I know you've all been chomping at the bit to meet the family and to get on with the weekend fun and you wait no longer…here it is.

Chapter 8

Sherlock took an umbrella from the driver and held it over them and then made a point of putting his other arm around Molly's shoulder as he made his way over to the car bearing his family. He could tell Molly was nervous about meeting them without even having to look at her.

Mycroft got out first and the two brothers just nodded to each other in greeting then Mycroft turned to Molly and put on a very charming and very false smile. Sherlock hoped she couldn't tell just how false it really was.

'Doctor Hooper, always a pleasure.'

'Umm...good to see you too Mr Holmes.'

'Please, call me Mycroft. After all we're practically family.'

His voice was dripping sarcasm and Sherlock was tempted to actually punch him but he knew how unhappy his mother got when the two of them engaged in physical fist fighting.

Mycroft had turned away from Molly and was even now helping his mother from the car as his father exited from the other side. He came around the back and held his gloved hand out to Sherlock.

'Sherlock, son. Good to see you. It's been far too long since you came to see us, you know your mother would like to see you more often. Now who is this lovely, young lady?'

Sherlock could have rolled his eyes at his father's over the top greeting but at least it was a genuine one unlike his brothers.

'Hi, I'm Molly...Molly Hooper.'

Molly held her hand out but his father shook his head and chuckled. 'Come here girl and give me a hug. You have no idea how happy my wife and I are to finally meet you. You know Sherlock has never actually brought a girl home to meet us. Not ever, so you must be very special. Violet...meet our Sherlock's paramour.'

Molly received another hug from Sherlock's mum and then giggled when the older woman pulled her younger son to her for a hug and kiss.

'Now come on my dear, let's get inside where it's warm and dry and I can find out all about you. Sherlock has hardly told us anything at all.'

Violet looped her arm through Molly's and the two of them made their way into the house where two staff were waiting to relieve them of their damp coats. They were all advised that dinner would be served at seven in the tapestry room and drinks would be in the drawing room from six.

Violet patted her hand. 'Looks like our chat will have to wait until later. Catherine likes us all to be punctual for meals. Come along Sigur, let's get ourselves unpacked.'

The elderly couple followed one of the staff who was carrying their things for them.

Mycroft picked up his own bag and nodded to Sherlock and Molly. 'Until later brother...Doctor Hooper.'

Sherlock turned to the remaining domestic. 'So, Graves where are we being put?'

The older man smiled. 'If you'd like to follow me.'

He picked up Molly's case and went to get Sherlock's but the younger man put his hand out. 'It's fine Graves I can manage it.

The two of them followed him up the grand staircase and Molly trailed behind looking around her at the large stain glass windows and the art work hung on the walls. She had never stayed anywhere so grand before. She wanted to see if she could see Sherlock's likeness in any of the family portraits but decided she'd have to find time later to look at them. She didn't want to get lost from Sherlock. The house seemed enormous.

As they walked down a long corridor with various doors leading off it she couldn't help but ask how many bedrooms the house had.

'Twelve guest bedrooms ma'am as well as Lady Catherine's suite. Though only six are in regular use, the others are kept closed up unless needed.'

'Oh,' was all Molly could manage.

He opened the door at the end of the corridor and Molly walked into a large room that was dominated by an old fashioned, dark wood four poster bed complete with heavy red brocade curtains. There were various pieces of furniture all made out of the same wood and two chairs either side of a fire which was burning brightly.

'Am I in my normal room Graves?'

The man turned to Sherlock. 'No sir, you're to be in here with Miss Hooper.'

Sherlock couldn't conceal his look of surprise. 'But we aren't married, surely Aunt Catherine won't be happy with this arrangement.'

'On the contrary sir she gave express instructions that you both be given this suite. It's traditionally been given to bride and grooms on their wedding night and Lady Catherine asked that it be opened up for you.'

Molly saw Sherlock's eyes narrow momentarily but then he threw his bag onto the bed and made a show of smiling brightly and coming over to Molly to kiss her briefly. 'Well that's good isn't it darling; looks like we won't have to sneak around after all.'

'Is there anything else that you'll be requiring sir?'

'No, we'll be fine. Thank you.'

Sherlock waited until Graves had left the room and then he turned back to Molly.

'That wily old bitch. She's testing us. She suspects we might be trying to fool her.'

Molly sat down on the edge of the bed before springing back up to her feet. It seemed odd to be sitting on a bed in Sherlock's presence.

'So, what are we going to do?'

Sherlock was taking off his coat, slinging it over one of the chairs. 'Do? We're going to do nothing.'

'I...I meant about the sleeping arrangement.'

'Well I have no issue with sharing if you don't. The bed looks big enough.' He looked around at Molly who had her hand on one of the posts and was looking at the bed and he had a sudden clear picture of her holding onto that post naked as he took her from behind.

He almost had to shake his head to rid himself of the image and he turned away swallowing heavily and closing his eyes trying to compose himself. He had no idea where that vision had come from but it seemed to be imprinted into his mind.

Just then, as though saved by the bell, there was a gentle knock on the door. Sherlock whispered a 'thank God' under his breath as he strode over to answer it.

There was a young woman wearing a simple black dress and carrying a tray with a pot of tea and cups.

'Lady Catherine thought you might be in need of refreshments. I could get you coffee if you would prefer it.'

Sherlock opened the door to let her in. 'No, I'm sure tea is fine. Molly?'

Molly smiled and helped the woman clear some space for the tray. 'Tea's lovely and just what I need. Thank you.'

After she had left, Molly set about pouring whilst Sherlock sat in one of the chairs looking into the fire. She placed his cup along with a couple of biscuits by his side and then moved to sit in the opposite chair sipping on her own tea.

'Yes, you're right. I mean we're both adults aren't we.'

Sherlock frowned. 'Hmm?'

'The bed, us two sharing it.'

He wasn't so sure now but there really seemed no way out of it. His aunt was obviously testing them so if he were to sleep somewhere else it would prove the lie but given his complete lack of control in their other encounters he couldn't rely on himself to not let anything happen. He wasn't even sure he wanted to anymore.

'Your aunt has a lovely home. I knew you were posh but not this level of posh...though knowing Mycroft I should have guessed.'

He chuckled. 'You know I really had quite a normal upbringing. My mother and father aren't particularly well off though Catherine did help out with our education. I never realised it at the time but losing our family home to fire put quite a dent in my parent's savings. I suppose I grew up knowing both ways of life.'

'I'd love to know what you were like as a boy. I can't imagine it. Were you very naughty?' Molly could have slapped herself for asking that, knowing what she knew about Sherlock's best friend being killed by his sister but it had just come out without thinking.

He shrugged and picked up his cup of tea. 'No, I was quiet more than bad, at least when I was very young, I suppose I understand why now. The bad stage came when I was sent away to school. I hated it, every minute. All the rules and regulations just felt suffocating. By the time I went to Oxford I was already self-medicating with alcohol and drugs and it just went downhill from there.'

He sipped on his tea and looked across at her before smiling. 'You on the other hand grew up in a loving stable home, with parents who were proud of you and when you went to Uni you studied more than you partied.'

Molly blushed. 'You make me sound very boring.'

Sherlock was silent for a moment. 'I don't mean to. After all, you chose pathology and you fall in love with sociopaths...that makes you more than interesting Molly Hooper.'

The atmosphere seemed ladened with all sorts of potential. Sherlock was looking directly at her and Molly couldn't look away. It was like being a deer caught in headlights. She wished she didn't always react so physically to Sherlock's presence but even now she could feel her body preparing itself for sex; sex that would never happen. At least she didn't think it would, all her expectations seem to have been subverted over the last week and she no longer knew what she could expect from him.

In a bid to cover up her arousal she noisily put her cup down and stood.

'I ought to get ready for this evening. How formal will it be?'

Sherlock had gone back to looking at the fire, this time with a slight frown marring his expression. He waved his hand dismissively. 'Catherine will be dressed to impress but you don't need to worry, just wear something reasonably smart if you can.'

His moods seemed to be all over the place today but rather than pick him up on it Molly just made her way to her suitcase and started to unpack. In the end she decided on a simple dark purple wraparound dress and black heels, it was one of those dresses that suited her figure and always made her feel good.

She glanced at Sherlock but he didn't seem to be in the mood to leave so in the end she took her clothes through to the small ensuite. The room had obviously been converted sometime in the 1960's probably from an adjoining dressing room but it had a basic toilet, sink and a bath with a shower above it. She freshened up and changed before returning to the bedroom to put on her make up...only to find Sherlock in the middle of changing his shirt.

'Oh sorry...' she turned to give him some privacy.

'Don't be ridiculous Molly. It's not as if you haven't seen me in a state of undress before.'

She turned around but knew she was blushing as she tried not to stare at his naked chest whilst he pulled a fresh shirt from his suit bag. He smirked at her obvious discomfort.

'After all Molly I seem to recall it was you that undressed me after our meal at the Chiltern.'

She knew he was winding her up but it at least served to lighten the mood and she sat on the bed as she put on her make up quizzing Sherlock a little more about his family. She was constantly surprised by how easily they seemed to get on when it was just the two of them. She'd thought there might be awkwardness or a lack of things to talk about but when he was in a good mood they just seemed to click.

So far so good with the parents, next chapter Lady Catherine. Something tells me she isn't going to be as easily impressed or as believing. What do you think?