**I cannot tell you how shocked I am that I have over 100 followers on my story. I truly wish I could respond to all the reviews, all your kind words have been overwhelming. I'm still putting the finishing touches on this and working on other stories as well. Thank you all so much for your support and I hope you enjoy this chapter, it's a big one!

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Ch.8 Will You Be My Friend? Circle Yes or No

Sherlock was literally saved by the bell, or in this case the ping of his smartphone.

Have something you might want to see-Mxx

"I was simply concerned for her safety. Now as much as I have enjoyed this incredibly uncomfortable conversation Molly's found something she want's me to see, so I have to go to Barts." Sherlock said as he jumped up from his chair.

"I fully expected some resistance Sherlock," Mycroft said. "But do pop into that expansive Mind Palace of your and try to figure out why you trust her so much and what you would do if she suddenly wasn't in you life." Then he picked up his coat and umbrella and left.

Weirdest damn day of my of my life and that includes the time John and I broke into the Tower of London in full drag... Sherlock thought as he prepared to leave.

As much as he tried he could think of nothing else on the ride to see what Molly had found. Yes, he had visited Molly twice when he came back to London during his two years away, why wouldn't he? She was the only person other his insufferable brother who knew he was alive. They shared take away and he told her about some of his adventures. It wasn't as if that meant anything, it was perfectly normal.

He wasn't prepared, however, for Mycroft's Intel about his other visits. That was something he didn't really spend much time thinking about. Fine, he had snuck into her flat a couple of times, just to kip on her sofa when she wasn't home. He didn't even know why he hadn't told her, he should have really. That wasn't completely creepy, not completely. Except there was the one time he came round and she was home... that's probably what Mycroft was referring to. Molly was asleep and Sherlock had every intention of waking her up, but she was sleeping so soundly, he just couldn't help himself. He sat in a chair by the window and watched her for a couple of hours. He really needed to get some rest but he hadn't felt that peaceful and relaxed in months so he stayed awake and watched...yep... just like a stalker... yep I'm a stalker he thought. That was the last time he came to Molly's flat. The last time that he saw her until the day he returned for good, the day he greeted her in the locker room at St. Barts and saw a bright, shiny ring on the third finger of her left hand. He decided not to think about why his stomach twisted into a knot when he saw that ring.

Damnit, I spent a lot of time forgetting about all this shit. I don't do these feelings, they interfere with cases, experiments and well... everything. Why would Mycroft pick now to try to make me think about all of this? I don't have time for it, I have to figure out this case before something happens to Molly... or well John of course or anyone else... Urgh! Damnit Mycroft!

Molly was so engrossed in the report she was reading that she didn't even hear him come into the lab. He was standing right next to her when he spoke, "You had something for me Molly?"

She jumped, "Oh for the love of... I swear it's like you appear out of thin air sometimes."

He cleared his throat, "Right, so what is it then?"

"Oh, well it might be nothing, probably is nothing actually, a bit odd really..." She was saying as she picked up a small piece of paper.

"Just show me Molly!" Sherlock snapped.

Molly's head jerked up and her eyes narrowed, "Of course, here... smell it." She shoved a small piece of paper at him.

Sherlock took the paper and put it up to his nose.

"Do you recognize it?" She asked with her arms folded across her chest defensively.

"Vaguely, what is it?"

"It's called Sun, Moon and Stars. I wouldn't have recognized myself but a friend of my at Uni wore it all the time. I bought her a bottle for a Christmas present, moderately priced, not terribly expensive... I might have gotten on sale though now that I think of it." She said absently, "Anyway, I ran a sample just to confirm it, I was right. Any ideas?"

Oh, he had a hell of a lot more than an idea, but for some reason he had no intention of sharing it with Molly Hooper. The Woman wore this exact fragrance, he was a bit surprised to find out it wasn't expensive knowing her taste. This was not a road he was looking forward to walking back down. What the hell was her game now? What would a Dominatrix be doing hacking into England's TV broadcast, using James Moriarty's face no less?

"Like you said might be nothing..." He looked up at her and instantly felt guilty about his earlier sharpness. "I'm sorry about snapping at you earlier. I just had a ah, disturbing conversation with Mycroft and I took it out on you, I shouldn't have... sorry."

Molly shook her head, "It's fine Sherlock, don't worry about it. But I was thinking about what you said the other night, and maybe I was a bit too hard on you. You were trying to explain yourself and I shut you down, I was just upset about," She took a deep breath and looked away. "Well... that doesn't matter. What I'm saying is that... I'm sorry. I know that since you've been home things haven't exactly been easy for you and I don't want to make it worse, so we're good...Okay?"

"Does this mean you're going to let me explain myself Molly?"

"I already told you that you don't have to do that Sherlock, and I meant it."

Sherlock smiled because even though she was apologizing to him he suddenly felt forgiven, at least a little. "So, you're almost finished here, you want to share a cab?"

"Ya, just let me clean up." She said as she started putting away equipment.

Sherlock sat down at his favorite microscope more by a force of habit than anything else. He watched Molly move around the lab taking no notice of him as she efficiently did her end of shift duties. She was walking close to Sherlock to pick up a folder when she slipped on a bit of water on the tile floor next to the eye wash station. His quick reflexes kicked in and he reached out and caught her with one arm around her waist and a hand on her upper arm. Their faces ended up inches apart. Damn I want to kiss her right now! What the hell?

Molly was breathing fast from the near fall and that's when Sherlock noticed her eyes dilate and a blush starting to form on her cheeks, creeping down her neck. That hasn't happen in a very long time, he thought.

Sherlock licked his lips suddenly realizing his mouth felt extremely dry. "You okay?" He asked.

Molly nodded.

"So I'll just put you back then."

"That would work." She said.

Sherlock sat her up and they both set to righting clothes and clearing throats. "Ready to go then?" He said with a smile that was much bigger than he intended.

Molly nodded again, gathered her things and they headed out the door.

The ride back to Baker Street was another exercise in awkwardness so Sherlock decided it was a good time to retreat into his Mind Palace. This is Mycroft's fault, he thought as he looked over the events in the lab. If I didn't know it to be impossible I'd think he set up that little slip-n-fall himself. My brother must be having some kind of mid-life crises, running around giving out advice about relationships simply because he finally convinced Anthea he actually has functioning man parts.

Sherlock looked over at Molly, she had her head leaning on the window watching London go by. Oh, good Lord, what if he's right? She is quite beautiful, not conventionally so but what's convention got to do with it? Since when do I bow to convention? Why did I watch her sleep and why did it comfort me? What was that other feeling I worked so hard not to think about? What did Mycroft mean by 'before it's too late?' She did almost marry that dolt Tom, but they broke up. I don't even know why... and before he could stop himself...

"Molly what happened between you and Tom?"

"Sorry?" She squeaked.

"Why did you and Tom break up?" He asked.

She took a deep breath and looked around the small space as if looking for an escape, "We ah, wanted different things, Sherlock. Why do you suddenly care?"

Oh, right why do I want to know? "Because, I wasn't around when... well, because we're friends so I wanted to know."

"We're friends?" Molly said giving Sherlock an incredulous look.

What? "Aren't we?" Sherlock asked.

They were staring at each other neither noticing that the cabby had been clearing his throat repeatedly. "Sir... sir!" The man finally said.

"We're home Molly." Sherlock said fishing some money out of his pocket, then he hopped out and held the door for her.

No words were exchanged as they walked into the flat but when Molly made to go to her room Sherlock said, "May I have a word Molly, we've hardly had a chance to talk since you moved in."

She turned and said "Okay."

Sherlock sat down on the sofa instead of his customary leather chair, then he patted the cushion next to him.

"What do you want to talk about Sherlock?" Molly said with a heavy sigh.

"Oh I thought we'd talk about the fact that apparently, you don't think that we're friends." He said.

"Really?"

"Yes, now would you like me to start by telling you how much you matter to me once again or would you just like to go straight to the part where you call me a liar!" The last word was dripping with distain.

Molly scrubbed her hands over her face, "Must we do this? We had such a lovely moment in the lab earlier and now this?"

Sherlock felt the blush start to form and suddenly realized how Molly must have felt all those times when she blushed in front of him years ago. "What are you talking about?" That's right act like you don't know what she's talking about, that'll throw her off... and you call yourself a genius. He thought, cursing his biology.

She looked at him like he was insane and said, "When we both apologized?! You know I finally felt like I could stay here with out things being so uncomfortable. I don't want to fight with you anymore Sherlock."

Oh thank God, she didn't realize that I considered kissing her in the pathology lab like some kind of romance novel hero, he thought but then quickly recovered from his embarrassment.

"I don't want to fight either Molly, however I think it bares addressing that you evidently don't consider yourself my friend."

"Fine," Molly snapped, "You want it, here it is... I don't know what the hell I am to you. Do I count? Do I matter? Who the hell knows? You push and pull, you've used me, you've manipulated me and then you're kind and sincere. You came to my flat while you were dead and that felt different somehow. I don't know, it's like you're playing some kind of game and I certainly don't know the rules. You use my flat for hiding place, afterward you scurry off without so much as a thank you. Then that day you took me to solve cases, what the hell was that? Was I just filling in for John by the way? You said it was a thank you! I didn't need a thank you for saving the life of the man I love! But then you just drop off the face of the earth, I don't see you for months. I just knew you were done with me. You had gotten everything you needed out of me and then washed your hands of the annoyance that is Molly Hooper and her blinding adoration. So no... I have no idea if we're friends or not, how am I suppose to know what we are Sherlock?" By the time she was finished she was red faced and breathing hard from her little tirade.

"The man you love?" Sherlock said in a very breathy voice.

"What?"

"You just said you love me."

"That's all you took from that?"

"I heard everything and don't worry I'll go over it all later, I promise. Back to the point, you love me?"

"Oh my Lord Sherlock, is humiliating me on your list of things to do today? How on earth did you not know? Everyone else knew, and you know everything!"

"I thought it was a crush, a little crush... nothing more. I always miss something." He said absently and looking off into the distance of the room. Molly sat with her head in her hands. "But wait you said love, not loved... so still... love...Molly?" He asked turning to her.

She wouldn't look at him.

"Okay, let's go back then... what happened with Tom?" He asked.

"Sherlock, please don't." She pleaded.

"Molly, why did you and Meat Dagger not get married?"

She took a deep breath then said, "I told you we wanted different things."

"Different things like what? Like you wanted him to be a different man?"

Molly's head whipped around and her eyes filled with tears. Seeing her trembling and crying was suddenly too much for Sherlock. Something completely out of his control took over his limbs and he grabbed Molly around her shoulders. She tried to pull away but he held on for dear life (he had no idea if it was his or hers.)

She sobbed into Sherlock's chest as he said, "I'm sorry, I didn't know I really didn't... I'm so sorry Molly."

He had no idea how long they stay like this, but it felt like an eternity. Eventually Molly's tears subsided and she pulled back but Sherlock kept his hands at her sides holding her firmly. She tried to get up but he silently objected by pulling her a little closer.

"Sherlock I need to go, um... blow my nose."

"Oh, of course." He said finally releasing her.

Molly jumped up and practically ran to the bathroom.

Thanks for reading, be sure to let me know what you think. Keeps me going!