Sorry that I didn't get a chance to respond to your reviews and comments but I did have a very fun and relaxing weekend with my friends. I also enjoyed watching Ben's performance in Child in Time last night…so powerful! He's such an amazing actor.

As for those hoping that I would give Sherlock and Molly an easy ride following the night before…no chance, not yet. They still have a way to go before they get their happy ever after.

Chapter 12

Molly woke up and stretched feeling that delicious pop and tingle of her muscles before wincing as her head reminded her about how much she'd had to drink the night before. It was at the same moment that she remembered coming back to this room after dinner and having sex with Sherlock.

Her eyes popped open as her hand swept the bed at the side of her but it was empty, just the faint indent showing where he'd slept the night before but of the man himself there was no sign.

She leant up on her elbows listening to see if he was in the shower but there was nothing. She bit her lip; it was starting to look precariously like he might have done a pump and dump on her. Her stomach turned over and she didn't know if it was the slight hangover or the situation. Either way she couldn't stay in bed and ignore it so she reluctantly threw back the covers and made her way to the bathroom.

Half an hour later and she was making her way downstairs in search of coffee. She followed the smell and found that breakfast was being served in another smaller dining room than the one the night before. This one was much more light and airy (too light for Molly in her current mood) with a long sideboard covered in various silver dishes with matching silver covers.

'Ah Molly, you've finally arisen. I trust you slept well.'

Sherlock's mother smiled in such a way that Molly was suspicious that she was making a dig somehow or implying that she knew what Molly and her son had been up to.

There was just her and Catherine in the room along with a younger female domestic servant who pulled a seat out for Molly and asked her whether she would prefer tea or coffee.

Molly had never been anywhere with 'staff' before and she felt almost guilty asking this girl to fetch her things but she was grateful for it. She'd taken an aspirin but it hadn't yet kicked in and she desperately needed the coffee and some food.

The two older women were busy discussing the arrangements for the day. It seemed the other guests were due to arrive in a couple of hours and they were still deciding where the various activities and food should be laid out. Thankfully it looked to be a hot day and Molly had worn the only summer dress she had brought, glad that she'd taken a risk with it.

As the domestic placed her food order in front of her she took a welcome draught of coffee and smiled at the two women. 'Umm, have you seen Sherlock at all? He got up before me so I haven't...'

It was his aunt who answered. 'Yes he was here about twenty minutes ago, took a coffee and refused the food. I believe he and Mycroft went for a walk in the gardens.'

His mother chuckled. 'No doubt my boys are indulging in smoking again and thinking I don't know. Honestly, for a family like ours how they think they're keeping it from me I don't know. Children always seem to think they can pull the wool over their parents eyes no matter how much evidence there is to the contrary. Do see if you can't get him to break that habit Molly?'

Molly giggled. 'Which, trying to pull the wool over your eyes or smoking?'

His mother laughed. 'Both, definitely both.'

Sherlock's imposing aunt was less amused and she moved the topic back to the day whilst Molly ate her breakfast. She had already resolved to go and find Sherlock as soon as possible. She needed to know how he felt and where she stood. She had never felt so confused. Her insides were tied up in knots and even though she knew the food was delicious she couldn't manage to eat that much of it.

She had just finished her second coffee and was about to excuse herself when Catherine turned to her.

'I believe you know the Lowell's Doctor Hooper. Angela Lowell recognised your name when I mentioned you were here accompanying Sherlock. Something about you dating her son in days gone by...anyway he'll be here as well.'

Molly's mouth ran dry. 'David...David Lowell, coming here?'

'Yes, I believe that's what I just said. Is that a problem?'

'I...err, no. No, of course not. Anyway, if you'll excuse me I would like to go and find Sherlock.'

The aunt raised an eyebrow but pointed off to some hedgerows which seemed to lead to another part of the gardens. 'Try in there; it was always his favourite hiding place as a child.'

Molly thanked them and fled wondering what they would have made of her reaction to David coming. Her mind was in turmoil. She hadn't seen David in over ten years and yet her heart still flipped over when his name was mentioned.

She found the side door out to the garden but instead of looking for Sherlock she sat down on a stone bench looking out over the stunning park land and she let herself remember.

She'd been twenty when she'd first starting dating David, they were both studying medicine together at York and even though they'd been on the same course for two years she hadn't really got to know him until her friend's twenty first birthday party in a club in the centre of town. He was tall and slim with blond hair and eyes similar to Sherlock's and she'd been smitten from the moment he asked her to dance. They had been inseparable from that moment on and even though their junior doctor years had been in different locations, hers in Leeds and his in Grimsby they had met up whenever they could and spent holidays together, which was how she also knew his parents.

At twenty four they had got engaged but it was a year later when they had separated. Not because they didn't love each other, they did but because their careers were taking them in different directions. David had been passionate about working for Medicine sans Frontiers whereas she had been offered a residency in London specialising in Pathology. They had spent months trying to work it out and find a way but in the end they had agreed to split up, just for a while. They were going to be apart for at least two years and it made sense to be free during that time.

She heard from him at first but the letters had tailed off eventually until one day he wrote to say he'd met someone else. That he would always love her but they were now too different and that he was planning to marry this girl, Amanda, who was also working for MSF.

Molly had been upset but she had already cried her tears for him and for what she had lost in the year before and she had concentrated on her career and had no regrets as far as that was concerned. She heard about their marriage and subsequent divorce through mutual friends over the years but she hadn't given him much thought since then so she was surprised by how nervous she felt about seeing him, but it seemed like it was going to happen whether she was ready for it or not.

At least she'd be meeting him looking reasonably successful, impeccable career, money in the bank and with a man on her arm for once; which reminded her she needed to find Sherlock.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock would never have admitted to anyone that he was hiding but he was actually hiding. He had woken around eight to find himself naked and in bed with Molly and even as his mind took that in all the images and memories of the night before washed over him and he had to suppress a groan so as to not awake his sleeping companion.

Shit, shit, shit

This had been the very thing he hadn't wanted to happen; not that he hadn't enjoyed it, he had...maybe too much, but he had crossed a line with Molly that he had never meant to cross and it was going to complicate everything.

Slowly he slid out of the bed, gathering up his clothes as he went, before making his way to the bathroom to shower and change. He only really relaxed fully when he closed the bedroom door behind him and started to make his way downstairs. He needed a coffee and a cigarette in that order.

He cursed again when he opened the door to the breakfast room to find his aunt and Mycroft already there. Ideally he would have preferred to speak to no one let alone two of the most observant people on the planet.

'Good morning Sherlock, it looks as though you didn't get much sleep last night. Late night with Doctor Hooper was it? Though I seem to remember you went up to your room before everyone else.'

The smirk on his brother's face told Sherlock that Mycroft knew exactly what he'd done with Molly the night before and it took everything in his power not to react.

His aunt just cocked her head to one side and assessed him. He felt like a bug under a microscope.

'I slept perfectly fine Mycroft, better than you I'm sure. Your bed must have been rather cold mustn't it, what with you being alone in it.'

'By choice brother mine...by choice.'

Sherlock waved off the staff and headed straight for the coffee machine pouring himself a black coffee and spooning in the sugar. He took a swig and winced as it burnt his mouth and throat but it didn't stop him taking another gulp. He topped it up and then headed out of the room. He moved fast but it wasn't fast enough and Mycroft caught up to him as he opened the door to the gardens. He had to acknowledge that it was a beautiful day, already warm and promising to be one of those perfect hot, lazy, late summer days before autumn really took hold.

'I deduce you are in need of a cigarette brother, let me offer you one of mine. One of my agents brought them back from Turkey, quite a different flavour.'

They lit them and took a moment to inhale with Sherlock glancing down appraisingly at the cigarette in his hand then the two of them headed off down one of the paths bordered by hedgerows before giving way to flower beds still filled with colour.

'So, you slept with Miss Hooper. I take it that wasn't part of your plan.'

Sherlock grimaced. 'You know it wasn't.'

'So, what now? You play happy families and skip off into the sunset hand in hand?'

Sherlock knew that Mycroft was just trying to wind him up but it was working.

'Hardly, I don't think our family are cut out for relationships. Do you?'

Mycroft shrugged. 'Well our parents managed it so it is possible I suppose.'

There was a beat of silence and then Mycroft continued. 'I know I've always told you that caring isn't an advantage but we've been through a lot over the last few months brother and...well, if Doctor Hooper makes you happy I for one think that is a good thing for you.'

'Don't be ridiculous Mycroft, you're getting soft in your old age. Can you honestly see me in a relationship? I'm far too selfish and far too dedicated to my work. I haven't got time for distractions.'

Mycroft raised an eyebrow. 'If you say so brother.'

Sherlock narrowed his eyes. 'I mean it.'

'I'm sure you do, I didn't say I disbelieved you.'

'And yet you do.'

'Does it really matter what I think Sherlock? You've always told me to mind my own business in the past, I'm sure you're not going to listen to me now.'

Her threw his cigarette stub to the floor and started to walk away. Before he got out of earshot though Sherlock heard him greeting Molly and he winced. He wasn't sure he was ready for that conversation yet but it looked like it was happening regardless.

Trouble on the horizon? And who thinks that Sherlock is fooling himself if he thinks he can walk away now.

I hope you're not too mad with me for not making it all good but I they wouldn't let me make it too easy for them xxx