Mrs. Hudson was glad to be out in the seaside. John's sister was an absolute delight. Noisy, abrasive, but a delight.

"She's been good for him, you know," Harry confided in Mrs. Hudson, in a low voice."I was a bit concerned that she'd remind him of Sherlock, but she's been great."

Mrs. Hudson watched the pair together, walking ahead of them. It didn't occur to her that these two were suitable for each other before this. Sherlock had always commanded the attentions of the both of them. He made them tense, and intense. They had both loved him so much. Now they cling to each other, saving each other.

Mrs. Hudson had abilities that escaped even the great Sherlock Homes. She knew of the brokenness in both of them when they were apart. His shadow still eclipsed them. He still anchored them. Mrs. Hudson was very afraid of where they were going.

John and Molly continued their walk on the beach while Mrs. Hudson and Harry went to look for a cafe.

"Oh John, look," Molly sighed. "The sea looks so happy."

John looked. "Really, happy? How?"

"Look," she said. "It's dancing." She laughed. "Oh I don't know… I feel silly now." He tried to see. It did look graceful, but the dance was wistful to John's eyes.

"No," he said, his arm circling his waist, pulling her closer to try and share some of her joy. "It's a very expressive dance the sea is doing."

She turned a little to look at him. "Are you ready to tell me yet?"

"Oh Molly," he winced. "You already know."

"No," she said. "You need to tell me. Come on, follow me, and we'll take a seat on the benches."

"Molly…"

"John," Molly turned. "You owe me? Tell me. How have you been since he's been gone?"

He hesitated, and then nodded. Following suit, he sat down beside her. "I'll tell you, but you'll have to be patient. Again."

She nodded. "For you."

"At first, I went through a sort of denial. I went through all the possibilities did not actually happen. I don't want this to have happened but it did.

"Oh, Molly. I felt so much pain, but I don't regret it. Well, not anymore. Before him, I was lost and alone. I wasn't strong for staying with him. He brought me back to life. He gave me a reason to get up in the morning even if it was just to make sure he ate.

"He said he wasn't a hero once. He was. He saved me from a dark place I've created for myself.

"I'm going to live, Mol, even if it's without him, even though it's painful, because of him. He was a good man."

Molly looked at him with tears falling down her own face and reached his cheeks to wipe away his.

He laughed. "Oh look at us. We're pathetic. We should be on the telly, on those afternoon soaps."

Molly smiled at him. "Well I'm glad that you will be alright."

"Couldn't have done it without you," he said softly. "Thank you."

She looked incredibly sad. "I'm just doing what I have to," she said, turning away from him.

"No," he said firmly. He put a gentle hand or her cheek and faced her to him. "You didn't have to do any of this, but you did and we're all very grateful."

She didn't say anything, looking miserably at him.

"I think I love you, Molly," he whispered.

Molly pulled away. "John-"

"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "If I startled you. I'm not… sure, and I don't want to be unfair. I'll fix myself and when I don't need to help fix me, I can be sure. You don't have to feel the same way. I'm just telling you that you are so important. You need to feel that, you need to realize it, Molly Hooper. You matter."

"You don't love me."

"I don't know," he said gently. "So you can't know either. All I know is you deserve to be loved, Molly. I'm so lucky to be your friend."

Molly's barely held together emotions broke down then. She was broken in his arms and it was John's turn to try and hold her up.