Molly slowly blinked her eyes open. It was still dark and moonlight flooded the room. She looked over her shoulder and frowned at finding the other side of the bed empty.

Leaning up on her elbow, she felt the sheets.

Cold.

Suddenly, from the other room, she heard a muffled whisper and a strange sound, like something being lightly scraped across the floor.

Tossing the covers back, she slipped out of bed and dropped her bare feet to the cold floor. She hugged her arms around her body, wishing she had on something else besides a baggy tee shirt and flannel pyjama bottoms.

Light streamed under the crack of the door.

Padding to the door, she slowly opened it a crack and peered out.

Her mouth dropped open.

She pulled the door open and stepped out into a wonderland of fairy lights. Sparkling, shimmering lights dangled from the ceiling, interspersed with garlands of greenery. She inhaled deeply of the pine and cedar scents and smiled at the memories of Christmases growing up with her parents in the country.

She followed the lights through the kitchen and into the lounge, where a beautifully decorated Christmas tree stood between the windows. A breathtaking garland draped across the mantle and Billy the Skull was sporting a festive Santa hat. The desk was pushed to the side, out of the way, and the chairs were arranged by the fire, leaving the centre of the room wide open.

And hanging down from the ceiling was a stunning chandelier of greenery and lights, with strands of lights webbing out to all corners of the room.

Molly took it all in with wide eyes.

In the corner, balancing on a kitchen chair, Sherlock was struggling to hang the end of a strand of lights. He finally managed to get it hooked and he jumped down, landing lightly on the floor.

'It's beautiful!' She whispered.

Sherlock spun around, surprised. 'Molly! You're not supposed to be up yet,' he accused, an embarrassed blush on his face.

The lights shimmered through the sheen of tears in her eyes. 'You did all this for me?'

Shoving his hands into the pockets of his dressing gown, Sherlock shrugged one shoulder.

Unable to hide her smile, Molly approached him slowly and slid her arms around his waist. 'I love you.'

'And I you,' he replied and wrapped his arms around her.

They gradually began to sway back and forth, Sherlock humming a soft tune, and before Molly knew it, they were waltzing under the twinkling of the fairy lights.

It was the perfect Christmas surprise.