Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A.N. Prompt is Ferris Wheel date. No idea how it turned out like this. And I've never been on a ferris wheel, so no idea if put too much dialogue in. Maybe Mycroft slowed it down for them?;-)

Oh, and I didn't slack off yesterday. No prompt came out. Accidents happen. As it is, tomorrow there'll be another one. (And then a magical realism bit I wrote by mistake for Two-person love triangle? Anyone interested in that?)

A proper date

When they finally become a couple in every sense you can give to the word, Sherlock is the happiest he's ever been in his life. But – there's a but – the most terrified, too. Because now he has something to lose, and not necessarily by this or that criminal's hand. He could drive away John all on his own. After all, alienating people is undoubtedly one of his many talents. It's true that things that make normal people run from him only seem to endear him to John – even the ones that frustrate him at the same time.

Still, he needs to make sure that all of John's needs are met. To prove that he can, at least occasionally, be a proper boyfriend who behaves normally, if not too romantically (there are limits to his abilities, after all). That he can conceive of dates who don't entail body parts, or being shot at. (Cases definitely count as dates: having fun with the person you love, right? What else are they?)

Which brings them here, at Sherlock's behest. Here being not quite a movie and dinner – as I said, there are limits – but a leisurely stroll on the Embankment and then a ride on the London Eye.

When they get to the upmost point, John kisses him square on the mouth. "I know what you're doing, love," he says then.

"Is it working?" Sherlock replies, a bit shakily.

"Don't get me wrong, Sherlock, this is lovely, thank you very much, but you don't need to."

"I do," the detective counters stubbornly.

"You don't need to do things you normally wouldn't because we're together," John states. His voice is gentle, but his tone serious.

"I need you," the sleuth admits simply, unable to voice properly all his objections – all the reasons not to be himself, at least not 24/7.

"And you have me. You'll always have me, even without classic dates or Valentine day's cards or any of these things I know you scoff at inside even when you're willing to playact for my sake. I need you as my partner just as much, Sherlock, if not more. I thought it was obvious."

"Are you sure, John?" the detective queries. That can't be right, after all; he needs his beloved so much.

"Positive." The doctor cements his answer with another kiss.

Just then, the ferris wheel brings them back to land. They hadn't even noticed.

"Come on, let's get home," John urges. "If we're lucky, we'll find at least a five on the website. I fancy a proper date with you."

Sherlock can only grin in response, his heart soaring higher than the stars. That little ferris wheel – higher in Europe or not – simply can't compare.