"So, Mary and I were thinking we'd bring Elizabeth over for dinner on Sunday, if that's alright for you?" John sat at the kitchen table, safely removed from the probably toxic items littering the surface.
Sherlock looked up from the experiment he was conducting. He glanced across at John. "Hmm? No, sorry, busy that day."
"Oh? What have you got on? Preplanning case time now?" John smirked.
His friend sighed dramatically. "If you must know, Molly is coming over and we're going to watch some science show she likes from America. She doesn't get the channel and I do, so I told her she could watch it here." Sherlock turned back to his bunsen burner and adjusted the flame.
John was not put off by Sherlock's apparent dismissal of the subject. "You told her she could watch it here and you plan on watching it with her? Interesting. Very interesting." He picked up the newspaper beside him but kept a surreptitious eye on the detective. He smirked behind the paper when he saw the other man stiffen and look over at him. He returned his gaze to the paper, barely registering what was on the page. 'Oh God, Boris Johnson. I can't believe this city elected that jackass mayor. At least he's entertaining.'
True to form, Sherlock turned off the flame of the bunsen burner and carefully set down the beaker he'd been using. He sat back and stared at his former flatmate.
"Why is that 'interesting'? She is my friend. I was under the impression one should do nice things for one's friends. You certainly never seemed to shut up about that when you lived here." Sherlock narrowed his gaze at John.
The doctor put the newspaper down and folded his arms across his chest. "Well, you just said you told her she could watch the program here, not that you invited her over to watch it with you. But you also just said that you are going to watch it with her."
The other man quirked his brow. John groused internally. 'Damn but that expression is annoying! I just want to smack that eyebrow off his face. But you have him on the ropes, he just doesn't know it yet.'
"Yes, and? What's your point, John? How is that interesting?" Sherlock looked across at him, expectantly. It's was obvious he wanted a bloody pat on the head for doing something friendly for the petite pathologist. Well, John wasn't letting him off so easily.
"It's interesting because it's Molly and you know why! You fancy her! It's been obvious to everyone since Elizabeth's christening! You remember? When you, who can scale a drainpipe with one hand tied behind his back, managed to trip over your own feet and spill punch all over Molly's dress! Come on Sherlock, admit it: you invited her over because you like her!"
John watched with amusement as Sherlock shot to his feet, nearly knocking his chair over. "It's obvious?! To everyone? Would 'everyone' include Molly?" You could practically hear him chanting "please don't let everyone include Molly" in his head.
The doctor decided to let his friend off the hook. "Relax, Sherlock. It's obvious to Mary, Mrs. Hudson and Lestrade. To them? To me? Very obvious. But I don't believe Molly has any clue you have feelings for her." The tall man opened his mouth to speak, so John hurried on, "Shut up, you do have feelings for her! Don't make that face at me. We all think it's wonderful that you care for her and I think it's terrific you invited her over to spend time together outside St Bart's or the various crime scenes you've taken to dragging her along to."
Sherlock sat back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair. 'How come when I do that to my hair it looks like I've been electrocuted but when he does it, it just falls back into place? Lucky bugger.' John thought to himself. Sherlock looked anguished, staring down at the tabletop. That wouldn't do. John just wanted to tease the man not torment him.
"What's wrong, Sherlock? Something is obviously bothering you, so spill it." He uncrossed his arms and leaned forward, hoping to convey his earnestness to his troubled friend.
Sherlock sighed, remaining stubbornly quiet for a few long moments but John knew by now to wait out the silence out, that he would talk eventually. After moving pieces of his equipment from one place on the table to another arbitrarily, the detective took a deep breath.
"It's just, like you said, Molly doesn't know how I feel and I have no idea how to broach the topic with her. I don't want her to think I'm toying with her or using her as I did in the past. I was a right bastard to her on many occasions and I've done everything I can think of to prove to her that I'm no longer that man." Sherlock steadfastly refused to look at him. He kept his gaze firmly planted on the table as though perhaps it held the answers of the universe.
"She knows you're not like that anymore. We all know that, Sherlock. I think if you're just honest with her about how you feel, it will all work out." John said, gently.
"But, what if it doesn't? She fancied herself in love with me for ages but then I was gone and she was engaged when I came back. I know she's single now but how do I know she still has feelings for me?" Sherlock must truly be worried to be this open about what was bothering him, John knew. John meant it when he said they have all seen how much Sherlock had matured but he still had difficulty being honest and frank when it came to messy things like emotions and relationships.
John smiled at his friend. "I don't think she's ever stopped loving you, which might be why her engagement ended. Perhaps she stopped hoping you would ever reciprocate her feelings but that doesn't mean she wouldn't be over the moon to hear that you do. Just talk to her."
Sherlock still looked slightly panicked. The doctor hastened to add, "You don't even have to talk to her when she comes over. Just see how that goes and if it feels right, you can tell her. Do it when you feel comfortable. She's waited for you this long, I'm sure she can wait a little longer while you sort things out."
He stood up and gathered his coat. Sherlock looked lost in thought.
"Now, I have to get back to my girls but please, Sherlock, trust me on this. It will be fine. I'll talk to you later, yeah?"
Sherlock hummed in response. "Hmmmm. Yes, thank you John, you've been most helpful. Love to Mary and Elizabeth." Sherlock spoke without opening his eyes.
John smiled at his friend and made his way out the door.