John and Mrs Hudson quietly headed back down stairs, and into her flat

"Cup of tea" she asked him?

"Got anything stronger?" John replied with a laugh "I think I need something to get over the shock"

Mrs Hudson smiled and filled the kettle with water

"I don't quite know what to make of it, you know" John said after a period of silence. "I mean, we all know how Molly feels about him. And I think I know how he feels about her. The pulse and all that, but even so, it seems so weird. He's Mr Ice. Devoid of all emotion. Mr Cool, the one who prefers logic and reason over feeling and then BAM. I just hope once he's fully recovered from this that he doesn't slip back into his old ways and to brush her aside like he always used to."

Mrs Hudson laughed "You know John, I had a very similar conversation with Molly, who was sat in the very chair you're sitting in. She knows what she's letting herself in for, John. She knows what he is like. She's prepared for the exact reaction you describe. But somehow I don't think it will come. As I said to Molly, Sherlock has to come out of this experience a different person. You don't die twice and not come out of it differently.

"He'll have visited places in his mind that he never knew existed. He'll have felt feelings he didn't know existed. His body has been broken and he's having to slowly piece it back together. He will need someone by his side as he does that. Someone he can share it with. Someone who will hold him when he hurts. Who will cry with him when his demons arise and who will laugh with him during the happy times. Even he can't bury his emotions fully when going through all of that. Somehow, John, much as you and he are friends, I'm not sure you're the person to help him do that."

John nodded "You know, I'd not thought of it like that. Yes, that isn't my job. It's not what I can cope with at the moment. Plus somehow I can't see myself holding Sherlock as he hurts. Friends we may be, but that is definitely over the line."

Mrs Hudson got two cups out of the cupboard and went to the fridge to fetch the milk. She stopped at the fridge door "Love is a strange thing, John. True love conquers all. It's an old saying but it's so very true. Molly's loved him for as long as I can remember, and you know he has loved her back. He's just been so stubborn that he wasn't willing to admit it. It's taken him nearly dying twice for them both to finally realise. It's still early days yet for them both. I'm sure it's gone no further than a hug and a kiss, and he's just not well enough to take it any further than that at present but I'm sure it won't be long before it's a fully fledged relationship. And then perhaps we'll start to get to know the real Sherlock and not the front he chooses to show us."

She carried on with what she was doing, and within a couple of minutes two hot cups of tea appeared on the table. She became conscious that John looked upset. His expression was one of pain and hurt and a single tear ran down his cheek.

"Mrs Hudson, do you really think love does conquer all?" John asked, looking straight at the table in front of him, his brow furrowed.

She reached over the table and held John's hand "I don't know what has gone on between you and Mary, John, but yes I do believe it does. You and Mary have something special. It's a love that will pull through".

The tears started to flow freely down John's face. He looked out of the window "I really hope so Mrs Hudson, I really do"