We're nearly at the end of the story now. It always shocks me that another one is nearly completed. There'll be one more chapter after this but then we're done. Time to think about something new.

Chapter 15

Sherlock knew that Molly was giving him an out. Giving him a chance to say he'd made a mistake and walk away but for once he was absolutely certain that he didn't want to.

'Can't I be polygamous? Married to my work and to you. I was a fool to think that one precludes the other...oh, maybe with some other woman it would have done but don't you see Molly, just how perfect you are for me. You enhance my work, you make me better. I mean, don't get me wrong I'll probably be a lousy husband but I do promise that I'll try my best to make you happy and to learn from my mistakes.'

He paused frowning as he realised that Molly had stopped walking alongside him. He turned back to face her. 'What? What's wrong?'

She looked more shocked that he had ever seen her before. 'I...well...are you proposing to me?'

He narrowed his eyes and thought back over his words. Then he smiled.

'Well I would be but I think we've already established that you want me down on one knee complete with a massive rock to put on your finger.'

Molly chuckled, relieved at him lightening the atmosphere. 'Yes, yes we did and I don't see any rock.'

'Can't be a proposal then can it?'

'No, definitely not.'

She shivered as the wind picked up and Sherlock flicked away his cigarette before taking her hand once more.

'Come on, I suppose we'd better rejoin the party though I know what I'd rather be doing.'

Molly took his hand, loving the rough feel of it as it enveloped her own, and followed him back to the house, still wondering at the turnaround in his feelings but feeling happier and more confident than she had in years. It felt as if all her dreams were coming true and when Sherlock paused in the corridor before entering the wing where the party was ongoing she sank into his embrace kissing him with every atom in her body. She was already counting down the hours until they could be alone together. In fact she was surprised that Sherlock hadn't asked her to just go back to their room together and she was fairly sure that she would just have agreed if he had.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

An evening had never felt so long for Molly before; not even one spent at work handling the most boring aspects of the paperwork. She quickly made a point of apologising to David, telling him how good it was to see him after all these years and to know that he was well but that things had progressed with Sherlock and she wanted to see where it would lead.

He kissed her on her forehead and wished her well adding a cheeky comment about her looking him up if things didn't work out and she was unsurprised that he and his family left soon after.

Not many of the other families had stayed; it was mostly just people from the local village. The vicar especially was a little worse for wear and glad he didn't have an evening service that day to preside over. Molly found herself in conversation with Sherlock's mother again and this time she felt more comfortable knowing she wasn't just playing a part anymore.

It was still earlyish though when Catherine decided to retire and Molly was surprised when it was Sherlock who helped the old lady up and escorted her from the room. It wasn't like him to be so considerate.

When he finally returned twenty minutes later he came straight to her side and whispered in her ear. 'Come on, let's go.'

They made their good nights to the rest and left the room and Molly felt a strange nervousness. This wasn't like the night before when they'd been drunk, she hadn't had any real expectations of the night but now here she was; relatively sober and making her way to spend the night with him. She wasn't sure she was mentally ready for that yet.

Sherlock was similarly quiet and it made Molly wonder if he wasn't having second thoughts and that just fuelled her unease as she followed him into their room.

Just as it had been the night before the fire was lit along with one of the small lamps giving the room a soft glow.

As she shut the door behind her she jumped a little at the loud click of the lock and she leant against the door trying to calm her thoughts and her breathing. Sherlock spun around on his heel, his hands in his pockets as he turned to face her and she couldn't quite make out the inscrutable expression on his face.

'So Molly, here we are; alone at last.'

She tried to smile but she felt so nervous she wondered if it didn't just twist on her face.

He took a step towards her and then hesitated as though making a decision.

'I was going to do this downstairs, in front of my family, but I decided against it. This is our moment Molly, this is something I wish I'd realised months ago but now I have, now I know my own mind, I don't see the point in waiting. And so...Molly...'

He suddenly dropped to one knee in front of her and Molly felt all the air leave her lungs at the realisation of what he was about to do. She seemed to watch in slow motion as he drew a small, faded red velvet box from his pocket. He smiled shyly as he opened it and held it up to her showing her the most perfect single diamond cut into a pear shape.

'It was my grandmother's and was being held by Catherine for when Mycroft or myself decided to marry. And well...you said you wanted a rock.'

Molly had one hand on her chest and couldn't help the way her other hand reached out to lightly touch the ring, she felt almost dizzy at the speed that he was going. She had always imagined that life with Sherlock would be a roller coaster ride but this was too much.

'I never meant for you to take it so literally... I was just joking.'

He smirked. 'I know but I'm not. Molly Hooper, I don't deserve your love, I never have, but you've always been there for me and given it freely. I've no doubt I'll be an awful husband, I'll forget anniversaries and birthdays, I'll get caught up in cases and experiments and you'll probably want to scream at me more than you'll want to have sex with me. But...that all being said...would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?'

'Are you sure Sherlock? I mean, this is all so sudden.'

'I've never been more sure Molly...just please, put me out of my misery before my knee starts to ache.'

There was only one answer that Molly was ever going to give. She had rarely been impulsive in her life, always so practical but this was something she had wanted for so long and now he was offering it to her, offering himself and the only thing she could say was yes.

The smile that that single word put on his face was one of the most beautiful, open and genuine smiles that she had ever seen on him and it confirmed, more than his words could, just how much he had meant his actions. He slid the ring onto her finger as he stood before taking her in his arms and kissing her.

As soon as his lips met hers all her nervousness and qualms just disappeared. All she wanted was to be loved by him and to make love to him. Her hands were lying on his chest and she could feel his strong heart beat under her palm and it echoed with her own. Within seconds the kiss seemed to change into something so much more passionate and her hands quickly moved to undo his shirt without her even consciously thinking about it.

His own hands were pulling down the zip of her dress and pulling it from her shoulders before he helped her to remove his shirt and seconds later her bra was also gone and his mouth was on her breast as she leant back against the door with her hands buried in his hair.

A moment later and she shrieked a little as he lifted her, her legs wrapping themselves about his slim waist, feeling the hardness of his erection pressing against her through their remaining clothes.

He continued licking and kissing and biting her breasts until she could feel her orgasm starting to build and she knew she was pressing herself against him, desperate to feel more friction. Her moans were echoing around the room and she knew she'd be begging him for more if he didn't do something soon.

As he kissed his way back up to her throat he lifted her from her place on the door and carried her the few footsteps to the bed where he lay her down. He gave her one of his most wicked smiles before hooking his thumbs into the sides of her pants and slowly dragging them down her legs until she was laid out naked for him.

She leant up on her elbows and watched as he removed his shoes and trousers and she knew her eyes were wide as he took off his boxers and she finally saw him fully naked. The sight of his erection, jutting out in front of him made her mouth water and she sat up on the edge of the bed and reached for him. He was thick and hard and ready and she felt him pulse as her hand wrapped around the base of his cock.

She risked a quick glance up at him before bending her head to lick and circle the head of his cock before taking him into her mouth. He let out a loud groan and immediately twisted his hands into her hair as she slowly took him as deep as she could until she felt him hit the back of her throat. The feeling of him in her mouth turned her on even more and she moaned, knowing it would hum along his length.

She withdrew and then took him deep again and as she did she felt him trying to control the rocking of his hips and not drive himself into her but after less than a couple of minutes he pulled away, his hands holding her shoulders as he gasped for breath. 'Jesus, Molly you need to stop...I can't...'

She loved how much she was able to affect him. After years of thinking he felt nothing for her, that he couldn't even be sexual, seeing him here like this was nothing short of miraculous and she wasn't sure she'd ever get used to it.

Am I cruel to leave it there? Alright I know I am but I'm going to do it anyway. You'll have to wait a couple of days for the final chapter and the end of their story together (or is it the beginning). Either way tell me how mad you are and how much you want the last chapter xx