A few days after Tom's funeral, Molly comes home from work and is greeted by Sherlock, who smiles and wraps her up in one of the biggest hugs she has ever received and nuzzles his face into her neck.
"Molly...my Molly. How was your day?
Molly giggles and cuddles him back. "It was fine, how about yours?"
"It was alright..."
Molly pulls back and looks at him lovingly. "Are you sure, you seem a bit hesitant, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong...not really. I just...John had a bit of a talk with me the other day and it has got me thinking about our future, that is if you want a future with me..."
She bushes a bit and nods slowly. "Well, of course I want a future with you Sherlock. But tell me, what's bothering you?"
Sherlock leads her to the sofa and sits down with her, nervously fiddling with his sleeves.
"Sherlock, come on, what is it? You know you can talk to me about anything."
"Well...yes...well..."
Molly raises an eyebrow and pecks his cheek. "So..go on then. I promise I won't judge you; when have I ever?"
"I know you won't. I am just worried about how this will sound and how you will see me after I talk to you about this. I'm a grown man for God's sake, this is ridiculous."
"Alright, well...get on with it then. It's alright."
Sherlock takes a deep breath. "I know what you want for your life Molly...I have always known, since the day we met. I deduced all these little things about you, and I knew what you wanted from day one. Of course back then I was a super arrogant asshole who didn't care about anyone except himself, but that's beside the point now."
"What...exactly did you deduce? What exactly do you think that I want for my life Sherlock?"
"Domestication. Normalcy. A...a family."
Molly blushes deeply and takes his hand. "Sherlock, if that's not in the cards for me...for us, that's okay. I have you."
"No. That's just the point. That is not okay, because I love you and I should be able to give you everything you have ever wanted in life. That includes...a family. Children of your- our own."
Molly turns deep red. "Is that what /you/ want though? That decision should be mutual, it's not just me that it would affect. It would affect you too. You know that."
"Yes...I do. The only thing I am worried about is the fact that I deal with numerous criminals, all of which could decide they want to kill me at any point, or even worse, if they really wanted to get to me and we had children, they would go after you or them and I can't have that happening. Not again. I can't lose you, Molly. Also...I...I don't want us to have a child like Eurus. That terrifies me as well."
Well, Sherlock let's take things steps at a time hm? I mean, we've just started dating and living together. It will hopefully just come naturally. If we decide in the future, that's great."
"But Molly, you're nearly thirty-four. I'm thirty-six. If we want children now is the best time to have them. We are not getting younger unfortunately."
"Well yes, obviously." Molly blushes.
"I know what you're thinking and..and...we will. Soon. I want to. Believe me, Molly. You do make me feel...things. But my head isn't quite caught up with my heart. I promise you soon though."
"Sherlock, I'm not desperate. But yeah, I suppose it would be nice. You know I will wait for you though; I have told you that many times."
He nods and pulls her close into his lap, and Molly cuddles close. "I love you, Molly Hooper".
"I love you, Sherlock Holmes."
Weeks later, Matthew has been going to therapy and it has been helping him greatly. John had given him his cell number in case he ever needs some advice as well. Due to his outburst and his recent alcohol issues, the Army relieved him of duty on honorable discharge, much like his father, less the getting shot part. He is a bit saddened by it, but also extremely relieved.
Matty walks out of therapy and sees Mira's car, grinning softly and hopping into the passenger side. "Hey babe", he leans over and pecks her lips softly. "How was work today?"
"It was pretty hectic, but I got through it. How was your day?"
"Well, I slept more than usual last night, I had a full breakfast thanks to you leaving me some leftovers, I had a nice lunch at Angelo's...without beer. I did some job hunting, with not too much luck, but I'll keep looking. Then a nice walk to therapy where I had a great session and waited for you to pick me up."
Mira smiles and drives, holding his hand in her free one. "I feel selfish being thrilled to have you all to myself again, but I know it must be kind of sad for you to leave your Army friends and your duty."
"It's not selfish. We lost a lot of years together. Years that you deserved for me to be there for you, Mira. I'm happy to finally be home with you without the threat of being separated from you again. I love you so much. Once I get a job, I will try to save so one day we can get our own house."
"I love you too, love. Ooh our own house huh?"
He blushes a bit. "If you'd like one, some day." He brushes his thumb over her hand gently, then kisses it. "I know I want a life with you. It's always been you, Miranda. I know I have some issues, and I am working to fix them mostly for you. For us."
"You're working hard, and I see that. I'm very proud of you Matty. Of course I want to be with you no matter what, I've stayed through everything and I have no plans to leave now."
"Good."
Mira pulls up to the flat and parks her car. She turns to him and kisses him deeply. Matty raises an eyebrow then melts into her, kissing back.
"Mmm...lovey."
She grins and cups his cheek. "I'm so happy you're home with me for good. I'll help you look for a job too, I know how hard it can be."
He nods and nuzzles her nose. "Right then." He gets out of the car with her and walks over, scooping her off her feet. Mira squeals happily and giggles.
"Matty!"
"Come on, beautiful", he beams and kisses her cheek, carrying her inside.
A few days later, the time for Molly and Matthew to meet Carly's mother has come. Molly freshens up in the hospital bathroom and had told Matty to meet her there. Today was the last day of Carly shadowing her in the morgue and lab, and Molly is sad to see her younger helper go. However, she is thrilled that she has gained a sibling, and that she finally gets to have some sort of family.
Molly smiles as Carly comes out of the stall as she is fixing her lipstick. "Matty will be here soon, I can't wait to meet your mother, especially if she's anything like you, Carly."
Carly grins and washes her hands then hugs Molly's arm. "She's going to love you Molly. Matty too. Honestly, I think she always has, even when we were all apart. She already adores you both and she is sooo excited for today."
Molly beams. "'I'm excited too. Let's go!"
They exit the bathroom and Matty is there waiting for them. He smiles and hugs them both.
"Alright, today is the day, huh?"
"Today is the day." Molly chuckles and walks with them to her car. Within forty minutes, they pull up to Carly's house. It's a very simple cottage home with a nice yard, away from any main London traffic. Carly smiles softly and hops out of the car with her bag.
"Welcome to your second home, you two", she grins.
Molly gets out with Matty and smiles at him softly, rubbing his shoulder as they stroll up the walkway. "Is therapy going okay?"
He nods. "Yeah, it's going well. I finally feel freer and able to move on with Mira. Of course the PTSD won't ever be gone completely, but it's nice to have ways to handle it."
"Good. I'm glad, you really deserve it Matty. I mean it. I know I tried to give you a decent childhood and adolescence, but I know it wasn't always great. I know it was difficult at times, and for that I'm sorry. I'm just so ecstatic that you can move on with your life now and be genuinely happy. I love you."
Matty hugs her for a moment. "I love you too. And I know you did your absolute best for me, Molly. You have no idea how much I appreciate that. If I never told you back then, I'm telling you now. You are the most incredible big sister in the entire world. Not many eighteen-year-olds would take their kid brother and raise him...especially when she had her own troubles and traumas. You're amazing, Moll. You always have been; you've always done your best, so thank you. I am happy." He tears up slightly when she does, clinging to him softly.
Molly sniffles and rubs his back. "You're welcome. You were worth it, Matty. You always were."
He blushes softly and smiles, wiping his eyes. "Ugh, you're getting me emotional already and we haven't even met Meredith yet."
"Me too", she giggles softly. "C'mon...we can do this together, hm?"
"Right."
They walks into the house with Carly, who sets her bag down. "Mom! We're home!"
Meredith comes out from the kitchen and grins brightly. Molly and Matty look at each other briefly, noting that Carly is the spitting image of her mom.
"Oh wow...Molly...Matthew. It's been too too long. You're so grown up", she gasps softly. "Molly you're so beautiful, and Matty you're just as handsome as your father."
They blush and thank her. She hugs Molly first, then Matty. Carly smiles softly.
"Thank you for having us, Meredith. Carly has told me a lot about you. I admit I don't recall too much about you, unfortunately since the last time I saw you..."
Her face goes a bit sullen and she nods, gently taking Molly's hands in her own. "I know...I still miss him too. Every single day. I don't think there will be a day that I don't. I know your grief, sweetheart. And Matthew, your Dad adored you so so much too. He would talk about his little guy all the time. You're not so little anymore." Meredith chuckles lightly and leads them into the living room to sit. They all sit around and talk about the past, Carly listening to all of the stories, her face a little sad.
Molly scoots over and wraps an arm around her, Carly leaning into her a bit as Meredith and Matty speak about his time in the army. "I'm sorry if all this talk makes you sad. I wish that you knew him the way that we did." Carly tears up a little bit. "I know it's not fair that you didn't get to. But he gave us one last incredible gift before he died, and that was you Carly. You are an amazing gift to me and to Matty. You've showed us family that we haven't known for decades. Dad would be so proud of you and he would adore you so much. I know that he does, and I know for a fact that he's looking out for all of us. I know that where he is, he loves you so much and wishes you could have known him too." She sniffles and tears fall down Carly's face. Molly pulls her close into a hug and strokes her hair softly. "I've got you...I'm here."
Meredith shows Molly and Matthew old photos of Mark and herself when they were dating. In some of them he looks a lot weaker and sicker than he does in others, but he always has a smile on his face with her. Molly sniffles and wipes her eyes. "He really loved you..."
Meredith fiddles with her hands and nods. "Yes, he really did, and I loved him just as much. I know we hadn't dated very long at all but there was just something...magnetic about him. It may sound cliche, but it truly was love at first sight. I fell so deeply for him, and him for me. We shared so many beautiful moments and his loss completely broke my heart as well. The only thing that redeemed me was Carly. It was like he was giving me a sign that I'd be okay. Like he was giving me the most beautiful and amazing part of him." She cups Carly's face and kisses her forehead. "I was so lucky, and so grateful for her, because she's the best part of him."
Meredith looks at Carly and tears fall. "You are the best part of him. So kind, and loving, and intelligent. You have no idea how much I love you, and how happy I was when I found out I was pregnant. Not only did I want to be a mom, but to be a mom to Mark's baby girl...it was the best thing that ever happened to me after he died." Carly cries softly and cuddles her and Molly cries softly as well. Matty rubs Molly's back.
Matty sniffles a bit and points to her hand. "Your engagement ring?"
She nods and looks at it, more tears falling. "I know it's been...a long time. I just...I-...I can't bring myself to take it off", she chokes out. "He was the love of my life. I'll never take it off, and I'll never love any man the way I loved your Dad."
Molly dabs her eyes with a tissue and sniffles, moving over and hugging her and Carly. Matty scoots over and joins them. Meredith smiles sadly and looks from Molly to Matthew. "I love you both too. It doesn't matter that you're not my biological children, it really doesn't. You're both a part of him. Any child of Mark's is a gift and is a child of mine. I want you both to know that you are always always welcome here. I want to be a kind of mother that you never had. I want to be the woman you can lean on if you ever need a mother. I promise you that, and I want us to make up for lost time."
Molly nods and squeezes her hand, gently stroking the engagement ring. "Dad had great taste, huh?" Meredith chuckles softly and nods, Molly joining in. "I'm glad we found you both. It's a new chapter in all of our lives, and I'm glad that Matty and I can fit somewhere. I know we are adults with our own lives, but it's still nice to have...this. A sense of family before we both have our own one day. I also want to thank you...for making my Dad happy when he was sick. There were a lot of times at home when he would look so sad when he didn't think we could see him. But you brought a smile to his face and showed him a kind of love that he had been missing for so long, and I am very grateful to you for that. For making his final months matter and count and making him feel loved and happy. He really deserved you. I want you to know that. He did deserve you, I can tell how much you loved each other now. So thank you."
They have a good cry for a bit before taking a breather from photos and memories. Meredith makes a delicious roasted chicken dinner, and they all help out as if they are teens doing chores. Molly and Matthew have a few good laughs with Carly and Meredith and for the first time since Mark's death, they truly feel what family and home should have felt like when they were younger.