Katherine let out a sigh of relief as she followed Sherlock, Fil and Leem up the pathway towards the Holmes parents' residence. After their flight from Slovakia, it was nice to feel as if she were coming home, even if this particular house wasn't her home. At least she was back on English soil. Also, just as Leem had described, the security surrounding the modest dwelling was quite elaborate. She had never seen so many unmarked police and government vehicles in one area. She finally felt like she could breathe normally.

She studied her newest hiding place. The house itself wasn't anything special to look at architecturally but it was covered with a lovely dark red plaster and its detailing grouped in threes. Three chimneys, three upper windows identical to the three lower windows, and three sculpted topiaries abutted the façade.

The front door burst open just as Leem limped through the garden gate ahead of her and a woman not much larger than herself hurried down the walkway with her long brown hair billowing backwards. Her dark eyes were wide with concern. Katherine found her eccentric choice in clothing coupled with her sweet face instantly appealing. She knew she gazed upon the only person on the planet who could pull off a yellow cardigan with pink daisies, burnt-orange hued slacks two sizes too big and patent leather, teal flats.

"Oh, my poor Leem," She cooed.

Katherine looked at Sherlock. She was certain her perplexed expression mirrored his own. The dainty woman was definitely his missus and he was none too pleased with her affection for Leem.

Leem smiled as large as Katherine had ever seen and opened his arms. The woman threw herself into his embrace, almost knocking him over and hugged him tightly. She stepped back several moments later and patted a hand against the side of his face.

"Are you very hurt?" She asked.

Leem shook his head. "I'm fine, Dr. Molly. Just a scratch."

Her face puckered. "We'll see about that. I'm going to have a look at it later."

Sherlock huffed. "You'll do no such thing!"

Dr. Molly, as Leem had referred to her, smirked at her husband and placed her hands on her hips. In doing so, her rounded belly poked out between the two halves of her cardigan. Her brows raised in challenge. Sherlock pressed his lips together, his face a mask of frustration. That one silent exchange told Katherine everything she needed to know about their relationship. Dr. Molly Holmes was no pushover.

"Hi, Honey," she winked at him and then turned to Fil. "Hi, Fil!"

"Ha-llo, Dr. Molly, you look well."

"I am, thank-you," she rubbed a hand over her tummy with a grin.

Finally, her intelligent brown eyes fell on Katherine who scrunched her toes in her shoes. She desperately wanted this woman's approval. How could she not? She was clearly adored by everyone and seemed genuinely nice.

"You must be Dr. Adams," she said with a smile. "I'm Molly."

Katherine shook her outstretched hand. "Please, call me Katherine."

"I will. I'm so glad to see another female my age around here and have a proper conversation that involves something other than pregnancy or babies. Everyone seems to be expert and feels the need to offer up some advice. You're a mathematician, right? I've heard you also crack codes which sounds wonderfully diverting. I can't wait to sit down and have a cup of tea. That is, if you don't mind entertaining me."

Katherine laughed. "I'd love to, but as for the entertaining part, I can't promise much."

Molly grinned at her and glanced at Sherlock again.

"Ooh, look at that face!" She teased as she stepped up to him. "Did you miss me?"

Sherlock dropped his chin to look down at his wife who bumped him with her belly.

"Hmph, did you miss me?" He chided.

Katherine's heart squeezed at the look on his face. He had a soft set about his lips and a hint of self-doubt in his eyes. He was a man utterly infatuated with his wife.

"Of course I did," Molly said softly. "I'm desolate without you."

Sherlock's face went pink. A smile curved Molly's lips and she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Then she went slack in his arms.

"I'm oh, so exhausted from walking all the way to the gate, though," she declared. "My poor swollen feet! I think I need you to carry me back inside."

"You are too ridiculous," he mumbled as he gazed down at her face.

She stuck her lip out in a pout. "Should I ask Fil to do it?"

Molly squealed as Sherlock reached down and then hefted her up. Without saying another word, he brushed by them and led the way to the front door with his wife in his arms. Leem, who had stepped aside, stumbled as he returned to the path. Katherine skipped to him and latched onto his arm.

"I can't carry you," she teased, "but perhaps I could enquire about a wheelbarrow or something?"

He looked sideways at her and laughed weakly. "I'm fine, Kat. Please don't fuss. I'll 'ave enough of it from Dr. Molly in the next few days."

Katherine tried not to smile as she leaned in to whisper to him. "Yes, indeed. Now, however, I feel like I need her blessing to be anywhere near you. I didn't know you belonged to her."

He chuckled. "Molly tends to adopt people. It's what she does. You'll be hers soon enough and then I'll need permission to touch you."

She flushed. She was too happy to exchange banter with him after the last couple days. Fortunately, there had been a medical team awaiting them at their extraction point who had tended to Leem and patched him up. The high powered bullet that ripped a swath through his skin had also slightly damaged his lateral muscle in his thigh. He seemed to manage walking upright, but sitting and standing proved more difficult. His skin was still sallow from his blood loss. Mycroft had wanted to send him back to London and off duty but Molly had demanded his presence.

Witnessing that phone conversation had been one of the highlights of Katherine's life. Sherlock had handed his brother his cell phone just as the rotors of the helicopter began to turn. Mycroft placed one hand over his ear and attempted to protest, but it was evident he would not win the argument with whomever was on the other end of the line. At one point, he cleared his throat, clapped his mouth shut and reddened like a child who had been scolded. When he disconnected the call, he lifted his chin, adjusted his vest beneath his jacket, and informed them all that Leem was going to come with them to the Holmes' homestead and he would return to London alone. So, in actual fact, Katherine knew she would love the feisty pathologist before she ever met the woman.

Inside the residence, they were greeted again by the Holmes parents.

"Dr. Adams, I hear you and I have something in common," Mrs. Holmes the elder commented.

Katherine nodded. "Yes, I use your books as reference materials. I am so honored to meet you."

She waved her hand. "Pssht, they're probably terribly dated. I bet you could teach me a thing or two."

Mr. Holmes patted his son on the back and twitched his brows at Leem and Fil. "Ooh, looks like we're outnumbered IQ-wise, lads. Anyone want a scotch? One of my friends gave me a nice bottle of 10 year old Ardbag."

Leem looked a bit wan. "Erm, if no one minds, I'd like ta go lie down."

Sherlock drew a breath. "I will pass. Molly and I have things to . . . discuss."

"I'll 'ave that drink wit you, sir," Fil offered.

So, after sorting out the logistics, everyone seemed to go about their ways. Katherine found herself seeing to Leem in a small room on the second floor. She stretched out on the bed next to him on her side once he had made himself comfortable.

"Are you truly alright, Leem?" She asked.

He nodded. "How many times do I have to say I'm fine?"

She stroked a finger down his nose. "Until I believe it."

He caught her wrist. "Kat, don' get attached to me, please."

Katherine felt her skin flush cold across her face. Her eyes darted aside and she tried to pull away so she could leave. Despite appearances, Leem was still incredibly strong. His held her firmly and even pulled her closer. She met his gaze again and found their noses almost touching. His eyes were devastatingly gorgeous at this proximity. She could see now they were a more mottled mix of deep sea green and dark jade with the rare sliver of yellow. That's when the image of a toddler with her blonde locks and those eyes popped into her head.

She blinked a couple of times as she gave herself a mental slap. Oh, no, she didn't just have a mini baby-mama fantasy! She swallowed as she felt a bit of panic churn her abdomen. She'd never, ever . . . ever, ever had one of those! Leem was correct to warn her off. She was becoming much too fond of him.

"You're right. I should go," she whispered.

"Kat, you know I don't want you ta leave, right? I would keep you if I could."

She bit her lip. She wished he wouldn't say such things. It would be easier to have him outright reject her so that she could nurse her shattered ego and move on.

"W-We should probably just stop doing things like this," she mumbled sadly. "Maybe stop hanging out altogether."

He brushed some of her hair back with his trembling fingers. He searched her face one last time. The corner of one of his eyes twitched.

"It had to happen sooner or later," he murmured. "If I was a better man, none of this would have happened at all."

She drew in a shaky breath. Oh, God, this was it. She wanted to curl into a ball. Gut-wrenching heartbreak gripped her so violently she could wretch.

"Don't say that," she pleaded. "That sounds like a regret. You said you didn't regret what happened."

He frowned.

"I regret this," he said gruffly. "No, I resent this. It's fucking awful."

"Don't blame yourself. Blame me."

"Ta hell with that. I'll shoulder it. I'm a big bloke."

Katherine had known Leem less than a week. She'd had sex with him one time. Their conversations had been few and far between but she didn't need another moment to know she had fallen in love with him. Heck, she probably had loved him a little from the moment their gazes had first locked.

It was ludicrous. She of all people shouldn't be prone to such romantic irrationality, yet here it was in all its ridiculousness. It was if she were three, someone had given her a shiny new toy, and no sooner than she gotten her hands on it, they'd asked for it back.

"Yeah," she muttered at last. "I'm going to go now."

He released his hold on her arm. "Friends, Kat?"

She scooted off the bed. They could never be friends in the traditional sense. Not when she wanted everything about him to belong to her including his soul, his heart, and apparently, even his DNA.

"Sure," she choked out. "Friends."