Just one more week in work and then I have a fortnight off. Can't wait and I'm counting down the work hours as well as the days to the Doctor Who Christmas Special and the Sherlock Special which will be a very welcome birthday present for me.

A Very Merry Scotland Yard

As the alcohol flowed the rest of the group became more animated until Greg shouted to Molly and Sherlock across the table, 'oy what are you two discussing so privately?'

Sherlock looked round and huffed, 'it is not private, you just wouldn't understand it, we were discussing how cells decompose differently when...'

Greg snored loudly, 'boring. Poor Molly, is that the best you can do Sherlock? Molls why don't you come sit over here with us we'll entertain you better?' He winked and patted a spare seat near to himself and Anderson.

Sherlock hit back, 'yes because your company is going to be so much more stimulating. You're just talking about your recent divorce to anyone with a pulse and Anderson's the man who once diagnosed cause of death as strangulation when it was a gun shot wound.'

Anderson piped up defensively, 'how was I to know he was vain and wore shirt collars two sizes too small. It was dark and it was only a cursory exam. I'm sure there have been some failures in your past and let's not forget your weakness for substance abuse.'

Greg coughed awkwardly at this one, 'alright Anderson, Sherlock's a tosser but let's not get too slanderous.'

Sherlock just shrugged still focusing on Anderson, 'better than a weakness for the opposite sex though. I see Sally has given you the brush off again. I always knew she had more sense than that.'

Sally looked round, 'thanks freak.'

Sherlock nodded, 'you're welcome.'

Anderson retorted, 'at least I've had sex unlike you. How can you have a weakness for something you've never experienced? We all know those newspaper headlines were as worthless as the paper they were printed on.'

There seemed to be an inward gasp from those listening in to the conversation. Molly felt as though they were all holding their breath waiting for a response from Sherlock.

'Let's just say I'm a bit more discerning and discreet with my "conquests" and don't just stick with the closest person to me.'

Sherlock hadn't considered at all how that might have come across given that Molly, who they all knew had a crush on him, was sat right next to him. All eyes seemed to turn to her even as Sally let out an annoyed 'oy' at being the partial target of Sherlock's jibe.

At that point John broke in to try to diffuse the situation, 'anyway enough of that who's up for another round? Greg?'

As the conversation moved on Molly pushed Sherlock's leg with her hand, 'sorry can you let me out please.'

Sherlock looked at her confused suddenly aware that she seemed upset for some reason, 'yes, of course.' He stood up so she could slide out and watched her making her way to the toilets.

'Good one freak!'

He sat back down and looked at Sally who was frowning at him. 'Why? What did I do?'

She shook her head, 'you know for a genius you really don't have a clue when it comes to women do you!'

She went on when she realised he was still confused, 'you just sat there and made it look like you're too 'discerning' to sleep with Molly. I bet she was always under the impression, like the rest of us, that you didn't sleep with people because you were asexual or gay not because you were "discreetly" getting it elsewhere.'

'But that's not what I meant...I...was just...'

'Well, whatever you were doing you were thoughtless. You know how she feels about you, you could have been a bit less hurtful.' She turned back to her conversation with Gregson leaving Sherlock feeling as bewildered as he normally did in these social situations. He always seemed to miss something.

Just then Molly came back. 'Can you pass me my coat please Sherlock I think I'm going to shoot off now, I'm feeling tired.'

He handed her her things as he wondered how he could try to salvage the situation, 'Molly, I am sorry if anything I said upset you...I..'

He saw her blush, 'no, it's fine. It's nothing to do with you, I just fancy an early night.'

Her voice seemed a little over bright though and she avoided his eye; he knew immediately that she was lying.

'Are you off Molly? How are you getting home?' Asked John as he returned with some drinks.

'I'm not far from my flat so I'm just going to walk, I need the fresh air.'

Greg looked over, 'it's not safe for you to walk alone at this time of night Molly. Give me a sec and I'll walk you back.'

Sherlock saw his opening and took it, standing he reached for his coat, 'don't bother Gavin I can see her home. I think it's about time I left anyway.'

Molly looked askance, 'no, it's OK you really don't have to.'

'I know I don't but I want to. Come on.' He pulled on his scarf and gloves as Molly said her good nights to the group and then they left the noise and heat of the pub behind them.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

It was snowing outside, big fat flakes of snow that stuck to their hair and clothes. With anyone else the walk home would have been romantic but this wasn't anyone; it was Sherlock 'always thoughtless' Holmes. Molly wasn't sure why he had offered to walk her but he was currently the last man she would have chosen for the job. She knew he hadn't meant to hurt her, it hadn't been a personal attack when he'd said those words but the implication had cut her to the quick all the same.

All these years she'd assumed he was single but it seemed as though that was a lie he'd been carrying on relationships in secret.

After five minutes of silence Sherlock broke it, 'listen Molly, I shouldn't have let Anderson get to me. What I said was..'

'You really don't have to apologise Sherlock. You don't owe me any explanations, your private life is your own.'

He ploughed on regardless, 'it's not so much that I lied but I may have varnished the truth. I'm not a virgin but it has been years since I...I hesitate to say had a relationship but well..it's been years since I slept with anyone. I haven't been conducting secret relationships, there hasn't been anyone.'

Molly couldn't help herself, 'not even with the woman you recognised from her body and not her face?'

It took Sherlock a moment for him to realise she meant Irene Adler, 'no, not even with her.'

'Anyway like I said it's none of my business.' She decided it might be safer to change the subject, 'so are you holding a drinks party at Baker St this year?'

Sherlock grimaced in confusion, 'God no, why would I do that? That was all John's doing and now he's moved out there's no point to it.'

Molly looked at him crest-fallen, 'oh but I really like those nights, well last year I did. I'd been looking forward to it.'

Sherlock found himself torn. On the one hand he realised he didn't want to disappoint her, not again, but on the other he really didn't want to have to organise something like that.

'Well I suppose I could put something on, maybe you could help organise it? The flat would need decorating though, I haven't bothered. Mrs Hudson would probably be more than happy to cater, she always has in the past.'

Molly clapped her mittened hands, 'good. We can fix up a date and see who's around.'

'Fine, just do me a favour and don't invite Anderson. He seems to bring out the worst in me.'

They slowed as they arrived in front of Molly's block of flats. She turned to thank him for walking her home noting how the street lamps cast shadows under his cheekbones emphasising how slim and angular his face was. She longed to be able to slide her fingers across his skin.

In turn Sherlock was finding he didn't quite want the evening to end...not yet. He had enjoyed the night far more than he had expected to and that was mainly due to Molly. He found himself really looking at her for the first time in years, not deducing her, not criticising her just looking and he liked what he saw. She was pretty. He liked the warmth of her eyes and the way her nose tilted up ever so slightly. Her mouth was always in motion, often kinked up in a smile; she just had a knack for making him feel happy, which was rare for him.

The silence extended between them and Molly became aware of a strange tension building. He moved closer and she found herself looking at his lips which were getting closer. Just as she thought he's going to kiss my cheek he altered his angle and kissed her full on the mouth.

Molly gasped in shock and automatically just opened her mouth to him as she felt his arms come around her waist pulling her closer to him. She held onto the back of his neck as the kiss deepened and she could feel herself growing dizzy; her heart beating hard and fast in her chest. As quick as it had started though it ended with Sherlock pulling away from her.

'I...I'm sorry Molly...good night.'

Before she could gather her thoughts and stop him he was gone quickly disappearing into the snowy darkness.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock took off into the night feeling somewhat overwhelmed. He had wanted to 'have a go' at kissing Molly but he hadn't quite been prepared for the overwhelming flood of sensations and emotions that he had experienced. He had thought it would be much like kissing Janine had been; tedious and slightly invasive of his personal space. It had been nothing like that.

The moment his lips had touched Molly's it was as though his brain had whited out momentarily. All those thoughts that were normally racing through his mind switched off and all he was aware of was Molly and where and how they were touching. His body started to react to her physically, his heart pounding, blood rushing in his ears, his penis immediately starting to pulse with blood and harden.

Then he felt her arms come up around his neck and her body pressed closer to his and he knew straight away that he wanted her. There was no doubt, no pause, he wanted to have sex with her. It was that which shocked him and had him pulling away. He needed time, he needed to think and so he'd made his excuses and fled.

All he wanted was to be back in the safety of Baker St so he could think.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Molly hurried up the stairs and into her flat willing herself not to cry or over-react. She tried not to think about what had just happened, at least not until she was ready to. She quickly changed for bed into her comfiest pyjamas and brushed her teeth whilst the kettle was boiling. Then she made herself a hot water bottle and a cup of cocoa. It was as though she needed all her comfort items around her to help her process and deal with Sherlock and that kiss.

She sat snugged up in her bed, the bottle warming the sheets and her legs as she sipped on her drink. So what had just happened? Molly honestly wasn't quite sure. She had no idea why Sherlock would have kissed her like that but she soon decided she was glad he had. The reality of kissing him was so much better than her imagination had ever offered her. She could perfectly remember the feel of his lips on hers, she could almost taste him still; he had felt so good, so dominant, taking the kiss from her and she had felt so aroused even in such a short space of time.

The downside had been his reaction, had it not been what he had wanted? He'd seemed to feel as though he had slighted her, had he just given her what he thought she would want as a peace offering? That thought made Molly very uncomfortable. She hoped he had wanted it too.

In the end she lay awake in bed for a good couple of hours with her mind just endlessly going around in circles trying, as ever, to figure out Sherlock. Why was he so opaque? She felt as though she didn't know him at all.

Progress of sorts. It never does run smooth with Sherlock though does it; well we wouldn't want the story to end too soon would we ;).