So it was pretty much split between those wanting angst and those who don't want any at all. To those who don't want it, be assured, it's not too bad and it will all be over soon.

I hope you're all enjoying the Sherlolly Big Bangs let me know any good recommends for me to read when I'm back home.

And a little Christmas Fear

The two days Sherlock was gone were very busy. Molly texted out the invites, spoke to Mrs Hudson about catering and went shopping for plenty of mulled wine and beer. She also had her last day in work before the Christmas holidays and went to the pathology Christmas lunch which was surprisingly jolly given the occupations of those involved.

She was also packing for her trip up to her mums. She was due to arrive Christmas Eve and stay until New Year. It wasn't a small family do either there would be about thirteen of them in total with all her sister and cousins and their children attending. Molly was conflicted though, she had never looked forward to a Christmas more or her mum's less.

But by Wednesday lunchtime work was all finished, her packing was more or less done and she was able to concentrate on getting Sherlock's place ready for that evening's party.

Mary and Elizabeth joined Mrs Hudson and herself and between the three of them they scrubbed, polished and tidied the place to within an inch of its life. Molly wasn't sure Sherlock would even recognise it as his home. She'd even had to do an emergency dash to Barts with some body parts that were well past their sell by date much to Mrs Hudson's relief.

By seven o'clock the three of them reconvened in the front room wearing their best party frocks and drank the first of the warmed up glasses of mulled wine. 'Cheers, Merry Christmas,' said Molly beaming.

Mary wasn't sure she had ever seen Molly so relaxed and radiant and she had no doubt it was down to her new found relationship with Sherlock. She'd managed to persuade her to wear a figure hugging black dress which was reminiscent of the one she'd worn all those years ago but a little more subtle and understated but it suited her perfectly and Mary was in no doubt that if anything would blow Sherlock's mind it would be this dress.

She glanced at her phone as it buzzed with a new text. 'It's John. They're on their way. Apparently Mycroft sent a car for them so they could get back quicker. He reckons they'll be about an hour.'

Molly put on one of the Christmas CDs she'd brought with her and the three of them laughed and gossiped as they passed an excitable Elizabeth around. The young toddler kept pointing to the tree and squealing loving the way the lights flickered on and off.

Half an hour later Greg arrived followed soon after by Sally then Mike Stamford and his wife. The last in was Mycroft and his ever present PA whom he reluctantly introduced as Anthea. She smiled politely but didn't join in much just seemed glued to her smart phone.

Molly impatiently glanced at her watch willing Sherlock to arrive but they were still at least twenty minutes away. She was chatting with Greg when she noticed Anthea making her way over to Mycroft with a concerned look on her face.

Whatever she said to him shocked him because he paled and immediately took her phone and started barking out questions. One by one the conversations in the room feel silent as they all realised something was wrong, 'when? Well who is injured? I don't want to hear your excuses I need answers and I need them now...call me back immediately.' Molly's heart was beating painfully in her chest and her lungs felt constricted as though she couldn't take a good breath of air She instinctively knew something was wrong as Mycroft hung up the phone and bit his lip before turning to them all.

'I'm very much afraid that tonight's celebrations are at an end. It seems there has been an accident. The car bringing Sherlock and John back has crashed on the M3 just before Junction 3. All I know is there have been serious injuries, some of them life threatening but at this stage I don't know who.'

Molly and Mary looked at each other in horror as Mary fished her phone out of her bag and dialed, obviously trying to get through to John. Mrs Hudson came forward taking Elizabeth and Greg got on the phone to see if he could find out any more information through his connections.

Molly felt adrift, she had no one to ring and nothing she could do. She felt numb with shock and all she could think about were the mangled bodies she had recently autopsied, Sherlock's face morphing onto the bodies in her mind. She didn't realise it but she must have let out a sob because Sally came forward and helped her to a seat before passing her a tissue, 'Come on Molly what are the chances of the freak being seriously injured? He's too lucky for that.'

Anthea whispered something to Mycroft and he glanced over at Molly. She stood up waiting for what he would say next.

'Unfortunately we have had confirmation of one death.' Molly couldn't look at Mary. How could she? She didn't want it to be Sherlock but that was almost as though she were saying she would prefer it to be John.

She could hear Mary muttering under her breath, 'come on John pick up the fucking phone.'

All Molly knew was that she couldn't lose Sherlock, not now. Not when she was so close to being with him, to being part of his life, to being loved by him.

A moment later Mary's phone rang and as she answered it Molly saw the look of relief on her face. At the same time Mycroft took another call and out of the corner of her eye she saw him start to make his way towards her. She knew she wasn't breathing, and her vision started to blur as he reached her but instead of delivering bad news he held his phone out to her, 'Doctor Hooper, my brother would like a word.'

She took the phone and collapsed back into her seat not caring about who was watching her, 'Sherlock, is it you? Are you OK?'

There was lots of noise in the background of voices and sirens but then he was speaking and she took a huge gulp of air as she closed her eyes in relief.

'Yes I'm fine, just a few cuts and bruises, nothing serious. John has a broken arm and two broken ribs as well as a possible punctured lung. The driver died...idiot was going far to fast as I had already informed him. I'm going with John to the hospital, Mary is meeting us there. Will you wait for me...at Baker St? I don't know what time I'll get home though.'

'Yes,yes I'll wait for you. I'm just...I'm so relieved you're OK. Give my love to John.'

She just heard an irritated huff on the line which made her smile and then he said his goodbyes and hung up. She silently passed the phone back to Mycroft before wiping the tears of relief from her face.

Now she knew he was OK she felt able to take action. 'Right Mary, you need to get to the hospital. I'll look after Elizabeth here. The travel cot is already set up, did you bring enough nappies and food?'

Mary nodded distractedly as she gathered up her coat and bag, 'yes, yes there's plenty. Thank you Molly. I'll ring when I've seen them both to let you know how they are.'

Gradually the others left the flat sharing subdued goodbyes and best wishes for Christmas until Molly and Mrs Hudson were alone with a grizzly baby.

'Honestly Molly, things are never straight forward with those boys are they? Now are you alright staying here with Lizzie? I'm happy to have her in my flat if you want to get off home.'

Molly smiled nervously not sure how much of her burgeoning relationship to give away 'no, it's OK. Sherlock asked me to stay until he got back and Lizzie's cot was already set up in his bedroom so she could sleep during the party. There's no point in moving it.'

'Alright dear well you give me a shout if you need me. And tell that boy I expect to see that he's OK tomorrow.' She went off muttering about 'poor John'.

It took Molly almost an hour to settle Lizzie who was obviously upset about being in a different location and with an unfamiliar person. She ended up singing her to sleep before eventually being able to lay her in the cot. For the first few attempts she would wake back up whenever Molly put her down, it was tiring as well as frustrating and Molly had a new found respect for Mary and John who had to do this all the time now.

By the time she was able to sit back down with a glass of wine it was almost ten thirty and she felt exhausted. She didn't want to go to bed though until she had seen Sherlock and she knew for a fact, with her own eyes, that he was alright. In the end she found an old t shirt of his and changed into that with a dressing gain over the top and she curled up on his settee with a blanket.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

It was past three in the morning when Sherlock finally made it home. He had expected Molly to either be long gone or asleep in his bed but instead he found her waiting for him in the front room. She woke up as he came up the stairs and was rubbing the sleep from her eyes as he came into the flat.

He crouched down beside her and welcomed her quick embrace. As he pulled away she put her hands either side of his face and scanned him for any sign of injury frowning at the stitches above his eye and the dried blood on the side of his face.

He covered her hands with his own, 'it's OK, I'm fine. A bit bruised but nothing worse than this,' he said indicating the cut. I was lucky, I was on the passenger side, most of the impact was on the driver's side. Killed Mycroft's man and John was pretty badly injured.'

He closed his eyes and then looked away from Molly, 'I...I thought for a minute he was dead. He wasn't moving or breathing. God, Molly it's not often I've felt true fear in my life but I did in that moment.'

She hugged him again and then made him sit on the sofa whilst she went to get a cloth to clean him up. 'Do you want anything to drink? I could make you a tea or coffee.'

He shook his head before wincing slightly, 'no, I need something stronger. There should be a bottle of whiskey in the right hand cupboard.'

Molly found it and poured some into one of the glasses still laid out for the party and brought it over with the cloth. As he sipped at it she wiped his face gently; trying to avoid the stitches. She was conscious of his eyes following her but they were silent, both lost in their own thoughts.

As she sat back on her heels he smiled, 'thank you for staying...it means a lot.'

'You're welcome. I needed to see that you were alright.'

He yawned and Molly realised just how tired he looked. 'When did you last sleep Sherlock?'

'I don't know...before the case. The night you stayed over last.'

She gasped in shock, 'that was days ago. Come on, bed!'

He smirked, 'I thought you'd never ask.'

'To sleep!' She retorted sternly before smiling. She found his pyjamas and climbed into his bed whilst he changed and brushed his teeth. When he joined her she wriggled backwards towards him and sighed as he put his arm around her waist so her back was snug against his chest. 'Good night Molly.' He whispered. 'Good night Sherlock,' came her happy reply as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head before quickly falling asleep.

Hope that wasn't too angst you for you all :). And now our pair are snuggled up together in bed looking forward as we are to Christmas Eve.