Chapter six

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day! Finally our romantic night is here.. Will Mycroft propose? Will John plan the perfect the night in for a pregnant and grumpy wife? As for Sherlock and Molly its a platonic date right? Cause Sherlock would never allow himself to feel..

(go to sweet-sweet-escape on Tumblr to see Molly's outfit!)

Molly heard the intercom buzzing and her stomach erupted into flutters, her hands were shaking and she whispered to herself, This is not a date, this is not a date.

She heard Jenny at the door ushering Sherlock in and her stomach dropped like a lift with it's cable cut. It was one thing to tell her brain that this was no date, quite another for her body to believe it. Her hands were shaking as she picked up her clutch and shawl, she took several deep breaths in an attempt to compose herself, the last thing she wanted to do was to humiliate herself by making Sherlock aware that her feelings for him were still far from platonic.

One last look in the mirror, she nodded to herself, You can do this Molly, adrenaline coursed through her arms and made her fingers tingle. She comforted herself with the thought that least she looked the part, for once she felt equal to the task of walking next to Sherlock, no one had cause to question why he'd be out with someone like her, Stevie had made a doll of her.

Sherlock stood near the door with his phone in his hand texting away when she walked in, at the sound of her light footsteps he looked up expecting to see a repeat of the type of dress she had worn that ill fated Christmas.

Oh no, oh god, who's responsible for this? His eyes swept down her length taking her in and then back up again, he sighed, this was going to be nightmare, she looked utterly devastating. Her dress perfectly accentuated her innocent sweetness and yet it was sexy, her new shoulder length hair was the perfect complement to it and the shoes were understated and low so that she felt comfortable and exuded confidence.

"M-Molly!" Bloody hell, "You lovely look and I need the bathroom," he burbled out in one shot, he practically sprinted from the room. You lovely look, oh well done.

"Okay," Molly stood wondering what the hell what was going on, Is he using drugs? That cannot be simply attraction, not for me, there has to be something else going on, oh god, this is going to be a long night, my hormones are sitting up and panting like a dog begging for a treat and he looks good enough to climb like a tree, she sighed and waited for him to come back.

Sherlock stood in the bathroom looking at himself in the mirror making things very clear to his traitorous body. Molly is a friend, and even beautiful friends are not for touching. He decided channeling his inner Mycroft would be the best move until he remembered that Mycroft was out fornicating with the best of them, had in fact, gotten Anthea pregnant.

He snorted in disgust and decided he simply needed to go out there and be on guard the whole night, simple, he'd managed to survive torture but he was worried about how to handle a tiny shy pathologist? Ridiculous, I am Sherlock Holmes, this sort of worry is beneath me. He squared his shoulders and headed back to take Molly's arm and lead her down to the car like the gentleman he was raised to be.

Insert stars here

Amy made her into the restaurant giving the maître de her name and waiting to be seated. Her eyes widened when she recognised none other than Mycroft Holmes sitting at the table waiting, he stood when he saw her approaching and smiled looking rather boyish in his pride at having tricked her.

She waited till she had been seated and they were alone before she asked him, "Is this is a date Mycroft? Are we going to start telling people?"

"Well, I was rather hoping there might be a bit more news to share," he paused and looked down at his hands trying to summon the courage to continue

Anthea reached across the table and took his hands, "It's just me, Mycroft, you don't have to play the politician for me, I like you best when you're not pretending."

Mycroft nodded, he was so lucky to have found her, and not because of her beauty, - he appreciated her beauty of course, he was human after all, contrary to popular opinion - she understood him, after a life time of being misinterpreted he had found Amy.

If he had a thousand life times to simply ponder he doubted he could comprehend why she had bothered to look at him with the intention of seeing in the first place, but she had, she had become the place where his heart had made its home, hers was the only non familial love he had experienced.

"Amy, will you be my wife?" His voice had none of the smug arrogance he usually shielded himself with, none of the flowery speech he was so prone to, he believed her when she told him she didn't need his theatre.

Amy herself bore none of her own trademark sly persona, her face was gentle and open, she brushed a single tear from her eye and nodded, "I would be proud to Mycroft." She stood up and leaned across the table to kiss him, his heart swelled with gratitude and joy that this perfect creature had agreed to be his own, and that he would belong to her!

Insert stars here

Mary heard John's key in the door and thought Alrighty, let's go, she plastered a big smile on her face and made for the stairs.

"Mary? Are you ready for our date love?"

"I am John," Mary's smile was already turning into a genuine expression of happiness, she walked into the kitchen and saw the candles set out, the smell of lasagna and garlic bread washed over her, "Angelo's?" Her voice was hopeful.

"Yes!" John pulled out the sparkling grape juice with a "Ta-da!" Followed by the Godivas and the DVD.

Mary was overwhelmed, she looked at everything her incredibly sweet and thoughtful husband had done to make the night special and she just couldn't stop herself, unbidden tears gathered on her lashes and she held her hand over her mouth.

John presented the massage oil proudly with a flourish, looking up his face fell, "Mary? What have I..? Are you okay love?"

Mary nodded while tears streamed down her cheeks, "I'm so sorry John, it's the hormones," she explained between sobs, "It's just so perfect, the whole thing, it's exactly what I would pick for myself for a perfect night.

John reached out to Mary and pulled her into his arms, "I've got what I need for a perfect night too Mary, you."

They stood swaying gently together for a long time before Mary finally broke away, "I'm going to need to eat now! The smell is killing me, you can't get between a pregnant woman and her pasta John!" John laughed as he grabbed their plates and flat ware.

Insert stars here

Molly was perched on the edge of the couch when Sherlock walked back in, her brow was furrowed and her lip was caught firmly between her teeth as she worried it back and forth.

Sherlock's eyes seemed to get caught in her teeth with her lip, unable to drag his focus away he licked his own lips in sympathy, causing them both to blush.

Jenny stood in the door way to kitchen stifling her laughter, taking pity on them both. Good grief, I've seen my eight year old niece more comfortable flirting than this, "So, Mr. Holmes," she advised in a no nonsense voice.

Sherlock's eyes flicked over to her, deducing what she was doing and sighing in relief, he had no idea why she would take pity on him, but for once he was all too happy to accept help.

"Molly is to be kept under the strictest supervision at all times? Do you understand me? If she needs to use the facilities I will come to your table and discreetly escort her. Stevie has arranged for there to be no press so that the broadcaster cannot try anything."

Molly was shocked when Sherlock's only response to this was a nod, her eyes darted between them, "Do you two know each other?"

"We both simply find your safety to be paramount Molly." Sherlock smiled and offered her his elbow, shall we?"

The sun peeked out from behind the clouds on Molly's face as she linked arms with him and they walked to the door to begin their date.

Insert stars here

Stevie would have loved to substitute himself for the driver in the town car but there was too many ways for that to go wrong so he made do with bugging it.

He was bouncing a rubber ball to offer distraction while he waited, the repetitive thuds of the ball hitting the hard wood floor, the wall, and the quieter snick as he caught it each time creating a soothing rhythm.

Finally he heard voices, "Thank you, Sherlock," Molly's voice was subdued, good, that was highly likely to be a reaction to his behaviour being odd due to his attraction for her. He knew the way he had dressed her would be impossible for him to ignore, he hadn't changed her, he'd simply enhanced her positive qualities.

There was silence after that, he could only assume that they were darting glances at each other only to skitter away each time their eyes connected.

Why didn't he install cameras? He'd thought a camera much more to likely to be spotted but now he almost regretting that decision. Maybe this won't work? Maybe the consulting prick really is made of stone?

Finally Molly broke the silence, "So Mycroft's proposing tonight? New addition to the Holmes family, I bet your mum's excited."

"Hmm, I'm surprised he's got it in him to be honest, Mycroft, a father and a husband? Well, they do say that truth is stranger than fiction." Sherlock was clearly immensely pleased with himself.

Molly apparently did not agree because he uttered an "Ouch! Molly?" Sounding indignant.

Stevie was exultant, with the air crackling with tension between them any touch moved them inexorably closer to that tipping point. A smile reminiscent of Moriarty himself graced his features as he luxuriated in the depths of madness Sherlock Holmes had waiting for him, absentmindedly he continued to bounce his ball.

Insert stars here

Molly laughed at the look of baffled surprise on his face after she had pinched the back of his hand, she desperately tried to ignore the way her accelerated upon the briefest contact with his skin, she glanced at him in time to see him swallowing – hard.

She slumped back against the seat. She couldn't remember ever feeling more confused in her life, Is he interested? No, even if he is, he won't do anything about it and if I do I'll regret forever. I'm just going to put this nonsense out of my head, he's just feeling odd because of the broadcaster, I feel off my game, so why shouldn't he?

"So Mary said that John had something planned for tonight, she was a little worried it would turn out to be awful. Any idea what he's up to?" She asked cheerfully.

Sherlock fought his first impulse which was to roll his eyes and offer a short, sharp statement detailing why he couldn't care less about John's boring romantic plans, instead he smiled and said, "Well, John always has fancied himself a ladies man, although he was always better at catching than keeping from what I saw, until Mary that is."

"Hmm, I think his inability to hang on to a girlfriend was strictly related to being your flat mate, I doubt he had any trouble before he met you and look at what happened while you were off saving the world, he fell in love."

Sherlock spluttered out "What do I have to do with John's love life? Surely you're not so foolish as to believe the rumours yourself about mine and John's relationship Molly?"

"I wasn't referring to you and John being an item Sherlock, I was referring to you being a high maintenance flat mate. Not that there would be anything wrong if you had been an item." Molly looked at Sherlock, his face was screwed up in disbelief and anger.

"Well, there would be the ever so slight problem of both of us being heterosexual, that would rather put a damper on things would it not?"

"Oh, well I wasn't sure if you even..well I didn't know." Molly looked over at Sherlock dismayed to see his face was thunderous.

"You didn't know if I what Molly?" He seemed to be nearly vibrating with rage and his voice was taut.

Molly froze, Shit, why did I say that? Now it's going to be awkward and he's angry with me, wait, why is he angry with me? He doesn't care about stuff like this.

"You don't do romantic attachments Sherlock, that's all I meant, I wasn't insinuating that you couldn't, I'm sure you'd be very good, I mean you're so good at everything and you're handsome and fit so if you wanted to you could definitely ah.." Molly realised what she had been saying – babbling – and clapped a hand over her mouth, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

Sherlock's face had gone rapidly from furious to smug and amused, at her expense of course, but it was worth it, she was used to playing the fool for him. He watched her squirm with that insanely sexy half smile of his, "Well, thank you Molly, that's very ah, affirming," his smile had not dimmed one bit.

Molly's insides turned jelly like and she was fairly certain she was drooling, she sat utterly mesmerised by his beauty.

Sherlock was so caught up in the moment that he forgot himself and reached over to her and cupped her cheek, her breath hitched and his eyes flicked to her mouth.

The driver called out "Mr. Holmes? We are here, shall I call the agents to escort you both in?"

Neither of them moved for a long moment, Molly couldn't, there was no way to tear her gaze from his, he had her pinned with his eyes.

Sherlock let his hand slowly slide off Molly's cheek and closed his eyes briefly as though he was struggling to break the connection also.

Molly took in a deep shuddering breath and gathered her thoughts.

Sherlock cleared his throat and called to the driver, "Have them meet us inside, I'll be fine to take my," ahem, "Molly in."

Molly's eyes widened, she suddenly felt like she'd been dropped into some alternative universe. A really lovely, alternate universe, she could only hope she'd be allowed to stay in it.

The rest of dinner went by in a blur for Molly, she felt like she was flying after their moment in the car, she ordered champagne and decided a couple of glasses would be fine, not factoring in her lack of lunch before coming out due to butterflies.

The champagne loosened her up enough to feel comfortable with Sherlock however and it actually made the night more fun, because she wasn't nervous she was able to chat and make morbid jokes.

Sherlock however was in agony, her presence was absolutely too much for him to bear, she was utterly charming, charming! The fact that he was even thinking in such words frightened him, he had never found anyone or anything charming before, neither man, woman, nor beast.

She also looked devastating, he found himself mooning over her while she talked about her life as a child, picturing her as a child and delighting in the idea was the last straw. Molly was mid sentence when he pulled his napkin from his lap and flung it onto the table muttering about needing just a moment, he signalled to Jenny and stalked off.

For once Molly didn't react to his abruptness with confusion or worry, she'd had just enough champagne to feel loose and relaxed and was able to see quite clearly that his discomfort lay with himself and his own feelings about his current reactions to her.

Sherlock headed to the bathroom,meh splashed water in his face and gave himself a firm rundown of the plan, You will have dessert if she wants it and you will take her back to the safe house and you will keep your hands to yourself.

He relived the feel of her cheek against his palm for a moment and a renegade voice in his head whispered to him, I bet her skin feels like silk all over her body. Sherlock squeezed his hands into fists, closed his eyes and took several deep breaths willing his body to cede to his control.

His eyes fluttered open again after several moments, he made his way slowly back to the table, he wouldn't be able to manage this for long, dessert and then a quick ride home and then he could go and bang his head against a wall for a while.

Molly smiled at him when he came back, taking pity on him she told him "I don't really feel like dessert, do you?"

Sherlock's sigh of relief was visible, Molly giggled a little internally, Clearly Stevie and Mary were onto something here, even if he doesn't want to be, he's attracted to me. She felt a little frisson of pleasure at that thought, Even if he never acts on it, it's nice to know that my feelings are not wholly unreciprocated..

The car ride back was silent but comfortable, when they arrived at the safe house Jenny went up first, ostensibly to check the rooms but the fact that she could give them a moment was a factor too..

Sherlock got out and offered Molly his hand, she was still feeling exuberant from the champagne. "Thank you Sherlock, that was a truly lovely night, you're a good friend to me." She leaned up and kissed him in his cheek slowly, letting her mouth linger, she rested her hands on his chest for balance as she did so and was rewarded with the feeling of his galloping pulse.

Sherlock's hands locked around her wrists, he could feel her matching pulse pounding through his finger tips. "Molly," his barely above a whisper, "Be safe." When she looked up at him he brushed his lips across hers briefly, then he pulled her flush against him, "Good night Molly."

Jenny appeared again to give the all clear, smirking when she saw them in an embrace, Sherlock nodded to her and disengaged himself from a very dazed Molly.

She started inside, then turned and looked back at Sherlock, "I'm always safe with you Sherlock."

Sherlock smiled gently at her and said again, "Goodnight Molly." They both turned and went their separate ways, neither of them would be able to sleep a wink that night.