A/N: The prompt for this one is kissing, so here be fluff! As always, thanks for the support :)


From the pavement outside Baker Street, twinkling lights could be seen in the window of apartment 221B, and the sounds of laughter and voices floated down towards where Molly stood in the gently falling snow, thinking about how much had changed since that Christmas.

Since then, she had helped a man fake his own death, become engaged to different man, broken up with said fiancé, and found herself falling in love with the man she had saved.

Smiling to herself at the turn of events that had led to this point, she rang the bell, and waited patiently, hearing footsteps coming down the stairs. Mrs Hudson opened the door, ushering Molly inside before she "gave herself pneumonia, being outside in that weather." Since Sherlock and Molly had made their relationship public, Mrs Hudson had treated Molly like the daughter she never had, fussing over her, and ensuring that she was always welcome at Baker Street.

They made their way upstairs, towards the sounds of a lively party. 221B was full to bursting, the relatively small apartment currently occupied by John and Mary, their baby daughter Emma, Mycroft and Anthea (who was most definitely not his goldfish, according to Mycroft, although the way she was currently sitting rather close to him suggested otherwise), Lestrade, Mr and Mrs Holmes, and, of course, Sherlock himself.

Stepping into the room, Molly felt Sherlock's attention being drawn to her immediately, his breath hitching in his throat as he took in every inch of her. "Hi everyone!" she said warmly, smiling at them all. A chorus of replies filled the air, and then they returned to their individual conversations, whilst Molly made her way over to where Sherlock was sat in his armchair, violin resting against its side. "Hello," she grinned, bending over and kissing him lightly on the lips, before straightening up, aware that he was not comfortable with public displays of affection. "You look...stunning, Molly Hooper," Sherlock said, a smile spreading across his face, "We could always jump ship, and return to your apartment? I'm sure my lack of festive cheer will not be missed." Molly raised an eyebrow, although smiled whilst doing so. "Much as that doesn't sound at all like a bad plan, I think the point of attending a Christmas Eve party is not to promptly disappear. Come on, I haven't spoken to your parents in ages, let's go and see them," she replied, waiting for him to grumble and stand up before crossing the room to where Violet and Siger Holmes sat on the sofa.

A bit over an hour later, the room quietened down as everyone gathered around to exchange gifts. It had been agreed that with Emma still being very young, and the drama of the previous Christmas, they would meet on Christmas Eve, and give out presents, before enjoying Christmas Day quietly and separately.

Emma's present were dealt with first, as she had received a small mountain of them, from everyone from her parents to Mycroft. Afterwards, as she sat playing happily with the wrapping paper, the adults swapped gifts. Without any warning, Sherlock threw a small parcel across the room to Mycroft, who turned from thanking Mrs Hudson for his new tie pin to be hit squarely in the nose with it. Frowning, Mycroft picked up the package. "I see domesticity is softening you, brother mine," he said, attempting to deduce its contents. Giving up, as Sherlock had been careful to keep it a surprise, he opened the packaging, and sighed at what he found. Upon seeing the packet of hair dye which promised to "get rid of grey hairs", Molly narrowed her eyes at Sherlock. "When I told you to get your brother something for Christmas, I meant something thoughtful," she said, her tone disapproving. "Don't worry, Miss Hooper, I am quite used to my brother's jibes by now," Mycroft replied, attempting to be mature.

The rest of the gifts Sherlock had given out appeared to be equally immature. These included a shaving set for John, a book on gun safety for Mary, and a 'Dummy's Guide to Deductions' for Greg, written by Sherlock himself. Molly had lost all hope of receiving a thoughtful gift from Sherlock, when he passed her a small wrapped box, rather than chucking it to her as he had with the others.

Opening it carefully, and slightly warily, Molly found a jewellery box inside. Opening it, she found a beautiful silver hair pin, simply decorated with a single emerald. "It's beautiful!" she exclaimed, leaning over to Sherlock and kissing him, causing him to blush as Lestrade winked at him. "I have your gift here," she said, turning and picking up a gift bag that she had kept safe all evening, handing it to him.

Curious, Sherlock removed the tissue paper, and pulled out his present. Before Sherlock could say anything, Mrs Hudson interrupted. "For goodness sake, another skull? He doesn't even dust the other one!" For the object that Sherlock now held was indeed a skull. Molly looked apologetic, and decided she should probably explain the rather strange gift. "Well, I thought that seeing as Sherlock doesn't talk to him anymore, Billy could do with some company. I got this one online. She's called Katie." Ignoring the surprised, and slightly concerned looks from the others, Sherlock replied with a grin across his face, "She's wonderful! Thank you Molly!"

The rest of the evening was less unusual, as the adults cooed over Emma, chatted, and had a few drinks. At about eleven o' clock, Emma began to get restless, so John and Mary said goodbye, and Lestrade, who was getting a lift from them, also left. It wasn't long before Mrs Hudson headed downstairs, citing the need to go and take her 'herbal soothers'. Within half an hour of John and Mary leaving, the apartment was empty apart from Sherlock and Molly, who were sat on the sofa, her heels discarded, feet resting on Sherlock's lap, as they enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Finally, Molly made the move to leave, standing up and putting her shoes back on. Having put her coat on, she turned around to say goodbye to Sherlock, and found him holding her new hair pin. "You forgot something," he smiled, sliding the pin into her curls. Looking up at Sherlock, Molly felt herself melting. Then, she noticed something. "You put up mistletoe?" she grinned mischievously, knowing full well that it had probably been Mrs Hudson. "No," Sherlock replied, confused by the sudden change of topic. "Do you know what that means?" Molly said, smiling even wider. "You have to kiss me."

"Do I really?" Sherlock said, smirking as he understood. As he leant towards her, slowly wrapping his arms around her, the clock struck twelve. "Merry Christmas, Molly Hooper," he whispered, and his lips met with hers.

The following morning, a trail of discarded shoes and clothing could be found from the living room to the closed door of Sherlock's bedroom. Inside, Molly stirred, and slowly opened her eyes, meeting Sherlock's. "Merry Christmas, Sherlock Holmes," she whispered, realising that this was already the best Christmas she had ever had, and it was only six in the morning. She told him this, and he replied, "I think I may be able to make it better. Molly, would you like to live at 221B?"

"Yes!" she giggled, "Although we should probably check with Mrs Hudson first."

"I think we can let her sleep a little longer before we go and ask," Sherlock said, grinning like the Cheshire Cat, and leaning in to kiss his new flatmate.