"Sherlock, are you actually insane or are you just being a bastard for the fun of it?" John Watson asked the detective.

It had been four months since his first date with Molly and, since then, they'd been meeting up most nights. Now the detective was talking about marriage. "Neither" Sherlock replied.

"So you, Sherlock Holmes who is married to his job, are going to ask Molly Hooper to marry you?"

"No."

"Oh, thank god" John sighed.

"I already asked her."

The Proposal

Meet me in the lab – SH

Sherlock, it's gone midnight! – Molly

I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important; I've called you a cab. – SH

I'll be there ASAP – Molly

As soon as the last person had left the lab at St Barts, Sherlock had slipped in and began transforming it; using chemical reactions as decorations, making the lab glow in different colours.

He'd put a lot of thought into his decision about whether or not to continue dating Molly, to end it or to take the next step. The thought of ending their relationship wasn't something he was prepared to do and so, taking it to the next phase seemed like the best decision. Six years ago, the idea of marriage had repulsed him; Sherlock didn't see the point in it and couldn't understand why people did it but now, he had some idea why.

"Sherlock Holmes-" Molly started as she stepped into the lab put said nothing more when she took in her transformed lab.

Sherlock stepped out of the shadows. "Molly" he smiled.

The woman gazed at him in awe before saying "what are you doing, Sherlock?"

"I'm creating a memory" he replied. "Molly; I can't carry on like this with you. I've told you that I'm not like everyone else."

Molly's face dropped as she took in his words "what are you saying?" She asked "Are you dumping me?"

"Dumping you?" Sherlock stated "why would I do that? No, I'm trying to ask you to marry me."

"Marry you!" She shrieked "are you insane, Sherlock?"

"Are you saying no?" He asked.

Molly laughed nervously, shaking her head "it looks like we're both bad at this. Shall we start again?"

At her words, Sherlock dropped onto one knee and said "at John's wedding, I said that I didn't see the point in marriage and, to an extent, I still don't; I'm not an easy man to live with or to get along with. Most of the things I do with you are guesses; I don't know how to be romantic, it doesn't come naturally to me but, Molly, what I do know is that the years I spent ignoring you were wasted and, right now, I can't even imagine the possibility of not having you around. These past four months have changed me and that was something I didn't think possible; love evaded me or so I thought but Music has helped me to understand these strange feelings and she's helped me to understand that what I feel for you is, quite possibly, love and so, acknowledging this, Molly Hooper, I'm doing the impossible and asking for your hand in marriage."

"Yes, Sherlock, god yes" she whispered as she stared down at him with watery eyes.

"I'm not a godly man" Sherlock smiled "but, for you, I'll be whoever you want me to be." And, with that, he pulled out a velvet red box and opened it.

Molly got down beside him and rested her forehead against his. "Sherlock, I want you to understand that I don't want you to be anyone but yourself." Before placing both hands at either side of his face and kissing him softly.

221B Baker Street

"WHAT" John exploded. He was having trouble understanding his best friend; he knew that he'd been dating Molly but he didn't know why. Sherlock hadn't been the kind of man to settle down and so John was worried about his intentions. "Sherlock, I swear to you that if you hurt Molly that-"

"Why do you think I'd hurt her" Sherlock asked angrily "why, John?"

"Because you're you! You don't do dating, you don't do marriage!"

"And you think that I'm doing this for a game? I'm not playing a game, John; I love Molly."

John was rendered speechless and wasn't given a chance to reply because a small voice said "why are you fighting?"

Both men turned around to see Mary, who was due any day, and both children standing in the doorway. "Music" Sherlock smiled as he strode over to his daughter "happy birthday!"

Music returned the smile as she wrapped her arms around her father's neck "did you do it?" She asked in excitement.

"Yes" Sherlock told her.

"What did she say?"

"What do you think?"

"Yes?" Sherlock nodded, causing his daughter to squeal happily.

"She's coming over later for your party" her father told her "so are you sure you don't want to get a new dress?"

Mary, who was watching the two in confusion, finally opened her mouth and asked "Sherlock, what's going on?"

"Daddy's getting married!" Music announced.

"To Molly?" Mary smiled. When the child nodded she said "oh, congratulations, Sherlock, that's wonderful!"

John, who'd been expecting his wife to back him up, turned to look at her so quickly that he cricked his neck "it's not wonderful! This is Sherlock we're talking about! Sherlock doesn't date, he's married to his work and he most certainly doesn't fall in love!"

"But he loves me" Music told him quietly before turning to look at her dad "don't you?"

"Of course I do" Sherlock confirmed before talking to John. "Six years ago you'd have been spot on, John, but things change. Anyway, it's Music's birthday so I'm not talking about this now."

"Are we doing presents now?" Music asked unable to mask her excitement.

Sherlock reached underneath his chair and pulled out a perfectly wrapped square present just as Mary produced one from behind the sofa. "Come and sit on my lap then" Sherlock told her "so we can sing the birthday song."

Every year, for Music's birthday, Sherlock has made sure that he does everything he can to make her happy and one of the traditions is for her to sit on his lap whilst everyone sings happy birthday before she opens her presents. "But you'll be doing that later" she whined.

"No song, no presents" her dad teased.

Sherlock takes great delight in treating his daughter like she is the only person in the world that matters, on her birthday, and so, every year, he spends the entire day doing what she wants to do; this year, she wanted to get her nails done before going dress shopping.

"Maybe she's not exactly like Sherlock" John stated to his wife as they set about decorating the flat for the party planned for the evening. "I mean, I can't see Sherlock going to a nail salon by choice."

"Unless he was gay" Mary smiled "which we know he isn't." John grumbled, once again, at the thought of Sherlock's recent proposal. "Oh come on, John" she berated him "you're his best friend, why can't you be happy for him?"

"Because he's Sherlock" he stressed "Sherlock doesn't do relationships!"

Mary sighed and stepped off the stepladder she'd been standing on "John, people change."

"Sherlock isn't people and anyway, you're pregnant, you shouldn't be standing on a stepladder."

"Don't change the subject. Sherlock is just as much a person as you are, John." she raised her eyebrows at him "change is good, especially for Sherlock Holmes; who knows" Mary shrugged "we could have another addition to the 221B household soon."

John dropped the banner he'd been trying to straighten up "whoa, Mary; marriage, I can just about get my head around but sex?"

"How do you think Muse came about?"

"Experiment" John grumbled "she got all of Sherlock's good traits." Mary burst out laughing before shaking her head and getting on with the decorating. "Mary, no, let me do that!" John sighed as he took his wife's elbow just as she was about to climb back onto the stepladder.

Sherlock and Music got back an hour or so before the party loaded with bags. Music had had her nails done in a glittery turquoise colour and, it seemed, had talked her father into clothes shopping after they'd purchased her outfit for the party.

"How was it?" Mary asked Sherlock who was beaming at his daughter as she headed up the stairs.

When Music was finally out of sight, the smiled turned into an irritated frown as he turned his back on the, now empty, hallway. "Busy" he grunted, sitting down in his favoured chair and closing his eyes.

Mary smiled at the detective, knowing how frustrating it must have been shopping in the busy city centre with a child who has discovered a passion for spending her father's money and clothes. "Tea?" She asked.

"Mm" Sherlock replied "coffee, black with two sugars."

Once Mrs Watson had made herself and Sherlock a drink, she joined him taking a seat in her chair before saying "Molly and Greg will be here soon with the food."

"Greg?" The detective asked.

"Lestrade."

"Oh, ok."

"Sherlock" Mary asked "would you tell me the reasons behind you proposing to Molly?"

Sherlock opened his eyes and gazed at her for a moment; the tone she'd used hadn't been the same as Johns which meant that she wasn't taking the same attitude. "Reasons? You figure that there's more than one reason behind my decision?"

"You're Sherlock Holmes" she replied "of course you'll have more than one reason."

Sherlock smiled at her for a moment before cocking his head to one side and saying "tell me, Mary, why you think I proposed to Molly."

"Alright" Mary agreed, resting her cup on her pregnant stomach "you love her; a fact that surprised you when you'd thought about it enough to figure it out. You want Muse to have a mother and, considering the fact that, Muse adores her and she adores Muse, it would have been silly to try other paths before settling with the one woman you never thought you'd end up with."

"I never thought that I would end up with anyone" Sherlock admitted "and Molly was there whenever I needed her, willingly eager to do whatever I asked; she noticed little things about me because she concentrated on me whenever I was around. Before the rooftop ordeal with Moriarty" he sighed "she was the only person who noticed that there was something wrong; that there was something I was hiding from John, to protect him."

"It was always about John back then" Mary stated with a smile "he humanised you enough to make you accept your role as a father."

"There was something about him" he nodded, briefly returning the smile. "He was a man, struggling with civilian life; I could see it in him, the need for adrenaline fuelled adventure. Some people are just wired that way and, although we didn't know it at the time, we needed each other; no one else would put up with me long enough to work with me but John did."

Mrs Watson nodded in understanding before saying "he's worried that things will change too much; that's why he's over reacting about your proposal; just like you were worrying when John and I got married."

"I wasn't worrying" Sherlock flat out denied.

"Sherlock" Molly chuckled "I can always tell when you're fibbing; it's a mother's instinct" she winked, teasing him.

Sherlock stared blankly at her, unimpressed at her joke, just as the door opened and Molly stepped in with Greg close behind her. "Mrs Hudson told us to come right up" she smiled, holding up about six carrier bags filled with food and presents "was that ok?"

"Of course" Sherlock told her, getting out of his chair to greet their guests. "Molly" He frowned as he peered into a bag which held six or seven presents, all for Music "I hope that all of these aren't from you."

"Well" his fiancé blushed "I just keep seeing things that I know she'll love and since that day we went clothes shopping together, I know what she likes." And then, in an undertone, asked "when are you going to announce our news?"

"Music, John and Mary already know but I think it'll be best to do it at the end of the evening."

Tonight it was strictly family and close friends, that's what Music had asked for; so, tonight, they'd be expecting Sherlock's parents (Grandma and Grandpa Holmes), Mycroft, The Watson's, Mrs Hudson, Molly and Lestrade. Just a small get together but Music was more than happy with the arranged plans.

"Where's John?" Greg asked Mary after he'd dumped his bags on the kitchen table.

"Upstairs trying to give Charlie a bath."

The detective inspector grinned at this and said "he still doesn't like them?"

"He does" Mary smiled "he just likes to make things hard for John."

Half an hour later, the sitting room of 221B Baker Street was packed with people. Sherlock's family were sat on the sofa, with Music, whilst everyone else was in the kitchen, setting up the food.

"I reckon she's like a cat" John told Sherlock as they watched Mycroft who had Music sitting on his lap "she'll make a bee line straight for the person who doesn't really want to touch her."

"Don't be silly, John; Mycroft likes her more than he lets on. Her intellect intrigues him." Sherlock replied.

"Well, right now, he looks as though he'd rather be elsewhere."

Sherlock smiled "family get togethers, John, Mycroft hates them."

"Ah, yes" the older man nodded "I remember."

Music Holmes

"This drawing was one I did especially for you, uncle Mikey" Music stated happily as she showed Mycroft a picture she'd drawn of himself and Sherlock, both had expressions that would have never existed in reality if they'd been asked to stand still for a drawn portrait.

Mycroft sighed at the incorrect use of his name but said nothing. "That's very good, Music" he commended.

"Well I think the one I drew for Grandma and Grandpa Holmes is better" the child stated.

"Why don't you go and show them whilst I go and speak with your father."

Music looked up at her uncle, confused by the tone of his voice "did he do something bad?"

"No."

"Is the country in crisis again?"

"No" Mycroft sighed.

"Then why do you need to talk to him?"

Music had come to realise, early on in life, that the relationship between her father and his brother was only usually for work or to check up on the little family; that's why she'd drawn the picture. "It's a surprise" her uncle told her as he transferred her onto his father's lap, got up and walked away.

"Don't worry about Mikey" Grandpa Holmes told her, smiling "he's just grumpy that you are getting all of the attention."

"Well I think it's because he's older than daddy and daddy is doing better than he is." Music stated.

"Is that so?" The old man asked "in what way?"

"Daddy's got me" she grinned "and uncle Mikey has no one."

After all of the food, but the cake, had been consumed Sherlock stood up and called the room to attention. "I think that Music has been patient enough" he announced "so I suggest that we take this opportunity to sing happy birthday, cut the cake and make a start on the presents; what do you think Music?" Music grinned at her father and gave him a thumbs up instead of speaking, causing everyone, even Mycroft, to smile at her.

Grandma Holmes had made the cake and, after interrogating her youngest son about Music's likes and dislikes, shaped it in the form of a pony; Music seemed to have taken a liking to an old children's programme called 'my little pony'. Once everyone had been given a slice, the presents were handed out;

From Grandma and Grandpa: New sketch pencils, sketch books, some coloured crayons and money for her bank.

From Uncle Mikey: Money and a globe that lights up and projects onto the ceiling.

From Mrs Hudson: Scarf, mittens and ear muffs.

From Lestrade: A woolly hat.

From Molly: Various assortments of clothes, shoes, hats and nail polish.

From John and Mary: A new winter coat.

From Charlie: An envelope full of soil.

From daddy: A white gold necklace, another violin and the toy pony she'd been begging him for.

"Well" Grandma Holmes smiled once the wrapping paper had been cleared away "I don't know about the rest of you but I sure would like to see that violin being put to good use."

Music was never one for shyness; in fact, the child is shamelessly vain about her musical talents and so, in reply to her grandmother's request, she grinned as she scooped up her new instrument and began to play a soft kind of lullaby. She waited a couple of minutes before she closed her eyes and began to sing quietly.

'I will sing, for you, my sleepy little lullaby

Quiet and soft like the feel of her skin

Hush a bye baby, there's no need to weep

Your mamma will stay here until you fall asleep'

The room was silent for a moment before Mycroft spoke "well, Sherlock, I must commend you on your choice of name; it seems that it was the perfect choice. Music does seem to have an aptitude for music."

"Well why wouldn't she?" Molly asked "she's your brother's daughter."

"A brilliant observation, Miss Hooper" the older Holmes brother replied dryly.

"Mikey" his mother snapped "don't be so rude; you're a guest in this flat and you will act like one."

Mycroft stared at his mother for a moment before sighing and saying "yes, mummy."

Music smiled at her audience and shrugged when she said "it's for the new baby." She turned to look at John and Mary who were gazing at her in wonder "I wasn't going to show you just yet but it was the only song my hands wanted to play."

"It was beautiful" Mary told her "did you write it yourself?"

"Mhmm, this morning."

"That was" John choked up, cleared his throat and then tried again "Music, that was beautiful." Out of John and Mary, everyone knows that John is the crier; no matter how hard he tries to hide it, he is definitely the more emotional of the two of them. "Come here" he requested and held his arms out to receive the girl.

Music, quite happily, put her violin down and walked over to John before wrapping her arms around his neck and allowing herself to be lifted into in his arms. "I can do another one if you don't like it much" Music told him when she was put down.

"That one's perfect" Mary assured her, smiling fondly at the little girl.

"Ok" Sherlock clapped his hands, glancing at the clock "John and Graham are going to make some hot drinks whilst Music says good night."

"Graham?" John frowned.

"It's Greg" Greg sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Yes, exactly" the detective replied as his daughter hugged Lestrade goodnight.

Greg shook his head before squatting down to Music's height. "Happy birthday" he told her.

"Thank you" she smiled "for your gift and for coming."

"I wouldn't have missed this for the world!" Lestrade assured the child.

Music broke the embrace before tugging on Sherlock's hand "daddy, can Uncle Mikey read me a story tonight?"

Sherlock smirked across the room at his brother before sharing a look with Lestrade "if you can get him to agree then of course."

Somehow, Music did get him to agree and Sherlock watched, in amusement, as his daughter towed him up the stairs toward her bedroom with Charlie following closely at the man's heels.

"Ok" he called the room to order again; the drinks had been handed out and there was only one more thing left to do. "Now Music has gone to bed, I can take the time to make an announcement to you all; Mrs Hudson, you may need to sit down."

"Oh, it's ok dear, my hip hasn't bothered me for a while; it's those herbal remedies but thank you for thinking of me."

"On your own head be it" Sherlock sighed before gesturing at Molly to join him; when she did, he slipped an arm around her waist. "As you all know, Molly and I have been dating for the past four months and we've both decided that we're ready to take the next step." He glanced at his fiancé and smiled "Molly, here, has agreed to be my wife."

There were a couple of loud gasps, a thud as a mug hit the floor, an audible "are you being serious?" from Lestrade and a grunt from John as he caught Mrs Hudson before she hit the floor. Sherlock looked around at the shocked faces and smiled as he noticed that the only two (except for John and Mary) who were smiling back were his parents.