Chapter Text
Molly clutched the piece of paper as if she was holding onto a lifeline. She’d listened to the words that Sherlock had said but she couldn’t seem to make sense of them in her head. Her eyes just kept looking at the words on the page.
I meant it
It was Sherlock’s handwriting. She recognised it from all the notes and requests that he’d left on her desk at work over the years. Notes asking for a liver or a kidney, asking for tests to be run, or access to an old autopsy file. Comments on cases and results. Never this kind of note.
She knew he was waiting for her to say something and eventually he reached forward and took hold of her left hand, forcing her to let go of one side of the note.
‘Molly?...Molly, please.’
It was so reminiscent of his voice in that call that it made her stomach clench and her heart beat faster.
Finally, she looked up at him to find him looking at her with a nervousness that she had never really seen on his face before.
It took her a moment more before she could speak. ‘I...I need to hear you say it again.’
She needed to watch him say the words, to see if he was lying or fooling her somehow.
Instead he just nodded and licked his lips slightly. ‘Molly I’ll say it as many times as you need me to. I love you.’
His eyes never left hers, he didn’t flinch, he didn’t hesitate and for the first time she felt a real flicker of hope in her chest.
‘Are you sure? How can you be sure?’
At that he smiled and it seemed to light up his whole face.
‘Molly, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my whole life. I’m sure. Seeing you makes my stomach swoop, my heart skip a beat. I used to think people were exaggerating when they said these things but it’s real, it’s physical. When you aren’t close I’m thinking about you. When you are close I’m wanting to touch you, to kiss you. I want to feel your hands touching me, holding me. I...I want to feel you under me, calling out my name and no one else’s. The thought of you with another man...’
At this he paused and looked away for a moment taking a deep breath and she saw his jaw clench.
‘I never want to see you with anyone else...it would kill me. Please Molly, I know you love me too and I know I’ve been an ass and messed you around but I just need to know that I’m not too late; that I haven’t blown my chance.’
Every word he had said, every look and gesture had fanned the flame of hope inside her, adding fuel and oxygen until it was burning brightly. She felt a blossoming warmth in her chest and she started to smile and once she started she couldn’t stop.
‘You love me? You really, really love me?’
He saw her smile and he returned it nodding his head. ‘I really, really do.’
She reached forward and pulled him to her and then they were kissing and all she could think was ‘it’s real...it’s actually real.’
Even though they had kissed before over the last few hours this felt different to Molly, probably because she knew he wanted it...that it wasn’t just for show.
His lips were hard against her own, his hands moving to her waist pulling her closer. She had her palms resting on his shoulders and she could feel the warmth of his body through his shirt and she found herself wanting more...wanting to feel his skin under her fingertips.
As his tongue entered her mouth she moaned and let her hands move to his neck and she could feel his accelerated pulse and it was proof that he was as affected by their actions as she was.
She wasn’t sure if she pulled him back or he pushed her down but she ended up lying on the bed with his body moving over hers; the weight of him pressing her down and into the mattress.
His kiss was overwhelming her senses, robbing her of the very breath that she needed and eventually they had to part and his eyes searched her own before he nodded and pulled back a little.
‘It’s too soon for you.’
It was a statement rather than a question but she answered him anyway. ‘Yes, believe me I do want you I just...’
She tailed off and he answered for her. ‘You need more time. I get that Molly; this is all very new for me as well.’
At that she frowned and bit her lip. ‘Are you a ...’
He smiled and shook his head. ‘A virgin? No, but it’s been a while...a long while.’
He shifted until he could lie down at the side of her and he pulled her against him so her head was on his shoulder. Molly could hear her family moving around and getting ready for bed and as she realised how late it must be a wave of tiredness hit her and she yawned.
She felt Sherlock press a kiss to the top of her head. ‘Maybe we should get ready for bed. I promise I’ll be on my best behaviour.’
She chuckled. ‘Maybe that’s not a promise I want you to keep...at least not for too long.’
She pulled away from him and leant on one elbow as she looked down on him seeing how dishevelled he already looked just from one kiss.
Her hand was on his chest and she couldn’t resist moving her fingers to the top button where it was struggling to hold his shirt together...he always wore such damned sexy, fitted shirts and she couldn’t resist flicking it open and seeing a bit more of his chest revealed to her. A second button was opened and then a third and she let her palm smooth over his chest hearing him let out an audible sigh before he caught her hand in his.
‘You might want to stop right there Molly if you don’t want things to go further.’
He smirked and wiggled his eyebrows a bit and she shook her head and laughed. ‘You’re probably right. I...um...I’ll go and get ready for bed.
As she made her way to the bathroom she could hardly believe the complete turnaround her life had taken in the last hour and she hugged herself at the thought of actually being with Sherlock romantically. Honestly, this was the best Christmas present she could ever have asked for.
She was glad she was so tired though when they eventually fell into bed. It was only the fact that she was so bone achingly tired that had her not reaching for him.
It seemed Sherlock had slightly different ideas though because as she rolled onto her side he curled himself around her with his chest against her back, wrapping his arm around her waist. She smiled to herself as she snuggled back into him. She would never have expected him to be a cuddler and she wondered what else she didn’t know about him.
MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH
In the morning Molly was woken by a shriek of joy from one of her cousin’s daughters in a nearby bedroom and she felt Sherlock similarly jerk awake; his hand tightening on her stomach where he had been holding her.
She took a deep breath and yawned as she happily remembered all the events of the previous evening and as she blinked her eyes in the semi darkness she felt Sherlock press his lips against her neck.
‘Morning.’
She couldn’t keep the smile out of her voice and she heard him huskily replying before his hand slid up over her ribs until it lay just below her breasts...so tantalisingly close.
She turned slightly so she could see his face, loving just how sexy he looked with his hair ruffled and a wash of overnight stubble across his jaw.
‘Merry Christmas Molly Hooper...’ he leant over her so he could press his lips to hers and she couldn’t help but let out a slight moan at the feeling of just being able to kiss him and be kissed by him.
He felt warm and real, his legs tangling with her own under the thick duvet and she knew that it wouldn’t be long before she’d want to take things further.
He was being very respectful though, his hands only staying in PG areas and it had her smiling against his kiss as her own slid down to his backside.
He groaned and he rocked his hips against her and she could feel how much he wanted her and she found herself giggling.
Sherlock pulled back and frowned at her. ‘What? What’s so funny?’
‘You, me...us. I just...I can’t believe it. All those years Sherlock...I just never really thought we’d be more than friends.’
He took a breath and she saw him look a little sad.
‘I’m sorry Molly, I’m sorry I didn’t know myself sooner. I made you wait for so long.’
She brought her hand up to his face and let her fingers graze across his cheek; touching him was still such a novelty.
‘It’s OK. You weren’t ready...and maybe I wasn’t either. This feels...I don’t know...it feels...’
He smiled and finished her sentence. ‘Right Molly. It feels right.’
She nodded and he bent his head to kiss her again when there was a sudden knock at the door.
‘Aunty Molly, Merry Christmas, we’re going down to open our presents. You need to hurry up, mum says we can’t open them til everyone is awake.’
Molly chuckled as Sherlock groaned. ‘OK, we’ll be down in a minute.’
Sherlock flopped onto his back as Molly started to get out of the bed.
‘Do we have to? This is always the boring bit.’
Molly shook her head as she smiled. ‘What is? Opening the presents?’
He huffed and leant up on his elbows and he looked so delectable that’s Molly was tempted to just get back into the bed with him.
‘No, Christmas Day. Nothing ever happens, it’s all just sitting around eating and drinking...boring.’
That had her laughing out loud as she grabbed her dressing gown and wash bag so she could go and freshen up.
MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH
As far as Molly was concerned this Christmas was hands down the best she’d ever had even if it was just sitting around eating and drinking because she was there with Sherlock by her side, his hand linking with hers, sneaking the odd kiss or holding her close as they watched a Christmas special on the telly.
One thing he hadn’t lied about was having to FaceTime his mother and Molly had shyly introduced herself to his parents who both looked overjoyed to see her and had them both promising to visit in the new year. Even Mycroft congratulated them although he then berated Sherlock for leaving him alone with his parents.
‘Granted you have a good excuse little brother but dear God...the tedium. I suppose at least this year I don’t have to worry about you drugging us all at least.’
Molly looked at Sherlock in confusion. She was so going to have to ask him to explain that sometime.
The other face time call they made was far more fun and less stressful as they called John to wish him and Rosie a Merry Christmas.
Sherlock started the call alone with Molly sitting to one side and biting her lip as she wondered just how John would take the news that she and his best friend were now in a relationship. John did not disappoint.
‘John, I suppose I’m obliged to say Merry Christmas. How’s it going?’
‘Merry Christmas Sherlock. It’s good. Harry stayed relatively sober last night so no arguments and Rosie managed to sleep in until 5.45 so yeah, I’m not tired at all...honest.’
Molly giggled a little at just how exhausted he sounded. She remembered the last time she’d been with her cousin and his children for Christmas. They’d been much younger then and that too had started at the crack of dawn.
John continued. ‘How’s things at your parents? Maybe I could wish them a happy Christmas as well?’
At that she saw Sherlock smirk. ‘I’m not at my parents.’
‘You aren’t? Where are you then because that’s not Baker St?’
‘I’m at a cottage in Norfolk.’
She shook her head at his delight in stringing out the torment for his friend and she could hear the mounting confusion in John’s tone.
‘Norfolk? Why the bloody hell are you in Norfolk?’
Sherlock shrugged. ‘Because I’m spending Christmas with my girlfriend and her family.’
His eyes flicked to Molly as he said that and she found herself grinning in response. Hearing him refer to her as his girlfriend just had a warm glow spreading through her.
‘OK, what the hell is going on Sherlock? Who are you stringing along this time and why? I didn’t even know you had a case.’
‘No case and I can assure you I’m not stringing anyone along. I’m in love and I don’t care who knows it. Would you like to meet her?’
She heard John take a deep breath and she found herself feeling a bit sorry for him.
‘I swear to god Sherlock this had better not be a wind up...’
Sherlock gestured to Molly to come and sit by him.
‘John meet...’
He turned the phone slightly to bring her into the frame and she saw John’s eyebrows shoot up in shock.
‘Molly!’
‘Hi John, Merry Christmas.’
‘You and Sherlock? You’re together?’
She still couldn’t stop herself from grinning and she nodded her head as Sherlock put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him as he kissed her cheek.
‘We are. He came up yesterday and umm...’
She turned to him and wondered how much she should say but Sherlock just smiled at her.
‘I came up and told her that I loved her; that I meant it in that phone call at Sherrinford although I don’t think I’d really realised it until the moment I first said it.’
He leant forward and pressed his lips against Molly’s for a moment and she heard John whistle. By the time she turned to face him again he was smiling widely at them both.
‘Honestly, I couldn’t be happier for you mate...for both of you. If anyone can keep Sherlock in check it’s you Molly. Rosie is going to be so happy to have her Uncle Sherlock and Aunty Molly together.’
The three of them chatted happily for another few minutes and then wished Rosie a happy Christmas as she opened up a couple of presents whilst they watched virtually and eventually they hung up after promising to all get together in a few days.
Sherlock finally hung up the phone and threw it onto the bed behind him and he turned back to Molly and smiled and she felt her insides flip over.
‘Merry Christmas Molly Hooper, now kiss me.’