"Stop it," Molly complained as Sherlock rubbed her back.

"I'm trying to keep you warm."

"Why? If I freeze you won't have to deal with the embarrassment of being in a relationship with me."

"How can you be so stupid?" Sherlock, frustrated with the situation, took a step back.

"What?"

"Stop putting yourself down! You should know that I don't care what people think, it doesn't matter! I just..." he suddenly stopped, and took a deep breath.

"I don't exactly have a lot of experience with relationships, and keeping it between you and and me makes it a lot easier, there's no one giving me unwanted advice, and if..."

"And if it ends no one will say I told you so," Molly interrupted him, and Sherlock replied with an apologetic look.

*December 24th, 10.04 p.m.*

"Where is she?" Sherlock asked storming into the living room, where John was sitting alone by the fire.

"Who?"

"Molly, who else would I be looking for?"

"Well you are full of surprises today," John replied as Sherlock gave him an impatient look.

"She went to bed, probably to recover from your little..." John stopped when he realized that Sherlock was already halfway out the door.

*Now*

"No..." Molly pushed him away as Sherlock tried to put his arms around her.

"If you have so little faith in us, then why bother at all?"

"Because..." For the first time in his life Sherlock found himself at a loss for words.

"Why Sherlock?" Molly asked tears forming in her eyes, maybe it was the cold, maybe it was secretly fearing, no knowing, that he wouldn't have and answer for her.

*December 24th, 10.09 p.m.*

"Are you here to apologize, or to continue where Alfred interrupted us?" Molly asked as she opened her bedroom door for the Detective.

"Do you want me to? Apologize I mean," Sherlock replied with a confused expression.

"I...I don't know. I feel like you should, it was...I don't know..."

"Ok, I am sorry. Good?"

"Yes, thank you. What were you thinking?" She asked, gently smacking his arm.

"John was on my case about the mistletoe, said you deserved a real kiss, which you would have gotten later, but he didn't let it go, and I wanted him to shut up. I think it worked," Sherlock explained, a smirk curving his lips.

"But you still haven't told him about us?"

"Is that a problem?"

"I would like to sit with you by the fireplace, cuddle as we watch the snow fall, and exchange presents without having to worry if anyone is walking in on us," Molly explained not even trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.

"Listen," Sherlock brought his hand up to cup her cheek.

"There's a fireplace in my bedroom, and it has a great view of the estate, many windows and a balcony to admire the snow from..."

"That's not the same."

"Whatever you decide, my door will be open, and you are welcome to join me," with that he turned around to leave, but Molly stopped him in the doorway.

"No goodnight kiss?"

"Maybe later," he replied with a wink before he disappeared.

He was barely able to close the door behind him before John appeared in the hallway.

"Is she alright?"

"Why wouldn't she be? I just apologized."

"You did?"

"Try not to sound so surprised, I know that my behaviour was a bit inappropriate. Or well, doing it infront of you and Alfred at least."

"And without her consent."

"Oh she gave me her consent," Sherlock explained with a smile.

"I really wish I hadn't said anything..." John mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, it's all good, whatever you do, it's good."

"Great," Sherlock glanced at his watch, "look at at that it's time for bed."

"It's 20 past ten..."

"Santa won't come until we're fast asleep, you know the drill: It was the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring..."

"...not even a mouse," Alfred finished the sentence for him, while John just looked at his friend in complete bewilderment.

"You turning in for the night?" Alfred asked.

"Yes, it's been a long day, good night," Sherlock replied.

"Alright, good night boys."

"Good Night Alfred," John replied, waiting until the older man had disappeared before he confronted Sherlock again.

"What has gotten into you? First the singing, then the...you know, and now you are acting like you are trying to earn a Santa's favourite elf badge. If I was talking to anyone else I'd call it Christmas spirit, but last week you wouldn't even let me get a tree."

"There's a tree in the foyer."

"Not my point."

"Maybe it should have been. Good night," with that the detective left John standing in the hall and disappeared into his bedroom.

*Now*

"I..." As Sherlock saw the tears in Molly's eyes, something inside him snapped, this was exactly what he had been so afraid of.

"Because I don't want to loose you. I love you, and I want everyone to know how special you are to me, but..." Sherlock explained, but he stopped as he noticed that the tears were now rolling down her cheeks.

"Are you okay?

"What did you just say?"

"I..." Sherlock swallowed hard as he realized the weight of his words.

*December 24th, 11.17 p.m.*

"That took long enough..." Sherlock purred as he felt Molly slip under the covers next to him.

"I had to wait until John went to bed, and besides, I wasn't even sure if I should come at all."

"But now you're here," he shifted and put his arm around her, pulling her closer.

"And already second guessing that decision," She mumbled as he started playing with the buttons of the pyjama top that she had borrowed from him.

"You," there went the first button, "are exactly..." that was number two "where you want to be..." With that he brought his lips to hers, meeting them in a soft and gentle kiss.

*Now*

"Do you mean it?" Molly asked, wondering if this was really happening or if the cold had caused her to start hallucinating.

"Molly look at me, I'm standing here half naked in the middle of a blizzard, I don't have the energy to manipulate you. So are you going to let me hug you now or not?"

"Wait," she said wiping her tears away. "There's one more thing."

"What?" He replied giving her an impatient look.

"I love you too."

"I know," he smiled at her, a genuine relieved smile.

"Don't ruin it."

"Merry Christmas Molly Hooper," and with that he closed the distance between them.

"Merry Christmas," Alfred greeted John with a cup of coffee as the Doctor stepped into the kitchen.

"Oh Thank you, Merry Christmas!"

"Did you sleep well?"

"Wonderful, are Sherlock and Molly already up?"

"I haven't seen them yet," Alfred replied.

"Maybe I should check on them."

"Don't worry they'll get up once they smell the breakfast, it works every time."

"it's strange," John sat down at the table. "You are almost making it sound like this isn't the first time that Molly is spending the night here..."

"My feet are freezing," Molly complained.

"At least you're wearing a shirt..." Sherlock replied mid kiss, before he hoisted her up, letting her wrap her legs around his waist.

"Better?"

"Much," She replied and he felt her smiling against his lips as the kisses continued, but then Sherlock suddenly dropped her, and was starring at something – or as Molly would soon find out someone – at the other side of the glass door.

"What?" Molly turned around, to find John standing there.

"Good Morning," John said as he opened the door.

"Thank you," Molly immediately slipped back into the warm room.

"What took you so long?" Sherlock wanted to follow her, but John blocked the way.

"Explain?"

"Molly and I, we..for awhile. For god's sake you've seen all you need to know."

"Thank you," John replied smiling as he stepped aside to let Sherlock in, before the questions began.

"What exactly were you doing out there? Half naked, in a snow storm..." John handed the couple some blankets from the bed.

"Thanks," Molly replied, as Sherlock made sure the blanket was tightly wrapped around her before he took care of himself.

"The lock is broken..." Sherlock explained.

"I've been meaning to fix that," Alfred said as he joined them.

"Don't worry, it forced us to talk about a couple of things," Molly said.

"Things that I'll take back, if you don't shut up."

"No you won't," Molly replied with a knowing smile.

"You two are shaking, Let me draw you a hot bath, you can talk later," Alfred suggested, and Sherlock and Molly both replied with a thankful nod.

* Later That Morning *

"So you two, this whole time?" John asked, still getting used to seeing this side of his flatmate. Sherlock and Molly were cuddled up under a blanket on the couch, both dressed in fluffy white robes, Sir Barkley resting at their feet..

"I knew something was up, but I would have never thought that...It's a Christmas Miracle. I'll get you more tea," with that John got up and left the room.

"So you finally got what you wanted, we're cuddling by the fireplace, watching the snow fall..." Sherlock said, playing with Molly's hair.

"Not worrying about anyone walking in on us," she replied, before turning her head to kiss him, just as John came back.

"Ok, maybe that one is still a problem," Molly said laughing.

"Do you have any idea how stupid I feel about what I said to you last night..."

"You didn't know any better, I forgive you," Sherlock replied.

"You forgive me, that's...whatever," John gave up and shook his head.

"But if it hadn't been for that we wouldn't have been fighting, and Sherlock would have never told me that..." Molly started but Sherlock quickly covered her mouth with his hand.

"Told you what?" John gave them a curious look.

"I just gave her my christmas present," Sherlock explained.

"The best present ever," Molly agreed, before she leaned in for another kiss, while John decided that he'd be better of helping Alfred outside with the snow. This particular Christmas Miracle would take some time to get used to.

Woo, that's it! I know it was very cheesy, but Christmas (and watching bad made for TV Christmas movies all day) brings out the worst in me. I hope you enjoyed my little Christmas carol, and wish you very merry holidays! ...Reviews are the best presents ;)

Love Laura