Hello Detective

His Last Vow Part 1

A/N: Italics are flashbacks.

The next month went by in a blur. Sometimes it seemed as if the memories weren't even real. How could we have so much happiness ripped away from us in a matter of hours? I knew how, there was one man responsible for what was to come. We were happy, it felt like just yesterday we were lying in Sherlock's bed after John and Mary's wedding.

"You know we can't stay in bed all day." I tilted my head up to Sherlock from its resting position on his chest.

"Why not?" He complained, moving his hands from behind his head. One finding its way onto the small of my bare back.

"Some of us have jobs." I answered, but he only rolled his eyes.

His other hand found mine, as he brushed his hands gently over my fingers, admiring the ring.

"I don't want to take it off." I smiled, following his gaze.

"Then don't." He answered simply, bringing my hand to his lips and placing a gentle kiss across my knuckles.

"I'd give Mrs. Hudson a heart attack." I shook my head at his suggestion. He really wasn't grasping this whole 'secret engagement' thing.

"Well you might be right about that." He conceded.

"For now it can be our little secret." I smirked, sitting up in bed and wrapping the sheet around my chest for warmth.

"We might as well just get married then." Sherlock muttered, pushing up until his back was against the headboard.

"You can't plan a wedding in a week, Sherlock." I chuckled, shaking my head.

"We could elope. No crowds, no telegrams, no speeches." He nearly shuttered at the memory.

"No attempted murder." I reminded him with a smirk, causing him to laugh.

"Just you and me." He stroked the side of my face.

I considered for a moment what this would mean, and it wasn't the worst idea in the world.

"Our mothers are going to kill us." I shook my head with a sigh.

"Is that a yes?" Sherlock asked, surprised I actually was on board with this.

"I don't want a big wedding, I don't want to be walked down the aisle. I want you, and that's enough. It's a piece of paper." I shrugged. After all we've been through together, I knew I didn't need a piece of paper to prove our commitment and connection.

Sherlock wrapped his hand around the back of my head, pulling me closer to him until our lips met. Marriage for him was one thing, and he never thought he'd actually be here, with someone he loved and was actually wanting to marry, but a wedding... that was too far. He didn't need a spectacle, he just needed her.

"I knew I loved you." He chuckled, shaking his head as we broke apart.

"Well I should hope so. Now move over, I need to shower and go to work." I playfully shoved him off of me as I tried to climb to the other side of the bed.

"I could join." He smirked, wrapping his hand around my arm, keeping me in place.

"Come on then... fiance." I shook my head with a smile.

And elope was exactly what we did. I could still feel the cool spring air whipping around me in my short white business dress as I stepped into the courthouse hand in hand.