HEAR ME NOW

Due to popular intrigue with the first bit, I added another chapter. I hope this isn't disappointing. I enjoy this little AU I got going on here. Let me know how you liked it, please?

much love,

day

PART TWO

Molly walked over to her mirror to double check that everything was in order. She absentmindedly touched her ear forgetting that at least one of them no longer had the aid in place. The other had been fitted with an implant thanks to her curious lab partner Sherlock Holmes. She smiled in the mirror at that. He was kinder than he gave off to anyone. It was lovely to know that he had that in him even though everything that came out of his mouth spoke of the contrary of such foolishness.

Molly felt her mum come around her and straightened her jumper that she had thrown over the navy dress that they had gotten from the thrift store a couple of days ago once she was free to roam around outside without the fear of it hurting too much. The doctors had gone over all the precautions. Everything should be remotely the same or better even. She hadn't gone back to school though yet, her mum's choice of letting her rest up before going back.

They hadn't ever talked about it but it seemed that her mum knew of her struggle of being around the other students. The things they said weren't nice in the slightest. Molly continued to persist as if nothing was wrong. Her mum had noticed or had been told. Molly somehow felt happier knowing that it wasn't just her that was aware of this issue. Nothing could be done about it as far as she was concerned but not having to hide the emotional turmoil did help quite a lot.

"I was right about the dress." Her mum smiled, as she brushed back the braid that she had twisted her hair into. A fishtail braid that she had figured out how to do on her down time using the computer downstairs.

"Thank you." Molly said quietly before turning around. "You look pretty." She said taking in the deep green dress her mother was wearing. It was a simple dress. Her mum enjoyed the simple things. It didn't surprise her the least that it transferred over to her fashion choices as well. The barrette that pulled her hair back did. Her mum's hair was dark and thick only part of which she shared with her auburn locks that her dad had given her. The barrette was shiny and black. She had never seen it before.

"Where'd you get that?" She asked marveling at the way the light hit it.

Her mum turned in the mirror so that she could see it for herself. It wasn't the first time she had worn it but it was the first time in a long while. Molly hadn't seen it before. She'd be lying to herself if that wasn't on purpose.

"Dad gave it to me when we got married. It was his one splurge until you came into our lives." Molly swallowed as she watched the shimmer in her mum's eyes flit away as she blinked. "Anyways, we should get going. His family is expecting us."

Molly took her mum's hand before they headed out and gave it a slight squeeze.

Upon arriving at the address that Sherlock had passed to Molly in the hospital as if he knew there was no way out of her coming to his home, Molly couldn't shake the air of wonder she felt. The house itself was large but the flowers on the outside spoke of how much care went into the up keep. She felt as if she was visiting a relative almost even though that wasn't the case at all.

They waited at the door after ringing the doorbell. Molly stood back at the sound. Her right ear was imbalanced and she touched it trying to decide if she wanted to take out the hearing aid. It would be better to hear with one ear properly than to not hear at all.

The door opened and a tall boy that she had never seen before was standing there. He wore a gray waist coat on top of a white button up and red tie around the collar. "You must be the Hoopers." He said in a bored tone but it didn't exactly reach his eyes. He seemed amused by them. Molly smiled a little as her mother nodded. "You must be Mycroft, the eldest brother."

"Unfortunately." He mumbled as he stepped aside and pulled the door open slightly so that the two women could come in fully. It wasn't long before a couple was entering the front room where they were standing and reaching out for Molly's hand. "It's so nice to finally meet you. I heard the operation went well." The woman said. She was dressed comfortably chic in cream slacks and a rose top with a light low cardigan around her arms.

"Thank you for all your help." Molly bowed her head shortly as she colored. It was new to her to have someone be glad to see her - to meet her.

"Think nothing of it." The man who was taller remarked. Molly could see so much of their younger son in the father. They looked alike apart from the gray hair and the older age. She wondered what he would say about that if she mentioned it. "We're always happy to help one of Sherlock's friends. He has so few of them." He chuckled quietly.

After a few more introductions with names being thrown about they invited them into the dining area where dinner would be served. Molly had hit the nose right on. This entire atmosphere was very homey. A medium sized wooden table was adorned with a rich red tablecloth with five place settings in total set. Food was already assembled on the table as well. The only thing missing was Sherlock Holmes himself.

"Where's your son?" Molly's mum asked with a curious eye.

"He'll be along soon enough. He's been with his friend John for most of the day doing whatever they usually do."

Mycroft didn't miss a beat as he muttered, "Getting into trouble as he does."

"Oh hush, Mycie. Sherlock is just very inquisitive."

Mycroft frowned at the nickname but said nothing more on the subject as everyone began to fill their plates. They ate with short topics about Molly's schooling so far and subject matters that didn't really pertain to Molly. Her mum was delighted to have someone to talk to about her life since being born with a disadvantage. "We just take it every day at a time as one does. I did pick up some ALS for the first couple of years. Molly still remembers it and we use it from time to time, right honey?"

Molly nodded as she sipped at her water having finished her plate. It was as she was starting to grow tired that Sherlock made his appearance. "Sorry, we got help up by the Inspector."

This had everyone's heads turning and frowns adorning his brother's face. Trouble, indeed.

"You weren't arrested were you?" His mum called worriedly. Molly had this strange feeling that the mention of a copper within Sherlock's life wasn't unusual. It was still something to worry about it however. Molly was curious as to why though.

"No. Nothing like that Mummy. I was helping him."

"With what?" His brother asked as he put his fork down.

"A robbery close to John's house. We happened to witness it as I was leaving to come home."

Mycroft hummed from his father's side. Sherlock turned away from his brother as he took the last available seat next to Molly. "Good evening Mrs. Hooper. Hello Molly." He greeted them finally with an amicable smile.

Molly's mum gave him a small smile, Molly could tell that she was concerned now about Sherlock's company despite how much of a good time she was having with his parents. Molly sighed which made Sherlock give her a look. "Mother is worried about you or well your company. Getting involved with a copper doesn't help her state of mind."

"I wasn't in trouble, promise." He saluted with a boyish grin.

"I know that but she doesn't completely see it."

He hummed as he looked past her at her mum who was chatting with his dad once more.

"Not to worry. How's your ear?" He gestured to the left side where he knew her implant was.

"Great."

"Good." He smiled as he reached for a roll. Molly noticed he didn't grab any more than that as he sliced it up and added a sliver of butter and took a bite. "What?" He said mouth half full as he swallowed waiting for her to tell him what was wrong. She was still looking worried. He didn't like that at all. "You should eat more." Was all she said as she honed in on a question his mum was asking her.

"Sherlock is a bit maddening about his sciences, do you share the same admiration for it?"

It was an honest questions but there was something there that almost made her laugh. His mother was trying to set them up or at least see if there was anything relatable between them that could get them on their way to seeing each other in another light. It was as if one meddlesome mother wasn't enough. Molly was polite about it in her answer even with Sherlock staring at her waiting to see what she said. Perhaps he hadn't really known how she felt about the subject himself either. "I like it well enough. I'm thinking of going into a science field actually."

"Really?" Sherlock, and his mum said at the same time.

Molly looked between the two of them. "It isn't proper table talk though. Um, so, yeah I like it." She said quietly.

Her mother was giving her a look that read 'not now.' She had gone over this a few times before tonight had come. Talking about death was the worst possible way to have dinner conversation. Never mind the idea that her reasoning for it was an admirable one. Dad.

The answer seemed to be enough for the moment so his parent's left her alone, yet Sherlock was the one who wanted to know the answer. "I think I'll show Molly the gardens in the back. Mummy likes her gardening." He told her with a smile as he stood up. This avenue seemed to delight his mum as she got really happy about it and went into detail how she had been inspired recently to add more near the big tree that covered most of the backyard. That would keep them talking for awhile as Sherlock stole Molly away for a bit.

Once they were free from prying ears and eyes he turned to her. "What was the occupation you were so desperate not to say?"

Molly twiddled her thumbs for a moment before looking up at him. "Pathology."

Sherlock surprised her with his answer to her answer. "Perfect."

"What?"

He guided her over to the rows of vegetables that were just barely hidden to the left corner of the yard. She didn't think he actually cared about the garden but he did want to get further away from the house.

"Pathology. It's a good field at least for what I'm trying to do." Without prompt he told her because he wasn't shy about it as she was. "I'm gonna be a detective with no strings. I won't be a part of the Yard or anything. A consulting detective - it's not been done before."

Molly decided she liked the way his eyes brighten in the moonlight. He was happy about his future or at least what he wanted it to be. She hoped he got what he wanted.

"That sounds exciting."

"If it wasn't, I wouldn't do it." He exclaimed.

This is where Molly was found later, on the grass talking to Sherlock about what he wanted out of life. A part of Molly wished to at least be a part of that life if only to cheer him on. That was something adventurous for her to think about. She didn't know how but maybe if he was willing she could help him.