A/N: This chapter has been expanded into a new fic: Of White Roses and Sunflowers.

John made his way up the steps of 221. He was a little bit early to pick Lily up from her play-date with her godfather, but it couldn't be helped; Mary was sick and he had to drop Lily off at home before his next surgery appointment. As he got closer to the flat he once called home, he heard Sherlock's muffled voice through the closed door.

"So, Molly, will you marry me?"

John froze on the spot and waited, breath held, for Molly's answer. Instead, he heard his daughter giggle.

"That's not how you ask a princess to marry you, uncle Charlie. You have to tell her she's beautiful first, everyone knows that. And that you love her. And you need a ring. And maybe flowers. And music. And pretty dresses."

John crept a few stairs up, stifling a laugh at Sherlock asking a five-year-old for relationship advice.

"Yes, of course you're right, Lily. What kind of flowers, do you think she would like?"

"Princess flowers."

"What kind of flowers are those?" he asked slowly.

"The most beautifulest."

"Hmmm."

"And you have to be on one knee."

"Why?"

John listened closer, appreciating the irony of Sherlock's question.

"Because you're really tall so Molly will have to jump to kiss you and that's not fair."

"What if she doesn't want to kiss me?"

Lily said nothing but John could imagine the petulant look on her face, confident as only a child can be.

"Okay, fine. One knee it is."

John couldn't bear it anymore; he had to see the scene for himself. He opened the door and, though he had been listening in, was not prepared for what he saw. Lily was standing on the couch, practically drowning in one of Sherlock's old lab coats, hands on her hips and an imperious look on her face. Sherlock, on the other hand, was down on one knee and wearing his deep purple shirt. He managed to look scared, annoyed and embarrassed all at the same time.

"John. You're early," he said, hurrying to his feet.

"Yeah, just a bit. What's..uh...what's going on here?"

"We were...doing an experiment."

John crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Were you?"

"Yes. Now, sorry Lily, but it's time for you to go home. Your father is spoiling our game. As usual," Sherlock said, helping the little girl down from the couch and out of the coat. Then he knelt down in front of her and spoke quietly. "Do you remember how we were talking about secrets before? Well, this...experiment...is a big, big secret, okay? So you can't tell anyone about it."

"Not even Mummy and Daddy?"

"Especially not them. I'm counting on you, Pirate Lily. Now, John, whatever you may think you heard, you were mistaken. You will not repeat anything that you thought you heard to your darling wife. Now just look sorry and leave."

John snorted. "Sherlock, are you seriously trying to threaten me? I'll keep it from Mary, if you like, but that was just pathetic."

"It was worth a shot," he shrugged. "Really, go though. I have work to do."

"Do you mean that you have 'princess flowers' to buy? About time, too."

"No. See you next week, Lily. Try to keep your daddy's nose out of other people's business. He finds that difficult sometimes."

John said nothing but shut the door behind him, chuckling all the way down the steps.