Another weekend, another update. I'm glad you're all enjoying this little piece of fluff!

Chapter 8

The next day was more overcast than the previous days. Molly hoped the weather wasn't going to turn, the venue for the ball had the option of dancing in the gardens but only if the sultry summer nights held out and Molly had started to dream about dancing with Sherlock in the moonlight. She knew it was sappily romantic but she didn't care. She had been lusting after that man for so long and now it looked like she had finally pinned him down, as much as anyone could with Sherlock Holmes, so she was going to enjoy it.

It was a fairly quiet day work wise so Molly was spending her time catching up with paperwork when Sherlock turned up complete with his trusty Belstaff. The first hint of a cloud and he was back in it. She smiled as she saw him, wondering whether it acted like a kind of security blanket. She figured he wouldn't appreciate her asking though.

He came over and kissed her briefly before making his way over to his favourite lab desk and setting up a couple of tests. It didn't seem to take him long before he got bored though. He wandered back over and sat in the edge of the desk opposite Molly. She glanced up, 'go on, what's wrong?'

'I'm bored Molly. There are no good cases. John scoured everything this morning and nothing was worth my while. I need distracting...dance with me Molly...please.'

'I'm working Sherlock, and anyway there's no room here.' She swept her hand across the lab filled with desks and equipment.

'There's room in the morgue if you push the autopsy tables to the side. I could teach you the rumba, I'm getting bored with the waltz...come on, you know you need the practice.'

Molly sighed, 'fine, give me ten minutes to finish this and I'll be down.'

He positively sprang to his feet rubbing his hands together.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Sherlock was being quite strict with Molly now, grumbling at her if she let her elbows drop or if she slouched. 'You need to keep your frame locked Molly, you're not made of spaghetti, use your bones.'

He had been right though; there was plenty of space in the morgue with the tables out of the way. The new steps were still in a box shape but he was now reciting, 'slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick' to her as they moved together. It entailed them both swaying their hips much more whilst keeping their upper bodies locked; Molly thought she maybe liked this dance the most.

After about twenty minutes practice she had really got the hang of it and they swirled and twirled together to the music that Sherlock had set up on his iPod. They giggled and smiled and at the end of the dance Sherlock suddenly dipped her to the ground and as she held onto him in shock he bent and kissed her.

As he pulled her back upright he said, 'enjoying the view Lestrade? I'd never pegged you for a voyeur but then I always miss something.'

Molly looked round in shock, stepping away from Sherlock as she saw Greg leaning against the wall by the door. 'Oh, Greg, sorry I didn't see you there. Can I help you at all?'

Greg pushed himself off the wall grinning widely, 'that's OK Molly, have to say I was a bit surprised to see you two...erm...dancing and stuff. You feeling alright Sherlock?'

'I'm fine Graham, just teaching Molly to dance before the Bart's ball this weekend. But enough of that, you have a case, talk to me.'

'Yeah, you're not wrong. Body is on its way in, you OK for doing the autopsy Molly? I can see you're a bit busy.' He smiled cheekily at Molly.

Before she could answer Sherlock stood in front of her and almost growled at Greg, 'yes very funny, I'm assuming you have more details, so let's stick to the case shall we!'

If Molly hadn't known better she would have said that Sherlock was jealous. She left them to it whilst she moved the tables back and set up her tools, waiting for the corpse.

John came in soon after, to help, having received two texts. One from Sherlock as normal stating there was a case and asking for his help. The other a bit more unexpected.

What's going on between Sherlock and Molly? Are they together now? GL

He quickly sent back a response Don't worry Sherlock is just teaching Molly to dance. I know, I know but apparently he likes it. JW

The final text was more unexpected yeah, they weren't just dancing, they were kissing!

When John arrived at the morgue he and Greg just exchanged a look before cracking on with the case. John knew better than to tackle Sherlock now about his relationship with Molly. He would just bide his time, or better still set his wife on the trail given they were shopping for dresses the next night.

As the guys left the morgue shortly after, Molly watched them go with a knowing smile. She liked seeing Sherlock on a case, it brought him to life in a way that nothing else did. His movements were faster, his eyes brighter; she could almost hear his brain whirring at a thousand miles an hour. He needed the adrenaline, the high that solving the case gave him. She knew she wouldn't see him again, for dancing, until the case was over and just hoped he would be able to solve it before Saturday came round.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

The next day she had still heard nothing from either John or Sherlock beyond a couple of emails asking for clarity on some aspects of the body and the autopsy. She rang Mary to check that they were still on for their shopping trip and they agreed to meet up a bit earlier and maybe go for a couple of drinks and some food after the shops.

John and Mary were quite fortunate at the moment when it came to babysitters as John's sister had got back with her wife Clara and the two of them were more than happy to help out when ever needed. They'd agreed to have Elizabeth overnight so that Mary didn't have to worry about having a drink.

They met up in Oxford Street just after 4.00pm and hit the shops hard. Luckily there were various sales in progress so Molly was hopeful about picking up something at a reasonable price. At least she didn't have to worry about the shoes after Sherlock had been so generous.

They went round a few different store before ending up in Selfridges. Mary had quickly found a black dress in a previous store and was now shopping for accessories but Molly had yet to find anything she liked. She was starting to mildly panic that she wouldn't find anything suitable.

'Calm down Molly, we will shop all night if we have to. It's not as though this is a date you're buying for, or is it?' Mary looked sideways at Molly as they flicked through the rail of dresses.

Molly blushed and glanced back at Mary and before she could even open her mouth to reply Mary grinned like a Cheshire Cat, 'oh my God it is a date, we knew it. Tell me everything!'

Molly was caught unprepared for the assault, 'I...um...that is we...oh, I don't know what I'm supposed to say.'

'So just tell me the truth then. We both saw you and Sherlock snogging last weekend and I've already heard through John that you and Sherlock were kissing again in the morgue. Greg told him.'

Molly stared open mouthed at Mary for a moment before laughing, 'and they say it's women who gossip. I can't believe that you were all talking about me and Sherlock like that.'

Mary raised an eyebrow at Molly, 'come on Molly, they might not have gossiped about you if you were with someone else but this is Sherlock 'I'm married to my work' Holmes. Aside from that incident with that poor girl he used for a case John has never seen him kiss anyone else. Of course they were going to gossip...So, tell me everything...'

Molly grimaced before smiling, 'OK but let's get my dress sorted first and I'll tell you everything over a drink.'

It was two weary hours later that they sat down in the pub having ordered some food and two glasses of wine.

Mary groaned as they relaxed, 'oh my back. I thought we were never going to make it here. You, girl, are one hard cookie to shop with. I hope you're happy, my feet are so achy I might not recover in time for the dance.'

Molly laughed at the sight Mary made and sipped at her wine. 'Thank you for coming with me, I'm not sure I would have found anything on my own.'

'Oh, don't mention it, it's just nice to get out of the house and do something that doesn't entail nappies and milk. Don't get me wrong, I love John and Elizabeth more than anything but domestic bliss is a bit outside my comfort zone. But anyway enough of me back to you and Sherlock. So have you slept with him yet? How was it, was he good?'

'Mary!' Molly's mouth was open in shock, the blush spreading across her face.

'Oh don't give me that, you know you want to talk about it and I want to listen so come on.'

Molly sighed and took a sip of her drink, wondering where to start. 'OK, so we've been spending a lot of time together over the past few days what with the dance lessons and all and...well...one thing led to another and Sherlock admitted that he wants to explore being in a relationship...with me.' She seemed to add on the latter as an afterthought as though there were doubt.

Mary scoffed, 'well of course with you, who else would he want to be with...not to mention who else would have him.'

'Hey, he's quite good looking!'

'Honey, he's drop dead gorgeous as we both know, I just meant no one else fits with him quite like you do, you get him, you complement him. I'm just glad he's finally realising it.' She took a swig of her drink before smirking, 'so?'

Molly blushed again, avoiding Mary's eyes, 'no, we haven't...not yet. He wants to I just...I don't know. I'm scared I suppose, what if it's just a fad a phase? What if it doesn't last? I don't want to get more hurt that I need to.'

Mary was silent for a moment, 'Molly, you have been holding out for Sherlock for years now. Oh I know there were other guys on the scene but engagement or not they were never really serious, not for you. So now is your chance. If it is just a phase you'll regret not having taken the chance to have sex with him but what if it's not just a phase, what if he really likes you, why wait? I agree that you're scared but I don't think it's about whether he's serious or not, I think you're just plain scared of him and sleeping with him.'

'And if you're right...what should I do?'

'You know the book title, feel the fear and do it anyway. It's only going to seem bigger and scarier the longer you leave it.'

There was a buzz from Mary's phone. She scrolled through to the text and smiled as she read it. She looked up at Molly, 'perfect timing. That was from John, the case is over and he's on his way home.' She downed the rest of her wine and started to gather her things, 'seeing as Harry has Elizabeth we might as well make the most of an empty house. I suggest you have another drink, for Dutch courage, and then get yourself over to Sherlock's. No time like the present.' She winked.

They said their goodbyes and Mary left leaving a thoughtful Molly in her wake.

I should say the next two chapters will most definitely be rated M but for those of you who prefer a T and want to see something of an end to this story chapter 11 will be the dance and it will be a T chapter.

I hope that helps to cover both those who want smut and those who don't.