Chapter 13: Yes
"Sherlock? Who is that?" John said, looking at Alex and back at Sherlock. Sherlock wasn't paying attention; he was just looking at John. "Sherlock, who is that?"
"Alex. My name is Alex." She said as she walked towards them. Sherlock looked at her face and saw the anger. She walked up to John and shoved him back, away from Sherlock. "What the hell do you think you've done? Do you know what you've done to him? Everything he suffered?" She said, almost yelling. "You've almost killed him!"
"I know. I know." John said, understanding. He put his hands up defensively.
Sherlock wasn't talking, he was just focusing on John. He was right. He was right all along, he knew it. Sherlock smiled to himself. Everything he ever believed was true. John was alive the entire time.
"Oh you know, huh? You know what you did to him? The pain you caused him?" There was Alex again.
"Yes, I do, who are you? What do you have to do with Sherlock?"
"I'm his roommate."
John looked at Sherlock, eyes wide, shocked. "Roommate?"
"Yes." Sherlock's baritone voice echoed. "I needed help with rent and you were gone, Mycroft also recommended meeting new people. Alex just happened to be around. Shall we get going?" Sherlock wanted to get away, just go back to Baker Street and be with John again.
"Excuse me? No, what is this?!" Alex yelled.
Sherlock pushed past her with John, holding his hand.
"Sherlock!"
"Alex, if you could please pack your things and move out by tomorrow, that would be lovely." Sherlock said, turning his head, smiling at her.
Alex scoffed and stood there, watching them leave.
John and Sherlock didn't say a single word to each other during the cab ride, Sherlock just started at him. Wanting to touch him, kiss him, feel his entire body just to make sure he was real. Sherlock reached for John's hand and held it. They sat like that the entire cab ride, not talking, holding hands.
The cabbie pulled up to the sidewalk and let them out, John paid. They walked up to the door and Sherlock unlocked it, holding the door open for John to walk in. Sherlock followed behind him, up the stairs and into their flat.
"Smells like a woman in here." John started laughing, he just kept laughing. Sherlock joined him in laughter, his baritone voice echoing through the flat. Sherlock took John's hands and kissed them. He pulled John close and wrapped his arms around him.
"I've missed you, John." Sherlock smiled down at him.
"You're not angry?"
"No. Not right now anyway, I'm happy that you're back."
"I'm sorry. I know what happened to you, I kept contact with Mycroft…" John said, not meeting Sherlock's eyes.
"Don't tell me about that right now. Please, John. Let me savor the happiness. Just let me kiss you, dammit."
Sherlock kissed him, forcefully, pulling him close. Never wanting to let go of him. Never wanting to lose him again.
- One Year Later –
Everything was back to normal, just like it should be. John by Sherlock's side, solving crimes, the excitement. Sherlock loved it, every second of it. Today was an off day, no crimes have occurred. Sherlock was preparing a cup of tea for John while John was getting dressed in the bedroom.
"Sherlock? What is this?" John asked, walking out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, holding something in his hand. It looked like string, with a note attached.
Sherlock's heart sank. How did John find that? He never wanted him to find that.
"Sherlock?" John asked, looking at him. "What is this?" John held the ring up, the note dangled around on the string.
"A proposal. To you. I meant to hide that where you wouldn't find it."
"Yes."
"What?" Sherlock asked, confused.
"I'm saying yes, Sherlock. Yes, to your proposal. I read the note." He smiled. "I love you."
Sherlock hesitated, nervous. His hands started shaking slightly. "Iloveyoutoo." He said it quickly it almost didn't sound like English. John smiled that familiar smile, walking closer to him.
He kissed Sherlock and in the same moment, Sherlock slipped the ring on John's finger after pulling the note off, tucking it in John's coat pocket.