Wow, I'm feeling a bit guilty this morning for having slept in. Had over ten hours sleep and now it's nearly midday and I'm still in my pyjamas. Maybe I should just give up and make it a full on duvet day :). But before I do I should let you guys have this next chapter shouldn't I.

Enjoy! By the way, I'm glad most of you were on board with my portrayal of John. I do love his friendship with Sherlock but it is not without its problems. Hopefully he'll soften somewhat as we go forward...shall we see...

Chapter 6

Molly followed John out part of the way and as she made her way back to the kitchen she heard the smash of something ceramic and Sherlock swearing repeatedly. It had her quickening her pace to get back to him.

She found him stood leaning on the kitchen side with his head hanging down and a mug smashed on the floor by the kitchen cupboards with coffee dripping down the doors.

'Hey, Hey, come on...calm down. It really isn't like John said. Let's make another coffee and I can tell you all about it.'

They ended up sat on the settee sipping their drinks as Molly told Sherlock everything she had come to learn about Mary Watson. Yes there were gaps in her knowledge, she'd never been privy to everything but hopefully she knew enough to enable Sherlock to understand the situation. She knew that knowledge was his touchstone, he needed information, facts that he could categorise and understand and control.

'So you see, she sacrificed herself for you...I suppose as a kind of penance for having shot you. She believed in you...knew you were worth her sacrifice. She wouldn't have done that for anyone lesser.'

Sherlock's hand touched the point where Molly knew his scar was. She also wondered how much more of this he could take. He needed to start hearing more positive aspects of his life, see more of the good.

'And who is Irene? John seems to think she's important to me but that name means nothing to me. I can't even seem to focus on any room in my mind palace although that doesn't mean she isn't in there somewhere.'

Molly sighed heavily. She didn't want to discuss Irene and even if she did she knew nothing about his relationship, if he'd had one, with a woman who had openly advertised herself as a dominatrix.

'Honestly, I don't really know that much about her. Maybe you need to ask John, I know he knows more than I do. Maybe he's right, maybe she'd be the person you'd want to be in a relationship with.'

She couldn't help how sad her voice sounded as she spoke and he leant forwards and touched her face, letting his fingers slide over her cheek to her jaw.

'Don't...don't do this Molly. I'm not him, not anymore. I'm me and I know how I feel about you.'

Molly smiled at him weakly but then sat up straighter. He didn't need her wallowing, he needed her to be strong for him. 'I tell you what, why don't you read some of John's blog? See yourself through his eyes, the man he actually thinks and knows you are...plus they're very funny at times. You guys love working together, solving puzzles and having adventures. Whilst you're doing that I'll go and speak to John. Maybe I can go and collect Rosie, it's about time you met your god-daughter; you're both very fond of each other.'

Sherlock nodded his head thoughtfully, he seemed lost in his own world. He still stood as Molly did, looking a bit distracted as she went and put their cups in the sink. She collected her coat and bag and was about to leave when he caught hold of her arm.

'Stay with me again tonight...after John and Rosie have gone.'

Molly felt her heart beat pick up a notch, she knew the dangers held within this request but she also knew she was weak when it came to him. She wanted him...always. Maybe they could keep it PG. though even as she thought that she knew she was kidding herself but she still acquiesced.

He pulled her closer and bent his head to kiss her and she returned it enthusiastically. She would never get used to his kisses and if this was to only be a short term thing the naughty part of her told her to get maximum enjoyment whilst she could.

She left him opening up his laptop to read the blog and she made her way downstairs to find John and Mrs Hudson in a heated debate.

'Well I think it's a good thing, how can it not be? That boy has been on his own for far too long.'

John threw his hands up. 'But it's not real. He's not himself.'

'You know what...I think it is the real him. The real him without all the baggage of his life weighing him down and telling him he should be something that he isn't. Hand on heart John, if Sherlock was going to love anyone it would be Molly.'

It was at that point that she entered the kitchen and the two of them looked up at her guiltily.

'It's OK, I don't mind you discussing it. I'm as conflicted myself. He's adamant he knows how he feels about me but I'm worried he's just clinging to me because he's scared of the memory loss.'

So, you know it's wrong then?'

Molly looked at John and sighed. 'Listen John, he's a grown man; we're both adults. And be honest, who's the most likely out of the two of us to get hurt if this all goes tits up...me! That's who. I'm not planning on moving too fast with him but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to give it a chance. Maybe Mrs Hudson's right...maybe these were feelings he repressed. At the end of the day if he gets his memories back and no longer wants to be with me I'll just have to accept it.'

John sat back in his chair and shook his head. 'I suppose you're right...it's not really going to do him any harm. And who knows...maybe a shag would be good for him. I've often thought it would.'

He chuckled at Molly's shocked expression and Mrs Hudson's cheer.

Molly told them both what she'd said to Sherlock and then she asked John if it was alright to pick up Rosie. In the end they agreed that Molly could pick her up at three pm at the end of her nursery session and bring her back to Baker St and in the meantime John would try to find an easy case to ease Sherlock back into work.

She spent the intervening hours catching up on some housework and endlessly thinking through everything that had happened with Sherlock in the last 24 hours. It was difficult in some ways to believe that he had finally admitted to having feelings for her. Even if they were false nothing would ever take away her memories of hearing him tell her he loved her or the feeling of his lips and his body pressed against her own.

As she packed an overnight bag she bit her lip and sat on the edge of her bed holding her toiletry bag as she tried to decide what she wanted from the evening and whether she could or should actually "shag him" as John had so eloquently put it. She had been thinking through the pros and cons since she'd left Baker St and she still hadn't decided what she should do. It came back to the battle between what she wanted to do and what she ought to do. Could she live with herself if they slept together and he eventually rejected her? But then again could she forgive herself if she'd had the opportunity to sleep with him and she'd passed it by...never to be offered it again.

It was a relief in a way to finally pick up Rosie. The little girl's face lit up when she saw Molly, toddling her way over whilst Molly signed her out. John had asked early on whether she would mind being on the list of authorised people and Molly tended to collect her at least once a week when John and Sherlock were on cases and running late.

She helped her put her shoes and coat on listening as she babbled away. Her speech was still quite undeveloped and difficult to follow but she nodded along and asked questions, loving just being a part of Rosie's life.

Luckily John had chosen a nursery close to Sherlock's flat so it didn't take the two of them very long to walk round, though they did stop off at the swings in the park round the corner. Rosie loved the swings and would happily have spent an hour on them but after ten minutes Molly's arms were getting tired from all the pushing and she was worried that it looked like it might rain.

When they got to Baker St Mrs Hudson opened the door and made a fuss of the toddler promising her a biscuit and a glass of milk.

'You two go on up and I'll bring some food and drinks up in a minute. John and Sherlock have just got back.'

It took a couple of minutes to get up the stairs with Rosie pulling herself up step by step. She was so stubborn and determined, just like her mother had been.

Finally they made it to the top and into Sherlock's flat and as soon as Rosie saw Sherlock she picked up her pace and held her arms out to him. 'Unca Locklock, Unca Locklock...'

Sherlock glanced nervously at John and Molly and then plastered a smile on his face. 'Rosie.'

As she reached him he bent down and swung her up before balancing her on his hip.

Molly watched the expression on his face soften as the little girl hugged him and started chattering to him.

She discreetly put her overnight bag down by the side of the settee before taking off her coat but she saw John had seen by the slight narrowing of his eyes and tightening of his lips.

She ignored him and concentrated on Rosie. The little girl had spotted Sherlock's bruise and was frowning.

'Unca Locklock got a hurt.' She spun around in Sherlock's arms so fast he had to put his hand out to stop her falling forward. She gestured to John. 'Daddy kiss better.'

That had the three adults chuckling as John looked askance for a moment. 'No Rosie...you do it, you'll be better.'

His daughter turned back around and used her tiny hands to try to pull herself higher up Sherlock's body until he lifted her. Then she pressed her lips against the bruise making him wince slightly.

Molly grimaced at him. 'Does it still hurt?'

He cast her a quick smile. 'Only the actual bruise itself. No headaches today.'

John nodded. 'That's good. And what about your memories? Any more? Are they coming back?'

Sherlock shrugged. 'In part, it's all dis-jointed though. It's like a beaded necklace that's broken and fallen on the floor. I'm picking up the odd item but none of it is stringing together in any kind of coherent way. It's damn frustrating...oh, sorry.'

He apologised to John clearly forgetting to mind his language in front of Rosie.

He ended up playing on the floor with Rosie, helping her pile up some wooden blocks and knock them down whilst Molly helped John put some dinner together in the kitchen.

'How was he today?' She asked.

John glanced at his friend and his daughter and shrugged. 'Not too bad. He's clearly lost none of his mental abilities when it comes to solving cases. He solved three just over e-mail...only minor cases but it's still a good sign.'

Molly wasn't sure whether to ask the next question but it had been eating her up since she'd left the flat earlier and she figured it was best to just spit it out. 'Did you tell him about Irene?'

She felt John look up at her but she concentrated on chopping the vegetables for the pasta dish they were making.

'Yes, I did. He checked his phone and found her messages and ringtone but still insisted that she meant nothing to him.'

'Oh...but you're disagree?'

Josh's sighed. 'I don't know. I mean, he constantly reminds me that I'm a shit detective so maybe I've got it all wrong. And do you want to know something else?'

This time she did meet his eyes, feeling nervous. 'Go on...what?'

'Mary always said that it wasn't Irene he loved. She always insisted it was you...maybe she was right. She normally bloody well was.' He chuckled and Molly smiled at her memories of his wife...but she had to admit it gave her a certain confidence.

The four of them spent a happy couple of hours together before John felt it was time he left in order to get Rosie to bed. Molly helped him pack up whilst Sherlock walked over to the window, looking out at the street below.

'I take it you're staying over tonight then?'

John indicated towards her bag and Molly knew she was blushing.

'Umm...yes I think so.'

'Well for what it's worth you have my blessing. I was too protective of him earlier and what's the worst that could happen? Maybe being intimate with someone will do him good in the long run. Anyway, we'd better get going. Good night Molly.'

He leant over and gave Molly a kiss on the cheek before picking up his daughter and saying his good nights to Sherlock. A minute or two later and they were both gone and Molly was alone with Sherlock.

So what do you think? Is Molly making the right decision? What would you do? Personally, I'd climb him like a tree ;) xx