Sherlock had decided to open up to John so that he could explore his feelings for Molly more deeply.

The other patrons disappeared into a nearby bar and now John and Sherlock sat in their armchairs facing each other. Several minutes passed in silence.

John looked at his friend expectantly and frowned again when he said nothing.

"Okay Sherlock. You're going to have to say something if you want me to help you" John then said impatiently.

Sherlock opened his mouth briefly, but closed it again at the same time. He didn't know how to start or what to say. For the first time in his life, Sherlock felt helpless.

When Sherlock still said nothing, John slowly became more impatient. He slapped his thighs with his hands and then stood up with a flourish.

"Okay. So when you're ready, check in. I'll be in the bar with the others for so long."

This finally prompted Sherlock to say something after all. However, it was not what he had been thinking. Before he could even stop it, the words were already leaving his mouth.

"I kissed Molly."

John stopped abruptly in his movements and stared at his friend now with his mouth open. Then, very slowly, he sat down again. Mouth still open. Eyes wide open.

Sherlock stiffened slightly, expecting one of the usual telling offs from John but nothing came.

"John?" he asked, looking puzzled into his friend's face.

John didn't answer. Now it was up to Sherlock, who was getting impatient.

"JOHN!" he shouted again and now finally the latter seemed to wake up from his rigidity.

John swallowed hard once before closing his mouth again and focusing on the man across from him.

"I'm sorry. You what?" he then asked. Apparently he couldn't quite believe it yet.

"I kissed Molly and I don't know what to do now!" said Sherlock, slightly annoyed, rolling his eyes.

Still he waited for the telling off. But what left his best friend's mouth then, he had never expected.

"Holy shit. You like her!"

"What, no. What makes you think that?" asked Sherlock, startled.

John sighed.

"Sherlock. I may not be a genius like you but I know when someone is in love. Your body speaks volumes."

Puzzled, Sherlock looked at him.

"You're insecure. Your cheeks are flushed and not just when you mentioned her name. You can't look me in the eye. You're asking me what you should do, even though you don't really

care about feelings or other people. And most important of all, the looks you kept giving Molly. You like Molly a lot and you don't know how to deal with it now.

Am I right?" he then explained, looking at him expectantly.

"That's what I just said!" growled Sherlock then, still unable to look him in the eye.

"Yeah but not that you like them" John grinned, but was already bracing himself for one of Sherlock's typical lectures on "feelings are for losers etc.". All the more surprised was what Sherlock said next.

"I don't know it, what I feel. All I know is that I can't get Molly out of my mind."

"Sherlock. What exactly do you feel when you think about Molly?"

"Aaargh, I don't feel anything. You know that, John!"

"Okay. Let me ask it another way. What do you feel in your body when you think about Molly?" sighed John, lightly stroking his hair.

"Really John? Seriously?" asked Sherlock, looking at him with a slightly skeptical look.

"Well, either you want me to help you or you don't!" replied John now irritated and slightly annoyed.

"Then don't" Sherlock grumbled.

John looked at his friend for a moment, slightly confused and questioning, before rising from his chair again.

"Okay, then don't. I'm off to join my other friends and celebrate my engagement to the woman I love!"

John wasn't quite out the door when he heard.

"Wait, John! Sit down again!"

Although John was angry at his friend's stubbornness, curiosity still got the better of him. As was imposed upon him, he sat down again and waited to hear what Sherlock had to say.

"As you know, the whole thing doesn't really suit me. The feeling thing and all."

"I know," John interrupted him and was immediately met with an annoyed look in response.

Sherlock took another deep breath and then tried to remember all the sensations his body was giving off at the thought of Molly. But he couldn't put it into words, and somehow it made him uncomfortable. But then suddenly another idea came to him.

"How do you feel when you have to think about Mary? When you're around her?" he asked, hoping John would jump on the bandwagon.

John visibly puzzled by his question, looked at Sherlock with a quizzical look before it occurred to him that his account of how he felt would probably be more helpful to talk about. Even though it seemed awkward to talk about his true feelings for Mary with Sherlock, he couldn't just avoid his question now. Not now, when Sherlock was finally about to open up to him.

He took another deep breath and then spoke.

"When I'm with Mary, I feel like I'm home. I've arrived where I've always wanted to be. My heart leaps when I see her smile. I am happy when she is and I am sad when she is. She completes me and my life in every way possible. I am nothing without her. And God damn it, I'm going to marry this beautiful woman and she's going to be the mother of my children.

So now you know, and don't you dare use that against me anytime soon!" he then said warningly, but couldn't help a grin.

"Hmm."

"So, what do you think?" asked John then.

"I think you should spend less time watching junk TV." he then replied completely emotionless.

But before John could respond angrily or leave the room, he continued speaking.

"But some of it felt familiar. Molly knows me like no one else does. I appreciate her for always being by my side to help me no matter what I do. I trust her and she is one of the most important people in my life. I feel strangely comfortable around her. My body goes crazy around her. When she touches me. I can't stop thinking about her and my stomach tightens when she's not with me or when I know she's with that idiot." Sherlock explained sincerely, his face contorting in disgust at the word "idiot."

"So what do you think it is?" he asked afterwards.

John said nothing at first. Instead, he just grinned from ear to ear.

"I'm sorry to say this, but I think you're in love, Sherlock. And I think you should talk to Molly."

Sherlock then frowned in confusion. Was it really like that? Did he feel that way? Was he in love with Molly? And if so, how long had this been going on? And what should he do now? Should he really tell her, even if she was already engaged to someone else?

"John, you're forgetting one little thing. Molly is engaged to be married this..." Sherlock pondered. His eyes wandered wildly around the room.

"... this Tom" he continued, having remembered the name.

His friend heaved another sigh of realization and despair. Not in a hundred years had he imagined that Sherlock could show any emotion, let alone have anything left for anyone but himself. And now that he was about to tear down his wall, there was an extreme obstacle.

"Okay. I don't think I should tell you this right now but you and Molly are my friends and I want you to be happy."

Sherlock waited anxiously to hear what John would say now.

"Sherlock," he began, leaning forward a little.

"Molly kissed you even though she was engaged and let's face it, you saw it too. Her fiancé is far too much like you. Molly clearly isn't over you and is only using Tom because she can't have you."

Eyes wide open, Sherlock now stared at his counterpart, thinking about what he had said.

`Was John right? Did Molly still feel something for me? And was this Tom just a distraction that reminded her of me?'

His head rattled and rattled. He cursed himself for never filing definitions or explanations of this sort in his mind palace. He had no choice but to rely on his friend in this case. But was he ready for that yet? Molly seemed happy. Did he really want to destroy Molly's happiness? Could he be that selfish?

"So, what are you going to do now?" asked John, bringing him back from his thoughts.

"I don't know" Sherlock answered honestly, looking slightly clueless.

John nodded.

"Okay. But then at least come with us to the bar to celebrate a little. It will distract you" he then suggested and stood up again.

"Bars. Society. Not really my area" he replied with a skeptical look.

"Yes, and nothing like feelings or love either. So come on, it won't be so bad! And who knows, maybe you'll have a good time too!" he replied, rolling his eyes theatrically.

"Pfff, love. I definitely wouldn't go that far!" snorted Sherlock, but stood up and then followed the shorter blond man out the door.


Sorry if John came across a bit effeminate but I just wanted to create something where Sherlock could open up. And after all John is the romantic one of the two :D