A.N: Hey guys!

I was stressing about this chapter as it contains something you have been waiting for. I might not be updating as often now as I have found a job BUT I promised to update at least once per week.

Thank you for all the reviews, I don't even know what to say and thanks to Georgia Beta-Extraordinaire.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock or it's character but thanks to the sweet reviewer who was much too kind to compare me with Gatiss.

Steffy2106

Chapter 11

The Freemasons Hall was just coming into view when Molly stopped again. "Sherlock!" She whispered harshly. "They won't let me in."

"Molly, have a little faith. Your scepticism is wounding me."

She snorted and was about to answer when he pulled her into what looked like an abandoned house.

"Here is your guinea pig, Dolores, impress me." He said, pushing Molly into a room where a girl was waiting for her.

Molly saw some lamps, a gown bag hanging on the wall, and makeup and hair product on the table.

"We're running out of time." Said the girl, grabbing a chair. "Sit."

"I…Ummm."

"No time to talk, Sherlock gave me 30 minutes and that's it."

Molly didn't have time to even think of anything, the girl had already pushed her on the chair and started to run a comb in her hair.

Within 15 minutes her hair were pulled up and her make-up was done. "Better than I thought it would turn out" said the girl with a wide grin. "Let me tell you that Sherlock won't know what hit him."

Molly blushed. "Can I see?"

The girl shook her head. "Wait until we put you in the dress."

When the girl revealed the dress Molly's heart stopped. It was probably the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.

It was a Silk Chiffon ball gown with a halter beaded strap erupting from the sweetheart ruched neckline, which was embellished at the waist by a jeweled detail resembling the luxury of a goddess of ancient days. A flowing skirt waved to the floor length and the back was sealed by a sweep train. The girl helped her in and it fitted like a glove. "All I can say Sherlock knows your mensuration by heart yeah? That dress fits like perfectly; he probably studied your body quite thoroughly."

Molly blushed and the girl laughed.

"Anyways…"The girl placed a pair of high heels in front of her. "Now you can look."

Molly turned around and met her reflection not really sure the woman who was standing there was her. Molly never considered herself as beautiful - not even as pretty - but right now there was no denying that she was gorgeous….Make up did make things magical.

Her hair was pinned up in a messy bun with strands falling down her neck in untidy ringlets, the makeup made her skin look flawless, the cheekbone higher, her lips fuller and her eyes bigger.

The dress put her asset in valor while hiding her little flaws, and the bright red of the silk against her porcelain skin made a perfect contrast.

"This dress was really made for you. All we can say is that Sherlock has very sure tastes."

Molly blushed again as Sherlock knocked on the door. "I'm sure it's just fine, we need to go now." He said with clear impatience.

The girl rolled her eyes. "Come in you twit and see for yourself."

Molly turned toward the door as Sherlock entered and she couldn't contain her smile as she saw his eyes widen ever so slightly and his jaw go slack. This lasted barely a few seconds but it was enough for Molly to feel good about herself.

"I…" Sherlock cleared his throat and stood straighter. "You did a fine job, Dolores. Ready to go, Molly Hooper?"

Molly nodded.

"Very well, the final touch" he said getting a beautiful red Venetian Butterfly half mask from the table. "Let me help you" he went to stand behind her and after Molly had adjusted the mask on her face, Sherlock tightened the ribbons behind her head. He let his hands trailed down her neck and rested them lightly on her shoulders. "You look stunning Molly Hooper." He whispered close to her ear.

Molly shivered at his words but he had already broken the contact. He slid a black half mask on and extended his elbow to her. "Shall we?"

She nodded, not trusting her voice and grabbed his elbow.

"Don't worry about your things; they will be in the taxi."

When they reached the door, they stood behind a few couples.

"Stand straight Molly, you're beautiful and you belong there just as much as they do." Sherlock said, looking down at her with a small smile.

Molly giggled.

"What's so funny?"

"With your mask, you make me think of Zorro."

"Is that a compliment?" He asked looking straight ahead as they were approaching the door slowly. "It doesn't sound like one."

"Oh but it is. I found Zorro ever so charming; actually he was my first crush. When I was a little girl I used to watch the Zorro 1957 TV show. I was so in love with Guy Williams."

Sherlock grinned as they reached the door. "Well, I'll be your Zorro for the evening."

Sherlock extended the card to the person at the door and spoke to him in flawless German. Molly had taken French at school and could barely understand it, German was as foreign as it could get.

"So what do we do now?" She whispered as they entered the giant hall full of masked people.

"Now Liebchen, we mingle." He replied with a very thick German accent, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her into the crowd.

Sherlock walked slowly, exchanging pleasantry with people as they crossed the room as if they knew them.

"Do you know those people?"

Sherlock snorted. "Of course not, but they wouldn't dare say that. I need you to be my eyes."

"How?"

Sherlock looked around and pulled her down a corridor. "I need you to pull him away from where he's standing. I need to enter the office."

"I see…You know I'm a sucky liar, right?"

"Yes but you have other…ummm… Attributes. The man won't even notice, he's young and still impressionable, he's here only for the night he has no idea of what he is protecting."

Molly blushed even though she knew he was saying that just to make her do what he needed. She sighed. "How long do you need?"

"10 minutes."

"Okay." She approached the guard, wrapping her arms around herself trying to bring out her barely existing breasts. "Excuse me? "

The guard eyes light with appreciation, which reassured her. "Yes?"

"I lost my friend and-" she pointed to a spot to the left, and as expected the guard turned in the direction she was showing, allowing Sherlock to slip behind him. "He was there and then…. Boom! Not anymore." She was playing dumb. She had been told a few times that her brain, even if attractive to some men, was not an appealing feature to men of lower intelligence.

The guard smiled to her. "All I have to say is that your escort is quite foolish to leave you unintended."

Molly giggled, and felt completely ridiculous, but he seemed to like it. "Do you always work here?"

"No, I'm working contracts, much more interesting."

"Oh yeah, I bet. The discovery of new surroundings. It probably keeps you on edge." She said, with pretend admiration.

"The guard looked proud and straightened. "Exactly. Listen, I'm done tonight at 10, want to go for a drink?"

Molly noticed an older guard frowning in their direction, his lips pursed in disapproval. She knew they had less than a couple of minutes before he came and stopped them.

Come on Sherlock, move faster. She willed him.

The guard started to approach her and with each step he took Molly's heart beat faster. The man was about 5 feet away when Sherlock appeared.

"Sorry, she's mine, mate." Sherlock said, pulling her down a corridor.

"I think they know." Molly whispered breathless.

"They don't know anything, follow my lead." Sherlock added turning a corner. "We're sneaking to make out not to hide anything."

Before Molly had the chance to say or do anything, Sherlock had her pushed against a wall and his lips were on hers.

He broke the kiss. "Come on Molly, you have to act like you're enjoying it. "

Molly's brain woke up and she decided to forget about her conscience, at least for the time being. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him back to her. She kissed him with everything she'd ever felt for him, his kiss was as skilled as everything else he could do. His lips were also soft, so soft, she never wanted for it to end.

The guard passed them and she expected Sherlock to stop kissing her except that he didn't, he pressed even harder into her and he caught her bottom lip gently between his teeth.

As she let her tongue sneak out of her mouth Tom's face flashed in her mind and she pushed Sherlock, horrified by what she had just done.

"No…" She whispered bringing her hand to her lips, her eyes filling up with tears

"Molly." His voice was thick. Sherlock took a step toward her; he was just as confused as she felt. He had intended to kiss her to distract the guard; he never expected his body and heart to react that way. His mind went in overdrive and he couldn't stop kissing her. He had no control on himself; she was like a fix, a fix he was craving for. It was not something he ever experienced before and he never wanted to experience it again.

"No!" She said louder, rushing out of the hall and jumping into the first taxi she found, ignoring Sherlock's pleas.

When Molly came home she had no time to even think, as Tom was sitting in the armchair, a small suitcase beside him.

"Tom, what-" Molly breath itched in her throat. "Don't do anything drastic, let's talk about it- I…."

"I'm taking the job, Moll."

"What?"

He sighed, standing up. "I phoned them and left a voicemail telling them I'm accepting."

"I don't have anything to say about it?" She asked, both hurt and angry.

"No, not anymore. You know you can be a pathologist anywhere in the country, St Bart is not even the best hospital, the one in Cambridge is even better. This is a chance of a lifetime for me; double the money and my chance to become the head of an engineering department. Tell me Moll, look me in the eyes and give me one good reason why you want to stay here."

Molly opened the mouth, but nothing came. Tom knew she didn't have any family in London; she didn't even have close friends. She closed her mouth and bit her bottom lip.

Tom gave her a sad smile. "Exactly. The only thing keeping you here is Sherlock Holmes and I can't keep ignoring it. It's not fair on me."

"He needs me." She said, knowing that part of her needed him too.

Tom snorted. "What this man needs is himself. He is the most self-absorbed, cocky bastard that I've never met. He could never love you the way I do Moll, never."

Molly shook her head. "I know that, I don't expect that. Tom, I'm with you."

"But are you though? I mean really?" He let out a weary sigh turning to the shelves and running his fingertips over one of their engagement party photos. "The thing is, when we got together I knew you were hung on a man. You kept listening to sad song, when the song 'Fingerprints' by Kellie Coffey was on your eyes would glisten with tears. It didn't take long for me to discover who had a hold on you; every time there was an article about Sherlock Holmes in the paper you would grow quiet, pain visible on your face. But I was okay with that and you know why?" He asked, turning around to face her again.

Molly shook her head.

"Because I thought I was competing with a ghost. It was okay, I was sure that after some time he would just fade and maybe that one day you will be completely mine and I asked you to marry and you said yes I thought you had moved on. If I had known he was still alive-"

"You never would have asked me to marry you." She guessed.

"I don't know, maybe I would have… I'm masochist that way." He detailed her up and down. "I don't know what you did tonight but you look divine." He admitted, almost regretfully.

"Where are you going?"

"Cambridge… For a week. This is an ultimatum, Moll, we can't keep going on that way both being hurt. I'll be back next Sunday. Either you decide to come with me or-" He looked down.

"Or we're done."

He nodded.

"What about the wedding?"

Tom smiled. "You know they don't want me there and I don't want to go. Decide Molly, this one is on you but just know that he will always hurt you, he will never give you what you know."

"So you're leaving? Just like that."

"Yes. I might be walking away now but you left me a long time ago. Now you just have to figure out if being there for him is worth sacrificing us. I love you Moll, I probably always will. I just can't keep on going this way. A week, one choice, him or me it's just that simple." He took his suitcase and took the direction of the door.

"You're leaving now?!" She asked, both guilty and hurt.

"I am going to sleep at the hotel tonight; I think it's for the best. We're both hurt and the anger might make us say thing we might regret. Goodbye Molly, I'll see you in a week."

Tom left, leaving Molly frozen in the middle of the living room and the only thing she could think about was Sherlock lips on her and his plea for her to stay.