Molly still stood motionless at the spot where Sherlock had left her, staring at "her boyfriend" until he slowly disappeared into the crowd.
Sherlock had just told her that because of their nervousness, they were in danger of both being exposed. And then he had also described her as uptight.
She? The one who has had more relationships in her life than Sherlock might ever have. Okay, one of them was a bloody psychopath who had just used her to get to Sherlock, and another was like Sherlock. Only it wasn't Sherlock himself.
All of a sudden Molly realised that even in this area of her life there was a common denominator. Everything revolved around Sherlock.
She thought desperately about whether she could ever manage to forget him. But her heart was longing for him and her body was also craving his touch. His hand at her waist. She still felt a slight tingling at that spot and her heart jumped as she thought back.
Gradually she understood that she would never succeed. She would never be able to forget Sherlock. She simply loved him too much for that. But he would never love her the way she loved him. Her heart ached at those thoughts.
'Maybe I should just turn around and go? Somewhere else,' Molly thought then and gradually felt tiny little tears gathering in her eyes. Desperately, she tried to blink them away.
'NO! Pull yourself together, Molly!' she then yelled to herself.
Even if Sherlock could be a real idiot sometimes and had zero regard for the feelings of others, he was right. You had a case to solve!
And if Sherlock wanted a girlfriend, it was the best he could ever imagine. After all, it was her only chance to be as close to Sherlock as she had always wanted in her wildest dreams.
Determined, Molly then slowly made her way towards the guests. She was to mingle and find out as much as possible about her hosts. She didn't get far, however, when suddenly a hand grabbed her by her wrist and turned to face her.
"What are you doing here?" a voice then asked. She sounded slightly annoyed but also worried.
"Oh, hello Patrick," she greeted the Fitzgeralds' son in a friendly yet slightly confused manner.
"Um, I was invited?"
"Yes, I know, but didn't you get my messages?" he then asked.
"Wait. Were those messages from you? What do you know?" she asked, completely amazed and full of curiosity.
Patrick looked around carefully and suddenly recognised a young man coming towards her. "Not here. We'll talk later when they make their speech," he explained, pointing at his parents and then walking quickly out of the room.
Molly looked at him in confusion.
"Who was that?" asked Sherlock as he stood before her again and handed her a glass.
"That was Patrick Fitzgerald. And he's obviously the sender of these messages," she explained. Still looking at the spot where he disappeared.
"Oh, okay... Wait. Messages?" Sherlock then asked slightly surprised and emphasised the ending of the word.
"Yes messages. Listen, just before you came to me today, I received another message. A bit more specific this time," she explained and then took her phone out of her little bag.
Sherlock picked it up wordlessly and then read the message. Then he handed the phone back to her. He still said nothing. Instead, he grabbed her by the arm and then pulled her onto the terrace with him. After he closed the door, he turned back to her. Molly looked at him surprised and irritated at the same time.
"Sherlock, what the hell -"
"Why didn't you tell me this before?!" it came out of him now. He sounded angry.
"Sherlock" whispered Molly. She was surprised by his reaction.
"Molly! You're getting a message that says you're going to die if you go to this party! You should have told me!" he shouted now.
"I was going to tell you when we got here," she said sheepishly. She was terrified and his sudden outburst intimidated her a little.
"When? Just before you're killed!"
Molly wondered why Sherlock suddenly reacted like that. There was anger in his eyes. But there was something else. Was it concern? Was Sherlock Holmes worried about Molly Hooper?
"Sherlock? Are you worried about me?" she then asked. She was a bit surprised at herself but she had to know.
"YES, damn it!..."
"Molly, I love you!" he yelled and then looked deep into her eyes.
And that was when it happened. The words that had been burning on his heart for so long were finally spoken. Sherlock had been thinking all day whether he should tell her. But he never came to a decision. But this news changed everything. It just burst out of him.
Molly gasped when she heard what Sherlock had just said. A million thoughts flashed through her mind. Had he really said that now?
'Did Sherlock Holmes just say he loved me?'
She was about to say something in euphoria, but suddenly the words she had heard during the conversation came back to her.
"Molly is just a friend."
"...as a friend?" Molly then asked.
"What? Yes... No..." His eyes were averted.
Molly plucked up all her courage and moved a little closer to him. Her heart literally jumped out of her chest in excitement. Then she took his face and turned it in her direction.
"Sherlock, do you love me just as a friend, or do you love me as I love you?"
Sherlock had difficulty withstanding her gaze. Again and again he tried to avert his eyes but her eyes seemed to cast a spell on him somehow.
And then he was overcome.
He took her face in his hands, looked deeply into her eyes and then put his lips on hers. Molly was a bit surprised but then brought her hands to his cheeks and returned the kiss. The kiss became more intense and when Sherlock felt Molly sighing back, he narrowed the distance between them. Carefully and almost hesitantly, he ran his tongue over her lips. Molly opened them willingly and only too gladly. Her tongues carefully explored each other's. Her hands found his neck and then buried themselves in his curls, gently pulling on them. His hands moved slowly down to her waist to pull her even closer. Sherlock kissed them with such passion and both lost themselves in the moment.
They didn't separate until the air began to run out.
"I think that explains quite well my feelings for you" he gasped then. His breath was heavy.
Molly was also breathing heavily. A smile lay on her lips and her cheeks now covered a slightly rosy colour. Then she took his hand in his. Sherlock watched with a slightly confused expression on his face.
"Sherlock, you know I love you too, but..."
'Oh, man, there it was. The 'but' 'he thought, disappointed.
"...but I live here in Ireland now and you live in London, where you will return to as soon as you solve the case here," she explained, feeling a twinge in her heart.
"Then come back with me!" it now burst out of him.
Molly could not believe what she had just heard from him. And Sherlock himself could not believe what he had just said. Molly swallowed hard as the next words left her mouth.
"I can't do this. They rely on me at the clinic.
She felt her heart scream and the voice in her head grew louder.
'What are you saying? He has finally confessed his love to you and wants you to come back with him and you just say NO?!'
"I understand that of course" he then said and let his head hang slightly disappointed.
Molly took another step closer and then put a hand to his cheek.
"But we can be together as long as you're still here," she then said and then smiled at him with a warm smile.
She was right. As soon as Sherlock had solved the case here, he would return. Even though he liked having her around and never really wanted to let go, he would never be the type for a long-distance relationship. But he definitely wanted to enjoy the time he was still here with her, together with her.
He was just about to say something back when he suddenly fell silent and now looked up in excitement. Molly looked at him slightly confused but then did the same to him. Her hand continued to rest on his cheek.
Voices. Two. One female and one male voice talking at the top of their voices.
"...What are you doing here? What if somebody saw you..."
"...I just had to see you. And anyway, you promised me that you would end it"
"...Soon, my darling. But you must go now You're gonna blow the whistle on everything... "
And then it was suddenly quiet.
Sherlock now turned his face towards Molly. He wore an almost euphoric grin.
"Fascinating" he said calmly.
"Obviously we're not the only ones here who are playing," he explained, then took her hand from his cheek and led it to his lips. Then he gave her a tender kiss on them and finally walked with her on his hand back into the hall where the guests had now all gathered.
"Come on, let's go catch a murderer!"
NOTE: So that's where it happened. Sherlock finally told her that he loved her... Let's just hope that nothing bad will happen now and that the news will not be put into action after all...
Let's see what happens next? By the way, what do you think of the story so far? I would be glad about some thoughts from you about this ;) (of course just to see if I'm on the right way :D)