8 minutes. 8 minutes until John Watson walked through that door. So punctual, unlike himself.

7 bags. He would be carrying 7 bags of shopping-always trying to carry as much as he could.

6 stumbles. With such a bad leg, one would be surprised if he made it without stumbling.

5 minutes to go. 5 minutes until John came home, to their home.

4 times he rehearsed what he was going to say, not that it calmed him at all.

3 more times he rehearsed.

2 feet were heard stumbling up the stairs.

"Sherlock, I-"

1 ring in a tiny velvet box.

8 minutes, 7 bags, 6 stumbles, 5 more minutes, 4 times rehearsed, 3 more, 2 feet, 1 ring.

"John Hamish Watson, will you be my husband?"