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MizJoely has recently shared a list of her favourite fics. (Thanks Miz for providing the link!) Mine has been made from a slightly different angle. So I thought it might be a nice companion. I started making this list in 2014 and updated it in 2015. The one I’m sharing with you now is the one I had in my draft box, untouched since maybe April 2016. So anything published after that are not included, not because I don’t like them. I simply didn’t have time to follow them. 

There are some new additions and a couple of new categories. They are in bold. Please reblog if you like it! Many many thanks!

***************************************************************************************************

This list is based on my personal preferences. Also I haven’t read ALL Sherlolly stories. (Who can?) So the list is never intended to be authoritative or exhaustive.

The stories with an asterisk are not complete. (M) indicates respective author’s own rating, some for explicit sexual expression, others for some other reasons.

<Best of the bests>

   I Told You So by Writingwife83

<Best Sagas>

A saga here refers to a series of multi-chapter fics that traces the couple’s history.

By coloradoandcolorado1

The Lonely

Broken Pieces

The Distance

Innuendo (M)

Monster

Overkill

Dark Reaches of the Night

By Gypsy Rose2014

Gabriel’s Wish

Of Small Boys and Sandwiches* (M)

Ginger Lollipops*

  Wishes (M)

A Summer Story (M)

Trimming the Tree

By thedragonaunt

Life After Death - A Post-Reichenbach Trilogy

  Part One - Aftermath (M)

  Part Two - Consequences

  Part Three - Unfinished Business

Demon (M)

Mother Love (M)

The Other Woman (M)

Loose Ends (M)

Gold (M)

Stolen (M)

Fatal Breath

Holmes for Christmas

Until Death* (M)

Quiet Sunday

<Best Romance>

   Benefits of Boredom by Writingwife83

   Blue Christmas (M) by MrsMCrieff

   Catching a Runaway Bride by TheSapphireSky

   Days May Not Be Fair by darthsydious

   Her Own Tale of Love by theheartofadetective

   So This is Love by onceinabluemoon0013

   The Professor and Mr Holmes by likingthistoomuch

   The Pulse Says It All (M) by SherlollyShock

<Best Adventure>

   Did You Miss Me, Molly Hooper?* by Sherlocked-Fangirl-x

   Landing on His Feet* by Vitawash

   Sorcerer’s Apprentice* by patemalah21

   The Ghost and Molly Hooper* by Doctor WTF

   The Honest Thief by hobbitsdoitbetter

   The Pirate and the Doctor (M) by Petra Todd

   When White Petals Fall* by Irisang

<Best Mystery>

  City of Dreams by MrsMCrieff 

  Double Cross by steffy2106

  Just Human by Lanceletta

  Monster by coloradoandcolorado1

  The Return by D. A. Smith

  The Detective and the Debutante* by EloiseAtThePlaza

  Tinderbox by Anne Louise 2000

<Best Drama>

  Blind Ambition by OpalSkyLoveDivine

  Dear Sherlock, by MudbloodPride

  Deconstructing Death by Emmyjean

  Demon (M) by thedragonaunt

  In the End (M) by Lono

  Long Way to You by Lanceletta

  Racing Daylight by Flaignhan

  Through the Looking Glass by SherlollyShock

<Best Humour>

   Down Under by cactusnell

   Message Received by Emmyjean

   The Accidental Boyfriend by lizzieBdarcy

   The Custody Agreement of an Adorable Calico Demon by Bellarsam Chrisjulittle

   The Diary of a Small Angry Pathologist by lilsherlockian1975

   The Million Dollar Shot by milkforthesouffles

   Winds of Change by Writingwife83  

<Best Angst>

   Always and Never (M) by theheartofadetective

   Asylum (M) by Adi Who is Also Mou

   Far from the Tree by Petra Todd

   Our beginnings Never Know Our Ends by Elixir.BB

   Return to Me by MizJoely

   Schoolgirl Crush by Flaignhan

   Telling the Bees by satin_doll

   The Beekeeper by Ditsypersephone

<Best H/C>

   A Beautiful Mind by jankmusic

   As You Wish by Alydia Rackham

   Delicious by Bellarsam Chrisjulittle

   I Will Try to Fix You by Bellarsam Chrisjulittle

   Secrets by Fiji Dreamer

   Smoke Damage by cactusnell

   The Attribute of the Strong by Bellarsam Chrisjulittle

<Best Sherlock>

   Holiday Romance (M) by MrsMCrieff

   More (M) by Liberi Ad Somnia

   Mother Love (M) by thedragonaunt

   Of Small Boys and Sandwiches* (M) by Gypsy Rose2014

   On Paper by MizJoely

   On the Side of the Angels by Supervillegirl

   The Family Detective by I 4 2 write

<Best Molly>

   Each in Its Own Fields* by dietplainlite

   Ginger Lollipops* by Gypsy Rose2014

   Mr Holmes and His Maid by Silencebeyondthestars

 (The author has deleted this story on major fan fiction sites and it is not available anywhere on the web now. I’m keeping this in my list, though, because Molly in this story is so powerful and convincing. Hope the author will put it back somewhere in the future.)

   Secrets by Fiji Dreamer

   The Diary of a Small Angry Pathologist by lilsherlockian1975

   Tinderbox by Anne Louise 2000

   Training Session by cactusnell

<Best Kids>

   Benjamin in I’m Out Here by Fayth3

   Gabriel in Ginger Lollipops* by Gypsy Rose2014

   Melisande in Daughters, Sherlolly Family by Maejones

   Penelope in Sherlock’s Near Death Experience by jankmusic

   Scarlet in Ginger Lollipops* by Gypsy Rose2014

   Scott in All We Have by writingwife83

   Will in Defining Family by GunterRae

   William in Life after Death Part Three: Unfinished Business by thedragonaunt

<Best Toby>

    Overdressed for the Occasion, in The Anthology by jankmusic

    Sherlock v Toby: Winner Take Molls by MizJoely

    The Cat Clause, in Negotiations by HeayPuckett

    The Diary of a Small Angry Pathologist by lilsherlockian1975

    The New Doctor by writingwife83 (Toby makes his appearance from Chapter 4 onwards.)

    Toby and His New Pet by Moonunit

    Whose Flat Is It Any Way? in A Window into Change by Writingwife83

<Best Dogs>

    Cat in Of Small Boys and Sandwiches* (M) by Gypsy Rose2014

    Molly Cocker in New Can at the Pack, Sherlolly Archives (M) by MoniMcCoy

    Redbeard in Benefits of Boredom by Writingwife83

    Redbeard in Epilogue of In the Quiet Places (M) by Kyerie

    Readbeard in Quiet Sunday by thedragonaunt

    Toby in Loss Restored by Amalia Kensington

<Best Smuts>

I don’t normally read many of this kind, but those listed here are so compelling as stories that I was unable to abandon them. I’m sure there are others that are as good. I just haven’t read them.

    dreams, like soap bubbles (M) by broomclosetkink

    Holiday Romance (M) by MrsMCrieff

    Love Stories and Tournaments of Lies (M) by Nocturnias

    Parva Victoriis (Little Victories) (M) by MizJoely

Hi,

I’ve decided to rec a couple of stories (and three authors) per day to celebrate the Sherlolly Fanfiction Week. I hope you’ll enjoy those recs, too. Here it goes, I try to give you some reasons for why I love those stories:

Oh, Anon, you’ve clearly forgotten what our two leads themselves had to say about Molly. I’m just going to put one quote each, because I don’t want to spend any more time than necessary on this ask, but there’s more.

Sherlock (to Molly in TEH): “Moriarty slipped up. He made a mistake. Because the ONE PERSON he thought didn’t matter at all to me is the one person who mattered the most.” (Oh yeah, she’s totally not important AT ALL)

John (about Molly): “I want you to be examined by the ONE PERSON who, unlike me, learned to see through you long ago.”

so he sets his profile for looking for a relationship. if reed and sue made it work, johnny will find someone in no time. EXCEPT HE USES HIS REAL PICTURE. a nice one of him when he won that XGames race. He looks good in that one. 

But some dweeb named Parker messages him with the most caustic burn ever. And Johnny knows burns. He’s usually on fire. 

“You are not fooling anyone with that picture (because srsly trying to catfish someone with a really famous person is hilarious AND lame) :/”

Even the emoticon is judging him. And Johnny can’t let go, because, Hello, he is Johnny Storm. And so what if he said he liked farmers’ markets and the Guggenheim. He’s not trolling anyone. And they’re HIS instagram photos, dammit. 

you know peter would take some epic artisty photos of himself. yet still be camera shy. especially to someone catfishing him on being the johnny storm. maybe jstorm is really vain? or overcompensating??? either way, he’s fun to talk to annoy

parker with his gravity defying poses that obscure his face. his stupid face. all johnny gets to see is parker’s abs. and butt. 

johnny is at least upfront about what he looks like. despite parker making disparaging comments about johnny being a 85 year old man from paramus. as if johnny would be from jersey of all places. urgh 

all he gets is an artistic critique of his lighting choices and filter suggestions. at least parker concedes he’s actually in his 20s. and has abs. though johnny is a but miffed that parker didn’t enjoy his dick. like, he has a nice one. if he had a sex tape, he’d bet everyone would agree. 

peter is like uber competitive but like he knows the dangers of the cloud. i mean, electro deleted all his spider-man pics. it was tragic. all that work for nothing

so maybe he has the perfect idea for a pic but like, jstorm could be kraven or eddie brock. weirder things have happened.

so maybe he asks mj and gwen about it. and debates to be ironic with his pic. mj suggests wearing the torch boxers. maybe with the right filter …

But what if Peter thinks that anyone willing to catfish with the pics/persona if a celebrity superhero would also be willing to catfish for some good dick pics?

Because how can he trust this guy? He’s pretending to be JOHNNY STORM. Really?

Is that what tips Johnny into being all *what? Fine lets meet*???

Because sure, doubting profile pics is one thing BUT HOW DARE YOU DOUBT MY DICK. IT IS FLAWLESS.

… *quietly jumps into somebody else’s very nice discussion*

*I am so sorry*

Because seriously, a title like “spiderman bares all”

And theres Spiderman, webswinging in a tattered suit, abs visable, legs wide as he creates better momentum.

Peter would do *anything* to not have *that photo* be today’s headliner. He thought he had defeated that one off the SD card, so of course that’s the one that was picked as the front centerfold.

It takes forever for Peter to calm down enough to formulate some sort of response.

peter may be having another identity crisis. mj and gwen find his woes hilarious. mj is sure she turned down a script with the same premise. 

and johnny realizes it’s been three months where he hasn’t been in a scandalous news article. and the shocking realization that he, gasp, is in a relationship

quelle horreur!

Twenty minutes and three glasses of champagne in, he thinks he’s spotted him when the lights go down and everyone starts screaming.

he’s garnering the courage to ask. mj already texted him to grow a pair and do it

then electro gate crashes

Pros: Electro unwittingly saved him from his probable humiliation by, who knows, the Chameleon, daydrinking Mystique, someone really bored and really good at photoshop, whoever jstorm really is - aside from, obviously, the person Peter is half in love with. Johnny Storm looking like he walked straight off a magazine shoot? Not helping. He absolutely was not checking him out when he was taking that candid, but like - those pants are tight. The eyes, they wander.

Cons: This is the third time in a month he’s stripped down to his spider-suit behind a fern and he’s getting real sick of it. 

and johnny was really hoping he’d see parker. and now with everyone running for the doors. now there’s a fat chance of that. at least he’ll try to really give it his a game so parker will know what he’s missing

Why couldn’t he be head over heels for Spidey, again?

Peter, meanwhile, is having a life crisis. Like, okay, that banter last night - that was the banter. The Banter. Oh god. It’s him. It’s him for real. And now - what does he say? When they meet? Obviously they’re going to meet. But there’s him and then there’s Spider-Man and Johnny Storm isn’t actually as dumb as he looks: sooner or later he’s going to put two and two together. He keeps drafting replies and then not sending them, because what is he going to say? “Great first date, loved the part where you welded the building back together.”

how does reed and sue do it every day?

peter cops out and sends johnny a pic of his shoes with the caption of waiting for a bus to queens. because yeah, sadly he ran out of webbing and just his luck he missed the bus home /:

There’s a heart emoji. What the hell is Peter supposed to do with that, other than bang his head against the subway wall. (Note to self: subway wall filthy, do not do that again.)

Meanwhile Reed and Sue tell Johnny that honesty and communication are the best option (”though it helps when she’s the strongest/he’s the smartest person you know” ugh marrieds. so gross) - though like. Meeting face to face helps. Sue would not rule that out.

At least Johnny has a name for some casual google stalking. It turns out Peter Parker is super smart, like, amazingly smart, like, Reed, would hiring his internet bf be unethical? Asking for a friend. And no wonder the photos he sends are so amazing - he’s like, Spider-Man’s personal photographer.

johnny casually floating next to spider-man, after successful saving new york city again for the fifth time that week and is like, hey spidey, i was wondering if you could do me a solid at getting in touch with peter parker for scheduling a fantastic four photo shoot (you know for the CHILDREN, THINK OF THE CHILDREN, SPIDEY)

peter is gobsmacked. how is this happening???? he bangs his head against baxter tower this time (it’s slightly cleaner than the subway wall) and pulls out one of peter parker’s business cards. why does he have it in the hidey hole of his suit? fate, probably

Peter’s halfway back home by the time he realizes that card has his actual phone number on it. Time to throw that into the river, then. Okay, no, irresponsible and expensive, even if it does seem the obvious solution at the mo. What is he going to do when Johnny calls???

answer it, you absolute disaster - yes thank you Gwen Stacy. Why are all his friends so reasonable about everything.

Meanwhile Johnny’s back home, dangling upside down off the sofa and grinning at this business card. Ben wants to call Dr. Strange, make sure the kid’s not possessed.

johnny suddenly realises for a long while, parker hasn’t called him out about not being johnny storm… weird, it was almost reassuring and by rote to argue about that with parker

johnny totally laminates the card and asks reed to make it flameproof (reed clearly needs to meet this parker fellow…)

it takes a week for johnny to build up a cover story for calling peter parker (like actually getting in touch with vanity fair for a article, hey he has some favors he can cash in and he’s already said he has a photographer they can freelance)

Reed and Sue are 100% Team Peter Parker. Ben’s reserving judgment until he’s sure this photobug has got a face. Every five minutes: “Have you called him yet??”

GIVE HIM SOME TIME, GOD. He’s got to make sure this goes perfect! And no he’s not bringing him for dinner, you people will make him go to the microverse or space or like, France. He is going to be NORMAL. For once in his life!! (No he hasn’t called him in the five minutes since you last asked.)

Meanwhile Peter’s nightly Spider-Man break is accompanied by a whole tub of Ben&Jerry’s tonight. Give him a break, he’s mourning for plain Peter Parker’s almost romance novel connection. So of course when his phone finally rings, he almost drops it fifty stories fumbles it, forgets what his normal voice sounds like and goes Full Christian Bale Batman.

peter decides if he’s living the lie, he’s going for broke. like, who am i talking to? it can’t be the johnny storm - like new number, who dis? inquiring about a job??? 

cue johnny losing some of his nerves, because this is familiar ground. he’s text battled to parker about this countless times. too many to count

johnny ends the call by getting a date - is it really a first date if they’ve been texting and snapchatting for months??? and johnny is now trying to mesh the gravelly voiced peter parker to his preconceived interpretation of what he thought peter would sound like

he can imagine getting off to that voice

peter thinks he can phase out the voice by lying about having bronchitis 

(he has to deal with mj imitating his christian bale voice for a week)

At least his jeans are good. You never need to wash those, right? And they’re black so that one old bloodstain won’t show! (Please buy new jeans begs MJ, like being a model means she knows so much about fashion.) So - it’s a date. With jstorm. Who is Johnny Storm. Who likes him, for - some reason? Like Peter is 90% sure this isn’t going to end in a giant trap by a supervillain and honestly that’s the most frightening part. And was Johnny kidding about that “private photoshoot” crack or??? Because Peter might pass out. Just saying. (He was not kidding, and he owns a lot of questionable outfits. But that’s a story for the future.)

Meanwhile Johnny has never been this nervous about a date. Why does he have nothing to wear?? He’s half an hour late because he was fishing through his bottomless (literally - thanks, Reed) closet, and he’s so sure Peter won’t be there but then he gets to the agreed spot and. He’s taking photos of pigeons.

johnny can’t believe parker is this cute in person. he may be vain but game recognizes game. and he really wants to makeout with that face. the premise of the photo shoot gets thrown out of the window (unless it’s selfies of them together because ben is starting to believe that johnny made parker up) they end up scandalizing joggers with excessive pda (but hey, it’s been months and it was one hella of a first kiss)

calamity will strike (probably electro - he’ll get a fruit basket by the end of this..)

But waiting breathless with the onlookers in Central Park is for people who didn’t double layer their date attire with a spider-suit. Time to change behind a tree again, judged by squirrels. This is his life!!

And look, alright, Johnny’s no genius, he leaves that to Reed and Sue, but - Spider-Man? Right here, right now? That’s no coincidence.

Like, dude, he knows his rep, but you don’t have to worry about your favorite photographer with him, alright? He really genuinely likes the guy. Like. A lot. So much, actually? So. Peter Parker is totally safe with him, man. No worries.

peter would facepalm but he’s dangling from a web

johnny pats himself on the back for being a considerate boyfriend - huh - he’s never used that word before - he likes it

he’d really like to get back to making out with peter

sadly, a super hero’s job is never done

Meanwhile the contents of Peter’s inbox: 1) Gwen yelling DID YOU TELL HIM TELL HIM IT’LL BE SO MUCH EASIER WHEN ONE OF YOU GETS KIDNAPPED!! 2) MJ creatively reinterpreting the lyrics to Kiss The Girl 3) Harry’s collection of cocktail umbrellas. So helpful. 

Meanwhile, Gwen, reincarnation of Cassandra, strikes again: third date in -and Johnny’s a gentleman (he can hear Sue and Ben laughing somewhere) so third date’s the night - they get knocked out and he wakes up in a glass box while some masked guy has got a gun to Peter’s head. Also he’s pretty sure they’re down by Pier 4? Greaaaaat. Still, not his worst date. If only he could figure out how to flame on without risking Peter’s safety.

and peter knows the third date jinx of his life. srsly, mj was held hostage by doc oct on their third date. gwen fell through a portal on theirs. it was sheer blind optimism for peter to think his date with johnny would go off without a hitch (and gosh, johnny looks good - like here’s peter in a sports jacket (with no visible stains) and johnny looks like he stepped out of a magazine)

cue being kidnapped. heh, peter needs to send mj and gwen some sephora gift cards….it really sucks being on the other end of this. 

his only hope is johnny understanding he’s more than peter parker - freelance photographer - he’s your friendly neighbourhood spider-man too boot

(johnny will still hold on that there is only one peter parker - the dork who went full christian bale)

“Plan B was telling you I celebrate Halloween year round,” says Peter, picking at his webs. “Or that I had some kind of fetish.” 

Sadly Johnny probably would’ve rolled with that.

Another long, awkward pause and a lot of sidelong glances (Peter looks almost as good in skintight spandex as Johnny looks in slightly charred Armani) before he pops the question: “You want to go back to mine?”

gwen and mj get some amazing gift baskets (the storm trust fund is a beautiful thing). harry comes back ridiculously tanned and sits through mj and gwen’s drunken slide show of peter’s tragically hilarious courtship with the human torch

johnny would have been down for anything that parker threw at him (he’s rocking this supportive boyfriend gig to a science (heh, science))

and mapping out peter’s muscles by hand is way more satisfying that any snapchat 

flash thompson sends another round of thumbs up and invites them to him and deb’s wedding. suddenly johnny has a plus one. life is good. and peter is very flexible

Direct harassment and threats are never an acceptable way to deal with your anger over something, that is absolutely true. However, expressing anger, disappointment, disbelief or even profound dislike of media creators (Note I am not talking about fan creators here) in the privacy of fan spaces is not the same thing as threatening, bullying or harassing them.

Politely and articulately filing a complaint to a network about your disappointment with a piece of media they aired, and requesting that they do better is not bullying, threatening or harassment. Politely asking content creators to explain their writing choices, or actors on their feelings/thoughts on the characters they play at cons is not bullying, threatening or harassing. Speaking with your wallet and refusing to financially support media that did not meet your expectations is not bullying, threatening or harassment.

Why go to a convention to bother the writers about their work? You’re not going to teach them anything. They have no obligation to respond to you or explain their work. Nobody wants to hear your reasons why this or that is wrong-headed, stupid, senseless,or ooc. Nobody cares about your opinion. Enjoy the show or not. But stop harping on about it and trying to justify your rude behaviors.

Plenty of the so-called “constructive criticism” being offered recently in the Sherlock fandom has been thinly veiled insults against the creators and reveals a stubborn mind unable to accept reality. Lots of the “questions” are presented in a passive aggressive manner. The sarcasm and jokes aren’t funny or hip. You’ve created a toxic environment online and irl at cons that we all have to sit in now and I don’t appreciate it.

The show was made, it aired, it’s over. You’re not going to change it no matter how many tantrums you have. This attitude is entitlement at its worst.

Lastly, you are affecting the enjoyment of the show for people who did like it. Constant whining on Tumblr and Twitter for *months* wanting acknowledgement for your butthurt and sending out innumerable posts about how sucky it was ruins the pleasure for others. Why the sour grapes attitude? Why shit all over others in the fandom just because you didn’t get what you want from a television show?

Sherlolly Week Appreciation

Day 7: Free Choice.

AU in which Sherlock went to that fatal mission, but just to contradict his brother he came home after the six months planned!

He and Molly had a special goodbye, he gave her a ring as a promise and when he got back to London, found out that Molly waited for him, but she wasn’t alone.

Based on @mouseymodesty idea, hope you like it and thanks for your help!

Bonus:

Happy Mother’s Day, my lovely friends! Here’s a little Rosie story for you all. It’s rated G. Big thanks to @mizjoely for looking it over for me and @mrsmcrieff for her Britishness! It’s also on AO3 and FF.net. Enjoy ~Lil~

Molly had picked Rosie up from school and was taking her to John’s where the sitter was waiting on them. She was in a bit of a hurry because she’d had to split her shift with a coworker in order to help John with the running. Since Mary’s death, Mike had been much more accommodating with Molly’s schedule, especially considering the amount of overtime she’d put in over the years.

“Aunt Molly,” Rosie said as the cab rounded the corner on her street.

“Yes, love?”

“Where’s your mummy?” the five year old asked.

Rosie had become more and more inquisitive about Mary and mothers in general in recent months. It was heartbreaking, but expected.

“My mummy died when I was little, Rosie,” she answered.

“Like mine.”

“Well, yes. But I was a bit older. I was six.”

“I’ll be six soon.”

“Yes you will, dearheart,” Molly said with a smile.

“You remember your mummy, don’t you?”

Molly swallowed back tears. “Yes, I do.”

“I wish Daddy would marry you so I could have a mummy all the time.”

She wrapped her arms around the little girl. “Rosie, you may not be my daughter, but I couldn’t love you more even if you were.” She kissed her little blonde head, then drew back and looked in her blue eyes. “Your mum is always with you. She was an amazing woman and she loved you so much.”

Rosie blinked and nodded. For a moment Molly thought the child might cry, but she didn’t. “I love you too, Aunt Molly.” She snuggled up against Molly’s side and sniffled. “Daddy needs a girlfriend.”

Molly laughed, not only because it was a strange observation from a five year old, but because John had a girlfriend, he just hadn’t introduced Rosie and Emma yet.

“And not that accountant woman. They won’t last another month,” she said before turning back to watch the passing scenery.

Molly just shook her head. Rosie might not remember her mother but there was no doubt that she was the child of Mary Watson. Not to mention Sherlock had been teaching her the science of deduction practically since birth.

“I want to do something for Molly for Mother’s Day,” John said to Sherlock on their way to the scene of a triple murder two and a half weeks later.

“I don’t think Tobias counts as an actual child, John,” the detective replied drily.

“You know what I’m talking about, Sherlock!”

“Of course I do, and I’d thought about it as well. She’s a mother figure to Rosie. Your child adores her.” Sherlock looked at John and thought carefully before he continued, “The other day she told Molly that she wished you would marry her so that she’d have a full time mum.”

John’s head jerked up. “She said that?”

Sherlock nodded.

“Hmm…”

“She also predicted your break-up with the accountant before you ever introduced them,” Sherlock said smugly.

“I should limit your time together.”

“Don’t discount DNA, John. She’s very much her mother’s daughter.”

The doctor smiled fondly. “That she is.”

Not wanting to see his friend fall into a gloom over Mary’s memory, Sherlock changed the subject back to Molly, “So, Mothering Sunday…”

“Ah, yes. I was thinking that the three of us could take Molly to lunch. Make a fuss over her. Give her flowers or something.”

Sherlock rolled his eyes. Typical. “That’s a bit conventional, don’t you think?”

“What do you suggest?”

He thought for a moment, then had a brilliant idea. “This shouldn’t be up to us, John. We should let Rosamund decide.”

“Why won’t you tell me where we’re going, Sherlock? You’re making me nervous,” Molly said as she studied the passing countryside.

“Relax, Molly. It’s not as if I’d take you somewhere dang…er…ous.” He dragged out the last word as if he knew it wasn’t true.

She turned and looked at him, her head cocked to the side, eyebrow raised judgmentally.

“Okay, perhaps I would. But not today. It’s a surprise. You like surprises.”

His voice was suspiciously high and… odd. “Listen, William…” He gave her the stink eye, the same stink eye he always gave her when she called him by his first name. “…tell me what’s going on, now!” He knew better than to try to use his tricks on her.

“For God’s sake, Molly, calm down. It will be worth it, I promise.” He pulled his mobile out of his pocket, then added, “And if you call me William again I’ll tell everyone about the incident with the falafel vendor.”

She gasped. “You wouldn’t!”

Sherlock smirked. “You know that I would,” he said, without looking up.

Just then the cab pulled to a stop.

“We’re here.” He leaned forward and paid the fare.

Looking out her window at the large empty field, she asked, “Where?”

“Here,” he said sarcastically.

Molly wanted to reply, but decided against and started to open the door.

Sherlock reached across her, grabbing her hand. “Stop. Stay right where you are.” Then he pulled a black sleeping mask out of his pocket. “Put this on.”

“Oh no! Last time you blindfolded me I ended up in the Thames.”

Sherlock laughed. “That was hilarious!”

Molly was NOT amused. She took the mask from his outstretched hand, then pinched his thigh.

“Ow! That really hurt!” He rubbed at his ‘injury’.

“It wasn’t supposed to tickle.” Holding up the mask she asked, “Why do I need this?”

“If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you.”

“Sherlock…”

He sighed. “It involves our goddaughter, is that enough?”

Of course it was! “Fine.” She put on the mask. “Now what?”

“Just wait.”

Molly heard the car door open and shut, then she thought she heard the boot open and shut as well. She waited, wondering what the hell was going on. Finally, her door opened and someone, Sherlock obviously, took her hand.

“Step out, Molly, I’ve got you,” he said.

She did, carefully, very glad that she hadn’t seen any large bodies of water when she had looked around before she put on the mask. “Okay, Sherlock, what’s next?”

“Now we wait,” he explained.

“For how long?”

“As long as it takes.”

It took more than fifteen minutes. Eventually, she convinced Sherlock that she needed to sit down. He put a blanket (she assumed it was a blanket, at least it felt like one) on the ground and helped her sit. They spoke very little, but she heard him typing on his phone and occasionally talking to himself.

Finally he said, “There you are. I was wondering if you were going to show.”

“Someone was being indecisive about what to wear,” John said. “Hello, Molly. Curious yet?”

“Only completely,” she answered. “What’s going on?”

She was suddenly startled by a hug. A hug from a very small person. “Happy Mother’s Day, Aunt Molly,” Rosie Watson said, then kissed her cheek.

“What? I- I mean, thank you, Rosie,” Molly responded, a little choked up.

“Help her up, Uncle Sherlock,” Rosie demanded. “We have a lot to do.”

He did, then they were on their way.

As they started to walk, Rosie took hold of her hand. “Uncle Sherlock, you’ll have to hold her other hand or she’ll fall. Unless you want daddy to do it?”

“I won’t let her fall, Rosamund,” he said gruffly, taking hold of Molly’s free hand.

“I bet you won’t,” the child responded.

John laughed.

They walked (mostly uphill), and sure enough when Molly stumbled on the uneven ground, Sherlock was there to steady her. Rosie prattled on about school, deducing her classmates and teachers all the while. Sherlock kept asking questions, egging her on. Finally they came to a stop, and both Rosie and Sherlock released her hands.

“Okay, Aunt Molly, you can take off your blindfold now.”

She removed the mask and looked around. It was a bright, sunny day and it took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust. When they did, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“What do you think?” Rosie asked excitedly, jumping up and down.

“Wh- what… are we really riding in that?” Molly asked, dumbstruck.

“Of course! We’re having a picnic after the ride and ice cream when we get back home. It was all my idea,” she added proudly.

“Rosie also wanted to pet a unicorn, but Sherlock explained that they didn’t exist,” John interjected.

“Then I said that just because he’s never seen something that doesn’t mean it’s not real!” the five year old said, cutting her uncle a scathing look. “He needs to use his imagination more.” She stuck her tongue out at him. The gesture was returned by the forty-three year old man-child.

Molly laughed as they were ushered into the basket attached to the colorful hotair balloon.

The ride was simply breathtaking. Rosie squealed and laughed the entire time, completely unafraid of the dizzying heights. The child was a wonder; the perfect combination of Mary and John. She was beautiful and kind, intelligent and brave. She was perfect. Molly felt herself tearing up as she watched John pointing out some castle ruins to her goddaughter. It wasn’t fair, Mary was missing everything.

“Molly,” Sherlock’s voice pulled her from her dark thoughts.

She wiped a tear from her cheek as she turned to him. “Yes, Sherlock.”

“She’s happy, you know. We have to take some comfort in that.” He wiped away another tear that had fallen, then tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “She loves you so much.”

Molly nodded, unable to speak.

“That’s a feeling I completely understand,” he whispered with a soft smile.

I was talking to my husband about this and he thinks that it has no part of the narrative. But lets quickly take a look at how Kylo was marketed in TFA vs TLJ

Masked, hooded cowl, clenched fist, his entire body is covered head to toe. 

Now for TLJ

Maskless, his neck is uncovered, his hand is not clenched into a fist. 

and every time I watched it, I knew there was a connection between these two scenes. And I just found it today.(may be a little too late) Scene 1: kitty and sherlock

K: sooner or later, you’re going to need someone on your side. Someone to set the record straight. S: You think you’re the girl for the job, do you? K: I’m smart and you can trust me .. totally. S: well, look at me and tell me what you see. If you’re that skillful, you don’t need an interview, you can just read what you need.

Scene 2: Molly and sherlock

M: You look sad, when you think he can’t see you. Are you OK? And don’t just say you are, because I know what that means, looking sad when you think no-one can see you. S: You can see me. M: I don’t count. What I’m trying to say is, that if there’s anything I can do, anything you need, anything at all, you can have me.

Anon, you seem to be forgetting that S2-4 exist. Sherlock hasn’t “used” Molly since S1, and their relationship has evolved a lot since then.

Some folks think that declarations of love are always woobified, but that is not the case. This scene showed that.

That scene is soooo painful to watch, but it’s not because of Molly’s pain, not really. Because after telling him that she can’t say that and he knows why (which is obviously agonizing for her), she takes control of the conversation. I’d argue that although it’s still painful for Molly, from that point on it’s beautiful and affirming too. At that point, when she says “You say it first” it becomes affirmative.

We all know that she loves Sherlock, has loved him for 7 years (although I’d suggest that in S1 it was just infatuation and didn’t deepen into love until s2), but since S3, I think Sherlock has loved Molly back, whether he was aware of it or not. Since S3, Molly has had the control in almost every interaction with Sherlock and certainly does here. She forces him to confront and admit his feelings, and it is painful, intense and agonizing for her, but EVEN MORE SO FOR SHERLOCK. Just look at his face during the scene…

Does this look AT ALL like Sherlock is using Molly? (Remember, Molly can’t see him, so there’s no point in acting these emotions for her benefit) Does it look like he doesn’t appreciate her? No, he’s terrified of losing her. He’s willing to do anything to save her. The conversation is clearly more difficult for Sherlock than for Molly at this point.

Molly actually actually smiles a bit when he says it the first time.

Yes, it’s painful for her, but ultimately affirming. Sherlock, on the other hand, comes completely undone. In the past, when Sherlock put on an act to get what he wants, as soon as it’s accomplished, the act is dropped and he’s back to unemotional Sherlock moving on to the next step in the game. 

But this wasn’t an act. The proof (there’s a lot of proof, but just one example) is Sherlock’s reaction when she finally says it. Yes, he’s relieved his friend isn’t dead, but it’s so much more than that. He tries to do what he always does, shake it off, get back to business, “I won. I saved Molly Hooper. Let me talk to the girl on the plane.” but he can’t. All the emotional turmoil of admitting his love for Molly bubbles back up. He tries to put it back in the box, and HE CAN’T.

That’s the kind of love I want for Molly. I want Molly to be with someone who loves her so intensely and powerfully that he would not only destroy a coffin with his bare hands, but also destroy the carefully constructed walls he’s built around his heart, not because her life was in danger, but because SHE ASKED HIM TO. How could anyone possibly appreciate Molly anymore than that?