AN: I have to tell you guys that you are all very sweet. When I feel apprehensive about posting work, it's your kind words that spur me on.

I had a lot of steam for the first few chapters, and I'm struggling to get through the ending. There will be one more chapter after this, but we're headed in the right direction I think... Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy! :)

'Italics'= inner thoughts

Trying to educate Sherlock Holmes on the complexities of women and on matters relating to love was torture for Mary Watson. This including the time she was actually tortured at a military prison camp during her days as a spy.

"Oh. My. God. Sherlock!" Mary huffed each word exasperatedly. "What makes you think that packing up all her stuff and having it moved here- without her knowledge- is a good idea?"

"Not good?" Sherlock looked at her quizzically before crossing it off a list he had compiled.

When it became clear that this wasn't going to settled in one afternoon, she quickly escaped home to kiss her daughter, debrief her husband (and kiss him too), freshen up and head back to Baker Street with an overnight bag. By the time she returned, he proudly presented a list of- evidently asinine- ideas to woo Miss Molly Hooper.

Slightly discouraged after having several of his schemes dismissed, he tossed the list aside. "I thought you said women appreciated 'grand gestures'," he said with a sneer.

"Yes I did say that, but remember you want to respect Molly's boundaries. It won't do you any good if you upset her by not taking her feelings into consideration. Besides, it's a little barbaric…" Mary couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. "Look Sherlock, winning a woman's heart needs to be done with finesse. Be suave, be a gentleman… After all," she continued with an affected voice, "only a caveman would do something as brusque a clonking a woman on the head and drag her to his den."

"Hmm, perhaps. But it would certainly get the point across." Sherlock flashed an insincere smile that made Mary laugh.

"Nevertheless, it won't work. You're grand gesture will have to be different… not so much a gesture as a declaration, I daresay. Tell her how you feel."

The detective grimaced at the thought of having to declare his feelings. Since an early age, Sherlock had been tutored in the art of concealing his feelings. Most of the time, it was a good thing. Being able to detach himself from his emotions allowed him to work harder, push himself further, and solve cases much faster. Maybe that made him a machine, but what did it matter? The work was all that mattered.

Years of experience, and growing up, taught him that there was more to life that 'the work.' For example: friendship. People he couldn't shake off, for lack of a better word, who insisted on hanging around however hard he pushed them away. The Detective Inspector who gave the junkie puzzles to solve to stave off boredom, the elderly landlady who gave the irresponsible man a place to live, and eventually an ex-soldier who saved the man with a death wish time and time again.

But the perky pathologist? She was different story.

Her warmth and giving nature made it easy to trust her. Her unwavering loyalty made it impossible for him to not care about her. It was only after he willingly and openly acknowledged her as a friend that she soon made her way into his mind, and consequently his heart.

Sherlock was roused from his musings by a soft pat to his arm. "Sherlock- are you listening? I'm giving you some world-class advice here!"

"Sorry Mary. Mind palace," he quipped as he touched his temple. The touch soon turned into a massage to the temples accompanied with a heavy sigh. "I have no idea what to say to Molly."

"I know, Sherlock. But that's why I am here to help. I won't tell you what to say, that needs to come from you. From here," she said as she pointed to his heart. "However I will make sure that whatever it is you do say isn't so… Sherlockian?"

Sherlock grinned at the phrase. "Sherlockian? Oh, is this one of the ways you're going to keep me from 'fucking it all up'?"

"Yup," Mary nodded as she popped the 'p' at the end.

"Huh… Alright then, my life is in your hands Mrs. Watson!"

When Molly was contemplating ending things with Sherlock, she considered moving away; getting as much distance between her and Bart's, London, and the consulting detective himself. However she quickly realized that that was never really an option. To be far away from Sherlock Holmes would destroy her- not that she was faring all that well now. Even if she couldn't have the life she wanted with him, she would be content with his friendship, as she had before. She figured that a life without Sherlock, was no life worth having at all. It would be fine. They could be friends… all she needed was time to get over him.

Unfortunately she was not afforded that luxury.

She was requested back at work only a week and a half later, following a distressed call from Mike Stamford. She was nowhere near ready to return, to be honest; then again it was likely she never would. So like many times before, Molly chose to put on a brave front and get herself ready for battle. If she took a little extra care in her appearance- well- no one could blame her.

The first several hours upon her arrival were spent cleaning up the mess left by the pathologist that was filling in for her. Equipment out of place and stacks of paperwork that had been ignored were to be expected, but it was the missing cadaver that had Mike in a frenzy. After waving off praises and words of thanks from her co-workers for getting everything back in order, Molly settled into her routine. It was just like old times; in which she found comfort. That should have been her first clue. Really, wasn't there that saying about 'a calm before the storm'?

Rewriting (correcting) eight autopsy reports proved to be a good distraction; such a distraction that she didn't hear the doors to the morgue open.

"Oh Molls! I didn't think you would be here… I- um- heard that you- uh… had taken some time off?" DI Greg Lestrade stuttered. Molly looked up and smiled at him, noticing how his eyes were shifting from the door back to her nervously. He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on her forehead. "Listen, Sherlock is on his way in to look at a body. I didn't think you would be here, otherwise I wouldn't have… Shit, I'm sorry Molly."

Molly bit her lip and tried to hide any signs of worry. "Don't even think about it, Mike called me back early... We were going to have to work again together eventually. Might as well be today, right?" She finished, trying to sound cheerful.

Greg breathed out and relaxed his shoulders a bit. "I only found out about you guys, John told me. After Sherlock was ignoring my calls and texts… John says he's not good." He was shuffling around awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable. Molly chuckled inwardly, 'Does he think I'm going to break down and cry right here?'

"Well anyways, I am glad that you're here! The pathologist they got to replace you is an idiot… That's why I called in Sherlock. We need to look at several of the reports he wrote up and see if there's a connection between victims. What your 'replacement' identified as natural causes may be in fact serial murders."

If she had any hopes of getting through this first meeting with Sherlock, then she would have to be the epitome of professionalism. "Yeah I've been going through some of the reports, very sloppy indeed. I think we still have the evidence he collected from the bodies. Let me go get that."

Molly scurried out of the morgue to retrieve the necessary items. Sure she could have sent an intern, but she was happy to do it. In fact, it bought her some time to mentally prepare before Sherlock arrived. 'Calm down! Breathe! Be professional… You have to make them believe that you can handle it. Be strong Hooper!'

Molly stood tall, pushed her shoulders back, and strolled into the room. She felt her heart clench at the sight of her former lover. She was grateful that he had his back to her, giving her an extra second to get it together. Maybe he wouldn't notice her anxiety; if he did, maybe he wouldn't say anything.

Greg and Sherlock were huddled by the autopsy tables, speaking in hushed tones, neither of the two noticing her presence. She cautiously walked towards them and caught the end of their suspicious conversation.

"Is this going to be a problem?" "No." "I'm serious Sherlock! If you can't control yourself you better leave now, because if you say something hurtful-" "Really Greg. It's fine."

Molly cleared her throat, suddenly feeling guilty for eavesdropping. Both men turned to face her; Greg looked uneasy, while Sherlock looked… gorgeous as always.

Sherlock gave her a small smile. "Molly, how are you?" Molly returned his smile with one of her own, "Good, thank you."

Fully aware that he was not one for small talk, she thought it best to get to work straightaway. Once the awkwardness had subsided, things began to feel normal. Sherlock looked at evidence under the microscope and spouted off deductions while Molly ran tests. They moved about the room in a well-choreographed dance; the way only two people who truly understand each other can.

Several hours later the trio found their connection, in addition to the person who should be held responsible for these deaths. What they presumed to be the work of a serial killer was actually an incompetent pharmacist who was recklessly filling prescriptions. Molly was glad she could give the victim's families peace, Lestrade was eager to stop the man before he claimed more lives, and Sherlock was annoyed with the anticlimactic results. In other words: business as usual.

Greg rushed over to Molly's side and gave her a small hug. "Thank god you're back… Don't think we could've solved it this fast without you! I gotta go and pick this guy up. I'll see you two later." With one last pointed glare at Sherlock (as to remind him to behave himself), he made his exit while barking orders into his phone.

The slam of the morgue doors served as a deafening reminder that the two were alone. Molly chewed on the inside of her cheek to keep herself from babbling. She hated awkward silences, but whatever would come spilling out from her mouth would surely be more awkward. She sighed inwardly. Actively concentrating on not speaking was difficult; pretending to be unaffected by Sherlock was worse.

She kept herself busy by washing the labware when she heard the metal stool he was on scoot back. He was halfway out the door when he turned to look at her. "Molly? I'm leaving now."

Startled by his voice, she squeaked out a small "okay" before he stepped out further into the hallway. 'I guess this is how things will be like from now on,' she considered sorrowfully.

Sherlock hesitated at the door for a moment before he spoke up again. "It was- um- good to see you Molly." The tenderness in his expression was unlike any previous look he'd given her. It almost undid her. Not trusting her voice, and her brain for that matter, she gave him the warmest smile she was capable of. Sherlock nodded as a parting gesture and left.

Molly stared at the spot he had occupied seconds earlier and released the breath she had- apparently- been holding. She did it, she had survived her first encounter with Sherlock. Regrettably, it was an empty victory. Where she should have felt relief, she simply felt more sadness.

She returned to the dirty equipment in the sink, and attempted to keep her tears at bay. It would not do well to have an emotional breakdown on her first day back to work. Luckily the task was monotonous, which allowed her to continue on autopilot and get lost in her thoughts.

Sensing another person in the room, she spun around to acknowledge them. Molly was a little stunned to see Sherlock again so soon. She took in his appearance, 'Disheveled, out of breath, and slightly flustered,' she observed.

Apprehension flooded her face as she fell back to her old ways. "Sherlock, what's wrong?"

He ruffled his hair and narrowed his eyes in her direction. "I didn't want to do it here, like this… But we need to talk."

AN: I didn't want to end it there, but it would have become way too long. I haven't decided what happens next so if y'all would like to provide suggestions, I am more that willing to accept.

Not entirely happy with this chapter, but I would still love to hear what you think. You are awesome! Cyber-hugs! :)