AN: Okay, first let me say I am so so so so sorry that this update took so long. Lots of stuff happening in real life prevented made it hard for me to find time to write, and a pack of ferocious plot bunnies got loose in my mind, demanding that I write their stories instead. But finally it is here, the epilogue. Enjoy.

Epilogue

It took only a few weeks for the sentence to be passed on Moriarty: a life sentence in the highest security, with no chance of parole. Naturally John and Mary came over to celebrate, all of them eating takeaway in front of the TV, while the trial was reviewed on the news. They had of course been invited to the press conference, but declined, not wanting too many questions to be asked about how they tracked down and captured Moriarty.
"There we go, knew it wouldn't take them long to ask about you." John grinned triumphantly as a reported asked 'Was Sherlock Holmes involved in the capture of Moriarty, or was it solely Scotland Yard?'
"Hardly a difficult deduction John, but well done, your skills are clearly improving." Sherlock drawled sarcastically.
"Behave." Molly nudged him playfully with her foot.
Sherlock was about to reply when there came a timid knock on the front door.
"Bit soon for press isn't it? I'd have thought they'd all be still at the conference." John commented.

"That's not press." Sherlock said soberly "Molly, if you wouldn't mind-"

"Of course." Molly jumped up to go get the door.

"Bring them straight up."

"Expecting someone, are you?" John asked curiously.

"Somewhat. I thought it'd be sooner."

Knowing he wasn't going to get any more out of him, John waited, straining his ears to try and deduce who was walking up the stairs with Molly, but not getting anywhere, though the smirk on Sherlock's face said he'd heard and it had proved him right.

"Hello Kaitlin." He said before looking over, when the nervous girl stepped into the room. Before she could say hello back though, she cast a glance about the room, and seeing Mary sitting on the sofa, gasped and ran back down the stairs.

"Kaitlin?!" Mary called after her, jumping to her feet and following her, easily catching up with her just outside the front door. "Kaitlin wait! What's the matter?"

Kaitlin stopped and turned back towards her, though the look on her face said she clearly still wanted to run.

"Who are you?" She asked shakily.

"What do you mean? You know me, I looked after you the other week. I'm Anna, remember?" Mary asked, her brows creasing in confusion.

"You told me you worked for my uncle. They told me my Uncle was a bad man, and that Sherlock was the good guy, so why are you here?" Kaitlin asked unsteadily, then before Mary could answer, added in a burst of confidence "And don't you dare lie to me, I've been lied to enough!"

"Ok," Mary nodded, crouching down to Kaitlin's level "Okay, I see why you're confused. And you have every right to be. So no more lies, I promise. But I did lie to you before. Sherlock sent me to look after you after we kidnapped you from your uncle. I know that probably doesn't help you much in terms of who the good guys and bad guys are but… well sometimes life is like that. But I promise we were trying to help you, but we didn't want to upset you with the truth about your uncle until he was safely in prison, and that's why I lied to you. Do you understand?"

Kaitlin shrugged, looking away, then up at the building.

"Why did you come here today Kaitlin?" Mary asked softly.

"I thought it would help." Kaitlin explained, looking back at Mary. "They told me that Uncle Jim had been lying to me for years, that the papers were right and he was the criminal and Sherlock the detective. And it's so hard… to believe" she was crying now, sniffing back tears. Mary held her arms out to her, and she gratefully accepted the hug, resting her head on Mary's shoulder as she continued to talk "He always seemed so nice, and was so good to me, he didn't seem like a criminal. And he always made Sherlock sound like such a bad guy, and … and I thought if I met him, and he was actually really nice, then it might help."

Mary couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her, causing Kaitlin to pull back slightly in confusion.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have laughed but… well, nice isn't a word most people would use to describe Sherlock. He's not very good with people, he can sometimes be a bit tactless and rude… but I can assure you, his intentions are always good. And for those of us lucky enough to be called his friends… we couldn't have better."

"Can I still meet him?" Kaitlin asked tentatively, looking back up at the house.

"Of course you can." Mary said, getting up "Oh, and by the way, although I didn't lie to you about my name, it's an old name, and these guys know me as Mary. Just so you don't get confused when they call me that."

"Why would you change it? I like Anna." Kaitlin asked, following Mary into the house.

"Long story, best save it for another time."

They reached the top of the stairs, and Mary was surprised to see the main door to the living room shut. As her hand reached out to open it a voice called to her from the second staircase.

"Hang on a second Mary, they're having a moment." John warned, sat patiently on the stairs above them, a small smile on his face that told her it was nothing to worry about.

*A few minutes earlier*

Mary flew down the stairs after Kaitlin, and Molly watched them sadly, trying to push the images that made it look like Mary was hurting the girl out of her mind. They were never real, she knew that, it wasn't the reason Kaitlin was scared of her now. Molly knew the whole story now, and it didn't take much to figure out that Kaitlin was confused about what side Mary was on.

"John, can you excuse us a second?" Sherlock's subdued voice surprised her, and she turned to see Sherlock's eyes fixed concernedly on her.

"What?" John asked, then looked between the two of them at the flow of emotions written across their faces. It was clear they had some talking to do "Oh, right."

"You don't have to-" Molly started, but John was already on his way out, shutting the door softly behind him, as Sherlock took her hand and gently drew her towards him.

"What's the matter?" He asked, peering at her with a creased brow, as though struggling to read her.

"Nothing, it's… nothing." Molly shrugged, attempting a smile.

"Molly." Sherlock chided "If it's bothering you, it isn't 'nothing'. Not to you, and therefore not to me. Tell me… please."

Molly looked down at her feet, then slightly behind her, closing her eyes and envisioning Kaitlin as she stood at the top of the stairs with her. "She looked so… lost. Like the world had been swept out from under her feet and she wasn't sure how she was still standing." She opened her eyes and looked into Sherlock's, a ghost of the same expression on her face. "I know that look too well, I remember seeing it in the mirror for months after my Dad died. Even when no-one else could."

Unable to look into the hurt in her eyes any longer, Sherlock pulled her into her, cradling the back of her head with one hand and guiding it to rest on his shoulder, as the other rubbed her back soothingly.

"I'm sorry." He said awkwardly.

"What for?" Molly murmured.

"Not sure. I was kind of hoping you would tell me."

Molly chuckled softly. "Apology accepted" She whispered.

"What for?" Sherlock asked uncertainly, after a minute.

But Molly didn't answer, just smiled more and kept her head on his shoulder, rocking them slightly as they continued to hug. Sherlock let her, moving both arms to around her back and enjoying the moment, until he saw a curious little face peeking round the kitchen door.

"It's okay Kaitlin, you can come in. And John and Mary too." He announced, letting go off Molly and letting her slip out of his arms, a slight blush on her face, matching Kaitlin's as she came further into the room, her eyes flicking between the two of them. "Molly was just a little upset, because seeing you reminded her of when she was your age, when her Dad died." Sherlock told her.

Kaitlin look back over at Molly more closely, her eyes wide and understanding. She looked back to Sherlock and boldly stepped up to him, pulling on his sleeve. Sherlock obligingly crouched down to her level, letting the girl whisper in his ear, before smiling warmly. "Yes, I think she'd appreciate that." He told her, standing up again as Kaitlin ran to Molly, wrapping her arms around the back of her legs in a tight hug, her head resting on Molly's stomach.

Molly half choked a laugh, returning the hug as best she could with the size difference. "Thank you, Kaitlin, though you shouldn't worry about me, it should be the other way round. Where are you living now? Did they find you somewhere?" She asked as the girl slipped out of her arms.

Kaitlin nodded. "With my Aunt, Aunt Lizzie. We're in a hotel for now, but we're going back to Ireland tomorrow, that's where she lives."

"Oh, I didn't know you had an Aunt." Molly said, looking to Sherlock in confusion. She was sure Moriarty had said he was her only relative.

"I didn't either." The girl shrugged "But she showed me pictures of her and Ma when they were younger. Ma looked just like me." She said with a sad smile.

"Of course, Moriarty was the only one on your Father's side, he didn't consider anyone on your mothers side. And that's her old bear isn't it, poking out of your bag?" Sherlock pointed out.

Kaitlin nodded, her hand reaching round her backpack to stroke the bears head poking out of it. "She said her and Ma used to fight over it, but when she heard about the accident she wanted to give it me, but Jimmy wouldn't let her see me. She said she's been fighting for me to stay with her for a long time."

"Of course. Your aunt isn't very well off, she couldn't bring you an expensive gift so she brought something sentimental, hoping it was enough. But that wouldn't have been enough when your custody was being decided, it was ruled in favour of Moriarty since he could provide more materially. But then when it first came out he was a criminal she would have appealed, but since he wasn't found guilty until now there was nothing she could do." Sherlock put the clues together.

"Sherlock, tact." Molly hissed under her breath, elbowing him subtly.

"She obviously cares about you, all that time spent fighting for you. So I imagine she'll be pretty worried when she realizes you've wandered off. I've solved plenty of cases of missing children in the past, but I think this sets a new record. Come on, let's get you back to her before she worries anymore." Sherlock winked, walking over to the door and grabbing his coat.

"I know the way, you don't need to take me." Kaitlin said proudly.

"I'm sure you do, but it's not really safe for someone of your age to wander the streets of London alone." He insisted, finishing buttoning his coat and waiting by the door for her to come over and join him.

"I'm not afraid." She told him, overtaking him and starting down the stairs.

"Of course you're not, you lived with London's biggest and baddest criminal for years, what could possibly scare you. But let's play it safe shall we. Don't worry, I won't embarrass you by making you hold my hand when we cross roads."

The little girl's giggles drifted up the stairs, where 3 happy faces watched as the girl held up her hand anyway, and with an exaggerated sigh, the consulting detective took it.

"He'll make a great Father one day." Mary commented.

Molly just blushed, thinking the same thing.

AN: Thank you all for reading, following, favoriting and leaving me lovely reviews. :) As previously mentioned I do have a few more plot bunnies floating around in my head, so hopefully I'll be back soon with them. Although if anyone is interested in adopting some plot bunnies PM me ;)