This is it folks... thanks for indulging me in this little catharsis. Who among us wouldn't like to see Sherlock fix his dick-headery? What? Isn't that a word?

Hope you enjoy this, let me know either way.

I own nothing, but the mistakes, now those are all mine.

The Fall

I'm back.-SH

Molly received the text a little after 10 am three days after John's visit. She was just prepping for her first autopsy of the day.

I'm off at 6.-Mxx

I know, I should be rested by then. But I have to see Mycroft first, I'll be at yours by 7.-SH

Great, now I'm nervous.

The day passed at an excruciatingly slow pace. Finally her shift ended and she rushed home and showered. She changed into a dress, if Sherlock was going to explain his odd behavior then she was going to feel confident about her appearance. She put on a touch of make-up and let her hair air dry. She wasn't going all-out, just wanted to feel good about herself for once.

At seven o'clock (on the bloody button,) there was a knock on her door. "Sherlock, good to see you in one piece." She said as she let him in.

There he was, bag of chips in tow. Molly took them from him and put them on the kitchen table.

"You look..." He paused, "Well. Have you been well?" He asked, sounding not exactly like his normal confident self. "Is that a new dress?"

"Ah, I've been fine and I haven't had the dress very long, so yes it's newish." She took out plates and a couple bottles of water. "Is everything okay, you seem... off."

"Oh, ah n-no everything's grand." He looked away for a moment.

Grand? "That's...good, why don't we eat then." Molly took the Styrofoam containers out of the bag and doled out the chips and the fish. They ate in silence for a few minutes. "Wow, there are a lot of chips here for two people Sherlock."

"I told you, the owner always gives me extra portions."

"Oh, these are from..."

"Of course," He nodded.

Molly smiled, "It's a good thing you're so handy with shelves."

The awkwardness seemed to subside after that. He told her what he could about Mycroft's case as they ate. When finished he helped Molly clean up their mess. Dishes done she turned to Sherlock and shrugged her shoulders. He took a deep breath and offered her his hand, "Let's sit on the sofa Molly."

She let him lead her to the sitting room, he released her hand after they sat down facing each other.

"This next one was the hardest of course, how do I make up for two years worth of pain? Not to mention putting your career and life in danger. When I decided attempt to correct all the times I failed you Molly, to be honest I didn't know exactly why I was doing it. I deliberately tried not to dwell on that aspect of my endeavor, I simply wanted to make up for all the hurt I have caused you. But somewhere along the way things got a bit more... complicated." He ran one hand through his mass of dark curls, "Everything else had a fairly easy solution. Although, I will admit it took a me a bit more planning to come up with the idea about Adler." He looked away briefly then back to her, "Did John explain that situation adequately?"

"Yes, Sherlock. I- I'm just not sure why I was owed an explanation." She stated bluntly.

He didn't answer immediately, he seemed to be choosing his words... for once. "After the way I spoke to you at the party, and it being Christmas and all..." He was struggling, "You had to come in on your day off, then I recognized her by her naked body. It didn't occur to me at the time... it should have though, you had just given me the gift and I had deduced what it meant." He shook his head, "Sorry I wasn't prepared for this." He took another moment. "It was my brother actually. After you assisted me with the Fall Mycroft, snide bastard that he is, said 'well Dr. Hooper was certainly helpful, though I shouldn't have been surprised considering her reaction to the Adler incident.' He's such an ass." He added under his breath. "I'm sorry Molly, I-I'm not accustomed to considering other people's feelings." He released a deep breath.

Molly couldn't help but smile, "I don't know, you seem to be doing a fine job of it lately."

Sherlock jerked his head up at her, a small smile on his lips. "Right, so back on point. How to make up for the Fall? I considered many things, a holiday perhaps... but last time you took time off I nearly died of boredom. A new car... but of course you don't have a drivers license, plus you prefer to walk, keeps you fit." He wasn't looking at her, so he failed to notice the way she blushed. "A t-shirt that read I killed Sherlock Holmes and he lived to tell the tale? But I already got you a shirt and also that hardly conveys the sentiment I'm trying to express."

Molly giggled at the t-shirt idea then had to hide her surprise at the word sentiment.

"As the weeks wore on and we spent more time together, it dawned on me that it would take a lifetime to make up for the Fall. It was easy with John, well I say easy... but I faked my death to save him. The act itself was atonement. Also, it helped that he got to punched me several times the night of my return. But you knew, you knew and kept my secret and stayed loyal, without a single word from me for more than two years. Just like with Adler I didn't realise how hard it had been on you until John was speaking about it a few months back. He was commenting about how he couldn't believe that you knew I was alive because you seemed more broken than anyone, except maybe him. Although he was reluctant to admit that. Molly you're not that good of an actress, sorry but you are not." He took her hands again, "I managed to hurt you for two solid years when I wasn't even in your presence." The way he was looking at her broke her resolve, she started crying.

"In the end I found that there is only one way I can possibly try to make this up to you. As I said, it would take a lifetime to right this wrong. And I find the idea of spending the rest of my life trying to find ways to make you smile like you have these past few months to be a challenge that I am all too happy to except." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. "Molly Hopper, I trust you and count on you. You saved my life and you loved me when I didn't deserve it. You've been my pathologist and my friend, now... will you be my wife?" He opened the box to reveal a beautiful antique engagement ring. "In case I've not made it clear, I love you Molly."

It's not as if she hadn't considered that something was happening between them. There was a distinct energy present that hadn't been there before. But Molly had been trying very hard not to open her heart up to what she thought she was feeling. That road had almost been her ruin just a few short years ago.

Molly couldn't move, she wasn't sure if she had taken a breath during his entire speech but she would be damned if she was going to ruin this moment by passing out, so she drew a deep breath. She had spent enough time at the receiving end of Sherlock's manipulations to know when he was being sincere, but she had to ask. "Is this guilt?"

He shook his head, "I swear, it's love. I didn't understand it at first as it's completely foreign to me, but after much reflection and untold hours in my mind palace, I've come to understand that I'm in love with you, and I can't imagine my future without you Molly. Though I will unders..."

That was enough. Molly cut him off by reaching up and taking Sherlock's face in her hands and covered his lips in hers. She felt one of his hands move to the back of her head and hold her tightly in place. As first kisses go, it was a bit too wet, but that was mostly her fault as her entire face was covered in tears. Also it didn't last long because she still wasn't breathing quite right.

She pulled back and rested her forehead on Sherlock's. "I love you too. And yes, I'd be happy to marry you. But listen to me. As much as I've enjoyed all that you've done for me the past few months, you have to wrap your big brain around the idea that you have nothing for which to make amends. I've always seen you Sherlock," She kissed his lips sweetly. "And I have loved you nonetheless."

He looked at her with more wonder in his eyes than she had ever seen before, even at the most interesting crime scene. "You are magnificent Molly Hooper."

"That being said, I do enjoy the occasional whimsical t-shirt." She laughed and kissed him again.

"The dancing was nice, we could do that again." He said between kisses.

"Mmm, oh yes, quite nice. I loved every minute of it, but you can keep your urine to yourself from now on."

"Understood. I assume you will now accept my compliments as truths?" He asked.

Molly bit her lip, only slightly concerned as to what was coming next. "Yes." She said.

"Thank God, you look amazing in that dress and when you bite your lip it makes my mouth go dry. The green blouse you wore on the thirteenth of last month drove me crazy. I almost had the ginger with the van dyke deported because he kept looking at you at the Fox, although I can't blame him. You looked so good I nearly forgot what I was doing. You, Molly Hooper, are beautiful." He kissed her.

"Are you quite finished?" She giggled.

"Not even close, I have months of observations stored up here, we can go over them later though." He said before pulling her in for another kiss. When they finally came up for air he picked up the forgotten velvet box. "I'm supposed to put this on your finger now."

"Oh, of course." He slid it on, it was a perfect fit. "It's stunning Sherlock."

"It was my grandmother's. That's why I had to see Mycroft today. I agreed to take his case if he'd dig into his great vault and get the ring." He muttered something about Scrooge McDuck under his breath, she had no idea what he was talking about. "He also had to make sure it was sized and cleaned when I got back."

Molly gaped, of everything Sherlock had done agreeing to work for Mycroft in order to get her an engagement ring was certainly the most romantic of them all. "I already said yes Sherlock, no need to guild the lily."

"I-ah, was hoping to-ah," He actually looked shy for a moment, "Well I mean, that is to say..."

"Oh, you're not leaving tonight if that's what you're getting at."

Sherlock stood up and took Molly's hand quickly leading her into the bedroom with no further discussion on the matter. It turned out he did have a few more things to make up for. Their friends and family didn't find out about their happy news until three day later when Sherlock felt he had properly made amends... for now.

Thank you all for reading my little story. I know I didn't address Janine, there is a reason. If you'd like to discuss it, message me or ask me on my Tumbler feed (same name.) I'd be happy to explain my reasoning.

Please give me your final thoughts! Love hearing from you all!