Burning Hearts

Chapter 20 - Epilogue

6 weeks later.

John Watson couldn't help but stare at himself in the mirror. His reflection stared back at him, avoiding eye contact, as something else grabbed his attention. His chest, scarred with two bullet holes, offended him.

The addition of the chest wound to his collection made him ache in more ways than one. Physically, obviously, as he was still healing and the wound was tender and itchy. But the wound had also changed him emotionally. Not in the same post traumatic stress way his shoulder had, but in an unusual, carpe diem sort of way.

He was not ten foot tall and bulletproof as the last few years with Sherlock had lead him to believe. It was time he started living his life. And it seemed, with the help of a discussion with Mycroft, Mary felt the same way.

He had been awake from his post gunshot coma only an hour before Mary proposed to him. It was awkward for him as he was groggy and under the impression that he had already asked her to marry him. Mary had just smiled when he had voiced that, and replied "No, I mean, literally, as soon as possible, let's get married"

The planning of the wedding had honestly kept him sane in his recovery period in the hospital, even if it was driving Mary mad. They had agreed that although they wanted to marry as soon as they could, neither wanted to do it in hospital. And John, who had been on intense bed rest, wanted to be standing on his own two feet when he married the woman of his dreams.

As they discussed plans they realised that actually wanted a wedding, not just running down to city hall to sign the papers. So between physical therapy and being a sounding board for Sherlock's 'Now, I need to find Moran' plans, he found himself planning a wedding.

There was a tap on the door. John turned, pulling his shirt on quickly and doing up the buttons. He had become self-conscious about his body since the second shooting. Not that he was ever one to flaunt it before, but he had never cared previously if someone saw him shirtless. Now, not even Mary had seen his additional wound, preferring to wear shirts around her at all times. He knew it was silly, she loved him regardless, but he didn't want to draw attention to it.

Sherlock entered without waiting for John to respond. He paused awkwardly just inside the room, and cleared his throat to get John's attention, a trick he pulled when he was about to say something really serious, but a little nerve wracking. "I was told, by Molly, obviously, that it is customary for the best man to give the groom a gift before the wedding"

John looked shocked as Sherlock reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a black box. He held it out hesitantly.

"Sherlock, you didn't have too" John began, taking it slowly. Sherlock dismissed him, indicating that he should open the box. They had never exchanged gifts before, even at Christmas time. John popped the box open, to be greeted with the nicest wrist watch he had ever seen. "Sherlock, I…"

"Don't insult me by saying you can't accept it" Sherlock replied, standing uneasily. John extended his hand to shake that of his friend, then realising that the action seemed hollow for the situation; John pulled his friend into a hug. Sherlock, to his credit, returned the sentimental gesture briefly.

"I am glad you're here for this" John admitted as they separated, taking the watch out of the box and securing it on his wrist. "When I was going to propose to Mary, before I knew you were alive, I was upset that you wouldn't be by my side today."

"Sentiment" Sherlock spat. John laughed, taking his tie off of the dresser.

"You don't get to degrade Sentiment anymore Sherlock." John smirked, tying his tie expertly. "You have a son and girlfriend now"

Sherlock made a noise in his throat that sounded a little like disgust. "Girlfriend. I despise that word. I am 35 years old. I do not have a girlfriend"

"Then what would you prefer Molly was called" John asked, picking up the second tie from the dresser and tossing it to Sherlock. Sherlock rolled his eyes at it. He hated wearing ties, but was making an exception today for John and Mary. "Partner, companion, lover…"

"None of the above." Sherlock replied, struggling to remember how to tie the tie. It had been years since he had worn one, probably since his schooling days when it had been part of the required uniform. "She's just my Molly"

John smirked; he had noticed that Sherlock had taken to introducing Molly that way in public in the last six weeks. "This is my Molly". It would sound unusual and possessive out of anyone else's mouth, but the way Sherlock said it, with so much adoration in his eyes, it never seemed weird.

Only days after Moran's escape, Sherlock had moved completely out of Baker Street and into Molly's flat. It was his wedding present to them, he told them, freeing up the bigger bedroom with the ensuite and the walk in robe. But the gift didn't end there. Mary, who had been pulling long hours at the hospital, both working and visiting, returned home one day to Sherlock ordering a gaggle of contractors around the now empty bedroom. Now the master suite had new tiling and fixtures in the bathroom, his and hers matching robes, polished hard wood floors and a colour scheme that matched the rest of the house. Sherlock had even, with the help of Molly, moved all of their personal possessions downstairs into the room.

Looking at himself in the mirror and deciding what to do with his hair, John paused. The sight of his hand in his reflection caught his attention. He was about to put a ring on his finger, and he would never really see his hand without it again.

"Will you ever marry Molly?" John asked suddenly.

It was an interesting question. Sherlock didn't quite know how to answer. Two months ago, if someone asked him if he ever intended on marrying his Molly, he would have flat out said no. she wasn't even really his molly then. She was a woman on the other side of the world who dominated his mind and looked after his son. The idea of sentiment still shocked him. He had told Molly he loved her, but he had only done so a few times over the last month and a bit (once in the parking garage. Once when she had pointed out a piece of medical evidence that he had missed in an investigation that he was assisting Lestrade in and once, whilst they had been…consummating their reunion.)

He had never considered marriage. He was in his first ever relationship, and while it was later in life, he still didn't quite understand exactly what all of his feelings meant. Molly was helping him collect that data, however.

The door behind them opened, and at first the men through that there was no one there. Then they noticed Henry, walking in, wearing a matching black suit to the other two men, and looking more and more like a mini-Sherlock. The detective couldn't help but smile down at the young man. The youngster looked up at Sherlock expectantly, and then held out a tie that matched his own.

"You need assistance?" Sherlock asked. He was taking a little while to get used to talking with Henry. He was a smart kid, as Molly had told him, but Sherlock was not used to talking to people who were still developing. He reached down, lifted his son onto the dresser so that he was eye height, and began working on tying it.

When he was finished, Sherlock lowered his son to the ground. Before he ran off, probably back to the living room to play, the child looked up at him and said "Thank you Dada"

That was taking some getting used to, but Sherlock noticed very early on he enjoyed being called Dad. It was heart-warming, especially since he and Mycroft had grown in a home where they were required to call Jameson 'Father' – to be Mama and Dada to Henry (Or Da, sometimes, which he kind of enjoyed even more) was a nice, normal feeling.

"Well, don't you all look charming?" a voice startled them and they turned to its owner. Molly stood, in the doorway, in a flowing blue dress, her new pixie cut styled fashionably under a headband of soft silver (which matched the shoes she wore, impressive heels that made her taller.) She had a camera in her hands, and Sherlock would bet all of the sizable Holmes fortune that she had just taken a photograph of him tying Henry's tie. Henry hovered by her knee.

Sherlock had never seen anything so beautiful in her life. He was the luckiest man alive.

"I believe it is bad form to outshine the bride on her special day" Sherlock said sincerely, leaning down to kiss her gently on the cheek. Molly blushed. After everything they had been through, Sherlock Holmes could still make her blush.

"I brought these for you" she grinned, holding up three buttonhole flowers. She handed one to John, then pinned one to Henry's suit jacket before turning to Sherlock. He watched as she pinned it to his lapel, lifting his hand to play with his tie.

"Stop that" she smiled softly, swatting his hand away "It's a short ceremony, and then you can take it off. Ties do suit you, you know"

"Blue suits you" Sherlock complimented, his hand coming to rest on the inside of her wrist. The pulse there was steady and slightly elevated.

Molly leant in closer, with the shoes their height difference was not as noticeable, so she only had to extend a little further before her lips were grazing distance from his. Sherlock's arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer. His eyes fluttered shut first in anticipation of the kiss they were about to share.

Molly groaned and pulled away, shooting him a 'not now' look. Sherlock hid his look of disappointment as she turned away from him. "Ten minutes until show time"

"I will, one day" Sherlock said suddenly, seconds after Molly had left the room.

John looked puzzled. "Huh?"

"Marry Molly" Sherlock replied. "One day"

John smiled and slapped Sherlock on the back. "Well, until then, it's my turn…Let's go get me married"

A/N: I want to thank everyone for all of the support you've shown me in this little story. It was really heart-warming to log on every day and see all the reviews and follows and notifications. Love you all. Now remember, the adventures of Sherlock, Henry and Molly will continue in the sequel to this – which right now doesn't have a name. But it will be out in the next few days, so please keep an eye out.

In the words of Sherlock Holmes "Laterz"