A/N: Hello again! Thank you to those who followed and reviewed the first chapter of this fanfic of this latest chapter was fun to write. I love Molly Hooper so much. I mean, what's not to love about her, right? I hope you guys will enjoy reading the second chapter. Don't forget to leave a review! I love you guys so much! Long live the Sherlockians!

Chapter 2 - Not Anymore

Tea and biscuits were served without fail, just as Sherlock expected. Mrs. Hudson finally found out about the skull not entirely missing and misplaced. She could only shake her head as she massaged her forehead. Having the detective around with her was like taking care of a spoiled brat of a child who always got himself into a heap of trouble.

"So..." Molly began the conversation after sipping her tea. "What was today's case all about?"

"There have been three consecutive murders this week. All three victims were killed in different and various methods that did not match one another. So it is impossible to assume that these murders were all done by one serial killer, because serial killers tend to have one or few similar ways in killing off their victims. It is possible though, that there were three different killers or assassins who have been roaming around London killing people. However, all three killers left the same style of messages on their victims after the murder. Which does conclude that all those murders are somehow connected with each other. They weren't just random citizens that got unluckily murdered." Sherlock then showed pictures of the crime scenes to Molly. She placed her cup of tea back at the tray before she studied the pictures. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end for she could not avoid the thought that these murders were possibly the work of Jim Moriarty.

For some reason, she felt an unusual thrill that coursed through her veins. She was undeniably certain that he was back. He might only be lurking in the dark corners of the city for now, waiting for his prey to fall for his trap. And that one thought terrified her despite the developing excitement. Sherlock, however, might disregard that idea of hers because he was perfectly convinced that the psychopath was dead. It just so happened that he witnessed his death himself.

The pathologist still examined the details of each photograph regardless of all the assumptions her thought had already formulated. Molly, who was too engrossed in analyzing the murders, gave Sherlock the opportunity of stealing glances at her.

"All these murders were planned thoroughly, and it seemed like these three different killers were ordered by one specific person." Molly said, more to herself than to the detective sitting across her. Nevertheless, Sherlock still felt the urge to answer back.

"It was well thought out and properly rehearsed before the actual murder happened. It was a clean and smart murder." Sherlock leaned back at his chair and placed the tips of his fingers together before smirking. "However, not smart enough."

"I see..." Molly returned all the pictures back to Sherlock. She could feel her face burn as their fingers touched when Sherlock's hands reached out to claim the pictures back. Her eyes moved to his direction. The detective was smirking, which Molly figured were the effects of both the man's sheer excitement and confidence towards the case. The man's presence in front of Molly was a wonderful sight. His dark hair knew every curve and every direction. Each curl that fell over his forehead looked beautiful. His cheekbones cast small shadows that brought out the magnificent shape of his face. His bright green eyes were like precious emeralds illuminating through the reflection of the faint light coming from the fireplace. The way his lips moved and flexed into smirks and grins amazed her. She wondered how it would feel like to kiss them. Molly got lost into Sherlock as all her thoughts trailed away. "I see..."

"'You see… what exactly?" Sherlock raised an eyebrow, amused by how Molly was spacing out. He wanted to laugh but he held himself back, remembering John saying that he should avoid being rude towards women, especially towards Molly. The pathologist snapped herself back from her daze with the help of Sherlock's deep baritone. She then stammered as she searched for the words she had lost into the vastness of her mind. Molly had failed once more to control herself. She thought she had already gotten over Sherlock, but he kept giving her reasons why she should give in and fall for him once more.

"I'm sorry! So so sorry! That was so rude of me. I didn't mean to stare—I was just—I couldn't—"

"Calm down and have some more tea, Molly. You seem like you might collapse any minute." said Sherlock as he poured a little more tea into Molly's cup. The young lady took her cup with both of her hands, trying her best not to tremble. She felt so embarrassed that she wished she could have vanished from her seat and never came back. She took a few sips and at the same time tried to calm herself down before she placed her cup back down on the tray. When she felt ready to speak again, she took a deep and subtle breath before doing so.

"What I meant was that... I now see and understand why you wanted to have a word with me privately."

"You do?" Sherlock said, partly impressed that she understood before he even said a word about the matter.

"Yes, I do." Molly replied, tucking in some of her brown locks into the back of her ear. "You wanted to invite me to solve that case with you because it seems like John is now too preoccupied with the baby."

"No."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"When I said I wanted to have a word with you privately, I didn't mean it was about the case." Sherlock went back to leaning on his chair as he put both his hands on the sides of his seat. He almost thought Molly already had an idea on what he actually wanted to talk about. Sadly, she still had no clue whatsoever. "John and I will still be the ones who'll solve the case together. I have invited you here to talk about a different matter."

"What is it about? Is there something wrong, Sherlock?" Molly asked, her heart started to race inside her chest. A mixture of unknown fear and worry clouded her thoughts as she waited for Sherlock to answer.

"I would just like to take a part of your and my time of the day wherein we could engage ourselves in social and intimate interaction, consume edible substances as you and I both witness and listen to the performances of several people on the—"

"Sherlock, wait." Molly spoke, cutting off Sherlock in the process. "Do you mean that you want to...?"

"Spend the remaining time I'll be having on a certain day with you in the future? Yes." Sherlock stated as he clasped both of his hands together above his chin. Molly's face burned scarlet as she took her tea once more to cover her red face from Sherlock. She drank all her tea down to its last drop before putting the cup back to wear she usually placed it. The pathologist's heart was pounding against her chest. She wanted to pinch herself just to check if she was only dreaming, but the warmth of the fireplace, the taste of tea in her mouth, and the man sitting and looking back at her was no doubt real and true. It was all enough to prove that what was happening right now was real.

"In short, Sherlock..." Molly's lips opened but no words came out easily. "You wanted to go on a date and watch Glee... with me?"

"Apparently." Sherlock said before he cleared his throat and took a deep audible breath. Molly saw him rubbing his hands together as he tried to avoid eye contact from her. Just like her, he too was nervous as hell. For Sherlock Holmes to say such words, it might have taken all his guts and will to say it out of his mouth. "If... if it is in your convenience."

"I'd love to." Molly said straightforwardly, without any hints of doubt and uncertainty. This made the detective raise his head to gaze back at her.

"You don't mind?" Sherlock asked, seeing Molly's face light up in joy.

"Of course I don't, Sherlock. Why would I mind?" Molly couldn't contain her emotions. It was overflowing like a river running down through the jagged lands of a mountain. She tried to bite her lips to control a wide beam that had already come out. "Why did you suddenly want to go on a date with me? What about your case?"

"John and I got a lot of time for the case." Sherlock stood from his seat and made his way to Molly's spot. The young lady watched him move closer, her eyes stayed fixed on his bright green ones. "Molly, the reason why I want to go on a date with you is because I want to."

Molly finally stood from her seat as well just when Sherlock was only less than a foot away from her. She looked up at the tall man; both of them locked gazes with each other. The silence spread across the room in an instant, but it did not emit awkwardness. Nobody felt the discomfort of being close to one another.

"You've changed quite dramatically, Molly Hooper." Sherlock said as he reached to hold Molly's hand. The young lady felt the warmth of his wide palms. She felt him hold her small hands firmly. For the first time in almost a year, she felt secured.

"I did change." Molly said, her eyes never leaving his. "But there is only one thing that never changed in me."

"I know." Sherlock then brought his lips to her forehead. Molly closed her eyes at the feel of his warm lips. She had never felt any safer. She had never truly thought that this moment would come. And now that it was finally happening right before her very eyes, all the heartbreak and fear she had inside her heart were finally buried underneath the past. The young pathologist changed dramatically after all these years, but despite everything, she never changed her feelings towards the detective. "Thank you, Molly Hooper, for always being there when nobody else was. You truly are the most important and most valuable person in my life."

"I'll never leave you, Sherlock." Molly felt Sherlock's hand hold her small and soft ones tighter, but it didn't hurt. "You know I won't."

Both of them exchanged loving smiles. Molly wanted to stay like that with Sherlock forever. His hand in hers, her eyes on his, their smiles at each other. She had so many regrets for the past few years. And right now, Molly was sure she didn't want to let go of Sherlock Holmes anymore.

Not anymore.

A/N: Well, it seems like Sherlock and Molly have started dating. I love those two dorks so much! And don't worry, my friends, I'll have the third chapter posted as soon as possible. Also, make sure you guys follow this story so that you'll be notified when the next one is published. have a wonderful day, everyone!