Morning, I hope you all had as good a weekend as I had. I've been wanting a hanging egg chair all my life and this weekend I finally got one. My husband bought it as a surprise gift and it's made me very, very happy. I just need to work out how I can write whilst I'm bobbing away in it enjoying all the sunshine.

Anyway, Molly and Sherlock are ensconced in the hotel and it's time for them to catch up over dinner.

Chapter 5

They agreed to meet later for drinks and dinner, and Marie confirmed that she would introduce Sherlock to Chantelle at some point in the evening.

When Molly got back to her room, she threw herself down on the bed, and then giggled a little to herself. Today had been so vastly different from what she had had planned, but she couldn't say she had a single regret. Spending time with Sherlock like this just felt different to how it did in London. They seemed easier together. The last few months had been hard since the events of the last year, and this was like a cleansing breath sweeping it all aside...starting again.

Thinking of Sherlock naturally had her thinking about the kiss they had just shared. She knew it had just been for show...for the receptionist, or owner, or whoever she was, but it had completely thrown her. She closed her eyes and rested her fingertips against her lips, and she tried to remember just how good it had felt. She knew her pulse had probably doubled in rate, and she had felt flushed and a little dizzy when it finished. But during...well, she had few words to describe it. It just proved to her how strong her feelings still were for him, that just a simple kiss could so affect her.

She sat up and glanced at her clock. She had a couple of hours before she was due to meet him, so she decided to have a leisurely bath and take her time getting ready. It was then that she remembered that she only had one posh frock with her, and she let out an audible groan.

Standing, she made her way over to the wardrobe and she slid the door to one side and hooked out the dress in question. Black velvet with silver trim on the neckline...her dress from that Christmas party...the one where Sherlock had insulted her mouth, her breasts...something about her over-compensating. She had barely worn it since, but it had seemed like a good option for this holiday as it didn't take up much space in her bag and it wouldn't need ironing.

She sighed...there wasn't much choice for tonight, she'd just have to grin and bear whatever comments Sherlock threw at her, but she wondered if maybe she couldn't go into the small town the next day and buy something different for the next night; especially if there was going to be dancing.

Her mood had bounced back, and she was smiling to herself happily as she made her way to the bathroom to run herself a bath.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

It was just before 7pm, and Sherlock was sat in the bar nursing a whisky, waiting for Molly, as he thought through what he wanted to get from Harlow's dance partner when he met her later this evening. A decent description would be a good, a photograph even better, and if Molly was able to confirm identity, he could proceed with trying to find out more about the man himself. He was very much of the opinion that knowing the victim would tell him who his murderer was likely to be.

He gave a cursory glance about the room automatically deducing the residents, filing away any bits of information that might prove useful, and he checked the doorway to see if there was any sign of Molly yet, though he knew he was early.

Doing that brought her to the forefront of his mind and he narrowed his eyes slightly and his lips tightened. Thinking of Molly always felt dangerous. Ever since Eurus had taunted him the previous year, he had been uncomfortable with his feelings for Molly. He knew now just how dangerous she was for him, but he couldn't quite seem to find the strength to do the right thing and cut himself off from her, and now here he was...playing a thwarted lover...a spur of the moment choice, but a choice he had made none the less.

He'd also chosen to come down here and join her on her holiday without even a second thought, and his comment about things being quiet in London had been something of a lie...there was plenty of work there. John had been more than surprised at his decision, given the case load they'd had on. He pushed those thoughts away...he found he didn't want to examine them too closely, nor did he want to dwell too much on their interactions during the day, so he took a swig of his whisky again.

His eyes flicked back to the door into the bar, and he had to admit he took a double take when he saw her. She was wearing a dress which seemed familiar. It took him a split second to delve into his mind palace, and then he remembered. Christmas. He'd been an idiot, insulted her, and got his deductions about her all so wrong. He remembered how her rebuke had made him feel, and he also remembered that that was the first time he had apologised to her and kissed her. Her cheek had felt so soft, her light perfume filling his nose, and he remembered just how unnerved he had felt about his reactions to her, both physically and emotionally. That had been the start...he was in no doubt of that.

He stood as she came over and he greeted her with another kiss to her cheek, smiling a little to himself at the symmetry of it all.

'Molly. You look very...attractive. May I buy you a drink?'

She couldn't help but be a bit suspicious over his compliment. He'd obviously recognised the dress.

'Thanks, I'll have a red wine...maybe Merlot. And before you say anything, I had no idea when I packed this dress, that I'd be running into you during this holiday.'

He gave her order to the barman as well as getting himself another whisky, and then he turned back to her feigning looking a little hurt.

'Did I say anything about the dress? It is a bit familiar though.'

His lips twitched into a small smile, and she faux punched him on the arm.

'You were horrible, and you know it.'

At this he grinned. 'Well, you certainly told me that I was, and I seem to remember apologising to you...much to John's surprise if I remember rightly. I don't think he'd ever seen me apologise to anyone before that...in fact, come to think of it you're one of the very few people I have ever apologised to.'

He passed her her drink and held his own up to clink against it. 'Here's to hoping I don't have to apologise to you again in the future.'

At this she chuckled. 'Chance would be a fine thing. I bet you can't go 24 hours.'

He led them over to a table nearby, where they'd be eating their dinner, and after they'd sat down Molly took a moment to look around the room.

The hotel was at least a hundred years old, built and decorated in an art nouveau style. The woods were mahogany and the paint schemes warm and rich. This was the largest room in the hotel, and the centre piece was very much the large, oval dance floor with all the dining tables dotted around circling it. The room was probably half full, and although there was music playing there was nobody dancing.

Molly had to admit to enjoying her meal with Sherlock. The food was delicious, the wine was flowing and the conversation between them just seemed very easy. Just as it had that afternoon it all felt so very natural. It was rare for her to have a companion who was able to converse with her so intelligently, as well as not be squeamish about the subject of her work.

As her dessert was brought out, they moved onto the topic of the current case, and Molly couldn't help but smile at the fact that even though Sherlock had declined a dessert he couldn't help but pick up a spare spoon and steal a few mouthfuls of her crème brûlée. She didn't mind, her eyes had been bigger than her stomach, and she was never going to have been able to eat it all anyway.

Just as they were finishing, Molly noticed Marie Havers by the bar with a much younger woman. It was obvious just by looking at her that she was the dancer that had been mentioned. She was slim and attractive, but in a slightly over the top, showy, kind of way. Her blonde hair was very sleek and shiny, her make up worthy of the Kardashians, and she was wearing a one shoulder, bright blue, sequinned dress which clung to her body, falling to mid-thigh. Her legs were bronzed and led down to a pair of gorgeous blue, crystal, dancing shoes.

Molly nudged Sherlock's leg with her foot. 'Don't look now but I believe you're about to be introduced to Chantelle.'

He glanced up and then turned his head just as Marie was leading her over.

'Mr Scott, this is our resident dancer, Chantelle.'

Molly saw Chantelle giving Sherlock the once over, and Molly knew the other woman was pleased with what she was seeing by the way her eyes lit up, and a well-practiced sultry smile spread across her lips.

'Thank you so much for volunteering to step in Mr Scott, I do hope it's not too much of an inconvenience. Maybe we could take to the floor, and I can see what kind of knowledge you have...though I'm sure I'll be able to help you increase your experience.'

She said the latter in such a way, that there was no way to miss the double meaning, especially given the way she smiled afterwards.

Molly felt her insides twist uncomfortably, and her feelings only got worse as Sherlock took Chantelle's hand leading her out onto the dance floor. A nod from Chantelle towards the bar, and a track came on which allowed Sherlock to lead her around in a simple waltz.

Molly hadn't ever actually seen Sherlock dance. She'd heard through Mary that he could...he'd apparently told the woman he'd been fake engaged to that he loved to dance, and it was that that had made her volunteer him. but now she kind of wished she hadn't.

Whilst Chantelle was a bit over the top and flashy, she was very attractive and a very good dancer. Her and Sherlock seemed to glide seamlessly around the dance floor as though they had been dancing together their whole lives.

The tempo of the music changed, and so did their dance style and once again Sherlock seemed to be managing OK. Some of the other diners had started to watch and as they changed styles there was a ripple of applause. Another couple got up and joined them and it seemed to encourage others, soon there were five difference couples on the dance floor, including two older women dancing together. Molly wasn't sure if that was because they were a couple, or if it was just for lack of men.

Sherlock and Chantelle danced two more dances, and then left the dance floor leaving the residents and diners to carry on enjoying the music and the dancing. They made their way back over to Molly, with Chantelle holding onto Sherlock's arm and laughing and smiling at something he'd said. It was more than obvious that the younger woman found him attractive, and it made Molly feel both a little sick and a lot stupid. She knew Sherlock wouldn't be interested, but she just couldn't help how it made her feel seeing them like that.

As they got closer, she could hear their conversation.

'...so, if you come to my room say about 10 tomorrow morning, we can spend the day working on the routines. I'm sure you'll be up to speed in no time. I think we'll have a lot of fun together.'

Sherlock nodded and then smiled at Molly. 'So, what did you think? I take it we looked OK.'

Molly gave him what she knew was a tight smile. 'Yes, you looked great together.'

Chantelle gave a tinkly, false laugh. 'I bet we did. We felt great together.'

Sherlock turned to one side and removed his arm from the younger woman's grip. 'Well, as tomorrow looks like it will be a long day, I think I should get an early night. Molly, would you like a night cap in my room?'

Molly couldn't help but feel a little victorious, even though she knew she wasn't even in a battle.

She glanced at Chantelle for a second, and then smiled widely at Sherlock. 'I'd love to.'

Then she stood and took his proffered arm as they walked away.

So, a bit more insight into Sherlock's thoughts…what do you guys think? He dropped everything to help Molly and is maybe still either in denial or scared about how he's feeling. Let me know what you think he should do and I'll be back with another chapter later in the week xx