MOLLY'S PUB

PT. 3

In the weeks that followed the rebuilding of the pub and the grand reopening Molly's Pub has had some of the best nights to date. A wedding reception had even been hosted the previous week. All of the success had made the usual occupants start to think of what could happen next. Mary was as usual very excited about anything happening, and very supportive of Molly who had been thinking of hundreds of things to do. Besides keeping the bar running she doubled at St. Barts but that was a separate entity to anything that she was thinking of doing. She wanted to expand the pub with something that had the name on it. Her name.

In the days that everyone had sat down to talk about what could be done to improve what they had already had going Molly got the idea. "A drink." She whispered to herself, not expecting any of the two people who were there to hear her, or if they did if they wouldn't think much of it. However Mary was her best friend and she latched onto the smallest detail as if it was already something thought out.

"You want one? The usual? What's up?" She asked already beginning to head behind the bar as Molly shook her head smiling softly at the blonde. The other occupant was the eldest person that she had ever wanted to trust information about her business with - old man Charlie.

"No, but bring me a water please. I was thinking of making a brew exclusive to the pub. At least for the moment."

"Your aunt used to talk about it." Charlie told her with a big smile on his face as if it made him smile to know that there were specks of her late aunt in this place still. In truth Molly felt happy whenever he told her something like that. It made her feel like she wasn't alone. Not that she was. Every night she was surrounded by loving people, even if most of the time those people ended up being drunk off their socks.

She just thoroughly enjoyed the idea of having her aunt still close to her. The fact that she had had a similar idea made Molly wondered why she never went along with it. "Why didn't see never make anything happen?"

"Wasn't the right time. The vultures were circling pretty hard when she had mentioned it to me. This place almost didn't exist before you were born. If it wasn't for a few special folks I'm sure we would have closed down before you were even of age." That made Molly sad to know.

In the beginning she hadn't known how she was going to run this place without her aunt's guidance. Now, she couldn't imagine not being in this place. She had people in her corner. Some unexpected sources of aid but she appreciated every single one of them. "I'm glad it's still here. I hope we can keep it going for as long as I'm here."

Charlie grasped Molly on the shoulder in a soothing gesture. He could see that the idea that it would cease to exist at some point would upset the young woman, but he didn't think that she needed to worry about that. This place had grown so much from what he had known it as. As long as the love that was put into it in the first place was still here she needn't worry about anything like that happening again.

"Don't worry, kid."

Molly smiled at him as Mary came back with her water and two glasses of scotch for herself and Charlie. Charlie didn't immediately pick it up.

"What's this I hear about you wanting to brew a drink?"

Molly smiled. She hadn't been too sure about it but this was something she really thought might be able to work. So she asked for a napkin or something so that she could get to sketching out the details at least. Everything else would come later. This would take time and she couldn't wait until it was out there completely.

x

With good things came the bad, Molly realized quite soon. Mary had gotten sick with the flu and would be out for at least a week if they were lucky. Molly had gone over to her place despite the hazard to her own health to give her a package of goodies that should keep her spirits up as well as make her feel better. She was truly a mess but Molly thought she was in pretty good hands without her there to take care of her. She had tried to stay a little longer even though the pub was supposed to be open an hour earlier tonight. It was only as she was leaving that she found the reason why Mary had been adamant that she not stick around and get sick for her benefit.

John Watson was taking care of her. Molly couldn't even be surprised by that. Instead she just giggled as John gave her a short hug before going inside to look after the patient. It hadn't even occurred to her until after to ask where his best mate was in all of this. Sherlock Holmes was a man that she saw very little of but enough to know that it was hard to grasp where his head was most of the time.

Their acquaintanceship was something of a fancy flight of little moments. He had been in and out of the pub since his initial first introduction, and the rescue attempt he did when the Moriarty fiasco had gone on. Nothing had really happened between the two of them and Molly could say with certainty that she didn't know if it ever would, but she was fine with that. He was a good ally to have regardless. A mysterious one at that.

She wouldn't let herself worry about anything of the sort that centered around him. John just happened to be his friend and her friend as it were. Everything else was of little consequence.

She should have begun to worry when she arrived at Molly's Pub to find him standing under the light shade smoking a cigarette. She shook her head at him without asking why he had turned up so early. She was going to have her hand fulls tonight and the nights to come and she didn't see how one extra person being a patron would help her. She continued on and unlocked the door, and held it open for him to slip through before she joined him inside. She flicked on the light as she went and heard him at her heel as she put her bag in the office before heading out to the front to start taking down the chairs.

Sherlock did begin to help her which probably shouldn't have been a shock to her system as he had helped in the establishment before right before they re-opened. However he wasn't dressed as casually as before. Instead he was donning his dress clothes again, sans suit jacket and tie.

Only they were done with that Molly decided to ask him because it had began to bug her. "What are you doing?"

He was grinning at her slightly. "John said you needed help. Your best girl is ill."

"Yes..." She trailed off looking at him a bit shifty. Was he offering his services? Did he even know how to do any of this? He had brought her a drink once but how far did his knowledge go with bar-tending.

When Molly said nothing but kept staring at him, he shifted and sighed. "I thought you were smarter than that Miss Hooper. I'm going to be your Mary until she kicks the sickness."

Molly's eyebrow rose an inch at that. "My Mary? What do you know about keeping a pub?"

"Enough to at least keep track of the order and bust tables."

Molly reached up pressed a hand to her head. "Okay. I'll have to teach you the rest. You're a quick learner I presume?"

His grin widened. He didn't need to answer that.

Molly circled around the bar and began to get things ready while Sherlock rolled up the sleeves on his shirt. "I'll give you a beginners course on the basics. You can leave anything complicated to me until we give you the second lesson."

He scoffed but didn't complain about that.

They spent about thirty minutes going over how to make the more common orders before Molly went up to the front door to unlock it and turn the OPEN sign around so that people knew that they could come in.

About an hour and half into the night Sherlock had found Molly's bottled drink with the homemade label that she had made in the office a few days ago. "Oh, you weren't here we were introduced that. I made a brew. Few kinds actually." She paused as the man inspected the bottle he had taken from the fridge where they were chilling until someone ordered one or a couple as it had been the case. "Just testing it out. People seem to like it." She smiled at him before turning back around to get an order from the back where the cook had just finished a table's order.

She ducked out front to deliver the table in the middle that was full of teens who were barely legal. She would have to remember to look out for them. There were no parents with them as it was sometimes the case. She did card them so she knew who they belonged to family wise and would give a ring if she absolutely had to. There had only been one case so far where a parent pick up had been necessary. For the most part if they weren't being overly stupid she let them crash until a lull came and she got them into a cab.

"Mind if I give it taste?" Sherlock asked once Molly had come back.

He was still holding the bottle of beer. She shrugged. "If you like, don't get drunk alright? I will throw you in my office and finish the night on my own if I have to."

He seemed to find her authorative attitude very amusing. "Noted." He cracked open the bottle and took a swig while continue to look at her. Molly turned away from his gaze out of discomfort, not that from the color that rose to her cheeks when he did. She was positive of that.

"Good." He mumbled.

Molly turned back to him for a moment before she grabbed another set of glasses to fill another set of drink orders. They were about to get their rush. "What?"

"The brew. It's good. I know someone who could help if you want to expand it further."

She watched him out of the corner of her eye as he took another chug of it before placing it on the shelf below the area where they made drinks out of view of the customers. He crossed behind her touching her as he passed to get the strawberries for the spritz mixer that a woman had ordered. Molly could smell the scent he often carried on him. She could smell sweat too and she shook her head of the thought that crossed her own mind before moving to the other side of the bar to chat with Charlie who had been there for the better part of the night.

"What's up Pops?" Molly liked to use that name on him even though he just shook his head at her.

"He's not doing to bad. I feel like he's done it before."

"You think?" Molly inquired as she looked down the way at Sherlock who was doing a spin with one of the drinks before pouring it.

"Maybe. He does seem to be enjoying himself." She sensed something in his tone.

"What are you trying to hint at old man?" She leaned closer to him.

He shrugged. "Nothing, dear. Nothing at all."

Molly rolled her eyes before going back over to Sherlock who gave her an inquisitive look. "Alright?"

"Perfect."

x

As it turned out without Molly's answer about any outside help with her brew see found it first sign of it came when she entered her office after a particularly long night. She was trying to decide whether it was worth it to go back home tonight when she found a set of stickers sitting on her desk. They seemed to hold her penmanship with a much fancier surrounding border. 'HOOPER'S' sat at the top center encased a border of golden swirls. Above the name sat the name of the pub in smaller font that mirrored the sign that sat above the door in the front. Directly below expressed the flavor of drink while directly under that told all the specific breakdown information.

It was all very professionally done that Molly had to ask him about it when he came back the next night. She would have called him if she had his number but they had never tried to give out each other numbers. Honestly, Molly preferred the way they came in contact with each other in her own space. Anything outside of it made her anxious. Though things had happen inside that could have been seen as anxious inducing. It seemed different somehow.

"It was you wasn't it?" She asked as Sherlock took off his coat that he had decided to bring this time and left it on the small cot that was in the office. Molly tried not to think too much of him suddenly leaving things of his in her private quarters.

He blinked a moment as if he was surprised she was talking to him this early on today. "The stickers? Oh. Yeah. My brother had them done. He's taken an interest."

"In what?"

"Lots of things, Molly. Usually just me directly but seeing as I'm here frequently it's slowly trickled in. Wouldn't be surprised if he suddenly popped up unexpectedly?"

Molly had no idea he even had a brother. It made her curious as to what he was like. Her curiosity needed to be tapped down but she couldn't help it. There was so little she knew of him. She didn't even know what he did for a living really. He wore suits, that was the extent of her knowledge.

"Tell him thanks then. They're nice. Much nicer than my handmade craft." She giggled.

"He still kept it. I'm sure you noticed that. He's the type who wouldn't keep anything that didn't appeal to him in some way." That was very informative. She nodded as she pulled her hair up into it's usual ponytail so that it wouldn't be in the way.

"Let's get started then."

Sherlock followed her through the motions as always, letting her lead. This was her place he was just a willing participant.

It wasn't until a rather well dressed man came in that anything change in Sherlock. He was fairly easy going even under the pressure of dishing out orders quickly enough to satisfy the customers. Molly noticed the shift in him almost immediately. He just stopped moving when it happened.

Molly having once stiffened in his presence out of fear had the need to make sure that he was okay. She moved down the bar to where he was standing. She pressed a hand to his back. "Sherlock." She whispered.

He didn't flinch away from her touch which she counted as a good thing. He inclined his eyes briefly to her. "Yup?"

She sighed, he probably wouldn't tell her why he was so frigid now so she decided to take matters into her own hands. This was her domain, if there was someone here who was causing problems she would do her best to remedy the situation or force the negative party out.

She approached the man in the pinstriped suit and the brown hair that was styled neatly where he sat in almost direct line of Sherlock at a table. She looked briefly at Sherlock before speaking to the man. Sherlock had returned to manning the bar. She was relieved he hadn't full on froze. She turned back to the man and gave him a small smile. "Hello. Can I do anything for you today?" This wasn't the normal script but this wasn't a normal situation either. She didn't know who this man was. In truth she didn't know several people who came into her pub but this man wasn't a normal customer. He didn't look anything like them.

"I believe so. I can wait."

Molly was confused. What was he waiting for?

"What are you waiting for?"

"Closing time. I need to have a word with you."

Molly didn't know what this was about but she didn't have the time or man power to deal with this right now. "Can I get you anything while you wait?"

"Ah, yes if you don't mind Miss Hooper." He paused, giving her a smile that didn't look the tiniest bit real but all the same was present on his face. "I'll take the Hooper's Ginger brew." This caught her off guard. For someone who had never set foot inside her establishment he already knew of her specialty drink.

She gave him a brief smile before going back behind the bar to get it for him. She checked on Sherlock while she was there. He was doing fine. It was as if he had been thrown into a shock before slowly coming out of it. She was still wondering why, but she could wait until later to find out. She gave the new man his drink, accepted his 'thank you' before going to check the rest of the room for any refills or money pick ups.

Once it was last call and everything slowly trickled out Molly found herself left with just the small amount of crew and the suit man. Sherlock was circling the outer perimeter of the room while Molly took the seat across from the man. He had told her to go ahead while he cleaned up. She had began to protest but she gave him a very awkward pat of reassurance and a smile.

"Hello again." She said, picking up her own drink: Hooper's Hard Lemonade.

The man just nodded. "I think introductions are in order lest of all on my part." He paused and outstretched his hand. "Mycroft Holmes. I have an interest in helping you market your latest brew creations."

Molly heard him but she had stopped mid hand out to grasp his when she heard him say his name. Holmes. She found Sherlock's eyes and he just nodded at her as if to say 'yes that would be the brother' without saying it.

Molly opened her mouth to talk but she found she couldn't, so instead she grasped his hand as he just smiled at her. He found this all very amusing. "You're gonna have to give me a moments." She said as she took a large swig of her drink.

"We have about twenty minutes." He told her, looking at his watch.

Molly did her best to get herself together so that they could talk.

"About my brew then." She started.

They sat there talking as Sherlock circled cautiously. When they were done Molly shook Mycroft's hand once more before he exited out the door with only a nod to his brother. She did think that was odd but she also thought it was weirder that Sherlock seemed to be muttering under his breath as she joined him in the office. She leaned against the door looking after him.

"So that was your brother then?" She asked.

"Oh yes. Didn't expect him to show tonight. He knew that I was here." He growled.

Molly didn't know what he was so upset about. Everything turned out well. They were going to meet with Mycroft again next week for a proper meeting with charts and things. He was going to bring that - also she had to do was bring samples. He was going to do most of the work.

"Okay." She breathed. "What's the problem, Sherlock?"

"Nothing." He said quickly before turning around to see Molly staring at him. He sighed. "We don't exactly get along."

"You're kidding." She added sarcastically.

"Ha. I don't kid. Regardless I'll be here when he comes."

Molly began to tell him how that was unnecessary but he seemed to be completely sure that he needed to be. There would be no way to stop him from being there so she just left at that.

He did surprise her on the last night that they ended up working together before Mary's with a peck on the cheek. "This has been an interesting experience. Thank you."

Molly was the one who should have been thanking him but instead she was once again speechless. Was this the Holmes brothers' curse? She shook her head. What world was she living in now? How was she supposed to do with it all?

She had so much to share with Mary the next time she saw her.

It's been awhile, eh? The has been pestering me since the last chapter but other projects ya know? Anyways I really hope you guys like this new venture.

A friend of mine's (Julia; theconsultingkingslayer (Tumblr)) had tweeted me a photo of the Hooper's Cloudy Lemonade brew awhile back and seeing as it is in fact real I thought it would be cool to use it as a variation for Molly's own professional venture in drink making.

You can find out more about it on their website hoopersbrew dot com.

Also I hadn't even thought about putting Mycroft in this AU just yet but then the idea of having someone behind the scenes of making the brew something much grander had come to mind and I was originally gonna have some sketchy type trying to do it then Sherlock would just dip his toe in there and decide to do it himself. However, Mycroft might be better suited to do it. He knows how to run things in a very business like manner. Enter old brother.

Let me know what you thought please.

much love,

day