Molly padded bare-footed on the plush carpet of her bedroom towards her front door, glancing at herself in the hall mirror one last time Molly pulled the door open to greet Mycroft who was standing on her porch, bottle of wine in hand. Molly smiled and gestured for Mycroft to come inside and make himself comfortable in the living room while she put the wine in the kitchen and set the veg and potatoes off to cook. Mycroft toed off his shoes at the door, removed his jacket and settled on the sofa, Toby quickly coming to take his place on his lap again as he had done the last time Mycroft was there. Molly entered her warm living room, drying her hands off on a green tea towel and burrowed herself into the other side of her sofa smirking slightly.
"I never expected you to be the sort of man who had holes in the toes of his socks." a laugh bubbled from Molly at Mycroft's shocked glance down at his feet "The great Mycroft Holmes is just as prone to holey socks as the normal people, that really is quite comforting."
"I don't make a habit of it I assure you." Mycroft frowned at his big toe poking out of his left sock
"Oh Mycroft, you're in my home, I don't care about how untidy you look, just relax you're a guest." Molly smiled wiggling her own bare toes "Besides I wander around without any shoes or sock all the time at home. My friends at uni used to call me the earth mother because I'm so much more comfortable without anything covering my feet." Seeing Mycroft still look slightly uncomfortable in his suit Molly leant over and unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt, rolling them up to his elbows.
"Why did you do that?" Mycroft looked shocked that she had touched him so willingly
"To make you more comfortable, it cant be fun spending your life in a smart suit." Molly smiled, she scratched behind Toby's ears before returning to the kitchen to set the table and make up some gravy.
She opened the bottle of wine and left it on the side to breathe for the ten minutes of cooking that was left until dinner would be ready. She returned to her living room to see that Toby had stretched out on his back across Mycroft's lap taking up as much room as possible and leaving gingery hairs all over the black trousers he was lying on.
"Sorry about him, he makes himself at home no matter what and he tends to shed when he does that. It can be a real pain sometimes." Molly apologised for Toby's behavior as she sat back down on the sofa. "Dinner won't be long, ten minutes at the most I think."
"That's fine, I'm looking forward to a home cooked meal now I've been anticipating it all day." Mycroft scratched at Toby's belly, eyes down as he responded.
"Don't get your hopes up too high, it's only an instant gravy cube that I've made with dinner." joked Molly reaching to tickle Toby under his chin as he tilted his head back to look at his mistress as he noticed that she wasn't giving him any attention. The next ten minutes passed in silence apart from the loud purrs of Toby as he absorbed the attention from his mistress and the suit man.
Mycroft gently placed Toby on the floor and brushed down his pants as he followed Molly into the kitchen to help her serve up their dinner. The wine was soon poured and glasses placed on the table alongside the place mats. Mycroft was making use of himself by removing the toad-in-the-hole from the oven and serving it between the two plates that were set out for the two of them. With a hiss, Molly scalded her fingers on hot steam from the veg. Cursing she put the pan down and looked at her fingers that were quickly pinking up, the next thing she knew was Mycroft's gentle hands guiding her to run her fingers under the cold tap at the sink to reduce the damage.
"I might be able to cook but I'm always burning myself in one way or another." Molly joked weakly; Mycroft rubbed his thumb along the side of her hand before letting go.
"Keep that under the tap a bit longer, I'll finish serving up while you see to that." Soon the plates were full of food and Mycroft checked her hand and deemed it to have been cooled enough "I think you'll live another day Doctor Hooper."
The two ate quietly, sometimes interrupted by Mycroft's comments of appreciation at the food she had prepared for them.
"If you like this then you're going to love dessert then. Personally I think I'm a much better baker than cook but I suppose you will have to be the judge of that. This wine is very nice, not something I've had before though it's got a very distinctive flavor to it." Molly swirled the wine around in her glass before taking another sip.
"It's from my personal collection, wines I've found on my travels and brought home because I liked them that much." Mycroft also drank from his glass. Their plates now clean Molly picked them up and placed them in the sink to be washed later, wiping her hands on a tea towel she turned back to face her guest.
"Well I hope it goes well with chocolate because it's finally time for you to put my baking to the test." Molly got two side plates down from her cupboard and placed a cupcake on each, a delicate cake fork taken from a small box resting next to them. Molly placed the plates down on the table before taking her seat again and unwrapping the treat from its paper case and cutting a forkful in her mouth, relishing the sweet, creamy taste of the icing and the light sponge.
Molly's eyes shot to Mycroft as she heard a small moan of pleasure as he took a bite. Mycroft blushed as he chewed his mouthful before speaking.
"I have to say that is the best chocolate cupcake I have ever had and I've eaten a lot of cake in my time believe me." Mycroft dug in for another bite as Molly tried to hide her satisfied smile and continue eating her own mouthful.
"Well it's a good job I have plenty then isn't is? I'll put some in a Tupperware for you to take with you when you leave." They quickly polished off their desserts and as promised Molly placed four cupcakes in an airtight plastic container for Mycroft. Always a gentleman he offered to dry up as Molly had cooked and would be washing up.
The two stood making small talk as they washed up, Molly elbow-deep in bubbles and Mycroft meticulously drying the items and placing them in a pile on the kitchen counter ready to be put away when they had finished.
"I suppose you're wondering why I'm paying you so much attention despite what other people have told you about me correct? I would be if our positions were reversed. I should explain myself really, if you'll allow me of course?" Mycroft suddenly spouted after a short silence between the two.
"Of course, you can always talk to me, I ramble enough for three people so I'm happy to listen, of course I am a bit curious but I'm just taking things at face value at the moment." Molly gestured for him to speak as she handed him one of the plates they had used for dessert.
"We first met a long time ago actually, but we weren't introduced, it was when Sherlock was called in to identify Irene Adler's body over Christmas three years ago. I thought you were very kind and selfless to give up your time over Christmas for my brother, especially since he didn't show an ounce of gratitude the entire time we were in the morgue. From then I kept an eye on you, I wondered how someone so generous could be a friend of my ungrateful brother's and working for him with no pay and no thanks to be seen. I came to realise that was just your personality to be kind to everybody, no matter whether they deserved it or not. I found myself intrigued and watched over you wondering why somebody so selfless and kindhearted could be alone in the world save for some friends. Should I continue?" Mycroft glanced at Molly finally as she stood with her hands submerged in the water, hands searching for a fork that she couldn't find.
"Of course, this is just getting more and more mysterious." Molly handed the elusive fork to Mycroft and continued scrubbing the dish that the toad-in-the-hole had been in, grease sticking the batter to it like glue.
"I believe caring is a disadvantage, it gives people pawns to use against you and in my job having as little to lose as possible is vital. But over the months I found myself beginning to care for you, observing you through CCTV to make sure you were alright, making sure Sherlock wasn't being too cruel to you and that you remained happy in the workplace. I realised that it was stupid thing to care for somebody you'd never spoken to and tried to stop watching you so intently but it had grown into such a habit that I barely lasted a morning without checking up on you. And then after Sherlock disappeared and you got engaged I thought I'd never have the chance or the excuse to speak to you. It all changed rather suddenly, within months of Sherlock's return everything was back to how it was the first time that we met. And then Sherlock found out what I had been doing and started plotting to get us to speak so I would stop liking you and he would have His Pathologist back to himself. I never realised that the other night in the morgue was his plan finally coming together but I don't think he counted on my regard for you to increase even more. Finally I saw my chance and decided to take it, if nothing came of it at least I'd tried and could have you as a friend. I don't pretend to know any idea about the affairs of the heart, it isn't something I have indulged in but if you'd allow it I'd like the chance for this friendship to grow into something akin to that."
Molly went still, flummoxed by his words. She admitted to herself that she did like him but could she really jump into a relationship in four days? Especially with a Holmes who were notoriously difficult men to deal with from her experiences of Sherlock. She supposed it would be something new, seeing a gentleman rather than a brute she had met at the pub or some sap she had met through work. Hearing Mary's voice in her head that screamed 'Play hard to get, don't be easily led!' she decided to not give an answer yet.
"I'm glad you told me Mycroft, it has answered a lot of questions that I didn't even realise I had but could you give me some time to think about it? It's rather a lot of information for a woman to have thrust upon her in one evening. It isn't a rejection, just a chance to think and talk about it. Are you sure you know what you're asking me? I'm an old fashioned girl, I believe in all or nothing when it comes to relationships." Molly pulled the plug out of the sink, letting the dirty water drain away.
"I know how you feel about it and I feel the same, I feel awfully foolish and exposed revealing everything to you like this, I'm usually in the highest position of control in a situation but I feel as though you have the upper hand this time." Mycroft placed the tea towel down by the sink as he spoke.
"You don't need to feel foolish, I'm incredibly flattered that somebody like you would even give me a second glance. I do enjoy your company but I don't think it would be wise to jump straight into a committed relationship after one meal and some tea." Molly smiled shyly as she leant against the kitchen counter top.
"All I ask is a chance, could I perhaps start by asking you to join me for dinner next Friday evening? I'm no cook but I can get a great take-away from my local curry house." Mycroft smiled hopefully as Molly returned his smile.
"I'd love to, you'll have to pick me up though since I haven't a clue where you live." For the first time in what must have been a long time Mycroft's entire face twisted into a large grin, his blue eyes twinkling.
"Of course, I'll come and get you at about six again next Friday? I suppose I'd better be getting home, since we both have work in the morning." Mycroft seemed more animated than he had been for a long time as he pulled his shirtsleeves down and put his coat and shoes back on.
"Okay, I'll look forward to it, goodnight Mycroft." Mycroft leant down and pressed a kiss to Molly's forehead, a little bit of stubble scraping against the skin there. Mycroft let himself out of the house and Molly watched him as he got into the waiting car on the road in front of he house. After closing and locking up the door Molly turned and squealed excitedly jumping up and down. She knew Mary's advice would always prove useful one day.