Author's Note: Hi, I'm really slow with this fic now and I don't even know if I like this chapter, but I'm too tired to care lol

"I feel like screaming," Molly said in frustration, walking into the Watsons' home.

"Hello to you too," Mary smirked. Neither woman heard their significant others come in through the door. "Sherlock problems?"

"No—well, sort of," Molly sighed. She buried her head in her hands once she sat at the kitchen table. "It's not him…it's just about him." Sherlock stilled, worried about what was bothering her, but too afraid to hear the words now.

"You're not having second thoughts, are you?" Mary asked. John tried to stop Sherlock from leaving, but the detective stealthily slipped back out the door, the doctor following behind him. Neither heard the rest of the conversation.

"Sherlock, where are you going?" John inquired, trying not to shout.

"I just need to think," Sherlock replied in frustration. "Alone, preferably."

"Molly's not having cold feet," John argued.

"And how would you know?" he said coldly. Before John could open his mouth, Sherlock stopped him. "It doesn't matter. If there's a chance that she doesn't want me anymore, then I need to figure things out. Damn it, I need a cigarette!" After he watched Sherlock walk away, John re-entered the house. "Did I just hear Sherlock earlier?" Molly asked him when he entered the kitchen.

"He thinks you don't want to marry him anymore," John sighed. "I don't know where he's gone off too. I know I should've gone after him, but—"

"Oh God, I need to find him, now," Molly told him. "I've gotta go. Give Rosie my love." She left quickly, running down the street Sherlock had gone down minutes earlier.

Molly found him at Hungerford Bridge, leaning over the railing, fingers raking through his hair in frustration. She said nothing, but immediately came up beside him and wrapped her arms around him. He didn't seem surprised to see her, as he hugged her back immediately. Now his fingers were in her hair, and her face was buried in his neck.

"Please Molly, I'll do whatever it takes. I want to marry you," he told her. "So much."

"Sherlock, I don't have second thoughts. I never did. You should stop eavesdropping before hearing the whole story, mister," Molly teased. "You did nothing wrong, darling."

"I didn't?" he asked.

"No," she assured him. "It's just those idiots like Kitty Reilly and Sally Donovan."

"What happened?" he asked, guiding her to the bench. His tone of voice was as if he was working on a case all of a sudden, but with the hint of concern reserved for only her.

"I'm just so sick of them trying to slander you and our relationship," Molly told him. "I know I shouldn't care…hell, I know that you don't, but sometimes, it just hurts."

"How does it hurt, Molly?" he questioned further, caressing her cheek. "I don't care what they say about me and neither should you."

"Let me put it this way," she began. "How would you feel if someone always slandered me to your face?"

"They better not be slandering you, especially to my face," Sherlock replied all too quickly.

"Exactly! It hurts to hear them say all these terrible things about you when they don't know the first damn thing about you or us," Molly told him. "I just feel very protective of you. I always have."

"Come here," he told her softly, opening his arms to her. Molly slid closer, allowing herself to be enveloped in his embrace. Though they were in public, it didn't seem to faze him one bit. All he cared about was comforting his Molly. From the corner of her eye, she saw a camera flash and knew they'd be in the paper or one of the magazines next week with some false story, but it didn't matter. This love was theirs and only theirs.

If the fake story was replaced with something Sherlock had written for Molly, the general public had no knowledge of it, taking in what ended up being printed. When the future Mrs. Holmes was urged to read the cover story of the paper, she saw the article was addressed to her; not an article, but a letter…a love letter.

My Darling Molly,

I know times have been difficult as of late, but we will get through it, no matter what is thrown at us. If anyone reading this perceives that as a threat, then they should take a good, long look at their lives. Some people have said I'm using you and others think our upcoming union is all a show like my faked death, but the truth is that I love you very much, Molly Hooper. You know that. I know that. Our friends and family know that. That's all that matters. Anyone who believes otherwise is a fool.

We are to be married next month and I couldn't be happier. Thank you for choosing me. Every single time. Always. You have taught me so much. I'm a better man all because of our love. Somehow, I am worthy enough for you, and I know I am blessed that you agreed to be my wife. There must be a deity if an angel such as yourself exists.

Nobody else knows this, not even John, but you are the one constant in my life. You never gave up on me. Not once. Not when my reputation was in ruins by Moriarty's lies, not when we had tragedies thrown our way, and definitely not when I relapsed…twice. You stood by me when others wanted to just give up. We've quite literally been to hell and back, so let's have our piece of heaven together. Just you and me against the world, darling. Just you and me.

With all my love,

Sherlock xxx

Molly's tears fell silently down her cheeks as she read his letter to her, displayed for all to read beneath the photo of him comforting her. This must have been hard for him to do, she was sure. As if he read her mind, he answered her when he entered the lab.

"It wasn't all that hard to do," he assured her. "I want everyone to know that I am completely in love with you, no questions asked."

"You didn't have to do this. Sherlock, this is—" the loss of words made her change her words. "Thank you."

"No," he breathed, "thank you, Molly." Her eyes closed as he pressed a tender kiss to her lips.

"Alright you two, break it up," Stamford teased, walking in. He said it in a way a disapproving dad would but one who secretly didn't mind and was happy to see them together. Needless to say, neither of them heard from the likes of Sally or Kitty questioning their relationship ever again. It was quite possible they might have died (not literally) from shock…at least that's what the consensus was.