Molly woke up with a start. It took her a moment to orientate herself and then she rolled over. Sherlock was fast asleep. She lay looking at him for a while. He looked so peaceful. For a moment all his worried banished. He was just Sherlock. Her Sherlock. Her lover, Sherlock. Her mind cast back to the wonderful night they had just spent together. There were not court cases to worry about. No punishments to be handed out. He was at peace with himself. Molly contemplated kissing him to wake him up, but then decided that he should sleep. Why not let him be at peace for the little time he had before everything escalated. She climbed out of bed carefully. She didn't have any clothes of her own to wear. She'd not come over intending to stay. She grabbed one of his shirts and some boxers, put them on, before slipping on his dressing gown.

She gently eased open the door so as not to wake him, and closed it quietly behind her. She headed into the kitchen and went to put the kettle on. She stopped dead in her tracks. The kettle had already boiled and had steam coming out of it. Someone had already made a drink this morning and she knew it wasn't Sherlock as she'd been cuddled up to him until just a few moments ago.

She carefully walked into the lounge and nearly jumped out of her skin. John, Mary and Lestrade were sitting at the desk and on the sofa. Once she'd composed herself, she realised that she was in a dressing gown. Her renewed relationship with Sherlock quite apparent to all present in the room.

"So, it's all back on is it?" Lestrade commented, sneering slightly.

"Yes it is if you must know" said Molly just as curtly back again "Good morning John and Mary. I hope you are well. Please excuse me, I'll just go and get a drink and seeing as he has visitors, I'll go and wake Sherlock up." With that, Molly excused herself, made two quick cups of coffee, woke Sherlock up, and quickly headed into the bathroom to freshen up.

John found himself smiling widely. Molly and Sherlock back together. Why not let them enjoy each other for a bit. He had a feeling of foreboding that they had to make the most of the short time period they were due to have together before Sherlock was punished in whatever way was deemed appropriate.

It was around 30 minutes later that Sherlock and Molly entered the lounge, washed, fully dressed, and ready for any interrogation that was about to hit them. Molly had already briefed him on the rather cool greeting she got from Lestrade. Sherlock walked up to Mary and kissed her lightly on the cheek. It was the first time he had seen John and Mary back together since their reconciliation on Christmas Day. He cordially shook John's hand, to indicate his pleasure that things were getting back on track for them both. He was pleased his master plan was working.

Lestrade wasn't quite so straight forward. Sherlock knew that if Lestrade were present, then it meant that things were moving forward relating to Magnussen. That the decision on his punishment was moving forward and it wouldn't be long before action was taken.

Lestrade didn't hold back "Sherlock, you have to tell me everything. I can't help you otherwise. I can't come to your aid unless you tell me. I have to know. Why did you shoot him? More importantly, who shot you in the first place. I know the two are linked because you were shot in his office. If you tell me everything, I can help you. Please let me help you."

John shot a sideways glance at Mary who had turned quite pale. He then looked at Sherlock. Sherlock smiled at John. A reassuring smile

"My dear Lestrade, I cannot tell you. There is so much more to this than you can ever understand. It is for me to know my motives and reasons. What I can assure you is that it was all done with logic, reasoning and thought behind it, but that doesn't change the outcome. I murdered a man. I must take my punishment." Molly's head dropped. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"Will you not tell me anything?" Lestrade pleaded with him

"I cannot. Please take my word. I just cannot."

"Then there is nothing more I can do to help you, Sherlock. I hope you understand that. I know you are hiding something or someone from me. You must have your reasons. By choosing to stay silent, you make your own decision about your future. You are a great man, Sherlock Holmes." With that, Lestrade stood up and offered his hand to Sherlock. Sherlock looked Lestrade straight in the eye as he shook his hand back. Then they both simply nodded to each other as Lestrade left the flat.

The enormity of what had just happened hit Molly like a bolt of lightening. The emotions began to overtake her "So you're just going to sit back and let it happen. You're not going to defend yourself at all? You're just going to stay quiet? John? Mary? Please help. Please make him do something."

Sherlock walked over to Molly and put his hand on her shoulder "Molly, I shot him. Regardless of how or who, or why or where or what, the bottom line is I shot him."

"But Mary shot you" she said desperately shooting a look at Mary. Mary looked at Molly in total shock. She had no idea Molly knew.

Sherlock nodded. "She didn't kill me though, did she, and I have not chosen to press charges. The two are totally different. There is nothing I can do to defend myself. If I were put in front of a court of law, I would have no option but to plead guilty. That is the truth and I must live with it and the consequences of my actions."

There was nothing more that Molly could say.

It was Mary's voice that they heard next "How long have you known, Molly?"

"Since a few days after Sherlock took ill for a second time. I overheard a conversation between John and Sherlock, and I made them both tell me. I don't know all of the background but I know quite a bit. It did mean I was able to keep a closer eye on John than I would have done if I hadn't known, and it did help to explain some things. Mary, I don't judge you for what you've done. I can't begin to understand it either though. What I do know is right now I'm finding it all really hard. This is going to cost the man I love his freedom. And that's a hard pill to swallow."

Mary looked at the ground. She didn't know what to say.

Sherlock broke the ice "Well, this is going to be one of my last days with you all. Lets forget about all of this and do something else. As I'm under house arrest, I can't go out, so anyone want to join me in an experiment? I've got some interesting mould samples in the cupboard."

They all laughed together simultaneously. Yes, that sounded great fun, and very Sherlock. Within no time, they'd set about exploring Sherlock's mould cupboard, delegating jobs to each other, setting up note pads to record their findings and busying themselves for the rest of the morning. They all had to admit, it was actually quite a fun way to pass the time, and they began to easily understand how Sherlock could so easily lose himself for days on end in similar activities.

As early afternoon approached, Molly had to make her apologies. She had a shift staring at 2pm at the morgue and she had to pop home to change first. John and Mary made themselves scarce by popping to see Mrs Hudson to give them a little privacy.

Sherlock took Molly in her arms. He kissed her deeply and fondly. "What I said last night, I meant Molly. I have never encountered emotions like these before. What emotions I have had, I have been able to surpress. But when I am with you, I am totally unable to do that. You overwhelm me. You are my very being. My thoughts are constantly of you. I love you."

Molly put her finger to his lips "And I meant what I said last night as well. I love you too, Sherlock Holmes."

Molly glanced at her watch. "I really do have to go. I'll catch you tomorrow." And with that, she kissed him quickly on the cheek and ran down the stairs out of the flat, calling bye to John, Mary and Mrs Hudson as she went.

John and Mary headed back up the stairs once Molly had gone. They found a pensive looking Sherlock sitting in his chair.

"Penny for your thoughts" said John, sitting down opposite him in his chair while Mary went to make a drink.

"Time is short lived, John. Treasure each moment you have. For I know what lies ahead for me. I shall imagine last night was like a year, and time spent with her today like a year too. Then I have been blessed with two years with her. That's how I shall deal with it."

"That's very deep."

"But I fear, very true, John."

John became aware of the footsteps on the stairs. And before they realised it, Mycroft Holmes, Lestrade and two other gentlemen dressed in suits with ear pieces, stood in the doorway "Sherlock, I have come to get you. Please go and get yourself dressed into suitable attire. It is time."