A/N: Thank you for the lovely review 'shepweir always', and everyone else for all the follows! The prompt for this one is 'Cuddling Somewhere' Please read and review! :)
When Molly woke, she found herself uncomfortably aware of the emptiness of her flat, and the space on the sofa next to her. "Sherlock?" she called out tentatively, hoping that her fears would not be confirmed.
Receiving no reply, she threw back the blanket that he must have placed over her when she fell asleep last night, and ventured into the kitchen, almost hoping that he would be experimenting on Toby, as at least then he would still be there.
But the kitchen was empty, and she sagged against the counter, feeling drained. He had left without saying goodbye, and she wouldn't see him for another six months.
The previous night, Sherlock had arrived at her flat, hair windswept and coat collar turned up against the cold and rain. She had been taken by surprise, and simply allowed him in.
She had barely spoken to him since they had woken to John's shocked laughter at the hospital. Over the past months, their relationship had been awkward, as they avoided each other as much as was possible, only communicating to arrange autopsies and exchange the occasional limb.
He had barely acknowledged her, and had stalked through to the living room, where he had stood waiting for her to close the door and follow him.
As she entered the room, about to ask him what on earth he was doing at her flat at ten o' clock at night, he had taken two long strides across the room and kissed her, his hands running through her hair, tugging her towards him. With making a conscious decision to do so, she had kissed him back.
Suddenly, she became aware of what was happening, and broke away, gasping. "What the hell was that?" she yelled, staring at him, not quite believing that this wasn't all some strange dream. "A goodbye," he replied, looking slightly offended.
"A goodbye?"
"Yes. Mycroft is sending me away. Can't have your little brother going round murdering people, can you?"
"He can't do that, you're his brother! John told me what had happened; you saved the country from a psychopath. And you're not a murderer!" Molly said indignantly.
"Unfortunately, not everyone is as forgiving as you," Sherlock replied. "I am being sent on a six month mission to Eastern Europe. I came here to say goodbye though, not debate my criminal status."
"Wait a minute. You ignore me for months, then come in here and kiss me like that, before telling me that you're going away for six months?" Molly frowned, looking thoroughly unimpressed. Sherlock shifted on the spot, looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable. "Only the thought of leaving made me realise how much I value your...companionship. So I came to see you as an experiment of sorts, to see whether my feelings truly had changed," he began. Upon seeing Molly begin to look angry again, he quickly continued. "My experiment had positive results. I...like you very much. To validate my results, I believe that we should kiss again."
"I do believe we should," Molly replied, tilting her head back and kissing him. As their lips parted, she spoke. "I will miss you Sherlock, please be safe. I didn't go to all the bother of saving you the first time only for you to go and get yourself killed now," she said teasingly, unaware of the painful accuracy of her words.
"I will miss you too, Molly Hooper," Sherlock said severely, before turning to leave, adjusting his scarf. "What are you doing?" Molly replied, and he stopped in his tracks. "You can't just leave like that. Come on, Dr Who starts in ten minutes, we can watch it together. You might even learn something about the solar system!"
Despite some mutterings about "John's stupid blog" and "irrelevant information", Sherlock obliged, hanging his coat in the hallway before joining Molly on the sofa, after she fetched a mug of hot chocolate.
Forty minutes later, Molly had buried her face in Sherlock's silky purple shirt, refusing to look at the monster on the screen. "Don't be ridiculous, it's an actor in a prosthetic mask," Sherlock admonished, although he too jumped slightly as another Silence appeared from nowhere.
Another twenty minutes passed, and the TV was switched off. Molly tucked her feet up and nestled closer to Sherlock, who gently ran his fingers through her hair, his free arm wrapped around her, keeping her close. As Molly began to doze, her brown eyes covered by lilac eyelids, Sherlock felt a flash of panic at the thought of leaving, never to return.
Banishing all thoughts of leaving from his mind palace, he too began to sleep, although his arm remained secure around his pathologist.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps in the hallway brought Molly back to the present. Arming herself with a rolling pin, she crept towards the door, hoping that she wouldn't have to use the makeshift weapon.
"Molly?" a voice called out. A very familiar voice. "Sherlock!" Molly cried out in relief, placing the cooking utensil back on the side, and rushing towards the hallway. The sight that met her had her in a fit of giggles. Sherlock stood laden down with a full Tesco bag in one hand and a bunch of forget-me-nots and violets in the other.
"Oh, I was hoping that I could prepare your breakfast before you woke," he said, sounding adorably put out. "Here, let me help you," Molly said taking the carrier bag through to the kitchen, and using its contents to make up a light breakfast for them both. As she set it down on the dining table, Sherlock presented her with the bouquet. "These are for you," he stated, holding them out.
"Oh thank you Sherlock, they're beautiful!" she exclaimed, taking them gently and placing them in an empty vase that stood conveniently in the middle of the table.
It was only after he had left her, kissing her lightly that she thought more about the meaning behind the flowers. 'Remember me forever' and 'faithfulness.' "Oh Sherlock," she gasped quietly, holding back the tears that threatened to flow.
