Author's Note: Here's the final chapter. Thanks for the feedback! I like protective John too, and now that he's a dad (with a daughter) I'm sure he'll be super protective of the women in his life. I hope you all enjoy! :)

The ex-soldier, the consulting detective, and the sneaky pathologist sat around the kitchen table. John wanted to keep his stoic features in place, but was having difficulties. He was impressed with Molly. Truth be told, he didn't think she was capable of doing something so devious. He always believed her to be passive and fragile; someone who needed to be protected.

Boy was he wrong! She could hold her own, and this girl was going to give his friend a run for his money. Finally he gave in and cracked a smile.

"Alright, that explains what Mike overheard. What about Greg?"

Sherlock leaned forward in his seat. "Who?"

Both Molly and John rolled their eyes before replying, "Lestrade!" at the same time.

She looked over at John to answer his question. "Oh that was a happy coincidence," she beamed brightly.

Molly decided to go into work earlier than her scheduled time in order to finish some of her lab work from the previous day. It wasn't often that she left work unfinished, but her favorite 'sociopath' had been pestering her to finish quickly so that she could join him for dinner. She stood her ground for a while… that is until he started peppering her neck with soft kisses. Then her resolve pretty much vanished.

So now here she was, staring at a large mountain of paperwork, and it wasn't even 7 a.m. yet. "This calls for some caffeinated deliciousness," she mused out loud as she made her way to the canteen. A few hours- and several cups of coffee- later, her favorite tall-dark-handsome man strolled in. Making his way over to her, he leaned over and planted a passionate kiss on her lips before straightening up.

"How are you this morning, beautiful?" he whispered to her. And dammit, if she didn't blush!

"Hmm, tired naturally. Someone kept me up late," she responded coyly.

This earned a deep chuckle, "Well I didn't hear any complaints at the time…"

Molly felt the blood rush to her face again as she playfully swatted his arm and returned to her work. "Sherlock, what are you doing here? Did you come to harass me again?"

Sherlock huffed in false incredulity. "I never bother you, I came by to drop this off. But if you don't want it-"

She turned to look at what he had behind his back. He placed a large cup of coffee and a wrapped blueberry muffin directly in front of her. "Oh my favorite!" Molly squealed as she enveloped Sherlock in a hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she murmured in his ear.

He pulled back slowly, and kissed her again softly. "It was the least I could do," he smirked. "I have some samples I need to check on, so I'll be hanging around here today. Is that okay?"

Molly smiled up at him, "As long as you don't distract me like you did yesterday, you can stay as long as you like!"

The two worked in companionable silence the rest of the morning, only stopping to discuss results or a share brief kiss every so often. It wasn't until Molly's stomach began to growl that Sherlock put away his work to come sit by her. Prying the pen out of her hand, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her up.

"Come on, let's go get you lunch! I could hear you stomach from where I was sitting."

She patted her tummy and nodded in agreement, "Yeah all I've had today is the muffin you brought me and about five cups of coffee."

Sherlock narrowed his eyes, "Molly that's a lot of sugar!" She shrugged her shoulders and led the way out of the lab.

They reached the canteen and stood in line to get their food; Molly opting for the pasta while Sherlock grabbed an apple. On their way to the table, she stopped to get herself another cup of coffee.

"Molly…" Sherlock said in a warning tone. "What?" she huffed before taking her seat.

"Drinking that much coffee isn't healthy for you!" She could see that he was concerned, but the irony didn't escape her. It mildly irked her.

She cackled until she felt his glare on her. "That's rich, Sherlock. You lecturing me on eating healthy. Not only do you go days without eating, but you smoke like a chimney- don't think I can't smell it on you! And you drink just as much coffee as I do, maybe even more."

Molly paused and gave him a warm smile. "Besides I don't do this all the time. Just today… I really need the energy!"

He returned her smile and took a bite out of his apple. "You know too much caffeine will have the opposite effect on you. Soon your energy level will 'crash,' causing you to intake more sugar in an attempt to get energy again… it's entirely redundant! And then there's the caffeine withdrawals…"

She sighed and cocked her head. "Yes love, I know. I am doctor after all."

He reached over and brushed his thumb over her knuckles. "I know you're a doctor. But obviously you need me to remind you to take care of yourself. I do it because I care!"

Sherlock looked around the canteen and noted that much of the staff was pouring in for their lunch hour. Not wishing to attract attention at the display of affection, he withdrew his hand. He adjusted his posture before he continued in a cool calculated tone, "You should really watch what you're eating Molly. It's taking its toll on you."

Molly was unaware that their conversation was overheard by anyone- until she heard several people around her table gasp.

She turned to peek at the nosey folks taking an interest in their private conversation, and was surprised to see D.I. Greg Lestrade gaping at the two of them. 'Perfect!' she thought as she quickly planned her next move.

It wasn't until Molly felt a hand on her shoulder that she spurred into action. In an attempt to hide the fact that she was smiling, she went to cover her face. The giggles began to overtake her body so she chose to use that to her advantage. Hoping that the few giggles that escaped could be played off as sobs, she began to mumble incoherent phrases.

"Am I fat? [sob] Am I ugly? [sob and sniffle] This is why I can't eat in front of you! [wail]…"

She took a moment to glimpse at Sherlock and saw that he was starting at her confused, and if she wasn't mistaken a little embarrassed.

'Okay Hooper, bring it home!'

She threw her the rest of her- frankly disgusting- pasta on the floor, shook herself free from Greg's grasp, and ran out of the canteen.

When she turned around, she saw many of Bart's employees and one angry D.I. glaring at the famous detective. He, however, ignored their stares and glared at her in return. With one last look she waved at him, blew a kiss, before skipping down the hallway back to the lab.

An hour later, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She took it out and smiled at the message.

(13:30) Alright Dr. Hooper, you've made you point. We will tell our friends about our relationship. I surrender- SH

(13:31) But be prepared to make it up to me. Thanks to your little stunt, I barely escaped with my life- SH

By the time Molly finished retelling the story, Sherlock was pouting again and John was wiping tears from his eyes.

"Christ Molly… That was the funniest thing I have ever heard! I seriously underestimated you!"

Molly smiled sweetly. "Yup I get that a lot."

Sherlock grunted as he stood up and walked away from the table. "If you two are finished, I would like to go back to enjoying my morning in peace."

John and Molly looked at one another and tried to hide their huge grins, which only upset Sherlock more.

A moment later Molly walked up to Sherlock and wrapped her arms around his waist, effectively burying her face in his chest. In turn he ran his hands up her arms, gradually hugging her shoulders and resting his cheek on her head. The two stood there locked in an embrace, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

John took a second appreciate the sight before him. Yes it was weird to see Sherlock in the arms of a woman, Molly Hooper no less, but somehow it felt right. After all, she was the one who he went to when he could trust no one else. She was the keeper of his secrets, his occasional physician, and his safe harbor. If Sherlock Holmes was ever to be romantically involved with anyone (not case related), of course it made sense that it would be Molly.

"So are you mad at us?" Sherlock asked cautiously, still holding onto Molly.

John smiled, "I'm a little annoyed you didn't tell me sooner. But I am glad that you two are together. I think you're perfect for each other."

Molly turned her face away from Sherlock's chest to look at John. "Yes, well we seem to think so." She tilted her chin up to glance at Sherlock. He quickly kissed her forehead before tightening his embrace.

Suddenly feeling like he was intruding on a private moment, John stood up and made his way to where his coat hung. He was happy for them, but there was still one question he needed answered.

Clearing his throat, John asked. "Consequently, when were you planning on telling me?"

Sherlock grinned. "Today actually. It's only logical we tell you now since Molly will be living here as of tomorrow. Coincidentally, do you think you can help with the move?"

The good doctor gawked at his friend. "So Molly is moving in here?"

"Well if we are to be married, then we should probably live together. Husbands and wives typically share a home," Sherlock added sarcastically.

"Oh, so now you two are getting married?"

"Of course John, do keep up. When our child arrives in a few months, it is best that we, as parents, are joined in a lifelong bond." Sherlock glanced down at the woman in his arms, "Perhaps we should get married soon then, don't you think?"

Molly giggled. "Sure love," she mumbled against his lips, her hands caressing his back.

Perhaps life didn't happen exactly the way she had expected. However after reading the positive results of the pregnancy test and agreeing to share her life with someone (physically and legally) the night before, she realized she was more than happy for the way things were. After seven years of loving the man, Molly was ready to start a life- and family- with Sherlock Holmes.

She broke away from her 'future husband' and noticed that John Watson was frozen in his spot by the coat rack. "Um… Sherlock, I think you broke John."

Sherlock stepped out of the kitchen to take a look at his best friend. "Hmm, that's a shame." He spun around to look at the mother of his unborn child and smiled at her mischievously. "Do you think now is a good time to ask him if he'll be my best man?"

~The End~

End notes: Thank you again for reading and reviewing! You guys encouraged me to keep writing, so I hope to post more stories in the future. Please let me know what you all thought. I am also open to ideas and suggestions for future stories! :)