After a delicious home-cooked breakfast, they two men stood outside the hotel waiting on a taxi that Sherlock had phoned earlier. It was sunny, but unfortunately not warm, and an icy wind nipped at John's face. His hands were shoved deep inside his pockets in a desperate attemp to keep them warm. He tried to distract himself from the cold with thoughts of the surprsise. What could it be? John was also looking forward to his birthday tomorrow, it would be the first he and Sherlock would spend together as a couple. These thoughs, as nice as they were, weren't enough to stop him from shivering, the quiet chattering of his teeth filling the air.

"Cold, John?"

"Just a bit, yeah." John chuckled and burrowed his hands deeper into his pockets. "Should've packed thicker clothes."

"Here." Sherlock took off the deep blue scarf wrapped round his neck and tied it carefully round John's, making sure it wasn't too tight that it would choke him. "Wear this."

John touched the scarf tenderly. "You're giving me your scarf?"

"Just for today."

"But, still... you don't give your scarf to anyone."

"Consider yourself special." Sherlock looked at him and smiled. He liked seeing his scarf on John, he suited it.

"Thankyou." John smiled and relished the warmth. "Won't you be cold now?"

"Me? No, I have my coat, I'll be fine. Besides, you look kinda hot in it..." Sherlock smirked and looked John over, laughing when John's cheeks turned pink.

"Thanks." John laughed and offered his hand to Sherlock.

Sherlock took John's cold hand and wrapped his long tapering fingers around it, his thumb rubbing repeatedly against John's skin, trying to get some warmth into it. After a few minutes, the taxi appeared in front of them, and a smiling woman poked her head out of the window. "Holmes?" She asked. Shrlock nodded and opened the seat for John, knowing how much he craved the heat inside the taxi. John shot him a grateful smile and clambered in, Sherlock following him. The woman had long dark auburn hair and hazel eyes, with a pair of silver glasses sitting on the end of her nose. She noticed John and turned the heating up more.

"So, lads. Where to?"

John looked at Sherlock. He cleared his throat. "Loch Katrine, please."

The woman nodded and with a smile, drove away from the beautiful castle.

"Right, boys. We're here."

Sherlock opened his eyes and gave a yawn. He had fallen asleep agaist the door, an arm wrapped around John, who had fallen asleep leaning against his torso. John grumbled and clung tighter to Sherlock, still sleeping. Sherlock smiled and prised John off him gently. John sat bolt upright and turned to Sherlock.

"Are we there yet?"

"Yes. We slept most of the way I think."

The cab driver turned to face them, strands of her fiery hair falling in front of her face. "Aboot twenty minutes after we left the hotel ye both fell asleep, cuddling, might I add."

John's face turned bright pink. "I, erm- I just, I-"

"Relax, sweetie! I'm only teasing." She laughed and John gave her a smile.

Sherlock pulled some notes out his back pocket and handed the woman them. She thanked him, took the money, wished them well and drove away. Once they were out the car, John gave a huge stretch and Sherlock heard his back crack a few times. John winced and took Sherlock's hand. Sherlock gave it a gentle squeeze and took a deep breathful of clean fresh air, so different to the air of London.

"Well, at least this cabby didn't try to kill me." Sherlock mused, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

John rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Really shouldn't joke about that, you know,"

"Oh, right. Sorry." Sherlock swallowed and looked at John worriedly.

He smiled softly and looked at him. "It's fine. C'mon., show me this surprise! I've been waiting long enough."

Sherlock smiled widely and pulled John along a trail, clambering up small hills and crossing streams and rocky paths. Wild flowers grew everywhere- sprigs of heather and thistle jutting out of the deep green grass. John walked pleasantly behind Sherlock, their fingers still intertwined. He loved the Scottish air, it was so clean and pure, carrying hints of the sea with every breeze. Sherlock was excited, he could barely contain his nerves. Would it go to plan? Or would it go down in flames? His head whirred with thoughts, thinkning, planning, hoping. Suddenly, Sherlock turned round and stood behind John.

"Close your eyes."

"What?"

"Your eyes. Close them."

"Why?" John protested. "Wha-"

Sherlock's hands fell over John's eyes, blocking his sight. "Trust me."

John grudgingly agreed and let himself be led away. Sherlock's voice appeared at his ear, soft and light. "Open." He removed his hands and studied John's face for a reaction.

He had led John into a grassy clearing at the bottom of a huge towering hill. At the edge of the clearing, you could see the whole loch, shimmering and swirling under the sunlight. John smiled and walked forward, gazing at his surroundings. The loch stretched on forever, shades of blue all mixing together to create the ever-changing water. It oozed serenity, somehow seeming to stand still and ripple with excitement at the same time. The water seemed to meet with the sky as it stretched on, the blue contrasting with the swirling clouds. The sky itself was like a a painting, a beautiful pastel sunset, the numerous tones of orange and red changing and blending with lilac and pink. It was as if someone had made the most beautifuul sky, just for them.

"Wow..." John couldn't believe the beauty of what he was seeing. It was even more beautiful than his Christmas date with Sherlock.

Sherlock came up behing him and rested his chin on John's shoulder, wrapping his strong arms around him. "Do you like it?"

"Like it? Try love it! It's just amazing, Sherlock. Amazing."

"I'm glad you love it. It took me a while to get the ight location."

"Location?" John tilted his head upwards. "Location for what?"

"For this."

Sherlock stepped away from John and got down on one knee. John's eyes widened and he gasped. Sherlock ran a hand though his hair, reached into his pocket and brought out a small black box.

"John watson... you are the love of my life. I have never felt this way about anyone before and I never will again. You're my reason for living, you're my bestfriend and you mean the world to me. You're always there for me, always believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. You're the most fantastic, amazing, loyal, brilliant man I have ever met and each day I continue to be facinated by you. I know we've had some ups and downs and I know that I have hurt you so much more than you deserve, but I'm hoping that you can look past all that. I've always said love was stupid, a game that anyone can figure out. But it's not. Love is powerful, and it's difficult and it makes you do crazy things. It's is enough to confuse me, the Great Sherlock Holmes! When I met you I had no idea what our relationship would evolve into, or how much you could mean to me. You've shown me a side of life that I never even knew existed. I am so in love with you, a love that I, even in my wildest dreams, could never have thought possible. I'll stand by you John, through whatever life throws at us, I promise. Now I know I have a dangerous life. I nearly get killed on a daily basis, I have many enemies, and there's hardly ever a moment when someone's not trying to shoot me or blow something up. But that life, John, that life is completely boring without you. I want you to share my life with me, live with me till we're old and grey. Because there's nobody I'd rather share it with. So... John Hamish Watson... will you marry me?" Sherlock opened the box and took out the shining gold band.

John was silent. He could barely breathe, let alone speak. His heart was going at 100 miles an hour. Was this real? Was it a dream?

"John?"

"Yes! A thousand times yes! Yes! Yes! YES!" John yelled and flung his arms around Sherlock, nearly knocking him to the ground.

"Hey, watch out! Put the ring on."

John stuck his left hand out and smiled brilliantly when Sherlock slid the gold band on his finger. Suddenly, it was as if a damn broke, and tears started flowing from John's eyes. He heaved sob after sob, laughing and shaking his head, still clinging to Sherlock.

"I love you," John choked back anther sob. "so much!"

Sherlock laughed and pulled John on top of him, both of them lying on the grass. Sherlock's chest shook with laughter, he just couldn't believe John had said yes! It was all so surreal, like a perfect dream. John himself was shaking, although this time it was a good type. He wiped away his tears with unsteady hands and faced Sherlock.

"I don't mean to ruin the moment, but how did you afford all this?"

"I took cash for solving a case."

"But, you hate doing that!"

"I'd do anything to make you happy. And being my fiance makes you happy, doesn't it?"

"More than happy. Elated! Overjoyed! Ecstatic!" John smiled and kissed Sherlock, all his emotions pouring into it. They had no idea how long they lay there, time seemed to have no meaning for them. Their lips moved in motion, a familiar yet overwhelming feeling that left Sherlock short of breath.

"I think we better call a taxi and get back to the hotel." He said, his thick curls falling onto his forehead.

"Why?"

"Because there's something I really want to do, and I'd rather it be in a bed rather than in some grass."

John's eyes widened and he grinned. "What are we waiting for?"

Sherlock kicked the door of the apartment door open, John's legs wrapped around his waist. They were frantically kissing, John's hands twisted in Sherlock's hair, Sherlock's hips ginding against John. They couldn't wait to get back, the journey back was almost too long for them to wait. The room seemed to steam up with passion, and Sherlock had never been more glad that nobody could hear them. It felt right now, John was his fiance. Sherlock groaned and felt a bulge rise in his pants. John grinned and rubbed up aginst it, enjoying Sherlock's moan. Sherlock flung John on the bed, ripping his clothes off like an animal. John pulled Sherlock's boxers and trousers down, still kissing crazily. The room was a mess, bits of clothing littered all over the floor, but the boys didn't care. All that mattered was each other. John pulled Sherlock down on top of him and wrapped his legs around his waist, pulling him, closer. Sherlock kissed slowly along John's jaw, revelling in his angst. John arched his back and growled.

"Oh I hate when you do that." John panted, his fingers finding their way to Sherlock's hair.

Sherlock lifted his head up. "You love it."

Sherlock went back to kissing John, his lips brushing against John's like a feather. He traced the outline of John's lip with his tongue, teasing him to the extreme. John couldn't take it any more and pushed his lips aginst Sherlock's, their tongues brushing against each other gently. John reached up and pulled Sherlock deeper under the covers with him, into a never-ending abyss of intense pleasure and desire.

Sherlock woke up the next morning cuddled aginst John's bare chest, feeling nothing but bliss and satisfaction. The matress felt soft and smooth underneath his body, but he found that laying against John's muscled frame was much more preferable. John opened his eyes and peered at Sherlock. His hair was mussed, and he had a glazed look in his eye.

"Man..." John said, giving a chuckle.

"Last night was just.."

"Incredible." Both men said in unison.

They laughed and Sherlock propped himself up on one elbow. "Can we do it again?"