There was this silence again. It was different from the 'silence' that John had gotten used to. It's not companionable. It's not Sherlock-sulking kind of silence. It's not Sherlock doesn't talk for days on end silence but it was the awkward silence where they sat on their chairs opposite each other and Sherlock did his thinking pose but instead of closing his eyes, Sherlock was staring at him. Really staring at him. Like if he had laser eyes like Superman does (thank goodness he doesn't), John would be cut in half by now.

John looked at Sherlock once in hopes that Sherlock could get the message that he doesn't really understand why Sherlock was staring at him like he'd kill someone in the messiest, most unattractive, most non-strategic way possible. But Sherlock really didn't notice. He kept on staring at John as if John was starting to grow a second head or as if John had a reproductive organ on his forehead and it's not supposed to be there and Sherlock's trying to figure out the right place for the thing.

The doctor grabbed the newspaper on the sidetable and tried to concentrate on reading one of the articles. But the staring is getting to him. In a way it was bothering him. Slight...

John kept on turning the page, until he reached the last. He rolled his eyes and put the newspaper aside. If only he had tea, he would've had something to sip on while he tried to win this staring contest with Sherlock. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to make one.

John waited for Sherlock to say a word. One word would suffice and John would be able to understand why Sherlock was doing things. The staring and the thinking pose things.

Seconds passed.
Minutes passed.
There was nothing.
Just the silence and the staring and it was getting a little bit awkward now.

Seconds passed.
Minutes passed.
And John was starting to suspect if he really had a reproductive organ growing out of his forehead. He was tempted to touch his forehead.

Seconds passed.
Minutes passed.
John started to have goosebumps when he thought about Sherlock seeing ghosts. He doesn't really believe in ghosts but the thought having someone hover or stand beside him was just not good and he just assumed Sherlock was staring at him when really it was the ghosts he was having a staring contest with...

Then finally, after years (exaggerating) of waiting, Sherlock moved. He narrowed his eyes, breathed in and let out a quiet "phew".

"John," the consulting detective finally spoke, "as you may know, we have been living together for a very long time."

John nodded, "Uh-huh."

"We have done things together for a very long time, too."

John nodded again. "Uh-huh, yes."

"We have done dangerous things together, yes?"

"Yes, we have."

"And we went through thick and thin together and we didn't fail to be on each other's side..."

"Uh... y-yeah..."

"And we both know that I know you very well and that you know me very well, too..."

"Yes...?"

"And we both know that we've been friends for a very long time... yes?"

John nodded, his eyes narrowed because he thought he knew where the conversation was going but he doesn't really want to think about it. "Yes..."

Sherlock breathed in again and held it in until he felt that he couldn't take it anymore and let out the 'phew'.

"Aren't you tired?" Pause. Inhale. "Because I've decided that we should -"

John swallowed and wished that he had something to drink. Remember when he said he knew where the conversation was going? Yeah, he did. And he was right. He didn't need Sherlock to finish the whole sentence to know that he was right. He was mentally crossing his fingers and wishing that it wouldn't come to this point of the conversation but then it did. It had to because Sherlock's like that. He doesn't beat around the bush. And John's afraid. So afraid.

How will he say that he doesn't want to? How will he say NO? How will he tell Sherlock that he would want to spend all of his life in Baker Street with Mrs. Hudson and him and all the rest of their neighbors even if he doesn't really know them. How will he tell Sherlock that he didn't want to leave? How will he tell Sherlock that leaving Baker Street would be like taking a part of him and killing him? How will he tell Sherlock all of these things? How will he tell Sherlock that he was never going to get bored with this life, their life together? How will he tell Sherlock that he doesn't care how long they have lived with each other? How does he tell him 'please don't get bored with me, Sherlock'? How?!

"John... are you listening to me?"

Sherlock's voice was enough to bring him back to reality, the sad and the painful reality. Here it is. It's going to be said. He's going to say it. He is going to pack his bags and move out of Baker Street as soon as Sherlock would tell him.

"John, as I said, are you listening to me?"

Sherlock looked a bit irritated now.

"I... no, what? I... yeah, I'll move out as soon as I find a new flat. Don't worry, I won't... be in for long... I mean, I don't... I... I'll go pack my bags..."

John stood up and was about to leave his chair when Sherlock grabbed his hand and turned John to face him, their faces were inches from each other now.

"What? Pack your bags?" Sherlock looked so insulted and John did not understand why he had that look on his face.

"Yes, why? Isn't that what you want? You're tired, right?"

Now Sherlock looked more insulted. "I'm assuming you weren't listening to me."

"No," John said firmly, "In fact, I was listening so much that I didn't want to hear it anymore because I knew where it was going..."

Sherlock narrowed his eyes, "So... you weren't listening?"

"Bloody hell, I was listening! How many times do I have to tell you that I was listening!?"

Sherlock had rolled his eyes at him and there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "Believe me, you really weren't."

"And if I was!?" John challenged, swatting Sherlock's hand away and unconsciously moved closer.

Sherlock smiled. "And if you were, you would have known that I was trying to get you to marry me but then you blocked out the rest of my sentence because you jumped into conclusions. You thought I asked you the question "Are you bored?" because I was getting bored with my life and that I wanted to have another life that didn't include and involve you. Well, you're wrong. I asked you that because I was bored of being 'just friends' and pretending that I didn't feel anything for you when in fact, I did."

John's mouth was agape. He didn't know what to say. He wanted to say something... a word... anything!  Just anything but nothing was coming out of his mouth.

"For the second time, this day, I am going to say this... just to stress the point of the whole speech earlier. I'm trying to get you to marry me. It's been a very long time, John. Really... long time of dancing around each other and denying and I was tired of it."

John was staring at Sherlock, still he couldn't believe it. It happened too fast. "How do you know I was going to say yes?"

Now it was Sherlock's time to be surprised.

"What?" the detective managed.

"How do you know I was going to say yes?" John repeated.

"You were going to say yes?" He couldn't believe his ears.

"What else would I say?!"

"Oh. My. God." Sherlock absent-mindedly gripped John's hands.

"Yeah," John started to laugh as he shook his head. "I can't believe this..."

"I can't believe it either..."

This was honestly the first time John had seen Sherlock so speechless. And even if Sherlock was only giving him shy smiles, John could see how happy he is.

"I don't know what to say, Sherlock..."

They still stood facing each other and John squeezed Sherlock's hands. He touched his face, too. Caressed his face as much as he could just to make sure everything was real and that this wasn't one of his dreams.

"I don't know what to say either..." Sherlock leaned in to John's touch and they stayed that way for quiet sometime until someone loudly knocked at the door ruining their moment. The two turned their heads to the intruder and found that it was Greg who was smiling like he'd won the lottery.

"Hello, lovebirds! I see you have come to an agreement."

Greg welcomed himself in to the sitting room and handed Sherlock a couple of envelopes. The detective had received them and then he smiled at Greg.

"Thank you, Lestrade... and please do send my thanks to my big brother."

Lestrade gave a small salute, "Yeah, yeah, your majesty. You lazy gits. By the way, congratulations you two! See you on the big day." And he exited 221B just like that.

"What is that?" John couldn't help but ask. The envelopes were too small and it was impossible for Lestrade to put in the documents for the cases there... so what's in it?

Sherlock simply smiled and without a warning, kissed John on the lips.

"Wedding invitations."