John has a very good internal body clock. The only disadvantage of this is his inability to have a lie in, which means he's often left awake while Sherlock catches up on his sleep marathon after a case. Usually, he'll get up, shower, and start his daily business until Sherlock appears to drag him back to bed. Other days he likes to stay under the warm duvet, occasionally with a book, sometimes just to close his eyes and think.

This morning is one of those lazy days. He's been thinking seriously about several things recently, one of which would be put into action that morning when Sherlock finally woke up. John shifts from his side onto his front and jostles the mattress. Sherlock's eyes blink open and flicker sleepily over to John, the corners of his mouth turning up.

"Mornin'," John says, cheek resting on his folded arms on the pillow.

Sherlock stares blearily for a moment, before mumbling a gravelly, "morning."

With a smile, John blindly reaches to the bedside table and grabs a small velvet box. He drops the box on Sherlock's chest and smiles, snuggling into Sherlock's side and throws an arm over his waist.

Sherlock eyes the box warily, blinking the sleep out of his eyes. He picks it up and turning it in his hand. His eyes widen.

"John, I—"

John laughs, "worked it out?"

"Are you sure?"

John looks into Sherlock's eyes, a strange green in the morning light, and gently nods his head, "I've been thinking about this for a while. I'm very sure, if you'll have me. I wouldn't have asked otherwise."

Sherlock flips the lid of the box open and is greeted by a pair of plain silver bands. He picks one up and reads the engraving on the inside, 29 JAN 2010 - SH & JW. He smiles, "the day we met. How sentimental."

"It's what I do best," John says, pressing his lips against the shell of Sherlock's ear, "I didn't think you'd want anything fancy, so I when I found those I was over the moon."

"I'd wear any ring you put on my finger, John. Are you sure you want to tie yourself to me like this?"

"Of course, if any of those things you said when we met had bothered me I'd be long gone by now. I love you for you, and want to spend the rest of my life with you. But only if you want to spend yours with me."

Sherlock slips one ring onto his finger and holds it in the air, examining and feeling the weight of it. He picks up John's hand and puts the other ring onto his. Sherlock entwines their fingers together and rests their hands on his chest.

"'Till death do us part," Sherlock grins.

"'Till death do us part," John repeats, rolling onto Sherlock's chest to kiss him.