Chapter Text
Sherlock was upright again. Barely. He’d traded Molly’s bed for her lumpy sofa, a blanket still wrapped around his shoulders. His curls were limp, his skin pale but no longer fever-flushed.
“I’m quite recovered,” he announced, reaching for the laptop he'd insisted she retrieve from his Baker Street home.
“Recovered people don’t need to sit down after climbing one flight of stairs, the case can wait one more day.” Molly said, gently tugging the laptop from his grasp and pressed a mug of tea into his hand instead.
Sherlock huffed. “You realise you’re contradicting me regarding my own cases.”
Molly smiled, “I realise. I’m your girlfriend now. You’ll have to get used to it.”
The word landed between them, new and startling.
He said, “Hmm... I’m not sure I like that term, although it is not an entirely inadequate designation.”
Molly laughed. “That’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
He narrowed his eyes, “I should warn you, that being my… partner… will involve a significant degree of irritation. My work. My habits. My complete disregard for social convention. And - ” He broke off with a cough, shoulders shuddering. Molly was already reaching for the glass of water, sliding it into his hand.
She said “And you’ll occasionally get the flu. Just like everyone else.”
Awkwardly, he reached for her hand, “Very well,” he said. “But if we’re… together… then you must understand - I intend it to be permanent.”
Molly’s breath caught. “Good, because so do I.”
He said, “Bring the temporary agreement I made months ago, the one I wrote in glitter pen. I know you won’t have discarded it.”
Molly went and retrieved the document from the top drawer of her desk. She handed it to him, ready to snatch it out of his hand if he attempted to tear it up.
Instead, he motioned for her to bring the same glitter pen, which was still on the kitchen counter.
He made some alterations, crossed out a few words, added quite a few more, then handed it back to her. It now read:
Permanent Charter of Exclusive Partnership
(Filed deliberately by W.S.S. Holmes, in full possession of his faculties)
To: Dr. Molly Hooper
Subject: Indefinite Access to One (1) Sherlock Holmes
I, William Sherlock Scott Holmes, hereby grant the undersigned recipient exclusive, irrevocable, and enduring rights to the use, interaction with, and lifelong possession of my physical form, emotional faculties (however flawed), and companionship.
Terms and Conditions:
Effective Period:
Valid immediately upon continued mutual consent. No expiration date.
Scope of Use:
Includes, but is not limited to, tactile engagement, exploratory contact, acts of mutual consent deemed pleasurable, domestic cohabitation, intellectual sparring, emotional reliance, and all other activities generally associated with permanent partnership.
Withdrawal Clause:
Revocation rights remain solely with Dr. Molly Hooper. W.S.S. Holmes waives all rights of termination and acknowledges his permanent state.
Signed,
W.S.S. Holmes
Date: Known, Noted, Remembered Always – Location: Wherever you are
*****
It was a Wednesday night and the member of Les Quizzérables, John Watson, Sally Donovan, Mrs. Hudson and Greg Lestrade sat in the Prince Albert pub noshing on some savoury pies.
Lestrade asked John, “Have you talked to Sherlock? I haven’t heard from him since he took ill whilst we were at Barts. We ended up having to solve the case without him.”
Sally muttered, “Nice to finally have a chance to do so.”
John said, “Yeah, this morning I stopped by Molly’s to check on him. He really had it bad, poor sod. It’s that particularly nasty strain of flu that’s going around right now, my GP practice has been full of people with it.”
Mrs. Hudson took a swig of her cider, “But is he mostly over it now?”
John said, “Yes, I think the worst is over. Poor Molly, she’s been at his beck and call the whole time, and you know what a demanding patient he is. Whilst I was there, she ran off to have a moment to run a few errands.”
John grinned, “You’ll never believe what he told me. He said that he and Molly are together – a couple!”
Lestrade snorted, “You’re joking. Now he says it? I thought that was sorted months ago. A year, whatever.”
Sally Donovan shook her head ruefully, “Typical. Make everyone else suffer through months of melodrama, then act like he’s invented the concept of a girlfriend.”
Lestrade stifled a grin. “Well, good for them. About bloody time. Though I’ll admit, it’s a bit annoying - him finally saying it like it’s some grand revelation. Everyone’s known about it for ages!”
Mrs. Hudson gave a fond little sigh. “He’s never been very good at feelings. We’ll forgive him. Poor boy needed Molly to drag it out of him.”
John chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Drag it out of him is right. But for what it’s worth, I think he means it. This isn’t some experiment or passing phase. It’s… different. Permanent, even.”
Mrs. Hudson only shook her head, smiling. “Oh, I do hope she moves into his flat. Once you move out, John of course. It’ll be nice to have some balance about the place. Sherlock could use someone who knows when to put the kettle on.”
John raised his pint. “She’ll do more than put the kettle on. She’ll keep him human.”