Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock and if I did own it, I'd be the happiest fangirl on earth!
A/N: Hello! This is my first attempt at a fanfiction for BBC One's "Sherlock". This is also my first ever Sherlolly (with a little Molliarty) fanfiction! I love Sherlock so much that I can't resist writing a fanfiction as a tribute to the series' wonderful modern adaptation of the original Sherlock Holmes stories and also to the actors that make up the success of the series. I am also writing this fanfiction to ease my fangirl heart from the agony of waiting for Season 4 on 2017! To be honest, I am torn between Sherlolly and Molliarty. I love the two ships so much that I can't fully decide which one is my OTP. I also have BROTPs like Johnlock, Adlock, Mormor and Sheriarty (which I will try to sprinkle all over this fanfiction). This Sherlolly fic was supposed to be a one-shot fluff, but then I thought of a plot that caught my interest. I hope you guys will like this fic and don't forget to leave a review! Let me know what you think and suggestions are always welcome!
Enjoy reading!
Chapter 1 - Diversion
"He was a really sweet man."
Molly said lowly. Her voice hinted slight sadness as she stared blankly at the wall of Mrs. Hudson's dining room. She recalled all those memories. Those beautiful moments that were huge lies her ex-boyfriend Jim Moriarty had pulled off. "We used to have coffee together during our break. We even watched Glee together when he went over to my house. We also went out three times. He took me to fancy restaurants and to beautiful places I never had the chance to go to. I really thought he was the one for me. He was so kind, so perfect, he did the most awkward but cutest little things and he had the brightest smile I ever saw. His eyes were so round and beautiful. I could stare at them all day long..."
Molly's lips tried its best to tug a small smile. Remembering every bit of Jim from IT was both bitter and sweet, like a delicious toxic slowly poisoning her mind. Mrs. Hudson could see the sadness in the pathologist's eyes as Molly turned to look at her. "... but he wasn't the person I thought he was. He wasn't even real. It was all a lie... so I ended it, me and him."
"Goodness gracious." Mrs. Hudson sighed as she reached out for Molly's hands from across the dining table. "Who would have even thought he was actually a criminal mastermind at first? Based on your story, he seemed like an angel."
"I couldn't even let myself believe that he was capable of doing evil things. I mean, my cat Toby really liked him." Molly let out a sad laugh before she continued. "It was difficult to let that thought sink in before. I couldn't believe I dated a psychopath."
"Those types of men really do fancy you, don't they, Molly?" Mrs. Hudson's words made Molly sit up straight. She was taken aback, causing her cheeks to turn slightly rosy. Mrs. Hudson let out tiny laughs at the young lady's reaction. Molly couldn't help but laugh along too.
'Oh, Mrs. Hudson, if you only knew... they are my type of men too.' Molly thought as she moved away one of her hands from Mrs. Hudson's and placed it over her cheek. The smile on her face was wider and less lonely than earlier. "It's possible that I'd be murdered if I ever had another boyfriend like Jim. I was lucky enough to be spared. But I guess silly things like that happen sometimes. We fall in love with people we don't expect to love."
"Well, love is silly itself, dear..."
"Nobody else could have said it any better, Mrs. Hudson." Molly couldn't agree more. She broke up with Tom for almost a year ago and following that came the stunt that Jim had done on each and every telly all over London. Fear and heartbreak warped her heart to confusion and distress. She had no idea if all that had happened for the past months made her stronger or more vulnerable than ever. Things haven't been well for her and she had nobody else to confide her grief to but Greg Lestrade and Mrs. Hudson. She frequently visited her closest friends and she was so relieved that they were around for they have been a huge help to her. She told stories about Tom just a few minutes ago, but she had no idea how the topic of the conversation went from Tom to Jim. Nevertheless, it felt good letting all her frustrations out. "Mrs. Hudson, I think I'd have to follow Sherlock's advice after all."
"What do you mean, deary?" asked Mrs. Hudson, her eyebrows forming a crease in the middle of her forehead at the mention of "Sherlock", already expecting that the advice wouldn't be good at all. Despite the young man's intellectual prowess, he has the emotional intelligence of an insect. Nothing really encouraging ever came out of Sherlock's mouth most of the time. To Molly, however, anything Sherlock said meant everything.
"Well he said to me years ago that I shouldn't attempt myself to get into a relationship." Molly shrugged. The smile on her face faded. She looked down at her coffee and stared at it as she remembered every bit of Sherlock's words. She could hear his baritone voice resonate inside her mind. "Probably he deduced how bad I am in relationships. I can tell right from Jim and to Tom as well, that he was right back then. I should have listened to him."
"Oh nonsense." Mrs. Hudson said, gently squeezing the young lady's soft hand. "You're a lovely lady who deserves a good man. Sometimes relationships don't work out, but you'll grow and learn from it."
Molly's eyes still fixed itself at the dining table, eyeing her cup of coffee that reflected back her pretty face. "Maybe it's my fault why my past relationships with Jim and Tom ended badly..."
"Molly dear, don't blame yourself if things didn't turn out well for you with Jim or Tom. You see, Jim wanted different things and Tom didn't seem committed enough. You'll find the right man for you someday. Trust me." Mrs. Hudson let out a little sigh before she continued. "Also, don't you ever listen to Sherlock when he talks about relationships. You know that man, he never even had anybody before John came along. I believe, based on your stories, that Jim is more boyfriend-material than Sher—"
Mrs. Hudson was cut off when she and Molly heard a loud thud from outside the door of the dining room. They both swiveled their heads to the door that was left slightly ajar. The two women could easily make out who the figure was. The man standing behind the door was tall, had curly hair and was wearing a long dark coat — It was Sherlock Holmes.
"Sherlock?!" Molly and Mrs. Hudson said in unison. The tall man swiftly opened the door and entered the threshold without saying a word.
"What are you doing standing outside my dining room?" Mrs. Hudson stood as she looked up the tall man, whose bright eyes darted at every corner of the room, trying its best to avoid looking at Molly's direction. "I thought you were busy solving a case with John."
"We went home early. Mary is out for some errands this evening so John needed to go home to take care of the baby." He said as he gently pushed past Mrs. Hudson. His eyes were still searching for something the two women had no idea of. "She's always been very busy lately, Mary. Frequently heading out of the house like it was her duty to roam around the city."
"Well, that's what you always do too, Sherlock." Mrs. Hudson said as her eyes followed the detective's movements.
"Sherlock." Molly said as her eyes stared at his tall and wide back "What are you looking f—"
"Mrs. Hudson, where did you put my skull?" Sherlock asked as he turned to face the old lady. He sounded slightly annoyed, ignoring the fact that Molly tried to speak to him.
"Your skull? I never even went inside your flat today. Maybe you've misplaced it somewhere else, Sherlock." Mrs. Hudson said but she herself started checking if the skull of Sherlock's old friend was unknowingly in her possession. Sherlock wouldn't accuse her unless his deductions said otherwise. "Have you tried searching in your flat first?"
"I know you wouldn't mind finding it for me. I need to have it as soon as possible." Sherlock said before sitting on the chair where Mrs. Hudson once sat, ignoring what the old lady had just said to him. She stopped in her search and slowly turned to face the detective.
"I'm your landlady, not your housekeeper, Sherlock. And look, I have a visitor to talk to." She nodded her head at Molly who stayed dead silent, feeling a little awkward about her presence in the scene.
"I'm sure Molly Hooper wouldn't mind. I'll keep her company while you're gone." Sherlock said as he crossed his shoulders over his chest, his eyes finally meeting Molly's. The pathologist tried her best not to blush at his glance but failed to do so. She looked away and bit her lips to avoid the urge of her lips to tug in a wide smile. "If you've already found it, bring it up on my flat along with biscuits and tea. Molly and I will be heading up there in a minute."
"Wait what?" Molly asked, bewildered at Sherlock's last statement as she looked both at the landlady and the detective, wondering if this has always been a part of their daily routine even when John was still living here with them.
"I am definitely going to have a word with your mother when she visits!" Mrs. Hudson exclaimed, partly frustrated but still did what she was told regardless. She turned to Molly and mouthed "sorry". The young lady replied with a nod and reassured the landlady that she did not mind being left alone with Sherlock. Once Mrs. Hudson left the dining room, Molly turned to Sherlock and was startled to see him already looking back at her. The way he looked at her was overwhelming, but she knew it meant nothing but him trying to be an observant. Silence filled the room before Sherlock destroyed it with his deep baritone.
"Come, Molly." He said as he walked to the door, expecting her to follow.
"Were you listening?" Molly asked. She wasn't able to control herself. Knowing Sherlock, he was good at prying. He might have heard everything she and Mrs. Hudson had talked about. Sherlock halted just as he was about to grab the handle of the door. He turned to Molly.
"I got in just several minutes ago. I saw your winter coat hanging on the coat hanger. How did I know it was your winter coat when you have never worn it in my presence? Simple, it had a few strands of your long brown hair and had a few cat furs that were definitely from your cat, Toby. Your winter coat also has this familiar scent that is the same with your lab coat and with what you are currently wearing. I presume it is a perfume of a famous celebrity that you are a huge fan of. Also, based on the dried snow that had already seeped into the fabric of your coat, you've been here approximately 45 minutes ago. I figured you were here because Mrs. Hudson asked help from you with preparations for the Christmas party tomorrow. Unfortunately, I was wrong with the latter." Sherlock said confidently and straightforwardly. Molly took a deep breath as he spoke. She felt really terrified but pleased at the same time whenever he tried to deduce her. It was as if he could always see right through her. The mere thought of it weakened her knees. "Love has always been a primary and leading factor for the fall of mankind."
"So you did listen..." Molly confirmed. There was a few seconds of silence before Sherlock responded.
"It couldn't be avoided." Sherlock said as he turned to open the door. "Let's continue this conversation in my flat, Molly."
Molly was about to say something but then she stopped herself when she noticed that Sherlock was holding the door open for her, obviously insisting her to go out the dining room first before him. The lady then walked out of the dining room without a word. She went out of Mrs. Hudson's room and turned to the stairs heading to the detective's flat, Sherlock Holmes in her wake.
Molly's eyes took in the sight of Sherlock's flat. It was quite a mess; Books were piled up on his desk, curtains weren't dusted regularly, all the papers of the music compositions he did were scattered on the floor (probably the wind that came from the window had blown it across the room while he was out playing detective) and his laptop was left open on his sofa, with only 10 percentage of battery life left. She darted her eyes on the mantelpiece and saw the skull he had asked Mrs. Hudson to look for. It was placed on the left side of the mantelpiece just above the wide hanging mirror. It seemed untouched for weeks based on the thin layers of dust sprinkled all over its surface.
"I thought you said that skull was in Mrs. Hudson's room?" asked Molly. Sherlock also turned to the mantelpiece and then back at Molly.
"Diversion. I made it all up so that I could get her out of the dining room." Sherlock said as he took a step closer to where Molly was standing. His eyes fixed on her long brown hair.
"And why did you do that?" Molly then turned around to see Sherlock already looking straight back at her. This had caught her off-guard again and could not help but wonder why he kept doing it.
"I'd like to have a word with you privately." The tall man said before gesturing his hand to the chair that was once John's. "Have a seat. I'm sure Mrs. Hudson will have the tea and biscuits ready in a few minutes."