say so Mycroft. Well, you might as well help yourself and then we can discuss just what it was that was so important you had to visit me in person.' He gestured towards the kitchen and as Molly rounded the corner and saw what was on display she swore her stomach growled in response.

First chapter…setting the scene for what's to come. What do you say…are you in?