Miss Hudson sighed, looking in the mirror.
She was pretty, seeming much younger than she was, even though wrinkles around her eyes got more visible whenever she laughed.
And she laughed a lot.
Little did she know, in a few moments she would laugh of utter happiness.
She heard the front door open and ran to welcome her famous long-term tenant.
- Good afternoon Miss Hudson! - Sherlock exclaimed after several hours of absence. - I bought a house in Sussex. Well, a cottage. It's in East Dean. The area is remote enough to enjoy a peaceful life and only a mile from the beach at Birling Gap. A charming place, really!
Miss Hudson listened with opened mouth. She did not expect such a sudden change. She got used to her tenant disappearing for hours, sometimes for days, but she thought he was investigating.
- It's funny when you sound like you longed for a peaceful life, Sherlock. - she giggled.
- Age is mercilessly taking its toll on me, I'm afraid.
Miss Hudson laughed softly, but within seconds her genuine smile slowly saddened.
- So. When do you move out?
- Anytime.
- I see...
- Actually, the house is spacious and I'm sure you would find the area quite charming. So... I wondered if you would like to move in with me...?

Miss Hudson couldn't imagine anything more wonderful that two unmarried people knowing each other for years, spending their gray days in a cottage in Sussex.
If there was, she didn't want to hear of it.
She was beyond happy.