#...forever

She frowned, he had said a great many hurtful things over the years without thought. He would disappear for weeks on end without so much as a text message to let her know he was safe. He could distract and avoid an uncomfortable topic better than anyone if he didn't want to talk about it.... but lie to her? Directly? No, Sherlock Holmes had never actually done that.

There was a soft knock at the door that sent Molly's heart leaping into her throat. She turned around and pulled the door open. "Sherlock, I-" Molly blinked in surprise. The tall man in the suit standing outside her apartment was not Sherlock Holmes, it was his brother. "Mycroft, what are you... can I help you with any? Is Sherlock alright?" She spluttered.

"Miss Hooper, good morning. My brother is fine, I have it on good authority he is currently at Scotland Yard.... filing a report." He replied his voice colored in boredom. "Do you mind if we come in?"

She looked past the older Holmes brother to see the team that Mycroft had assembled, waiting at the curb. There was five of them, all dressed in expensive suits, carrying some sort of equipment. "Why? What do you want?" She asked standing firm on her stoop.

Mycroft sighed, he had hoped that Sherlock had already spoken to Miss Hooper, based on the photographs of her leaving Mr Watson's flat in tears early today he assumed his brother had. Oh well, one more burden to bear to help make up for his own wrong doings. "Please Miss Hooper this will be easier to explain if you are already seated."

A million scenarios ran through Molly's mind as she stepped aside to let Mycroft pass, all of them ending in the same way.... Sherlock was leaving again. He must be! It's the only thing that makes sense, the phone call, the kiss. Oh god! He wasn't coming back this time, was he?

She settled herself into a chair in her dining room, Mycroft took the one opposite her. "Tea?" He asked. "This could be a very long explanation." She nodded, forgetting that, this was her house.... she should be offering the tea. She looked to get up, but one of Mycroft men was already pulling out the cups and saucers. She let out a quiet scoff. Three times... that's how often Mycroft had been to her flat before. Once to collect Sherlock after his "death". Once when Sherlock had shown up high after Mary died, and now. How on earth did he know where she kept her teabags?

"Miss Hooper, I know these past few days have been somewhat of an ordeal for you but let me assure you, however hard it has been for you. It has been exponentially worse for my brother."

She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, and nodded for him to continue.

"Sherlock and I are not the only Holmes children, we also have a sister, Eurus." He said simply.

"I know." She replied, nodding to the man who had placed a cup of tea in front of her.

Mycroft raised an eyebrow. "Sherlock told you? When?" He asked, perhaps this won't be so bad after all.

"He had his suspicions. When John was shot by a woman claiming to be your sister he called me to make sure John was okay. The last time we spoke about Sherlock was planning on getting proof. So, she's real then, this sister?"

"Yes, she was taken away as child due to an unfortunate matter and Sherlock had deleted her from his memories." He replied.

"Tell her why Mycroft." Said a low voice.

They turned towards the front door to see Sherlock standing in the hall, fire blazing in his eyes.

"Brother mine." Said Mycroft not in the least surprised to see him.

"Mycroft, what are you doing here?" He snapped.

"A threat was made against Miss Hooper's life dear brother, or did you forget, I am here to ensure her safety."

"What?" Asked Molly. The reality of the phone call dawned on her, his insistence on her saying those words. The panic she had heard in his voice. "Did Eurus make you call me yesterday Sherlock?" She took a breath to distract herself from the stinging in her eyes, she had already cried enough today. "Did she make you say that?"

In his eyes swirled a hundred thoughts and emotions, churning like the sea. "Yes."

She let out a choked sob. "I need to get out of here, I need to leave."

She stood up and walked out the door, not bothering with her coat. In an instant, he was there, his large smooth hand covering hers. "Molly please, don't walk away from me."

She turned to face him, her cheeks already reddened from the cold. "I don't understand Sherlock, what do you want from me?"

"I don't admit to knowing either Molly, I am only just beginning to understand myself. But Eurus, she saw it. She knew what I had always ignored and she used it. Squeezing at it until I could no longer forget." His eyes were so soft and open, Molly had never seen him like this before.

"What did she see?"

"You, it has always been you... on the edges of every case, bordering everything around me. The one person who mattered the most." His free hand moved to softly cup the back of her arm, anchoring her to him.

"This is all too much Sherlock. You told me you meant what you said, but I have no idea what that means. Everything has changed, now hasn't it?" She said holding his eyes with her own.

"Is that a bad thing?" He asked.

She laughed softly. "No, I don't know. But we can't go back now, you know that right? It will never be like it was before."

"I don't want it to." Sherlock replied, his voice thick with emotion.

"I don't either." She whispered.

"So, how do we do this?" He asked breaking the tension. "Should I? I don't know, woo you?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

She laughed, the sound made Sherlock's heart be a fraction faster. "I don't think that would work for either of us. How about we just experiment. I won't have any expectations with you, and you won't with me. Let’s just see what happens."

"Just see what happens? Molly Hooper you are a puzzle I hope to spend a lifetime figuring out." He replied smiling.

They looked back at the house, door still open, Mycroft and his men visible inside poking about. "Did you want to get out of here? Go get some lunch?" She asked.

"Yeah." He replied wrapping her arm around his.

"You do still have to tell me what exactly Mycroft is looking for in my flat...." she said as they walked arm in arm down the street.