Chapter 8

Yay, I'm back, did you miss me? Did you miss me? Did you miss me? :). This story is coming to a close now, only this chapter and one more. Thanks for sticking with me and I hope the ending is everything you want it to be.

I was busy writing on holiday though so there are more stories to come starting with a smutty one shot that I'll post tomorrow (not connected to this story).

As ever I own nothing.

It took longer than Sherlock had hoped to finish the case and he had to admit that the final solution was not one that he had originally envisaged.

It had been touch and go as to whether he would ever even see Molly again and that was probably the push he needed to make a decision about their future.

As he'd sat on the plane having made peace with the fact that he was being sent on a suicide mission his only big regret had been that he hadn't pursued a relationship with her. He hadn't even been able to bring himself to say goodbye to her, he knew it would be too painful for both of them. Instead he had entrusted a letter with Mycroft to be delivered if/when his time was up.

In the end he'd received a last minute reprieve thanks to Moriarty, of all people. The image which was seen across the country ensured his survival. He was more than a little suspicious that Mycroft might prove to be at the bottom of it all but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Instead he made his way back to Baker Street determined that now was the time to embark on a new life.

His first task on his return was to text Molly.

New Year's Eve. 8.00pm. Your flat. SH

About a minute after he'd sent it he could almost hear John's voice in his head 'not good Sherlock!'

He huffed before sending a second text.

Hope that's OK? SH

A few moments later he received a reply

OK sounds good, should I get anything in? Mx

No, will bring supplies with me. SH

He then sat down to think about exactly what he wanted to say.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Molly Hooper was nervous. She had heard from Mary that the big case, whatever it was was now done and dusted and she had received text messages from Sherlock which intimated that he had made a decision. She could only hope that it was a positive one.

She had missed him. It had been well over a month since that day in his flat and whilst she'd seen him a couple of times at the morgue it had always been in the presence of other people. Granted John had offered to leave them alone a couple of times, with a smirk on his face, but Sherlock had always looked non plussed and demanded he stay to help out.

By the time New Years Eve came round Molly had worked herself up into a state. She was convinced that Sherlock was just going to let her down again. She made sure she had plenty if wine, chocolate and tissues in the flat just in case. It wasn't as though he didn't have form for letting her down.

At five to eight the doorbell rang. Molly wiped her hands on her dress, breathed deeply and went to answer the door.

As ever her first sight of Sherlock took her breath away. He smiled when he saw her and Molly felt her heart lift a bit, may be, just may be everything would be OK.

He made his way into the living room depositing his bags on the coffee table before removing his coat and scarf.

Molly smiled to herself when she saw her favourite purple shirt. God, that man could wear a suit, he looked delicious.

She offered him a glass of wine and was pleasantly surprised when he said yes. She knew he wasn't a big drinker and as far as she could remember the last two occasions had ended in massive hangovers.

He followed her into the kitchen and she almost dropped his glass when she turned to find him standing just behind her.

She looked up into his face her eyes drinking in the sight of him so close, his eyes, his full lips, those cheekbones.

'Molly', he sighed. 'You asked me to think about our...relationship...and I want you to know that I have given it much thought. You know that I am not a romantic man, I don't or at least I have never previously done feelings.'

He took his glass walking back into the living room. Molly felt her heart sink. She grabbed her own glass taking a big drink before following him. Why did this feel like she was being dumped?

'I have had more feelings about you in the last two years than I have ever felt about anyone. At first I tried to dismiss them, I was worried about how it would affect my work but I proved to myself that if anything you help me clarify my thoughts. I thought we would pick up where we left off on my return but you were with Tim.'

'Tom', Molly corrected.

'What?' Said Sherlock confused and derailed for a second, 'whatever he's irrelevant, always should have been in my opinion.' He scowled briefly.

'I was surprised by my reaction to him. I realised I felt...jealous. You were mine, not his. Then there was the...err...misunderstanding about Janine...'

Molly felt her expression harden, she had still not quite forgiven him for the devastation she had felt over that.

'Having discussed things with John I realise that I should have been more honest with you. But I want you to know that I am done with all these distractions, all these misunderstandings. I want to...no, I need to be with you.'

Molly took a deep breath, 'you have to promise me Sherlock that you won't enter into another fake relationship again. I can't and won't share you, I don't care what case you're on!'

'I'm not boyfriend material Molly and I never will be. But I can promise you that I will never again put this ring on another woman's hand.' With that he pulled his grandmothers ring from his pocket, holding it out to Molly.

Molly looked at the ring and looked at Sherlock, 'I don't understand...'

'I may not be boyfriend material but maybe I could be your husband?'

Molly wondered for a moment if she were dreaming. She took another gulp of wine before putting the glass on the table. 'Are you asking me to marry you?'

Sherlock rolled his eyes, 'yes I would have thought that was obvious by now, an answer would be appreciated.'

'Wait, I need to understand this,' said Molly holding her hand up like a stop sign. 'You don't want to be my boyfriend but you're happy to marry me! How is that logical?'

Sherlock huffed, 'were you not just listening to me? I explained I have never felt like this...ever...about anyone else. Once I accepted those feelings and once we got Tom and Janine out of the picture there is no good reason for us to not be together and once we are together I can see no good reason why we would ever be apart ergo it makes sense to skip the boring dates and go straight to commitment which in our society means marriage. It also makes sense for you to move into 221B as John is moving out but we can discuss the logistics later.'

Molly sat open mouthed at his outburst. She picked up her wine glass and sipped at it to give her a few moments whilst she collected her thoughts. If he were anyone else she would have laughed in their face and called them ridiculous. But this wasn't anyone else, this was Sherlock Holmes and she already knew from everything she had done in the last two years she would do anything for him...anything. And if he were saying that he now felt the same way about her what was really stopping them.

As she looked at him his expression faltered, he looked as though she might reject him and she saw the vulnerability pass through his eyes and couldn't bear to see it.

Instead Molly smiled, 'yes, of course, yes.' She held her hand out and Sherlock slid on the ring. She looked into his eyes, which were now filled with joy, and thought she might burst with happiness.

He held her hand for a minute before reaching for her face cupping her cheek. He gently drew her towards him watching her eyes dilate, he loved that sight, his eyes then flicked to her lips watching her tongue slide across her bottom lip.

Still moving slowly he kissed her, gently, savouring the experience not wanting to rush things. Gradually her arms slid around his back and the kiss deepened. Her tongue against his, his body against hers. She fell back onto the settee that they were now both on and he moved with her feeling her slight body beneath his and he felt complete.

She moved one hand so it was tugging the curls on his head and he felt himself growl at the sensation, he had never realised his scalp was so sensitive. His own hand had made its way to her breast and he used his thumb to flick across the nipple feeling it harden to his touch. He moved to the fastenings of her top wanting to feel her skin on his. They were both still taking their time as though they realised that for the first time they had all the time in the world. Eventually Sherlock picked Molly up and moved them to the bedroom.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Molly's mind was still whirling. She was engaged to Sherlock Holmes! Her inner self felt like doing a jig. She kept smiling as she kissed him not knowing quite how this dream had come true.

When he swept her up to carry her into the bedroom she found that she was almost naked, she didn't even fully remember him doing that. On the other hand Sherlock had only lost his jacket and his shoes and socks. Her favourite purple shirt was undone and untucked though. She giggled as he carried her trailing her fingers across his chest, feeling the muscles in his arms as he took her weight. He threw her lightly on the bed before crawling up to join her.

He knelt over her, looking down at her almost naked body as she lay there just wearing a smile and a pair of knickers.

'What are you thinking Mr Holmes?' She asked smiling coyly leaning up in her elbows.

His gaze lifted from her breasts to her face and he smiled back, 'that's the whole point Molly. With you I don't have to think. I can just feel.' With that he started to slide his hand from her calf up her body. 'I can feel your skin under my hand, your nipple under my thumb.' He rubbed his thumb back and forth over her breast watching the nipple harden to his touch. 'I can taste you, smell you, feel you and I don't have to think. It is rare for me to find something which so completely relaxes my brain, stops the constant thinking and whirling. But with you I feel at peace.' He bent to take her breast into his mouth, biting lightly on her nipple listening to her moans, feeling her starting to writhe underneath him.

He knew he wouldn't last long on this occasion, he needed her so badly but wanted to make sure she came before he did.

He felt her nails scratch along his scalp holding his head to her breast and he let his left hand trail down sliding under the elastic of her pants before he felt the warmth of her beneath his palm. Slowly he pushed two fingers into her using his thumb to draw lazy circles on her clit listening to her moans get louder. More than anything he wanted to hear her calling his name.

He kissed his way back up to her mouth and her legs came up around his waist. He could feel how hard he was, knew he wanted to be inside her when she came.

He knelt back up, laughing lightly as she protested, before shucking off his shirt and trousers. He hooked his thumbs in her pants and drew them slowly down her legs before throwing them onto the floor. She lay naked before him hands out to him persuading him back to her. As he lay over her he positioned himself at her entrance and pushed in as slowly as he could manage, trying to control his lust, trying to prolong the moment. She felt so warm and tight that it took all his willpower not to just pound into her.

She leant up biting and licking his neck, her hands went round his back and she gripped his ass pulling him into her further groaning as he did. He rocked against her starting to set a rhythm knowing it wouldn't take long for either of them. He could sense Molly was close as she started to urge him to go faster. He complied feeling his own orgasm building in. All of a sudden he felt Molly's muscles contract around him and then she was calling his name over and over and it was that more than anything that sent him tumbling into his own orgasm. As he came he sucked at the base of her neck marking her as his own.

As they came down from their high Sherlock rolled to one side pulling Molly against him, their legs and arms tangled together. She kissed his chest as he drew patterns on her back. 'That was amazing,' she whispered. 'Mmmmmmm' was his only response. He felt sleep starting to take him as he listened to Molly's breathing even out. His mind relaxed for the first time in months and feeling happier than he ever remembered feeling before.

The last chapter will be up in a day or so, just some fluffy smut to complete their story. As always please make my day and review...or favourite...or follow..or all three. Thank you.