I am not sure what I did the rest of that day. I was in my room most of the time and think I might have upset Mrs. Hudson by refusing to eat anything. I tried reading a book but ended up thinking mostly. I did sleep a little during the day to make sure I was awake no matter how late H would come home. It was a long day that had gone by when H finally came home. Even Mrs. Hudson was up since I heard their voices downstairs. Soon after I heard him entering the sitting room.

"Is something wrong?" He asked as soon as he came in.

I waved the envelope I held in my hand but did not look at him. He came over and took it.

Seconds later I heard him whisper. "Moriarty." He then nealt beside me. "What happend?"

So I told him the story. Almost every detail of the encounter that morning. After I finally turned to look at him. "Aren't you gonna open it?"

He got up and seted himself in the other chair as he ripped the envelope open. Took the piece of paper out and read it.

"I suppose you are going?" I asked him. "I assume he is asking for a meeting."

"He is and yes, I will go." He sighed. "This time one of us will not make it."

I don't think he intended to let me know where this meeting would take place but that one sentence showed me the way.

"Same place as last time?"

He looked up at me realizing his slip. "Damn it." He said rather low. Then higher "Yes but if you have any ideas about coming with me you are mistaken."

I got up from the chair. "Like hell I won't. I don't care what you say I will go with you." Before he had any chance to protest I went on. "If you really care about me you will take me with you."

"It's because I care that........"

"Don't give me that. The Proffessor won't hurt me and I can handle my father. I'm used to......" I shut my mouth as I turned to the window realizing I had said to much.

"What do you mean?" I heard him come up behind me.

I sighed. "Look I'm sure there were reasons you never got involved with a woman before." He didn't say anything so I countinued. "Aswell as there were reasons I always hesitaded to get involved with men."

"Good God, he didn't?" He said as his arms went around me.

"No no not that." I felt him relax but just a little.

"From as long as I can remember my father constantly hit my mother. If she said something wrong or did something he didn't agree with. She never escaped his hands. Well one day when he again was about to give her face a couple of bruises I stepped in and......took what was meant for my mother. From that moment he stopped harrasing her but started on me. However I recovered more quickly and after a few times I started hitting back. It went on for a few weeks then my mother died in a car accident and my father hit the bottle. I was then old enough to move in to my own apartment and take my brother with me." I said this in a fast speed thinking maybe I could avoid the tears that always fell when I thought about this. Didn't work.

I felt H letting go of me as he turned me around. He could see the tears that were falling down my cheeks. He took his handkerchief and brushed them away. "Go on." He urged me gently knowing I wasn't finished.

"I did meet men, most of which I never could trust enough. There was maybe one or two that I finally let me guard down with. They never hurt me but I always thought later they would so I left. I always thought all men in my life would sooner or later would hurt me so....."

".....so why not hurt them before they hurt you." H finished.

I nodded and then he brushed a lock of hair away from my face right before he took me in to his arms. "I hope you know that I would never hurt you."

"I......I do."

He countinued to hold me when he spoke. "You are right of course that I to had my reasons. They are not so different from yours. Although I never saw it happening I several time saw my mother trying to hide bruises and scars from me and my brother. I could hear her crying sometimes when she thought no one was listening." He began to stroke my hair as he countinued. "She went away to an asulym when I was five but the images of her never faded. I told myself I would never get involved with a woman becuase...frankly I was worried that I would become like my father."

At this I looked at him. "You could never."

He smiled faintly looking at me. "For a long time I wasn't sure. Then I became a detective and didn't really have time for women or wanted to but then.....you came along."

"Maybe the fact our past has been so simmilar is what makes us undesrtand each other and what drew us togheter." I offered.

"True but it does help that you are beautiful, strong, smart........" He answered me.

I smiled. "Ok ok I get it."

We leaned back in to an embrace. "H?"

"Mmm....."

"Would it be terrible of me to say that a part of me feel a great respect for The Professor?"

"No he has one of the most brilliant minds I have ever encountered."

"Hmm, his sense of honour is something I didn't expect."

"Oh how so?"

I told him the one detail I had let slip about my father almost hitting me, Moriarty stopping him and berating him for trying.

"I shall have to thank Moriarty for being of help to you." Yet again he tightend his arms around me. For a moment we stood like that. Then he withdrew and picked me up in his arms. Looking deep in to my eyes he said. "Tonight you are mine."

As he started to walk out with me in his arms I answered. "Aren't I every night?"

He laughed as he walked in to his bedroom and for the second time since my arrival shared the intimacy we both had longed for.

Next morning I had barely woken when there was a knock at the bedroom door.

"Mr. Holmes?" Mrs. Hudson's voice was heard.

He stirred and slowly opened his eyes. He looked at me and was about to say something when I gestured him to be quiet.

"Mr. Holmes?"

"Yes Mrs. Hudson?" He answered understanding the situation immidiately.

"Beg your pardon you Sir but Miss Gerome isn't in her room and her bed looks like it has not been slept in."

He looked at me as I bit my lower lip. We had forgotten our 'plan'. Most importantly forgotten to lock my door. Then for some reason suddenly I sneezed. I covered my moth but the damage had been done. To my supprise H smiled at me and got out of bed putting on clothes to cover himself.

"No more hiding my dear." He said and rather loudly. Then went to the door, unlocked it and in a fast move jerked it open revealing a shocked Martha Hudson.

"I am afraid I owe you an explenation Mrs. Hudson.Why don't we go in to the sitting room and let G.G. here get dressed."

She barely nodded as he took her arm in his and closed the door behind them as I fell back on the bed.

I was dressed by the time H came back in to the bedroom. "What's the verdict? Is she kicking me out?"

"I would not let her do such a thing but no she did not express such a wish. I told her the truth and she accepted that." He smiled at me. "She did tell me to make an honest woman out of you."

That again. "No need for that. If she feels uncomfertable I have no wish to...." H had started moving towards me and I was cut off by a kiss on my lips.

"Shh, I must admit she is right." He said as he embraced me. "The subject has crossed my mind."

"Oh?"

"I find that should I not make it from this meeting with Moriarty, please my dear let me finish, then I would not have wanted to go without learning the joy of being your husband."

I was stunned and he saw that.

"I never thought this was something I ever would be intresting in undertaking." He looked deep in to my eyes as he released me and took one of my hands on both of his. " My darling G.G., would you do me the greatest honour of becoming your husband?"

"I.....I....are you sure?"

"You keep asking me that. Indded, nothing has ever been more clearer to me." He sighed. "I know we do not know what will happen."

I knew what he meant. Would he survive the meeting with Moriarty and if he did would I go back home if I had the chance to do so.

"And if you have no desire to......."

This time I cut him of with a kiss. "There is nothing I would like more then to become your wife."

He smiled the smile that came straight from his heart. "Wonderful. Would tonight do?"

"Tonight?"

"Well my dear I'm afraid we do not have much time. My meeting with destiny is sooner then I would have liked."

"I don't mind and don't care where we do it as long as it's done."

"A woman after my own heart and mind." His laughter was always so wonderful to listen to.

We were interupted by a knock on the bedroom door.

"Mr Holmes. Doctor Watson is here to see you."

"Thank you Mrs. Hudson."

We loooked at each other and smiled. Hand in hand we then entered the sitting room to find Doc. He looked at us. "I take it she knows?"

"If you are reffering to Mrs. Hudson then yes, she does. However there is no need for alarm. What are you and your lovely wife doing tonight Watson?"

"Eh, nothing perticular. Why?"

"G.G. and myself would be honoured if you would consider attending our nuptuals?"

"Your...?" He was shocked. "Consider? My dear fellow it would be my greatest pleasure." He rose and clasped H's hand in a firm handshake. "Congratulations." Looking then at me and giving me a hug he repeated his congratulations. I thanked him.

"I am glad you approve Watson."

"Approve? Of course I approve."

"Good then you would not mind becoming my best man?"

"Your...? What about your brother?"

"Watson you know my brother. Not one to want to be more involved with these emotional things more then need be. What do you say?"

"I'd be more then happy to."