Sherlock didn’t allow himself to recognize Molly's 

feelings for him 

 (Sherlock meta by mizjoely)

Q: I just had this thought... In The Lying Detective Mrs Hudson says that if Sherlock can't figure something out he stabs it, shoots the wall etc etc... Is that what he did with Molly too, he couldn't figure out his feelings for her so kept pushing her away or insulted her ( earlier seasons)? Does that make sense?

A: Not only that but he didn’t allow himself to recognize her feelings for him as anything more than superficial. Think about it: S1 he blatantly takes advantage of her “crush” to get her to do things for him. S2 he completely misses the obvious when she comes to Baker Street for the Christmas party and incorrectly deduces that she’s got a new boyfriend. Later he is forced to see that she believes herself to be someone that doesn’t count and is able to correct that incorrect assumption, but that’s as far as it goes. By S3 he is able to thank her for everything by taking her on a day of crime solving, but still doesn’t deduce her correctly, doesn’t see that she actually IS ‘compensating’, trying to reassure both him and herself that she’s happy with Tom. In TAB he realizes that she’s not just a friend, but also a woman whom he has wronged. And in S4 she’s his friend, he tells her he loves her and actually realizes that he means it the second time he says it to her. He finally has been able to make the emotional connection that her feelings aren't just a crush, that it’s not just friendship, but a true, deep and lasting love. A love that maybe he can finally allow himself to return.