Ginny slowly sipped her tea before putting it back on its saucer. Victoria mimicked her movements with a sly smile as if to tell her she was doing it on purpose. Ginny was trying to decide if she was doing it with affection or mockery. If Victoria was anything like her mother, it was a bit of both.

They sat in a sickeningly cute café just a bit of the ways down from Baker Street. The arrangement was a meeting at least once a week to understand each other better. It was going remarkably well. They had quite a bit in common, and Rory seemed genuinely interested about Ginny's life as Ginny was with hers. She seemed to leave a rather miserable existence when she was younger living on the streets until a handful of years ago.

"Where's your boyfriend?" Rory teased her. Ginny smiled gently. Victoria seemed to notice where one was the other followed quickly behind. However, today, Sherlock ran off shouting at John barely acknowledging her presence. She couldn't be more pleased with the action before she, herself, slipped out the door to meet the young eccentric woman in front of her.

"He took a case," she admitted her smile growing wider.

"You seem thrilled," she noted. Ginny gave her a nod.

"I was worried things would never be back to normal, but… he seems to have adjusted nicely," she told her sighing contently.

"So how's normalcy treating you?" Rory wondered noting with ease that her mental state seemed solid. Even Sherlock mentioned something similar to her. She seemed to have lacked any sort of uneasiness as of late. This was the end to the worry that she would relapse. This time her change was permanent, and everyone seemed to notice.

"Oh, it's not so bad," she sighed contently. It had been nearly two weeks since Victoria had appeared. Ginny's wrists were healing, and Sherlock stopped tip toeing around her. Damon and Molly rekindled their relationships with her, and she regularly spoke to both Robbie and Regina. She was sleeping well and had gained a handful of pounds.

"I bet the sex is good," Rory jabbed with a cheeky smile.

"I will neither confirm or deny that," Ginny replied with a grin not willing to admit Sherlock seemed to enjoy the extra weight she added on. Rory laughed.

"You know I am old enough to-"

"I don't want to hear it," Ginny told her putting her hands up in defense.

"You had a child with a criminal when you were sixteen," Rory reminded her.

"Lucky for you, I was reckless," Ginny answered taking another sip of tea.

"Hm, I suppose," she replied miming Ginny again and taking a sip from her tea. She lost Victoria for second as the girl seemed to have gone into her own mind to consider something she considered of importance. She wasn't sure if she had gotten that from her or James, but either way, Ginny waited for Rory to reemerge. It didn't take long. She slowly looked to Ginny. "Do you regret it? Having me? Being reckless?"

"No," she said without a hitch. She would never for a moment regret the girl in front of her.

"Do you regret my father?" Ginny tilted her head as she considered the question. It wasn't a question easily answered, and one she hadn't given too much thought to. Moriarty constantly went in and out of her head, but she honestly just didn't want to think about it. She purposely shoved it off to the depths of her mind to be dealt with at a later time. The question of Moriarty lingered in her mind.

"No," she answered. "I think with or without him I would have become the way I am, but… without you, I wouldn't have gotten better. You were… your death… supposed death helped me. It shocked me back to normal. I knew I couldn't live my life the way I had been. I desired normality, and… I could never receive that if Peter remained in my life, if I remained two people."

"But… I mean… you relapsed," Rory reminded her not understanding. Ginny nodded.

"James was very good at pushing on my weak points. He was very persuasive. He made me think that he was the only one who really cared for me, who accepted me. I don't know if he actually cared for me or if he was using me, I couldn't tell you. But he found me again at a time I was at my weakest, and I was so ready to be used by him again. He was my drug of choice. I knew he was bad for me, but… I couldn't help it."

"What happened that made you want to… go back to him?" Rory asked curiously. "I mean… I couldn't imagine staying with someone thinking they were just using me."

"I was in a low place. I had just gotten out of university, and I took up a government job, but I was bored and lonely. I have trouble making friends who will stay. Trust issues and anger issues I've been told. I felt worthless. The minute I saw him again I didn't even panic. I just broke right there. I was so fragile. It appears normalcy was never in cards for me."

"But you have it now," Rory encourage understanding what her mother wanted. She wanted the same thing- to run away from all the things that made her… different. It was harder to find a normal life when she always knew she never would be.

"I… don't consider it normalcy," Ginny admitted. "Life with Sherlock will never be normal, and I think… that appeals to me. It started out with just sort of a bizarre friendship, and I… I realized that I adore him, because I feel like I can have both with him my life. I can have normal job or normal friends, but when I get bored of that normalcy, I have Sherlock, who always gives me a dose of insanity. He doesn't mind that sometimes I'm boringly normal; even then he finds me interesting. He gives me balance even if I want to strangle him sometimes."

"You two are an interesting pair, an attractive pair," Rory noted brightening the conversation a bit. "Will I get any half-siblings soon?"

"Ha, you're funny," Ginny snorted. Victoria grinned. "No really, where'd you get that sense of humor? Certainly isn't mine."

"I'm serious," Victoria laughed at her. "You'd make some attractive children."

"It's not gonna happen," she told her sternly. "Could you imagine Sherlock Holmes as a father? No, no. He is many things but a father figure? No, I don't think so. Besides, look what happened to you with me as your mother."

"Well, that wasn't your fault though," Rory answered. "That was my father playing a game. He didn't account for me; he didn't mean for me to happen. I was a flaw in his plan, so he pulled me into his web when I was just a child. He had to find a way to use me; that was who was."

"You've been talking to Sherlock again," she smiled talking a sip of her tea.

"Well, he's quite an intelligent man," she complimented. "You know how to pick them."

"And what about Victor?" Ginny asked. "He seems quite an intelligent person. Sherlock assures me so."

"Oh, I see," Rory teased. "You've interrogated Sherlock about Victor, have you?"

"You don't think it's weird that you're Victor and Victoria?" she interrogated.

"I think it's cute," she shot back.

"I think he's too old for you."

"I think I'm too old to be mothered," she answered.

"I think you're delusional," Ginny rolled her eyes. Victoria laughed.

"Wonder who I got that from," she answered sarcastically.

"Respect your elders," Ginny answered.

"Make me," she grinned hoping for a fight.

"Instigator."

"Control freak."

"Narcissist."

"Ill-tempered tramp."

"I'm your mother," she snapped. "You can't talk to me like that."

"I'm a grown adult," Rory smiled. "In other words, I do what I want."

"You're grounded," Ginny responded cause them both to dissolve in a fit of giggles before Ginny nodded toward the door setting down her tea cup and napkin. Victoria followed her out into the city out among the people.

"You say I'm the primary reason for you getting better," Victoria mused in consideration, "but I think it's Sherlock who really did all the work. He really loves you, you know?"

"I know," Ginny smiled. "I'm lucky I have him though he's lucky to have me too. We balance each other out."

"You make him human," Rory nodded understanding their relationship. It was rather easy to understand, in her opinion. It also helped that she's had a handful of conversations with John as well as a rather annoying conversation with Mycroft Holmes. "He needs it, or he would constantly be experimenting on people, and no one would keep him in check."

"John would," she shrugged. "He was there as Sherlock's voice of reason before I was."

"Sherlock listens to you more than John even John agrees," she nodded. "I was talking to him in the waiting room."

"You talk too much," she teased pushing open the door to Baker Street.

"Must be genetic," Rory quipped making Ginny look back and grin at her as they climbed the stairs. Voices floated out of 221B causing Ginny to look at the door curiously. She knew that voice, she realized as she heard a woman describe some mundane trip to a grocery store. Ginny pushed open the door to see Violet and whom she could only assume was Mr. Holmes.

"Thank God you're here," Sherlock annoyed. "They're being insufferable."

"Sherlock Holmes, they raised you, you insufferable brat, and their parenting skills must have been put to the extreme test with you and Mycroft. You should be grateful you're even born. If I had a child like Mycroft, I think I would just stop there." He scowled at her as Rory laughed at the two. "Why didn't you tell me your parents were coming over?"

"You think I would let them in if I knew?" he asked her outraged as he wrapped his robe around himself and curled up in his chair pouting like a child.

"Sherlock, must you sulk?" Mrs. Holmes asked tisking him.

"Oh, one gets used to it," Ginny sighed glancing at him. "If he gets so bad, I throw things at him, or I just throw him out."

"Ah, Ginny, dear," Mrs. Holmes greeted her, "how are you?"

"Well, thank you, ma'am," she nodded, "and this is Siger?" She had yet to meet Mr. Holmes, but she could see the similarities in the two men. Of course, Siger had a cheerfulness and a spark that Sherlock lacked… at least to the unfamiliar. He had the same spark when he was on a high from a case grinning like a child.

"It's a pleasure, young lady," he greeted standing to take her hand.

"I can see where Sherlock got his looks from certainly," she grinned taking his hand and giving it a shake.

"Not too strange, I hope?" he teased sitting back down.

"Oh no," she laughed. "I find it quite fetching." Ginny turned her attention to bring two chairs in front of the couple, so that her and Victoria could sit down.

"Are you sure I shouldn't go?" Rory whispered to Ginny as they moved the chairs. Sherlock seemed bored by the task and was drifting in and out of his mind palace.

"They'll learn sooner or later," Ginny shrugged finishing arranging the chairs before thumping down in one of the chairs. Victoria lingered for a moment before delicately sitting down. Violet glanced between the two.

"You two must be related," Mrs. Holmes noted with a nod. Sherlock scoffed at the obviousness of the statement. Mrs. Holmes graciously ignored him.

"Ah, Violet," Ginny offered, "this is my daughter Victoria. Victoria, Violet and Siger Holmes, the people, who against all odds, raised Sherlock Holmes."

"Daughter?" Violet asked surprised. "How old are you, dear?"

"Oh grow up, Mother," Sherlock growled. "Ginny had a child when she was sixteen; it's a lot more common than you would think."

"I simply didn't know you had a child," Violet answered ignoring Sherlock's attitude as she often did.

"Neither did I to be honest," she grinned. "I thought Victoria had passed away when she was young, but it seems to be a ruse created by her father."

"Still in contact with him?"

"He's dead," Ginny informed her before taking a sip her tea, "and if he wasn't, I have a feeling that it would be just a bit problematic to get a hold of him."

"Just a bit," Sherlock smiled at her.

"Sherlock's met him, isn't that right?" she asked giving him grin. Now they were playing games. Victoria smirked at the two. They were honestly ridiculous but lovely together.

"He was charming especially when he tried to kill me. Very elegant."

"Well," Mrs. Holmes offered, "it does crazy things to people. Love that is. He must have been upset seeing you with another."

"Yes, that must be it," Sherlock answered sarcastically making Ginny look away with a grin trying to keep her manner appropriate to the conversation.

"Besides, Sherlock and I aren't-"

"Don't even," Mrs. Holmes threatened. "I am his mother. It was blatantly obvious since the moment I walked in. There's something that's shifted between the two of you. You two have been intimate."

"Mother," Sherlock warned as Rory found herself with an uncontrollable giggling fit. Ginny felt her face burn slightly but nevertheless responded.

"How do mother's know everything? It's sorcery it is," Ginny noted causing Rory to laugh again.

"Well, I think you are a lovely pair," Mrs. Holmes nodded before turning her full attention to Ginny. "You know, Ginny, I always worried about him in his youth. He never expressed interest in anyone. I didn't care one way or another which way he swayed to, but he just stayed in his room all day, thought he wasn't interested at all… it was a bit odd, but then I walked in on him-"

"Mother!" Sherlock shouted cutting her off from the embarrassing tale. This time Rory and Ginny were both laughing.

"It's natural, Sherlock," Violet scowled at her son who looked irritated with the woman. It was always an amazement to Ginny how they were related though she did see a strike of brilliance in Mrs. Holmes. "Well, anyway, how long has it been?"

"Not long," Ginny shrugged trying to seem laissez faire about their situation. "A couple months."

"Well, when am I going to be a grandmother?" she demanded making Rory start laughing again, and Ginny fight the urge to roll her eyes.

"Hopefully, never," Ginny laughed. "I don't want kids."

"Yes you do," Sherlock disagreed knowing her better than she knew herself sometimes. He didn't hide the childish eye roll he gave her. "You want them, but you don't think it's a wise decision."

"Yes, well, look who would be the father," she teased him making him scowl back at her. She grinned.

"If at least I'll have a daughter," Mrs. Holmes encouraged trying to find the bright side in the situation only for her optimism to be squashed by Sherlock.

"Marriage?" Sherlock asked distastefully. "Not so much."

"But Sherlock," Mrs. Holmes argued.

"It's for the religious and the materialistic," he cut her off sounding bored not knowing he was hurting his mother's feelings. "It means nothing. Most end in divorce anyway."

"I'm sure Ginny disagrees," she argued causing them to turn the spot on the other woman, who looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"Oh, I uh… I don't care either way," she told them. "I've accepted that Sherlock thinks marriage is stupid, and yeah, it kind of is. I won't change that about him."

"You don't sound so sure," Violet urged.

"Um…," she uttered looking to Sherlock in a side glance. They never brought up the subject of marriage, so she didn't want to throw him off guard. However, the man knew her well. He shouldn't be much surprised by anything she says. "Well... it's not really… I mean…" she sighed giving in. "I suppose the benefit is that I could take his name, and I know a lot of feminists get all pissy about that, but for me… my last name has sort of been part of my identity. I was a Verown, but I dropped that name when I was thirteen, and it's a strange correlation, but when I dropped that name, that's when I began having… issues. I… I come back not knowing really how to identify myself. I can no longer use the name Lorraine because of all the things I've… managed to do under that name. However, I can't use the name Verown either, not with its connection to Peter. I am at a loss of what to do. So I suppose marriage would have its benefits, but I understand Sherlock's objections, and I've never brought it up as I know it's pointless."

"See?" Mrs. Holmes bragged to Sherlock, who ignored her and went to the window to play his violin. Ginny's eyes remand on Sherlock until the sound of Mrs. Holmes's voice called her back. She forced her attention back to the woman wondering what was going on in Sherlock Holmes's mind.

Victoria left animatedly talking to Mr. Holmes about the horrid environment of the city as Mrs. Holmes looked on amused. Rory left with a promise to be back, Mr. Holmes left with a pleasure to meet you, and Mrs. Holmes left with a subtle hint at grandchild causing Rory to laugh again.

Ginny slowly approached Sherlock, who was still playing. He must have either been deep in his mind palace or just very concentrated on the music. She was betting the former. She slipped her arms around his waist and set her head between his shoulder blades. He froze allowing the contact between them.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "You only play when you're emotionally turbulent." He slowly set his bow down followed by his violin. Ginny backed up to give him a little space as he slowly turned to her. He seemed turbulent- confused and concerned.

"Do you want to get married?" he asked her quite obviously not wanting to beat around the bush.

"What?" she asked with a frown unsure what the purpose of bringing up the topic of marriage was. She didn't think there was anything to discuss. He didn't want marriage, and she accepted that.

"Why did you not talk to me about this or ever bring up the subject?" he insisted.

"Well, I thought... I didn't want to fight with you," she assured him. "I knew it was a subject that was pointless to bring up. It's not something you want."

"So you just avoid it altogether for my sake?" he questioned, but she didn't agree. "You see there's something else. What is it?"

"It's nothing."

"Ginny, what are you not telling me?" he wondered. "Do you want to be married?"

"I don't... it's not... It's not so simple."

"Don't tread around me, just answer," he demanded. "Do you see yourself getting married?"

"I mean... yes, but... I mean... I always sort of wanted that when I was younger, but I..."

"Oh," he said flatly taking a step back from her. It was as plain as day in front of him striking him down and dragging him lower than low. "You see yourself getting married but not to me."

"It's not... Sherlock, it's not..." she tried to explain to him, but she didn't want it to sound harsh. "It's not that I don't love you."

"Then what is it?!" he demanded raising his voice. He wasn't expecting this from her, and it set him on edge. "What's wrong?! Can't stand that atrocity of being married to a sociopath?! Can't stand what people think!? Can't bare the idea of putting up with me that long!?"

"Sherlock-" she shouted back, but he was quick to cut her off.

"Is this just something to do!? Forgive me for saving you! Forgive me for giving a damn! I should have known!"

"I don't understand why this matters!" she yelled aggravated. "You don't want to get married! You just told your mother that! Why the hell does it matter!? I'm content!"

"Because Ginny how long are you going to be content?" he wondered looking a bit like a wounded puppy as he took a step to her and gripped both of her arms holding her in place. "One day you'll wake up without a spouse, without children, and probably alone in your bed because I've run off on a case, and you'll leave. They all leave discontented. Look at John. Ran off and found himself a wife."

"He's happy," she defended John's decision.

"And you'll be happier without me," he assured her letting her ago and turning away from her rubbing the back of his neck. "You won't have children not because you don't want them, but because I wouldn't be a father. I would not be there, and they would rely on you, and that is terrifying to you."

"You're wrong," she affirmed. "It's not what you think."

"Is it?" he sneered looking back to her in disgust. It was a low blow. She could feel shame dripping off her even though she knew her reasons. He knew how to make her feel guilty.

"Sherlock, marriage is for people who can see themselves growing old together," she informed him firmly.

"But you can't see us doing that?" he interrogated. "You don't see us together that long?"

"I don't see us alive that long!" she shouted at him angry at the argument that shouldn't have even come up. She rubbed her forehead in frustration as a pregnant pause made the room more uncomfortable before she crossed her arms and continued her reasoning. "Between your lifestyle and mine, we won't live past forty, Sherlock, and that is why. You ask me why I can't have kids, because they would be left without anyone. You wonder why I won't marry you, because it doesn't fucking matter, and I've made my peace with that, and I don't know why you haven't."

Slowly, Sherlock sat down looking up at the woman he loved. She was right, of course, and he knew that. He had a will drawn up by the time he was sixteen. Frankly, he knew he was lucky to still be alive with as little scars as he had. He would blame himself for dragging her into this, but alone, Ginny's lifestyle was just as bad- if not worse- than his.

"I can change," he offered weakly. She laughed weakly.

"No, you can't, Sherlock," she smiled. "I know you, and I love that about you. You'll always be Sherlock Holmes, and I will always love you for that."

"But I can change," he urged. "At least a little." She sighed at sat across from him.

"How's that?" she asked leaning foreword to close the gap between them in some fashion.

"I'll stop smoking, take a day of the week off to do... normal things... spend time with you... I'll stop taking cases out of the country..."

"Sherlock," she stopped him trying to think of more things to add to his list, "it doesn't matter. I've accepted that I won't be marry or have kids or have the shiny white picket fence. You don't even want to get married, so why try and change this? I don't understand; help me understand."

"There have been numerous studies showing the benefits of healthy relationships particularly happy marriages, and-"

"Sherlock," she stopped him, "you just told your mother-"

"I know," he answered, "but I don't think you understand."

"I don't," she admitted with a smile.

"You get better everyday," he replied, "and I am ecstatic about that, but... you won't need me, but I will continue to require you in my life. You have become a permanent fixture. If we end up living longer than you expect, you will get bored. You will become dissatisfied, and you will leave to seek a life that is what you desire. I want you to have everything you desire. I want you to stay."

"I will stay," she affirmed. He didn't seem to believe her.

"No, you won't," he answered standing up and heading back to the window.

"I'm glad you have such faith in me," she ground out.

"You insult my faith in you?" he spat turning around on her. "In case you haven't noticed, Ginny, you think I'm a complete incompetent when it comes to us, to this!" He threw his hands around the flat exasperated. "Why don't you just leave already!?"

"Oh for God's sakes!" she shouted throwing a chair out of the way, so that nothing was between them, so that she could properly confront him. "If you think that a silly piece of paper will encourage me to stay, why don't we just go down to the fucking courthouse!?"

"Fine!"

"Fine!" she shouted back. Silence fell between the two. Neither was sure if the other was serious, and neither was willing to look like a fool. Sherlock was the first to test the waters. He cleared his throat.

"We should leave now if... we want to do this today. The courthouse won't be open much longer." Ginny slowly nodded not believing what she was hearing. Did that just happen? Did he just... did they just?

"Should I... change?" she asked tentatively.

"No," he said quickly. "Yes... no, you look fine... nice." She slowly smiled and laughed before she walked to him putting her arms around his neck.

"We don't have to, you know?" she told him. "I will stay, and it's just a piece of paper."

"You and I both know it's just a piece of paper," he replied, "but we both also know that it matters to you."

"It does," she admitted leaning up and kissing him.

"Let's go," he demanded pulling her along out the door. She was laughing the whole way out of Baker Street.

A/N: Word about Siger. Obviously in the initial draft I had him as passed away, but with the arrival of the Holmes parents in the third season, I had to tweak things. At one point I will change the chapters, but too lazy right now. Assume he was gone for whatever reason during the family chapters.

So there'll be another update this weekend as all that is left is the epilogue! What!? Yeah, it was time for this one to come to a close. It has gone on long enough. There will be a sequel of sorts. It won't have a regular update schedule, and it will focus more on domestics, and I'll also cover the last episode of season 3 at some point as well as season 4 I think. That is why it won't be a regular schedule as I would like to see how season four plays out as I don't believe Moriarty is actually alive, but either way, it will obviously affect Ginny.

Thanks to reviewers: TinkerbellxO, Dream01, and hannahhobnob. Review please! See you Sunday night.